Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Climbing up the Ijen Volcano to see the blue acidic lake and the sulphur miners at work. The glorious beaches in Java and the sunsets over rhe beach at Kuta (after the trip was over)

Thoughts on Group Leader

Wira was an excellent leader fitting in well with the various personalities on the trip. He was cheerful throughout with a sense of humour which we could all appreciate. He had an exceptional knowledge of the route we cycled each day. His local knowledge about Bali/East Java, both current and the past, was extensive. He managed the other members of the team with skill to provide a seamless trip for us without any hitches or unforeseen circumstances. Wayan, his no 2, was a superb, gentle giant of a man with an astonishing grasp of Balinese legends as well as infinite patience in dealing with me when, from time to time, I was bringing up the rear of the " peleton" Wira and all his team contributed significantly to the enjoyment of the trip.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for some fairly hard (for me) cycling both uphill and on the extended, quite technical downhills.

Most Inspirational Moment

Arriving at the rock arch on Monte Ferato. Stunning. And this was a walk that was not in the original itinerary. We went there because the weather was not good enough for Monte Sumbra.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sara Bull is one of the best group leaders I have come across. Extremely knowledgeable, very well organised, very aware of the needs and capabilities of her clients and good company. She took great care to ensure that everyone knew what was going on, managed all their end of tour travel (surely not within her scope to buy tickets and provide tourist information to those going on to other places) and took care to ensure that my wife (who was not walking with us) had all the information she needed. We had a minor accident on one of the walks and Sara handled the situation very competently and professionally. Excellent all round.

Most Inspirational Moment

The overall sense of order and respect for others, even in crowded city centres. The attention given to presentation - of food and everything else.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ayaka took great trouble to ensure we optimised our time by being fully prepared: helpful annotated maps, advice on tickets, and so forth. She took us to a variety of types of restaurant for the optional meals, which are not in the programme, but where in fact the majority of the group chose to eat together. And she was great fun !

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't worry about whether it's cherry blossom time: there are plenty of beautiful sights anyway. Be prepared to pay cash for meals if the group eat together.

Most Inspirational Moment

Going to Machu Picchu was awe inspiring. It was even better than I imagined. Though very crowded when we arrived lots of people had been there early in the morning and left mid afternoon so we were able to enjoy the peace and quiet. Another highlight was seeing condors flying overhead in Colca Canyon.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sebastian was amazing. He is a brilliant tour leader. He was a great help when several people had problems with altitude sickness. We had warm blankets on the bus when we had early morning very cold starts. He made sure that we had a box of water wherever we went. We used these to fill out water bottles...what a brilliant idea.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do be prepared for the weather to be very cold first thing in the morning. We took thermals and needed them. Useful gifts for your homestay "mother" can be bought at the local markets. Take fruit, cheese, tea towels, wind up torch. We took the flight over the Nasca Lines. It was another highlight. Some people felt sick as the plane banks steeply so that everyone has a good view. Tale sea sickness tablets before you fly. Altitude sickness can be a problem. Listen to the advice or your tour leader. Don't overdo things.

Most Inspirational Moment

Being able to cycle the longest distances I've ever cycled in my entire life. Seeing so much beautiful scenery that my eyes hurt, and feeling on certain roads that there was noone else in the world.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Mel was a fantastic tour leader. He had a tough job on his hands as I was a very amateur cyclist with a very strong group. He managed to accommodate across alllevels.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Ensure that you are fully prepped on cycling on hills. The Malagasy flats are undulating and challenging. I thought I had a reasonable base level of fitness, but would have enjoyed it more if I had done more cycling related prep.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the wild orangutans and komodo dragons in there natural environment was unforgettable

Thoughts on Group Leader

My group leader was Elly. She's great, very passionate about Indonesia and its wildlife. She was always happy to help with any thing.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If your into photography but want to travel light this may help. I took my DSLR with just a zoom lens 300m for the wildlife, my compact for everything else and my gopro for a few videos. On one of my free days I went on a quad bike tour in Bali. It wasn't on the list of things but Elly sorted it out for me. I definitely recommend doing this.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the bears from the hide was fabulous. Main reason for going and I was lucky to see them.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Fabulous guide. Did everything expected.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Pack walking boots and make sure they don't rub.

Most Inspirational Moment

I experienced many beautiful moments on this trip, particularly while hiking and feeling that we are part of such an amaizing world with stunning nature. I felt that this particular hike and area are hidden treasures and should be highlighted even more. I was delighted by each breakfast and dinner - prepared with joy and a warm heart by the chef.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jose Miguel is warm, kind, thoughtful and dedicated. He looked after each one of us and shared his knowledge and passion of the locale with us to ensure we experienced the most we could on our holiday. Please consider taping his inspiration for the Cabo del Gaga Trek, as I surely would sign up. Jose Miguel ensured that we all were well looked after and that each of our dietary requirements were satisfied. I know he put forth extra effort for me and I wish to extend my genuine gratitude.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for a wonderful adventure and to experience beautiful old world hospitality at the hostal. What a wonderful adventure.

Most Inspirational Moment

It is difficult to choose any single inspirational moment from the serenity of the temples when you got away from the crowds, the friendliness of the people or the rush you feel when bullet trains go shooting through the stations at high speed. However, we were lucky to have fantastic views of Mount Fuji on a fun jaunt around Hakone on the various modes of transport.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ayaka Tsukamoto was a brilliant tour leader who was tireless in her enthusiasm and commitment to ensuring we had a fantastic and fulfilling tour. Even on our free days she helped by ensuring we used the most effective transport to maximise our time and in recommending places to visit and where to eat. She took us to restaurants that we would not normally have chosen and these were some of the best restaurants that provided us with great experiences along with the authentic cuisine. Throughout the tour she kept us informed of historical and cultural details and amused us with her anecdotes that gave us an insight into growing up in Japan.

Advice for Potential Travellers

This is a tour with lots of walking and some long days so that you get the most out of your time on holiday. Using public transport gives you more contact with the friendly Japanese people and is much more ecological than using coaches.

Most Inspirational Moment

Throughout the trip Mike told us the journey was more special than the destination. He was completely correct. The final camp site provided a stunning backdrop for a sunset and sun rise. A true moment to reflect on the past days hiking and camping.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Mike was the best tour leader we have ever had. He was always full of energy and really made the trip special. I hope that we are able to do another trip with him. There was a balance of detailed knowledge of the South American history, fun and laughter within the whole group and a keen eye on safety. He is a true asset to exodus.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The trip was harder than expected (the second day is a real hike!!) and having a few days to feel comfortable at altitude was key for us.