Most Inspirational Moment
Descending into a steep sided valley with views of Mount Veronica
Thoughts on Group Leader
Helpful and informative.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Be prepared for a rough trek at high altitude
Reviews
Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers
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Reviews
Andes
Challenging but an experience of treking in remote, dramatic landscape aay from the 21st century!
Try the Moonstone trek!
Booked trip late, so the Inca Trail itself was sold out. This didn’t bother me, as the Moonstone trek sounded great – and it was. Loved the fantastic scenery, the pre-Inca and Inca structures, the glimpses of Andean village life, the excellent food, and the peace and quiet of the trek. Rest of trip was great, too – good itinerary, excellent organisation. Cuzco is a wonderful city to explore. Really enjoyed optional Sacred Valley day trip. Machu Picchu did not disappoint, either (and I have found the odd big-name sight disappointing in the past). Overall, hard to fault this trip.
Most Inspirational Moment
Loved the trek from start to finish. Beautiful on third day of trek to see glaciers high up, then regular mountains, then the Sacred Valley down below, all at same time.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Mike (main tour leader) was great - very knowledgeable, and proactive in responding to people's needs and requests. Henry (Moonstone trek leader) was a quieter character, but had the necessary skills to lead us competently.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Get as fit as you can to enjoy the walking more. Altitude can affect anyone, even if it has not affected you previously, so be prepared to feel out of sorts or have a headache. At the same time, don't worry overly about it - the guides are good at monitoring people's wellbeing, and know what to do.
An amazing experience
This was one of the toughest challenges I have put my body through but was so worth it. I had an amazing time and the trip was so well organised. I am in love with Peru now and already thinking about when I can go back.
Most Inspirational Moment
It was incredible to make it to the top of dead woman's pass. It was a tough day but it was an amazing sense of achievement when we were at the top looking down. And of course the first view of Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate is breath taking and made it all worth while.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Ollie was so knowledgeable and really made the trip special. I think the whole group learnt a lot and he bought the culture and history to life for us. He was able to answer all of our questions and he is clearly passionate about what he does. He was also patient when we were physically struggling and needed to rest a lot, and was full of good advice.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Make sure that you acclimatise as much as possible in Cusco and also make sure that you have decent equipment as you will be relying on it for the days you are hiking. Learn a few Spanish phrases so you can at least introduce yourself to the porters, I had to rely on others in the group and the group leader.
Inca Trail - Exodus rating: Excellent!
I couldn’t praise the Exodus team more highly for helping to provide me with one of the holidays of a lifetime!
Most Inspirational Moment
Entering the Sun Gate and seeing the City of Machu Picchu below me for the first, with the stunning mountain backdrop. The photos simply don't do justice to the real thing.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Holger ('Ollie') was absolutely top rate. He was patient, kind and considerate as well as exceptionally well informed, not just about Inca, and pre-Inca, history but also about the wonderful flora and fauna that we encountered along the Trail.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Be prepared for very cold nights in your tent (in December). Whilst at times beautifully warm and sunny during the day, the temperature got to 5 or 6 degrees at night so wearing a couple of layers of clothes, plus a liner inside my sleeping bag, kept me snug and warm. For the fair-skinned, wear a hat with a suitably wide brim as the sun could be quite fierce at times during the day.
Superb
Fantastic atmosphere, brilliant guide, porters and support team. Just wish it was longer!
Most Inspirational Moment
For me, day three on the trail was the best, as we moved into the forest and the soaked up the atmosphere, including many Inca ruins previously unknown to me. And of course, arriving at the Sun Gate and looking down on Machu Picchu, just as the late afternoon sun lit it up, almost devoid of day trippers!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Frank was incredible. He was inspirational in getting us to gel as a team and ensure we all helped each other to get through the tougher sections. His knowledge of Inca and current local culture was encyclopaedic and he was so funny! He was also something of a talented photographer with all our cameras (is there a camera he doesn’t know how to operate better than we do?). It’s hard to imagine anyone better.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Some of our party struggled a bit and sadly one (plus her husband) had to drop out through altitude sickness. Though that can affect even the fittest, it’s fair to say that this is quite a tough trek (most of us felt it could be rated a bit higher than the grade 3 “moderate” rating). To enjoy it fully, make sure you do plenty of training on hills or similar - it is almost constantly up and down and often steep steps. Those who had trained by walking on the flat found it difficult.
Breathtaking trek to the Inca Capital of Machu Picchu
The Inca trail, organised by Exodus, was a thrill ride from beginning to end.
I was so impressed with the organisation of the trip. We were looked after so well that I didn’t have to think about how I was going to get around, or where my next meal would come from.
The two guides were a constant source of fascinating facts, and helped keep the group motivaated.
The group of Porters were superhuman. The camp site was stripped down as we left. They marched (And sometimes ran) past us during the trek. And always had the camp ready when we arrived. If this wasn’t impressive enough, the meals were already in the process of being prepared.
The food provided by the chef were delicious. Hadn’t expected to be eating such great food. Fish, meat and chicken were the evening meals. Also popcorn was provided as an after trek snack. So impressed
I would recommend this trek to anyone. And if this is how Exodus organise their trips, I will definitely use them again!!
Most Inspirational Moment
Arriving at the Sun Gste and looking down on Machu Picchu for the first time. Utterly breathtakingly!!
Thoughts on Group Leader
The group leader was a font of knowledge. He was always full of energy and enthusiasm. He was also very good rumoured, which fitted in with our all-british group perfectly.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Book with Exodus, and don't worry about a thing. Take your time on the trek. It's not a race. The second day is a big asscent, and you don't want to rush it. If you start to feel the effects of altitude, you should take a break and slow down. Many of us had mild headaches, and a few had digestive upsets. But don't be put off by this. It's all manageable, and the trek leaders are used to dealing with it.
Magnificent Moonstone Trek
Magnificent trek – wild and unspoilt countryside. Better than doing the main Inca trail I’d say as you are not simply climbing millions of steps, nor do you have to stay on camp sites with forty other tented pitches. You’re likely to see only your group (only two women in ours), the guide, chef and horsemen / porters who all work to make your trip safe, comfortable and enjoyable. When it was really cold, they even gave us hot water bottles at night and had a gas heater for the dining tent. Absolutely amazing time – really got away from it all an challenged myself with the altitude, terrain and weather conditions. Everything I could want from an adventure holiday.
Most Inspirational Moment
Getting to the top of a summit - around 14,500 - 15,000 feet. Not bad for a girl who's afraid of heights!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Brilliant - Lennin Tuppa. What a star for keeping us safe and comfortable, challenging us, but also making us laugh.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take layers, a sunhat and a wooly hat - you may go through hot sun, strong wind, snow, hail - all in a few hours in the Andes. Also walking poles are the best investment I made for this trip. Collapsible ones are really useful to put in your case too. Take factor 50 sunblock for use in the mountains. A rubber bath plug is also a good idea - hotels never seem to provide a plug even when there is a bath.
Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
This trek has been on my ‘to do’ list for over 15 years and boy was it worth it. What a fantastic adventure which I will never forget. I had a little extra time in Cuzco at the beginning and had a great time exploring this wonderful city. Loads of lovely churches and a cathedral to explore around Plaza de Armas, plus there was the Festival of the Sun happening the weekend after I arrived so there was lots of parades and colourful people about. It was great sampling coca tea for the first time in one of the many cafes around the Plaza. Then it was onto the main event – the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. The trek was very challenging, but I loved every minute of it. The group I was with were all lovely people, the food was great, cooked up 3 times a day by the brilliant chef and the porters were superhuman carrying all our gear ahead of us and setting up lunch and evening camps. Our group leader, Julio and his second in command, Cesar also deserve a very special mention as they were excellent in every way.
Most Inspirational Moment
Reaching the top of Dead Women's Pass at 4215 metres. Such a sense of achievement and the views were spectacular. Also walking to the final campsite through the cloud forest and seeing Machu Picchu mountain in front of us and snow capped mountains in the distance to the left and right. I managed to phone my wife from this campsite which was great (and also found out England had won 6-1 in the World Cup the day before). Unbelievable views again when I woke up the next morning.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Julio was a really great group leader, very informative, helpful and encouraging throughout the whole trip. How he remembered everything he explained to us when we stopped off at the many Inca sites on the way I will never know. He showed a great deal of care towards all of us and also towards the environment of the trail, frequently seeking out orchids and other flora in the cloud forest (and pointing them out to us) to check on the health of it.
Advice for Potential Travellers
If trekking the Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is something you are thinking about, all I can say is Just Do It. You will not regret it, it's fantastic. Don't worry too much about the altitude - as long as you take your time and drink plenty of water you should be fine.
Trip of a lifetime
One of the best experiences of my life.
Thank you
Most Inspirational Moment
Seeing Machu Pichu for the first time.
Thoughts on Group Leader
The Best. Holgier. Just simply the best.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Pack light. You will need half the clothes you think you need.
Inca Trail
Cusco is a good starting point as the capital city of the Inca empire there is lots to see. Good restaurants and a vibrant atmosphere add to the sense of anticipation ready for the trek. The four day trek was for me the highlight despite 24 hours of altitude sickness prior to setting off and a visit from the doctor. The Trail was for me challenging despite my level of fitness As i had not truely realised how the altitude would take my breath away. The struggle was more than worth it for the views and the cloud forest was fascinating. Throughout the trail we were well looked after well informed. My fellow travellers added to the sense of achievement and although busy Machu Picchu did not disappoint. All our guides and short team were excellent
Most Inspirational Moment
The sense of achievement , the views and the Cloud Forest.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our group leader was knowledgable, caring and approachable.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Don’t underestimate the possible impact of altitude sickness. Seek medical help promptly if you need it as recovery can be quick and it didn’t stop me completing the trek.