Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking the levadas - water causeways with maintenance tracks cut into sheer rock faces with 50m+ drops to one side - leaves you leaning a bit one way for the rest of the day!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Knew a lot about the country, walking routes, the wildlife and conservation and was happy to share it with us. Good organiser, and always tried to tie up loose ends. Tended to be very busy - often on the phone and didn't eat with us as often as we are used to.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Consider EasyJet and others for flights as TAP aren't the cheapest by some margin. We were very lucky to have good weather all week - go prepared for anything.

Suggestions

Be prepared for some variation to the trip notes; you are unlikely to do what it says. Although Exodus claim to keep these up to date, a fire in the high mountains has put one walk out of bounds since last August and flood damage has changed another walk route for the past 2 years but the trip notes haven't changed. We discussed this with the guide, and his feeling was that as weather considerations mean they have regularly to change the routes, they aren't too worried about the Trip notes being accurate. Perhpas it's just a local thing!

Most Inspirational Moment

Arriving at the beautiful lake on the fourth walk. Amazing views and a wonderful sense of tranquility.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Yahya was wonderful in every way.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Check out the weather in advance of your departure and bring extra warm layers.

Suggestions

Thanks for a fabulous holiday.

Most Inspirational Moment

Completing the cycling climbs. The descents were quite awesome as well. Had the best meal for a long time in Hoi An. Truly wonderful.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The whole team were wonderful.

Most Inspirational Moment

Looking along the Levadas to enjoy the fantastic views and being hardly able to believe the views from the edge of the mountain side Levadas that had been cut into them, a real wow from the thought of how they must have been constructed.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader, Joe, was one of the most considerate, informative and heplful guides I've met.  He managed to organise wonderful days out despite the weather and terrain walking prohibitions put in place by the Madeira authorities after the floods and fires that had ravaged parts of the island.  To have someone who can remain cool, calm and collected through whatever climate, terrain and people can throw at him is indeed a pleasure.  I can only hope to meet up with him again sometime.

Advice for Potential Travellers

None realy, except that as a person who has suffered and can suffer from mild vertigo I found the walks within my capabilities and indeed noticed that others were doing likewise, so whilst the warning is valid vertigo sufferers should not be instantly put off going, but perhaps check out the walks more carefully.

Suggestions

This is a really good chance to have great walking followed by an extended stay to relax and enjoy the island.  I'm only sad that I didn't think of doing that before I went and then became envious of those who waved us goodbye as they stayed on.

Most Inspirational Moment

On a scintillating sunshiney spring day climbing up through dappled beech forests and patches of virgin snow to the precipice and a vista of thickly wooded Tuscan hillsides - and on to the sea beyond. Truly heaven.

Thoughts on Group Leader

One word - inspirational.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Come on this trip and enjoy. It will exceed your expectations.

Suggestions

(I would have liked a map before I came !)

Most Inspirational Moment

Had some great sea food. Beautiful island and friendly people.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Knowledgeable about the island and local weather conditions. Good leader.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I would not call this holiday moderate walking. More easy/ sight seeing.

Suggestions

Please update your trip notes.

Most Inspirational Moment

The cycling on Mjlet was lovely. So peaceful, beautiful and relaxing.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ana was a great tour leader. Enthusiastic, knowledgeable and well-organised. She also made sure we ate in great local restaurants and quickly sorted out issues when they occured (such as the one restaurant that ran out of red wine!!)

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't be lulled into a false sense of security by the short distances - there are regular hills with some particularly long climbs - nothing too difficult but do do some training before you go and you'll enjoy it more. The fabulous descents make up for all the climbing. We went in April it was glorious sunshine in the daytime but got quite chilly at night - take something warm!

Suggestions

It's a very beautiful country - enjoy it!

Most Inspirational Moment

Standing on top of Mt Prado, over a mile high, the highest point in Tuscany. The remains of the winter snow about us, views every which way and nothing but silence, no bird song, nothing, just silence.  Save the only birds to get that high are Eagles.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Absolutely fantastic, professional, faultless.  A truly amazing lady so enthusiatic about all she does and sees.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Read the trip notes carefully and follow them, they are there for very good reasons.  That way your enjoyment won't be spoiled. 

Suggestions

Yo!! Exodus you're the people!

Most Inspirational Moment

I enjoyed Setenil village.I loved the delicious evening meals. (but they were really late and I was so hungry I'd have eaten anything)It wasn't really an inspirational trip, more a pleasant, interesting, relaxing one.

Thoughts on Group Leader

very good. Relaxed, low key. knowledgeable, sensitive to the group and their abilities. Flexible, able to adapt walks depending on the weather. Good ideas for Sevillle, but never pushy and over organising.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take waterproof jacket AND trousers. We needed them.Take your own snacks to keep you going between pakced lumch at 1pm and dinner at 8.30pm. The bar prices for drinks and snacks are very high.

Suggestions

I think that being offered a glass of wine on arrival, without any nibbles seemed a bit mean, given that we had all travelled for several hours by the time we got to the Cortijo. Just some crips would have been welcoming. We were cold in our rooms and it took a few days before we were given duvets.   The windows rattled at nght and were very draughty. The towels were quite old and threadbare and the showers nice and hot, but not very high standard.  I know that we were not to expect 'hotel style' accommodation on this kind of trip, so was rather disappointed that the bar prices were really high - certainly hotel style!!    We were a captive audience so had no choice but to pay 1.30 euros for a bottle of water - that seemed a tad exploitative.It was nice to have biscuits , tea and coffee availalbe during the day - a very nice touch indeed. But why were the dinners so late? I know this is the Spanish habit, but it was hard to go from packed lunch to 8.30pm dinner with a couple of biscuits. Either offer a more substantial snack when we get in from a long walk, to keep us going, or make dinner earlier.II don't think the owners enjoyed cooking for us on the first two nights. The meals were very simple indeed. The rest of the weeks the meals were gernerally excellent. Plenty of food, bags of flavour and authentic Spanish, of course. Wonderful. A highlight of the trip.  (but I think 12 euros for the cook book too expensive)

Most Inspirational Moment

Cycling down from Ooty was a blast.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Safi, and his assistants Shibu and Shaka were excellent.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bring a gel seat cover!

Suggestions

Some of the hotels were basic and the rooms very small. Single beds were often not separable (space constraints) which was not great when sharing with someone I didn't know. Hot water and/or water pressure were sometimes elusive. Rooms did vary in the hotels though and some places were very nice. We were asked to pay a kitty of 8,000IR to cover all meals, snacks, water and tips for hotels/restaurants.