great mix of types of activities. culture, geography, local colour and adventure. some aspects quite physically demanding. needs a couple of extra days to make a bit more relaxed
Really enjoyed this first tour with Expat. The tour leader was excellent, as was the driver. We bonded well as a group and there were very few issues. I personally found it quite tiring, but it was worth it to be able to experience what the tour had to offer.
First Experience with Exodus My girlfriend and I had never taken a group tour of any kind. We are frequent world travelers and have always been independent in our travel plans. But while doing research for a trip to the French Alps we found this tour operator's website and were intrigued by the simple but compelling descriptions of the tour experience as well as the beautiful photographs and helpful reviews. We weren't sure we would like the group travel experience but decided to give it a try. We have now returned from our trip and are still surprised at how much we enjoyed the experience with this tour operator. The accommodations were very comfortable. We usually like to stay in boutique luxury hotels and stay away from the home style "bed and breakfast" type of accommodations. We found the chalet provided by this operator to be very comfortable and enjoyed the chalet atmosphere. It really felt like having a vacation home instead of staying in a hotel. We also have very high standards for food and wine. My girlfriend is an accomplished restauranteur and sommelier and cuisine is a critical part of any vacation for us. We found the food to be healthy, delicious, creative, and prepared with great flair. But what surprised and delighted us the most about the trip was the people. Our chalet hosts, Jane and Colin, were warm, caring, and friendly while at the same time professional and talented. Our guide Simon was educational, entertaining, and patient. He and his wife Jenn were delightful to spend time with both on the treks and while sharing a glass of wine. Our other trekking companions were a truly splendid group of "proper" English and Australian ladies who seemed as comfortable socializing around the dinner table as they were trekking on the trail in the rain. In a short week my girlfriend and I developed a true and heartfelt admiration for each of them. We loved our first experience with this tour company and plan to add it to our regular repertoire of travels. We had a fantastics time sharing 2 birthdays and 1 marriage proposal with our new friends during our altogether too short week together. (My girlfriend is now my fianc!) We would heartily recommend this tour company to anyone looking for a world class trekking experience. We've already started planning for our next trip!