Yosemite And The Canyonlands: USA Trekking Holiday

Our Clients’ Reviews

Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It's the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you're interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers. Any feedback collected (Good or bad) from Exodus clients is posted straight onto our website - totally unedited. Read more...

Average Review Rating: from 14 reviews.

David Richmond

YOSEMITE AND THE CANYONLANDS

Written June 2013
I am often asked , out of all of the trips I have been on, which one is the best. My answer has always been vague because they have all had something special. I now have the ultimate answer. If you want a trip of a lifetime then this is the one I recommend. My favourite word for this experience is AWESOME
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Watching the sunrise in the national parks. And watching the sunset in all of the national parks. AWESOME
What did you think of your group leader?
Our two leaders were inspirational. They encouraged us to rise before the Sun so.that that we were packed up and ready to start our next adventure as the Sun rose over the horizon.. The horizon was the edge of the worlds in Zion, Bryce, Monument Valley, and The Grand Canyon. AWESOME
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
If you like the outdoors and all that it encompasses then this is the trip for you. It is AWESOME.
Phyllis Ryan

YOSEMITE AND THE CANYONLANDS

Written June 2013
I had a really fantastic adventure thanks to all of the people sharing the holiday with me, and to our tour guides Colin Galgon and Charlie Taussig. Colin and Charlie went out of their way to make this a very memorable trip!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
I think the most inspirational moment for me was when I completed the Bright Angel Trail in the Grand Canyon.
Also, a close second was when I reached the top of Angel's Landing in Zion.
What did you think of your group leader?
Charlie and Colin were just the GREATEST! They were always coming up with little treats, and ideas for different things for us to do!

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Be prepaired to outdo yourself. It's surprising what you can do, when "encouraged"
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I had done an RV tour of this area of the States with my family some years ago, but had to miss Yosemite. Also, I couldn't afford a helicopter trip over the Grand Canyon. Having walked several trails in Yosemite I have seen what a wonderful place it is, especially in the Spring when the waterfalls are at their best.
I have also had my helicopter trip over the Grand Canyon, and even better....walked in the canyon!!
THANKS EXODUS!!!
Beverley Fisher

YOSEMITE AND THE CANYONLANDS

Written September 2012
Very fast paced with little leisure time but great hikes and phenomonal landscapes.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The breathtaking beauty of Natural Arch and the changing colours as the sun went down.
What did you think of your group leader?
Both leaders were friendly and helpful.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Be prepared for: very long journeys in a mini bus which is a tad too cosy. Camp sites that on occasion are a long way from the National Parks and the starts of the hikes, leaving less camp time to get ready or relax. Trolley dashes around supermarkets, shopping for food for meals at the camp site. Very poor facilities at some camp sites ie dribbly showers and cold water. Cold nights and mornings followed by hot days.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Some of the equipment provided was well used and didnt work ie sleeping mats that leaked, chipped 'crockery', odds and ends of cutlery, plastic beakers for cold drinks and also for hot drinks, which became soft and dangerous with the heat, tin openers that didn't work etc etc
Overall, the National Parks and hiking were fantastic but the camping experience was very disappointing.
I think that the itinerary was too ambitious for the time scale provided, but I m glad that I saw it all, including Hoover Dam which was not on the itinerary but an add on by popular request!
Exodus Response
Dear Beverley,
Many thanks for your review of this trip. I just wanted to reassure you that I have discussed the points that you have raised with our local partner and a number of actions have been agreed. All equipment will be reviewed and checked and every effort is being made to secure campgrounds within the National Parks. Unfortunately, not all National Parks allow commerical groups, but we aim to find the best possible sites in each area. Of course some are still more rustic than others due to the isolated locations that this trip visits. I hope you have some wonderful memories of the National Parks - this trip visits one of my favourite areas of the USA.
Kind regards, Vicky Boughton (Trip Manager)

- Exodus Staff
Stephen Taylor

YOSEMITE AND THE CANYONLANDS

Written June 2012
The West is Best.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The first view of Bryce Canyon did it for me-magic! But also Yosemite, Zion, Arches, Canyonlands, Canyon de Chelly, Monument Valley and just about everywhere else on the trip was pretty special. Not forgetting the mini stops-Rachel, Nevada on the ET highway, near Area 51-prepare to be abducted, and Seligman, a little tourist town giving us kicks on the legendary, now defunct Route 66.
What did you think of your group leader?
We had 2 leaders on this trip-Jeannie and Whitney. Both were excellent company and lots of fun on their first trip as co-leaders. Did I mention well organised too? Ladies-well done, (and you never again need to be shocked by the amount of beer a bus full of Brits can get through.).
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Do this trip. Long days driving, living in tents, shopping and cooking for the group, and ridiculously early mornings are more than compensated for by the scenery. The parks are beautiful, well maintained and litter free. Las Vegas at the end of the trip provides a wake up call and reminds you of the other side of America. Tacky in the extreme, and an amazing contrast.
The only grumble we have was the optional trip to Monument Valley. This was offered as "everybody does it or nobody" which puts unfair pressure on those travellers on a budget. The food and "entertainment" provided by the Navajo was nowhere near good enough. Exodus should do this extra as a drive through Monument Valley, and cut out the rest-the scenery was great but not worth an extra $100. As an extra thought, why not extend your benefitting local communities policy to the Navajo-they could do with some help in making this more enjoyable and professional, and they don't seem to get it from their government.
Grumble over-loved the trip.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Br prepared to get stuck in to camp life to get the most from the trip. The trip notes say you are expected to shop/cook/clean so don't expect not to. Be prepared for some brilliant walks in beautiful places, but not all day every day. You can always opt in/out of any walks recommended by the leaders, who do not always walk with the group. We found having the autonomy to choose a good thing , as it allowed us to go where we wanted at our own pace.
Vanessa Arnell-cullen

YOSEMITE AND THE CANYONLANDS

Written September 2011
Writing my reveiw after returning yesterday.... Visiting the Grand Canyon has been an ambition since childhood, and I chose this trip as I hoped it would offer a chance to see multiple sites and I believed the camping and walking would provide a real taste of the country. I was not disappointed but how can any other holiday live up to this experience ...
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The scenery is stunning and seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time took my breath away and put a huge smile on my face. All of the scenery up until Grand Canyon had been amazing and I was concerned that the big one would be a damp squib after Bryce, Arches, Canyonlands, etc etc but it wasn't : )
Sunset, Moonlit and Sunrise walks were FAB FAB FAB
What did you think of your group leader?
Charles Knowlton and Ryan McCarty were not only competent and well organised they were great fun and such great guys (dudes). Across San Francisco to the wilds of the desert then to Vegas they were enthusiastic, knowledgable and incredibly patient throughout.
They added humour in our visit to the ET Highway and Rachel - hats at the Grand Canyon, enchantment in the moonlit walk in Canyonlands and entertainment at the campfires ....... As a company you should be proud to have such great people working for you - look after them.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Get your head around the participative camping and think whether it is for you... I felt it enabled us to eat some great food and gelled the group (who were all such great folk too). Tte coffee needs to go on, food needs to be cooked and this is before/after busy and long days. The group I travelled with embraced it and everyone worked together and it resulted in great meals - ably supervised by Charles (making sure we weren't all cooking pasta), shared chores and real communual spirit.
The desert is HOT HOT HOT ..... was great to get up early to walk before the midday sun (and I'm not an early bird)
Is there anything else you would like to add?
This trip provides an opportunity to view and experience the Awesome, jaw dropping sceenery in such gargantum proportions,.
Anne Dugdale

YOSEMITE AND THE CANYONLANDS

Written June 2011
Great fun, good walking, lovely people. What more could you want from a holiday.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Well on return home I've been inspired to buy a dutch oven and fire pit and recreate campfire cooking in my back garden... but that probably was not what you had in mind! Zion National Park was just lovely, an unexpected and delightful stop on the tour. The Grand Canyon is on everyone's must do list and didn't dissapoint, but on a personal note, seeing the sun rise over the Grand Canyon on my 40th birthday was pretty special.
What did you think of your group leader?
Rebecca and Mandy were fun and caring women. They made it their business to ensure we had a good time, with lots of little extras like: visiting the best pie shop in Utah; wearing the grizzly bear hat to ensure we saw one; visiting the funniest milkshake stop on Route 66, getting us up early to avoid walking in the heat of the day and creating culinary masterpieces on the campfire. But seriously women, you've gotta get 'viva las vegas' on the ipod for that final drive down the strip!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Pack insect repellent and have the quarters ready for the showers.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
As an extra we went to Monument Valley instead of... well I can't even remember where we were supposed to be going! Monument Valley is "awesome" (you'll hear that a lot) and I think deserves a place this tour... go on Exodus just add it on as standard.
Paula Wilkie

YOSEMITE AND THE CANYONLANDS

Written October 2010
The travel notes description of the trip exactley matched my experiance however I had not trully realized just how long, the long driving days would be.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
There were more than one inspirational moment on this trip. Nothing can prepare you for your first view of the Grand Canyon so don't be suprised if you feel a tear. I certainly shed some. There was a full moon walk through Cathedral Gorge, accompanied by the howls of coyote's and the best view I have had yet of the Milky Way or howabout the sunrise over Canyonlands National park, the imaginery land of Mordor made real. It was one of the many occassions on this trip that I used the word "awesome" and meant every syllable of it
What did you think of your group leader?
We had the double act of Jessie AKA Jessie James and Tyler AKA Tyler Durden. Two knowledgeable but laid back individuals.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
There are some really long drives on this trip and there was less walking than I had anticipated. This is not a trip for walking machines or those using this to come back a dress size smaller.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
For me personally although I appreciate the opportunity to break up the walking with some of the extra excursions( 4x4 and rafting on the Colorado river) I think there should be more thought for those who may have saved hard to pay for the trip and just can not afford those extras. I will say on my trip the guides did take us for a couple of hours to a stream that you could chill out in but with the proviso that we were back in time for the 4x4 people to get picked up. With a bit of forward planning there might have been a walking route that could be done without the guides that would have suited people who had chosen a 'walking' holiday better.