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A brilliant holiday
Climbing to the top of the waterfall in the spray and on hands and knees at times!!! But we all did it ( with ages up to 81). Truely inspirational view.
Excellent. He couldn't do enough for us. Was exceptionally encouraging.
All weather gear
It was a great week of hikes supported by yet another lovely team of Exodus support
staff. Despite the heatwave baking Europe, the group enjoyed the daily routes (especially the shady bits!) and felt we’d earned our nightly dinner, each of which was impressive (to judge from how we asked for the recipes) and served wtih great kindness and care to detail by our chalet cooks/house managers Colin & Jane who seemed to think of and to anticipate everything we needed.
1) coming across a (wild) Ibex 2) Feeling so close to the highest peaks on the Italian side of the range while walking through fields of Alpine wildflowers whose varieties were such an unexpected treat 3) spotting a marmot on a rock (and hearing his or her bird-like call!)
Simon Conroy is another exceptional Exodus leader and guide. Experienced, encouraging, informative, worldly, accomodating (and humorous), we felt in the best of hands with a guy who could literally handle anything.
Bring your walking poles, plenty of sunscreen, hydration tablets for your water bottles and music (on your mobile phone or iPod) to share as the chalet has a sound system that accomodates this.
I had read the reviews of this trip before booking and would agree with all the good points mentioned in them as well and enjoyed the trip.
But I think a few small changes could improve it even more.
I liked the cycling in the Czech Republic the most and the vist to Cesky Krumlov. The cycle paths here were fantastic and the rides the rolling terrain and forests was excellent.
Jan was a good leader and and had time for everybody on the trip. I would of liked him to have an assistant on the trip to help out with the cycling with a group of 14 though.
In June we had cold and wet weather for the first 5 days and most of us were not quite prepared for that. So make sure you have a good rain jacket. The rear pannier on the hire bikes is very handy for clothes, cameras etc so you won't have to take your own bag if you are hiring a bike. The bikes are heavy though and the worst hire bikes I have had on 8 trips. If you take your own bike there are several gravel sections so a little uncomfortable if on a road bike with thin tyres.
It was an interesting, varied trip but could be improved.
The balloon flight. I couldn't believe it when they actually landed on the trailer! No bumpy landing this time. I didn't know whether to take photos of the 100 balloons around us or the landscape! Very impressive.
In my opinion she gave us too much information. We could have looked round the sites while there were not many visitors, but she kept talking so we missed that slot. If we had wanted to know more we would look it up on the internet.
Make sure you see the sites behind the theatre at Aspendos. All tour groups don't go there and it was only that I had requested to see it we were allowed. You leave all the crowds behind and get a great view looking down on the theatre in peace.
This photographic safari was lead by Paul Goldstein who is a well known and highly rated wildlife photographer. The Masai Mara is a very special area in Kenya to go to in order to photograph wildlife in their own environment. The days start before daylight and end after darkness descends.
On this trip there were many such moments from following a family of lions. watching a cheetah and family of four adolescent cubs servive against hyenas and other scavengers and a magnificant male leopard hunting. More relaxing times were spent with a herd elephants. The most important point to remember is that things change rapidly, no two days were the same and you do not know what is round the corner. Even the changing weather gave opportunities to photograph some really moody skies and sunsets.
Paul Goldstein will not be everyones cup of tea, but no one can deny his enthusiasm and drive in order to get you to where the the animals are and to give you every chance to observe and photograph them.There is time in the evenings to evaluate and discuss each others photos and to learn from each other. He and his drivers seem to instinctively know where to start looking and can "read" the signs.
The days are long and sometimes tiring, spending time in 4x4's over rough terrain. . This was my second trip and I would go again. To get the most out of this trip you do need to know how your camera works and how to change the settings quickly for often you have to be instinctive. Long lenses will be needed so consider hiring if you lenses are not powerful enough.
The Cachelote sail boat and crew were magnificent! Our guide Juan was incredibly enthusiastic and knowledgeable. The itinerary is excellent as it really takes in the diversity of each of the islands and the amazing wildlife. The hotel in Quito (Hotel Vieja Cuba) and the staff were also excellent.
Experiencing such close encounters with the wildlife - really thrilling!
Gloria was our group leader on the mainland and Juan was our leader on the islands. Both were helpful, knowledgeable and friendly. Couldn't ask for more.
Take plenty of SD cards, sunscreen, insect repellent. If you have your own snorkelling gear, take that too. After dark, take taxis in Quito - the hotel staff will help you do this.
This is the best hiking that we’ve done for mountain views and terrain. Using ski lifts gives more time up there, and the “oh wow” feeling quickly removed the temporary thought that we hadn’t earned it. The weather more than cooperated.
Dolomites !!!
Both Eric and Albert were great.
The June trip offered a daily choice between levels 3 and 5 walks. I'm a level 5 at going up, level 3 going down. By listening to the next day's routes I was able to make a reasonable choice on which one was suitable for me. First time I used poles - they helped me and my knees down.
This was not my first trip with Paul but my first safari and it was absolutely brilliant, the Mara North camp is ideally located in the conservancy, it was clean, comfortable, great food, the service was second to none and the guides never let us down finding the animals – including all the cats up trees! Their knowledge of the animals and the conservancy and Mara Reserve are unbelievable,
So much happened - Cheetahs hunting, baby elephants fooling around, a lioness stuck up a tree, but it has to be watching a Leopard hunting & then failing to grab its evening warthog meal
Paul - watch, follow and learn - he will always get you to the best locations, never stops trying to find more, gives 100% ,leads from the front, and of course very direct with his comments/advice, always look at his pics at the end of the day when he shows them and learn - they are pretty damn good ! He is always great entertainment, if there is down time be prepared for a quiz or two, and some jokes !!!!!!!! Essential you take a laptop on his trips as he likes to see and critique your images, I didn't on this trip - a big mistake as I was 'politely' reminded on several occasions ! Also went out his way one morning at 4:00am to take us 'Milky Way' Gazing, even found a lioness wandering around as well at that time ! Oh, and of course be prepared for a bit of slow panning :-)
Be prepared for long days - you can spend up to 10hrs a day in the Land Cruisers on game drives , it's non stop, Travel Light - I took loads of t-shirts I never used due to daily washing service, Essential Camera Gear - telephoto (400-500mm) & wide angle lens Tripod for Star/Milky Way Pics - no tripods in Land Cruisers Label battery chargers as power points all in one spot in the lounge tent - saves confusion between Canon users
Our week was particularly hot, as temperatures in the high 30’s swept over France. This probably made the hills a bit more of a challenge, but they are achievable since the bikes are very good and have plenty of gears.
We would recommend this holiday, the cycling distances are all less than 50k, taking us through stunning scenery and pretty villages.
We were well briefed by the Headwater / Exodus staff and when we had a problem with the bike that needed assistance, they came to us within 10 minutes.
The first hotel is without doubt disappointing, cramped and poor facilities. However the restaurant next door at La Veille Auberge is excellent.
Les Glycines and Le Moulin de Mitou were fantastic with great pools, nice rooms and outstanding food.
On our free day at Eyzies de Tayac we hired a canoe from just outside the hotel and paddled for 18k although other longer and shorter distances can be arranged.
Le Moulin de Mitou has a wonderful atmosphere. The owners are charming and speak very little English. We cycled both days and spent the afternoon by the lovely pool.
Clare and Keith were great. The briefing was spot on.
Expect the hills. On one day you start with 3k of gradual uphill. Cycle early if it is hot.
Staying at Kicheche Mara Camp in Mara North Conservancy with stunning views, delicious food and formidable staff, this safari didn’t disappoint with wide range of photographic opportunities from unbelievable skies to amazing wildlife. Size of group was larger than Bush Camp but very well managed, and being with like-minded people, I had a great laugh on game drives and in the camp.
Difficult to say as we were lucky to have no fallow time, each day was different but equally astounding. My favourite moment was when our vehicle were the first to find a cheetah and her 4 juvenile cubs all bundled up in the morning sunlight, their eyes were glinting and they all looked stunning. Seeing the Milky-Way early morning was also a magical moment. Amazing leopard sighting in the open and failed warthog chase, lioness up a tree, 1 day old lion cub hiding in the bushes, hunting cheetah and ensuing steal from the hyenas, thunderstorm on one side and fiery sunset on the other, playful tiny elephant calf, I could go on and on...
Like him or not, you can't deny that Paul works hard to give you loads of photographic opportunities. Along with all the experienced guides positioning the vehicles to perfection, he will make sure that you are at the right place at the right time and he always delivers. Don't be afraid to ask questions or show him your photos, you will get a strong opinion but you will learn. I also appreciated the extra effort to wake up even earlier to photograph the stars and to accommodate the large group.
Travel light (free laundry and excellent beauty products) but bring as many lenses as you can, for Nikon 80-400mm gives you great flexibility and a wide angle. Take a fleece and a light wind/waterproof jacket. Swap tips and advices with other people. Also find out what they like to see/photograph so you can pair up in the vehicles accordingly. Take a laptop and an external hard drive to save your photos and process them at the same time on Lightroom. Know basic photography and your camera, make sure you have the correct settings and the correct lens when you approach a sighting. If you're not ready, you can easily miss the moment. Take your eye off the viewfinder and take it all in, enjoy the surroundings. Engage with your guide, they are all very friendly and know the Mara inside out.