Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Inspiration moment 1 Well, like so many before me and with the aid of Exodus,  an item has gone from my to do list and I have summated Kili.  We completed all three summit points and getting to the highest point of Africa (Uhuru) and looking out accross the plainsone side and the Glacier the other has to be the most inspirational view I have seen so far.Inspirational moment 2 This has to be sunrise at Gilmans point, It was a clear and cold morning at 0530hrs and we had just had a very hard summit climb since midnight. After a short final climb up the rocks, we just had time to recover and Richard, my guide said, look.... it was an amzingly clear, full sky sunrise over the whole valley and Mawenzi. Awsome!!:-)   

Thoughts on Group Leader

Emmanual was our Group leader. His confidence and knowledge comes from the fact that he has been to the top more times than I have had hot dinners!He knows what to do, what to look for and how to get it done.He had great command of his whole team and was a genuiine nice guy who alwys had a smile and a laugh when you needed it.Great guy, highly reccomended.

Advice for Potential Travellers

1. Listen to all advice from exodus.2. Talk to them after you have booked.3. USE the departure lounge. Its a great place to talk to others in your group and also others in previous groups to get tips from.4. Depending on the season, make sure you protect against the sun as well as the cold as this can catch you out.5. Dont take too much, many changes of clothes are not needed, nearly allof our group toook too much.

Most Inspirational Moment

This trip's major plus point over other trips concentrating on Kerala is the diversion to Madurai.  It was amazing, fascinating and well worth the travel involved.  The huge Hindu temple was definitely the real highlight of the trip.Otherwise, Kerala's amazing natural beauty (particularly the tea plantation and the backwaters) and its stunningly tasty food were things that will live long in the memory.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The day trip to the southern tip of India is well worth making.  After having spent time travelling you might feel like stretching out on the beach at Kovalam, but the trip was a nice chance to do your own thing.  There is a beautiful wooden palace to be seen and the chance to see three oceans meet.

Most Inspirational Moment

First sight of Himalaya; Feeling euphoria at the end of the first day when we realised we'd be able to do it!; Arriving at Annapurna Base Camp.  Being at Annapurna Base Camp.  Annapurna.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Group leader was excellent.  Very kind, very aware of how we all were managing, and gave us just the right amount of information at the right time.  I felt very confident in him.  He always managed to appear just when we might need extra help - in fact I always knew a dodgy bridge was coming up as Prem appeared out of nowhere!  Being supported by guides meant that everyone was able to do the pace they felt happy with.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't worry about the plumbing!  You'll get used to it quickly.  Personally, I'd say just don't eat meat at all - it's just not worth the risk of spoiling your trip with an upset tummy, and it's no hardship to go without - there is plenty of choice.  Once we got past the mineral water area we got boiled water from the lodges.  Taking no chances I always added a chlorine tablet, and a top tip from a friend before I left was to add a Berocca - flavour and additional vitamin C!  I experienced no illness whatsoever.  Another top idea - if you have a metal water bottle, get it filled with boiling water in the evening, clothe it in your walking socks and bingo: a lovely hot water bottle.  Then you drink the water the next day.  How's that for multipurpose?  If you have a tendency to weak knees, it might be worth packing some support bandages; there are a lot of steps!  They're very well graded though, and the group leader sets a very sensible pace and gives you plenty of time.  Trekking poles also help in this respect.  It's a lovely trip and I'd definitely do it again.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the humpback whales near Tofino.The drive down the Icefields parkway.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Joanne was very knowledgable about the area, and was good fun.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't take too much luggage - travel light!

Most Inspirational Moment

Visiting a couple of families in their gers and seeing how they live on the plains.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent group leader.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Sit back and enjoy the whole experience - Russian jeeps are not the most comfortable - but travelling this way enables you to see so much. The gers are basic, but extremely comfortable. The food - which was my big worry - was excellent. Salads, vegetables and fruit every day.

Most Inspirational Moment

We saw and did so much that it's hard to pick out any one thing.  But for me, cycling through rural towns and villages and seeing and meeting real locals was quite special.  But the history, the architecture and the cars were all pretty amazing too.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our Group Leader was fantastic.  He was a local man and very knowledgeable and took a lot of trouble to make sure we were looked after and well informed about the places and things that we visited, saw and experienced.  He was also a real 'people person' and kept everyone happy.  I'll always carry the memory of him saying "Listen! I have something to tell you."The drivers and cycle mechanic were also excellent and very friendly.This is probably the first holiday I've ever had that was entirely incident-free.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Relax.  With Exodus there's really nothing to worry about.

Most Inspirational Moment

The most insperational moment of the trip was the actual Inca Trail the whole walk was fantastic and was just ore inspiring. We has some amaizing views and the trail was great fun to walk along, around every corner and up every hill their was something different to see and do. The best part of the whole trip was after 4 days of walking, walking up the last few steep steps of the Sun Gate and seeing the classic Macchu Picchu veiw in the distance was brilliant. The whole group were speachless, and was good to have the whole group to make it to this point. I had carried a couple beers with me for 3 days (i bought some at the last place available) were quite heavy to carry, but was well worth it when I got to the Sun Gate I cracked one open and all the groip and myself had a swig, and all the other groups cheered and clap and thought what a good idea. 

Thoughts on Group Leader

What can I say, Fabrizzio was amazing. He did a fantastic job, nothing was every to much trouble. he was with us the whole trip, was a fountain of knowledge and always made sure we were ok and that we were safe.I could not of asked for anyone better. Also All the staff and leaders from all over the trip were brilliant. I especially thank the cooks from the Inca Trail who mustered up some fantastic 3 course meals. 

Advice for Potential Travellers

I learnt a fair bit from this trip, as it was my first big trip. Dont take to much, I did and didnt use it all. Make sure you take a very good 3-4 season sleeping back and liner (preferbly silk) It can get cold at night in the mountains. Walking boots for the trail, walkcing shoes for the excursions, I took sandals for the evening, but during the day it did get too sunny to wear them and some people burnt themselves..  A wide rimmed hat is essential, and a strong sunscreen (25+). Pack pleanty of imodium and dyralite nothing worse than getting a dodgy tummy, and if you can take some mint tea bags as they help settle the stomach greatly. Drink pleanty of water and gatorade whilst their, its very important to stay hydrated. I got sunstoke one afternoon and it was horrible. 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent knowledgeable leader who knew his stuff.

Advice for Potential Travellers

We went on the "strenuous" week which we enjoyed but be prepared to be walking for 9-10 hours on a couple of days!

Most Inspirational Moment

Maybe it was waking up snug and warm in my (borrowed from friend) 4 season sleeping bag on Christmas morning, realising that - although I love my family and friends dearly - the decision I had made to spend Christmas away walking in the anti-Atlas with a group of like-minded (and not at all wierd) people, was absolutely the right one, and that I had a day of sunshine, great scenery and walking, great company and conversation ahead of me (if only I could face getting out of my sleeping bag!).

Thoughts on Group Leader

Abdullah was fantastically organised and efficient without ever letting on: everything happened as it should, there was never any stress.  I felt completely safe and confident with Abdullah, and he was very open and welcoming, and happy to talk about Morocco today.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take lots of toilet paper (the facilities- if there are any - are very basic)! Even in the middle of winter take a sun hat - it's bright.Take a head torch and lots of layers for sitting around in the evening.There's not a lot of time in the town at the end (Taroudant) so if you're shopping - know what you're after.  

Most Inspirational Moment

Victoria Falls was amazing - even though it was low water (October). Well worth doing the helicopter trip over the falls. And you do need to do the optional trip to the Zimbabwe side of the falls. (When we visited there was almost no water coming over the Zambian side!) You can book an organised trip to the Zimbabwe side - but our guide was kind enough to take us (onhis day off!) - so all it cost us was the entry fee to the falls and the Zimbabwe visa.And the Chobe River cruise was also incredible. The word 'cruise' gives the wrong impression - we were in small boat (holds about 16 people), close to the water level - but this makes it far more special because you get so close to the animals. Seeing the elephant family come down to the river to drink was perhaps the highlight. 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our guide (Sam) and driver (Jame) were both very friendly and helpful. Couldn't have asked for more!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make the most of the optional trips. Chobe River Cruise has to be the best value for money.