Reviews

Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers

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14455 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Reviewed October 2013

WHALES & BEARS OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

Keep this trip. It’s new but it’s a corker. Great wildlife in a really beautiful part of the world. Whales – tick! Bears – tick! Does what it says so more than happy.

Most Inspirational Moment

Not so much as a moment as a whole day. Rose in the earlyish morning and cruised through inlets reflecting like mirrors the surrounding misty mountains and forests to our Grizzly Bear excursion. Never did I imagine we'd be able to get so close but there were the Grizzlies, only some shallow water and about 10m between them and us. Such beautiful animals- we saw a mum and two cubs, a lighter coloured mother and elder cub and then spent ages watching a lone male swim and fish and eat. Magical. After a nice lunch still full of excitement at the bear encounters we then cruised back to Campbell river and en route passed a colony of sealions, a pod of dolphins then best of all 6 Orca who we stayed and watched for a while. Amazing day. The Humpback breaching three times showing off to us was also pretty special.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jo was great. Informative, fun and flexible enough to allow us to go do our own thing and forget the trip notes when we wanted to try again to see whales and when rain stopped the chance of sea kayaking. She also organized lovely picnics in pretty spots. She also surprised me with a yummy birthday cake!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Advice to Exodus: put the initial whale watch and bear watch on the same day so there is time to do the whales again in the unlikely event of no sightings, or just to allow a second expedition in a different area with different scenery and whale possibilities. Advice to other travellers? Be prepared and be patient and realise wildlife is wild and nothing is guaranteed. The weather that time of year can be wet so something that protects valuable electrical equipment is worth investing in. The bus isn't the most comfortable ride so be prepared to swap places if fellow travellers are suffering. Don't worry about being a single on this group - go for the picnic option and then Jo sorts out all meals so you don't need to cope or eat alone except maybe the first day in Vancouver. Listen to the bear etiquette guide and behave appropriately around these magnificent animals. I also recommend the cave tour. It's not hard, there's some really interesting stuff to see, it's great fun and you have to go a long long way (the bottom of the ocean or a blackhole as I learnt on this mini adventure) to experience true 100% darkness, or you can see what it's like in this cave!Try a Nanaimo bar - they are yummy!!

Reviewed October 2013

MONT BLANC HIGHLIGHTS

This holiday would suit people who have done some mountain walking previously and are willing to fit in as part of a group for a week. A good variety of walks are included, with the option of an extra day unguided. Chalet Chocolat was an excellent base and the standard of food was very good with delicious meals to suit all tastes.

Most Inspirational Moment

For me, the day we walked in Italy was the most memorable from the journey through the Mont Blanc tunnel to the delicious ice-cream in Courmayeur. Also the trip up to Aiguille du Midi on our rest day was definitely worth doing. We took the cable-car up to the 12602 ft summit and returned to the mid station where we disembarked and walked to the Mer de Glace glacier, taking the tram back down to Chamonix.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Simon Conroy was an exemplary leader and had just the right amount of interaction with the group, giving us plenty of time to take photos and admire the views. He demonstrated a good knowledge of the area and was totally in control, making us feel confident in his abilities at all times.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I would recommend that anyone taking this holiday should be fairly fit and have recent experience in walking in mountains. Walking boots are recommended but I found that trail shoes were totally sufficient for the terrain in September. Walking poles would be most helpful.

Reviewed October 2013

MT TOUBKAL CLIMB

This was my first pre-organised trip and was well organised, a good guide (Hassan senior), excellent food, great weather, brilliant views and a magnificent group of people, who all made it to the summit!!!Thta combined with a good value-for-money price, made this memorable.

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking as a group and all summitting Mt Toubkal together, to take in the tremendous views (and sun). Aside from the success and the views, it was the group of people from all over the world, of all different ages, fitness and backgrounds, that really made this trip so good.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was Hassan (senior) who was very good and led us well. However, I think because of the cultural/language differences, he didn't necessarily instill total confidence in everyone, as whilst he provided the basic briefing information (and would gladly answer any questions), he wasn't necessarily forthcoming with extra information and didn't really ask how anyone was finding the pace etc

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go for it!! BUT don't underestimate the steepness of the climbs and ethe xertion in the heat required!! Drinking 3-4 litres of water a day is a must!!!

Reviewed October 2013

PERU EXPLORER

Absolutely fantastic trip, well organised, great diversity of experience, good travelling companions and an excellent guide!

Most Inspirational Moment

It has got to be the Inca civilisation and the magic of Machu Picchu! However we were unexpectedly charmed by some simple pleasures.....seeing the penguins on Ballestas Islands...watching a catch of anchovies being landed...having a moonlight swim at the hotel in Nasca....staying in the hobbit accommodation at Chivay...relaxing in the hot springs....bartering for goods in the market near Puno....the friendliness of the people of the floating islands on Lake Titicaca....the "wild west" frontier town that is Aguas Calientes....dawn on Tambopata River....and the stars at night....!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Having Carlitos Lechuga (Carlos) as our group leader really made the trip, he is extremely knowledgeable and experienced. He put a lot of work into ensuring that everything ran smoothly and was always well organised. He was kind and thoughtful particularly with those in the group who were unwell at various points during the trip. He has a great sense of humour too!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for early mornings..... it's worth it.

Reviewed October 2013

CYCLE CILENTO & AMALFI COAST

Cycling the Cilento and Amalfi coast was beautiful , challenging and thoroughly enjoyable. Our guides Paolo and Giovanni did an excellent job of taking care of us in every possible way. The food was magnificent and the accommodation was great. Cycling was very difficult in parts, there was some very steep sections, but we always stopped and recovered. A great trip with a great group of people, I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves to jump on a bike.

Most Inspirational Moment

Getting to the top of the biggest climb and just enjoying the rugged beauty of the place. Cycling along the beautiful Amalfi coast road, with all it's winding and up's and down's.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Paolo our group leader was always informative and helpful. He was a calming influence and always made you feel safe on the road. He has a passion for the beauty and history of the coast, without overdoing it.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you are a casual bike rider who is up for a challenge do it. It is a beautiful part of the world.

Reviewed October 2013

DISCOVER COSTA RICA

An excellent trip all round with a great group of fellow travellers. I saw and did everything that I wanted to and took lots and lots of photographs!

Most Inspirational Moment

I think seeing the green sea turtles hatching on the beach at Tortuguero was the highlight of my trip. We had been looking on the beach at dawn and dusk for 2 days when Primo our boatman called us over and we had to run and walk for about a kilometre along the beach just in time to see about 70 hatchlings break out of their nest and head off in to the sea. The visit to the organic farm is surprisingly good fun. Gustavo and Christian the farm worker are a great double act. Try some of the raw sugar cane juice and also the local rum that they brew from it whilst you are there. You will also find out how to harvest papaya the Costa Rican way, using your hat.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Gustavo was an excellent tour leader throughout the whole trip. Paulo was our bus driver and was able to navigate Costa Rica's roads with ease and as much comfort as possible for us. Gustavo has an obvious enthusiasm for his country and also has an excellent knowledge of the local wildlife, trees and plants. He was able to answer all our questions with a great deal of understanding and patience. We were quite a big group but Gustavo always had plenty of time for every one of us.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I went in September and for me this was a great time of year to go. The turtles had been nesting for a few months and so there was a good chance to see hatchlings. It was also just before the main season started (Oct to May for the cruise ships) so there weren't too many other tourists at each of our destinations. The food in Costa Rica is not cheap and it is quite easy to spend a fair bit of money on the optional extras such as the boat trip for whale watching. Take one of those big sink plugs as a lot of the hotel rooms don't have sink plugs! If you want to get some laundry done then the Esquinas lodge only charge $15 for a bag full rather than per item. Also at Esquinas spend a little time choosing some wellies that fit, they are very useful after the rain! The horse riding is suitable for complete novices (like me) but it is quite a long trek (3 hrs round trip on the horses) as long as you can hang on as the horses know the way. The horses do like snacking on the way so try your best to keep them out of the hedgerows.

Reviewed October 2013

Did what it said on the tin!

We asked for whales and bears and we definitely got them! Whales = grey, humpback, orca. Bears = black and grizzly.

Most Inspirational Moment

We had a fantastic whale watching trip with a humpback breaching and lobtailing. Plus a grey whale and a colony of sea lions in the crashing waves on the same outing. The time with the grizzlies was also amazing. I hadn't appreciated how close they would be with the group of us just standing beside the river where they were feeding. They put on a great show and we saw about 10 grizzlies in the 2 hours we spent there. The outing was then topped off by a group of orcas on the way back.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jo was a good leader and clearly enjoys leading this tour. She educated us about the area, the culture, the trees and the wildlife and her local knowledge gave us some good stops on long drives, good picnics and good evening meals.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bear in mind that the weather in this part of the world is similar to the UK. September is the best time to see the grizzlies, but it can also be wet. There is flexibility in the itinerary and some things can be moved to different days to cope with this, but some of the activities on the itinerary just cannot run if the weather is really bad. On our trip, the sea kayaking on the last day had to be cancelled because of heavy rain and wind. On our scheduled whale-watching trip from Tofino we saw no whales (but plenty of seals, sea lions and sea otters). Apparently this is really unusual, but wildlife is unpredictable! As a group we chose to depart from the itinerary and book ourselves onto another whale watching trip from Ucluelet the next morning. It was the right decision (see best moment above) but we had to depart from the official itinerary to give us a second chance to see the whales.

Reviewed September 2013

WHALES & BEARS OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

Fresh air and the great outdoors – highlights of course are the bears and whales but with plenty more besides

Most Inspirational Moment

Probably the best day out was visiting the Grizzlys on Bute Inlet - being remarkably close to a huge salmon crunching male - superb viewing conditions also of females and cubs on the same stretch of river , then when you think it can't get any better a pod of Orca's on the way home - bliss Our group had a great day in Torfino but were unlucky and didn't see any whales on the first trip - we mustered as a group the next day and independantly booked through the tour operator at Ucluelet ( part of the Gray Whale shop opposite the hotel ) a really superb day with sightings of both gray and humpback - this time in a different part of the Vancouver Island inlets , well worth the $100 each - will never forget Captain Bob taking us up close ( very close ) to the Sea Lion colony - felt like we were truly in the midst of an HD BBC nature programme , exhilarating and magnificant

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent - good leadership , great humoured - obliging and passionate - knowledgable and reliable

Advice for Potential Travellers

Travel sickness tablets ! the tour bus got hot in the back seats and despite the distances being relaitavley short ( max 4 hrs ) the windin roads and the bad AC system meant a few green faces - plus the pacific can be a little choppy - no problems after being to the drug store !!!

Reviewed September 2013

PETRA & WADI RUM BY BIKE

This was a great trip with great company and is a great way to see Jordan – have always wanted to see Petra and float in the Dead Sea but there is much more to Jordan than this! There is a lot packed in to such a short trip and would definitely recommend to others.

Most Inspirational Moment

Petra is definitely up there but I would have to say it was sleeping under the stars in the desert in the Bedouin camp.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our main guide Zuhair was enthusiastic and knowledgeable about his country, always ready with a story and genuinely concerned to make sure everyone had a good trip. I felt at times he could have had more attention to detail regarding the itinerary and organisation, made things a bit clearer and given more choices about where/what to eat, but was good overall.The cycling team deserve a special mention as they were highly enthusiastic, very organised and had well planned routes taking in some amazing scenery. Although there was A LOT less cycling than on other cycling trips I've done there were still enough challenges to satisfy the more experienced cyclists and enough backup for those who were less keen on riding bikes!

Advice for Potential Travellers

It can get very hot and we were often cycling/walking in the hottest part of the day so make sure you are fit enough to enjoy this trip fully. Petra is a huge site and very tiring to walk around but totally worth the effort, make sure you go to the Monastery which in some ways is more impressive than the Treasury, just don't take the donkey ride up.Also don't count on doing Petra by night, this had become quite controversial when we were there and had been cancelled, but there were many more aspects to the trip so you won't feel deprived.Don't forget your torch!

Reviewed September 2013

THE INCA TRAIL

Easy to write, but probably the best trip I have ever done. A great travelling adventure, combining the culture of Cusco, the Inca Trail and Macchu Picchu, the trekking and camping in the cloud forest and rain forest, with the sociability of the group.

Most Inspirational Moment

More than a few. Flying over the Andes from Lima to Cusco and seeing the mountains and the snow. Experiencing the Inca civilization in its different forms along the trial. Travelling up river by boat through the Amazon and hearing the sounds of the rain forest.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Rene, our group leader, was very knowledgeable and organised. Being from the Inca tradition, he knew the history of the culture and what purpose the Inca builings were created for. He understood the spiritual nature of the journey on the trail (the Inca oneness with the mountains). He also co-ordinated the logistical exercise of organising the camp and the porters along the way very competently.Equally, I really appreciated Erik's understanding of the rainforest, his uncaany ability to spot the wildlife and know how the plants could be used as traditional medicines.

Advice for Potential Travellers

To get to Cusco and then the rain forest, be prepared for quite a lot of travelling, but it is worth it.Read the trip notes, as there are weight allowances on the Inca Trail and to break items down again in going to the rain forest to a light day pack.Take a spare set of clothes to change into at the rain forest lodge, ever if you are encouraged to travel light.Have the recommended vaccinations and anti malarial tablets.

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