Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

The first day we reached the Aiguilette des Possettes--a real accomplishment for the group! We ate lunch looking across the valley to the Mont Blanc range and its glaciers.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Mark was an outstanding group leader. He was knowledgeable, passionate, humorous, and intuitive about the needs of our group. He knew when to challenge each of us, and when we desperately needed a rest!

Advice for Potential Travellers

A good level of fitness (and some experience hiking) is recommended. The trails are often very steep, somewhat narrow, and occasionally run along the edge of a significant drop-off. That said, our leader knew the trails well and prepared us for each segment. The best preparation is probably climbing lots and lots of stairs!

Most Inspirational Moment

The 5 days walking were all incredible and the scenery was breathtaking. The rest-day telepherique ride to L'Aiguille du Midi and the time spent there right next to the climbers attempting the routes on Mont Blanc itself was visually amazing. Managed to see a baby Chamoix and her Mother on the last day!!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our Mountain Leader guide, Mark Dodwell was brilliant the whole week. Professional, knowledgeable and motivational. He really brought the mountains alive for us as a group. Rich and Sarah, the Exodus guys who looked after us at the chalet were fantastic, and Sarahs cooking is absolutely to die for - best food I've ever had.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Moderate is probably a little understating the fitness level required to enjoy the trip. I would say Moderate with Challenging parts is probably more accurate. Expect to be doing the equivalent of ascending Scafell Pike each day, and walking 11 - 16km in distance for the 5 days walking. Some of the ascents are tough for those not used to hill walking and a couple of the descents are long and rocky. Definitely take walking poles.

Most Inspirational Moment

Probably the impromptu dance session at The JazzClub in Chamonix

Thoughts on Group Leader

Great! Mark chose great walks that gave us wonderful views.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be reasonably fit! You don't need to be able to bound up mountains but you do need to maintain a steady plod, especially if the weather is inclement.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were so many! There were some quite intrepid bits to the climb (clambering over a few rocks for example), and some of the climbs felt so steep! After 950m of up, I felt really proud to have succeeded. The views were awe-inspiring. A lady on our trip had had two hip replacements, and she pretty much kept up with all of us, and I found that inspirational actually- what a star.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Peter was absolutely BRILLIANT. He was so much fun, and chattered away to us, but he had so many interesting things to tell us about nature and walking. He set a great pace for everyone, and it was really reassuring to have him around. We all loved him.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I wore a hat, and I found it so helpful against the sun. We all got burnt on the first day, and Exodus aren't exaggerating when they tell you you need to bring high factor. I wouldn't buy poles before you go: people varied on their preference for them (I tried them, but I didn't like them personally), but there were spare poles in our chalet which meant we could have a go with them and see how they felt. I'm 30, and there were quite a lot of people around my age in the group, which was great. You're going on a walking holiday: you're going to meet good people, regardless of age. But I did appreciate the fact that most of us were roughly the same age and so walked at around the same pace. But to be honest, most people who come on these holidays are fairly fit anyway, so it's not a big thing really.

Most Inspirational Moment

Achieving an ascent of 1,000 metres on our walk to Le Brevent.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jen, our guide was excellent

Advice for Potential Travellers

Book with Exodus - you won't be disappointed

Most Inspirational Moment

The views of Mont Blanc are absolutely breath-taking!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Peter was very knowledgeable about the local area (living locally himself) and this helped a lot with the local information. He was pleasant and lovely to chat to also.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I would thoroughly recommend this trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

Aguille Di Midi

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jenny was a very knowledgeable and personable guide who conveyed her appreciation and passion for the region well.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't miss the opportunity to do the Aguille di Midi cable car gondola ride between France and Italy on the free day. It's amazing.

Most Inspirational Moment

Amazing walking with a constant back drop of the Mont Blanc massif.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Fantastic leader who was knowledgeable, friendly, sociable (always ready for a beer and chat at the end of each walk and joined us for dinner and a drink in the evening), made the group feel safe on the mountains paying particular attention to people who felt uneasy on uneven and steep ground. Some members of the group were difficult to manage and didn't seem to understand that group safety was the guides priority, and even in this difficult situation the guide was professional and attentive to everyones needs. I always felt safe and well looked after on the mountains.

Advice for Potential Travellers

There is some steep climbs at moderate altitude but the guides ensure that you can take your time and you never feel pressured to keep up with the group. So walk at your own pace, stop regularly to enjoy the views and you will get up and down the hills with out difficulty. This is a great taster trip if you haven't done anything like this before put are thinking of doing a trekking holiday in the future.

Most Inspirational Moment

I can't pick out any particular moment, but walking in the beautiful alpine scenery was just amazing. My favourite walk was on the Italian side of Mont Blanc, walking along the balcony paths around Val Ferret to the Bonati refuge. The alpine flowers on all walks were beautiful, and we were lucky enough to see ibex, chamois and marmots. The trip up to Aguille de Midi on our day off was well worth the money. We also took the cable car across the glacier to the Italian side of Mont Blanc and saw the incredible site of the glacier with all its crevasses at its source.

Thoughts on Group Leader

We had 2 group leaders - Rupert on our first day, then Jen for the rest of the week. Both were excellent. They knew the routes very well, and also had close links with the other guides in the area so that you had the reassurance that guides were well aware of any problems, such as snow, on the routes. Both guides tailored the walks very effectively for the group, and we're both very supportive with those of us that were uncomfortable with heights. They helped me achieve more than I thought I would be able to do.

Advice for Potential Travellers

This Highlights holiday was a great introduction to a walking holiday with Exodus. I am not an experienced walker and was hesitant before going, but I knew that by staying in the chalet for the week I could opt out of a walk if the guide thought it inappropriate for me. I now feel confident to have a go at some of the more strenuous holidays.

Most Inspirational Moment

Our hosts Sarah and Rich were very nice and friendly people - it is worth going on the holiday just for Sarah's amazing cooking. We all looked forward to seeing what she created for dinner. I had the best food across the week that I have ever had on any holiday. I was tempted to miss one of the walks and ask her if she could teach me how to cook like that. Forget Jamie Oliver and the rest - Sarah is the boss. The walks - and Sarah's lunches - were consistently good and it is difficult to pick out a favourite.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The guides Rupert and Jen were very reassuring and set the length and pace of the walks according to the capabilities of the whole group. They dealt very well with members of the group with height concerns on elements of the walks and made the walks fun. If you can't talk while you walk, you're walking too fast was one of their suggestions! Jen taught us how to use walking poles correctly which was a massive bonus from the holiday. The Italian walk, Le Brevent (suggested to the group by Jen as it was more interesting than the Aiguillette Des Houches walk) and a snow covered Lac Blanc were all really rewarding walks with super views. Jen took us on a little used path on the return from Lac Blanc and we got up close to Ibex, Marmotts and Chamois which was an unexpected bonus.