Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

The hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia was magical - I've read some reviews saying it was expensive but I think the cost compares well with similar flights in the UK.  Also, seeing Pamukkale at sunset was a sight I'll never forget, but I would have liked longer there.  And the Turkish Hamam experience is something that will stay with me for life - probably for all the wrong reasons!!!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Funda was brilliant - her knowledge and enthusiasm for sharing her country and culture with us was faultless. My only criticism is that, being so small she needs to find a better way to identify herself at the airport as she got lost in the crowds and was very difficult to locate. Praise too to our driver Takim - glad it was him and not me negotiating that Friday evening traffic back into Istanbul. 

Advice for Potential Travellers

As others have said - take plenty of anti-diarrhoea tablets.  Euros seemed to be the preferred currency in some areas.  Be careful in Antalya where most of us got ripped off in one way or another.  Note - the two hour boat trip in Antalya is exactly the same as the one hour trip but is done at half the speed (and costs twice the price)

Most Inspirational Moment

There are so many!  The Great wall, The Terraccotta Army, The Pandas, The Bullet train, the fun of the overnight sleeper trains...... the list is endless!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Marks organisational skills were superb!  He had everybody in the right place at the right time - and that was no mean feat! His  local knowledge was very good, perhaps a little more general information along the way would be nice. Mark was a very helpful and friendly guide to us all and was never without his Panda on a pole, coining the phrase 'Follow the Panda'

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go with an open mind ready to enjoy and experience all that there is to offer!

Most Inspirational Moment

The high passes were indeed the highlights - getting to the top was a challenge on a couple of the days, but once there the views were stunning.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Frank was a good trek leader - allowing the speedy folks to go ahead when it was safe to do so, and keeping an eye out for the backmarkers without making anyone feel like they had to hurry. He was also ok with letting the fitter walkers stride ahead when the route was clear and safe, giving us the space to walk at our own pace.You don't get too many of them to a penny... Breaks were often enough, without being too-much.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do some hill-walking exercise before you come and you'll enjoy it more. Climbing hills is probably the best practice, but I think an elliptical bike can also be a good alternative if you can't get to the mountains. This is a good challenging trip - challenging for the long climbs, and the stretches of bouldering on the hut-hut days. It deserves being a grade-higher than the Tour de Mont Blanc, but is still quite acheivable for any (semi-regular) walker.Bring a set of good ear-plugs for the refuge nights if you're hoping to get any sleep. Oh - and just in case you (or someone else) picks up a cough... bring plenty of cough sweets.Take plenty of memory cards + spare batteries for the camera. Power was available most nights at the camp sites with both UK and Euro plugs, although not convenient on the hut-hut section.

Most Inspirational Moment

Standing at the top of Mount Nebo looking out over JordanThe long walk and climb up to the Monastery in Petra and the impressive view.  Petra really is extraordinary. The exciting cycling downhill and sense of achievement every time I managed to get to the top of a hill Cycling and camping in the desert at Wadi Rum and the best breakfast of the whole holiday.  The Wadi Rum camp was much less basic than I expected.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Zuhair really made the holiday special.  His English was excellent.  There were a couple of issues but he dealt with them before we even mentioned them.  What more could you want from a tour leader!

Advice for Potential Travellers

It is really hilly and this is reflected in the distance cycled each day.  However no-one was put under pressure to keep cycling so if you can't make it up the hill the team are quite amenable to giving you a lift. Don't let this put you off - just practise a few hills before you go.Also, the weather was perfect for cycling in early October and the nights warm but still did not really need a thick sleeping bag in Wadi Rum.   

Most Inspirational Moment

Where do I start?  From the obvious Machu Picchu, Nazca  Lines  and the Condors in the Colca Canyon, there were so many. The snow storm in the High Andes, followed by a spectacular sunset showed the scenery in all its majestic beauty.  The Ballestas and Uros islands showed yet other facets of this remarkable country and the homestay on Amantani island demonstrated the hard yet happy life of the people who welcomed us and allowed us to take a small part of this.  The pride of the local people at the Spring Parade in Cuzco was obvious to all and a privelege to witness.   We were also able to join in the celebrations at the Sante Clara church, a building rarely open to the public and filled with mirrors, where we were made welcome with a celebratory mug of "chicha".

Thoughts on Group Leader

Fabrizzio was informative, professional yet fun to be with.  His concerns were always for our health and safety, as he said "if you don't tell me, I can't help you!" and any problems were dealt with quickly and efficiently with the minimum of fuss. It was a real pleasure to be part of his group. 

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you can avoid it, don't travel by Iberian Airlines as their service, standards and facilities on a long haul were very poor.Listen to your guide and follow his advice regarding altitude but don't worry about it.  Some people will suffer a bit but if you follow the advice it will all be fine.There are some long journeys and early starts but the scenery and experiences make them all worthwhile, just enjoy them. 

Most Inspirational Moment

Scenery was amazing..

Thoughts on Group Leader

Mohammed was an excellent guide..

Advice for Potential Travellers

Last day is pretty openended so book a walking trip of the city

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking in the village in Lesotho, lots of good photo oppurtunities.Day walk in the drakensberg - the scenery is stunningWalk to the waterfall in TsitsikammaKruger national park - be patient and the wildlife will appear, our second day was much better than the 1st.Arriving at the Swaziland campsite and walking a few metres to see about 5 rhinos only a few metres away. 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leaders were Rob (guide) and Sifiso (drvier / cook).Rob is still young but very enthuisiastic and a great bloke to get on with. He has a vast knowlwedge for his age, but is still learning the trip - in a few trips time I am sure he will be excellent.Sifiso is a great driver and cook, we never went hungry. The food is not gourmet but good wholesome food - look out for the garlic potatoes and steak !. He is sometimes a bit quiet / shy and his sense of humour is sometimes a bit difficult to interpret. But overall a good guy !

Advice for Potential Travellers

The trip is a full service camping trip, we were more than happy to help put up / take down tents, do the washing up  etc. If no one in the group helps out then the itinery would be virtually impossible to stick to - especially mornings that need the camp to be packed up. So go prepared to help - it's more fun that way, and it helps the group to gel.The campsites vary quite a bit, but are generally very clean. We went in Sept / Oct when most of the sites were not very busy. Suspect there may be queues for showers etc when the sites are fuller. The site in Mozambique is mosquito central - especially in the showers.We (and most of the group) found that sleeping on the matteresses direct on the ground made for a better nights sleep than using the camp beds.We did the boat whale watching trip in Hermanus, in reality the sea was too choppy for any serious whale watching. The members of the group who stayed on land saw more whales and got better pictures. Thus check the sea conditions before spending your ~£50.The trip to Robben island was interesting but do not expect to do your own thing on the island, you are taken around in a bus for most of the time. Most prices are not that much cheaper than the uk, even in supermarkets most food is the same. On the plus side you can get a good bottle of SA wine for about £3-4 in most supermarkets.

Most Inspirational Moment

So many, every day there was a highlight but for me the desert was fantastic, an incredible part of the journey, I cetainly didn't expect it to rank so highly. Petra is superb, do try to do it by night, its a very different experience to going there by day, i'd recommend it.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Zuhair was lovely, a very kind man with all of his guests well being as his priority. Humourous and knowledgable - excellent

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you're going in September it will be very very hot, however its a very dry heat so quite bearable. Do not take a sleeping bag as it will save space to take a liner instead. It was 20 degrees at the coldest part of the night in Mid September. Take sterling - its as easy as dollars to change but less faff before you go. Just get it booked - this is a fantastic trip!

Most Inspirational Moment

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Thoughts on Group Leader

Thanos was extremely knowledgeable about the history and culture of the island, but his communication and walk leading skills were poor.  My experience of other holidays with Exodus and Explore are that the leader gives a talk each evening about the following day, telling one what to expect and what we need to take.  Thanos did not do this.  On one evening I asked him to do this and he appeared surprised at my request.  One morning as we started the walk from the hotel, as we got to a shop he told us that we needed plenty of water and suggested that we like to buy some from the shop.  Fortunately I had asked him this question the night before at dinner and had therefore filled the extra water bottles that I had bought with me.  Others in the group bought water from the shop when in fact they may also have had extra bottles at the hotel which they hadn't brought with them. All the walks were at a very fast pace and this was the general feeling of the group.  Several of us were regular walkers and yet struggled to keep up.  There was certainly no chance to look at the flowers and any wildlife.  Thanos rarely stopped for people to catch up and members of the group had to ensure that those at the back were not left behind.  It was hard to understand the reason for the pace of the walks as we often finished early and on many days were back at the hotel by 4pm having four hours to kill before we went out for dinner at 8pm.  On a positive note Thanos did take us on a walk on the free day and did not expect any payment for this.  I feel that he is an excellent local cultural guide, but is not suited to leading walks and his communication skills leave a lot to be desired.  

Most Inspirational Moment

I found the group leader quite inspirational (see below!). My favourite day was the 2nd day of the trek - 6 hours uphill then 2 hours downhill! It was hard work but we took it at a steady pace and the views at the top were incredible. The 3rd day afternoon was also fantastic - the scenery and vegetation were beautiful. The camp site that evening was amazing, it really felt like we were on top of the world!

Thoughts on Group Leader

"Dis" was the best group leader that I've met (I've been on a few Exodus trips, plus some with similar companies). She had great English and a good sense of humour. She had amazing knowledge of the local areas and the Inca civilisation. She set an excellent pace for the trek. She also coped brilliantly with sick and drunk clients! She was an amazing ambassador for the company, for the Andes and the Incas, for Peru and for women (working in a very male dominated field).

Advice for Potential Travellers

I'd not used walking poles before and bought some as a last minute thought just 24 hours before travelling! They were very useful and I would recommend them, although they're not essential (several people were fine without them, but I do feel they made my trek easier). A trip to the hot springs in Aguascalientes is well worthwhile - it was a great way to relax after the trek and the place had a really fun atmosphere (you can be served with cocktails from the bar at the poolside!). The Sacred Valley trip is a long day but it is a good way to get out walking in the mountains and acclimatise to the altitude.