Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

seeing the night sky and the milky way when we were staying in the Yurt The eagle hunting display

Thoughts on Group Leader

Vitaly for the first week was excellent - knowledgeable and a good organiser. Dilshshod in Uzbekistan was something else. A wonderful and caring man. Not only was he an excellent leader but he went way beyond the call of duty when I had a serious health emergency in Samarkand. I suffered from a TIA and had to be blue lighted to the hospital where i stayed two days. Dilshod came with me and my wife in the ambulance. He liaised with the hospital staff which was really necessary as none of the doctors spoke any English. He visited me while i was there and was essential to allow communication between me and the medical staff. Dilshod was not just helping out he obviously really cared about my welfare. We would have been really stuck without him- thank you Dilshod. The exodus staff back in London were also very good - very concerned and eager to do all they could to assist -thanks to Max Bickerstaffe and Joe Figueiredo plus others whose names have escaped me.

Advice for Potential Travellers

On Day2, the optional hike to the waterfall in the Ala-Alcha Gorge is quite strenuous. Certainly more effort than a day hiking on a moderate Exodus hiking trip. But you can always turn back if you get tired!

Most Inspirational Moment

The Lakes, very beautiful and scenic.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent, very helpful and Knowledgeable.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be aware of incompetent staff in immigration and hospitality. A member of my group had serious trouble entering and leaving Uzbekistan due to such people, another member of the group got into trouble as she was carrying US coins older the fifty years, it is an offence to do this in the same country.

Most Inspirational Moment

Waking up and stepping outside my yurt to witness the wonderful scenery and lovely horses beside the river

Thoughts on Group Leader

Vitali: Good fun, informative and patient. Svetlana: Elegant, expressive and a fountain of knowledge. Dilshod: Encyclopaedic knowledge of Uzbek history, polite and resolved a couple of issues with aplomb

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bukhara was hotter than expected - 41C in 2nd week of June. Yurt camp warmer than expected. Do not leave coins in your hold luggage when flying out or there will be trouble. Make sure your hotel registers your stay with the authorities. One of our group was missed by the last hotel and had trouble leaving Uzbekistan as a consequence. The number of mosques, madrassas and mausoleums can be overwhelming.

Most Inspirational Moment

Sitting on horseback with a golden eagle on my arm!

Thoughts on Group Leader

All leaders were excellent, but the guide and driver, Vitali and Valeri, in Kyrgyzstan were of particular note.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take a small flask and decaf coffee for long journeys and hotels.

Most Inspirational Moment

Everything!!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Both Vitali and Dilshod were brilliant

Most Inspirational Moment

There were many . Waking up in the mountains in a Yurt and seeing the sun rise. The stunning tomb of Amir Timor in Samarkand. The floodlit Madrassas and Mausoleums in Samarkand. The ancient bath house in Bukhara.

Thoughts on Group Leader

We had two. Both were extremely knowledgeable, Vitaly in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan and Dilshod in Uzbekistan. A good leader helps the trip go well and is so important. No complaints at all with these two excellent leaders

Advice for Potential Travellers

This journey is exciting and well coordinated but is full on so very much an adventure rather than a holiday to rest . Bring a power pack for your phone for the night in the Yurt and also overnight on the train. Bring warm weather and cold weather gear and good walking shoes. debit cards are widely accepted and US Dollars for changing to local currency .

Most Inspirational Moment

At Almaluu yurt camp in the middle of nowhere I had the unbelievable experience of meeting the Kyrgyz lady who actually made the 2 felt rugs I have at home. How amazing is that?! She recognised her designs from my photos. She gave the group an evening workshop on rug making and that was my very special moment.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Vitaly and Dilshod both excellent and informative leaders. Dilshod dealt with a lost passport, lost phone and forgotten rucksack with calm efficiency. And quickly found taxis for the group in torrential rain after the light show in Samarkand.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Have good strong wheels on your suitcase because much walking with your luggage crossing borders and train tracks. Watch the Kyrgyz film 'The Queen of The Mountains' on you tube before you go for some epic history (and you visit her statue.) Felt very safe in all the Stans visited. Raincoat essential. Eating out inexpensive.

Most Inspirational Moment

The Islamic art & architecture was absolutely stunning, enhanced by the pure scale. It was full of wonder, beauty & awe as the history of the buildings were told. It would be wrong to select one place which was more outstanding than the others as they all had their individual characteristics, history and beauty. Kyrgyzstan was the most memorable and fascinating to visit as it was probably the most unknown. The Russian influence is intertwined in the daily lives of the people together with the diversity of the people & their culture. It is very traditional, hard for many as it follows an ‘old’ pattern of life. The country is very rural with beautiful snow capped mountains and plains. It was refreshing and a privilege to experience different aspects including sleeping and eating in a yurt, and hunting with eagles.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our two leaders Vitaliy, for the first week and Dilshod for the second week were both excellent. They had a very in-depth knowledge and understanding of the history and culture of the countries visited. Their delivery was excellent as they shared the love they have for their countries and people. They both had the same message of wanting to share their beautiful countries and their cultures with us. They were both aware of different needs within the group making the whole experience accessible to all. Their timings and planning were impeccable delivering a wide range of activities and sights.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The trip is full on with little time for resting which we expected. The food is quite different with a lot of meat, and dishes, courses served at different times. It was a real local experience and good fun exploring cuisines with many cultural influences. English is not widely spoken but with help from the leaders it was fine. There was very little internet as we travelled but the coaches did have wi fi. Charging points on the coaches would have been useful as phones soon ran out of charge taking so many photos. The temperature range was wide high from 31c+ down to 5c at night in the mountains so come with layers but not too many as travelling on the lighter size is more manageable. It was easy to change currency as you moved between the countries and both guides made sure you had opportunities to change money. We took dollars plus a credit card as a reserve. Credit cards were generally accepted in the towns/cities visited.

Most Inspirational Moment

The Eagle hunter and Samarkand

Thoughts on Group Leader

Very good guide with good knowledge and language

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be aware of altitude in Kyrgyzstan It is very hot in Uzbekistan

Most Inspirational Moment

Sleeping in a yurt, walking in the mountains and the eagle hunter display.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Vitaly and Dilshod are both excellent guides, very informative and knowledgeable about the countries visited. They are both friendly and well organised.

Advice for Potential Travellers

ATM are widely available and credit cards can be used in many restaurants and some shops so no need to carry huge amounts of cash. Clothes are more western than I thought and you only need to cover shoulders knees and head (women) when visiting religious sites. Temperatures in the cities in July and August are over 40 deg c in the shade and makes sightseeing very tiring, on the plus side it meant temperatures in the mountains were very comfortable. We didn’t need extra layers for the yurt which was lovely.