Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

The close encounters with the tigers. 14 exceptinal sightings. Leopards, jungle cats wild dogs and jackals

Thoughts on Group Leader

Krishna Kumar was a fantastic leader. We cannot praise him highly enough

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you are there for Holi cover your hair. Janet didn't and now has pink hair!Research the best time for tigers. March is good as the grass is short and the tigers need to come to the waterholes.Take tennis balls for the children, Better for them than sweets and more fun than pens.

Suggestions

I thoroughly reccommend this trip to anyone with a love of wildlife. You will not be disappointed.

Most Inspirational Moment

The area around the Picos de Europa National Park has some breathtaking views that I didn't expecting to find so close to home.  I was also pleasantly surprised at the lack of any tourist activity in the area- to the extent that we didn't see another walker for the first 4 days walking (although this was March and still the low season) 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Victor, the group leader was excellent. He tailored some of the trips based on his assessment of the groups ability on the first day. This meant that we saw some views that were additional to the standard itinery. 

Most Inspirational Moment

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

Thoughts on 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!

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.

Suggestions

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!

Most Inspirational Moment

The daily yoga, wonderful way to start the day for a walk.Seville on a sunny day, shopping and tapas was a nice change from the trek.Enjoyed the later treks when I decided to go at my own pace and admire the views as I went even if this meant being way behind and inconviencing others in the group. 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Friendly and informative.  Sometimes remote and reserved.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't think it'll be warm in March in Spain - quite cold for the first 3 days!

Suggestions

Although I enjoyed the holiday, I found this experience to be not as enjoyable as other Exodus trips.  It felt like there was an element of being frugal in these economic times creeping in.

Most Inspirational Moment

Harrisuvanto, on the Pieni Karhunkierros Trail - frozen river, suspension bridge setting it all off perfectly, under a foot of snow, all in white, freezing cold, but no-one around.  Complete solitude, gorgeous setting and a wonderful sense of peace.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Olli was good - he knew his stuff and did all he could to make sure the activities went as smoothly as possible.  Did not spend that much time getting to know us all, other than the usual "how did your day go" type stuff. However, always there when you needed him.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Manage your expectations re Northern Lights.  When we went, all the activity was way too low down on the horizon to realy see anything, which was our only disappointment.  Clothes provided really are well provided for and plentiful.  All in good nick as well.  Take your own base layers, and if you have some special socks you like wearing in cold weather, take those as well.  However, you really can pack light.

Most Inspirational Moment

It was all good - even building quinzhees in a wind chill of -25C.  Both times with the huskies were great, as was the ice climbing, the hot tub and the endless supply of rye bread at breakfast.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Olli was a friendly, sociable and knowledgeable leader who looked after us well. As we were a big group we were also looked after at times by Teemu, Hanna, Sara and pretty much anyone else who was around at Basecamp - all keen on making sure we had as much fun as possible.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Another review I read recommended budgeting around £500 additional expenses which I'd say is about right, particularly if you're planning on doing the full day of husky driving.  Booze from the bar wasn't bad value at €21 for a bottle of wine and €3.50 for a shot of whichever dodgy Finnish spirit takes your fancy. The cold weather kit provided at Basecamp is more than enough for what you need, good boots and endless layers of thermals and waterproofs, you don't need to take anything of your own. 

Suggestions

I didn't go on the day out to Ruka as I wasn't ready for the 'bright lights and coffee bars', preferring to stay around camp and do my own bit of cross country. which was a good choice for me.Other than sitting around the table and chatting there is nothing to do in the evening - although we found the evenings quite short as we normally were too tired to stay up for long - but books and possibly games would be a good thing to take.A really excellent trip though, I'd thoroughly recommend it - and it was possible to do more or less if the level of activity didn't suit. 

Thoughts on Group Leader

The group leader needs a change of occupation she was unhelpful and preoccupied, rather childish considering we were all mature adults

Advice for Potential Travellers

The owner of the farmhouse is extremly welcoming and helpful as are his staff.

Suggestions

Its a beautiful area

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing Petra by night and then by day - there is soooo much to see - its a lot more than the treasury - but even that is fantastic and so 3 days is really needed to get the feel of the place. Little Petra too well worth the visit  as had a different purpose.And the dead sea and the red sea and Jerash for the roman ruins - its was all great ! 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader Khaled was great - his knowlwedge was excellent and he was very patient with all the questions and ignorance! 

Advice for Potential Travellers

Had a great time - definately do the camping option - to sleep under the stars was a real highlight ! Also the dead sea  - get a mud bath - leaves the skni lovely and soft - but have an old swimsuit for this. 

Suggestions

Dont expect alcohol - it can be bought but is very expensive - expect a dry week and its soo cheap not buying beer and wine with meals - the soft drinks are usually fresh squeezed juices and are lovely- the food was fab everyday ! 

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching the summit of Toubkal was very rewarding, particularly after being stuck in the refuge on the previous day due to bad weather. The climb itself was easier than I expected. Although physically demanding, there is nothing technical about it and if you are fit enough you should be fine. The views are spectacular!    

Thoughts on Group Leader

The guide was exceptionally good. Very knowleadgeable, he provided us with fascinating talks about Moroccan culture and Islamism. His skills as a leader were also excellent and he gave us good tips about what to do in Marrakesh.  

Advice for Potential Travellers

TAKE FOOD! The breakfast is very poor and I would have been in trouble had I not taken my own supplies of ceral bars, dried fruit etc. You may also want to take a book, playing cards and other things to do in case you get stuck in the refuge. Be prepared for VERY basic conditions... 

Suggestions

Exodus should do something about improving the breakfast on this trip. This became a serious problem on the days when we had long walks ahead of us; it is difficult to walk for 6 hours uphill with nothing but stale white bread in your stomach! In the mountain refuge they also served porridge made with water, but I have to say it was pretty horrendous and required considerable effort to swallow  : (     I would also suggest coming up with an alternative programme for those days when the weather is bad. Being stuck in the refuge was no fun and made us feel rather frustrated at times. Apart from those two problems, the trip was excellent - a great opportunity to meet new people and a wonderful adventure!    

Thoughts on Group Leader

Teemu was excellent.  From the very start he wanted us to have fun and not take things too seriously.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Honestly, don't take many clothes with you.  I know that the trip notes state this but we took our own cold weather gear anyway because we just didn't know how good the kit supplied would be.  But the kit supplied - 3 layers top and bottom plus two pairs of gloves, a hat and boots - were excellent.  I would still take your own base layer and socks although they do supply the latter if you don't have them.  You can even use the gear (apart from the cross country skis and snow shoes) on other trips too.

Suggestions

The additional trips are pretty expensive so be prepared.  Everything in Finland (and the other Scandinavian countries) just seems to be a lot more expensive than they would be here.