Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

No one stand- out inspirational moment. Highlights included...... Seeing fireflies in the grounds at Braccicorti Visiting Lucca Reaching the top of Monte Cusna..just a 4 1/2 hour round trip according to Sara

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sara (helped by Elvis & Dora) is an excellent leader. We had some pretty challenging weather during the week. She managed the group well to avoid the worst of it, whilst enabling us to make the most of each day. A brilliant organiser as well - train tickets, taxis, restaurants and driving the van...a master of all trades. Extra touches included snacks during the day, a cake waiting for our return one day and the occasional bottle of Prosecco, or two....

Advice for Potential Travellers

Lucca is a good place to go on the free day. No need to bring a travel kettle, as hot drinks are available all the time in the lounge. The rooms have an adaptor for UK 3 pin plugs.

Most Inspirational Moment

Standing on top of the dunes at sunrise.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Shane and Happy did a great job and were friendly, helpful and welcoming. The cycle guide for this trip (Jaco) less so - but it didn't spoil the trip.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you are not used to cycling on gravel / sand, it takes a little while to feel comfortable and can be an adventure in itself. There are some long straight stretches of tarmac (especially in the second week), which go from nowhere to nowhere, which is an experience, but not like cycling through villages etc like you get on some other trips. There is no one there! Although the scenery is stunning and changes from day to day - on any particular ride it can be quite samey, so worth bearing in mind if you are easily bored, also as it is mainly quite flat. Having said that - it's more fun being on the bike for part of the day than it would be in a truck all day and can be a bit of "zen" experience! I thought it was great - in the main:) Hire a sleeping bag from the local operator - good quality and warm enough. Book it before you go. June is a great time to go - dry and pleasantly hot days. Chilly at night - take layers. I can't imagine doing this trip in December! TOOO hot, even with early starts. This is quite basic & remote camping - and all the better for that. Fantastic star gazing. All sites had good showers and loos. One even has a surreal bath with a view!

Most Inspirational Moment

My number one highlight was the hike through the Tsingy; it had dramatic scenery, wildlife, technical hiking and bouldering all in one day. Number two would be hearing the Indri location call from just a few feet away.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sol (Solofoniray Razafimahazo) was outstanding. He was a great ambassador for the Malgasy culture and his patience and calm under all conditions was really inspirational. He always prepared the group for what we were likely to expect the following day, so we were always properly dressed. Little things like that can really add to the enjoyment of the experience.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be sure to lock your rooms and your valuables (especially money) at all times, especially at night. At one place, my roommate was robbed by a thief who entered our room while we were sleeping! Avoid the local Malagasy wine; it's reputation as swill is well deserved; the imported wines available at the restaurants were of good quality and very reasonably priced.

Most Inspirational Moment

Tricky one! Getting to the top of That Hill. Seeing Venice for the first time was jaw dropping. I loved the countryside - fields of vineyards, scattered villages, snaking rivers, limestone cliffs - it was beautiful. But I also loved the smaller towns, especially our evening in Vicenza. Oh and I absolutely loved Michele's favourite shop in Venice - I won't say what it is, but a lovely surprise.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Superb. Michele is a seriously good guide, a seriously good cyclist and a seriously good guy - although not serious most of the time. He was fun, encouraging, knowledgable and thoughtful. We also met his adorable family. His daughter, Aurora, will make a great guide one day - if she's not being Prime Minister!

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you're worried about fitness, don't be, as long as you have a reasonable level of fitness. Our group ranged from ages 23 to 83! But the 83 year old was an experienced cyclist and very fit! Exodus have thought of everything. The trip notes are comprehensive and there is nothing else I can suggest. Except padded shorts, of course! Oh and take your swimmers for Lake Garda - icy cold in June but a refreshing plunge after a morning in the bike!

Most Inspirational Moment

The day on Maglic. "Entertaining" climb to the top. A very steep descent down scree to a tranquil green lake. Once at the water it really seemed like paradise. Sarajevo is a great city. Standing at the waters edge in Mostar at night. Looking up at the iconic re-built bridge.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Eldar and Kenan were exceptionally good Very knowledgable. Friendly. The best!

Advice for Potential Travellers

The weather in June was blisteringly hot. Take suitable protection.

Most Inspirational Moment

Too many to count - probably seeing Mont Blanc for the first time 'up close' on day two, a beautifully sunny day walking up to the Col de Balme.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Young at heart and heaps of fun, she did well to manage such a large group of differing speeds and abilities.

Advice for Potential Travellers

A must-do trek for anyone not wanting to venture too far away, you won't regret it!

Most Inspirational Moment

Getting to Uhuru peak after a 7.5 hour slog up the scree with hilariously low oxygen saturations. Going a bit mental on the top and having fabulous 'runner's high' type thing going on on the way back to Stella. Wish I could have bottled that. Hypoxia can be fun! Relaxing on Zanzibar afterwards wasn't too shabby.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Abraham was a great guy and ably assisted by his team of guides. Mama Lucy helped me the most but Stratton, Hans, Angela, Innocent and Tosha were all brilliant too as were the cook and porters. I left some old equipment with them. I was lucky to be part of a great group who really made the trip.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take it very slowly indeed, the speed seems ridiculous at first but quickly becomes a necessity. Leave your type A personality and desire to win at the door, on this trip the tortoises will get there in the best shape. There is no rush, what are you going to do with extra time in camp? We had lots of card games, hypoxia induced silliness and new sport called toss the rock. Camping just annoyed me after a while. I had my own tent and it was well worth it just to have my own space. They are big enough but I'm not convinced that sharing with a random and 2 people's equipment is a good idea when the experience is stressful enough as it is. Snoring gets worse at altitude. Bring ear plugs. Bring LOTS of snacks. Minstrels travels especially well. Ladies, check out a She-wee and Pee-bols for night time. Try to look after each other. Everyone will have a bad day at some point (Lava Tower for me, it can happily be erased from my memory for ever!). If you are lucky enough to be feeling well, try to divert some of your energy into helping those who are not with some daft games or a supporting arm or hug. It is much more satisfying to help others to succeed as well as yourself and to get there as a team. A couple of folk had music on their phones, this was a great boost during hard bits although it was hard to sing along to Africa by Toto on summit night! Try to learn some Swahili from the guides, you've got nothing better to do!

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the bears from the hide was fantastic, but I found the discovery of scenery, plantlife and wildlife during the walks even more inspiring, with the walk through the gorge probabbly being the highlight.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Udo was an excellent, informative and attentive leader, and Katherina was also extremely helpful and informative when she led the group on the bear-hide trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

Getting off the bike at the end of each day knowing I'd done my best and it had been good enough. I genuinely thought I'd be in the bus, but I made it. A great team from Exodus motivated us all the way and the company was such fun. Standing on the top of some of the hills and looking down at where we'd started from was a great feeling of achievement.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Great giggle! He could out cycle everyone and make it look easy!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Get fit.................do lots of uphills in heat!

Most Inspirational Moment

Sea kayaking among the icebergs and sea otters in Columbia bay. The noise of the ice cracking, hissing and popping was surreal as we gently paddles by.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader, Vicky was excellent. She was enthusiastic and knowledgeable and nothing was too much trouble. She made a real effort to make the trip memorable.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared to camp in the rain and with some very basic facilities at times!