Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

The amazing blue Peyto lake and the glacier and mini icebergs (and big fat snowflakes) at Mount Edith Cavell were some of the highlights of the trip. Pre-dawn over the bay with the tide out at Parksville gave us a magical moment. This was an unexpected hotel stop caused by the extra day spent on the ferry from Bella Coola to Port Hardy - sleeping on the floor of the ferry for the night had it's compensations!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Michel was efficient and friendly - he seemed to enjoy the trip as much as we did. He worked hard to pace the days according to the capabilities of the group and was always around for queries and questions. If he didn't know the answers to the questions, then he'd find out or lend us a book with the facts (obscure botanical questions were not his forte).When the ferry captain of the boat between Bella Coola and Port Hardy was delayed at anchor by 20 hours he and the local company worked hard to re-arrange the accommodation. This had to be done several times as the captain changed his mind about the situation and the timing of our arrival in Port Hardy. Michel consulted with the whole group and a joint decision was made to drop the night in Victoria, keeping two nights near Tofino.

Advice for Potential Travellers

ATMs - make sure you know which banks use Visa and which use MasterCard. The banks in Canada use one or the other and you can waste some time finding a bank which will accept your card. Shops and restaurants will accept either.

Most Inspirational Moment

It was the scrambling bits - both the boulders at the end of the Gorropu Gorge, and having Rudy encouragibng me to climb right up to Tiscali. I never thought I would be able to do such things. I can't thank him enough for saying go ahead

Thoughts on Group Leader

see above. Rudy is a gem, and a gent, what else can I say

Advice for Potential Travellers

Anyone my age (63) have a go. I walk a dog 3 hours every day for exercise, I have a degenerative nerve condition which makes me weaker than I would like to be but the walks were great and certainly stretched every joint, plus overcoming the fear of heights - go for it. I wish I was still there

Most Inspirational Moment

The blissful silence and exquisite colours of Wadi Rum and the desert Bedouin camp reminded one of how much simple pleasures are still central to the human experience and our contemplative side.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent - a man for all seasons and travellors with asense of adventure.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Try to do a few "local" things yourself. There's plenty of opportunity.

Most Inspirational Moment

I'm not going to go for the obvious and say meeting the mountain gorillas for the first time - it was seeing a lone cheetah up close in the wild just lying in the sun completely unperturbed by us all, then putting on a show for us as she rolled around stretching and yawning. Completely natural and uninhibited behaviour but a total joy to behold, with all of us completely bewitched.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Often was a very good leader indeed, and he was brilliantly backed up by his team of Benard the cook and Patson the driver. All 3 worked very well together and had us all entertained and in good humour for most of the trip, which made a great holiday even better. Often was always kind and curteous to us and handled any potentially difficult situations that arose within the group with tact and charm. He also showed that he is very knowledgeable about the wildlife whilst we were on safari in the truck, as he was inside with us being the spotter and guide. His evident pride in his country shone through and was a great inspiration to us.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Try to book the Nairobi to Kigali itinerary rather than in the reverse order. This way you start off with camping and finish off with reasonable hotels, which all in our group said they preferred. You also get to finish on a high with the mountain gorillas and are "hardened up" a bit by then for the trek up the volcano to find them. Just as importantly you don't start the holiday with a trip to the Rwanda Genocide Museum in Kigali. I fully understand and agree that Exodus have included it in the itinerary as it really raises your awareness of the human tragedy that occurred, but I just feel relieved that I made the visit to the museum at the end of the holiday to bring you back down to Planet Earth and not at the beginning, which may have kicked the holiday off on a bit of a downer, but this is just a personal feeling. Either way its going to be an unforgettable holiday. If you are into photography, take your longest lens with you. I had a 70-400mm zoom which was ideal apart from phographing the gorillas, where my smaller and much lighter 70-300 mm zoom was just about right. Read the Trip Notes and Last Minute Information carefully - the bit about taking a day pack with you is important. You will need to pack clothes and toiletries for 2 days into it as you will be leaving your kit bag in the truck when you go to the Masai Mara, as you travel there and back in the smaller 6/7 person jeeps which you also use for the safaris. You will also need to take your camera bag with you.

Most Inspirational Moment

Most of it was inspiring but I suppose I would have to choose the free afternoon in Petra when our guide took those that wanted to, for a hike round the back well away from the usual tourist route. 

Thoughts on Group Leader

We couldn't have wished for a better leader,  Zuhair was able to explain things with interest and humour. He and his team organised everything to perfection and went out of his way to give us the best time ever, he even entertained us with many stories eventhough one or two of them ended with a dodgy moral.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't go if all you want is a cycling holiday. Some of the experts found fault with the equipment but we were perfectly happy, the bicycles were better than those we have at home. September in Wadi Rum, we really didn't need the sleeping bags, a liner would have done as the blankets were the thickest I've ever seen. Some of the group slept round the fire with the locals.

Most Inspirational Moment

After three days of solid trekking, and a LOT of uphill, we finally breached over the mountaintop and through the 'Sun Gate' looking down over Machu Piccu. The sun was shining brightly on the ruin; lighting them up as if it was still a bustling Inca town. The scene was wonderful.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader/guide was phenomenal. An intelligent guy with a wonderful sense of humour and fluent in English. He joined in with all our activities (including a rather messy trip to a bar in Cuzco on our last night), taught us about the Incas, answered all our questions, and took care of us when we needed him. Top guy!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't underestimate the fitness required to do this trip. While the trek is short, it can be very strenuous at times, as the Inca Trail has a LOT of steep and high steps that you must traverse. Furthermore, at one point you will ascend to 4,200 metres, so be careful of Acute Mountain Sickness.

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking along the cliffs in the beautiful nature reserve with the sparkling sea below.

Thoughts on Group Leader

A delightful person but perhaps a little opaque at times.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Recommended but check to see if Exodus have improved the programme and found the money to hire a coach.

Most Inspirational Moment

Finishing the walks in one piece. Views from the top of tuila.Great beaches, esp cala luna at the end of a tough walk.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Rudi was exceptional, planned everything down to the last detail. He made the experience very enjoyable

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure you are aware of the terrain and potential difficulty of the walks.

Most Inspirational Moment

Mount Robson without clouds on its peak!!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent - we had to spend 31 hours on the boat fromBella Coola to Port Hardy instead of the expected 11. Michel sorted out our hotels etc very quickly cancelling our hotel in Port Hardy and booking us into another hotel in Parkville. He made a point of consulting us as to what the group wished to do - either spend two nights in Tofino or one night in Tofino and one night in Victoris.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the sun rise at Gilman's point was breath-taking - a welcome relief from the trek up to the summit in the dark and cold. The final hike to Uhuru peak was surpisingly straightforward and the photos at the true summit were amazing - and have no formed the basis of out wedding thank-you cards!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader was very experienced. Some of the rules and advice for high altitude trekking may seem counter-intuitive but the leaders explained the kit, clothing and techniques simply and effectively. They all had a great sense of humour and motivated us throughout.

Advice for Potential Travellers

My advice for potential travellers -  1) make sure you are fit! There were marathon runners and tri-athletes in our group - we all found the final summit hard to reach but it was a real team effort to get there.2) Try to keep your water bottles warm during the summit ascent - trying to drink semi-frozen water is a horrible experience when you have to stay hydrated3)  If reaching the summit is your goal do everything you can to maximise the acclimatisation. Arrive a few days early and walk around the local area which will be at more altitude than you are used to.4) Don't forget the suntan lotion on the summit ascent (like I did). Sun at 6000M will burn your face to a crisp - I had chapped lips for days after5) Get a comfortable 35 litre day sack (eg Osprey)