Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Thinking I couldn't control my ski's down the fast slopes and whooping for joy when I could. It gave me a real high and inspired me to learn new skils! 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Albert was excellent - laid back, thought what he said and brought the best out of each of us. Watch out if you have any food left over at lunchtime as Albert has a big appetite and will wolf it down, especially if it's grilled cheese!

Advice for Potential Travellers

take lots of layers of fleeces as the mornings start very cold but you soon warm up. Be a team player and listen to the leader - its not about skiing the fastest or how many people you can overtake, its about applying new skiing techniques to make you a better cross-country skier. Come with a positive, yes I can attitude and you will have lots of fun and make lots of lovely people!

Suggestions

I thought the food was great but the late afternoon flight home was too late as many people had further connections and was a very long day. Also Innsbruck airport is packed and very badly organized, be prepared to queue and bring a book with you! 

Most Inspirational Moment

Visiting a Hindu temple with our Hindu guide who gave us so much infomation.Watching the sun go down from our houseboat on the backwaters. Beautiful. 

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was everything one could want from a guide. I liked the fact he was a local man and a Hindu so could give us so much infomation about the way of life there.He was very well organised and went the extra mile.  

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go with Exodus, you will not be disappointed.

Suggestions

A lovely holiday giving a really good overview of what life is like in Southern India. With a few relaxing bits added.

Most Inspirational Moment

The first 1k of the first warm up ride on day one. I knew then I was in for a very special holiday.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Al was a star. A small problem maybe, and he was there for you, he just appeared from nowhere.All three country guides were also very good, although I did struggle to understand  our Cambodian guide a bit more.I really couldn't fault any of the support staff at all.

Advice for Potential Travellers

As with all Exodus trips, carefully read the, "Is this trip for you", section on the trip notes. If there is nothing major that puts you off, then book it, you will not be disappointed.I rode with open toed sandles, (Merrells), they were great, but dont forget the sunscreen on your toes. Padded undershorts are a must, without pants or knickers, (they will be the most likely cause of irritation), over-shorts, cycling shirt with rear pockets to hold your camera, tissues, and anti-bacterial gel. Girls, sports bra is recommended. A full length zip for the shirt is good to allow for max ventilation. Four sets of shirts and undershorts, two pairs of over shorts, (knee length as this will get you in to temples etc), is more than enough. Take a one litre water bottle for the rides, and aim to drink most if not all between stops when you can re-fill. Personally I wouldn't bother with a back pack or hydration pack as these will just weigh you down and make you sweaty. Don't bother to bring your own snacks, (unless you have special dietry needs of course), as the tip/snack kitty will cover everything you need.

Suggestions

A map of each days ride would be really nice.The communial  snacks, nuts/dried fruit that are in a big jar or packet, it would be nice to encourage from bag into hand rather than your hand into the bag/jar for hygene reasons.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the Taj Mahal is inspiring and beyond words.

Thoughts on Group Leader

HarishKumar and Pramod are two great leaders who were able to provide guidance whenever required. Their in depth knowledge of the trip was extremely helpful and informing. They were always willing to help whenever it was required. I hope I will get the chance to travel with them again. Harish is a person who you can rely on and depend on making the ride enjoyable and the whole experience fascinating.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bring warm clothes as it can get very cold at nite. Sweets, pens for the children you will pass on the roads. Beware of spicy food if you have a fragile stomach. Have a great time.

Suggestions

More time for shopping would be advisable. To wonder the shops of Delhi would be nice as in the other major cities visited.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the curvature of the earth against the rising sun as we approached the summit.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Very observant and caring.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Get a insulation cover for your platypus/camel back to stop the water freezing on the climb to the summit when you really need your water.

Suggestions

Met some great people with whom we will keep in touch. Do take kit you are happy to leave behind to help the porters and guides. Clothes, sleeping bag liners, sunglasses, water bottles, a platypus tube! All items we expect to have but they see as luxuries.

Most Inspirational Moment

Highlights - spotting the quetzal, the unbelievable noise in the evening in the rainforest lodge (frogs, cicadas etc), spotting tree frogs on the night hike, the boat trips round Tortuguero - a truly amazing place.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Brilliant. Very patient, will quite happily answer the same question 4 times! Extremely knowledgeable, especially about plants and birds. Excellent (along with the driver) at spotting wildife - how you can spot a sloth in a tree whilst negotiating a minibus along a pothole-filled track I do not know, but he seemed to manage it.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you have any interest at all in wildife then go.

Suggestions

Don't forget your jumper. It may be 10 degrees above the equator but it does get cold in the mountains.

Most Inspirational Moment

Race around an iceberg in the Weddell Sea , the Adelie penguin colony on Paulet island as it was snowing so truly Antarctic weather but best of all Gold Harbour with the King penguins and elephant seals a magical place.

Thoughts on Group Leader

 See above cannot sing his praises enough. Without him and his determination to make sure we got assure at every opportunity it would have not been so excellent.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take sea sick pills with you I would recommend Phenergan. Plenty of warm lightweight clothes but not on the boat which was always warm. Quark info is really helpful so follow that.Don't spend all your time taking photographs sit and watch and take it in the smells and the noise cannot be captured on a picture!

Suggestions

No!!!But I would like to go again and spend more time in the Falklands  and South Georgia as they were the best  !!!

Most Inspirational Moment

Too many moments to mention.  The best cycling day was the afternoon cycle along La Chocolata in Nicaragua while the sun was slowly setting ... and meeting with all the locals and animals en route.  While the cycling was fabulous it was the non-cycling moments that made the holiday ... the river rafting, the thermal spa, the coatis, the ferry trip to Omotepe Island, the border crossing in the rain between CR and Panama ...  

Thoughts on Group Leader

Rob was fantastic - very calm and laid back but ensured that everything ran like clockwork.  Also excellent at roadside first aid!  The support crew was great too.

Advice for Potential Travellers

You only need enough clothes for a one week cycling holiday - the laundry facilities in La Fortuna are excellent and very quick.  Take a gel seat cover or your own seat! 

Suggestions

All the hotels, with the exception of Hotel Tilawa (which needs to be removed from this itinerary as soon as possible - and for a number of reasons), were of a really good quality, many with pools and clean and comfortable.  

Most Inspirational Moment

Havana Old Town.  At first sight you are horrified at how run down and ruined the buildings are, how do people live like that?  Then you see the extensive renovations being done and just how beautiful Havana was and will be again.  My group.  We were on a solo departures tour and any reservations I had about the group were quickly resolved after a mojito or two! 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Freddie was excellent, he loves his country and all it's contradictions.  He was with us every step of the way, taking us to great places to eat and he always had a plan B in case the weather changed or the road was impassable.  Freddie and Emildo the driver made this holiday.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Cuba is catching up with the western world so quickly.  Don't hesitate, it will never be the same again.

Most Inspirational Moment

The huskies, actually having a safe to sleep in igloo, the snowmobiles - everything!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Teemu and Olli were great, as were all the others. Eki had the patience of a saint putting up with me for the climbing. They were all really knowledgable, helpful, fun and friendly, but left us to have whatever space we wanted

Advice for Potential Travellers

You really don't need any snow gear, it's all provided. The lodges are vey warm, so you don't need endless thick jumpers etc there either. I managed to go with just hand luggage! If you are at all fussy about your food tell them in advance, and tlak to exodus staff about it. There was no choice at mealtimes, and we had fish and elk for most meals - not things you might think to mention as dieatary requirements! But that said the food is superb, including the elk, and there was plenty. Budget on an extra £500, as you do have a lot of spare time to fill, and won't always have a partner for just wandering off on your snow shoes, although the tobogans were a popular free pastime that filled many hours!

Suggestions

Thanks for a great trip.