Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

The Taj Mahel is incredible, but do not bother going inside.  Seriously. Tigers were a major highlight, and the temples, palaces, forts are also very impressive.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Very well organised, and helpful throughout

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you are set on seeing all the cities and major attractions on this trip then go for it, but be aware that you will spend 50 hours of your trip on a coach. That is 3 days of being awake or 25% of the trip.  Also be ready for the coach which may be from the 1970s and unfit for modern travel on India's very bumpy roads, making for many unconfortable hours.  The landscapes outside the window are generally not that impressive i.e. not much to look out at.  After a while a cow on the road isn't that interesting any more....I have travelled a lot but first time in India.  I'm quite streetwise, and I guarantee you people will try to pick-pocket you, so be very careful with valuables.Also, I would suggest do Golden Triangle only as the coach travel is crazy for the rest of the trip, compare to amount of time "doing" stuff and exploring.  And if you want to see tigers, then book privately as you might get a 4x4 instead of a truck, which enables you to get closer to the tigers.  In the truck you will be looking at tigers with the 4x4s in the way as the 4x4s are allowed to, and are able to, get closer. Our tour leader advised against having street food, and NONE of our tour got a dodgy stomach...so it was very good advice it seems.  Unless you really know what you are doing, listen to the tour leader's advice on what to spend your money on, in terms of expensive shopping for Jewellery, textiles etc.Bring a plug for the sinks...Learn how to say "no", "not interested" etc for the touts who hang around the tourist trail like vultures on a fresh carcasse.  Unless of course you are a fan of utter tat, in which case you will love them.Persuade your fellow travellers to skip the "midway" lunch stops, just get a snack.  You will wait one hour for the worst food at UK prices. Bring a good book, neck rest, tablet, music, cushion, or high strength sleeping tablets...the coach journeys are long... 

Most Inspirational Moment

The great local people who seem to have fewer material things but are happy, it made me think about what's important

Thoughts on Group Leader

She was great, very patient and helpful as well as totally professional

Advice for Potential Travellers

Altitude sickness can be a problem, take the advice of your guide, slow down and believe that you will feel better soon!

Most Inspirational Moment

The afternoon spent in the Sanctuary was the highlight, but only just. The whole trek was filled with 'wow' moments and views.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Prasant was a competent, friendly and sociable. His local knowledge and experience were excellent. He looked after the group, and made sure that the fittest members of the group could walk at a pace that suited them, while simultaneously making sure that the slower ones were encouraged and had a guide with them at all times. His organisational skills appeared to be generally good, although these did seem to fall down on a couple of occasions when there was some confusion and delay over allocation of rooms at the higher teahouses. He also failed to organise the mountain flight from Kathmandu for the 4 group members who wanted it; although it appeared that this was at least in part the airline's fault (our names did not make it on to their flight list), we were left without the flight we wanted despite requesting it several day beforehand. I would suggest that in future people insist on getting actual tickets for these flights, rather than an email booking, as everyone we saw with tickets at the airport got on to their flights with no problems.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Obviously make sure you have enough warm clothing (mostly for the evenings and early mornings - the temperature drops dramatically when the sun goes down), a hat to keep the sun off during the day, and a good sleeping bag. Although most of the teahouses did have blankets or quilts available, I wouldn't have wanted to risk them running out. If you need new gear and have any chance of flying out early and spending some extra time in Kathmandu before the trek, don't take any trekking clothing or a sleeping bag with you at all; you can spend a day shopping in Thamel and buy everything you need at massively reduced prices compared to the UK. Take your camera to bed with you at night to prevent the battery losing charge due to the cold. Take plenty of wet wipes - you may not feel like getting in to a luke warm shower when the air temperature is near zero! - and loo roll. None of us spent as much on food and drink on trek as the trip notes suggest, although the prices do rise the further the supplies have had to be carried. The sizeable dormitories I was expecting at the higher teahouses were mostly just twin bedded rooms with an extra bed added to sleep 3. Finally, have some sympathy for the porters, and don't take more than you need!

Most Inspirational Moment

On the first day cycling through the back streets of Pondicherry, as people were beginning to go about their day, with children getting ready for school, we arrived at the beach with the fishermen mending their nets. We all had our pictures taken with our back wheels in the sea in preparation for the adventure to cycle across to the other coast.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Peter was brilliant, adaptable. The back up team were great special thanks to Abi and Franklin.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Book no.

Most Inspirational Moment

The camel fair, glamping, Bundi fort - the blue town, the Amber fort, being first into the Taj Mahal at sunrise......... I could go on

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader, Dj, was brilliant. He really made the trip; he was full of information, facilitated everything excellently and was always ready to answer questions and talk. I couldn't recommend him highly enough.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take something very warm to wear for the glamping, it was cold at night!

Most Inspirational Moment

Too many exciting events to limit, two or three, at least, each day. Seeing so many wild animals and beautiful birds up close. We saw wild leopards three times and so close up that I am surprised we didn't become their next meal. Also saw wild elephants, wild boars, flying squirrels, a variety of comical monkeys and crocodiles several times, though a giant fresh water otter stole the show as he seemed to be giving us a personal performance, a bit like a seal!!Also loved the cycling and what we saw on the way to a 'jungle' village by bike where we  joined a family in their garden for a superb meal.White water rafting was extra special on this holiday because the group got on so well and had a great laugh adding extra challenges to the experience!! 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Have met many fantastic Exodus leaders but Sujan is second to none. Kind, knowlegable in cultural, wildlife, birds, plants(and everything!!) and great fun. So hard working.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't miss this trip! The age group of the group ranged from about 35 years to 64 years and everyone had a fantastic time.

Most Inspirational Moment

Riding in the mokoros through the Okavango Delta, watching a lion cub playing with the pride oblivious to us watching him, wild camping - lying in my tent hearing lions and elephants near by and racing through the park in our 4x4 trying to find out what the lions were up to to name but a few.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sam was a wonderful tour leader, he was well organised at all times and made the trip a truly memorable experience. He was kind and friendly and very knowledgeable. He was happy to answer my numerous questions at any time.Joseph our Botswana guide knew the country and it's wildlife inside out, he and Sam had eagle eyes for spotting the wildlife and Joseph was also an excellent driver on challenging roads. He was patient and kind and happy to share his stories and knowledge.Meelo was the camp assistant - he was a wonderful cook and worked hard setting up and taking down camp.Waco also deserves a mention - he was the lead guide of the "polers" when we went into the Delta. He was a brilliant ambassador for the tribe and the project to give them ownership of their conservancy. He was passionate about the wildlife and local environment and shared his knowledge with us. His team were very welcoming and made the Delta visit a real highlight.As a team they all worked together well and made the trip a great success.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go - this is a fantastic trip to get off the beaten track and camp in the wilderness.Be prepared for long drives on dusty, rutted roads but keep your eyes open as you never know when you might spot an elephant or a leopard!November can be the start of the rainy season so an umbrella is useful for the heavy downpours. If you want to avoid the rain go a bit earlier in the year. We had a few big storms but were lucky with the timings.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing Port do Soller lit up at night from our bedroom window - and again in the early morning sunshineStaying at Lluc Monastery in the middle of the mountainsEnjoying authentic Majorcan picnics on our walks, provided by our wonderful guide

Thoughts on Group Leader

Edouard was a fantastic guide. He was sensitive to the needs of everyone in the (large) group, and very safety conscious without being overly cautious. He was also great company, good at speaking English and a mine of fascinating information about all things Majorcan.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take the temperature advice with a bit of a pinch of salt. I expected temps of c20F but in fact it was usually significantly hotter than this and in the upper 20s, almost - but not quite - too hot for comfortable walking, even in October/November! I blame global warming!

Most Inspirational Moment

Cycling through the villages, meeting the people.Listening to children chanting their morning assembly in Pali, the language of the Buddha.An open-air disco by the beach, with lightning flashes over the sea and a stray dog asleep by the dance floor. Acting like school-kids on the white-water rafting trip.

Thoughts on Group Leader

A top guy. Meticulous planning and a warm, friendly approach. He was keen for us to learn about his country.

Most Inspirational Moment

 Staying in a traditional homes with Vietnamese families was a definate highlight. Brushing my teeth watching the mist rise off the rice fields, reading my book swinging in a hammock on the banks of the Mekong Delta, watching traditional village dancing whilst sampling the local rice wine and returning "home" after a long day treking to the luxury of a warm shower, a cold beer and delicious food.  Better than any hotel.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Unfortunately our first leader had to leave us after the first week but the handover to a new leader was done seemlessly with minimal disruption to the tour. Both guides were extemely friendly, helpful and knowledgeable with excellent English and a hint of humour. I was amazed at the lack of thinking I needed to do as everything ran effortlessly thanks to these two hard working guides. Very, very impressed.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I did not feel this trip was as active as you are led to believe. We only did two decent bike rides and one full days hike. However, a lot is packed into the itinerary so if you want to see it all I guess you have to expect to spend a lot of time travelling.