Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

The ascent of Lion Rock in Sigirya was a high point in more ways than one, as the rock itself dominates the area. To reach the extensive remains of the summit fortress involves climbing many hundreds of stone steps (and a few more modern iron ones). The effort is worthwhile just to admire the 5th C engineering but the view from the top is stunning, with an almost shear drop to the palace ruins and gardens 200m below, and a panorama of the surrounding countryside. On a quite different level I was constantly amazed that we seemed to be such a source of fascination (and amusement) to local children. A cheerful "Good Morning" resulted in gales of laughter. Equally unfathomable was why all the children shouted "Bye", even though we had just arrived! It was very noticeable how, even in the poorest areas, the children were sent to school so neatly dressed. There was little evidence of Sri Lanka's colonial past on the trip, at least until we reached Nuwara Eliya. The Hill House Hotel had all the ambience (and stuffiness) of a rather run-down Surrey golf club and made me wonder whether colonial grandeur had ever been all it was cracked up to be. The trip to the tea plantation and factory was fascinating however, though I wouldn't care to be a worker there. I will never look at the picture on boxes of Brooke Bond tea in quite the same way again.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Dileepa is a terrific leader, who combines hard work and professionalism with a very likeable personality. I think that he also set an excellent example for his support crew, who could not have been more helpful. He genuinely seemed to enjoy being with our group, even 'out of hours'; this included organising some party games at the end of the trip and even a cricket match. The very few problems that cropped up were dealt with, with efficiency and good humour. Having a native Sri Lankan for a group leader is of huge benefit, whether it is a matter of enquiring whether a roadside snack is suitable for vegetarians or understanding the history or way of life of the country.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Although the trip notes say that 95% of the roads are tarmac, this is not how it feels. 95% of the distance could just about be tarmac but certainly not 95% of the riding time, particularly as Sri Lanka seems to be in the middle of an ambitious road improvement programme. Sri Lanka is very hot and humid, just like it says in the trip notes. Despite starting each day soon after first light, the temperature rises quickly and, particularly when it was necessary to ride through the hottest part of the day, this could be exhausting, in spite of the regular drink and snack stops. The ride distances may seem modest but the effort (and time) to complete the rides is much greater than a comparable distance in the UK.

Most Inspirational Moment

Experiencing the continental divide between the tectonic plates of Europe and North America

Thoughts on Group Leader

David was very understanding and excellent at getting us to places at the opportune time.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for a physical holiday

Most Inspirational Moment

Walk of the Gods.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Very good. Highly knowledgable about Almafi and made sure everything ran very smoothly in a packed itinery.

Most Inspirational Moment

We took advantage of all the optional trips and for me, having been born in India, the one to the southern most tip of India was especially poignant. It was one of the best holidays I’ve ever had & I will certainly travel with Exodus again.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Santo James, our Leader worked so hard to make it such a wonderful holiday from beginning to end. We kept thinking it couldn’t get any better and then it did. Santo had so much knowledge and information on absolutely everything. The picture he gave us of village life and his own experiences as a farmer made it very personal and really added to the wealth of history, culture, politics and local life; the range of experiences offered us was fantastic and we loved it all.

Most Inspirational Moment

Totally unexpected but the most memorable and enjoyable part for me turned out to be the Mangrove boat trip when down South. Worth every penny of the £10 it cost. Paddling out to visit the islands was relaxing and felt privileged to be allowed to land on and explore Temple Island where up to 60 monks live then Cinnamon Island where we were shown how the cinnamon sticks, powder and oil are made by the families living there. The cycle ride along the canal also gave an insight into daily life of the people living there and an opportunity to see more wildlife close up. Loved the monkeys living and playing by the ruined temples at Polonnaruwa.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Roshan was helpful, polite and displays a clear pride , knowledge and love for his country which he was able to convey well. His daily descriptions on the bus each morning were well paced and informative. He has a great sense of humour and excellent use of English. His enthusiasm teaching us local games on the farm land was infectious with all enjoying the morning's activities. Our group had a diverse range of interests, age and ability which Roshan catered well for. He displayed great patience when listening then dealing with any queries or concerns which arose. It was a relief to see his happy smile greet us on arrival at the airport and we were sorry to have to say goodbye at the end of the trip. I hope if Roshan ever wants to visit Scotland, we can help him see and understand our country.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Money cannot be changed into rupees until you arrive in Sri Lanka so you will have to visit the exchange on arrival before leaving the airport. Porters will be keen to help you collect your bags but will expect a tip in return. There are plenty chances to change money throughout the trip and I would advise using cash rather than credit cards to pay as some in our party found their card details being copied. At the start of the trip we each put £20 into a kitty with the guide to cover daily tips, bottled water on the bus etc. which made things easier. You can also pay for optional excursions in sterling though must be notes as £1 coins not accepted. Useful to keep some small notes & coins ( rupees ) handy to give if taking photographs or buying trinkets when the bus stops for rest breaks. Supply of cool water and air conditioning on the bus was much appreciated. Be prepared to be standing on the train as busy and seats can only be reserved in Colombo but great views and lots of character. Wi fi is available free in most hotel reception areas. Handy to have an adaptor plug though most rooms also had square pin sockets. Plugs can usually be borrowed if you ask at reception . When quoted a price for something it is definitely worth haggling as can usually be bought for half or a third of the original price. Price for spices was a lot cheaper in Kandy than at the Spice Gardens. The waves crashing on the shore make it difficult to do any more than paddle on the beach but most hotels had beautiful pools to swim in.

Most Inspirational Moment

Getting up to the lake at the base of Fitzroy. It was a tough hike especially the last bit, but it was so beautiful up there. If you get the right weather you will never forget the view.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Denis was a friendly and helpful leader, but sometimes his organizational skills were a little unorganized.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Try and push for an early start on the days of the main hikes. It will give you more time to go at your own pace. Take walking poles if you have them as the walks are hard. At Torres del Paine we set off (late) in really nice weather, but by the time we got to the top it was snowing, it was 1 degree centigrade, and we couldn't see anything. Check on the currency situation before you go. Make sure you have large denomination US$ bills to exchange to get the best rates. It is worth adding on a few days to see Buenos Aires and make a trip across to Colonia (Uruguay).

Most Inspirational Moment

the hike around the high point of Mt. Vesuvius was absolutely incredible - made me feel like I was on the top of the world.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Christine was an amazing guide who provided great information along the routes and made the group really feel like a family in a few short days. She knows everyone along the way which was really fun - we felt so welcomed by everyone! She made sure that everyone was having fun, knew what the plan was, and that we were well fed. couldn't ask for more!

Advice for Potential Travellers

the stairs were a bit of a surprise. while the trip notes said not to go if you had knee issues, only one of the days really talked to how many stairs there were....when in reality every day had quite a few stairs. hiking poles were really helpful to make it up and down all of those!

Most Inspirational Moment

The Panama Canal is a splendid culmination of two weeks of challenging cycling (hills, wind and heat), but the day spent dolphin watching (an optional excursion), the trip to the edge of the volcano and then the caldera, the river rafting and wildlife spotting, and the most delicious pineapples and bananas are also up there. With only one exception (in Arenal) the hotels were chosen with care and thought regarding character.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Guillermo and his team were always ready to answer questions or meet our needs.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Sunscreen and other protection from the rays. It rained throughout our day through the rainforest: many dressed up although I dressed down and accepted I was going to get soaked. Our bikes even had water bottles and speedos which are not normally provided. My reading material remained unread at the end of the trip, there was lots to do.

Most Inspirational Moment

A toss up between the Telouet Kasbah en route to the mountains, and the views of the High Atlas in the snow after a steep stimulating climb.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Experienced, no-nonsense, friendly, efficient, knowledgeable, wise.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The mountain village gite is basic and facilities are very simple, but more comfortable than the trip notes suggest (hot showers every day, western loos, substantial floor mattresses, pillows and blankets are all available). Bring warm clothes for the evening/early morning if there in March. Bring snacks to keep you going on walks unless you like mars/snickers which are available at the gite. Avoid tap water and use bottled water - also available at the gite. Bring a few cans of beer if you fancy a drink in the village. Be prepared for pleasant exhaustion!

Most Inspirational Moment

Paddling a canoe around Halong Bay was definitely a highlight. Wandering around Hoi An in the evening admiring the lanterns was lovely too.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Vinh was excellent, fantastic at organising us, he introduced us to the delicious vietnamese food and gave us a real insight into the lives of vietnamese people. M in Cambodia helped us understand the history of the temples but also more recent events from his personal experience.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Travel light as you will be changing location quite a lot. You can get washing done locally or buy clothes there. Don't forget your passport photos if you are getting a Cambodian visa on arrival. The end of the holiday is busy touring temples so you might want to add on an extra day or so to relax.