Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Finally ascending the second col on the penultimate walking day in a somewhat less than healthy state.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Am I allowed to give Mel marks of eleven out of ten?

Advice for Potential Travellers

Unless you are incredibly unfit or have an overwhelming health concern which you have discussed in detail with your GP and Exodus, do consider this two week nature extravaganza.  Some training before hand of course would not go amiss. 

Suggestions

Of course, there are many more exotic mountainous locations one can visit but please do not think that just because this trip is focused in Europe's heart that it is not as breathtakingly vivid with colours and experiences. 

Most Inspirational Moment

Every day that the clouds cleared and you could see the mountain views. On one of the rest days I took the cable car up from Italy and accross to France. This is fairly expensive but well worth it for the fantastic scenery.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was excellent, very organized and thorough in briefings and leading. Also our driver transporting our stuff from campsite to campsite was excellent, her cooking and meals were brilliant.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure you are fit and used to walking for long days up and down steep terrain. If you are not a regular camper then don't be put off by the camping part of the trip - it is very well organized and fun.

Suggestions

I think grade of trip should be challenging and not moderate/challenging

Most Inspirational Moment

I have two main moments.  These may well have been different if the weather had been more favourable.   One highlight is the telepherique from Courmayeur to Aiguille du Midi on the first rest day.   The views of the glacier, Mont Blanc and the peaks were stunning and nothing like I have seen before.The second was reaching Brevent, the final ascent of the TMB.  It had rained on this our last day, but stopped for the last couple of hours of the climb, and although we didn't really get the views,  the feeling of having completed the circuit was pretty good, even a bit emotional!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader, Mel, was excellent.  She is very knowledgeable and a good calm leader.    Our cook/support person had to leave on day two and Carey took over, which was to our benefit.   Excellent food.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The weather overall was not as good as we had hoped and 2 pairs of shorts returned home unworn.  It is going to be cold on the cols, so be prepared with several thin layers to put on and take off.   Good raingear is essential.    The camping was very good with nice flat pitches with no rocks and good facilities.  Even the 2 so-called rough camps were fine.   Having done a few treks I was very pleased not to see the standard dark and cramped mess tent.  We were able to enjoy the light evenings with spacious areas to eat or sit and chat over a beer.

Suggestions

We chose the camping option over the hotel trip and were glad we did.  I think it helped the group to bond together with some friendly competition introduced in the washing up rota, and when breaking camp each day (the tent of shame!)

Most Inspirational Moment

The views of the Mont Blanc massive while walking and particulalry a brilliant ride across the Glacier du Geant on the Telecabine de la Valle Blanch to the Aigulle du Midi on our rest day in Courmayeur - one occasion when the wather did co-operate!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent both at a technical and group management levels - provided opportunities for the younger, faster, fitter members of the party to burn off their energy whilst encouraging the slower old codgers without being patronising.

Most Inspirational Moment

This is a hard question to answer because although great views are expected in the Alps, there were inspirational views and sights virtually every step of the way. Our guide, Mel, was inspirational, in her love and passion for the mountains and her knowledge of the local landscape, and particularly the flowers and plants. 

Thoughts on Group Leader

As I have said above, our group leader Mel was inspirational. It was obviously not just a holiday for her, it was a lifestyle. She was very encouraging and accommodating, and found ways to coax us up the huge mountains, even in the face of pain and injury. She managed to distract us from the pain by giving us botany 'lessons' as we were going along, and these little talks also enabled her to make the whole group stop and rest to allow the slower members to catch up and rest also. In the end, the whole group were orchid spotting and this gave us a completely new perspective on the Alps, and a depth of experience, which other trekkers walking by at top speed did not get.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take a pair of trekking poles, as they were invaluable, since the majority of the trip is either up or down, and you need them for both! Don't rely on being able to wash, and particularly dry clothes. There are washers and dryers at several of the campsites, but the dryers did not appear to work well, and the weather is not stable enough to rely on hanging clothes out to dry. Just take a fresh pair of socks for each day and don't mind wearing other clothes for a few days each. 

Suggestions

This was a fantastic trip which deserves its reputation of being one of the best walks in the world.

Most Inspirational Moment

An amazing opportunity to walk in the Alps and enjoy the views.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Mel was a fabulous guide. She was very knowledgable about the route (having done the route over the last 4 years), managed the group dynamics very well, supporting us on the 'tough' days and with her extensive knowledge of botany and geology was always able to show us something new regularly and answer our questions. She carried a small plastic digger (and some Snicker bars) to explain glaciation - far better than any geography lesson i have ever had before).

Advice for Potential Travellers

It can be wet in early Spring but worth it for the flowers.The two rough camps are just that! Not really very nice. The other 'comfortable' camps were all great.

Suggestions

I would recommend this trip to anyone who likes the mountains, great views and meadows of flowers. Sections on the walk were on large tracks and roads which was a pity but there were no alternatives in these areas so necessary to get from camp site to camp site.