Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

My favourite place was the Wadi Rum, it felt so remote from everywhere and sleeping under the stars is highly recommended!!  The Dead Sea was also an incredible place, floating in the salty water - don't get it in your eyes though!!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our tour guide, Zuhair, was fab; passionate, informative, caring and humorous.  He went out of his way to make sure that we were all ok and had everything we needed.  He got to know all of us enough to make sure that we each got the best out of our trip. 

Advice for Potential Travellers

We went on the trip in October, and the weather was hot without being too hot.  Some of the days involved quite a bit of walking around Petra which would have been more difficult if very hot.

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching Uhuru Peak - the holy grail for all kili climbers!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Henry Fernandes of African Walking Company was fantastic. A true gentleman with exceptional mountain knowledge and a sense of humour - a real gem! Henry we salute you!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Summit day is tough, making things comfortable on the way up really helps. Make sure you take serious  sunscreen - proper high factor ski-type sunscreen. Even the standard factor 30s-50s were struggling at altitude. Take boiled sweets, they really help with energy and motivation. Take rehydration salts. Number one - listen to your guide!

Most Inspirational Moment

Undoubtedly, the Grand Canyon is an awe-inspiring sight, but the rim views of Bryce Canyon and particularly walking the trails in that Canyon were probably the best moments of the tour.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The group leader was fine.  An experienced tour leader he was well acquainted with the region and organised the various walking options in the Parks well.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Limited time is allowed at San Fransisco or Las Vegas at either end of the tour.  Potential travellers might consider whether they wish to add a couple of days (or more) at these locations.

Most Inspirational Moment

Perhaps the first sight of Registan Square was the most inspirational

Thoughts on Group Leader

The group leader, an Uzbek national, had a good knowledge of the region and organised the tour well

Advice for Potential Travellers

It seems that the whole road between Khiva and Bokhara is being upgraded at present - be prepared for a rough ride. Always take the group leader's advice on suitable places to eat

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.