Most Inspirational Moment
Seeing bears in the wild
Thoughts on Group Leader
Knowledgeable and efficient
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take plenty of cash - no cash machines anywhere near the guesthouse.
Reviews
Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers
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Reviews
Carpathian Walking and Bears
A most excellent holiday led by Thomas, who was an knowledgeable guide, and who adjusted the walks according to the group ability and the temperature which was in the mid 30s Centigrade. Walking in such temperatures and at such altitudes can be challenging. Thank goodness for fresh water springs on the hillsides!
The guesthouse was well appointed and the food was excellent. An honesty bar came in for much use when we returned from our travels!
The major criticism arose when we came to settle our bills at the end of the week as the guesthouse did not take credit cards. This MUST be added to the travellers advice as there is no access to cash machines without a long drive. We only just managed to cobble together enough money by adding £ sterling, Lei and a few dollars which we had fortunately carried.
AOV170729
Firstly, I wish to thank EXODUS for allowing an 87 year old to take this trip. It was such a rewarding experience and I was very touched when on the last evening the group praised me and said I was an inspiration to them. I did opt out of only two activities but I was not the only one. Although I was with my daughter, our guide, KHOA DUONG , was wonderfully encouraging too. In fact he was outstanding the way he showed sensitivity to the group as a whole and altered timings and activities according to our energy levels or more to the point, how we were all coping with the heat and humidity! I was impressed with his knowledge of the history of Vietnam as it affected different areas of the population and he always gave both sides of the story. His impartiality was without irony too. At the end of the trip were all felt like an extended family, with myself as the great- grandmother.
Most Inspirational Moment
The war museum in saigon
Thoughts on Group Leader
KHOU DUONG was the absolute best. I have already commented o n this
Advice for Potential Travellers
Make sure you have extra batteries and a memory card for your camera
Bulgaria: The Realm of the Brown Bear
A wonderful week in the magnificent Rodopi Mountains. Excellent walks, lots of flora and fauna with very good photographic opportunities. Led by such a great guide who gave us insights into the local culture and taught us so much about the bears that roam this fascinating wild corner of Europe.
Most Inspirational Moment
Seeing a bear from hide (as well as the wild boar and their piglets). The wonderful array of wild flowers and butterflies in the alpine meadows were just stunning. Some awesome lizards! The traditional local dishes made with naturally grown ingredients are very tasty too :-)
Thoughts on Group Leader
You would be hard pressed to find another guide as passionate and informative as Julian. He has such an in depth understanding of the bears and wildlife as well as the language, culture and customs of Bulgaria. A very likeable and friendly guide.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take the opportunity on the non-bear hide evenings to walk around the village. We saw hedgehogs snuffling about about early evening and stunning sunset views can be seen from the little white church on the hill.
Inspiring Sri Lanka!
If you want a truly diverse trip with a range of cultural and wildlfe experiences which gets you under the skin of the country then this could be the trip for you! We went with an open mind and some expectations, but they were suppassed. You get to see some beautiful architecture and scenery, enjoy the diverse flora and wildlife (yes wild elephants are amazing!), meet friendly locals and enjoy fantastic food. I have travelled to a number of different countries and as a vegetarian have often struggled with the choice of food, but not in Sri Lanka. We were helped at every turn by our amazing guide, Sujan, so we could sit back and enjoy every bit of the experience!
Most Inspirational Moment
Standing on the top of the rock at Sigiriya and appreciating the ambition and achievements of the people that had built it and the surrounding buildings so long ago. On the jeep safari looking at my watch and realising that we had been out for more than 3 hours and I hadn't realised that the time could pass so quickly.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Sujan was amazing, professional, friendly - all round super star!
It would be hard to top this trip.
This was my first Exodus bicycle trip and if the other are as good as this one it will not be my last. The scenery was spectacular. Each day was a different and new experience. This trip has it all; some moderately challenging gravel, relaxing riding on tarmac winding between rugged peaks, boat trips across beautiful lakes, good company, great food and drinks, excellent well-maintained equipment, and helpful staff.
Most Inspirational Moment
There were so many inspirational moment on this trip is impossible to single out one specifically. Cycling over the pass trough the Andes in the between Peulla and Puerto Frias was an achievement for me with my limited mountain biking experience. (I only fell off once!) Climbing the active Villarica volcano was a once in a life time experience, particularly as there was a small eruption while we looking into the crater.
Thoughts on Group Leader
This trip covered a lot of territory through some fairly tough country. The logistic for this trip were complex involving the coordination of boat and bus transfer in two very separate countries. Yet the whole show ran like clockwork. I was impressed. This was a very professionally run trip.
Advice for Potential Travellers
IF you do not enjoy a salmon or fillet steak then this trip may change your point of view. The Argentinian steal is sublime as is the Chilean salmon. I recommend Tony's Casa de Carne in Bariloche. I had the best steak I ever tasted in my life at Tony's steak house. (And I am an Australian!) Also, I recommend the frappe at the Chocolate Museum in Bariloche as well. I suspect my waste line would have expanded dramatically if I had stayed in Bariloche longer than a couple of days!
Mont Blanc Highlights
This was our first trip with Exodus and it definitely won’t be our last. We knew the location was going to be outstanding, but the service from our initial phone call to book the trip, right through to the staff in resort was faultless. Our chalet hosts at Chalet Chamonix, Rich and Sarah, quite simply were phenomenal. Their knowledge and service was second to none and I just can’t speak highly enough about the food. No basic comfort food here! It was like dining out at a fabulous restaurant every night! Our mountain guide Peter was a true gent, who in his understated manner, shared his incredible knowledge of the area and ensured our safety and enjoyment was paramount at all times.
I’m already looking forward to browsing through the brochure and finding our next adventure!
Most Inspirational Moment
The awesome scenery just blew us away!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our group leader Peter, was inspirational. One of those true gents that you look up to and respect. He was knowledgeable about the area but it was his mountain experience that filled us with confidence and made us feel that we couldn't be in safer hands. Throw in his mischievous sense of him out and we had the perfect combination for some great days in the mountains.
The High Inca Trail - snowy peaks and a fascinating history
Two weeks in the Andes with spectacular scenery and a rich cultural history.
Most Inspirational Moment
It is hard to pick a favourite day or sight, as there was something special on each day. Personally I love snowy mountains so seeing Salcantay was special. Camping near the base of Salcantay was very memorable – a campsite in a spectacular setting, hearing and seeing avalanches, seeing the milky way and waking up with frost inside the tent!! On these first three to four days of the trek we had the trail pretty much to ourselves, and we were the only group at this particular campsite. I also particularly enjoyed reaching the end of the Inca Trail at the sun gate and seeing Machu Picchu for the first time. The setting, scale and craftsmanship is most impressive.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Rolando was a fabulous guide with an encyclopaedic knowledge about pretty much everything! He is very passionate about his country, its history and culture. He imparted his knowledge with great enthusiasm, had a great sense of humour and was very encouraging if anyone was struggling e.g. on a steep section of the trail. He was also very organised, including arranging our departure times each day on the trail when we joined the main Inca Trail so we had the trail mostly to ourselves, with just a few porters. This meant we avoided the crowds and only saw other groups at lunch stops and the campsites. It was also a pleasure to spend time with assistant guide Javier on the trail.
Advice for Potential Travellers
You really can and do experience four seasons in one day on this trip so be prepared for temperatures ranging from what felt like plus 30 degrees down to about minus 10 degrees Centigrade. Take a full set of thermals, including thermal socks. If you take a metal water bottle this can be filled with hot water after dinner creating a hot water bottle for the coldest nights. It's best to take a proper cover, or if not use a hiking sock! Take a toilet roll and antibac hand gel. Not all toilets in Peru supply such items! On the free day in Cusco on return from the trail we booked a private guide and transfer for Rainbow Mountain which was spectacular. It was also possible to arrange to trip to Moray, Moras and the nearby Incan quarry in the Sacred Valley. Before you book the Lake Titicaca extension I would recommend checking with Exodus whether they have booked the tours to see the Uro Indians and Sillustani with a private guide. The four of us that did the extension were put with mixed tour groups for the morning and afternoon. This worked okay for the Uros Indians as the group was small and all English speaking. However for Sillustani there was one guide for two buses covering both English and Spanish speaking groups – basically the group was far too large meaning this afternoon was my least enjoyable of the full trip, the rest of which was very good.
Salcantay Pass and the Inca Trail
A fabulous 2 weeks trekking in the Andes. I’ve travelled with Exodus on a number of ‘challenging’ treks, and this one ranks highly both in outstanding landscapes, historical context and enjoyment. Conditions are challenging but this is a positive; it makes achieving the goal even more rewarding!
Most Inspirational Moment
Machu Picchu was far more spectacular than I had imagined; the magnitude of Inca architecture, craftsmanship and culture was humbling. We didn’t see a soul for the first 3 days on the Salcantay Trek; only when you join the Inca Trail are you reminded that it is a very popular tourist destination. That said, our itinerary meant that we avoided crowds by leaving later than other groups in the morning. Plenty of snack stops and a pace appropriate to the altitude also helped!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Rolando, the epitome of professionalism. A lovely man who imparted such wide and thought-provoking knowledge of the Incas, and with immense pride in his country and culture. Calm in the face of adversity and sensitive to the individual needs of group. A special mention also for Javier, our second in command. A joy to spend time with; he will make an outstanding group leader when his time comes. I especially enjoyed the encouraging and supportive relationship these two men demonstrated throughout the trip.
Advice for Potential Travellers
The trip notes outline very clearly just how cold it can get at night, but still my gloves were not adequate for the morning we trekked Salcantay Pass; invest in proper kit! Do your research on places to eat for the first couple of nights in Cusco; especially if you are a solo traveller as group meals didn’t happen until we reached Machu Picchu town.
Great Full On Tour of Vietnam
Just returned from Chopsticks and Coconuts.
It’s a great, full on tour of Vietnam from North to South. We would never have fitted in so much if we had organised it ourselves. Our guide Tring was excellent at all times.
Highlights: For me, yoga by the lake in Hanoi at 5am with hundreds of locals doing T’ai Chi. The Mekong delta’s big skies and homestay. For my son (14), the Dam Sen Waterpark in HCMC and Hoi An time.
Areas that we wouldn’t have missed were Nha Trang as it is mass market tourism there.
I’d recommend this trip wholeheartedly. Take lots of bug spray and a whole lot of energy, every day is full on, there’s very very little time for rest at all – and when it comes it is really appreciated.
Most Inspirational Moment
Mekong delta's big skies and slow pace of life. You can only go at the speed of the river!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Excellent, excellent, excellent with both adults and children alike.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take lots of bug spray Vietnamese Dong, not dollars are more widely used
Great way to see SA
An interesting and varied trip, including trekking in several locations, safaris in a number of places, a trip to a beach and a boat ride to see hippos and other wildlife. I like hippos and gazelles.
Most Inspirational Moment
Being woken by elephants at night whilst in my permanent tent in the first game reserve we visited. Being vegetarian and not being given pasta every night for dinner. The food was actually very, very nice and thoughtfully prepared - with a different menu every night!!
Thoughts on Group Leader
The two leaders, Mira and Marco, were marvellous. They answered all my questions about the trip, the country and its history. Mira Is particularly knowledgeable about all the scientific names of the plants in the areas we went.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take a SÁ travel adaptor (or be pleasantly surprised when your travel companions have one). Take clothes for all climates. Be prepared not to see any Baoba trees. It's best if you like wild animals, otherwise the safaris are a bit boring. Some of the walks are uphill, but in the Drakebsberg mountains you can do your own, flatter walks. The Swazi Candles shop in Swaziland is excellent: Stock up whilst you can. No need to bring half a suitcase of food with you: as it turns out, there are supermarkets in SA that sell edible vegetarian food! The group leaders also provide excellent food!!