Most Inspirational Moment
Has to be Macchu Pichu !!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Fantastic.
Reviews
Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers
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Reviews
Wonderful
So much to see and enjoy. The landscape is awesome and the itinerary excellent. All of the places we visited were memorable, from Macchu Pichu to Lake Titicaca (great homestay, so friendly) to Cusco to the condor viewing…..plus many more wonderful places. Always wanted to see the Nasca lines and this was one of the few tours we could find that included it. The weather was largely kind to us so I would say it is a good month to go. We also enjoyed some really great eating experiences – thanks to our Tour Leader ‘foodie’ , Danny.
We really could not fault anything. The hotels were good and well located, the (sometimes long) journeys were broken up by regular stops along the way and there was some dramatic scenery to enjoy. We largely coped with the altitude but be aware that it does affect a number of people in some way.
Finally, our Tour Leader was excellent, probably the best we’ve ever had. All in all a fabulous tour, one not to be missed !!!
Wonderful Costa Rica
This was a wonderful holiday from start to finish, with so much to see and do. Our first stopover at Tortuguero was very enjoyable – the lodge was superb and we saw a lot of wildlife both on the boat trips and walking around the forest. It was also refreshing to have a swim in the pool at the end of a busy day. I thought the holiday may have gone downhill after that – but it didn’t! The lodges we visited subsequently were just as good, and I continued to be amazed by the flora and fauna that were in abundance at all locations on our trip. Add to that a couple of relaxing days on the beach at the Pacific, and it truly was the recipe for a superb holiday.
Most Inspirational Moment
As already noted, this was a holiday of many experiences, and put them all together to get a whole that is greater than the sum of the individual parts. I would highlight the following however: - I did the Sky Trek at Monteverde, which is an optional extra - it's billed as the ultimate zip line experience and it certainly lived up to its reputation. I loved the thrills from zip lining at speed through the forest. - As a contrast, I also enjoyed the rest and relaxation on the Pacific coast. Our walk there at the Manuel Antonio national park was packed with sightings, including sloths and monkeys. We then had the rest of the day if desired to spend on the beach within the park itself, which was much more peaceful than the public beach back in the main resort area. - And finally, I need to mention the Esquinas Lodge. The main building is open plan which adds to the experience and you truly feel that you are away from all the hustle and bustle, and it is just you and nature.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Gio(vanni) was top class. He had a very easy-going manner and really helped to make the group gel and to engender our enthusiasm throughout the holiday. Nothing was a bother for him and he was always eager to please (although I did like his comment at the start of the holiday that it does rain in the rain forest and it is one complaint he can't help with!). He was also superb at spotting wildlife, and he kept up his 100% record on our trip of always managing to spot a quetzal in the Savegre cloud forest.
Advice for Potential Travellers
- Accept that it is likely to rain at some point during your trip and enjoy the experience for what it is. Our trip was the latter part of November and we were lucky as most of the rain fall was during the night. However, when it rained during our stay at Esquinas, we got the brollies out and enjoyed our walk in the rain, and slightly muddy paths (!), through the forest. - The cost of food and drink throughout the trip was relatively expensive and I ended up spending more than the average noted in the trip notes. However, the food was good quality and in particular I enjoyed the fish and seafood. - We made time on our last morning to visit the Gold Museum and it was very interesting. We were in it for over an hour but could have spent much longer going round all the exhibits.
A great and memorable Annapurna Circuit
The whole trip was excellently organised, the accommodation generally better than expected as was the food. The scenery was breathtaking. We were lucky to have perfect weather the whole time. The group leader was excellent being always good humoured, friendly and helpful. Slight downsides were the amount of road walking where occasional buses, lorries and jeeps would tend to hoot at us and then cover us in dust as they passed. Also, some tea houses made hygiene difficult by having very poor or no hand washing facilities in the toilets.
Most Inspirational Moment
The first close up view of the high snow capped peaks.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our group leader was excellent and always had his finger on the pulse of the group. He was pro-active in seeking continuous feedback from the group and dealing with any issues promptly and effectively. He also clearly was effectively managing the guide and porters. He was excellent on safety issues especially those relating to altitude. He also ensured that an appropriate pace was set at all times.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Make sure you have adequate clothing for very cold nights and make sure you bring plenty of socks. In general, the packing list in the trip notes is very good including its recommendation for using a Steripen for water purification.
An adventure not to be missed
From beginning to end this was an amazing adventure ….every day filled with wow moments
Most Inspirational Moment
So many, the mighty Victoria Falls, watching the elephants play in Chobe, the peace gliding down the Orange River or the spectacular Fish River Canyon. For me the just watching the activity at the water hole in Etosha.....fantastic
Thoughts on Group Leader
Siza and Endi (and Sylvia in Namibia) were just brilliant. Cant believe what Siza managed to cook on BBQs and gas rings!!! Food was fabulous.....Endi was always there with a smile and the most infectious laugh....I'm only 5 foot tall and he made sure he was always there to help with the tent because I was "height challenged". Sylvia was only with us in Namibia but her knowledge and passion for the animals, birds and plants was evident ....she was brilliant.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Just go with the flow. This is not a holiday it's an adventure. Be prepared to be hands on, this was NOT a fully serviced camping trip, we were expected to erect and dismantle our own tents. There are some long drives but worth every minute.
Japanese exploration
A great tour, which we both enjoyed tremendously. A wide variety of interesting sites to visit and different modes of transport to experience. Being able to visit Kyoto, Nara, Hiroshima, Takayama, Matsumoto, Yudanka and Tokyo was just superb and everything went exceedingly smoothly with all the trains, buses, subways, trams, and PIRATE ships! The group was 18 in number and we always were able to travel together and experience all the sights. Hotels were good and offered restful nights and hot spring water baths at one. Meals were usually together and fish eaters were well catered for alongside the meat eaters. The two luggage transfers were great and suitcases were whisked off to be reunited a couple of days later. The trip schedule meant that most days we had several sights to visit and even on ‘free-days’ our guide, Ayaka, skilfully put together individual packages depending on our needs. The variety of experiences across the main island of Japan was wonderful.
Most Inspirational Moment
Too many to mention but obviously the emotions of Hiroshima Peace Park, the busy food markets, the opulent shrines and temples, the extensive art treasures in Kyoto and Tokyo, the snow monkeys in snow, the hot spring bath in snow as well, Mount Fuji, the impressive time keeping of Japanese Rail, the patience, knowledge, good humour and infectious laugh of Ayaka.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Ayaka brought together a sizeable group in a calm and unflustered manner and made sure that we were able to fully experience the 'wonders' of ancient and modern Japan. Ever present and always preparing material for free days and helping us get deeper into Japanese society, made the whole tour a really memorable experience. Thank you.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Book for next year
Fantastic, incredibly varied off the beaten track teahouse trek
Highly recommended. By far the most varied trek I’ve ever done and excellent for gradual acclimatisation. Starting from around 600m, the heat (30degC) and almost tropical lowland scenery was quite unexpected and we passed some beautifully quaint Nepali villages surrounded by terraced hillsides, padi fields and banana trees. The route follows the Buri Gandaki River Valley for the first week, which at times steepens and narrows to form a spectacular gorge with cascading waterfalls. You cross some amazing high suspension bridges over the river. As you climb gradually higher the vegetation changes to bamboo thickets, rhododendron and alpine forest and eventually you get above the treeline, where yak pastures, stark hillsides and snow-capped mountains dominate. The villages and people themselves also change as you near the Tibetan border. Crossing the Larke Pass (over 5000m) is a gradual ascent on undulating moraine – the best mountain views are from the ‘second summit’ (past the prayer flags) – save enough energy for the long descent!
Most Inspirational Moment
On our rest day in Bhimtang after the pass, our team of porters decided to collect firewood and host a bonfire for everyone. It was a lovely gesture and all the more special under a starlit sky - the Milky Way a clearly visible streak above us. After sharing the local millet wine (rakshi) we plucked up the courage to join in with the dancing and singing (plus keeping on moving helped us stay warm). It was lovely to see our support team or porters, guides and Tenzi (our tour leader) relaxing and enjoying themselves, having been working so hard to look after us. Music and dancing is very much part of the Nepali culture and it was great to be a part of it. Two of our porters were students and spoke some English - they challenged us to sing a song for them in return...we agreed we would but on the last night. We adapted the lyrics of a song to have one verse about each of our guides - it went down a treat at the time but I think we're all hoping there's no video evidence!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Tenzi Sherpa, also known as 'The laughing Sherpa' or 'Haha Tenzi' (owing to his distinctive and incredibly infectious laugh and gleaming white ear to ear smile), was a fantastic leader - I would request him next time. Attentive and safety conscious at all times, very well organised and managed the different walking paces within our group as well as possible. He was quietly knowledgeable if you asked him about something but without overloading you with information.
Advice for Potential Travellers
You will experience a huge range of temperatures on this trek as you climb from 600m to over 5000m - bring lightweight layers for the lowlands and high SPF sunscreen and lip balm as well as a warm fleece/down jacket for higher up. Bring mosquito repellent for the lowlands too. There are some very narrow trails and numerous high suspension bridges so I wouldn't consider this if you have a fear of height/vertigo. Not all of the lodges have electrical charging facilities so bring a power bank or solar charger / use lithium batteries if possible as these last longer in the cold. Bring lots of wet wipes - it's not practical to have a proper wash every night or when it's very cold. Travel games/cards are good for the evenings. Ear plugs are useful in the teahouses as the walls are very thin.
The Lost City of Choquequirao
It is a seriously insane trek across big country traversing a number of valleys, each of which takes a day to cross. There are no rocky ridge routes to relieve the arduous nature of the walking and the fine views are hard won. Having said that I did enjoy it as we had the paths almost entirely to ourselves and over the course of the trek were able to gain a real appreciation of the Inca heartland and the work they put into cultivating the landscape.
Most Inspirational Moment
The setting of Machu Picchu amongst the towering pinnacles.
Thoughts on Group Leader
The criticism from my fellow traveller is unwarranted. Tomas was very enthusiastic and in addition to leading the walks, did all the guided tours of the sites. I did not feel there was any lack of connection with the group, quite the contrary. He also managed to keep everything to schedule, not easy with a group of 14.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take a close look at the route before deciding if it is the one for you. This is only one of several alternatives to the very popular Inca trail.
Ancient & modern Japan
This was a brilliant trip with a great group of fellow travellers. It took us along the length of Honshu, from the coast, cities, and into the mountains, using very efficient public transport – the Shinkansen & Tokyo metro which are experiences in themselves. We saw friendly deer, excitable snow monkeys and dressed-up dogs in prams (an example of an eccentric sight Japan will offer many of). It offered relaxing moments like bathing in the hot springs and warming sake, to quite intense moments like navigating busy train stations and some longer days on our feet exploring parks and cities.
Most Inspirational Moment
I travelled to Japan to particularly catch the autumn colours - amazing! Late November was the perfect time of year for acers and they are a sight the country over, so Japan kept giving beatiful views throughout the two weeks. Ginkaku-ji in Kyoto gave my favourite moment for autumn colour - it's optional, but I v much recommend. If in blossom, the Philosopher's walk would be stunning as it's lined with cherry trees, again this was optional.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Ayaka had great enthusiasm, was very humourous and she was very well organised. She moved 18 people several times through Tokyo stations at rush hour without loosing anyone! She offered great advice on sights to see on our free time, and gave useful maps with recommendations highlighted. She knew her Japanese food, and I particularly liked the group treats she sourced in Kyoto and she got us into some lovely restaurants despite being a big group.
Advice for Potential Travellers
There's more walking than may seem obvious in the trip notes, and most is on paved urban surfaces, so it could be quite uncomfortable by the end of the longer days. So take comfy shoes and be prepared for several miles on one or two days. Tokyo's rail carriages get busy and cramped, and the stations themselves at rush hour take a lot of patience. But, for me it was part of experienceing the modern side of Japan so added to the understanding of what it means to be a local. Busy! There's more time in Tokyo then I'd really appreciated, so I'd recommend doing more research than I did on your options so you can make the most of it.
Thoroughly enjoyable trip
Excellent trip giving a great introduction to the culture & history of Japan.
Most Inspirational Moment
- autumn colours - Hiroshima - Kyoto golden temple - snow monkeys - bullet train - Nara It was all fabulous!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Ayaka did an excellent job of organising a group of 18 people & keeping us on track. She was always cheerful, friendly & helpful.
Advice for Potential Travellers
There was more walking than I expected. It was fine for us but I think it's worth letting travellers know that you could be walking 6-7 miles a day. There was also more transport changes than we expected.
Knockout trip!
A really wonderful trip, I could not find fault with it, even if I wanted to. Namibia is a fascinating place to visit, the scenery, wildlife and people make it a delightful destination. The itinerary is good and the trip is the right length.
Most Inspirational Moment
Sitting eating 'al fresco' in the evening (after a day tracking a rhino and watching a breeding herd of elephants) when we spotted a lioness and her cub passing by about 40-50 metres away! Surprised even our experienced + seasoned guides. Brilliant. The next day our guides (and us) tracked and found them again. Also the visit to a Namibian primary school was unmissable.
Thoughts on Group Leader
We had two guides (Koos + Mathias) and they were absolutely first class. They were friendly, helpful, knowledgeable and good fun. I cannot recommend them enough.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Be aware that the trip involves a lot of driving on Namibian gravel roads + off-road tracks, and can be a bit rough and tiring. However, if you want to go to some of the less visited spots and see wildlife that is still genuinely running wild, then for me, it is well worth it. Also it is hot in Namibia in November, typically into the mid to low 30's during the day on our trip. On the plus side the nights were cool and made sleeping comfortable. For the primary school visit you can take exercise books, pens etc to donate. but our guides also gave us an opportunity to buy some before visiting (very useful as books/paper can be heavy).