Reviewed October 2007 UserWow - what a walk!What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Reaching the top of the passes and seeing the Pyrenees spread out before you. Also the sense of acheivement - when you looked up some mornings to where the route was to go for the day, you thought I would never make it, but you did and the view was great! What did you think of your group leader? Very fit! Was good at encouraging you if you found it tough, looked after the group well.Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Make sure you do the miles and height gain before you go as this will help with the distance and ascents involved. Don't take kit that you have never used before on the trip, like some of the people on my trip - it was bad news for them! Take a warm sleeping bag as the nights do get cold.....do not pitch your tent near any of the stone walls and the snails will be all over your tent in the morning!
Reviewed October 2007 AnonymousTry everything! Including Yoga with Neil - a real expert. You'll have a fab time.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Jim and Pilar are great hosts who made sure our family had a great time.We caved with Jim - an amazing experience and we had total confidence in crawling into a hole that was about the size of a gallon bucket! Pilar led us along the Cares Gorge through wonderful scenery and we canyoned, climbed, kayaked and mountain biked through a fantastic week. The first of the summer holiday and probably one of the most memorable.What did you think of your group leader? Great hosts, very knowledgeable and Jim thought nothing of jumping in his car and circum-navigating the cycle route to find our daughter and a friend who did a "little detour!!" Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Try everything! Including Yoga with Neil - a real expert. You'll have a fab time.Is there anything else you would like to add? Food at Jim and Pilar's was delicious and we varied the week by eating in the village too. Recommendations from Jim and Pilar resulted in food to get excited about!
Reviewed October 2007 Anonymous Trip: Spitsbergen ExplorerOur day with the Polar bears will stay with me for everWhat was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Being in a pristine wilderness with great guides, to help us appreciate the wonder of the place.What did you think of your group leader? Paul was always full of enthusiam, and ready to give photographic advice - very 'hands on' to enhance the experience, and again all the guides were exceptionalDo you have any advice for potential travellers? Get really good waterproof footwear - I had 'muck-boots' and had toastly warm feet, but some people had seriously cold feet in welliesIs there anything else you would like to add? The food on the ship was poor, and the choice too limited i.e. a choice between veggie pasta and meat pasta is not much good if you don't like pasta. The soups were rather thin and tasteless, and often only luke warm - in fact although you were not hungry, the food could easily have spoiled an otherwise great trip.
Reviewed October 2007 AnonymousI have never had so much fun on a cheapie holiday!What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? We booked this trip just hoping for a bit of fun. It was never meant to be anything majorly inspirational but it turned out to be such a great holiday. Well exceeded our expectations. If you like constant action and adventure, in an absolutely beautiful lush setting (not the arrid Spain i was expecting) - then this is the holiday for you! We have 1 or 2 activities every day and thought it was great - especially canyoning!What did you think of your group leader? We were at a family run hotel. So there was not one specific group leader. Everyone just pitched in to accommodate you. They were really friendly and helpful.
Reviewed October 2007 AnonymousMountains and more mountains (wonderful)What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Visiting the Potala Palace, and achieving Everest base camp.Because we had no adverse affects to the altitude,it has givenus the confidence to one day attempt a trekking peak.What did you think of your group leader? Gum was brilliant.Everything you would want from a leader.Knowledgable,good natured,well organised,and extremely helpful.If I ever do a trekking peak, I hope Gum is the leader !Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Imerse yourself with the locals. Try to communicate and interact with them; its so rewarding for everybody.Is there anything else you would like to add? Our first foray into this type of holiday, but wo'nt be the last.
Reviewed October 2007 Anonymous Trip: Spitsbergen ExplorerThe best holiday ever!What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Waking up to beautiful blues skies, calm seas, sea ice and the awesome sighting of a mother polar bear and her two mature cubs. We had a couple of hours watching these creatures, dashed into breakfast only to be called out on deck for another mum and her pair of 6 month old cubs. The ship silently manoeuvred into place so that we had a great vantage point of the polar bears, and didn't disturb them in their family group. We had another couple of hours with these guys until the mist came down and they swam off. Whilst sailing away from the area, we came across mum number one and her youngsters, doing a bit of synchronised swimming for us!What did you think of your group leader? Woody was outstanding! He threw away the itinerary and went with his instincts (and the Captain's advice) to find the best locations for wildlife viewing in the archipelago. Woody took account of the weather and sea conditions at all times, and made sure that we got the best out of each trip. We were so lucky to see so much Arctic wildlife.Do you have any advice for potential travellers? You will not regret booking a trip to the Poles with Exodus! They have an excellent partnership with the ships and crews used. Even before we had completed our Spitzbergen trip, my friend and I were straight on the phone back to Renee at Exodus to book an Antarctic trip with the same ship (and hopefully the same crew!)Even when we were transitting from one location to another, the crew kept us entertained with interesting and informative lectures on environmental issues, wildlife presentations, discussions on life at the Poles, and funny stories about their first polar bear encounters! The Vavilov ship is spacious so that you never feel as though you are crammed in, and the scenery is so stunning that you can always find some one on the upperdeck gazing into the distance!Is there anything else you would like to add? I have recommended Exodus to all my friends....I should get an introduction fee! I have completed 9 trips, to various and varied parts of the world and have never been disappointed! The Spitzbergen trip wasn't just about bears though! We had fab sightings of reindeer (up close and personal), walrus, arctic foxes and birdlife galore. You will not be disappointed!
Reviewed October 2007 Anonymous Trip: Spitsbergen ExplorerA wonderful Northern experienceWhat was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Watching polar bear families for 4 hoursWalking on the tundra, seeing the exquisite wild flowersGetting up close to glaciers (and reindeer) (and walruses) (and whales)The wonderful colours of the skiesExperiencing true wildernessBeing inspired by the enthusiasm, commitment and knowledge of the group staff What did you think of your group leader? Woody was excellent in every way and the partnership/contrast with Paul effective and entertainingDo you have any advice for potential travellers? Be prepared for a continuous stream of experiences available twent y four hours a day, a sensory feastThe trip will be best enjoyed by those who enjoy being active; it is not a sedentary cruise, but the ship is very comfortable and the meals are lovelyIs there anything else you would like to add? The ship is incredibly stable. The captain is very skillful in getting close to wildlife. All the staff show the utmost respect for the wildlife and the environment. The staff are also very hard working, we can only assume their enthusiasm keeps them going. The ratio of staff to passengers is excellent and there is always someone available to answer questions or provide information. We were also impressed by the attention to the safety of all on board.
Reviewed October 2007 AnonymousThe scene as you enter the wonderful monument of Abu Simbel......What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The valley of the kingsAbu SimbelThe River Nile at AswanThe archaeological museum and the mask of TutenkhammenWhat did you think of your group leader? Mazen was very thoughtful and tried to ensure that all participants needs were metDo you have any advice for potential travellers? Take the sleeper trainFly to Abu SimbelFly with BA rather than KLM because the times of flights are SO much better and this will avoid exhaustionIs there anything else you would like to add? A thoroughly enjoyable week; wonderful sites and hotels with time to be inspired as well as vegging out by the pool
Reviewed October 2007 AnonymousWonderful holiday with varied paceWhat was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Shopping at the markets in the souksWalking in the Ouirgane valley in lovely wheatherWhat did you think of your group leader? Very pleasant and patient
Reviewed October 2007 AnonymousFantastic!What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? There was so much we did that it's hard to single out one thing. Machu Pichu does stand out - it was stunning. Cucso was amazing, Lake Titicaca Homestay was an experience not to be missed - even if we got beat at football. What did you think of your group leader? Ant was great. Kept things moving. Became part of the group and not a detached leader. He helped make the trip work! Don't forget the co--driver/leader. Tubbs was a great guy and a good compliment to Ant. They found some great camps and great places to eat.Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Have an open mind and a good camera. Try as many as things as possible - you may never be there again so give it a go. Try to learn a bit of the local language before you go but don't let it out you off anything if you don't.Is there anything else you would like to add? Exodus Overland provided us with a great way to see South America. We went from Lima, as far south as we could get due to snow and then back up to Brazil. We made loads of new friends - many I still keep in touch with. They made dreams come true!