Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Summiting Puig Campana on the final day

Thoughts on Group Leader

An excellent guide very experienced & good company. His brother also joined us who enjoys sharing mountain survival skills & detailed local knowledge. He creates the best sandwiches for lunch I have ever seen! Don't expect to lose weight! I was disappointed at not summiting Aitana & did feel he was overly cautious given low cloud/mist. It felt as if he thought that if there was to be no view then it wasn't worth it. The cloud & mist was negligible & we could easily have managed the summit without any significant risk.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do some pre-investigation & planning for the day off. The local coastal town is very limited & the alternative beach is very nice but again very quiet. Obviously it depends very much what you are looking for.

Most Inspirational Moment

Cilento region was my favourite for cycling, just as picturesque as Amalfi coast but MUCH less crowded & touristy, with safer roads!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Paolo was very friendly & efficient, well organised & with good local knowledge. Special mention also to Rafael, our backup driver & mechanic who would magically appear whenever needed, always on hand with water or bike sorting skills.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bring good waterproofs! I only had a light jacket with me thinking Italy doesn't get rain like at home, but a couple of downpours convinced me otherwise (although this trip was quite late in the year).

Most Inspirational Moment

Being part of a group that helped each other to meet the moderate challenges.

Thoughts on Group Leader

She was an inspiration. She continually displayed such respect for the area that it heightened our awareness and understanding so that we could get the most out it. She skillfully recognised when to lead walks from the front and when to drop back so that the pace could suit everyone. She made our walking and evening sessions so enjoyable.

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking round the towns and sampling the local food

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ok, but her english was not great and she wanted talk about ancient times and geology too much instead of telling the group the modern side of the island.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do not book this trip if you are single and under the age of 50 and you wish to stay out later than 10 pm.

Most Inspirational Moment

The camaraderie amoungst the group, especially when the cycling got tough right at the very end (there was the option to get on the bus) but making it to the top with everyone's support felt great!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Couldn't have asked for more! He was helpful, friendly, supportive and so very knowledgeable. He organised us very efficiently but in a way that did not harass - he recognised we were on holiday!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go with an open mind and be pleasantly surprised. It is a great country with lots to offer in terms of culture and vitality. Cycling is a great way to enjoy this and the free time experiences really fill in the gaps.

Most Inspirational Moment

I'm not sure there was just one inspirational moment - the hikes and views from Sierra de Grazalema, El Chorro Gorge and the Penon Crag were all spectacular and special.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Alexis was an energetic, enthusiastic, fun, and funny guide! He was very knowledgeable about the area, the trails and the cuisine. If he didn't know an answer, he said that he would find out - and he did. He had as much fun learning from us as we did from him. He is definitely an asset to Exodus Travels!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Although the trip is advertised as "walks", they are really hikes, some of which are quite challenging because of the steepness of the inclines. The shower in our room was on a slant which made it somewhat nerve racking because of a fear of slipping and falling. A number of us, including me, also got bedbugs which was very distressing!!

Most Inspirational Moment

So many I cannot choose only one: climbing to Angels Landing, scrambling the wrong way up the slick rock to Delicate Arch, hiking out to Dark Angel and both the rim walk and hiking down into Grand Canyon are all experiences I will hold dear!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leaders Adrian's and Darin were brilliant. Their energy, knowledge and enthusiasm made the trip. Also once the group agreed to the picnic lunch kitty proposal, they provided an extremely well stocked lunch taking care of all the shopping during their down time. It certainly seemed like an 'above and beyond' level of care.

Advice for Potential Travellers

In the autumn be prepared for extreme temperature swings throughout the day especially in Bryce where it was near to freezing overnight and first thing but in the twenties under the cloudless blue skies by late morning. I think the effort could be described as anything from leisurely to strenuous, this is very much your choice with the hiking options on offer. It is very intense though. One of the guides suggested these trips are a bit like Tapas, a taster of lots of different parks. You won't do much more than scratch the surface at each location unlike centre based holidays.

Most Inspirational Moment

I had two inspirational moments (a) the game drives in the Mara, especially seeing where the crocs catch the wildebeest at the river crossings (which I'd seen many time on the TV). But unfortunately there were no wildebeest crossing and (b) the gorillas. I never imagined we would get so close. The group were relaxing digesting their breakfast. I came face to face with a black back whilst walking through a hedge tunnel, wow!!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader Kipp (Peter) was amazing: knowledgeable, funny, friendly, helpful at all times. Our cook Dan cooked some amazing veggie dishes for us vegetarians in the group. Odoyo, our driver, did a great job driving over some difficult terrain especially the roads to the Mara. And not forgetting Amus our helper. Nothing was ever too much for him.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you feel the cold, take thermals as I did and on a number of nights I wore them all!! No need to take many cloths as you can do your own washing or having them washed by the locals. I took a 2/3 season down sleeping bag but if you feel the cold take a 4 season bag. We encountered very heavy rain on a few occasions in Uganda so would recommend taking a good waterproof jacket and thick fleece.

Most Inspirational Moment

How to decide? Jerash ; Petra or the desert? Each location was so memorable that I can not decide.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Hasan was very knowledgeable and his enthusiasm was catching. He went way beyond his brief when showing us the various wonderful places we visited and gave us a global view geographically, politically and culturally. He rushed us sometimes but that was because he wanted to show us everything on the Exodus trip notes!

Advice for Potential Travellers

I was the oldest in the group at almost 73 and was able to do all the activities except the Monastery in Petra. Don't let age stop you. Don't worry about the desert stay; it was a mystical experience.

Most Inspirational Moment

Watching a lightning storm whilst sheltering safely was exhilarating. I also loved visiting Lucca on the free day and cycling round the city wall on a hire bike.

Thoughts on Group Leader

I thought Paul did a good job, given that he arrived in the resort at the same time as we did. He recommended and reserved some excellent restaurants for us; the food and wine was a definite highlight of the holiday. He also came up with an alternative "wet weather" walk when bad weather shut the Cinque Terre and that walk (including the storm) was another of my highlights.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The walks are very steep in parts so a good fitness level is required. I'd done a couple of level 2/3 trips before and found this level 3 trip to be noticeably more difficult than those. Mind you, I was a lot fitter by the end of the week and the views definitely make the effort worthwhile. I went on this trip towards the end of the season. I think this was a good move because it meant the Cinque Terre paths and towns were not as busy as they would be in the summer.