Reviews

Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers

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14432 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Reviewed August 2013

WALKING THE GREAT WALL

A really enjoyable trip, with a great guide and a fantastic group of people.

Most Inspirational Moment

I really enjoyed the variety of walks on the Great Wall. Each day brought different scenery, and different challenges, whether it was steep climbs, or lots of steps. But the scenery was always amazing. I also enjoyed getting out into the countryside and seeing how people lived both in the cities, the suburbs and in the villages. The people were friendly and helpful, even though the language was a barrier! The accommodation in the guest houses was generally comfortable, and it was lovely to stay with families rather than in hotels all the time. In Xian, the street food was fanastic, and it was great fun walking around the markets and food stalls. I found the Terracotta Warriors fascinating, and I would recommend taking the opportunity to see them if you can. It was fun travelling on the train to get there too.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jerry was great. He made sure that we were looked after in every way. He had a huge knowledge of the Wall, and told the stories in an enjoyable way. He had a great sense of humour, and he really added to the trip. His enthusiasm and encouragement ensured that everyone got the most out of the trip.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bring toilet paper, a towel and walking poles ( quite a few steep ascents and descents to get on and off the Wall). If you go in the summer, be prepared for the heat. I didnt use the sleeping bag liner I brought at all- all the linen was clean. Flip flops for the bathrooms are essential.

Reviewed August 2013

CHOPSTICKS & COCONUTS - FAMILY HOLIDAY

The holiday of a lifetime, absolutely superb in every way.

Most Inspirational Moment

Every single day had an inspirational moment, its impossible to single one out. The range of transport was amazing - from cyclo rickshaw to overnight train, to luxury cruiseship in HaLong bay with cycling and boats in between.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Tom/Tho should be given an Exodus award for being the most enthusiastic, knowledgeable and endlessly patient group leader. He really went the extra mile to make sure that everything ran smoothly and that we had a great time. He was particularly good with the children

Advice for Potential Travellers

make sure you get some clothes made in Hoi An - I came back wishing Id bought more.

Reviewed August 2013

BORNEO FAMILY ADVENTURE

Wow…what an adventure!

Most Inspirational Moment

On the river canoe trip, watching the elephants crossing the river and struggling to get up the muddy bank on the far side. This was a rare event and we watched for ages as the baby struggled up the bank with the help of the adult herd. Truly amazing! Spending the night in the jungle camp was an experience. No electricity, and only a roof and a mossie net to protect us from the thunder storm is something I'll never forget. The boat trip back from the island in rough seas, I was dreading, but absolutely loved it...thrilling!!

Thoughts on Group Leader

She was excellent. Very patient and understanding of our needs. She was ready to spring into action at any point and did so with a smile on her face the whole time!

Advice for Potential Travellers

This is an adventurous holiday and can be quite challenging at times.you need to be prepared for basic accommodation, which is described in the brochure and web site as such, but "showers" were often a barrel of rainwater and a scoop, and toileting was somewhat of an adventure..especially when you find a frog in the toilet! It really makes you appreciate the comforts of life, though, like toilet paper and hot running water! There are a lot of "beasties", most of which love to bite or sting so take some antihistemines just in case! I'd advise breaking up the jouney there with a stopover as the time difference can be difficult. We had a great time in out homestay, the house was clean and comfortable and we played with the children for hours ( learn some good hand clapping games!), so not speaking the language wasnt a problem. Other families were not so lucky though, so our group had a mixed response to this aspect of the trip. You just need to go with the flow on this part. We booked the trip so that we could visit Sepilok, but I was disappointed that there were so few orangutans to see and they were quite far away...its so much better to see them in the wild!

Reviewed August 2013

MONT BLANC CIRCUIT

Yes, it’s the best trekking trip I have ever had. Good roomy, thunderstorm proofed tents (easy to pitch up and dismantle), great camping sites (only two had no internet access, and no showers) with one having a large LCD TV screen to watch the Tour D’ France going up Alpe d’Huez (an excellent treat for me as I had biked up it 10 days ago), and, not forgetting, good food (four nights at local restaurants on Exodus tab). Of course, the scenery was just awesome, and we took lots of beautiful picture postcards.

Most Inspirational Moment

Too many. Most would include doing the touristic stuff in Chamonix (Aguille du Midi to see Mt Blanc at close range; trip to Heilbroner; seeing skiers going down Vallee Blanche, Mers du Glace and the Cave); having lunch at Lac Blanc; seeing Ibex, Marmot, and even a baby poisonous snake; doing the Balcony and the Bovine trail; multi day view of Grand Jorasse; having gelato in Courmeyer; ascending Col du Tricot in just over an hour; watching the bungee jumpers in St. Gervais; the paragliders taking off in Mt Brevent and toasting our successful completion at the top of Mt Brevent….10 days trekking, 3 countries, 176 km, 10000m cumulative elevation. Too many pleasant memories so much so some of us had withdrawal symptoms on returning home.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Mike was knowledgeable and experienced. He modified the start times based on his estimate of what time we would like to arrive at camp e.g. on the day of the TDF going up Alpe d’Huez, he made sure we arrived at 2.30 pm in camp so we have time to settle down, and get to watch the race at 3 pm. This flexibility also ensured we did not get caught in bad weather, although there may be an occasion when we got wet (although not very heavy). Safety was always a priority, and he was always around to lend a helping hand whenever there were obstacles such as crossing a fast running stream, climbing down a ladder, walking over a slippery patch of snow, and climbing over steep rocks adjoining deep ravines. Matt, our driver and cook ensured we always have enough fruits, bread, cheese, and salad for our lunch bags. We were never hungry. And dinner was something that was always a pleasant surprise, with enough for second helpings for those who wanted more. I am still trying to lose the 2 kg I put on.

Advice for Potential Travellers

My group was an experienced group, having done tougher treks in higher altitudes. However, this trek was still very challenging, especially the last two days where climbs of cumulative 1500m elevations were the norms. Train hard. Also bring lots of warm clothing as it can be very cold at night. Bring long sleeves/pants, a hat and sun block to protect from the UV…we were deep fried by the end of the trek. Be careful of ticks even though lyme disease is not prevalent in the alps. I may have been bitten, and had symptoms that were indicative such as muscle and joint ache/pain, fatigue, ear ache, and other normal flu symptoms after returning home. As a precaution I took doxycycline (an antibiotic) to kill the bacteria

Reviewed August 2013

CYCLE THE BACKROADS OF SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka is a stunning country and cycling along the backroads is a great way to see it and experience all there is to offer. Every day is different with a constantly changing landscape to keep you interested as you pedal along. It’s wonderful to get away from the busy roads and towns and onto the quiet backroads where children rush out of their homes to wave and call "Hi, Bye!" as you pass by. The people we met along the way were amongst the friendliest I’ve met anywhere.

Most Inspirational Moment

With each day bringing along new places to see and new experiences it's very difficult to choose any one most inspirational moment, but here are a few occasions which I really enjoyed:- Climbing the rock fortress at Sigiriya...when you first arrive and look up, you begin to wonder why would I climb up there when I've still several kms of cycling to go? But it really is worth the climb and is not at all as daunting as it might seem. The view from the top is spectacular.The cave temples in Dambulla are amazing, it's really worth starting at the furtherest away cave and working back as cave 2 is really superb. The monkeys will also keep you entertained!Kandy is really interesting.Making it up the long tough hill climb to Nurawa Eliya! A really tough day's cycling! But worth it when you make it!Festival in Kataragama Temple (we were lucky to time our visit with the festival).

Thoughts on Group Leader

Suresh is a fantastic guide. He couldn't have done any more to make our visit to Sri Lanka any better. Every need was catered for and he went out of his way to ensure that everyone was having a good time. We were very fortunate to have a fantastic group who really gelled together well and Suresh was always on hand to answer questions and fill us in on interesting facts and stories...though he could do with a few new elephant jokes! We also had a great support team, Dasun who rode along with us, Upali, the bus driver and Chamara who had the difficult job of following along behind the group. Together they make a great team!

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you're thinking of this trip to Sri Lanka, go ahead and book it. Do get some cycling practice in as cycling in the heat can be quite demanding and some of the days are quite challenging. But as with other Exodus cycling trips I've been on you can do as much or as little cycling as you choose.

Reviewed August 2013

WALKING THE GREAT WALL

A rare treat of a trip which allows you to be at ‘one’ with the Great Wall, seeing expanses of countryside, staying in local, friendly guesthouses with a dash of Beijing at beginning and end!

Most Inspirational Moment

The first day and a half of walking on the Great Wall - stunning scenery and amazing to walk and scramble the Wall with just the rest of group for company. It really was OUR Great Wall. I felt very honoured to be there. Six days of walking different sections of the Wall held everyone's interest - seeing the different architecture and materials used. The sweeping views at every turn - breathtaking. The local guesthouses were a surprisingly pleasant experience. Friendly and welcoming. Plentiful, well cooked food and clean beds. Sure, the bathrooms were basic and not always the most clean. That is why you take flip flops, right? The guesthouse in Gubeiko, where we spent two nights, was lovely. Three generations of a Chinese family looked after us. Even found us a mah-jong set when the thunderstorms set in one evening. Then sat beside us and helped us to play. Sign language works wonders.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Kevin was a legend! My life is now BK (before Kevin) and AK (after Kevin). He was a fantastic facilitator and made the trip extra special. He had wonderful knowledge and insight. He excelled at every turn and nothing was too much trouble. On our last day of walking the Wall - we were taking a break and one of our group asked him to sing the National Anthem - he obliged. Singing with such passion and surety. The hairs stood up on my arms. Awesome man.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Six days of walking sounds arduous but, on average, we were walking approx. 3 to 4 hours a day. We had one 'tough' day when we walked for 5 and a half hours. It is very up and down and the terrain in rough. You need to watch your footing pretty much all of the time. So remember to stop from time to time and take it all in!! All of the guesthouses and hotels had clean linen - I took a sleeping bag liner as a just in case and did use it a few times. The state run hotel in Jingshangling is grim - damp and visible mould on the walls. Apparently all foreign tourists are required to stay there. Kevin did prepare us but it was a depressingly place to spend the night. All part of the adventure! Can see the funny side now.Food was hot, plentiful and tasty. We had a veggie and gluten-free in our group and Kevin liaised with the guesthouses to ensure we were well fed. Aubergine and tomato dish a particular favourite with us all! Egg fried rice seemed to appear at every turn but it was tasty and even got used to having it for breakfast.August is hot hot hot! Averaging 34 degrees with high humidity. April, May, September would probably be better months to do this particular trip.Essentials - wick away tops, hat (no shade on the Wall!), good mosquito repellent, flip flops, spare pillowcase, snacks (Chinese in rural areas seem to eat three meals a day with nothing in between!) Be aware that the humidity means that handwashing does not really dry - apart from the thinnest wick away top!

Reviewed August 2013

LADAKH: THE MARKHA VALLEY

What a trip this is! Pure adventure and exhilaration each and every day. Mountain peaks, glacier rivers, hilltop monasteries. This was a very fortunate experience to be in a small part of the world where time simply does not matter. No internet, no mobile phones, no facebook or twitter. Some might say its heaven.

Most Inspirational Moment

The final push up to the Gongmaru La pass (5,286m). The views over the Stok Mountain Range with Kang Yangtse behind us were incredible and well worth the effort.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Shailesh was fantastic. Wonderful fun and had some great trekking stories. His expertise was greatly appreciated during some difficult passes and river crossings. Jigmet was our local guide on the trek was also very helpful and knew the Marka Valley like the back of his hand.

Advice for Potential Travellers

This is no ordinary holiday. Patience and a good sense of humour are mandatory. The altitude might prove difficult for some (as it was for me!) straightaway as Leh is already at 3,500 meters above sea level. Keep drinking water and rehydration supplements are very much reccommended. Take the walk slowly. Take lots of pictures and if you spot a blue sheep, please do let me know.

Reviewed August 2013

JOHANNESBURG TO CAPE TOWN

An excellent trip slightly ruined by the lack of support vehicle which added hours to already lengthy days and meant we nearly always arrived at new places in the dark having spent whole days on the bus on occasion. It is clearly a trip which involves long journeys but at least 2 hours were added onto the normal journey times which is not acceptable on an expensive trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

Township visit in Cape Town; Cape Peninsula; camping at Tsitsikama; Lesotho - could have spent much longer there; walking in the Drakensberg Mountains; rhino walk in Swaziland; seeing a baby rhino in Kruger.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Rob was an excellent leader - he coped very well with being let down by his company (Mask expeditions) who failed to provide a support vehicle after the original one broke down at the start of the trip. It was out of respect for him that we didn't kick up a fuss about the extra hours this cost us on the bus which was not suitable for the weight it had to pull (us, all our bags, all the tents, all the food etc). He is unfailingly upbeat and calm and has a wealth of knowledge about southern Africa.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Insist that Exodus/Mask provide appropriate vehicles for what is an expensive trip.

Reviewed August 2013

HIKING IN THE CANADIAN ROCKIES

This was an awesome trip, it exceeded all my expectations and I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone with a love for the outdoors, gorgeous scenery and challenging hikes. This is a hiking trip, it’s full on and for the most part you will be busy – hiking! There are a couple of opportunities to spend time in Jasper and Banff, catch up with laundry or do some souvenir shopping, but for me it was all about the Rockies and enjoying panoramas that no photograph could ever do justice! All the hikes are perfectly doable if you have a good level of fitness and a real desire to get to the top! You’re in the Rockies, the elevation gain is going to be tough, but all the pain will be forgotten the second you get to the top – every hike has a prize of the most spectacular views!

Most Inspirational Moment

I enjoyed every single thing about this holiday. My favourite walks were Sentinel Pass and Crypt Lake, not just for the summit, but for the challenges they offered up, above and beyond the hiking! We had some great bear/bear cub sightings and were lucky enough to see Elk, Moose, Marmot, Osprey and a Bald Eagle – and of course many gophers! The thunderstorm at Waterton deserves a mention, at the time, I pretty much thought the world was ending, and it was reassuring that the residents of Waterton town were equally impressed with its ferocity the following morning!!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Renée and Catherine were outstanding. Professional, knowledgeable, patient, organised and great fun. They worked so hard to cater for everyone’s needs, and yet it all appeared so effortless. I know it’s been mentioned in other reviews, but the food really is fantastic! A special mention for Catherine’s lunches; the joy of getting to the top, and then the added bonus of one of her sandwiches … perfect!! Snacks are provided on all the hikes; you will definitely not go hungry on this trip!They also organized Lemon Meringue Pie, complete with candles, for my birthday - a lovely thought!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Pack for all weathers, I got a little sunburnt one day, the next day we experienced a hail storm! Bug spray is a must, but probably worth buying when you get there as Catherine’s brand was far better than the brands we’d brought from the UK. I was never let down by following Renée and Catherine’s lead re clothing for hikes … they never got it wrong!!

Reviewed August 2013

WILDLIFE & WILDERNESS OF ALASKA

Varied trip through a stunning part of the world. Lots of activity, plenty of wildlife and glaciers and mountains everywhere.

Most Inspirational Moment

For me the ice climbing was a real highlight, climbing out of the glacier was a huge rush. Also loved the sea kayaking round icebergs. On a more sedentary day, the Kenai Fjords wildlife cruise supplied us with a spectacular amount of wildlife including an extremely active group of humpback whales.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Vicky and Amanda were faultless leaders: their aim of getting us to enjoy every day was obviously one that they really cared about. They communicated their own love of Alaska to the group throughout the trip, I'd be delighted to travel with them again. Their culinary skills were amazing: able to cater to a host of dietary needs on 4 gas rings. Also couldn't be faulted for their in depth knowledge of the best dive bars in town!

Advice for Potential Travellers

The trip notes don't mention walking poles, but the FAQs do - I'd say take them, some of the walks were pretty steep and I wished I'd taken mine with me. Some of the campsites are indeed 'rustic' with limited options for showering in the second week and no running water at all at the final campsite felt a bit unnecessary. The Alaskan mozzies are as fearsome as their reputation too, not much you can do to deter them in all honesty, just be ready to itch.

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