Most Inspirational Moment
Reaching the top of Adams Peak where we visiting the temple and watched the sun rise with all the locals, who also made the journey to the top.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our leader was phenomenal!
Reviews
Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers
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Reviews
Walking the best of Sri Lanka
I have recently returned from the most incredible walking trip in Sri Lanka. The walks were very diverse, up mountains, through rainforests and around serene lakes. We also explored the cities, beaches and National Parks (where we were lucky enough to see a Leopard!). Our leader, Ruwan, was first class – he was very organised, friendly, told us interesting stories about the culture and history and took us to meet lots of local families, who were all lovely. I couldn’t speak of this trip more highly.
Tiger, tiger...
A non stop tour of the heart of India; Forts and temples, wildlife and culture. Long days and pleasant evenings. By the third day out of Delhi, we had seen the sunset over the Taj Mahal from the Midnight Garden, walked on the beautiful white marble of that iconic building in the early morning, watched wildlife waking in the Ranthambore National park and spent a privileged hour in the company of Ritthi, a magnificent female tiger. In the days to come we walked through ruined temples, deserted forts, lovely little towns and sampled the cuisine and traditional ceremonies and explored the back streets of Rajasthan.
Most Inspirational Moment
Two moments stand out for me. The first was spending more than an hour in the company of Ritthi, a large female tiger as she dozed in the sun no more that 30m from me before stalking (and not catching) two spotted deer. And then watching as she stalked and caught a wild boar. The second was when our guide, Naveen, arranged with our hotel manager in Bundi for us to watch the celebrations and ceremonies in honour of Hanuman, the monkey faced god, whose birthday it was. Bundi is one of those rare places that haven’t been adversely affected by tourism and as we watched from the side of the street we were made welcome and then became a focus of attention for those in the procession. I think I appear in more selfies than I took photos. And all the while we felt safe and comfortable.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Naveen is an excellent guide and leader. His briefings were clear and concise and any questions were quickly answered. He made sure that the group was ok at all times. As we approached each town we had a full explanation of any options and activities. At the historical sites he made sure we understood the restrictions on bags, food, and the dress codes required for respect and tradition in advance. The act that sums up his attention to us happened at the airport when the group flight people were leaving. Having dropped us off, he waited at the barriers to make sure we all got through the initial security checks for entry to the airport before leaving himself. Mention must be made of Vijay, our driver. He was a calm and quiet character who was more than capable of dealing with all the traffic conditions we encountered during the trip. For the longer journeys I was sat at the front of the bus and despite oncoming traffic in our lane, desperate overtaking by cars and trucks and one memorable moment as a lorry rushed towards us in our lane, I had confidence that Vijay could deal with it all. When I return to India, I would choose Naveen as my guide and Vijay as my driver.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Many of the days are long as there is a lot to do. We travelled in April and temperatures were reaching 35c+. In the forts and temples, there was a lack of breeze and the heat reflected off the stonework. Exodus trip notes are pretty accurate; in those temperatures you need to drink plenty and dress accordingly. In many historical sites bags are either not allowed or are subject to long security checks. Most sites forbid any food to be taken in. Religious sites require you to take off your shoes. Those in our group who weren’t wearing socks regretted it as the stone floors got very, very hot in the afternoon sun. A spare pair of socks would be a good idea for those visits. For the game drives a mobile phone will not do the wildlife justice. If you don’t bring a camera with some kind of telephoto lens, a pair of lightweight binoculars will help with watching the birds and smaller mammals. Expect to be hassled by street vendors. It’s not personal or aggressive and the best way I found of dealing with it was to politely say no/shake the head and then ignore them. It can be hard when they persist, but they soon get the message and move on to the next person. I saw people engage in conversation and regret it as the hassle continued for minutes. I saw very few beggars and the advice is to donate to registered charities rather than someone who approaches you on the street. Walking in the narrow streets can be intimidating but the traffic is not trying to hit you and the horns are there to let you know someone is approaching, not to rebuke you. Be aware of the traffic, watch how the locals deal with it, don’t do anything unexpected and you’ll be fine.
A Fabulous Trip - Tigers and more
Angela was on our trip – I do not really feel that I need to add anything to her post. Just that it is a FABULOUS TRIP. Go with the flow and enjoy. Experience the anticipation of spotting the animals, birds etc. See everything as a bonus- you are travelling into their environment.
Most Inspirational Moment
Seeing the tigers and leopards - it can get quite emotional when you seeing them walking towards and past your vehicles. The trip to the Taj Mahal - was very busy but worth it. We dressed up for it as had spent so long in dusty safari clothes
Thoughts on Group Leader
Krishna - was a fabulous - a very knowledge and informative guide. he helped make the trip
Advice for Potential Travellers
We took plugs for India and a USB charging block which served us well. As Angela mentioned the card machines sometimes didn't work so take plenty of cash. Most hotels and lodges exchanged GB pounds but the rates could be variable. Take dust covers for your cameras - and lens cleaning stuff. Plenty of batteries and SD cards! you can get carried away on the Tiger and leopard sightings. Plus phones/ Small video recorders to record the moments when the tiger walks towards you. Travel in the safari jeeps can be very dusty and also very bumpy. Take plenty of tissues and hand sanitizer. Swimming costumes - most of the lodges have a small pool you can cool off in.
A great trip
This was my first trip with Exodus. It was really great, the mix of walking and visiting local sites of interest was just perfect for me . The guide Michele was excellent, knowledgeable and incredibly hardworking. The group were very friendly and I can honestly say that I have never laughed so much ! Walks were varied and interesting. Loved it !
Most Inspirational Moment
The beach visits
Thoughts on Group Leader
Brilliant
Advice for Potential Travellers
Some of the walks involve a little easy scrambling
Just wow !
There is so much packed into this itinerary, The different landscapes and wildlife you will see is amazing. This was my 1st solo holiday, I particularly picked it because I wanted to be with a mixed group of couples and solos alike and it worked well for me. There is a lot of travelling involved in this trip but I believe it was worth it to see the landscape change so very much. Motopo national park was so beautiful and we literally crept up on 3 rhinos. The peacefulness of the delta and the milky way was magnificent 👌 (The bushy bushy was something to be desired but I survived)
Most Inspirational Moment
For me it was climbing the rocks to world's end ...the view is spectacular and I can see why Cecil Rhodes wanted to be laid to rest there. Also walking through long grass in our hunt for rhinos, just magical
Thoughts on Group Leader
ONARY ...what a wonderful man. He was professional , friendly and kind, he made each of us feel special and included.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Oh yes...... Make sure you take : South African and English adapter plugs Power Bank Head torch I am the type of person that normally goes to 5 star resorts, so if I can do this trip and love it so will you! If you fancy a bit of adventure just go for it
Costa Rica
Our group leader, Armando , from start to finish , was the ‘ icing on the cake , for us – he made this trip- memorable!
The wildlife , nature , and environment were absolutely fabulous! We saw so much and the organisation was seamless ! I normally arrange trips myself and was a bit reticence about leaving it to others but I needn’t have worried as everything went perfectly- again aided by Arnando’s professionalism and friendly manner
Most Inspirational Moment
Everything! But Armando spotting a mother and baby sloth will forever be a magical moment !!!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Armando is a credit to his country, for which he clearly has a deep rooted love and passion for, and its environment and wildlife . He inspired us all and was professional but friendly , funny and approachable throughout! His knowledge was endless and he made everything so easy to understand
Advice for Potential Travellers
BOOK THIS TRIP ( BUT ASK FOR ARMANDO AND CARLOS ( driver)
Fabulous, fast paced trip
Excellent trip, very fast paced as previous comments, this is definitely a cycling trip but very enjoyable. Whale Island was amazing and enjoyed 2 nights stay so could relax. Hotels were excellent, train journey was good. Food was amazing, Loc our your leader was excellent, always making sure we were all ok and enjoying the experience. Took us to great restaurants, advising the best food to try etc. Our group was split between people with Ebikes and regular bikes, which on the hills was an issue, the regular bikes were not able to keep up and created a gap in the group. If you want a challenge ride a regular bike, if you want to have easier rides order an ebike.
Most Inspirational Moment
Cycling through the villages was amazing, children running to wave and shout etc, Learning about the culture, history was very interesting
Thoughts on Group Leader
Loc was excellent, very helpful and interesting
Advice for Potential Travellers
Check if the majority are ebikes or regular bikes, depending on your fitness, the cycling is definitely doable on a regular bike, I enjoyed the challenge Do not overpack, you can wash cycling kit every night, shower gel/shampoo and conditioner etc in every hotel Snacks are provided every hour or so on the bike and are amazing so unless you want something specific you do not need to take any bars etc You are moving hotels nearly every night so the less you can take the easier it is
Tigers, Leopards and So Much More
What an amazing holiday! We were incredibly lucky with our sightings, not only of tigers but also of leopards (I think our group had 6 individual leopard sighting by the end), wild elephants, Indian Wild Dogs, jackals and the most fabulous array of colourful birds (peacocks, rollers, eagles, vultures – the list is long!). As has been mentioned in previous reviews, there are things to be aware of with the trip, but providing your participate with your eyes open, patience and the right attitude, you will have an absolutely wonderful time: 1) Jeeps are assigned per national park, so the people you share the jeep with will remain the same throughout that national park. Our jeeps were changed up between the parks, so we had three different jeep combinations by the end. 2) If you have one jeep which is not full, the Exodus guide tends to stick in that jeep due to space and comfort. Whilst this is understandable, it does mean that some group members had much more access to the trip leader and his expertise compared to others. 3) Do not expect tigers on every drive or even every day. They can be very elusive and with all things in nature, nothing is guaranteed. We had our first tiger sighting on Drive 2 (one jeep had an amazing view of two separate tigers, the other three jeeps had much lesser views of one tiger). We then did not get another good tiger sighting until Drive 8. And then on Drive 10, the tigers decided to give the most amazing show, with 6 tigers in one day. There was a point when we were leaving Pench where we were joking that we would have to rename the trip ‘India Leopard Safari’, as my jeep had had 3 good leopard sightings and only one glimpse of the backside / ears of a tiger, but by the end of the holiday, the tigers were most definitely the star of the show. 4) As has been mentioned before, it can be difficult when the different jeeps are in different sectors of the parks and thus seeing different things. On our trip, one jeep got two incredible sightings on Day 1, whereas with the different jeep allocations between parks, it took until the very end of the holiday for two members of our group to have an equivalent amazing sighting. Some members did not get a good leopard sighting at all, whereas other jeeps got two or three. It really is just luck and you have to go with the knowledge that each person’s experience will be different. 5) There is so much more to see than just the tigers, so it is important to not get hung up on just seeing them. You can go for days without a glimpse of stripes, so take the time to appreciate the beauty of the parks and the other incredible wildlife that is available. 6) The success of the safari drives can be rather dependent on the quality of the park-assigned driver and guides, some of whom are better than others. I think that every jeep in our group had issues with their driver / guides at some point; however as these change almost every day, you just have to put it behind you and focus on the next drive. Thankfully, with 15+ drives, there is plenty of time for everyone to have the amazing encounters and experiences within the parks.
Most Inspirational Moment
Seeing the five tigers (mum, three cubs and a young male) in the waterhole at Banghavgarh was truly something special. Watching them interact and relax in the water, before coming out and walking right past our jeep was an experience I will never forget. Driving around the corner in Kanha NP and finding a leopard casually wandering down the side of the road, before crossing right in front of us and disappearing into the trees. We were the only jeep around lucky enough to witness the beautiful big cat just going about his business, thoroughly unconcerned by us. Our guide was so excited by the sighting, as leopards are very rarely seen in Kanha, which really added to the experience. Watching the pack of Indian Wild Dogs with puppies in Kahna NP, playing in the water and on the road in front of us, before heading into the trees to jump around on some fallen logs.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Krishna was absolutely fabulous. His knowledge and passion for the country and wildlife was obvious and he went out of his way to ensure that we all had an amazing time on the trip and all got to experience that magical moment of the first tiger sighting. He was always in good humour and was ready to answer our questions and provide plenty of additional information on the areas and conservation activities going on around the national parks.
Advice for Potential Travellers
1) Take buffs for your face and your camera equipment - the roads, especially in Bandhavgarh, are very dusty. 2) Go with the right attitude - there is more to see than just tigers and you will get out of the drives what you put in. 3) Take lots of bug spray and put it on under your clothes in the afternoon - the insects bit through clothing, especially in Pench NP. Non-DEET sprays like Incognito work well on the insects there. 4) European plug adapters worked everywhere we went. 5) Card machines did not work in all the resorts, so ensure you have cash available as well. ATMs stops can be made on the travel days between the parks. 6) Even in April, a light fleece and rain jacket were beneficial. It can be chilly in the mornings, and two of our drives were pretty much a wash-out from the rain. The jeeps are open-top, so if it rains you will be getting wet. 7) There are a lot of early mornings (4.30am early) and bumpy rides (really not suitable for anyone with a bad back). Although the trip is rated leisurely, it is not really relaxing.
Fantastic Local Team and Great Group
What a brilliant trek. Amazing scenery. Just the right level of challenge. Wonderful mountains. No other tourists! But this trip was made by two things. Firstly, the Moroccan team led by Lahcen and Khalid were exemplary – friendly, knowledgeable, hard working, supportive. The chef produced the most incredible food in remote locations for 16 trekkers plus the local team of 5. Secondly, the group were so friendly and fun. We all gelled and I can’t remember a single irritable moment! Very highly recommended.
Most Inspirational Moment
The mountains, the local villages, seeing a totally different way of life. The campsites were in incredible locations with great night skies. The hammam at the end of the camping was unmissable. This trip was truly life affirming.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Lahcen was superb. A true leader but also approachable and an excellent assessor of the group's abilities. He didn't put a foot wrong and worked very hard to make our trip special.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Book it!
An amazing country, guide and group - book now!
As most reviews say, this is a full on trip with early starts and long days – but it’s 1000% worth it. From the manic cities of HCM and Hanoi via the enchanting Hoi An, taking in spectacular mountain and sea views; paddy fields with water buffalo having a cooling dip; and the occasional just wtf weird, you feel you’ve scratched the surface of this unique country. The food was a real highlight, non meat eaters well catered for – aided by Linh letting places know how many fish / veggie options we needed.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our leader, Linh, worked tirelessly to ensure the group experienced the best of the places we visited, organising some memorable lunch and dinners for the group. The lunches especially felt as though we were participating in real Vietnam and contributing to local families. Linh helped pass time on the bus telling us about the history and culture of his country and how ordinary people live. His stories of his family's history, the war and his childhood were fascinating. Extra points for telling us how to find the 'western' toilets on the overnight train.
Advice for Potential Travellers
I'd recommend arriving in Ho Chi Min city at least a day earlier than the tour start, there's so much to see, do and explore. Take some electrolyte tablets to add to water bottle when cycling. Energy bars / gels not needed though as excellent and plentiful enroute snacks provided by the 'snack kitty'. The only real opportunity for getting laundry done is in Hoi An, not a problem, just be aware and pack and wear clothes accordingly.