04 October 2022
Life of adventure: 6 adventures you could be going on for free with Exodus Travels
Choose your top three dream destinations from over 100 incredible adventures to be in with the chance of winning them all and more...
Choose your top three dream destinations from over 100 incredible adventures to be in with the chance of winning them all and more...
With Exodus’ #LifeOfAdventure competition, you could win an adventure to every destination on your bucket list for the next 5 years. Simply choose your top three dream locations from over 100 incredible holidays to be in with the chance of winning them all and more. Don’t know where to start? Here’s a selection to get you excited...
Bustling Istanbul is modern and cosmopolitan yet steeped in history. And further afield, UNESCO World Heritage sites like Pergamon, Troy and Ephesus speak of the glories of the past and the civilisations that built them. The blindingly white limestone cascade pools in Pamukkale, the turquoise waters and beautiful beaches of its long Mediterranean coastline and the eery fairy chimneys of Cappadocia reflect its abundance of natural wonders too.
Delicious food. Friendly people. Unique activities. The magic moments you’ll encounter in Turkey will be endless. The question is, what will your highlight of this amazing country be?
The Nile. From the mystery of the pharaohs to Victorian murder mysteries, the very name conjures up all kinds of images from a bygone era. It is timeless and elemental, and best experienced on the river itself.
Life has changed little here over the millennia. Time is still measured by the rise and fall of the river, with farmers tilling fields with oxen and lateen-sailed feluccas flitting back and forth across the river. It is an impossibly romantic vista and one best enjoyed from the deck of your beautiful-appointed luxury cruise boat.
You’ll start in bustling Cairo, visiting the Pyramids of Giza and the stunning new Egyptian Museum. From Luxor you’ll sail south, visiting the most breath-taking creations of the pharaohs: Edfu, Kom Ombo and the extraordinary Valley of the Kings.
An optional trip to the giant, sombre statues of Abu Simbel is a fitting end to this incredible journey through the timeless heart of Egypt.
Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa’s highest mountain and the largest freestanding mountain in the world. Rising 5,895 metres above sea level, with elephants and giraffes and antelopes grazing serenely at its base, its snow-capped peak is one of the most iconic sights on the continent. Reaching its summit tops many travellers’ bucket lists.
There are seven main routes to the top, each revealing a different side of this enigmatic mountain. Lemosho is one of the least-trekked, but arguably the most rewarding. It skirts the southern icefields of Kibo, traversing dramatic gorges and offering breathtaking views of west Kilimanjaro.
It also offers you the best chance of reaching Uhuru Peak. Acclimatisation is crucial and this tour allows an extra day specifically for that, as well as one guide for every two climbers on summit day. 96% of Exodus clients reach the top, well above the 60% average.
As adventurer and Exodus brand ambassador Aldo Kane says, ‘The sense of achievement you feel is something else.’
On two of the evenings, you’ll stay in a traditional ger, immersing yourself in the lifestyle of the nomadic people that call this vast steppe their home. For the rest, you’ll be wild camping beside hot springs, cooking over open fires and sleeping under a blanket of stars so close that it seems you could reach out and touch them.
Your route will take you through open steppe and larch and pine forests, with a support vehicle discretely close at hand to deal with any punctures and other emergencies. For most of the journey, however, it will just be you, your companions, your tour leader and the vast epic plains. A truly humbling experience.
Madagascar is like nowhere else on earth. Anchored off the east coast of Africa, it is home to flora and fauna that can’t be found anywhere else on the planet.
The playful Lemur is, of course, the most iconic. There are over 70 different species, scattered in national parks across the island. In Andisibe, you’ll find the rare Indri. In the cloud forest of Ranomafana National Park, you’ll spot Golden bamboo and Greater bamboo lemurs. And in Anjar Reserve Ring-tailed lemurs swing acrobatically in the trees overhead.
There is more to Madagascar than lemurs, of course. The capital, Antananarivo, is a beguiling mix of African, Asian and European cultures. The other-worldly rock formations and swimming holes of Isalo National Park are worth exploring. And the beautiful beaches of Anakao are the perfect place to relax.
But let’s be honest. It’s the memory of lemurs gambolling in the forest in the early morning mist that will stay with you the longest.
Charles Darwin couldn’t quite believe his eyes when he stumbled upon the Galapagos Islands in 1835 and neither will you. These tiny volcanic specks, 3,997 kilometres off the coast of South America, boasts biodiversity that is both staggering and breathtaking.
Left to develop in isolation, the animals here have no fear. As you trek across the island of Isabella – a rare privilege, with Exodus only one of the few operators allowed – you will be constantly checking your footfall as iguanas refuse to budge from your path. Take a dip in the ocean off the majestic Leon Dormido (Kicker Rock) and you’ll be immediately joined by inquisitive Seal lion pups, keen to join in on the fun.
“Where else in the world can you see smouldering fumaroles, spot neon-coloured Chameleons and snorkel with friendly Sea lions on the same day?” says Aldo Kane.
It is one of the most humble, hopeful and inspiring wildlife experiences you can have on the planet.
Ever since leading a group through the Himalaya over 45 years ago, Exodus Travels has been leading the way in adventure travel. Nearly half a century on, Exodus has gathered all its experience and packaged it up in 500 incredible itineraries that are designed to turn you into explorers across more than 90 countries. Through its People, Places and Planet Plan and Nature Net Positive commitment, Exodus aims to positively impact destination communities and ensure all trips give back to nature far more than they take, the epitome of sustainable tourism.
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