Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Alvaro's enthusiasm and support.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Alvaro was brilliant. He knows the area and the hikes like the back of his hand, he is confidant and sure footed - like a mountain goat! He is a great guy, and super knowledgeable. Ask him what a flower or a plant was called and he would be able to tell us! He was inspiring!

Advice for Potential Travellers

The only shortcoming of the trip for me was that you don't end up with alot of time to yourself each day. It's long days of hiking. Then the hotel lays on a 5 course meal every evening, which was delicious but... but would take 2 - 2.5 hours. So by the time you get back to the hotel, get cleaned up and go to dinner - it can be a little tiring. Doing it every day anyway. I mean it was lovely, but ...

Most Inspirational Moment

Traversing the summit and rim of Vesuvius, an optional extra, was thought provoking when you realise that at some future date it may look very different, particularly combined with visits to Pompeii and Herculaneum which show what could happen again.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader, Emily, was everything one might ask for in that role, but also became an important member of the group.

Most Inspirational Moment

One has to say the animals we were lucky enough to see in their own environment. The various game drives and walks we undertook were well organised, the Rangers very knowledgeable, twice we encountered feeding lions who had just killed, herding elephants, too many others to name. Also the magnificent scenery around the Drakensberg Region. Lesotho, Swaziland, the coast alongside Tsitsikamma National Park where we camped beside the ocean, Kruger, the Private Game Reserve; the whales off Hermanus. - There were many highlights, many were unexpected.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader Wynand Bezuidenhout was an inspiration, heavy praise, but well deserved. An unfailing source of knowledge and a genuine interest in African wildlife, customs and the local scene. Clear directions, a constant interest in our well-being, a great sense of humour and a pretty good cook too. In fact all 3 of the Exodus/Mask Expeditions staff who accompanied us were unfailing in their duty and great fun to be with.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I took too much stuff. There are regular chances to wash clothes but try and take quick-dry technical cloth clothing as drying time can be an issue with the constant moving on. Rip-off trousers double as shorts. Take a warm sweater or two for evenings as gets quite cold. Take a good quality head-torch as this will get plenty of use.

Most Inspirational Moment

Several - Machu Picchu is awesome - just like the in the pictures. Definitely worth staying until the crowds have gone, or doing the early rise if you can get up in time. The home stay was my personal favourite. Our host was so lovely, we helped out with what we could and it was a humbling experience. Travelling should broaden the mind and things like the home-stay certainly do that. Scooping water from the well rather than turning on the tap make you appreciate the reality of life for so many. I loved the variety of the landscape. Cusco - fascinating place to wander around. I would recommend the Amazon extension. Far less daunting than I had expected. Yes the rooms had only 3 walls and were open to the sounds of the rainforest but we had experienced more biting insects in Southern Europe! The sounds and and scale of the tress are fabulous. The Convent in Arequipa. We should have half an hour after the to just to BE in this place.

Thoughts on Group Leader

I really liked him for interesting conversation at dinner and for learning about his life and views on growing up in Lima. His command of the language was exemplary and he had a lovely dry sense of humour. However as a tour guide he really needed to address the group more often during the long drives with information about the landscape, history and political background to the country. We did ask him too and he was happy to answer specific questions but seemed unwilling to take on the more traditional tour guide role. Having said that I am not sure that the coaches had microphones. He seemed more comfortable talking to smaller groups on specifics than addressing the whole group with general background info. Last year in India we had the Legend that is Mahindra, and that is a very tough act to follow. He should be cloned! Raoul did cope very calmly with the booking error when we got back to Lima at the end of the maind trip and found our hotel rooms had not been booked! It was sorted smoothly.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for very long days in the coach. Make sure you stock up with food and water for these. Buy travel bands ( pressure point ones for wrists) if you might get queasy. Altitude is very challenging. Many took Diamox but not all Doctors are happy to prescribe it. Take the advise regarding drinking water and eating lots of high carb foods. Take it steady. Many of our party felt poorly at some point. Be prepared.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were many good things about this trip, but I will give you just 4: 1. Clear skies at night combined with no light pollution meant I managed to see a shooting star without trying. I also saw the Milky Way for the first time. It made me realise that I'd had no idea previously as to what it looked like. 2. The remoteness of this trip, seeing no other tourists and feeling totally tiny in the middle of this huge mountain range was just truly awesome. A place for true relaxation and escapism. 3. Seeing the people of the remote Berber villages we walked through going about their business. A particular high point was seeing 5 women walking back from a wedding at sunrise one morning. The golden morning sun on their brightly coloured clothes was quite breath taking. 4. The food was fantastic. Absolutely incredible. They even catered well for my wheat-free vegetarian diet.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was an amazing man called Abdellah. He was originally from a Berber village and subsequently his knowledge was rich and interesting. Our safety and welfare were his main concern at all times. I cannot fault this man, he is an asset to Exodus.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be respectful of the locals - dress appropriately and don't take photos if they wish you not to. I took water purification tablets rather than buying water and I didn't get a funny tummy, so don't be scared to do this. Don't worry about the pace of the walking, I found it too slow to start with, but settled into it nicely. It was appropriate when the weather got really hot to not be walking any faster. The length of time out on your feet is not to be sniffed at though.

Most Inspirational Moment

One of my favourite days was the optional day of cycling from Trinidad. We cycled to a sugar mill in the morning and the views from the top of the tower were fantastic. We then returned to Trinidad and our guide took us to a family run restaurant (which we never would have found on our own) where we had a delicious lobster lunch. Following lunch we cycled to the beach where we were had a well earned swim and a mojito (or two). I also really enjoyed the final day of cycling when we had some excellent downhill sections, cycled through beautiful countryside and saw working farms, including cowboys. The day finished with a 9km hill climb (don't worry, it is optional), which although I found it very challenging, I felt the sense of achievement at the end made it all worthwhile.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was excellent. He was incredibly knowledgeable and taught us a lot about Cuba's history and economy. He was friendly, approachable and good fun.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't forget to take padded shorts. We also found a bumbag useful for wearing on the bike to carry a camera, loo roll and money etc.

Most Inspirational Moment

Part of the attraction of this particular trip was the visit to Pompeii and Vesuvius. I would have liked to spend longer in Pompeii. The morning was rushed. Meeting new people and learning about their lives and experiences.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Morten was great, knowledgeable , informative, helpful, patient and prepared. He encouraged us all to finish in our own time. He had maps, local history, bus timetables etc for numerous places that various people wanted to visit on the free day.

Advice for Potential Travellers

PREPARE. If you are not already doing similar walks on your own or with a club, I strongly suggest starting with 1 hour ascents and descents to build up your leg muscles and stamina. Don't be afraid to explore on your own. Take a day off if you feel there are other things you'd like to see in the area. Some of our group took a taxi and train to Herculaneum. It's your holiday.

Most Inspirational Moment

For me I think the highlight was watching vultures flying at and below eye level from the top of the El Chorro gorge.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group was led by Alexis and he was very very good; informative, fun and interesting, he was very well organised and helped make the week run smoothly. He always let us know what was in store, kept the group going a steady pace when out walking and always arranged for a drink in a local bar at the end of each walk - an excellent idea!.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for some wet weather if you go late in the year; we had one storm that would have been quite unpleasant if it had occurred during the day.

Most Inspirational Moment

Definitely the view from the Um Fourth rock bridge - I hadn't expected the Wadi Rum to be quite as rocky and narrow at certain points (not a negative) so the two hour climb was a fantastic opportunity to look back down and over some of the terrain we had covered. I'd strongly suggest anyone on this trip take that optional climb. Although I have little experience with scrambling on the whole I found it easier than expected and the small use of ropes shouldn't concern you. The guides and assistance they offered was excellent and I felt safe at all times.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Salah was amusing and easy going and I felt struck up a good rapport with us quickly.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Whilst you may as well do the Petra by Night excursion seeing as you are going all that way, it's really not very good for the amount it costs. It's fairly short with little in the way of worthwhile content and borders of slightly cheesy at some points. The one thing I read in multiple reviews was that you should bring gaiters to keep sand out of your boots. They are fairly cheap so it can't hurt however I found that pulling my trousers over the tops of my boots worked just as well.

Most Inspirational Moment

From start to finish everything was different, but the most outstanding feature was the friendliness and happiness of the people.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader and assistant leader were excellent. I treated them as friends, well they are.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The altitude does make a big difference. What would have been easy trekking in the UK becomes more difficult at altitude. You can get tablets for altitude sickness. One of our group did suffer but within half an hour of taking the tablets, was well recovering.