Most Inspirational Moment
walking above the clouds
Thoughts on Group Leader
Excellent
Advice for Potential Travellers
be ready for all seasons in one week - bright sun at high altitude, so bring sun cream and warm clothes
Reviews
Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers
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Reviews
An excellent winter break for active people
Good walks in amazing scenery. A weeks winter holiday felt like a month of discovery in summer weather
Land of the Tiger
Wow! what an fantastic experience, just the right balance of safaris and leisure time. Our guide Vijay was excellent, nothing was too much trouble for him, he even managed to book an extra game drive for us.
Most Inspirational Moment
Seeing Tigers in the wild is very exciting, we saw 9 tigers and a leopard over 16 game drives plus numerous other animals.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Vijay was really excellent
Advice for Potential Travellers
It was very cold in the mornings in February. Getting up at 5am and sitting in an open top jeep requires layers of clothing, the lodges provide blankets but you need hat, scarf and gloves plus a warm coat! The train journey was "intresting" I personally was dreading it but actually it was quite fun, we were on the train around 14 hours, when we got to Agra we had plenty of time to shower and get changed before the afternoon visit to Agra fort and the Taj Mahal.
Snowshoeing in the Dolomites
Almost perfect trip. The weather was magnificent, blue skies and sunshine pretty well throughout. The hotel Adler was excellent – comfortable beds, lovely food, good service, lovely swimming pool to relax in after a day on the mountains. The scenery is as magnificent as it looks in travel brochures. To top it all, Sara, our guide, was helpful, friendly, knowledgeable, organised, and everything else you could hope for a leader to be.
Most Inspirational Moment
Two, for the same reason. Ascending Strudelkopf and, a couple of days later, Durakopf. Both tops have all-round views of the Dolomites and even the distant Alps. Both were well worth the climb.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Sara is superb.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Be prepared for climbing. These are the Dolomites! But the effort is all worthwhile.
Winter walking in a little known area of Spain
This area of Spain is little known and on three walks we saw no-one else and on one we saw just one couple. It is just behind Benidorm but is little touched by tourism and gives an insight into rural Valencia. The walks are demanding but the views are breathtaking and are either to and from the hotel door or after a short drive. The weather in February was mild and sunny and the lower slopes were covered with almond blossom, making it an unusual opportunity to do European mountain walking in the winter months.
Most Inspirational Moment
Each of the walks had its own charm. I remember particularly a long descent from the Serrella massif down a hidden valley.
Thoughts on Group Leader
I have travelled frequently with Exodus and other similar trekking companies and Jose was one of the best tour leaders I have walked with. He was enthusiastic and knowledgeable about mountain walking and about the ways local people have responded to the challenges of the environment over the years. He combined this with a mischievous sense of humour.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Get fit in advance: the walking is 1000 metres ascent and descent in a day and the paths are often rocky and uneven.
So close to excellent that I give it excellent
This really is an adventure and a half, full on with interesting and varied cycling. What makes this trip special is the contrasts between city and countryside, some of the sights will remain in the memory bank for a long, long time. You will learn to jaywalk in Saigon, a very valuable skill which will be practiced often. be prepared for some long travel time in the coach and the train from Hue to Hanoi is a cracker! The food is remarkably inexpensive but there is a limit to how many spring rolls and rice and noodles you can munch through in a fortnight. Take advantage of the excellent breakfasts, omelettes are a must.
Most Inspirational Moment
Every day brings new moments to savour and it is difficult to isolate one above another, however if pushed, I would say that cycling up the Hai Van Pass (everyone who attempted succeeded) just about pips Whale Island for top spot. Got to mention the traffic management system in Saigon and Hanoi, or lack of it! You will never get your head round the number of mopeds and the free for all at roundabouts and junctions.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Long was a good leader who could easily be great. he started badly by asking us for $100 each for snacks and tips kitty which was at odds with Exodus recommendation, the group eventually got this down to $81 each. In reality the snacks couldn't have cost much at all. There was an expectation to tip the Leader at the end as well. Long had a great back up team, but managed to lose 3 people, 1 of whom cycled 10K past a turning point. That said he was a real leader in every sense with an endearing personality Long managed a difficult itinerary with consumate ease and his time management was spot on. His choices for group meals were excellent. I liked him and his English was impressive, he was learning Cockney rhyming slang. His passion for Vietnam shone through.
Advice for Potential Travellers
If you have a comfy seat, take it. There were gel covers available. There are ATM's in the Cities. You can pay in US Dollars or Dong for everything. This isn't a casual bike ride, expect to cycle at a reasonable rate, stops are at 20K or 1 hour.
Exhilarating and fun
This was my first every cycling holiday. I was never a cyclist and although fit cycled moe in this cortnight than i have in my life comvined….but i did it…never once riding in the bus…although there qas no ahame in that! Although one of the weaker cylists i was encouraged by the others and felt a treme dous sense of accomplishment to have completed it.
Most Inspirational Moment
Actually not riding the bus.....altnough i had to walk short stretches on the mountainous day...i did it. The other cyclists were wondèful and our vuide, Lee superb. He woas encouraging, funny and so knowledgeable about the history and the places we visited. We all swear he has a photographic memory.! The sight seeing was perfect and the rides interesting especially when we went tbrough small towns and villages where even the school childen chered us on like celebrities.
Thoughts on Group Leader
FANTASTIC! Incredily knowledgeable and always there to help. On the tough cycling day he stayed behind with me encouraging me all the way. Our drivers too were excellent and always there with help and a joke. They made the whole experience wonderful.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Bring pens and makers and sweets to give to the kids along the way. They flock round you, not begging but a oen or marker is a prize to them. The people are delightfyl and friendly and it is a pleasure to be able to give them something little that they really appreciate. At the end of tbe trip we asked our gyide if we could leave clothes or toiletries behind and he happily took them to give to needy people...so pack some old clothes.
Wonderful highlights of this beautiful area
I booked this trip as a land only holiday as part of a wider trip to Chile and Argentina I was undertaking. I’m so glad that I did ensuring I could enjoy the key parts of the National Parks of Argentina along with the excellent logistics of being part of an organised group with a top notch tour leader. It exceeded my expectations. Well done Exodus.
Most Inspirational Moment
For me the most inspiring part of the trip was the two full day walks we did at Mt Fitzroy and Torres del Paine. Despite not having clear weather conditions, we were able to make challenging ascents and to enjoy the key 'money shot' views of each iconic natural landmark just as the clouds broke. With the sun shining through each was revealed just at the right time making the efforts to hike up really worth it. hard work on the feet and knees but so rewarding.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our group leader was Xavi. An Argentinian who was proud of his country, really knowledgeable, friendly and wanting so much to ensure we all had a great time and got as much out of our trip as we could. He was able to share the history and social context of places we visited as much as the geographical and natural world that we were experiencing. Very honest on how things would be each day, which additional tours were worth the money in the relevant weather conditions and with a superb sense of humour that was really endearing. One of the best group leaders I have ever come across. On our first day in Patagonia, he welcomed us with preparing the mate for all os us to taste and share. To do this may be part of showing us Argentina, however in his culture its an honour to be offered and to receive the mate cup. Lovely gesture. Xavi also had to deal with an individual in the group who was disruptive in their comments and attitude at many times. Despite this challenge he was professional at all times, ensuring that he balanced the needs of all and preventing the nonsense of one person from affecting the enjoyment of the holiday for the others. Thats quite a skill and he did it wonderfully.
Advice for Potential Travellers
If you are considering this trip I would; Ensure you are fit and capable of the two long days walks and consider taking walking sticks to assist you. Pack plasters for walking blisters Keep your packing light as the internal flights only have 15kg checked baggage limits. However excess baggage rates are really reasonable. Extend your trip at the beginning or end by an extra two days minimum to make the most of Buenos Aires
Discover Costa Rica
Outside of San Jose, Costa Rica is a beautiful country with an abundant variety of birds, verdant countryside, the best of tropical fruit, very friendly people and an increasing sensitivity to protecting the environment. All-in-all, it was an excellent holiday.
Most Inspirational Moment
Strolling back from watching the red and golden skies as the sun set over the sea at Manuel Antonio, we spotted a two-toed sloth atop a tree by the roadside. On closer observation we were bowled over to see that a baby was spreadeagled across it's mother's tummy. The fur of the sloths was burnished by the glow of the setting sun. A truly magical moment.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Excellent - his knowledge of the birds was exceptional but he was also able to answer virtually any question about the country that members of the group through at him and was more than willing to give up extra time show us aspects of a country of which he was undoubtedly very proud.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take a torch! Exodus mention this as an optional extra but I'd say it is an essential - not just because some of the lodges and rooms are very dark at night but because one is useful to spot wildlife after sunset.
Vietnam Adventure
This holiday is breath taking fast moving culturally stimulating. A treat for the eyes and the mind as you experience the sights sounds and people of Vietnam. We then moved on to Cambodia Ankor Wat which has amazing history before sobering thoughts and memories of Phnom Penh.
Most Inspirational Moment
The northern part of the trip in Vietnam was just brilliant
Thoughts on Group Leader
the group leader in Vietnam was an outstanding leader, i hold him in the highest regard. The leader in Ankor Wat was a very considerate and caring. The leader in Phnom Penh let us down, we rushed the Killing fields we rushed the Museum and Royal Residents. he did not turn up to take us to the airport and the taxi he sent was late
Advice for Potential Travellers
travel light
Discover Costa Rica
Truly the holiday of a lifetime. Could not improve on any elements of it. The pace and variety was perfect. Loved the Eco lodges, the wildlife and was very lucky with the company. The guide was fascinating and passionate about his subject. A walking encyclopaedia of Costa Rican facts and insights.
Most Inspirational Moment
Walking through cloud forests.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Gerado made our trip. He was fun and informative and helpful.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Just go! Don't bother packing anything even vaguely dressy. Will be a waste of suitcase space but take walking boots and masses of bug spray.