This was my third Italian walking trip with Exodus, and certainly matched the previous walks in the excellence of our guide (Michela), hotel accommodation and experience of this fascinating part of Italy. We had two bad days of torrential rain, which forced a re-think on how we would spend our free day. On the second day, the scheduled walk would have been dangerous so a different option was chosen. The walks we were able to do in the good weather were challenging, but definately worth the effort for the glorious views down to the cinque terra towns. There were options for those that found the going a bit tough, and preferred a more relaxing pace but most chose to follow our guide.
I travelled as part of a group of three males, aged 57 to 65. We had one guide and two porters allocated to us. English speaking skills were good. The trek is reasonably demanding and do not attempt it if you are not fit or have not prepared in advance. Each day features an average gain of between 1,000 and 1,500 feet gain. Additional acclimatisation treks featured on three afternoons at higher altitudes to ensure a good outcome for all concerned. Stunning scenery at every turn. Tea house stop opportunities present themselves about every hour or so until the last two days at higher altitude when they thin out. Tea house accommodation is basic (ie simple wooden beds with foam mattress), so take a sleeping bag and more often than not only cold showers are available as water is heated via solar power. Food: surprisingly good choice at most of the tea houses, freshly cooked and tasty. Little shops at most overnight stops stock most essentials from toilet paper to Mars bars. A mix of squat toilets and western style toilets feature, sometimes communal, sometimes en-suite. Take your own water filtration device to avoid health issues. Top tip: Do not take the public bus ride from Jomsom to Pokhara as this takes a very slow (7 mph) and bumpy ten hours to get there. Instead, fly from Jomsom airport to Pokhara for c. 90 per person in just 1.5 hours. It is also worth hiring a taxi for the final days drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu rather than catching the bus again. Alternatively, you can fly from Pokhara to Kathmandu.
An unforgettable experience! Extremely personable and straightforward to deal with. All members of the team give you their undivided attention. Special thanks to our guide Rabin and the trek organizers Ganga and Balaram! You guys are the best!