Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It's the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you're interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers. Any feedback collected (Good or bad) from Exodus clients is posted straight onto our website - totally unedited. Read more...
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Wonderful Polar Bear sightings on ice - good to see there was still sea ice in the area and hope for the young cubs we saw - there must have been seals for the Mums to catch - they looked healthy and they didn't seem at all disturbed by the ship or us.
Everything was wonderful and even better when the mists went!
Paul - what can one say - fantastic enthusiasm and a way with words - his daily reviews were superb - just wish we could have a copy of them - where have they got to? A superb leader.
'Woody' and all the Vavilov team were brilliant - such a wealth of knowledge, qualifications and enthusiam - have never been on such a fantasic trip before.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
GO - don't wait any longer - go while there is still ice and wildlife to see. Don't put it off but would suggest/ recommend the Exodus charter of Vavilov rather than other dates if going alone.
It's not cold as you will be dressed for it and the zodiac 'cruising' and landings are superb.
Take plenty of memory cards for your cameras
Don't worry about going on your own - you'll never feel lonely or alone. Everyone got on well together and you'll make many new friends.
As long as you can get up and down the steps on the side of the ship and onto/off the zodiac (with assistance) you'll be fine. The longer your legs are the better for a dignified climbing back into a zodiac! from the shore!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Just a fantastic experience - want to go again!
Carol Deardem
Our day with the Polar bears will stay with me for ever
Written
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Being in a pristine wilderness with great guides, to help us appreciate the wonder of the place.
Paul was always full of enthusiam, and ready to give photographic advice - very 'hands on' to enhance the experience, and again all the guides were exceptional
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Get really good waterproof footwear - I had 'muck-boots' and had toastly warm feet, but some people had seriously cold feet in wellies
Is there anything else you would like to add?
The food on the ship was poor, and the choice too limited i.e. a choice between veggie pasta and meat pasta is not much good if you don't like pasta. The soups were rather thin and tasteless, and often only luke warm - in fact although you were not hungry, the food could easily have spoiled an otherwise great trip.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Waking up to beautiful blues skies, calm seas, sea ice and the awesome sighting of a mother polar bear and her two mature cubs. We had a couple of hours watching these creatures, dashed into breakfast only to be called out on deck for another mum and her pair of 6 month old cubs. The ship silently manoeuvred into place so that we had a great vantage point of the polar bears, and didn't disturb them in their family group. We had another couple of hours with these guys until the mist came down and they swam off. Whilst sailing away from the area, we came across mum number one and her youngsters, doing a bit of synchronised swimming for us!
Woody was outstanding! He threw away the itinerary and went with his instincts (and the Captain's advice) to find the best locations for wildlife viewing in the archipelago. Woody took account of the weather and sea conditions at all times, and made sure that we got the best out of each trip. We were so lucky to see so much Arctic wildlife.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
You will not regret booking a trip to the Poles with Exodus! They have an excellent partnership with the ships and crews used. Even before we had completed our Spitzbergen trip, my friend and I were straight on the phone back to Renee at Exodus to book an Antarctic trip with the same ship (and hopefully the same crew!)
Even when we were transitting from one location to another, the crew kept us entertained with interesting and informative lectures on environmental issues, wildlife presentations, discussions on life at the Poles, and funny stories about their first polar bear encounters! The Vavilov ship is spacious so that you never feel as though you are crammed in, and the scenery is so stunning that you can always find some one on the upperdeck gazing into the distance!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I have recommended Exodus to all my friends....I should get an introduction fee! I have completed 9 trips, to various and varied parts of the world and have never been disappointed!
The Spitzbergen trip wasn't just about bears though! We had fab sightings of reindeer (up close and personal), walrus, arctic foxes and birdlife galore. You will not be disappointed!
Patricia Yates
A wonderful Northern experience
Written
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Watching polar bear families for 4 hours
Walking on the tundra, seeing the exquisite wild flowers
Getting up close to glaciers (and reindeer) (and walruses) (and whales)
The wonderful colours of the skies
Experiencing true wilderness
Being inspired by the enthusiasm, commitment and knowledge of the group staff
Woody was excellent in every way and the partnership/contrast with Paul effective and entertaining
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Be prepared for a continuous stream of experiences available twent y four hours a day, a sensory feast
The trip will be best enjoyed by those who enjoy being active; it is not a sedentary cruise, but the ship is very comfortable and the meals are lovely
Is there anything else you would like to add?
The ship is incredibly stable. The captain is very skillful in getting close to wildlife. All the staff show the utmost respect for the wildlife and the environment. The staff are also very hard working, we can only assume their enthusiasm keeps them going. The ratio of staff to passengers is excellent and there is always someone available to answer questions or provide information. We were also impressed by the attention to the safety of all on board.
Gillian Carr
Paradise at the Top of the World
Written
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Experiencing the awe-inspiring scenery. Being within feet of a magnificent polar bear (It was on land, we were on water.) which spent as much time watching us as we did watching it. Sitting in a zodiac with the engine turned off just listening to the ice crackle and pop around us. Enjoying the sensation of splendid isolation. Watching a young humpback whale breach. Seeing, and smelling, walrus enjoying the afternoon sun. Watching a glacier calve.Having the "birders" in the group rhapsodise at the sight of a pair of ivory gulls. Sunbathing on deck in the midnight sun. Celebrating crossing 80 degrees North with hot chocolate on deck. Being colder than I`ve ever been in my life before. I could go on.......
All of our guides were brilliant. Their range of knowledge was superb and all were willing to share their expertise and passion for the area with us. Naturally, being in polar bear territory, safety was a huge issue and of paramount importance. We always felt safe and in control of events going on around us.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Do not under-estimate how cold it can be, particularly when sitting for several hours at a time in the zodiacs. Layering is certainly the key. Walking boots are not vital. The ship provides wellies which you need for the wet landings and we found that they were perfectly fine for walking on the tundra. I didn`t wear my boots once. Although the airline SAS delivered us safely to Longyearbyen it failed to deliver our luggage and that of several others on our trip. It seems this was not an isolated incident. The airline did pay for some replacement gear for us but it made for an upsetting start. Be prepared to become an "ice-bore" trying to communicate to your friends and family just how beautiful this place is.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Our ship the "Vavilov" was most comfortable and we were very well looked after by all concerned throughout. Be aware...the ice is addictive and I guarantee you will be back.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
What can I say about this trip........it took my breath away. The spectacular Glaciers, ice melting sounding like snap crackle and pop, and what about the wildlife. I never dreamt that I would actually see a Polar Bear, but to see over 11 and seeing two swimming was amazing. The other wildlife seen for example Artic Fox, Raindeer, Walrus, seals and numerous types of Whales all added to the adventure, along with the variety of birdlife seen.
The Expedition Guides were amazing and full of knowledge.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Prepare for 24 daylight which can be confusing. Also take plenty of layers as the zodiac trips can get quite cold.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Everyone in their lifetime should go on this trip, the spectacular scenery and wildlife are out of this world. Also with global warming the opportunity will not be around forever to see Spitzbergen as it should be ......an Artic Island.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Seeing mother polar bear with 18 month old cubs and then, after a very rushed bite of breakfast, another with 8 month old cubs. It was and will remain the ultimate wildlife experience - possibly even better than the Rwanda Gorillas!
Unusually, words have failed me - we were so lucky and the close encounters of the polar bear kind were unforgettable. The "professional" DVD is a wonderful reminder - many thanks to Andy Chastney for producing it.
from 82 reviews.
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