Annapurna, Chitwan & Everest

Our Clients’ Reviews

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...

Average Review Rating: from 16 reviews.

Stephen Savage

ANNAPURNA, CHITWAN & EVEREST

Written April 2013
A wonderful trip with spectacular views of Annapurnas and Everest region with a comfortable break in Chitwan from walking in the middle.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Hard to choose! Sone panoramas in the mornings, trekking around Naamche, and Swimming with elephants ("Elephant shower") in Chitwan
What did you think of your group leader?
Chandra our group leaders established a quick rapport with the group.He paid attention with his guides to less sprightly walkers. He had avery perceptive grasp of English and managed the group and porters very well. He had an excellent sense of humour. He also suggested sensible programme changes around possible road blocks in a National Strike (Banda) and after two days of return flight delays at Lukla due to wind and cloud. He fairly presented Exodus' views of their contractual obligations in the situation. He worked hard over many hours to resolve a solution to the satisfaction of the group and Exodus. He consulted fully when possible and was prepared to be decisive. Eventually Exodus paid for helicopter evacuation to make our international return flight. Well done Chandra for trying to find solutions and a big Hurrah for Exodus' staff response! If you have Chandra as group leader you will be well looked after!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
The walking in both areas is a little harder than Exodus describe-we thought at times that it more similar to the Inca trail-some days being more C than B. Most walking days in Annapurnas finish in the early afternoon-in April this was good as clouds and showers happened late afternoon.
Tea houses we used were all quite satisfactory- very basic but clean double rooms and usually European loos.Food mainly non meat based but lots of Daal Bhat, Chow Mein Curry Pizza and Pasta. (Cost 2013 per plate £1.50-£5.00 beers upwards of £3.00)Loos well cleaned (and those paper bins emptied..) but plumbing mostly ineffective. A few had a limited en suite but often without a handbasin /sink. Some did not charge for showers or electric charging. Everest area slightly more expensive for food, showers and food -but not quite as expensive as Exodus trip notes suggest. Bottled water freely available everywhere but increasingly expensive from Lukla upwards. (range 20p-£2). Some long steps on routes in the Annapurnas and on second after Lukla is mostly a long (7 hrs) up hill slog on the long drag up to Naamche bazaar. Routes in both areas are really well selected to give daily variety of experiences
Get up earlyevery day to see the best mountain peak views in both regions. There are some high suspension bridges crossing gorges but all were fine and stable. Don't cross if mules or Yows (Yak/cow crossbreeds) are likely to cross at the same time
Chitwan a really good chillout in a nice lodge -a chance to do laundry too -but still a busy few days.Elephant ride OK but it is becoming touristy. Rhino numbers are down compared to a visit 9 years ago and are now usually only seen from tracking on foot. Wonderful interlude.
Driving in Nepal is an experience-after you get used to the overtaking system (!) it is actually skillful and at a low speed. The drive from Katmandu to Pokhara and back via Chitwan can seem a bit time consuming and tedious but you do see glimpses of the real Nepal. Regular stops at reasonable cafes with useable clean loos.
Katmando has some wonderful sights -but it is congested chaotic and polluted in its deep valley. Taxis cheap and effective way of getting around-drivers helpful but may not have good spoken English.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
A truly wonderful serious walking trip and cultural experience!
Valerie Lawson

ANNAPURNA, CHITWAN & EVEREST

Written April 2013
A fantastic experience, worth the occassional moments of discomfort:- eg, lack of hot showers. This trip was so well organised it was very quickly clear we could relax completely and enjoy each moment. Nepal is a stunningly beautiful country, and the excitement of seeing Everest for real was worth the wait.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Getting up at dawn to walk to the veiwpoint above Namche Bazar, feeling the freshness of the frost in the air, then just standing watching Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse and Ama Dablam etc, begin to be lit up by the sun. What a moment! We were all blown away.
What did you think of your group leader?
Just a wee gem. Chandra Khand looked after us from the moment we arrived in Kathmandu with a wonderfully cheerful disposition, always smiling and laughing, but at the same time doing everything he could to make sure that we got everything that we either wanted or needed. Nothing was too much trouble. He managed the porters and the other guides unobtrusively but firmly, and I have no doubt that he orchestrated our holiday to ensure our maximum enjoyment. He very quickly gained my trust and respect.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take plenty memory cards for your camera, the photo opportunities are endless, from the religious iconography to the breathtaking views.
And wear a scarf/mask if you plan to visit the loos at the airports in Kathmandu/Lukla! (For Kathmandu read Kathmanpoo anyway - not a lovely city).
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Nepal is a wonderful country, with a huge diversity of politics, religions, customs, wild life and landscapes. I am so glad that I haven't missed seeing it first hand. Our guide was proud to introduce us to his country, and to answer all our questions openly, even when our questions were about more 'delicate' subjects. I want to do it again - tomorrow!
Rebecca Ross

ANNAPURNA, CHITWAN & EVEREST

Written November 2012
The trip was an excellent way to see different parts of Nepal - Everest, Chitwan and Annapurna regions and I came back feeling that I got to understand the country and culture in more detail. I loved the trekking, however there is a difference between the difficulty of walking in Annapurna compared to Everest (which is quite a bit more difficult) particularly when we reached over 3000 metres.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Trekking through the villages along the everest trail and seeing Everest for the first time. The Nepalese people are so kind and generous and they are an inspiration to all of us
What did you think of your group leader?
Prasant was brilliant - we found out later on that he had always phoned the lodges ahead of us getting there to arrange welcome tea and to ensure they were ready for us.
We also had a problem with one of our group who struggled to breathe at altitude and again Prasant was excellent at his job because he didn't panic.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Bring soap and a flanel for the everest region because there is a lack of hot water to wash with and wear merino wool t-shirts because they don't smell.
Romaine Byers

ANNAPURNA, CHITWAN & EVEREST

Written November 2012
A brilliant trip, well organised and led and a nice introduction to Nepal in the variety of areas visited. Although classed as "moderate" there are a couple of tough days walking.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Seeing the Annapurna and Everest mountains
What did you think of your group leader?
He was excellent (Prasant)
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Follow the instructions of the leaders to walk slowly and take liquid while walking. Also take extreme care in personal hygiene for personal and group welfare - hand gel santizers are essential.
Because of these precautions our group all kept well.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Enjoy this fantastic holiday
Samantha Burnett

ANNAPURNA, CHITWAN & EVEREST

Written November 2012
This was an excellent trip that allowed one to get a feel for all the various parts, peoples, cultures and landscapes of Nepal - each different but equally magical. It was not too taxing trek-wise, so if you want a challenge then go to Everest Basecamp, but if you did just that you'd miss out on seeing all that the rest of Nepal has to offer. This is just what it says - an excellent opportunity to see Nepal countrywide.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
This trip allowed me to fulfill my dream, top of my bucket list - to see the sunrise over the Himalyas. Fortunately, I was priviledged to see it time and again - each time as wonderful as the last!!! Going in November allowed us to be there when we were more likely to have clearer skies - which we had all the time, and also in mid- November we were there for Dhiwali, so we were treated to the dancing and festivities of this special celebration for a whole week. A great time to go!!!
What did you think of your group leader?
Our group leader was Prasant - well, where do I start??? He was possibly one of the most well-informed people I have met and he is blessed with the patience of a saint!!! He kept a constant watch over our group, went out of his way to make every day extra special, arranging group meals for us when he didn't need to and accompanying us too, he answered every question about Nepal, the people, the mountains etc. that I threw at him (believe me, there were lots!!!) and he answered with a smile, jam-packed detail and with a great desire to share knowledge of his land. I know now that even as we as a group were singing his praises, he was actually facing a great deal of stress as his wife had been hospitalised at the beginning of our 18 day trip. In his true professional manner, he kept this hidden and not once did we know his anguish. I cannot praise Prasant enough - he was the best leader you could have asked for and one of the kindest people I have had the pleasure of meeting. I do hope that through the correct channels, this praise will be fed back to him.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
I was keen to do more trekking than we did. I felt that some days we could have fitted two days effort into one, but in hindsight this is perhaps my fault for not fully understanding the grading of the trip. However, others on the trip thought it was more of a 'C' than a 'B' - I'd disagree with this but I would say that in light of their comments on the trip, it may be worth considering your capabilities if you are not fit or over 50 as some of the older members of the group and a couple of members with asthma found the Everest part of the trek hard going. I would also say that when in Kathmandhu and in the Everest region there is a huge amount of dust in the air - get a scarf/Buffy to cover your mouth. I ended up with a chest infection because of it and found myself suffering at altitude. Take Immodium and also 'starters' like Senokot. I found that if I wasn't blocked up, I was the other!!!! If you have an i-pod download an audio book as you travel for hours on the bus somedays and it's impossible to read - with an audio book you can be entertained and also enjoy the view!!! Take antiseptic hand-gel, there's a few horrendous toilets you'll be using out there and no water!!!! Don't forget T-shirts - I packed for the cold when in fact most days I wore a t-shirt (I needed to buy a couple in Nepal, in fact).
Is there anything else you would like to add?
This was a well-planned trip by Exodus and all members of the team - everyone the guides, porters, leaders and the staff in London (especially Joanna Zubr who worked so hard to get the trip right for me), who worked to fulfill our every need. We met and spoke to other trekkers travelling alone or with other companies and I felt happy to have chosen Exodus. They have been professional all the way. One tiny thing, it would be nice to have better mini-buses for the road trips. Ours were a little past their best and for such long trips on such bad roads, something more modern/decent suspension/better and working seat belts would be more comfortable. But this is minor in comparison the great, many positives of the trip!!!
stephen connor

ANNAPURNA, CHITWAN & EVEREST

Written October 2012
If you are debating which 'bucket list' trip to go on then this is the one. This is certainly the only way to immerse yourself in Nepal and its culture and people and see it as it is.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
So many in fact, but pehaps Chitwan was exceptional in the way we were treated royally and the fun wiith the elephants was special, alongside the canoeing trip lookiing for crocodiles. Yes this trip had everything!
What did you think of your group leader?
Ajay (Jaite Tamang) was a very special person in the way he looked after us for the whole trip from the moment we arriived at Kathmandu right through to the end. His organisational skills and local knowledge were excellent, alongside his work ethic. Anything else we wanted to do whilst in Kathmandu were quickly arranged with the minimum of fuss. Very sociable and made a special trip exceptional and made a huge difference to the success of the trip. Special thanks go to Penba sherpa and Sunjit for the way they looked after everybody throughout.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
If you have the time, finance and the health do it whilst you can!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I thought of going on the Everest Base Camp trek but this trip offered somehing else. I experienced the culture, heritage and the Napalese way of life which I think I may have missed on other treks. You have to experience Kathmandu itself but watch the traffic! This trip also offered three trips in one!
Sue Wellstood-Eason

ANNAPURNA, CHITWAN & EVEREST

Written January 2012
This was truly a holiday of a lifetime. Stunning scenery, great cultural experiences and excellent leadership.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The stunning mountain scenery viewed from the lush fertile foothills. The cultural experiences enhanced by Diwali celebrations.
What did you think of your group leader?
Prashant worked tirelessly, so that at every stage our needs were very well attended to, we were kept informed and we experienced the most wonderful holiday. He was very caring and efficient when dealing with any problems or health issues. He was also excellent company and created a congenial social atmosphere for the group.