Most Inspirational Moment
The views were amazing from forrest to coastline all were spectacular.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Excellent leader with walking tips and general info.
Reviews
Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers
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Reviews
A great weeks walking
Based in a lovely valley with great views and a pool. The leader selected the order of the walks to take advantage of the day’s weather and was very knowledgeable about the local area.
croatia holiday
Overall i had a great holiday . It was a great group, warm weather, tasty food.
Most Inspirational Moment
nothing inspirational.
Thoughts on Group Leader
excellent. zeljco was well organised. He gave good advice about each day's hike. He wasn't just a tour guide - he acted as a waiter (organising orders at group meal to hurry things along at group meals) or porter- helping people with suitcases etc.
Advice for Potential Travellers
take swimming things as there is lots of chances to swim if you want to. walking poles are useful but probably not essential. I used one which meant i always had a free hand. take plenty water each day.
Cycling in Albania 8-15 September 2015
Very enjoyable holiday giving us a taste of life in the remote mountains and on the Ionian and Adriatic Coast with a very committed engaging guide. The participants were all good company, the locations for lunch and dinner well-chosen and well prepared (our guide always phoned in advance so they were ready having checked which of their dishes we wanted to eat). The cycling route was impressive: the views are extraordinary, with several long climbs, some quite steep, and some hairy descents on roads that were – in the South- the quality of off road. In the heat, cycling up these mountains can be daunting. Even very experienced cyclists found this trip challenging, and considered its “moderate” rating a bit of an underestimate.
Most Inspirational Moment
Being up in the mountains, with no traffic, almost complete silence, apart from birdsong, cowbells and my own breathing. Very long, fast downhill stretches
Thoughts on Group Leader
Excellent communicator and planner. Ver approachable. He had everything sorted for us, in advance, responded to our wishes and arranged a programme for us. He seems to know everyone in Albania and to get the best out of them. Despite serious family difficulties (his partner's brother's road accident) he continued to manage the tour in an exemplary professional manner.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Get quite a bit of training in first, to get your head and body fit for long climbs. You don't have to, but you'll enjoy it a lot more (I didn't and I still enjoyed it, but I really wish I'd prepared better). If you like your hair to look good in the evening, take a hairdryer. But no-one will mind what you look like. You won't need much currency, but changing is quite easy and commission free at kiosks on the street, or a little man at the airport. Meals in the mountains about 600-800 lek, on the coast/Tirana 1200. It cost me £100 - but I only drink water. Add around £30 for all drinks. People are very friendly and quite amused by us cycling past. They will try to help if you ask.
Wonderful trip
When the tour leader dropped us off at Livingstone airport I really could have stayed on the bus and done the whole thing again
Most Inspirational Moment
Really hard to pick out highlights. The trip was nearly perfectly paced and so varied. I loved the camping in the delta. The stars were amazing. All the support team worked so hard and on the last evening they gave us a wonderful acapela concert.We so so much wildlife including a pack of wild dog by the side of the road!!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Andrew is one of the best tour leaders I've come across. He worked so hard. He was our driver, chief cook, guide and much more besides. He made everything look effortless & told us exactly what to expect, so the numerous police checks in Zimbabwe were no surprise and not even annoying. Can't thank him enough for the part he played in making this trip so wonderful. He also had a wonderful sense of humour.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Don't expect the super luxury accommodation you often see in magazines. You would need to be paying an awful lot more for that! It is clean, comfortable and the staff are, without exception, friendly and helpful. The camping is exceptionally well organised and also very comfortable.Be prepared for very hot days but also chilly evenings and early mornings (particularly when travelling in open-sided safari vehicles on game drives)-and you will see early mornings if you want to see wildlife.
Cycling in Albania
A great trip. Fascinating country and well planned and well organised throughout.
Most Inspirational Moment
Reaching the top of the 1000 metre mountain pass on the final cycling day. Swimming in the hot springs in the rain was also memorable.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Armand was excellent. Always made sure everyone was OK and enjoying the trip. Organised meals so we didn't have to wait ages to eat (sometimes as issue with large groups). Provided detailed maps and briefings every day. Dealt with any minor issues swiftly. Provided walking tour of Tirana on last day (before evening flight) and arranged excellent tour of the museum which was fascinating.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Be prepared for some toughish hills, rough roads and some rain (at least in September)! Take snacks as these are not provided. Carry an warm/dry top (in the excellent panniers) when cycling in case of regroup waits or meal/coffee stops in colder/wetter weather.
A Baptism of Fire!
Be prepared to hit the ground running and to keep going – Everything you may have read about his trips is true. Paul and the fantastic Kicheche guides work really hard to get you in the right place at the right time – leaving camp in the dark to be in the Mara when the sun comes up backlighting a cheetah and her four cubs, or watching the most amazing river crossings that even the National Geographic would be envious of.
Even if, like me, you are a complete novice you will get lots of helpful advice. Just when you think you will practice photographing a bee eater in flight (thinking Paul is far enough away not to notice) the radio will crackle from three vehicles away and you will be told your shutter speed is too slow!
But at the end of the day you will learn a lot and come home with some photographs you will be proud of and want to go again. This was my first trip with Paul and I have already booked another one – although I will have to try and master slow panning before then!
Most Inspirational Moment
The river crossings were phenomenal especially watching a leopard stalking along under the river bank to take an unfortunate wildebeest. Watching a two month old elephant with no control over its legs or trunk running about and ending upside down with all four legs in the air. Just about everything else - lions and cubs, cheetah and cubs, leopard and sub adults ...
Thoughts on Group Leader
Paul lives up to his reputation and works really hard to help you get the most out of the trip. His enthusiasm and energy is legendary and he is not joking about 14 hour game drives (although they never seemed that long!).
Advice for Potential Travellers
Be prepared for lots of helpful advice and take an ipad or laptop as he likes to have a look at what you are doing. He uploads his photographs after each game drive - take a look at them and see how to really get the best shots.
Becky
A great week in the Tuscan mountains, spent hiking, learning about the local region, meeting the locals, and enjoying the time in the converted farmhouse accommodation (Braccicorti). A fun week with a lovely group of people.
Most Inspirational Moment
Climbing the Monte Prudo peak on the last day. The weather had been a bit varied in the week (ranging from thunder and lightning to hot sunshine) but on the day of the hike the weather was beautiful and clear so the views from the top were absolutely stunning. Great fun navigating the strong winds, lunch at the top of the peak, breath-taking scenery, beautiful woodland, home-cooked food to return to - a perfect day.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Awesome - Sara was enthusiastic, energetic, caring, skilled, steady, reliable and organised throughout the trip. She was encouraging of everybody in the group, and took a strongly positive and inclusive approach to everyone, whatever their abilities or needs. Her extensive knowledge of the region and it's community meant that she could arrange the week's activities flexibly to cater for changes in the weather and the group's preferences. I learned so many new things about hiking and outdoors activities in just one week, from Sara's experience and knowledge. And her sense of humour added to the fun!
Advice for Potential Travellers
Be prepared for variable weather conditions, and changes in the itinerary because of it. The outdoor swimming pool is lovely, but it's not heated so was chilly to swim in in September - brace yourself!
Mont Blanc Perfection
A very enjoyable trip which exceeded my expectations. Stunning scenery, great walks, very comfortable chalet,
fantastic hosts, with great food, and knowledgeable guide.
Most Inspirational Moment
Walking up to the Aguilettes D'Argentiere. Great trekking through woodland, balconies and fantastic views. Overcoming my fear of cable cars and going up to Agulie du Midi and onto Hellbronner. A must if the weather is clear, but take some thermals as it is a lot cooler up there.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Nick was great. He paced the walking to all abilities. He adapted the walks according to the weather. Very knowledgeable about the area.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Although this trip is graded as moderate, the walks do involve quite long periods of up and down hill, some of them quite steep. With this in mind, some pre-trip fitness would be beneficial. A hat and some gloves are useful on cooler days. If you have some binoculars you can see climbers going up Mont Blanc.
Highlights of the Dolomites
Everyone has their own way of relaxing on holiday. Mine is a physical challenge and the hikes in the Dolomites fulfilled that purpose. The choice of levels were ideal so you could switch between them depending on your energy levels. The group dynamics always seem to work well on these hiking holidays as walkers and nature lovers are great people to be with. Our base in Moena was charming. Be prepared for mountain food which is heavy on the carbs, MEAT & cheese. The refugios in the mountains for lunch stops are brilliant. The best pizza and hot chocolates! Expect every type of weather…it’s the mountains after all. Every adventure starts with a tentative first step into the unknown, take yours into the stunning scenery of the Dolomites.
Most Inspirational Moment
The day the chair lift and cable car were not running on our descent on a challenging walk which meant another hour or so on a tough day. No one complained. We all saw the positive side Of walking through the trees, and our leader getting to walk a new walk for a change!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Albert Callewaert & Eric Wooley were brilliant. They each had their own skills...Eric was the natural orator as Albert said and Alberts ability to encourage all of us to keep up with him on the tough walks without words, just through example and giant size steps making us run a little at times!
Advice for Potential Travellers
If you're afraid of heights, but want to conquer your fear do as a member in our group did and join the level 3 walks. It is confidence boosting. Bring poles as they help with the ascents and descents.
Cycling South africa
Described as a moderate cycling holiday, although my husband and I have a reasonable fitness level, and coped with the cycling, members of the group stuggled with the terrain, and I don’t feel moderate is a good description for this tour. Enjoyed the holiday in general, good group of people, and guides, weather was not always kind to us, and some of the accommodation was under par.
Most Inspirational Moment
Arriving in Herrmanus and seeing mother and baby whale giving us a show in the bay.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Tallis was our tour leader. He was a lovely easy going man, and nothing was too much trouble for him. Any issues or problems he tried to deal with, some were out of his control to rectify at the time. Was a credit to the tour.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Cycling easy roads once a week would not make you ready to enjoy this tour. You must be able to tackle hills and constant rolling hills, sometimes into the face of the wind, otherwise it becomes a long slog.
Reply from Exodus
We would like to thank Jacqueline for her feedback, but we are very sorry that some of the accommodation did not live up to her expectations. Whilst we have previously received positive feedback from clients about the guesthouses that Jacqueline mentions, we have discussed her feedback with the relevant guesthouse managements and we will of course also continue to closely monitor client feedback to ensure that her experience is not repeated.
David Sear- Exodus Product Manager for Cycling in South Africa