Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Visiting the Taj Mahal which is amazing.  The Forts at Agra and Jaipur were also really impressive and I enjoyed cycling through the countryside too.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The two leaders, Sajay and Pramod were excellent leaders who not only guided the cycling but also kept us entertained. They worked hard in the background to ensure that the trip ran smoothly. The bike mechanic, bus driver and his assistant were also a good team.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for quite a few consecutive days cycling 40miles+ and consider taking your own saddle rather than a gel cover. If you take your own bike remember that supplies of spare parts such as chains and rear mechanism hangars are aimed at the local bike market and so you would be advised to take a few extra bike bits just in case.   The road surfaces can be rough in places and don't be surprised if the locals want to chat to you from their motorbikes whilst you negotiate pot holes, camels, cows etc in front of you.  This means that you should be confident of cycling in traffic and some experience of cycling on rough terrain would be advantageous.  It is best to cycle with at least one other person as, although almost everyone is friendly, sometimes the children like to jump out in front of you or throw stones. A supply of hand gel is also a good idea.  

Most Inspirational Moment

Sitting in a canoe on the mighty Zambezi, silently, while a few metres away an elephant watched us from the bank, flapping its ears. Watching (at a safe distance) a pod of hippos floating in the river and snorting at us. Sitting in the quiet of the evening wth a glass of wine (yes!) discussing the animals and birds we had seen that day with our guide.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader couldn't have been better.  He was knowledgable about everything - animals, local customs, countryside - and a good cook too!

Advice for Potential Travellers

This was a relaxing trip well within the capabilities of anyone who is moderately fit and wants a close-up safari.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Brilliant, totally brilliant!

Advice for Potential Travellers

You don’t need malaria tablets – the trip dossier is wrong!

Most Inspirational Moment

Approaching mawenzi tarn (our campsite that evening) surround by fog/clouds and not seeing anything the while time until 3 minutes before we get to camp and the clouds break with mawenzi peak right there towering above us!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Meke was out guide leader. Exodus used the company African walking tours locally and Meke was from there. He was outstanding. He ran a really tight group. You could easily see him managing a western company he was in that much control yet made sure we were having a good time and were medically safe.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bring lots of snack, eg junk food. There's plenty to eat but you are expending so much energy it is a great opportunity to eat as many chocolate bars as you want!

Most Inspirational Moment

Where to start...? How do you cross the road? with the help of a friendly local...Cycling over 100km before lunch; Hoi An; Halong Bay - fantastic scenery; the people and the food.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Lam and crew were fantastic and nothing was too much trouble. The support truck was a welcome sight at various points giving out much needed water as it was hot, hot, hot! and kept us going with snacks, fruit etc. Lam has an excellent knowledge of all parts of Vietnam and was happy to share.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Lots of sun screen as it was hot in July

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing my grandson's wonder at seeing his first giraffeBing close to lions watching them eat their prey and mateHearing baby baboons playing on the deck of our lodge in the early morning

Thoughts on Group Leader

Both leaders were efficient and helpful.   Ben in particular was friendly and approacable

Advice for Potential Travellers

If possible go and stay in Nairobi overnight as the first day is hard especially with the long drive

Most Inspirational Moment

The weather was perfect on two days - the day we arrived and the day we departed - so one of the inspirational moments was sitting in front of our little tent - DOM, and having the snow-capped mountains and the Les Bossons glacier right in front of us against an impossibly blue sky.  Another was the optional trip on our rest day across the massif via the teleferique from La Palud to Heilbronner and on up to the Aguille de Midi.  This was just sensational and a “must-do”, though very cold above the clouds.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Mel was the quintessential guide and her enthusiasm for her “shy” mountains and her botanical knowledge were remarkable.  I am in my 60s and our youngest walker was probably 19 but Mel was able to juggle that dynamic of a wide age range and fitness level with consummate ease.    Carey and Pasquale were well- organised support people and great camp cooks.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Pack as per the trip notes, whatever the season.  While it was mid-summer the weather wasn’t good for most of the time.  Our first walking day was completed in unrelenting heavy rain so everything in our backpacks was soaked (take a pack liner and a good gortex).  Fresh snow fell for a couple of days after that, so layers of light fleeces were required (not cotton!), and a good sleeping bag essential.

Most Inspirational Moment

first view of everest

Thoughts on Group Leader

a very able man and a good communicator

Advice for Potential Travellers

be relaxed and prepared to accept anything.i got ill just near base camp and had to turn back but it wasnt a problem and i didnt feel in danger

Most Inspirational Moment

Too many to mention however the views from the top of Kyrenia Castle were simply breathtaking!Also - sitting enjoying an Al Fresco beer in the beach side bar at the end of the Karpaz Peninsula was amazing!The Al Fresco meals we had down at Kyrenia Harbour were also great - sitting having dinner with boats bobbing about in the water beside you takes some beating!

Thoughts on Group Leader

We had a different group leader for the first couple of days however our leader for the majority of the holiday, Ghisa(apologies if that's the incorrect spelling!) was excellent in every way - highly organised, very sociable & above all his knowledge of the area and it's history was amazing.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The main piece of advice would be, if you're thinking about this trip then go for it!!It was VERY hot, even in September when I was there, so take plenty of sunscreen(although I'm a fair skinned Scottish chap!) 

Most Inspirational Moment

Finishing the last leg of the last day and managing to keep up with everyone else - not something I'd managed on the other days!!   Arriving at a village park on the day of Fidel Castro's Birthday to be greeted by children dancing salsa and being offered huge slabs of "Birthday Cake" with nothing other than Cuban Cola on sale which went perfectly with the Rum one of our party had purchased - classic!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jose was a great guide, very knowledgable, enthusiastic and a great sense of humour.  He definitely inspired an interest in the life and history of Cuba and the Cubans.

Advice for Potential Travellers

As I said in my summary be warned it is hot in August but the support vehicle is always there so if waivering just give it a go you'll see a life in a completely different way, take your own saddle or at least a gel cover as you don't want saddle sores to blight your trip.  Fabulous people, so friendly, welcoming and generous when they have so little compared to us for such a well educated population, our driver was a lawyer and our guide was a languages teacher!