Expert Insights

September 26, 2013 Rock ‘N’ Troll: Hiking the Norwegian Fjords

Read time – 2 minutes Exodus’ Gina Lawrence gets her nose out of her favourite book, The Hobbit, just long enough to live the real thing in the Norwegian fjords. Tiny cloud-like puffs of fluffy wildflowers, little white cushions scattered on a bed of bright green grass, encircled by a theatrical backdrop of soaring mountains. After...

September 26, 2013 Walking the Great Wall of China

Read time – 3 minutes The Great Wall of China can be seen from the International Space Station, (although the view was probably better before China’s industrial might took hold) and I dream of one day seeing it from space for myself – in fact I am saving as quickly as I can for this...

September 26, 2013 Walking in Andalucia – A Moorish Land

Read time – 1 minute Liquid gold light tumbles through the hot, dry air. Andalucia is a land drenched in tawny yellow hues, amber and ochre blurred in a haze of heat. This pastoral world follows the undulations of the seasons, and slopes are perfect for growing olives and lemons. They hang from bleached, pale...

September 26, 2013 A Walking Holiday in Greece

Read time -3 minutes I have been walking for the past 37 years (I think I was 13 months when I started) but never realised that walking could be such good fun. First, some facts about me: I smoke, drink a bit, have a few extra pounds around my waist, never exercise and prefer to drive...

September 26, 2013 One big climb success

Exodus’ Managing Director Peter Burrell reports on the recent charity climb by One I am really pleased to report that the team from Global Ethics made it to Kala Pattar and 5555m in November to complete their challenge. They raised well over £18,000 in the process. This means that at least another two communities in...

September 25, 2013 Men of the Mountains: Trekking in Morocco

We set wildlife and photography guide Paul Goldstein a challenge: go out of his comfort zone on a trekking trip to Mount Toubkal, Morocco, the highest point in North Africa. It’s Africa, but not as I’m used to it. The rolling acacia-dotted plains filled with bounteous wildlife is how I classify this vast continent. Souks,...

September 25, 2013 Reasons to Visit Madeira

Read time – 2 minutes To me, any mention of Madeira always meant either a large slab of cake to be enjoyed with a cup of Earl Grey or – more likely – a dash of fortified wine to be added to a dollop of crème fraiche and wholegrain mustard (try it!) to make an excellent sauce,...

September 25, 2013 Leader profile: Samuel Mosha, Kilimanjaro

Read time – 2 minutes I am one of the Kilimanjaro old-timers. I was born in Marangu village at the base of Kilimanjaro in 1955 and my working life has been guiding on Kilimanjaro. Introducing Samuel Mosha I started leading trips in 1999 and I admit that at that time I was not as good...

September 25, 2013 Connecting with Kilimanjaro

“Jambo, Jambo Bwana. Harabi gani, Nuzuri sana” I’ve been listening to the guides singing for over five hours and I’m finding myself humming along. We started the final leg of our six-day journey to Uhuru Peak, the true summit of Kilimanjaro, at 11pm. Five hours in and I’m dragging my feet, often slipping on endless...

September 25, 2013 Leader in the Limelight: Valerie Parkinson

Read time – 2 minutes Many people dream of trekking in the magnificent Himalaya. When it comes to turning that dream into a reality you want to be sure that you are in the hands of experts. Exodus is very fortunate to have many experienced leaders in the Himalaya, including Valerie Parkinson, who often trains newer leaders...