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I totally recommend this trip to experience the beautiful diversity of Costa Rica. We had a trip of a lifetime. Great trips, accommodation, food and a tour of a beautiful country full of wonderful wildlife and birds and friendly people. I would love to return on day.
Way too many to mention.
Our group leader Pedro was extremely knowledgable and enthusiastic about his country and the wildlife, birds, people and history.
Expect to get wet for some of your trip. And i mean wet! Expect very strong sun for some of your trip! Plenty of sun tan lotion required. Expect extremes! But that's what makes it a fantastic experience.
Just returned from this trip The Trails of Vietnam and we have had the time of our lives. It’s the first time as a couple we have attended a group holiday and we were a little nervous about how we would mix with the 12 other participants. We need not worry as our group were all of a similar age group (50 plus) and we all got on very well indeed. The group leader was called Thanh Vo although he preferred to be called ‘Ten’. Ten was a absolute legend and made the whole trip so enjoyable and he was professional and knowledgable throughout.
The balance of activities is perfect and the organisation was impeccable. We stayed in homestays with families in the Vietnam countryside and in some rather nice hotels in the towns and cities. What struck me is we never had to spend time waiting for anything. When we’d arrive at a hotel we didn’t have to all queue to check in. Instead we would immediately be given our room keys and sometimes our bags would already be waiting for us in our rooms. There are times when you need to pack for just 2 nights and leave your big suitcases at the hotel so take a rucksack too. The whole transportation of our baggage was very well organised throughout.
The overnight train is also great fun and its surprising how well we all slept on this journey. In some of the home-stays you are all in the same room (although you do have privacy) and the odd snorer in the group may keep you awake so take some earplugs!
The cycling was a reasonable length of time but do take gel cycling shorts to prevent a sore bottom. There is absolutely NO need to take a saddle or helmet as the equipment provided is of a high quality.
The walks/hikes were not too taxing and were very scenic and done at a leisurely pace.
There are plentiful times to do shopping to buy ‘original copies’ shirts/bags/trainers etc.
The bus journeys are done a very comfortable bus with plenty of room and WiFi onboard with suitably spaced out refreshment/toilets stops. We chose to relax and conserve our energy on the bus journeys and they were also some of the funniest parts of the trip too.
This really is a wonderful holiday experience. Go for it!
The boat trip to Halong Bay and the kayaking were great days/nights and the overnight train. Walking through the towns and taking in the history of this amazing country. Too many highlights!!!!
I think his name was Thanh Vo although we all called him ‘Ten’ We cannot put into words how brilliant this man is at his job and he made the whole experience for us so special. A true professional who really cared about the group and his enthusiasm for his country was infectious. His organisation was top class and we all felt lucky to have him as our guide.
Don’t take a saddle ( a saddle over cover or gel shorts is adequate) No need to bring your own cycle helmets as the equipment provided including the cycles themselves are of a very high quality. Along with you big suitcase bring a decent size rucksack to hold 2 days clothes and toiletries. Don’t pack to many clothes as the laundry services (they’re everywhere) are of a good quality and are usually 1USD for 1KG washed dried and ironed within 24 hours absolute BARGAIN!!! The many markets sell t shirts, shorts, sandals, trainers etc for next to nothing so leave plenty of room in your cases. You can go your own way in an evening if you wish, or stay with the group for dinner. The guide Thanh always pointed us in the right direction as he knew all the best eateries and we found our group amazingly great company. Usually the group are all of the same mindset after all we’ve all booked the same holiday! We expected the group to be younger but were pleased to see we were all within 10 years of each other around the 50 year old mark.
HOLIDAY REVIEW CATALONIAN PYRENEES
Dates 21/1/18 to 28/1/18
Leader: Miguel Ibanez
We stayed in two towns in the Catalan mountains called Rialp and Esterri d’Aneu. They were surrounded by wonderful snow covered peaks. The towns were in deep, wooded, rocky valleys with high cliffs and fast flowing rivers. The scenery was wild, rugged and beautiful. Ancient villages perched on the steep slopes of the surrounding mountains. It was a pleasure to explore their old narrow streets. Vultures were often flying above when the wind blew, or sunshine caused rising air currents for them to soar on, without flapping their wings. I saw up to 14 flying together in circles in one group. I also saw 7 herons fishing together early in the morning on a lake in the main valley. There were also two red kites flying together. These have been supplied to the Chiltern hills in Britain, north west of London, where they are now flourishing and spreading in territory.
Our snowshoes allowed us to quickly gain height through the forest and reach view points higher up to see the wider landscape. The new snow in the forest made beautiful patterns on the branches of the trees.
Hotel Victor in Rialp provided delicious food and was kept spotlessly clean. Our hotel in Esterri d’Aneu was spacious and provided beautiful views of the surrounding snow covered mountains from the big windows on the top floor. The food was excellent.
Leader Miguel was a very friendly and helpful person, who was very eager to make the holiday go well, and provide any help when needed. He provided a wealth of information about the history of the area, and arranged very enjoyable wine and cheese tasting sessions.
Our bus driver Mario drove very carefully on the difficult mountain roads, with professional skill, which was much admired.
We flew back over the Pyrenees in very clear air and saw the great mountain range covered in snow, laid out below us, stretching away into the distance for hundreds of kilometres. It was a wonderful sight and a great end to a wonderful holiday.
Andrew Grun
Seeing the snow covered mountains of the Pyrenees and the ancient villages perched on the steep slopes of the mountains.
Very friendly and helpful. Very keen to ensure that the holiday went well for everyone.
Need to be fit and to bring good outdoor clothing to protect against wind and snow.
Very varied trip with good range of experiences despite poor weather at the start. Great accommodation though the breakfast at Arenal Montechairi was poor.
Seeing a sloth and baby at very close quarters at Tortuguero National park. The visit to Esquinas Rain Forest lodge and learing about the conservation work.
Excellent local guide who dealt with an injured friend with sympathy and efficiency. Excellent first aid knowledge. He was very enthusiastic about his job and the wildlife,
Take capes or ponchos to Tortuguero. We had 5 days of heavy rain. We took too many US dollars. There was good availability of ATM's.
I had a fantastic time on this trip. The boat crew is great. Whether it’s serving your meal, helping you on and off the boat, or taking your hand in the water to show you whatever’s been spotted, every member takes their role very seriously and strives to ensure that they give you the best experience possible.
The ship’s captain accompanied me on a dive and filmed it on his own camera. He then presented me with the disk on the last day, which was so thoughtful and unexpected.
The amount of fish, sharks, mammals etc to see is vast and the colours are amazing. I swam with a whale shark called Fernando, who is 22ft. I also saw huge manta rays and lots of sharks.
The members of the crew who accompanied us in the water during snorkelling trips took the time to teach me how to dive down to get closer to whatever was there. Not being a particularly confident swimmer, this was great and I was soon practicing with confidence.
Kamey, the tour leader on my trip, is so knowledgeable and his passion for marine wildlife is tremendous and he is very respectful of it.
I agree with the previous reviewer regarding the amount of other holiday makers and boats scrambling to get to the whale shark. My first experience was great as it was with just my fellow Exodus group but the second day was not enjoyable due to the sheer amount of people in the water. However, I would urge anyone considering this trip not to let this put you off as the Maldives has so much more to offer.
The pace of this tour was perfect and attracted a delightfully varied range of people and ages from 30’s to 70’s. We had at least 2 nights in each place, the only early start was 8.15 and there was enough time factored in to relax / explore on our own. Yet we saw and packed so MUCH into the 12 days. It really felt like a holiday, as well as an adventure, and I will always go for the ‘leisurely’ trips from now on.
The safaris were, of course a high point, especially the lovingly sparring rhino couple. I also loved the wild ocean in Tsitsikamma, zip-lining down the gorge and hiking through the forest – completely on my own. Of many great meals (even as a gluten-free, pesco-veggie!!), the wine tasting lunch stands out for me as the best gourmet experience. The Langa township tour is imprinted on my memory, as both an eye-opening experience of SA’s sad history and current challenges and also a heart-lifting contact with people who are bringing grass-root transformation and the sense that we were able to make a positive contribution.
We were very blessed to have an outstanding guide in Justin; patient, good humoured, an excellent driver and group facilitator and with a very impressive breadth and depth of knowledge of SA's nature, history and politics.
I spent 2 days alone visiting Johannesburg before the tour and rather wish I had done the same in Cape Town at the end, there is so much to see and do in the cities.
I really enjoyed my holiday: I have never been away in the snow before – choosing to go south for better weather – and was pleasantly surprised at how much the environment drew me in. I can’t highlight enough the beauty of the area. We had a few days of quite warm weather with some snow and then the last two days, after heavy snow fall, were just magical: the sound and silence of the snow was mesmerising and I will never forget it. Our group leader, Miguel, inspired confidence and was attentive to all our disparate needs. The first hotel (Victor) was really lovely (great food and hospitality); the second was not so good, but this was found at the last minute after our scheduled hotel had a fire.
Overall a great week from which I returned calm and rejuvenated.
It is difficult to pinpoint any one inspirational moment. Each day we went on walks that inspired me and the group leader organised visits to people who were doing inspirational things in the Pyrenees to create work and keep traditional crafts going. I found the rhythm of the walks rather meditative, especially in the snow: soothing, uplifting and inspiring, whilst at the same time being quite hard at times.
I have been on a number of Exodus holidays and have high expectations of the group leaders. Miguel did not disappoint: he designed very different walks each day; was attentive to all our very different needs and never failed to inspire us with his love of the mountains. I think it is really difficult to run these types of group holidays where, inevitably, people have different levels of fitness etc. Two of our group were unable to join us for the majority of the walks but Miguel organised other walks for them to do each day. We had a day off and he spent lots of time helping everyone to organise things to do. Over and above the walks he engaged us in the local history, environment etc which enhanced our understanding of this beautiful area.
Relax and enjoy it.... Don't worry if you haven't snow shoed before: you will get used to it in a couple of days! Make sure you are fit to climb: I broke a toe a few days before we went so did struggle a little sometimes.
This is a fabulous tour which I highly recommend to anyone. It takes you across Costa Rica from the Caribbean to Pacific Coasts, experiencing a wide variety of scenery and habitats, from humid rain forests and lowlands to cool cloud forests. Our tour was well organised with an excellent tour leader and driver. Everything went exactly to plan! You stay for two or three nights in most places, so there is time to appreciate things and not feel too rushed. Travel in the small bus was comfortable, apart from a few short sections of bumpy roads, which is all part of the experience! Walks are easy and taken at a comfortable pace.
Highlights for me included seeing dolphins following our small boat in Drake 's Bay, the calls of howler monkeys in the rainforest and seeing racoons, sloths, toucans, macaws and capuchin monkeys.
Our leader, Gio, enthused us all with his love of his country, people and the natural world. He took us on a number of nature walks and showed great skill and knowledge in finding and identifying the huge variety of wildlife on show. He was calm, well organised and attentive to the needs of all members of the group.
I recommend spending a little on a night time nature walk at Drake's Bay (this can be organised through the lodge). This gives another perspective on the rain forest, giving you a chance to see frogs, spiders and snakes.
A great way to experience four completely different parts of Chile.
There’s lots of travelling on this trip but at a reasonable pace.
All our flights went like clockwork; no hitches or delays.
Most of the hotels used have changed for the 2018 season and we had no complaints – all were fine.
One of the reasons we chose this Exodus trip is because many of the excursions and activities included in this trip are charged as extras by other travel companies. It’s worth shopping around and comparing.
Tough question - among many great moments some that stand out are our first sight of the Andes as we flew into Santiago; the salt lakes of the Atacama; the Osorno volcano and the Lake District; Patagonia - the whole of Patagonia - particularly the Torres del Paine National Park. We did the Easter Island extension and that was amazing too.
Robert was friendly and efficient - making sure transport arrangements worked smoothly. He had a fund of information and stories about Chile which helped pass the time on some of the longer drives.
The optional Zodiac boat trip is worthwhile, you see a glacier close up and it's an enjoyable day. We were a little apprehensive beforehand but they provide long, warm waterproof jackets. We needed them primarily as a windproof layer as we didn't get wet at all. Also, you're only on small boats for a fairly short time before transferring to a larger boat. It felt safe and well organised. Take a sunhat and plenty of sunscreen. It's easy to underestimate the high UV factor in Patagonia due to the cool breeze. Pack/wear layers: it's cold at the El Tatio geysers before sunrise but then gets hot quickly. When packing think of it as the equivalent of travelling from the Sahara to summer in northern Norway. Take a water/wind proof jacket, fleece, gloves, warm hat and a sunhat. In Patagonia we went from wearing a woolly hat to a sunhat in a couple of hours. Heavy walking boots would be overkill for this trip. Good walking shoes are fine; there isn't a lot of walking and it's on good paths. Carry insect repellent with you: most of Chile was fine, although we encountered some mosquitoes in Patagonia (on the Zodiac trip), and there can be horse flies at Petrohue Lake (the name means place of the flies). Easter Island has mosquitoes too. Be aware of the altitude in the Atacama. San Pedro is fine, but both the Miscanti and Miniques lakes and the El Tatio geysers are higher (although you're only there for a fairly short time). We were a little disappointed with Chilean food; they're rather fond of cheese and ham. It's worth hunting out places to eat. Estaka in San Pedro was pricey but good (go through to the quieter area at the back); there's a decent pizzeria near the hotel in Santiago and the Liguria restaurant in the next street is good too. There's a good pizzeria on the square in Puerto Natales. Do the Easter Island extension! It's well worth it. You can get an Easter Island stamp in your passport if you ask at the post office in Hanga Roa. Our room at the O'Tai hotel was basic (with A/C), the hotel has lovely gardens and a pool, a very tranquil place and very, very well located (very helpful staff too.). If you're visiting Easter Island look out for James Grant-Peterkin's book, 'A Companion to Easter Island' it's very informative and portable.
This trip had it all, three amazing countries, good accommodation, wonderful food, excellent company and the most personable, knowledgable, competent guides. We crossed two borders, changed bikes and teams and had one unfortunate incident but all was dealt with professionally and seamlessly. Nut, Mr Tao, Kong, Linn and all those whose names I have forgotten, or cannot spell, were so lovely, they managed to stay cheerful, introduced us to some fantastic eating places, kept us all fed watered and entertained throughout. I think Nut’s guitar playing had the edge over Linn’s singing but both were memorable.
All three counteries have so much history, it was truly fascinating and left us wishing we had longer to explore. We learnt so much about rice growing, tapioca, rubber, palm sugar, knife making, spring roll making and the effects of snake wine (don’t try it wearing Lycra Rob). I also learnt how to survive two nights without a hairdryer, helmet head is not a pretty sight!
Based on this whistle stop experience we shall certainly return, the cycle Vietnam trip is calling! A big thank you to everyone from Exodus, and to the other wonderful people on the trip for making the whole experience so memorable.
The killing fields. How did the world allow that to happen. Cycling through the little villages in Vietnam was just beautiful.
Amazing.
Just throw yourself into it and make the most of every moment.