Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Hmmm.....Loved watching the traffic in Marrakech and eating dinner in the square at night.The village in the mountains, where life is slow, but people are self sufficient; they don't appear to have much, but on my return to life in Marrakech I know which life I would chose. The call to prayer in the mountains.Meeting Mohammed and the donkey on the first day for a picnic lunch.The 20 mile walk on the last day. The group of people we were with.  

Thoughts on Group Leader

Hasan was perfect. He spoke very good English, had a great sense of humour and was very informative about local and Morrocan culture. He explained the itinery well. He joined in with our group and is a whiz at Uno! 

Advice for Potential Travellers

Ensure you have waterproofs. When it rains its cold rain! and you can lose body heat very quickly.Purchase Dirhams at the airport, or at a cash machine. I took Euros as per the information on the website, but Dirhams are more widely used.Take a pack of cards/games and a book for the evenings. 

Most Inspirational Moment

Arriving in Santiago, but also the days we climbed up to O Cebreiro and cycling through the Galician country lanes.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Nacho and Jaime were both excellent and looked after the group really well, and with a great sense of humour.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you like historic cities, consider staying an extra day in Santiago at the end. For those of us who cycled on the last afternoon, we only had an evening there which isn't time to have a good look round.

Most Inspirational Moment

Probably climbing up to the ancient Imperial Roman marble querries - a fantastic location and fascinating historical tale.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Thanos was an excellent leader - nothing too much trouble and he took very good care of us.  his love and enthusiasm for Evia was evident in all his stories and tales about its history.

Most Inspirational Moment

Difficult to pin-point; as a lover of landscapes, i really loved walking bare foot on Pamukkale the naturally occurring terraces of carbonates deposited by hot springs (even though it was damp and over-cast, in fact for me that made it special); there were some really beautiful sunsets by the coast; and the eroded tufa landscape of Cappadocia is mind boggling (as are the homes past and present built in them). And some of the ruins are breath-taking, in particular the theater at Aspendos, the theater at Termessos shrouded in mountain cloud, the dizzy height of Pergamon, and the very intact stadium at Aphrodisias, i couldn't believe it. Then there are the beautiful mosques, the Byzantine mosaics, the impressive museums. And finally modern day treats of shopping in the baza and relazxing in a hamman. All fantastic.

Thoughts on Group Leader

I thought she was really nice, and very impressed with her knowledge both local and historical considering we went to so many places and Anatolia was peopled and governed by so many different cultures over the Millenia. She very rarely said 'I'm sorry I don't know' despite our many questions. Also this was my third trip with Exodus and this was the first time a group leader gave me a language lesson (an a4 sheet of numbers, useful phrases etc) and how to the pronounce them, it went a long way. She proposed very good restaurants for our meals, all the sub standard meals (3) that i had, i sourced myself!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Yes - pack a light waterproof mac, hat/ scarf / gloves and at least one warm jumper as there are sometimes thunderstorms and it gets cold. Food and especially drink were quite a bit more expensive then i'd anticipated. Buy a string for your sun glasses to hand round your neck you're always putting them on and taking them off! If you get travel sick make sure you bring tablets as some long days driving (fine though plenty of great landscape to see out of the window). Make sure you bring enough camera memory, on the last day i was having to edit to make room for new photos! Also unlike other trips there was no reading material on the bus, so make sure you have something.

Most Inspirational Moment

I can't really decide, but there was a long up and down section in Costa Rica somewhere, I was miles away from everybody else (but a guide always behind, so you are always safe I hasten to add), had my ipod on (which we shouldn't really advocate as I guess that's a bit dangerous), and I was so happy I was almost dancing on my bicycle. I reached the others, saw the bus in the distance, and just collapsed with exhaustion and exhileration when I got to them.  I was a pathetic heap lying in the road, but very happy.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Rob is organised, efficient, personable, social, and completely trustworthy.  He knows what people need (laundry, the right food, beer, sufficient breaks etc).  We didn't have to do a thing when it came to border crossings, hotels, or anything administrative. I think i lost a few brain cells on this trip as I didn't have to use them

Advice for Potential Travellers

Thanks to my (experienced) room mate the following were indispensable:a pegless washing line, travel wash and a travel plug, a travel kettle, two mugs, and tea bags/coffee sachetsbring your own cereal if you struggle without a decent breakfast (sometimes iffy)Take cash, its just easier.

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking and camping in the desert for four nights. The tranquility, scenery, group, food and nights round the campfire will stay with me forever as will Zain with his hubbly bubbly! Mastering the art of putting up a tent!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Hasan was a wonderful guide and did everything to make sure all of us in the group enjoyed our trip.Hasan has so much knowledge and passion about his country. His stories round the campfire kept us all amused.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Wet wipes! Ankle support walking boots are also a must due to one of our group getting injured due to boots with no ankle support.  If you're a clean freak that can't cope without a shower for four days then this trip isn't for you.

Most Inspirational Moment

Loved the last 3 walks in particular, each offering a chance to experience different aspects of the area.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The leader did a fantastic job making sure that all group members had a good time/had their needs considered.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Dorgali is only a small town so be prepared to make plans to either explore further afield or take books etc. entertain yourself on the rest day.

Most Inspirational Moment

Halong Bay was a place apart. Would happily have spent another day or so there. Loved the faded granduer oh Hoi An and ofcourse it is a shoppers paradise. Also thought Hanoi and HCM City were buzzing.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Best guide I have had in 30 odd years of travelling. Never met a guy so hell bent on making sure every one was happy. As I am over 60, the trek up the mountain(hill to younger mortals)was hard and exacerbated by the heat and humidity but I did it and that night as I happily lay on my mattress in the long house, Phong came over and gave me a resuscitating back massage! How is that for looking after your brood ?

Advice for Potential Travellers

Drink more water than you think has satisfied you and don't overpack your suit case when you leave London other wise you will be ditching stuff to accomodate what you cannot resist buying in Vietnam.

Most Inspirational Moment

Impossible to pick just one.  A few specific moments stand outWalking with lions on the activity day in ZambiaStanding in front of the Victoria Falls on the Zimbabwe sideElephants at sunset on the Chobe river cruiseSeeing a leopard on a fresh killWild camping in Moremi (with hippos in the pool behind the tents!) and in the salt pans (truly the most surreal camping location I have ever been to)  

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sam is an excellent Group Leader.  Nothing was too much trouble and he also took the time to take a group of us over into Zimbabwe on his day off, which I highly recommend doing at low water time as you see the falls much better than from the Zambia side.  He is also an excellent cook, even complying with our requests for weird food like eggy bread.!Jame was our wildlife guide and driver and made a huge difference to the experience on this holiday with the quality and quantity of wildlife spotting. Even on the day when he'd driven all day with no break due to a problem with one of the vehicles he still insisted on taking us for a sunset drive so we didn't miss the hippo pools.Bruce and James made up the team and both worked tirelessly and cheerfully in the background to ensure that we got the full relaxing experience of "full service camping" which is after all why many people pick this trip!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Stick with the Exodus kit list and you can't go far wrong.  We were there during the hot dry season but even so I was glad of a three sesaon sleeping bag on the salt pans.  The zip-off style of trousers and the lightweight safari shirts are great and you have chances to rinse out clothes on most days so don't overpack!  Take plenty of wet wipes and insect repellant.  You do get the chance to shower most days and in some places (Audi camp for example) the facilities are excellent. I took walking boots and wished I hadn't as they weren't really necessary, trainers would have been fine.  Sandals are a must.  You may get the chance to swim while in the Delta so at the very least take shorts and a t-shirt that you can swim in when you pack your "smaller bag" for the Delta.You get the chance to buy souvenirs on the last day at a shop which is literally right outside the airport so no need to do it early and lug stuff around with you unless you see something really unusual. Take plenty of US Dollars for Zambia.  No-one uses any other currency and if you have enough to pay for your trips in cash then you don't get the 5% credit card surcharge.  ATMs out on the road in Botswana are a bit hit and miss so do take advantage of the ones in Maun before you leave! If you have a DSLR take a decent zoom lens if you can.  Mine was 55-250 and I think 300 would have been better though I was quite pleased with some of the photos.  Charging is no problem as the vehicle has an inverter and an adaptor box with half a dozen outlets.  If you still have the two pin mains lead with the narrow plug shape that comes with most cameras these days then take it as it will fit directly into the adaptor box.  Otherwise you need a round pin South African adaptor.Travelling in the vehicle in the early morning is cold - make sure you have a fleece top and long trousers.  Some of the travelling from place to place was hot and dusty so buy sweets and drinks before you set out.  Jelly babies don't survive several days of 40 degree heat though!

Most Inspirational Moment

How our great group pulled together in Auberge Sahara when everyone was falling ill. Everyone Selena acting as mum, Husein our guide sorting out the hospital, the Auberge Sahara staff accommodating us every way possible. The group members who gave up a morning visit for others & helped their fellow travellers in everyday possible. It was the spirit of this group.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Hussein organised so well but we took advantage plenty of times. I think he just gave in especially at the Berber clinic. It was meant to take 15 mins but took 45 & gave some us some of his mint tea! Taking our crew in to a shop you could double the time needed. When a lot of us fell sick he did everything he could. Always in great humour. We were sad not for him not to see us off at the airport!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Carry diarolyte & baby wipes plus a spare camera. Travel light if you love shopping. Be prepared for a truly exhausting trip because you will see so much & experience wonderful things like a lunch we had in Fez which resembled a private home but was a restaurant from Ali Baba, truly magic.