Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Difficult to choose just one but the passes over from Switzerland to Italy and then Italy into France were phenomenal. The last day hiking around the Chamonix valley was also amazing with clear views of Mont Blanc.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Spending a week with Egle was a real treat. She was knowledgeable, fun and looked after the group brilliantly. She really made the holiday and brought the group together. 10 out of 10.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Plan to make your hiking bag as light as possible, its weight will make real difference to the enjoyment of the hiking. You also do not need to carry gallons of water - there are fairly regular opportunities to refill each day.

Suggestions

The breakfast buffets provide a great opportunity to make a nice lunch but I'd recommend bringing some snacks along from home as there are not a lot of opportunities for food shopping.

Most Inspirational Moment

Hiking from Switzerland into Italy over the Grand Col Ferret was one of the most breathtaking views I've ever seen.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Peter M. was kind, knowledgeable, and a delight as a human being. He dealt with some difficult situations with humor and grace. His knowledge of the Alps and trekking was vast. He managed the snowy portion of the route with excellent guidance and advice. I feel my hiking is much improved over that type of terrain, which previously scared me.

Advice for Potential Travellers

We are very physically active and hike a lot in our home state of Colorado and still found the hikes challenging. The elevation gain and loss each day are significant. Also, these are long days on your feet, so bring dependable hiking boots. When Exodus recommends that you bring specific gear, I'd heed their advice as you'll need it. I'd also try to pack as light as possible.

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking down into Orzieres and finding our quirky little hotel with a friendly manager and lovely food. A beer in the local cafe rounded off the day. Waking up in Italy to bright blue skies and phenomenal views that we hadn't seen the day before. The coffee in the refuges was a highlight and a welcome pit stop. This is a challenging trek and completing each day left you tired but happy (and nursing the odd blister!)

Thoughts on Group Leader

Nick was an excellent leader with extensive alpine knowledge. He looked after the group well, altered plans as required and kept us entertained!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Travel light! The hardest bit is carrying 10 kgs on your back. You really do not need much. I managed to wash a tee shirt and trousers and they dried (just) overnight. If your feet are at all vulnerable, protect heels and toes with tape (zinc oxide/kinesio tape - learnt from my fellow travellers) as walking with open blisters can be very challenging!

Suggestions

Excellent trip. Made all the more fun by a really great group of people who got on well and supported each other.

Most Inspirational Moment

Just being in the mountains with such magnificent views.

Thoughts on Group Leader

There were 11 in the group and only 1 leader. At times the leader seemed oblivious to the fact that some members of the group had fallen so far behind that they could no longer be seen.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Pack light!

Suggestions

It was a wonderful trip but I was quite disappointed in the service provided by Exodus as I had heard many good things about the company and this was my first time on an Exodus adventure. One of the ladies on the trip arrived at the airport to find that she hadn't been booked on to her flight and had to make last minute arrangements herself. This has put me off travelling with Exodus again

Most Inspirational Moment

Dropping from Switzerland into France and having an espresso next to a glacier. Stunning.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Nick was excellent. He knew the name of just about everything we pointed at - and we did a lot of 'what's that' pointing! He was also excellent at describing the regions' nuances and accommodating requests. With a relatively large group, you're going to have people of different abilities and fitness levels. Nick did a great job of making sure everyone remained part of the group while letting some people have moments to run off on their own or have a breather.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Pack light. You don't need that extra t-shirt. Just take a bottle of travel detergent and use the sinks and showers to refresh your clothes. After 30 minutes walking you're going to be sweaty anyway!

Most Inspirational Moment

Everyday was so different, we loved seeing the differences when walking through Switzerland, Italy and France. The final day views of Mont Blanc were spectacular!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Rupert was a great leader, he was so knowledgable and passionate about the trip. He always made sure everyone was happy and okay. We especially enjoyed his games and local knowledge of where to get the best cheese from! He really did go above and beyond!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Pack lightly as you do need to carry everything and you can wash things in the evening. Most hotels have shampoo and shower gel so you don't need to carry much. You have two nights in the same hotel at the end so you can take extra clothes for those nights.

Suggestions

Absolutely loved this trip, was one of the best holidays that we have had!

Most Inspirational Moment

To experience the peace in magnificent surroundings and the friendship of like minded people.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader was at all times aware and attentive. He is very knowledgeable and was helpful in all questions that came up. John made the hike enjoyable in knowing when to motivate and lead by example with a cheerful calmness.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Have clothing for all seasons and try to swim in some of the pristine lakes !

Suggestions

I will use Exodus in the future ,

Most Inspirational Moment

Loved the steep steady uphill climbs and enjoyed when we were given free rain to climb straight for 2 hours. Also loved the experience on the top of Mont Blanc on the optional day. would love to go back to hike the glacier and possibly learn to summit the top.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jenny was great and worked well with the variety of needs within the group.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure you have a good cardio base before going as well as bring hiking poles. the downhills can be steep and long so will be hard on weak knees.

Most Inspirational Moment

Every time we reached the "Col" from one valley or country to the next, and had the fantastic views in both directions...

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jenny was great.

Advice for Potential Travellers

These hills are high and the ascents are steep. You will climb 900-1200m per day and it can be hot. So pack really light. Our packs weighed about 6 kg [not including water]. Suggestions: take 2 walking T shirts and one evening shirt. Take 2 pairs of "zip-offs", 2 or 3 pairs of socks, one/two warm fleece, and waterproofs/windbreak. Each night wash your "smalls"/shorts etc in your room and they're usually dry by morning. Take headwear (something that will keep your head warm at altitude and something to keep your head shaded from the (very strong) sun. Carry two medium sized waterbottles. Take sunglasses, suncream and some travel wash. No need for insect repellent. Accommodation has hair dryers. Some places have wifi, some places dont, and one place has no mobile signal at all. Have shoes with really good grip - you can be on mud, on rocks, and on snow. Take flip-flops or similar for evenings in hotel. Most places give you a little soap or shampoo too. Most people brought walking poles, we didn't. Personal preference. Fine without but helpful on slippy areas. You can leave stuff at the first night's hotel and it will be ready for you on the Thursday on arriving in Chamonix. so then you can refresh clothing etc.

Suggestions

The views will blow you away. The abundant wild flowers are beautiful. Don't make any mistake though - this is hard walking, both going up and coming down. You do have do be confident you can manage the likes of Scafell Pike without too much trouble. Most days you can either get a packed lunch made up by the hotel but much cheaper and tastier is to buy some local produce from a local shop at the start of the day: some cheese , bread, fruit, chocolate etc. So carry a small knife to cut the bread. Final comment - Switzerland is expensive, so is Chamonix.

Most Inspirational Moment

Top of Col de Tricot, the end of the toughest climb on the trip.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Quite capable, although sometimes more interested in adhering to overly rigid timetables than to accommodating the group's comfort.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Expect steep up and steep down, all day. Given the same guide and local organizer, expect brief, regimented breaks, and poor communications between the guide and local organizer.

Suggestions

Accommodation on night four was in a mountain hut, below the standard advertised for the trip. Understandable, if circumstances beyond the tour organizer's control dictated same, however in this case even our guide was unaware of the change in accommodation. The manner in which this downgrade took place, not the facility itself, soured my opinion of this tour.