Exodus Travels January 23, 2019 Exodus is the leading expert adventure travel specialists. We offer the widest variety of choice and expertise with our range of holidays, with over 500 itineraries to more than 90 countries on all seven continents. But why should you choose to spend your hard-earned on an Exodus adventure? In the run up to our 45th birthday in 2019, here are 45 reasons why travelling with Exodus is a good choice. 1. 45 years’ experience Exodus began in 1974, and we’ve been creating and sharing adventures ever since. Our experts have travelled all across the globe and their knowledge is poured into every itinerary we offer. 2. Which? Recommended Provider We’re one of only five travel companies to have been recognised by Which? The consumer brand. 3. British Travel Awards winner We were thrilled to receive not one but two British Travel Awards in 2018, including winning the highly coveted Gold for Best Escorted Activity Company. 4. Staff expertise We are the original adventure experts, and our staff are amongst the best-travelled in the world. Between us we’ve covered both the North and South poles, covered every continent and climbed Kilimanjaro so many times we’ve forgotten count! 5. Flexible flights We’re flexible. If you want to choose regional flights from an airport more convenient for you, we can put together a bespoke package just for you, and you’ll still be protected. We can offer business class upgrades on your flights, or fly you in or out a few dates before or after your tour so you can enjoy some extra time. 6. Free airport transfers Some destinations, such as Morocco or Nepal, we even offer free airport transfers so you can make those later or earlier flights with ease. 7. Award-winning guides We pride ourselves on our incredible range of award-winning guides. We run our own Tour Leader of the Year Awards annually, but some of our guides have been recognised externally too – including being nominated in the Wanderlust World Guide awards! 8. We're 98% sustainable - according to our travellers 98% of our clients believe we’re run in a sustainable way, and our tours are rated high enough to pass the vigorous standards set by responsibletravel.com. 9. Employing local staff We employ local staff, which means not just that we’re making sure we create employment and opportunities for local people, but means that you get a better experience – more insight into the local culture. 10. Staff welfare Exodus has always been at the forefront of porter welfare on our treks. We’ve been sponsoring a training school on Kilimanjaro for years, and providing scholarships for guide training, as well as setting the standards for porter welfare on the mountain. Recently in Peru our porter programme for the Inca Trail was the first to take porters all the way to Machu Picchu to see the citadel of the Incas for themselves. 11. Specialist leaders with unique knowledge We take our responsibilities seriously and use highly trained expert guides, including International Mountain Leader qualified trek leaders, award-winning photography guides, egyotologists and trained naturalists in Costa Rica – their passion and knowledge really transforms a good guide into a great one. 12. ABTA bonded Not all travel companies are ABTA bonded – but we are, meaning we’re verified as a reputable company. You are also protected financially in case anything should go wrong. 13. ATOL protected Exodus has their ATOL Certificate, which is another layer of assurance for you – another protection scheme when you travel with us. 14. Recommend to a friend 97% of Exodus travellers would be happy to recommend us to their friends – we can’t think of a more positive endorsement than that! 15. Unedited online reviews 10,000+ We published all our reviews online, completely unedited – so you know that those reviews are 100% unfiltered, honest feedback of what we’re doing. And we’re still averaging 4.8 out of 5 star rating. 16. Heritage Exodus has been leading the way in adventure travel for 45 years, and our heritage runs deep in the way we approach our adventures – and we carry our years of passion and authority with us as a badge of pride. 17. Long-standing relationships Some of our leaders have been working with us for many years. Our Himalaya Base Manager Valerie Parkinson has been working with us for 30 years; our local trekking company in Nepal we’ve been working with for two generations from father to son; in the Picos de Europa, Spain, our guests have been welcomed to the same family-run hotel for over 15 years. The long-term meaningful relationships we’ve built over the years mean our customers the best experience. 18. Group flights included Unlike some tour operators, we provide up-front costs for group flights from London – you don’t need to ask for a quote. We believe in transparency, not springing extra costs on you. 19. Luggage transfers included No need to worry about bags weighing you down – Exodus active adventures include all luggage transfers, meaning you can pack how you please. You’re free to cycle or trek all day with just a day pack. 20. We go off the beaten track Small group adventures give you the infrastructure and support to get to off the beaten track places independent travellers really struggle to get to – and we split the cost between the group, so it works out better value for everyone. 21. Local interactions Exodus makes it possible for you to meet locals. We include immersive experiences like cookery classes and homestays as well as visiting iconic sites and museums, so you can see both sides to a destination. 22. Meet like-minded people If you struggle to find friends who want to go on adventures with you, then a group trip is the perfect place to find like-minded people from across the world who share your passion for travel. Many end up lifelong friends, or falling in love and getting married! 23. Supporting women’s initiatives Exodus works hard to support local women, including creating economic opportunities for them to do our little bit to redress the balance. We support the Women’s Eco-Café in remote Ladakh, which even won an award, and the Amal Café in Morocco. 24. Self-guided walking or cycling Want to travel at your own pace, with companions of your own choosing? Then a self-guided break could be for you. 25. Tailormade specialists Looking for a bespoke adventure created just for you, with no compromises? Then put our tailormade team to the test. Our specialists will be happy to create a unique itinerary from scratch, with their recommendations to ensure you have the best possible experience. 26. Holiday extras Exodus work in partnership with Holiday Extras to bring you the best deals on airport lounges, hotels and car parks. By booking through us, you can save up to 60% - just one of the perks we offer our customers. 27. Stay a while longer Want to extend your stay? We can book extensions for you in your start or end city to save on hassle or moving hotel rooms. We can also add a week on the beach after a busy itinerary for a bit of downtime. 28. Add an extension We also offer organised extensions around the world, from the Amazon rainforest or Lake Titcaca in Peru, to see pandas in China or to add a Maldives beach break to the end of a trip. 29. ‘The Best Experience for a Fair Price’ Exodus isn’t the cheapest holiday company out there, and we’re not trying to be. We offer lots of high value inclusions, good quality hotels and truly authentic experiences – our mantra is to offer the best experience at a fair price. 30. Transferable deposits Things change, and we understand that. Exodus offers a transferable deposit scheme so that if you do have to change to a different departure date, as long as you let us know at least 8 weeks before you are due to travel we’ll allow you to transfer your deposit to an alternative departure any time in the next 12 months. 31. Peace of mind Exodus has a 24-hour support line so no matter what time, or where you are in the world, there’s always someone on call to help. 32. Year-round adventures Whenever you want to travel, we have departures all around the world. You can even search our website based on months of departure, so whether you’re looking for last-minute spontaneity or planning months in advance, you can search by month or even week of departure. 33. We welcome solo travellers – no single supplement Unlike most travel companies, we welcome solo travellers – and we won’t charge you a huge supplement just for being a solo traveller. We’ll pair you with someone of the same gender in a twin share room (in most cases) and then if you want to choose a single room supplement to have your own space, that’s your choice. 34. Hassle-free organisation With Exodus all the logistics are taken care of for you, from pre-departure conversations with our friendly sales team, to support on trip – whether that’s route notes on self-guided or a dedicated leader for group trips – you never have to worry about a thing. 35. Our Repeat Booking Rate speaks for itself Of our returning customers, more than 50% go on to book their next holiday within a year – a sure sign that our holidays are doing something right! 36. The Collective Loyalty Rewards The Exodus Collective is our loyalty rewards programme. If you’ve travelled with us once, we’ll offer you a 5% discount if you book your next adventure within a year of returning – and if you’ve travelled 6 times, that goes up to a 10% discount on any and all of our adventures. You’ll get other perks too, including previews to new trips, sales, and special events. 37. Comprehensive Trip Notes Our clear and detailed trip notes are produced for every single one of our holidays – and if you’re booking tailormade we’ll even create new ones just for you. They include detailed day-by-day itineraries, packing lists, visa information, money advice, extra expenses, tipping guidance and even what type of plug socket to bring. You’ll be all set. 38. Ban the Bottle Exodus has banned the bottle on all our tours. We supply safe drinking water in large containers to negate the need for single use plastic bottles on all our trips. In 2017 our Ban The Bottle initiative resulted in 65,000 fewer plastic bottles being consumed in Costa Rica, and a whopping 90,000 fewer being used in India. Our goal is to be single-use plastic free by 2020. 39. Activity levels to suit you Every Exodus adventure is given an activity level, including family-friendly activity levels for our family trips. This allows you to choose a trip that perfectly suits you and the level of physical exertion you’re looking for – meaning you pick your perfect escape. 40. We raised £50k for the Maa Trust in 2018 In 2018, our two charity photography evenings Wilder Night Out, hosted by Chris Packham and Paul Goldstein, raised a phenomenal £50,000 for the Maa Trust, a small charity working to install a community rainwater harvesting project in Africa to ensure access to safe, clean drinking water for the community. 41. Inspiration Project For the past two years, Exodus’ Inspiration Project has been responsible for funding and organising days out in 28 countries for children who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity, to learn more about their own culture. They’ve visited UNESCO world heritage sites, iconic buildings, National Parks, and the seaside. For many it’s been the first time they’ve left their villages or cities. More than 4617 children have benefitted. 42. Special scheduled departures As well as our standard departures, we arrange special departures to coincide with important local events. It could be natural phenomena such as turtles nesting season, the whale migration or the Northern Lights, or festival departures to celebrate Holi, Inti Raymi, or the Abu Simbel Sun Festival. 43. Safety record Exodus’ Health and Safety record is exemplary. Our team carry out regular audits of all our activities, some of which come with inherent risks such as canyoning, or simply are in extreme environments. We also regularly audit internal airlines too. 44. UK-based sales team You’ll always speak to one of our own sales team – we won’t outsource calls. Our team are all travellers, and we send our staff out on our trips to understand exactly what our adventures are like, so before you go, you can always speak to someone who has been themselves. 45. Ultimately, because we make adventure accessible People who travel with us frequently say they’ve achieved a dream on their trip, whether to visit a far-flung destination they wouldn’t have gone to alone, or a physical challenge such as summiting a mountain, or simply having a phenomenal experience that’s changed the way they see the world. Ultimately, that’s what it’s about for us too.