Reviews

Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers

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70 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Peter Gomes

Reviewed August 2019

Tour du Mount Blanc Hotel - terrific two week Alpine trek through three countries

This trip proved to be a brilliant way to hike five valleys, three countries, and enjoy stunning Alpine scenery en route. Accommodation is generally good, and the food hearty & plentiful but it is all about terrific walking territory in the shadow of the Mt. Blanc massif. Lots of “Wow” moments. Do not underestimate the hiking fitness required with each walking day being 10-12 miles (16-19 km) with ascents of 1,000 m – 1,600 m (3,000′ – 5,000′) and corresponding descents. However the pace set by our guide Kim was sensible throughout so we had time to chat as we walked, take photos and enjoy the wonderful views. Trekking time was generally 6-8 hours each day albeit actual walking time was consistently around two-thirds of this. The other third being photo stops, coffee/ice cream stops (lots), two lunch stops (eating little and often was good advice), etc. Rest days were well placed in the timetable and meant that we all completed the 110 mile (180 km) circuit in good shape.

Most Inspirational Moment

In terms of hiking, probably ascending the 2,500 m cols which took us across the frontiers into each of Switzerland, Italy & France, plus the steep (600 m) ascent of the Col du Trichot on walking day 9, and the sumptuous views of Mt Blanc as we ascended 1,600m to Brevet on the final morning - celebrated with champagne at the top. Aside from the hiking were two "Must Do"s. One was on the first rest day - taking the Skyway Monte Bianco cable car from Cormayeaur up to Punta Herbronner and then the frankly fantastic 5km panorama trip over to the Aiguille du Midi. Absolutely superb views over the glacier and of Mt Blanc itself. Kim suggested we get there for 06:30 when it opened which proved great advice as we had the viewing platform to ourselves & avoided the later crowds and queues. The other was the tramway from St Gervais up to Nid D'Aigle. Impressive engineering, great views and a chance to hike to the Bionnassay glacier. Do both. Take layers.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Kim was an experienced IML (International Mountain Leader) and clearly knew the area like the back of her hand - she didn't consult a map once across the whole trip. Her briefings each evening were comprehensive - almost too much so. She was up early each morning to set out food so we could select content of our lunches before we went into breakfast, and her timetabling meant we had plenty of time at every point despite the scale of the hiking each day. She set a steady sensible pace on the ascents and was a demon on the descents - we had fun trying to keep up with her, despite her being older than all the trip participants.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The trip notes liken the walking to ascending Ben Nevis or Scarfell Pike. This is not an exaggeration as we coincidentally did both three weeks before the trip. You need to be hiking fit to cope with repeated 10+ mile / 1,000+m hikes. Take layers - the weather can change quickly. Carrying gloves, woolly hat, down jacket, rain top, & over-trousers seemed OTT until the sudden thunderstorm on the Col du Bonhomme. Good boots, walking poles plenty of sun screen are also recommended. Finally, those with water bladders proved more adept with keeping hydrated than those us with water bottles. I picked one up in Decathlon (£10) on our return to Chamonix.

Nadia Ashraf

Reviewed August 2019

You HAVE to book this trip!!!

You will not be disappointed with this trip: stunning vistas every step of the way, great sense of achievement, great people; including John, our exceptional Mountain Leader and lovely hot chocolate and tarte myrtille at the mountain refuges.

Most Inspirational Moment

Making it up Brevent on the the last climb to complete the two-week trek!

Thoughts on Group Leader

John is an exceptional Mountain Leader: very experienced and certainly knows his stuff. He had a knack of popping up beside you for support any time you were feeling anxious about the path or there was a precarious snowy/icy section or river crossing. Certainly felt very safe in his hands. He is very knowledgable about the mountains, flora and fauna and has stories about his own adventures around the world to keep you entertained with. Set the perfect 'Fairy Step' pace on the hikes to make it seem almost effortless, which made all the difference, especially in the 35 degree heat we had on some days. Very well organised and always made sure we had a good spread for lunch. Even good at opening the impossible gherkin jars!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Although this is a summer trek, there was plenty of snow still on the path for our trip in June, so be prepared!

Rob Dyer

Reviewed August 2019

Fantastic tour

The tour excellent from start to finish. The walking was well planned and supported brilliantly by John our mountain guide. The hotels were good and arrangements for transfer of our gear worked without a hitch. One of the best holidays we havd ever had.

Most Inspirational Moment

The sense of achievement of completing the last day’s climb was fantastic. John kept us together always as a group. Everyone felt supported Shen they needed it.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent. John managed to create a cohesive group. He managed to keep a sense of fun while inspiring great trust in his knowledge and skills. Could not have been better.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go for it! It is challenging but manageable for anyone who is fairly fit.

Pen Barnes

Reviewed September 2018

Tour de Mont Blanc hotel- ( tour du gormet)

Best trip in a decade. Combination of stunning vistas, hiking, culture and food. Jenny our guide was superb. Better named the “Tour du gormet”. “5km to best gelato, 7 km to Prosecco, 8 km to tarte framboise”. Or that can be translated to first breakfast, second breakfast, first lunch,second lunch. Lots of hiking – don’t underestimate the impact of5 days of 2000 to 4000ft and 10 plus miles at the beginning of the trip. However there is then the best hot chocolate in Italy- more a chocolate fondue to look forward to. Bon appetit!

Most Inspirational Moment

Mont Blanc

Thoughts on Group Leader

Fantastic

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do not underestimate the hiking - even if used to doing long hikes

Pen Barnes

Reviewed September 2018

Tour de Mont Blanc hotel- ( tour du gormet)

Most Inspirational Moment

Mont Blanc

Thoughts on Group Leader

Fantastic

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do not underestimate the hiking - even if used to doing long hikes

Debra Thompson

Reviewed September 2018

Fabulous trip

My husband and and I really loved this walk. The scenery every day was simply spectacular. The accomodation was very comfortable and food provided for us was top class. We had quite a small group of 7 of various nationalities and we all muddled along together very well. I found our trek leader to be very helpful with advice on what to do on days off etc. He was always encouraging along the way and informed us of points of interest, landmarks etc. I did find the walk to be quite challenging and anybody interested in doing this trek needs to have a fairly high level of fitness. I would recommend Exodus travel to my friends, expecially the Tour du Mont Blanc trek.

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching the top of Brevant on the last day of the walk. It had been a long, long walk up. I felt really proud that I had been able to complete the walk.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Peter Smith was a fantastic tour leader. He was “keep calm and carry on” type of character. He was encouraging and provided me with helpful hints along the way regarding the use of poles, pace and was particularly helpful to me when we had to some, what I think was scary edge walking to do. This was not my strength but I managed well with his help.

Advice for Potential Travellers

This trek requires a fairly high level of fitness. Do a lot of uphill training in readiness and be assured that it won’t be enough. Be determined to finish.

Judith Argent

Reviewed September 2018

Summer in the mountains surrounding Mont Blanc

A thoroughly enjoyable trek through France, Switzerland and Italy. It’s a lovely feeling to walk everywhere (with the occasional use of local buses). The hotels and auberges were comfortable and we were well fed throughout the trip. There was a large choice of food and fruits for packed lunches which we made ourselves, choosing as much as we wanted. The walking was fabulous, I loved seeing the different scenery and villages.

Most Inspirational Moment

I particularly enjoyed walking over the cols to the next valleys. Always a wow moment.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Nick was a great guide, and knew a lot about the mountains and the things living in them. I don't think anyone was ever anxious about what the day might bring as trickier parts of the walk were dealt with as we arrived at them and not over thought of before. He had a calm, relaxed manner which made all the days enjoyable.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Always carry wet weather gear. We only had just over an hour of rain on one occasion whilst walking but I was grateful for the waterproofs I'd carried for nearly a fortnight. Do get fit but don't over worry. We live in a very flat area so only really walk up hills and mountains whilst on holiday and we had no problem. Carry plenty of water. Be prepared to wait for slower members of the group... never a problem when you're an such beautiful surroundings!

Tony Perdomo

Reviewed July 2018

Just Wow, reason why it's a Top 5 trek

This trek (early July ’18) was phenomenal. this is my first real trekking holiday and I have to tell you, I am converted now. the scenery all along the way is spectacular, and different each day! Going through 3 countries, more than 170 kms, and going from towns and villages to a handful of coffee drinkers at a refuge at 2000+ masl, really added variety to this trip. The first 2 days might be challenging ones for most, but then your body and mind sync, and then your only focus is when to stop taking pictures and not to get your breath back. Your body will love it, you will be at peace and most importantly, super fit after it’s all set and done. Work hard during the day, have a nice sleep on a comfy bed each night – what else do you want?

Most Inspirational Moment

Realizing that my group of 3 was the best paced group my guide has ever had, and I kept up with them no problem. doing a Col in 2 hours where it should have taken 3, and still feel like a champ after all. Bring it on Annapurnas, you're next

Thoughts on Group Leader

Pete Smith, a legend. he was superb, well attentive and mindful of everyone. it was his first trek of the season and I am happy we got him. superb leader!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Yes, follow the fitness plan and break your boots in. Once you are there, let the mind take over and the body follow suit. It's not a race, it's a walk along one of the most beautiful treks out there. Bring camelback of 1.5-2L and a waterbottle (1L), you will need it

Linda Walton

Reviewed July 2018

A Must Do for every keen hiker

This was an excellent trip. The views are stunning and we were fortunate enough to have 9 dry and sunny days. Loved hiking from France to Switzerland to Italy and back to France.

Being able to have a drink and cake at some of the refuges was a real bonus.

There were quite a lot of snowfields to cross but we were very fortunate in that we were able to trek the whole route. Two weeks before and this was not possible.

Most Inspirational Moment

Crossing the border from Switzerland into Italy. The views from the Col Ferret were outstanding. Having lunch on the top, enjoying the sunshine and eating toblerone - bliss.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was Frank. He was hugely experienced, having done this some 60 times before. Frank set the pace and it was just right. He never went off at a ridiculous pace and I never felt that my safety was compromised at all. He was really helpful when I struggled to cross one pass with my short legs and had plenty of time to make a track through the snowfields when we had to descend through them.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I was a little concerned with undertaking this trip as I am in my late 50's and the maximum number of days hiking I have done before was 4. We did do quite a bit of training and I would recommend that anyone doing this does try to find some hills before. Having said that, we did not struggle at all. Frank's pace was great. The legs did ache for the first couple of days but after that they were fine. On the last day we did 1670m of ascent and I could have gone on and on! The downhills are definitely harder than the ascents. So pleased we chose the guided tour as it would have been very challenging trying to find some of the routes especially when you're in a storm with limited visibility and being hit with large hail stones.

Larry Meyers

Reviewed September 2017

An Amazing Trip From Start To Finish

I knew from the moment I arrived in Chamonix and saw the mountains and its glaciers that I had found the right adventure. Here was a chance to do one of the most acclaimed walks and the trip lived up to its billing. One can read about the walk and its vistas but nothing really prepares you for actually being part of it. I enjoyed the challenge of the walk, my fellow travelers and the quality of the lodging (OK, maybe not walking down the hall to the w/c in the middle of the night at our auberge stays–but a heck of a lot better than tenting). I enjoyed the evening meals and the variety of the cuisine. Overall the food was good and the huts offered a nice supplement to our sandwich lunch fare. The huts were a new experience and each one was unique from the food offered, to the hot chocolate to the w/c’s.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the clouds part to reveal a new mountain with its glaciers. Experiencing a cloudless day in Chamonix at the end of the trip. Cheering on over 2000 participants in the UTMB (Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc) as they pass you on the trail after having run through the night only to later realize that the leaders completed in hours which took us days. To be part of a group lead by Jeff.

Thoughts on Group Leader

I have done dozens of trips that required a guide. I can only recall a few of their names. In my mind there will always be an association between the Tour du Mont Blanc and our guide Jeff. To quote a walker who did the trip with Jeff earlier this summer "..he was fantastic..professional, intelligent, engaging, fun, friendly, safety conscious and very caring towards his clients." It is not easy leading a group of 14 hikers with various skill levels and insuring they stay together.

Advice for Potential Travellers

First and foremost this is a group hike. You are part of a team whose goal is for all to complete the Tour and to enjoy their experience on the trail. Do not underestimate the need to do a good amount of walking before the trip. Focus on distance yes, an of course climbing. Include going down steep hills and plenty of steps. Insure your feet are in good shape. Figure out the right weight and sock combination before the trip. The trail conditions vary and it is important to have plenty of tread on your hiking boots. Things I found helpful: my own bar of soap; spare bootlaces; a travel clothesline for in room washing; lotions for the feet after the day's walk; good pair of sandals as your hiking boots are not allowed in the auberges and in some hotels and finally--earplugs. (Laundromats could be found near the Hotel Richemond in Chamonix and the Hotel Val Joly in St Gervais {Day 10 & 11}).

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