Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

The Gunang Leuser National Park seeing the orang-utans and other primates. The rangers are very knowledgeable and know the history of the individual orang-utans in the area. The three days on the wooden boat in the islands of the Komodo National Park adjacent to Flores. Some wonderful sunrises and sunsets. Seeing the first Komodo dragon walking across the path in front of us on Rinca - giant lizards with a rather nasty bite! The snorkelling was superb - I've never seen so many different types of fish or so many of them on the coral reefs. Apart from when some of us snorkelled off the boat at Manta Point, the water was very clear.

Thoughts on Group Leader

We had two - Elly in North Sumatra; Wira in Bali & Flores. Elly is a very experienced tour leader and provided much useful practical knowledge i.e. you should wear decent walking boots/trainers in the NP with long trousers tucked into socks. It was steep in places and slippery (we had very heavy rain) and there were leeches! She was good company and we learnt a lot about Indonesia from her. Wira wasn't quite as practical, but was very enthusiastic and arranged 2 birthday cakes. He was also a dab hand with the first aid kit.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The boat isn't big and has very little storage space, so leave your big bag at the hotel in Labuan Bajo and take just what you need for 3 days. Do take a T shirt to swim in whilst snorkelling/taking the dinghy to the beach - it is hot! As a group we decided to dispense with the air conditioning as it meant running a noisy generator all night; most of us slept on deck - much cooler and very peaceful when there weren't other boats running their generators. Do take walking boots/trainers on the central Bali day - it's quite steep descending to the lava fields. The Swastika Bungalows offered a 24 hour laundry service, or you can get your laundry done by one of the local stalls, just outside the hotel. This was halfway through the trip, so worked well. Hardy, the supermarket very close to the hotel, sold just about everything, including the local Hatten wine (very drinkable).

Most Inspirational Moment

I have quite a severe fear of heights but with the robust good sense of Sarah the guide, and the warmth and good humour of other people on the trip, I managed to scramble to the top of one of the highest peaks in the Garfagnana, and it felt really empowering.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sarah Bull the guide (and her canine assistant, the inimitable Elvis) were amazing. Sarah is so knowledgeable about the Garfagnana and an extremely experienced walker/climber/international adventuress. I felt privileged to have met her.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Just book something with Exodus. I would be astonished if you did not enjoy it.

Most Inspirational Moment

Realising the scale of Petra when I saw the vista from the steps above the Royal tombs.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was excellent; energetic, knowledgeable and willing to adapt plans to the group's requirements.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The bicycles provided are basic hybrid or tourer style with general purpose saddles and rim brakes. Most male cyclists will find them too wide so taking a saddle would be a good idea. Luckily for me, one of the bike guides lent me his narrow saddle for the longer rides. If you have any special interests about buildings or aspects of Petra, do some research to determine your "must-see" items. Let the guide know your interests and he will discuss a plan with you. In the time available you will not be able to see everything within Petra.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing a sloth climbing down from high up in a tree to avoid the worst of a squally shower and, as she got closer, realising that she had a baby clinging to her was fabulous. The Cloud Forest in Monteverde also stood out; for me it was the epitome of what a 'jungle' should look and feel like (very green and wet!)

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our guide, Johnny, was friendly and knowledgeable about seemingly all aspects of Costa Rica and its wildlife. Special mention must also go to our driver Dennis who negotiated some narrow windy roads extremely safely.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for rain in the cloud forest despite what the weather may be doing in Monteverde itself! For any photographers, a 400mm lens (or equivalent) really helps get photos of sloths, monkeys etc high up in the trees.

Most Inspirational Moment

To start with; the company of my fellow trekkers - we were a diverse group, but we got on really well. We laughed, we encouraged each other and shared every experience. Priceless! This trip was also important for me as I'd last been to Marrakesh, the High Atlas, Neltner Refuge and Mt. Toubkal 30years ago as an 18 year old student. I wanted to revisit my memories of that time, and brought some of my old photos with me for comparison. Not unsurprisingly, much has changed over the years thanks to tourism, much of it positive, but there were still wonderful echoes of that journey to be found - for example; at Neltner I met the Grandson of the man who had managed the original Neltner Refuge back in 1988, when it was just a single stone 'hut'. Our guide, Hassan, had also worked there as a student, and it is possible that we had coincided 30 years ago! Amazing.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Hassan guided us with a firm but gentle hand throughout the trek. Trying to organise 16 people can't have been easy, but he remained unruffled in all situations. Thank you, Hassan, for your organisational skills, gentle humour and insights into the history and culture of the mountains! I would also like to thank the rest of the Moroccan staff, who fed us royally (sometimes under difficult circumstances) and made sure the camp was ready at the end of each day.

Advice for Potential Travellers

As advised in the trip notes, I would strongly recommend you come prepared with dry-bags to pack your kit into, especially your sleeping bag. We got caught in a storm on the second morning, and a couple of the group ended up with wet sleeping bags - not good!

Most Inspirational Moment

It was the overall variety for me, therefore hard to pull out one inspirational moment. And so I won't.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Overall he was good and I thank him for one particular action (enough said!). Probably could have added a little more to what I got out of the trip, especially in terms of understanding the history of the country and its people.

Advice for Potential Travellers

While graded an activity level of 2, remember that this is in mountains with 20km covered one day. Inevitably the group travels at the speed of the slowest. You'll be pretty unlucky not to see bears - wild they are, but also fed so the viewing from the hide is very likely to happen, and to be quite enthralling. The binocs are a real plus here.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the Pine Martin was the highlight of my trip in Tiscali & the Gorge walk.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Eric was really good, he got the pace just right for the group & everything was well organised. Good description of the walks terrain and so you knew what to expect.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Poles & boots are a must, the underfoot is quite rocky in parts, I felt it was an easy walk, it's the underfoot that makes it a Moderate. I'm not keen on heights, but there were no problems, as foot paths are quite wide and well marked. I didn't think the optional visit to the Grotta del Bue Marino, was worth the price (transfer to harbour/boat/entry), especially if you have seen cave systems before. However there isn't much to do on your free day otherwise. Take a kettle if you want hot drinks (not many staff around in the hotel), hairdryer can be provided at the hotel.

Most Inspirational Moment

Camping in the Wadi desert with the amazing family who cooked traditional food for us, the camel susnset trip, telling ghost stories round the campfire and sleeping under the stars.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Wael was friendly and funny and very well-informed. However, I felt he lost interest in us as a group at the end when we were close to going.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take a lot more money than exodus suggests and insect repellents if you plan on sleeping outside under the stars. Definitely ride the camels by sunset. Be prepared that the cycling may be less than you'd expect.

Most Inspirational Moment

The stunning church at Monreale. Our local guide in Palermo/Monreale, Marina, was exceptional, so knowledgeable and so much fun. And the visits to the markets.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Very kind and well meaning but inexperienced and her English not good enough for such a tour. (At one point there was almost a mutiny, which was averted when a Spanish-speaking Norwegian group member intervened and conversed with her in Spanish which she was more comfortable with than English.) This was my fourth Exodus tour in Italy and I'd have to say the guide was definitely the low point/biggest disappointment of the trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

Being punted through the Okavango Delta like a memsahib. Gazing into the eyes of a White Rhino from 15ft, who decided we were too boring to bother with and went back to chewing the grass. And the Victoria Falls -- words can't do them justice.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Marco and Mira showed the professionalism I have come to expect from Exodus tour leaders, and were quietly keeping on top of the whole show without the clients knowing anything was happening. Very impressed they got us to the Delta despite extensive flooding when other tour groups didn't manage to reach it.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you're not experienced at camping, get the advice of someone who is to ensure you take the right things to the Delta -- I forgot a torch. The spray at Victoria Falls is considerable and it is impossible to keep everything dry. As the return to the UK is not long after, think in advance about what to wear and carry.