Enjoyed the spectacular scenery, the professionalism of our guide Fred, the food, the accommodations but I think your description of the tour as a ramble and the ability to stop and smell the roses was inaccurate. The walk was a hard slog from beginning to end. Also the recommendation of shoe wear was inaccurate. We spent $400 on high ankle support shoes when others wore their normal hiking shoes which we would have preferred.
Trip was very well planned and organized. Quality of food and accommodation very good overall. Drivers were on time and baggage was transferred correctly. One exception was the 2nd night in a gite called Labastide. It was billed as a friendly gite on a farm. The proprietor was surly and rude. The food poor quality. I think this property may have changed hands recently and the new owners are unhappy.
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 the Exodus website and were intrigued by the simple but compelling descriptions of the Exodus 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 Exodus experience. 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 Exodus 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 Exodus experience and plan to add Exodus 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 fiancé!) We would heartily recommend the Exodus experience to anyone looking for a world class trekking experience. We've already started planning for our next trip!