The Inca Trail

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...

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  Terence Philp

  THE INCA TRAIL

  

  Written May 2011

  A fabulous holiday - more than I expected. I experienced and learned a lot plus the organisation was superb. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Coming up through the sun gate to see Macchu Picchu laid out before you in the sunshine.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Carlos made this trip for me. His knowledge and enthusiasm, whether Inca history, local flora and fauna or football was amazing.All our questions and problems were dealt with good grace and good humour. He is obviously very proud of his country and culture and he is a wonderful ambassador for it.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Do it! The altitude problem did not affect our group, the trail is an experince and is a slight physical challenge but the arrival at the end and the sense of achievement makes it all worthwhile.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  I wouldn't have missed it for anything.

   
• 

  Chi Ng

  THE INCA TRAIL

  

  Written March 2011

  Generally a very enjoyable trip. Plenty of great memories and photos! 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Walking through the sun gate on the last day of the trek to suddenly see Machu Picchu in all its glory.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Very helpful and friendly. Dealt with all pitfalls including being stranded at the train station at Machu picchu after a landslide. Still somehow managed to get us on the last train back to our hotel in Cusco!

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  The trek is suitable for anyone with any degree of basic fitness. Don't forget to bring a headtorch for the evenings as it gets dark early and a spare battery for your camera. When it rains it pours so a waterproof cover for your backpack is must.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  Be prepared for very basic facilities whilst camping and not having a shower for many days! However the cook on our trip wowed us every night with some great food after a long day. Greatly appreciated!

   
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  Ryno van Dyk

  THE INCA TRAIL

  

  Written March 2011

  I had my doubts about doing an organised trip, but my recent Exodus experience really did change my view!  Thoroughly enjoyed it. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Nothing could have prepared me for that moment when when we arrived at the Sun Gate and had the first glimpse of Machu Picchu.  A truly memorable and unforgettable experience.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Packet of dynamite - could not have asked for a more competent, inspirational and knowledgeable person - Flam was brilliant and her co-leader too was just incredible.  Always ready to assist and to deal with the most challenging of situations, such as the night that we were due to leave for our return to Cuzco and the trains got delayed.  Flam made sure that we all arrived back safely and amidst the chaos of the 100's of travellers at the station she stayed cool, in control and was ready with a contingency plan.  I cannot praise her enough for her leadership and guidance throughout our trip.  Always friendly and approachable she lead with great confidence and knowledge about the places and its people that exceeded my expectations.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Take your time - nobody is doing this trip to compete.  If you make your own travel arrangements and join the group in Cuzco, try and arrive a few days in advance as this may help you to adjust to the climate and altitude. Opinion on the use of walking poles varies, but I for one found them incredibly useful (because of old knee problems) and would not have been able to complete the trip without them.  I chose to walk with high quality hiking sandals (and was the only person in the group to do so) and was really pleased that I did just that - dried quickly and kept my feet cool whilst some of my fellow group members complained of wet boots and feet that were on fire. Take a good insect repellant, you will need it at some point.  A good supply of wet wipes will come in handy too.  As for clothing, I wished I had taken an extra set of thermals and a fleece - was slightly underprepared for how cold it got on the mountain at night.  An inflatable pillow too would have been rather nice.  Make sure that your gear is genuinely waterproof!!  It rain quite a bit on this trip, but that did not dampen the spirits or enthusiasm of the group.  

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  And finally, if you are not sure whether this trip is for you, just take the plunge, it was well worth the expense and exhaustion that at times set in. Not just a little walk in the park for sure, but then the reward and satisfaction that you get on completion makes it an unforgettable experience.

   
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  Clive Murray

  THE INCA TRAIL

  

  Written January 2011

  A well organised and thoroughly enjoyable trip. Not intrustively rigid but with support should you need it. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Being left to climb alone in the beautiful cloudforest.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Engaging and I felt secure that he would solve any issues that cropped up.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Pack light, and pack a light (I forgot my headtorch).

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  When my flight was delayed I really appreciated the efficiency with which you re-organised my onward flight and booked a night's accommodation for me.

   

  It stopped the start of my holiday being a cause of stress!

   
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  maura donnellan

  THE INCA TRAIL

  

  Written October 2010

  The Inca Trail is a fabulous trip and one I'd thoroughly recommend to any keen walker... with a few caveats. If you're planning to do it then make sure you get some training in before the trip - it's not very difficult but factor in the altitude and having a good level of fitness makes it much more enjoyable. Make sure your travel insurance covers helicopter evacuation in the event of an emergency - the trip notes don't specify this but a few in our group had to provided proof of this before we set off and checking it online wasn't easy from Peru! Bring your waterproofs - it will rain and it will be very heavy rain - if you can also make sure your sleeping bag is waterproof. On the nights that we camped we were surprised to learn that the tents weren't really waterproof and on the first night all of them were flooded. For future trips I'd recommend that Exodus look at ways to avoid this if at all possible - even having plastic sheets on the floors of the tents would help.A lot of fuss was made before we set off about using walking poles - we were told that we really must have them - I have never used them before so I bought one in Cusco but I never used it during the trip. So my advice is if you're not used to using them and you are usually fine without them don't waste your money. Insect repellent, sun cream and a sun hat should also be included on your packing list as well as water purification tablets and lots of Imodium. There is good access to loos on the trek, you'll rarely have to find a bush but make sure you have loo roll packed. Loo roll seemed to be non existent in any toilet - makeshift or otherwise. With regard to currency and the money you'll need, the trip notes aren't very clear. US dollars are acceptable in some restaurants but for the most part we found that Peruvian Nuevo Sol was required. Bring USDs to change at the airport or just bring your card and use an ATM. Our group was slightly frustrated when we got to Cusco as we discovered that we had to pay 150 sol for various museums/sites that we would be visiting during our first free day in Cusco and only sol was acceptable - so we all had to find ATMs and try to get money converted. There was also lunches and dinners to be paid for on days we weren't camping and of course we had to sort out the tips for porters and cooks. So it became a bit frustrating constantly trying to figure out when money was needed and what currency to use. I would recommend that Exodus outline costs for things such as visits to the Sacred Valley etc in the trip note so as to help people plan in advance.At the end there is a full day in Cusco which I would suggest is unnecessary - at that point people are ready to go home and I think most of our group found it a bit pointless. There is also a full day to waste in Lima on the day we fly home - we arrived in Lima at approximately 9am and our flight didn't leave until that evening approximately 8pm. I think most if not all of us would have happily paid an additional hundred pounds or so to make a better connection.One key thing to note on this trip was a fabulous local guide/tour leader. Our group was lucky enough to have Flamini and her assistant Carmen and they did a fantastic job. They made every effort to ensure we were all fit and healthy once we hit altitude and those who were having a difficult time they paid particular attention to. It was very reassuring, I was on another trip last year where the guide whilst he was lovely and great fun he was never really in control when something went wrong. So well done Flamini and Carmen. On the trip you'll also appreciate the hard work done by the porters and cooks over the camping period, they're truly amazing and deserve a huge amount of respect and gratitude. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Reaching 'Dead Woman's Pass' was the most memorable moment for me.  That and being part of a really amazing group!

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Simply fabulous.  Truly the best guide/leader I've been on holiday with.  Flamini was in complete control when things cropped up and she was really attentive to the group.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Don't forget your waterproofs

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  A very positive Exodus brand experience.  They really are good at this stuff and make the holiday a very enjoyable experience.

   
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  John Welsh

  THE INCA TRAIL

  

  Written October 2010

  Everything I hoped it would be. The organisation and help received from leaving home to achieving the dream was fantastic. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  There were a few but first and foremost was going through the sun gate and seeing Machu Picchu, absolutely unforgettable it brings a lump to your throat and puts a tear in your eye.

  WinayWayna was superb and we were a little bit nervous it might overshadow Machu Picchu how wrong we were, but is was no doubt in second spot behind Macchu Picchu absolutely terrific.

  Looking out from our third campsite what a fantastic view when the clouds finally parted.

  And finally getting to Dead Woman Pass and down the other side.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Dimas our group leader was absolutely superb, I cannot really praise him enough, a very genuine thoughtful person. He was so knowledgeable on the Inca history, flora, fauna and every aspect of the trip. He was organised and very helpful in every way emphasising pole, pole ( slowly slowly ) at all times. From when we first met at the airport to the time we said goodbye he was always making sure we were OK.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

   As long as you are reasonably fit this trek should not be a problem.

  If you think your knees might not like the steps use knee supports, I had not had any problems with my knees prior to this trip but I suffered on the the downward parts of the trek. 3000 steps downhill in one go is hard going.

  Take walking poles they are invaluable.

  Take Deet spray and make sure you use it the one day I left it off the mosquito's had a field day.

  The 10k weight limit for the bags the porters carry needs a little bit of planning for what you can do without. I took thermal underwear but could have left it at home as is was not as cold as I expected.

  Drink plenty of water don't allow yourselves to dehydrate.

  I took dollar notes and travellers cheques and our guide took us to a change place in Cuzco to change money to Peruvian Sols. Most places take dollars or sol in Lima and Cuzco but hady to have Sol on the trek.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  At 63 years young and the only male in our group I had an absolutely unforgettable experience. Walking the Inca trail and getting to Machu Picchu with my travelling companions Hayley,Liz and Wendy was a pleasure. The times I was going to hang up my sticks when my knees were giving me grief only for these three and Dimas to keep encouraging me to keep going. A special thanks to all. Also a real special vote of thanks to Elmar our chef and the porters. How they managed every day to pass us on the trail and set up the lunch camp and then again the camp for the night was unbelievable. The meals Elmar cooked were terrific something different every meal time real top quality. The amount of work put in by the porters was astounding as they were carrying everything and we did tip higher than in the trip notes, the feeling in the group was that they were well worth it. Also a big thnkyou for the Exodus Rep in Lima when my bag never came off the plane from Cuzco due to Peruvian airline not putting it on. He was really helpful and the issue was resolved in a couple of hours. The only downside of the whole holiday was spending the last day in Lima arriving earlr and flying home later that evening. The group felt another half day at Cuzco would have been a better end with an afternoon flight to Lima. But overall a fantastic experience and my second trip with Exodus whom I have found first class in every way.

   
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  Robin Rhodes

  High Inca Trail

  

  Written August 2010

  Excellent Trek, although not as challenging as I expected. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Walking up Wayna Pichu. Ever since I was a little boy I had my sights on going up that peak and looking down on the main site.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Fabrizio was a superb leader, excellent grasp of the English Language, and very keen to give of his knowledge. He organised the troops, and his management  / person skills was excellent. The best Tour leader I have experienced.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Go for it, the extended trek made for a superb experience. ( insect repellent a must). A 4 season sleeping is also worth having as it was very cold. (August)

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  Having trekked all over the world this has to be the best trek so far, even though the walking was fairly easy. Plenty of halts, superb views, excellent food, and a friendly country.

   

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