Reviews

Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers

Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It’s the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you’re interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers.

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44 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Reviewed November 2011

EVEREST BASE CAMP & GOKYO LAKES

I throughly enjoyed the trek, it was the experience of a lifetime. So many memories I will never forget. The expertise of the Exodus guides was certainly an integral part of the enjoyment of my trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

The summit of Goyko Ri, with the exceptional panaromic views of the mountain. This was a particularly challenging walk as it snowed the day before our hike up to the top. But this made it all the more beautiful and rewarding as we slipped at slide all the way down!!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Lhakpa Tenzing Sherpa was an excellant leader. He made everyone feel safe, well fed and looked after. He made the trek extra special for us by letting us meet members of his family.

Advice for Potential Travellers

To hire kit in Nepal from Shona's Trekking gear, as its very reasonably priced and good quality equipment.

Suggestions

The price of the trek is quite expensive. I was pleased that we had the choice of food and could budget for our own food, but I felt the price of the whole trip should have reflected the fact that accomdation is very reasonably priced and no equipment was provided by exodus (such as crampons!).

Reviewed November 2011

EVEREST BASE CAMP & GOKYO LAKES

Truely the hardest but the most amazing trip I’ve ever done…the wonderful memories will stay with me forever.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were many but to list a few....the amazing flight from Kathmandu to Lukla and seeing the Himalayas above the clouds at sunrise; my first view of amazing Everest; trekking past the beautiful Gokyo lakes during snowfall; reaching the summit of Gokyo Ri with amazing Himalayan views (so tough but so worth it); meeting successful Everest summitters, a real honour; the wonderful snapshots of Himalayan life along the way.

Thoughts on Group Leader

10/10! Lhakpa was attentive, informative, caring and supportive, a fantastic team leader. Him and our other guides, Kaji, Kami and Nima, were all wonderful and all brought different strengths to the group.They worked together as a fantastic team to allow us all to achieve our dreams and goals, always friendly, kind and optimistic along the way.

Advice for Potential Travellers

First of all, if you are reading these reviews wondering if you should book this trip then...yes! Do it! Now! And, definitely, if you can, book the Gokyo lakes trip as opposed to basic base camp as the lakes are stunning and you get to see more of this wonderful region. If you are comparing Exodus to other companies then all I can say is I could not fault them, would heartily recommend them to friends and definitely book with them again. I was pleased I stayed in teahouses as opposed to camping and it was good that we were able to choose our meals as opposed to getting set meals cooked for us. The sleeping bag I hired through Exodus was fab and I wasn't at all cold at night (and I really feel the cold)...I had the sleeping bag, a silk liner and also a metal water bottle which I could get filled with boiling water every night and put in a sock to act as a brilliant hot water bottle. It is really worth taking a camelbak/platypus for easy hydration on the go. I would recommend Icebreaker (or other merino wool) thermal baselayers to keep you toasty warm and to take multiple base layers as well as a good fleece and down jacket as the temperatures vary a lot. Take a good thin pair of liner gloves so you don't need to have bare hands and don't have to take your gloves off every time to do something. Take lots of hand gel and over-use it, we all did and none of us got tummy bugs. People who had UK mobiles found they worked better than those who had Nepalese sims and we got reception some of the time when trekking so we could call and text home, even at base camp! Be aware of the weight restrictions for the Lukla flight - 12kg for hold luggage and 3kg for hand luggage so weigh and prioritise before you go (and you can leave some changes of clothes and other bits safely at the hotel in Kathmandu). Read as much about Everest and the region before you go to fully appreciate the wonder of the region.

Suggestions

Just ask questions, take photos and soak in every moment (and start a kitty for the next trip as, as soon as you get home, you'll want to go straight back to the mountains again!)

Reviewed April 2011

EVEREST BASE CAMP & GOKYO LAKES

A fantastic holiday, with a mix of short days and relaxation and more challenging climbs. A real holiday of a lifetime!

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching the summit of the Cho La pass and looking down on the Glacier, then turning the corner and looking down the valley to Ama Dablam - the thrill of reaching the top of the pass and then the views were truly inspirational.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sukman was excellent and very attentive. He was continuously checking with us for signs of AMS and advising us so that we stayed healthy.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Remember that this trip is at high altitude, drink the recommended about of water / liquid (I topped up on hot drinks in the teahouses), the recommended ascent is 400m a day - this means that some days you will be in the teahouses by 11.00am - if you are expecting to be walking for full days then this is not the trip for you. Allow yourself time to rest when you reach altitude.

Suggestions

This was a fantastic and well-organised holiday - the trip notes are accurate and make sure you read them before you go. The climb of Cho La pass is a tough one and undulating terrain in Nepal is not quite the same as in the UK.

Reviewed January 2011

EVEREST BASE CAMP & GOKYO LAKES

This spectacular trip is well within the grasp of most reasonably fit individuals whatever the age. Got the time? Go for it.

Most Inspirational Moment

My most inspirational moment was reaching the top of Kala Pattar on my own soaking up the view leading up the Western Cwm to the summit of Everest. I made it just before sun-up and had the great mountain to myself (EBC had closed for business so noone was summiting either), shortly before the rest of the group brought a violoent catabatic wind with them which nearly tore us all from the ridge. Very exciting!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Superb. That'll do.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I will just add a few tips – they may seem obvious but easily forgotten. - You are trekking at altitude – it’s going to be cold. - You are trekking at altitude – its going to be exhausting. - You are trekking every day, that’s right, EVERY DAY. Get used to the idea. - You are trekking in a very poor country – the toilet facilities are likely not to be up to your high standards. Also if you are very fit and used to carrying your own gear on your own, you may well find the pace frustrating, constantly walking in single file annoying and the fact that porter is carrying your stuff difficult to stomach. It can feel that, rather than trekking to the Himalayas, you are being taken there. But just remember it is often the very fit who succumb to AMS because they attack the climb too fast. Be grateful for being held back. Bistari, bistari my friend. With these caveats in mind, it is still a once in a lifetime experience and so very well worth it.

Suggestions

I joined my Exodus group after trekking up independently from Jiri so was quite well acclimatised to both altitude and culture. It must be pretty tough to fly straight into Lukla, a reasonable altitude of 2680m and get trekking straight away. It’s not as easy as some make out. When you reach Kathmandu, it is easy to consider the trek up to EBC to be ‘a walk in the park’. Well I suppose literally it is, but that’s not the point. By-and-large our group coped admirably with the gradually intensifying physical demands. I think we were also lucky to have a great collection of folks who all had something to contribute. In a tight and claustrophobic social environment it’s easy for tempers to fray and resentments to fester but I don’t think there was really a crossed word. On the whole the group embraced each challenge and supported each other through the tough bits. We were even more lucky to be led by Gum, Bena, Gopal and Lakpa (I hope i spelled their names correctly). Patient, professional and always cheerful. It was a great pleasure to trek with them.

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