Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

The trip was full of highlights but one of our favorite experiences was being in Matera on the May Day holiday. After completing our walk for the day we spent the rest of the afternoon in town and loved watching the streets full of couples of all ages, families and friends, strolling the streets, eating gelato, watching bands parade by, and just enjoying life the way it should be!!!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader , Giuseppe was excellent!!!! He was outgoing, enthusiastic, knowledgeable and wanted to ensure that this was one of our best trips ever. He had prepared handouts on restaurants in Matera and a list of options for things to do on our free day. His picnic lunches were wonderful. He interacted with the locals on many occasions giving us a chance to see the area through their eyes. We would jump at the opportunity to travel with him again

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go before this part of Italy becomes too popular

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking round the crater of Mount Vesuvius. It's an awe-inspiring experience. The local guide at the top was an added plus -- very informative and enthusiastic. Pompeii was also fascinating.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Paul was great -- organised, informative and fun. Satva and Enrico, who were shadowing him, were also lovely.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Book this trip. You won't regret it!

Most Inspirational Moment

The wildlife viewings were fantastic, especially the leopard and bull elephant we saw next to our vehicle. We were extremely lucky; it was as if the leopard was posing just for us. These animals are generally very solitary and evasive and seeing one so up close was just incredible.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Rooney our group leader was superb; his driving skills and knowledge of Namibia were incredible. How he spotted some of the wildlife from the distance, I will never know. His two deputies, Jonas and Ruben, were also very hard-working gentlemen who looked after the twelve of us very well from dawn to dusk. They were very efficient in setting up and dismantling our tents, loading and unloading our vehicle and their cooking skills were great. What a great team to look after us!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Travelling across this large country was very comfortable and safe; and both the tarmac and dirt roads were in excellent condition. The townships and campsites were very clean and the people were very friendly. I would just recommend bringing a good sleeping bag - and an excellent camera for the beautiful landscape and wildlife on show!

Most Inspirational Moment

Difficult to say - Kyoyo; visiting the beautiful temples and shrines, particularly seeing the Miyajima floating tori; travelling on the Shinkansen; lying in the onsen after a busy day; seeing Mount Fuji without the clouds. I could go on and include everything as it was all so good.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Brilliant! He guided us around calmly and without hassle through the very efficient but complicated transport systems of Japan. He was always there for us but never intrusive. He took us on some of the optional trips on the free days or otherwise gave us detailed instructions on how to get there. He took us to a variety of Japanese restaurants, explaining what it was and how to eat it! His English is excellent and he was very knowledgeable about the history of Japan, plants and generally about everything we asked him. He kept the information and instructions simple so that we weren't overloaded and repeated it when necessary. One, if not the, best guides I've had on my 15 or so group holidays.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take good, comfortable shoes that are easy to get on and off. The weather varied quite a bit so take clothes for warm and colder weather.

Most Inspirational Moment

The inca trail was my favourite, but I enjoyed the whole trip.

Thoughts on Group Leader

One of the best. Very committed and did everything he could to make the holiday memorable. Very caring and devoted to the group

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go for ir

Most Inspirational Moment

Any of our walking days: seeing the extraordinary colours of the sea from the cliff tops; watching the black vultures perched on the rocky edge above us as we approached the 16th century farm house where we had freshly squeezed orange juice; the panoramic views of the sea and the central plain from the mountain tops we climbed up to.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Very knowledgeable about Mallorcan life, and happy to share his knowledge with us. His Mallorcan picnics gave us an insight into the food traditions of Mallorca, and his friendship networks enabled us to go through otherwise closed hunting areas and so have a better day's walking. At Lluc he organised very successful evenings of exceptionally good food at one of the local restaurants, and his flexibility and dedication to giving Exodus clients a good experience meant that those who wished to had a morning and early afternoon in Palma before meeting up at the airport to get out flight home.

Advice for Potential Travellers

No surprises here: the trip notes cover all the ground.

Most Inspirational Moment

Finally reaching Everest Base Camp was a truly incredible moment. The scenery in the Himalayas was always breathtaking as well.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader, Pasang Bomjan, was excellent. He provided help and advice when I suffered from altitude sickness, and I was always confident in his ability to lead the group safely and competently.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do not underestimate the altitude. However, if you follow your leader's advice - ascend slowly, drink lots of water, keep eating even if you have no appetite - you will be able to complete the trek. The route was surprisingly dusty, so I recommend bringing a buff/scarf to cover your mouth.

Most Inspirational Moment

The wonderful different views from various places were all inspirational.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader Ivan was brilliant, he was very attentive, full of information & nothing was too much trouble, he explained thoroughly what would be happening next on the tour & kept an eye on everyone.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The first walk was harder than I had envisaged but was well worth it for the amazing view from the top.

Most Inspirational Moment

The waterfalls in Yosemite

Advice for Potential Travellers

Before booking, consider travelling a couple of days early so you have time to explore San Fransisco - my flight arrived mid afternoon which left no time for that. Similarly, as there is not an overnight stay in Las Vegas at the end, you may want to consider staying on as my departure flight left only a couple of hours mid afternoon in the city.

Most Inspirational Moment

Probably our zip lining experience in the cloud forest, which was just fantastic and something I will never forget, but we also loved the volcanic hot springs, and of course seeing sloths, monkeys, toucans, crocodiles, scarlet macaws, etc, etc...

Thoughts on Group Leader

Fantastic. Knowledgeable on the flora and fauna and on Costa Rica generally and managed the tour to perfection.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The optional activities (zip lining and volcanic hot springs) are really worth doing and I would highly recommend them. Make sure you buy your souvenirs before you get to the airport, as the prices at the airport are more than double the price outside.