Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Probably reaching the summit of Mount Prado was the one moment I'd choose, after all it was a challenge walking week. However, there were others: the view from Mount Tambura, the successful baby wild boar rescue and finding the unusual swallowtail butterflies. Also, an enjoyable day in Lucca,

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sara - amazing! She managed the group well and made everyone feel valued. She was an interesting and special person who could be quite inspirational to listen to. Sara led the walks well, giving some freedom to go on ahead and supported where necessary. She was also able to change the itinerary with the refuge being closed due to late snow and included a couple of evening activities.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you do one of the challenge weeks, make sure you have appropriate rain gear, walking poles and boots. We all did and needed them. We were not able to use credit cards anywhere, you do need to have Euros. Read the reviews, they are always helpful.

Most Inspirational Moment

Although we weren't there at the right time for Whale watching, we spotted a school of Dolphins one day on a descent down towards Cape Town on the coast road down the mountains and stopped to take photos and watch them (200+) swimming along in front of us!!

Thoughts on Group Leader

The group leader Talis was very able and capable. He allowed us to enjoy the challenge of each days cycling, while making sure that the risks were kept within acceptable boundaries. We had many enjoyable stops for food, coffee, beers etc and he ensured we sampled as much local culture as we could in the time allowed. His judgement was excellent, making sure that decisions about where and when to stop, what to eat and safety did not impact on our enjoyment of the cycling while taking full account of the varying skill and fitness levels of all participants.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't be afraid to do this trip. I wondered about security in South Africa but I felt that Cape Town and the surrounding area had more of a Mediterranean feel to it and never felt 'threatened' once.

Most Inspirational Moment

Learning about the Berber way of life and the scenery and meeting our guides family for tea

Thoughts on Group Leader

Outstanding, I put great trust in him. He was very interesting with a great sense of humour.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go and enjoy. Plenty of places to buy water and snacks on the way, so no need to take much . Ladies don't worry too much about the facilities we soon learnt to get on with it .

Most Inspirational Moment

I guess Macchu Picchu - it felt very emotional actually being in a place that is so infamous in pictures and i felt in awe of how massive the sacred ruins were. It was alot greener than i imagined it and a really beutiful place. There were some other beautiful sites en route including all the scenery of the mountains and flowers along the way

Thoughts on Group Leader

Will was amazing - so kowledgable and funny - had a wicked sense of humour and so friendly. He sat down with a couple of us each evening and went through the names of the places we had walked through etc for our journals and was really helpful and sympathetic when we were suffering from altitude. Couldnt of asked for a better leader and really missed him when we left

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go prepared with walking experience, comfortable boots as we were walking quite a few hours each day - lots of medication for all eventualities Lots of light layers is good as we experienced all weathers and just a light waterproof as you have to carry it. A cap or hat is essential for the last few days of the trip if you dont want bad hair days photos :) and definatley a spare battery for your camera as you will need it - i came back with over 400 photos!

Most Inspirational Moment

What can I say.....We had 15 game drives booked, plus one extra. Everyone wants to see tiger, and for us they were very elusive. We kept missing that close sighting by five minutes and began to believe than it might not happen. You keep telling yourself that you KNEW you might not see the tigers....but you want it so much. We had glimpses, teasing and tantalising. Our tour leader, Krishna, was determined that we would find a really good view, and he and our guide, plus our driver, worked hard to deliver. Finally, early one morning, we rounded a corner and heard the words 'Tiger....in the road and coming toward us!!' It could not have been better!! I believe that my heart stood still for several moments, as we drank in the magnificence of the most beautiful animal I have ever seen. The tigress passed within two metres of where I sat and her photograph is now proudly displayed in my office. We were able to watch her for some time, as the driver reversed up the road allowing her to walk towards us.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Krishna was a brilliant group leader. Admittedly, we were a very small group of four, so I don't think we were difficult, but he worked hard to show us so much of interest. He was very well informed and knowledgeable.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The heat is exhausting and the hours are long. We tried to rest in the middle of the day and made sure to be very well hydrated at all times. 'Delhi belly' is a well known risk, but Krishna was good with the remedy and we were not too incapacitated by it.

Most Inspirational Moment

Petra is unique and unforgettable. The Dead Sea, Jerash and Mount Nebo also linger long in the memory

Thoughts on Group Leader

Unfortunately we were not impressed by our leader who should probably remain nameless (his name does not appear on any recent reviews). He was knowledgeable and well organised, but on occasions he seemed bored, with a tendency to disappear for lengthy periods. For example in Petra we were left to our own devices for almost 24 hours. He rarely dined with the group, and on one occasion we watched at an autoroute stop as he, our driver, and the accompanying tourist policeman enjoyed what appeared to be a complementary meal whilst the group tried to fathom how the system worked. We have been on several holidays with Exodus and other companies and this leader was in our opinion by far the poorest.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Our night at Wadi Rum in March was very cold and the rain started to find its way through the tents at around 2AM. We were supplied with warm bedding and sleeping bags, but we had not anticipated the bitter cold and rain. Roads in and out of Petra were blocked by snow so be prepared for cold weather. In contrast the weather 2 days later at Aqaba was perfect - warm and sunny. Falafels in pitta bread make a wonderful cheap snack lunch and can often be bought at small stands and outlets in places like Petra and Amman. In contrast the restaurant that we were taken to for lunch at Jerash was very expensive and clearly aimed at 'wealthy' tourists. This was probably the only time we felt we were being treated in this way.

Most Inspirational Moment

Impossible to give just one on a trip of such variety; every day had something new and unique. Getting to the top of Peak Boby was a great feeling; catching a rainbow arching over the hills as we drank beer with our feet in the river after our longest day of trekking was magical; dancing round the campfire with the porters under the stars was indescribably special; seeing a stunning sunset over the sea under the palm trees on a white sand beach was gorgeous; catching glimpses of the black-and-white ruffed lemur and the mouse lemur was unexpected; getting up close to the cheeky ring-tailed lemurs was highly entertaining; swimming in spectacular waterfalls was amazing; soaking up the most amazing silent landscapes was breath-taking; being invited into the homes of local villagers was heart-warming; and seeing the smiles and being treated like a celebrity by each and every Madagascan person we met is incomparable.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Armel was brilliant! Entertaining, knowledgeable, inspiring, but most of all with an energy and drive to share with us everything he loved about his country, he made sure that every one of us also fell in love with Madagascar!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't miss Madagascar, it's the most incredible country with the most incredible people!

Most Inspirational Moment

There were a couple of inspirational moments. Finally getting to the top of Dead Woman's Pass, which is only the first pass on the trail, but at 13,776ft it was amazing!! Obviously Machu Pichu is the other. Our first sighting of it at the Sun Gate, was just awsome!!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Carlos, our leader was just about the best leader we could have had. He is so passionate about his Incan history, and so knowledgable, we felt as though we were living amongst them. I have had a long held passion for ancient people's, and really felt a connection!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepaired for the altitude. It is the first trip I have done at altitude, and although I am a fit 67yr old, and I've done several trips in hilly and mountainous regions, I found it tough, even though you spend several days aclimatising.

Most Inspirational Moment

Near the end of the Inca Trail is the Sun Gate, when you walk through there you suddenly have your first sighting of Machu Pichu which is stunning. You suddenly realise that this is what you came for and you will never see another sight like it. Amazing.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our Group Leader was called Carlos and he was fantastic. He could not have been more helpful. He was very passionate about his country and the history behind the Incas which in turn made him very knowledgable. He looked after us very well.

Advice for Potential Travellers

My only advice would be to make sure you have good walking boots and take walking poles, even if you don't normally use them (I don't), they are a great help. Most of all enjoy it.

Most Inspirational Moment

Arriving at the top of the Monte de la Cruz de Ferro where the guides had organised a picnic of local produce that was more like a banquet.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Fantastic, informative, caring, passionate about his country and very funny.