Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

I loved all of it, from first learning to snowplough through playing on the sparkling, crisp, virgin snow on the lake to touring and seeing the beautiful views from the higher terrain. Picking up speed on the prepared tracks and successfully cornering for the first time as well as traversing down through deep snow were thrilling (even though I am not a speed nor thrill seeker and would dread downhill skiing).

Thoughts on Group Leader

Mary and Ilse were completely dedicated to making our holiday the best it could be. I was very impressed with the amount of attention we each received and their skill in coaxing the nervous as well as challenging the talented, so that everyone got the most from the experience. They were very professional, knowledgeable and great fun to be with.

Advice for Potential Travellers

What are you waiting for? Just do it!

Most Inspirational Moment

So many experiences make it very difficult to highlight just a few. Halong Bay and overnight on the boat, the overnight train was interesting even if you wouldn't want to repeat it too often!,the bike rides, the Mekong and the homestay and getting to know the people. On a more sombre note, the visits connected with the war were a cause for reflection. This applied to Cambodia as well with the visit to the "killing fields" contrasting with the grandeur of the Angkor Wat sites.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Hai was a brilliant leader with great enthusiasm and a sense of humour which went down very well with our group. He made sure that we got as much out of our visit as possible by giving us numerous opportunities to sample Vietnamese life in terms of transport, food, chatting with locals and imparting his sound knowledge of his country's history when it came to sightseeing. In Cambodia, both Sokhom for Angkor Wat and Thida for Phnom Penh were first rate guides.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Read the Travel Notes before committing. If you don't like early starts and and a busy itinery then this is probably not for you. However, if you want to experience as much as you can on a tour, then this trip would be no problem.

Most Inspirational Moment

Suddenly the six lionesses that had been dozing under a bush went into action. They started stalking, very slowly, evenly spaced out in an arrow formation. The leader in front, two behind and the other three at the back. Quite impressive!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ronney had excellent organisational skills and seemed to call on his ancestors when we wished to see something. Luckily his ancestors were agreeable!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for long drives on dusty, dirt roads. Namibia is a big country.

Most Inspirational Moment

Each walk was very different and all had their highlights.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The group leader, Sara, couldn't have been more thoughtful. She was there for us the whole time, tended blisters, provided additional snacks and ensured we all had a good time.

Most Inspirational Moment

The most inspirational element was the sheer variety and grandeur of the landscape and ocean particularly in Tsitsikamma.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Justin Barr was outstanding as a guide. Totally in control even when one of the group was hurt in a fall. He was always available, nothing was too much trouble. His knowledge of South Africa, its wildlife and geography was very impressive. He kept the group together, picked excellent restaurants, and handled any complaints (they were very few) very professionally. Having had many guides over the years he was an exceptional example of best practice.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Definitely go shark diving its a real adrenalin rush. Take the bus tour around Cape town, there isn't a great deal of spare time but its very good value and well worth making the effort. Avoid the duplex room in Sweet Lemon.

Most Inspirational Moment

My most inspirational moment was visting The Temple of the Tooth in Kandy.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The group leader was very knowledgable, very organised and ensured everything ran to plan. His sense of humour was well atuned to the British funny bone and the insights he shared were fasinating.

Advice for Potential Travellers

This is not a lay about the pool kind of holiday - it was a busy itinery but it never felt too much. I might just book a few days off when you get home though!

Most Inspirational Moment

Starting the ride one morning atop a cold mountain in a small village surrounded by local women and children in an area where people make their living like centuries back, herding sheep and goats, tending orchards...and sharing some chocolate with the delighted ladies.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Reese, our leader, could not have been better, was seemingly everywhere, circling back on the road on his bike checking on all of us, coordinating the two vans, meals, hotels and full of knowledge.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Plan to dress in layers as days begin cold often but warm up a lot by mid day. Bring a gel pad for you bike seat. Plan to have a great time.

Most Inspirational Moment

Probably seeing sloths, an anteater and the elusive Quetzel. All the birds were fantastic and loved watching the humming birds flitting from flower to flower. Everywhere we went was different and we saw new things every day.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Andres was our tour leader and made the trip special with his enthusiasm, knowledge and friendliness. He took time out to show us lots of animals and even on his time off would take us on trips to see new birds and animals.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Always carry a raincoat or umbrella as even in the dry season it does rain!

Most Inspirational Moment

The people. Cuba is a country with many problems including a broken economy and yet its people manage somehow to get by no doubt helped by the music, the dancing and the rum (one of the few "foods" that's neither rationed nor expensive)!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Lismar was great. Very knowledgeable about Cuba and its history, careful in the management of expectations (some of its Russian built hotels are not in great shape), and all presented with good humour. I always felt he tried to go the extra mile, arranging extra tours and visits in addition to what was described and finding interesting Restaurants where possible.

Advice for Potential Travellers

They say you shouldn't go to Cuba for the food and its true. Its bland, overcooked and with very limited choice - fried chicken, fried pork, fried fish with rice and beans just about sums it up. More to the point though most of our group had stomach upsets, some more than once. Its hard to know what the cause was but hygiene in the government run hotels and restaurants (which is most of them) is probably not great. The privately run restaurants and Casas are probably safer and definitely better quality. Be prepared to spend a long time in the coach. Cuba is a surprisingly large country with generally poor roads so getting about takes time. If you plan to take up the Cayo Levisa extension be aware that its quite a long way from Havana and none of the activities (the main reason we went) run on a Sunday (the only full day we had there). It is a beautiful island though and the food quality is an improvement on any of the other state run places we stayed.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were such contrasting landscapes it is difficult to decide on one, but perhaps on reflection I would have liked to have done more trecking in Patagonia. Also it was not apparent from the trip notes that the best sight of the glaciers is from a boat and not from a landbased viewpointso I am glad I took the zodiac.

Thoughts on Group Leader

As said before Alex was excellent but ought to ask for insurance details - my first Exodus trip when this wasn't done

Advice for Potential Travellers

Yes on the way from Punta Arenas to to Puerto Natales there is one cafe and loo stop where one gets charged for the toilet. Go to the shop on the right with the blue roof, which had an indoor loo and only charged 200 pesos, whereas the one on the left has an outside loo very dilapidated and charged 300!