Exodus Adventure Travels FAQs

Our small-group guided tours are anything but ordinary. You’ll travel in a group of eight to 16 like-minded people—a mix of solo travellers, couples, and friends—brought together by a shared passion for discovery.  

We take care of all the logistics, including transport, accommodation, transfers, and curated excursions, so you can focus on the experience rather than the planning.  

We craft itineraries that are genuinely immersive, balancing activity with meaningful connections, and each trip is led by an expert local guide, who offers an insider’s view of the destination, unlocks hidden trails, shares local traditions, and reveals lesser-known experiences.  

Whether you’re sharing tea with a local family, cycling quiet backroads, or trekking to Everest Base Camp, our small-group guided tours always go further — delving deeper into the places we visit.  

Travelling in a small group gives you the best of both worlds: the freedom to enjoy your adventure and the reassurance that everything is expertly organised. You skip the stress; we sort the rest.  

Then there’s your guide: brimming with knowledge, full of local know-how, and always ready with a great recommendation or a fascinating backstory.  

And if you’re travelling solo? You’re in great company. Our groups are a welcoming mix of curious travellers, creating natural camaraderie through shared experiences — no awkward icebreakers required. 

Exodus small-group tours are typically eight to 16 people, with an average of 10–12 travellers.  

This size creates a friendly, social dynamic while remaining small enough to enjoy local restaurants, traditional accommodation, and off-the-beaten-path experiences that larger groups can’t access.  

Travelling in smaller groups also allows us to tread lightly, minimising our impact on the communities and environments we visit.  

You’ll be accompanied by an experienced local guide, plus any other support staff where required for specific activities. 

Our expert local guides set Exodus adventures apart from the rest. Part storyteller, part trailblazer, part problem-solver, they’re the reason you see more, understand more, and travel with confidence.  

Whether they’re sharing cultural stories, translating menus, navigating mountain trails, or introducing you to their favourite tea stall, our guides bring destinations to life in a way independent travel rarely can. With Exodus, you don’t just visit a place — you’re welcomed into it by someone who knows it best. 

Each Exodus itinerary is carefully planned by our expert team, with flexibility where it enhances the experience. Your local guide may adjust timings, routes, or activities in response to weather, local conditions, or the interests of the group — always with safety and the overall group experience in mind. 

Many tours also include free time and optional excursions, giving you the freedom to explore independently or relax, while still benefiting from the structure and support of small-group travel. This balance ensures you experience the destination at its best, without feeling rushed or over-scheduled. 

Absolutely, more than a third of Exodus travellers join us solo. Our small-group adventures are ideal for solo travellers, offering instant companionship, shared experiences, and the reassurance of travelling with a group. 

You’ll have the support of an experienced local guide, plus the opportunity to connect naturally with like-minded people. You can choose to share a room with another solo traveller (avoiding a single supplement) or request your own private room if you prefer more personal space. 

This makes Exodus a popular choice for solo travellers looking for guided group holidays. 

Exodus offers adventure holidays for a wide range of fitness levels, from relaxed cultural journeys to challenging treks and high-altitude expeditions. Every trip has an Activity Level, making it easy to choose an adventure that suits your ability, experience, and interests. 

As a general guide, most active trips require you to feel comfortable walking for a few hours a day, but each itinerary is different. Detailed Trip Notes clearly explain daily activity levels, distances, terrain, and any physical demands, so you know exactly what to expect before you book. 

With over 500 hiking, cycling, wildlife, cultural, winter, and family adventures worldwide, there’s something to suit every traveller and fitness level. 

The best place to start is by checking the Activity Level and Trip Notes, which provide clear guidance on daily distances, terrain, altitude, accommodation style, and any technical skills required. 

It’s also worth considering your previous travel or outdoor experience, your current fitness level, and the pace you prefer. Our experienced team is always happy to offer personalised advice, helping you choose a trip that best matches your interests, confidence, and ability. 

All travellers are required to have comprehensive travel insurance before joining an Exodus trip. Your policy must cover medical expenses, emergency evacuation, and repatriation, as well as any activities included in your itinerary, such as trekking, cycling, winter sports, or high-altitude travel.  

Insurance should also include trip cancellation, baggage, and personal liability cover. We recommend arranging insurance as soon as you book to ensure you’re fully protected. Your Trip Notes outline any additional activity-specific requirements, so be sure to review these carefully. 

Accommodation varies depending on the destination and trip style, but Exodus typically uses comfortable, well-located hotels, guesthouses, and lodges chosen for their character, cleanliness, and proximity to key sights. 

On more remote adventures, you may stay in mountain lodges, wilderness camps, or traditional homestays, offering a more authentic and immersive experience. Look out for high quality accommodation across our Premium Adventures and Signature Collection.  

Each itinerary’s Trip Notes clearly outline the type of accommodation used, so you know what to expect before you travel. 

If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not. All requests for changes should be referred to Customer Operations.

If you need to cancel your booking, please let us know as soon as possible. This is required in writing and you should refer to the booking conditions with regards to any cancellation charges that may apply. Normally, if you cancel before the final balance is due, the deposit and insurance premium are non -refundable but we can usually hold your balance for you to use on a future trip. Please note that there is a £40 administration fee charged in order to set this up. Once your final balance has been paid, there is a sliding scale of charges, outlined in the booking conditions.  Please contact us for further details.

See the Booking Conditions page

See the Private Group Booking Conditions

The balance of your payment is due 120 days (150 days for Polar trips) before departure. Your invoice shows the date your final balance is due and, if you have booked directly with Exodus and we have an email address for you, a reminder will be sent out 1 to 2 weeks before this date. To pay, you can use any of the following methods, quoting your booking reference in all cases:

• You can pay the balance of your trip online here. To do this you will need your reservation number, surname of the lead passenger of the booking and date of birth. Please note that we do not accept payment by Amex. There will be no fee applied to payments made on any other card types.
• Pay us by Bank Transfer – Payments in £ Sterling should be made to Exodus Travels Ltd. Please refer to your invoice for banking details, should you wish to pay in a different currency, please contact us directly.

A receipt of payment will be emailed out to the lead booker within one working day of payment being received. If you have not received a receipt and would like one, please contact us. If payment is not made on time you may lose your place on the trip, although we will always do our best to contact you before we cancel your booking.

Exodus will guarantee your trip once the minimum number required for the package has been reached. You can check the status of your departure on our website, or you can find this on your most up to date invoice. We will be in touch as soon as a final decision has been made on your departure. If your departure fails to reach minimum numbers, a member of our sales team will be in touch to discuss options with you.

Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.

Where do I meet the leader and the group?
You will meet the leader and the group on the trip start date in destination, either on an arrival transfer or at the start hotel. We do not provide the leader’s contact number in advance. Should you need to contact your leader for any reason, you will be able to find the local teams contact details in your Final Joining Instructions which will be sent to you around 3-4 weeks before departure. When you arrive at the start hotel there will be an Exodus sign in the reception area which will provide the contact details for you leader.

Making use of Exodus transfers
In the majority of our destinations, an arrival and departure transfer, operating at a specific time, is included in the price of the trip.  If you are travelling on flights that do not match the dedicated transfer times, then separate transfer arrangements will be required; this may involve waiting for the group transfer, booking a private transfer, or deciding to make your own way at your own cost.  Any alternative arrangements will be discussed at the time of booking.  If you are unsure of your transfer arrangements, please reach out to our Customer Operations Team who will be happy to help. 

Changes to group transfer timings
Occasionally changes to flight schedules require us to change the dedicated group transfer times.  If this becomes necessary, we will be in contact as soon as possible to outline the change.  If you were originally booked on the group transfer which no longer aligns with your flight time, an alternative transfer will be arranged.

Seat Requests
If you have flights booked through Exodus, please note that we do not automatically allocate seats to your flights. If you have a specific seat request, please contact our Customer Operations team and we will request this with the airline where possible. Please note that most airlines will charge to pre-book seats or don’t allow this until check in and some seat requests may be changed at the airline’s discretion.

Dietary Requirements
If you advise us of any dietary requirements at the time of booking or in sufficient time before you travel, these will be automatically passed on to the airline concerned. Please note meals are not included in the ticket cost for many European and short haul flights these days.

Do you send out flight tickets?
If you have booked your flights through Exodus, you will need to check in online via the airlines website to obtain your flight tickets. Instructions on how to check in online can be found below.

Online check-in
It’s important to check in online in advance of travel where possible. Please go to the airline’s direct website for Online check-in. The airline reference we provide with your Final Joining Instructions, sent 3-4 weeks prior to departure, is usually all you need. Although sometimes they will ask for a full ticket number, which our Customer Operations team can provide when requested.

However, if we have booked your flights as part of a block allocation of seats then you will not be able to check-in online, even if the airline offers this service, and will therefore need to check in at the airport on the day of your flight. Please feel free to call our Customer Operations team on 0208 772 3747 for further details.

Baggage allowance
We include 1 standard checked bag per person for flights, and you can view the allowance on the airline’s website directly. We recommend that you don’t travel with more than 20 kilograms of luggage. Some international flights may have higher allowances for checked baggage, and exact allowances are available from our Customer Operations team. On certain holidays that include domestic flights, there may be lower allowances; this is mentioned in the trip notes if applicable.

Should you wish to upgrade your baggage allowance, this can usually be done through the airline’s website using your airline locator reference, found on your Final Joining Instruction document.

Where do I meet the leader and the group?
You will meet the leader and the group on the trip start date in destination, either on an arrival transfer or at the start hotel. We do not provide the leader’s contact number in advance. Should you need to contact your leader for any reason, you will be able to find the local teams contact details in your Final Joining Instructions which will be sent to you around 3-4 weeks before departure. When you arrive at the start hotel there will be an Exodus sign in the reception area which will provide the contact details for you leader.

Transfers
In the majority of our destinations, an arrival and departure transfer, operating at a specific time, is included in the price of the trip.  If you are travelling on flights that do not match the dedicated transfer times, then separate transfer arrangements will be required; this may involve waiting for the group transfer, booking a private transfer, or deciding to make your own way at your own cost.  Any alternative arrangements will be discussed at the time of booking.  If you are unsure of your transfer arrangements, please reach out to our Customer Operations Team who will be happy to help. 

Changing my flights
Once booked, your flight may be changeable depending on the airline conditions of contract. If you wish to change your flight details, you should contact Exodus as soon as possible. Any changes are subject to availability and may involve additional costs. Once your ticket has been issued (usually 4 to 8 weeks in advance of travel), changes are generally more costly and sometimes not possible at all.
 
Changes to group transfer timings
Occasionally changes to flight schedules require us to change the dedicated group transfer times.  If this becomes necessary, we will be in contact as soon as possible to outline the change.  If you were originally booked on the group transfer which no longer aligns with your flight time, an alternative transfer will be arranged.

Missed connections and flight delays
When you buy your international flights through Exodus, we guarantee to get you to your destination at no extra cost to yourself and as quickly as possible. If your flight is delayed, cancelled or you miss a connection, we will do what we can to reroute or rebook you as required, but sometimes this is handled directly by the airline. If you miss your flight through your own fault, the airline will normally assist you with rebooking your travel, but you may incur additional costs. If you are due to arrive on different flights to those originally booked, you must contact Exodus immediately (or our out of hours service) to inform us of your new flight details, so that we can pass them to the leader locally.

Please note that if, for any reason, you don’t show up for your original outbound flight (if you decide to buy a new ticket to reach your destination, for example) that airlines will usually then class you as a no-show and also cancel your inbound flight home. If you are considering buying a new ticket for any reason and have your flights booked with Exodus, please contact us before doing so, as we will need to confirm whether your original inbound flight will still be valid.

Denied boarding
EU regulations are in force to protect clients who are denied boarding or who are delayed by an airline. These apply to all flights originating in the EU or flying into the EU using an EU carrier. If you are ‘bumped’ or have your flight cancelled without at least 14 day’s notice you are entitled to compensation unless the airline can prove that it was due to circumstances beyond their control. If as a result of being denied boarding, you are delayed by more than 12 hours, you have the right to cancel your booking and receive a full refund. The airline must also supply suitable meals and refreshments. Complimentary refreshments are also an entitlement if your flight is delayed beyond a certain number of hours. For full details please visit www.ec.europa.eu/transport/air_portal. If you are at the airport, you can also ask the airline representative for written details of your rights.

Assistance while travelling to your destination
Exodus offers a 24-hour assistance service to all our passengers. Anyone who has trouble or major delays on their flights should call Exodus (or our out-of-hours service) to advise us of the latest situation and to see what assistance we can offer. However, in many cases the airline handling your booking will be your point of contact for rearranging flights, providing overnight accommodation and general airport assistance. Exodus does not have representation at any UK airports or any overseas transit airports and has limited contact with UK airline offices over weekends.

You will find current visa requirements for British passport holders in your trip notes. Other nationalities should check with the embassy of the country they are due to visit.

Please note that your specific requirements, and other immigration requirements are your responsibility. Where we become aware of changes to visa requirements, we will notify you as soon as possible and whilst we will make our best effort to advise you of requirements, we cannot be held responsible for any sudden changes to regulations or mistakes made by embassies or third parties.

Please note that not all nationalities have the same eligibility for travel to or via the USA, and you may not be covered by the visa waiver programme below. If you do not hold a British passport, please check the visa requirements with your local US embassy.

If you are travelling to or via the USA, the US authorities have introduced a requirement for passengers travelling under the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP) to register for Electronic Travel Authority or ESTA which costs US$21. For additional specifics please consult the VWP information on the U.S. Embassy London website. Visas are required for some nationalities and requirements often change; it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas and fulfil any requirements for your trip. We recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

It is an essential condition of joining an Exodus holiday that you have a valid travel insurance policy, not only to cover the cost of medical treatment, but also to protect the value of your holiday in the event of cancellation.

If you are looking for travel insurance designed for our trips, we recommend purchasing from our partner Campbell Irvine here, whose policy is specifically designed for adventure travel and covers a wide range of activities commonly featured on Exodus trips, such as cycling, trekking at altitude and safari travel. The policy also provides 24-hour medical emergency assistance and cover includes medical emergency repatriation by helicopter. Campbell Irvine Ltd are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Please note this policy is only available for customers who reside in the UK and there are some age-based restrictions.

Whilst we are not able to provide a comprehensive packing list for each tour, as all individual’s packing requirements vary, we do publish a Universal Packing List to assist with packing. Additionally, you can find a trip specific packing list under the What To Take section in your trip notes. If you are still unsure on what to pack, please get in touch with our Customer Operations team who will be happy to help.

For our active trips, we are often asked ‘what kind of fitness levels are required?’ or ‘what kind of training do I need to do?’ Of course, if you have booked a trip that is at the upper end of your capabilities, you want to know that you have done all you can to prepare. Unfortunately however, these questions are often the most difficult to answer. Only you know your current fitness levels and capabilities, and can prepare according to the options available to you.

Where altitude is involved, your ability to acclimatise is going to have a much greater impact on your progress than your fitness. However, poor fitness and preparation is certainly not going to increase your chances.

It is always best to make your preparation as close to the real thing as possible. There is no point in relying on your weekly squash game (short bursts of explosive energy) to prepare for several consecutive days walking with major ascents and descents. Of course, its tough to replicate the major mountain ranges in the UK, but make sure you include ups and downs if you are preparing for a mountain trek. If you are still unsure about your fitness, or the difficulty of the trek or cycle ride, we suggest you refer again to our grading system.

Exodus monitors the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) travel advice closely for every country we visit, and we follow their advice to the letter. Should the FCO advise against travel to country or a region for any reason, we will contact everyone who is booked to travel to look into alternative options.

Airport Hotels, Parking & Other links 

Health advice
Exodus does not give specific health advice, but our trip notes do mention any compulsory or suggested vaccinations, and will recommend our clients take malarial prophylaxis for known malarial areas. Exodus recommends all clients contact their GP or Nomad Travel Health for all up to date advice on all vaccination and malarial issues for the country they are due to visit. Please note there is a wide range of advice available and you may find conflicting information for the same areas, but we always advise you seek qualified medical advice.

Water purification
Plentiful clean drinking water is of course a requirement to stay healthy in any country. For the vast majority of our trips, we arrange for treated, boiled or bottled water to be available at all times. Certain trips in remote areas may require our clients to provide a system of water purification themselves; if this is the case, it will be clearly explained in the trip notes.

Travel in the developing world or into remote locations exposes all travellers to an increased risk of low level stomach infections. Your tour leader will outline the basic precautions, but even the most careful travellers can still pick up bugs. Personal hygiene and sensible eating and drinking are the best precautions, but you may wish to take rehydration salts to aid your recovery should you become unwell.

Your own first aid or medical kit
For all remote or active trips, your tour leader will be first aid trained, and will carry an adequate first aid kit or medical kit. However, we recommend that clients carry a small first aid kit for personal use.

For some items you may need to consult your doctor for a prescription. If you are travelling to remote areas in developing countries, you may also like to consider taking a sterile needle kit (please be careful to pack this in your hold luggage for airport security).

The following list is intended as a guide only:
Plasters (including blister plasters for walking trips); sterile dressings and bandages; simple pain killers e.g. paracetamol or ibuprofen; antiseptic cream; antihistamine cream (for insect bites); sunburn cream; anti-diarrhoea pills e.g. Imodium or Lomotil; rehydration salts e.g. Dioralyte.
Please ensure you carry any essential personal medication in your hand luggage rather than checked in bags.

European health insurance card or EHIC (formerly known as E111)
If you are a UK citizen and are travelling in Europe you should obtain the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).You can apply for this card, free of charge, by:

1. Calling 0845 606 2030
2. Picking up an application form from your local post office
3. Online at www.ehic.org.uk

Each member of the family or individual requires their own card. For more information, a copy of ‘Health Advice for Travellers’ is also available at the post office. Please be aware that this cover operates with only certain member countries of the EU. EHIC cover should not be considered a substitute for travel insurance.

Why not join in the discussion on our Facebook community group, The Boot Room. It’s a space for our Exodus adventurers—past, present, and future—to connect, share inspiration, experiences, top tips, and more.