Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Where to start? Just when you thought it couldn't get better, Sri Lanka had a surprise for you just around the corner. I can't decide - pick any one moment from these; wild elephants up close, arriving at the summit of Adam's Peak, a soaring eagle, a refreshing swim in a river, the sights and sounds of the jungle, whales spouting, amazing historic artefacts and the most incredible local food!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Group Leaders are the face of an adventure company and leaders of the calibre of Sampath Kulathunga put Exodus in the forefront. The complete unflappable professional, Sam ensured that the group was always safe, well informed, entertained and extremely well fed (despite many special dietary requirements within the group). Longish coach journeys were far from boring, with Sam providing great commentaries on a wide variety of relevant subjects. Thanks to Sam, I felt that I hadn't just visited Sri Lanka, but had been totally immersed in its culture, history and geography. One of the very best Leaders I have come across.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Sri Lanka - Whilst the trip notes state walking sandals, light boots/trainers are better for the time of year we went (very wet underfoot at times and leeches abound). Expect your kit to get damp due to high humidity so packing in waterproof bags helps. Although the overall trip is graded Moderate, the temperature and humidity can make some of the walks e.g. Adam's Peak, feel harder (but very rewarding). Maldives - you can't take alcohol into the Maldives; don't try and cheat, your bags (hold baggage too) WILL be Xrayed and checked by customs on arrival and alcohol is taken from you on arrival and returned as you leave - be prepared for this if you have developed a taste for Sri Lankan Arrack like I did!

Most Inspirational Moment

The walk in the National Park

Thoughts on Group Leader

perfect.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take walking poles and waterproof trousers.

Most Inspirational Moment

Interacting with the guides and porters and seeing how hard they work, inspirational.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Charles is an amazing man, when he talks you listen.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be flexible and social!

Most Inspirational Moment

Petra- it is beyond words. So much more to the site than just the Treasury. Make sure you climb the 800 steps to the Monastery, it is really worth it. Also the climb up to the Place of High Sacrifice and then the walk through to the valley- this takes you "behind" the main site of Petra.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Very knowledgeable but he does need to loosen up a little- very strict on timings when there was no need to be, making it feel a bit rushed sometimes.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you are not into diving/snorkelling then the day in Aqaba can be tedious as there is nothing else to do there, so make sure you take a book to read. On the last day get dropped off in Downtown Amman to wander the shops (souks)- make the effort to say hello and thankyou in Arabic and you will be rewarded with warm welcomes and mint tea from the shopkeepers. I was given a keyring from a shopkeeper as a present when I bought a small item from him- I think they are so glad to see people as tourist traffic is down.

Most Inspirational Moment

The 'home stay' was quite moving, we stayed with a very friendly family. We also enjoyed the floating island, the Sacred valley, Matchu Picchu and Cuzco.

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was very good.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Really think about the long bus drives and the many early starts.

Most Inspirational Moment

Night in the Mystica resort watching the sunset over Arenal Volcano, followed by the fabulous ride the following day around the lake.. The boat ride to Isla Colon and cycling through Veraguas province in Panama.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Memo and his team were outstanding. Professional, observant, knowledgeable and so enthusiastic .. great company..a team that made you smile.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be ready for very hot and humid weather, that was sometimes more challenging than the cycling ..lots of sunblock, and insect repellent . Take some white arm protectors. Embrace being woken up very early by the howler monkeys..what a wonderful sound to wake up to.

Most Inspirational Moment

Watching the sun set over the mountains on the first day, and looking down into the valley to see how far we’d climbed. The almost vertical ’spiderman wall' was a bit daunting at first, but I really enjoyed it.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jerry was fantastic – funny, sociable and professional. When I hurt my foot and couldn't walk, he literally carried me down off the hill! After that, he did his best to include me in other parts of the trip as much as possible (e.g. asking his friend to drive me to the bottom of the wall so I could take pictures). Jerry and the rest of the group, who were all brilliant and really fun, made a big difference in salvaging what could have been a frustrating few days for me.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bring snacks – breakfasts weren’t always that substantial and there was sometimes a long time till lunch, so I definitely needed a mid-morning chocolate bar. And take warm clothes for the evening as it was freezing once the sun went down.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were lots of wonderful moments but the highlight for me was sitting on the top of a hill in the Simien Mountains next to a herd of Gelada monkeys eating and playing and grooming each other. I would like to apologise to David Attenbrough - I remember watching a documentary where he was standing in amongst a herd of Gelada and shouting at the TV, "Well, that would never happen!" How wrong I was. A truly special moment.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Gabre was full of enthusiasm for his country and he is a great ambassador for Ethiopia. A warm, funny, intelligent man who wanted to tell us so much and share everything with us. He went above and beyond for us. The trip ended on Saturday afternoon but several of us had expressed an interest in buying coffee and seeing some opals and Gabre gave up his free time to help us do that. He was always available to ask questions and to give food and eating places advice. He also very gallantly took us to a tej bar to sample the local brew - an acquired taste!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Please go with an open mind and a sense of fun. I did not have a warm shower for about 5/6 days and in one hotel I had no water at all. Did it matter? No. The Simien Mountain hotel is basic but it is clean and that is what counts. A lot of the hotels were a pleasant surprise and far exceeded my expectations. Try and read up on some history/literature before you go - The Emperor, The Barefoot Emperor, In Ethiopia on a Mule.

Most Inspirational Moment

No single moment: as is so often the case in the mountains, it's the views that make the slog worthwhile!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Alvaro is an amazing leader, with lots of local knowledge of the terrain and the flora and fauna. During our week he kept a close eye on the (variable) weather and amended the walking programme accordingly so we didn't get too much rain (there was sunshine as well!)

Advice for Potential Travellers

Look carefully at the grade description. I feel that it is slightly more strenuous than implied by "moderate" - as a comparison I would put this trip firmly into Ramblers' Grade C.

Most Inspirational Moment

Probably the views. They took your breathe away. Especially from the high views.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Christine was excellent. She is so positive and encouraging and we loved her little sayings that we were all quoting by the end of the week.