Reviews

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

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.

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14278 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Reviewed March 2013

SNOWSHOEING IN FINLAND

A good introduction to snow shoeing in a stunning location. Accomodation, food, equipment and tuition all excellent.

Most Inspirational Moment

Never having been to this part of the world in winter, the whole experience was inspirational. Highlights were the Little Bear trail (longest day walking) and Riisituntri with it's snow-laden trees. Also the optional activities of cross-country skiing and snowmobiling.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Leader for our week was Meiju, who was truly excellent. She looked after the group very well and kept everybody together without being overbearing. She also has excellent knowledge knowledge of the flora and fauna around. I must say that all of the staff we came into contact with (and there were several) seemed equally good.

Advice for Potential Travellers

We found the snow shoeing very easy indeed, much more leisurely than moderate - the longest walk was only 4 hours or so and the stops were frequent. The only time we felt we were working was when cross-country skiing, which we did our day off. Returning to base for a hot lunch most days (packed lunches were avalable) was a bit of a surprise as we would have hoped to spend longer on the walks, but had it been much colder then maybe we would have thought differently.You need to buy your lunch every day - the only choice is buy it at basecamp or go without, as there is no choice of venue everybody we spoke to felt that this should be included in the price tag, even if that is then correspondingly higher.Boots - we took our own but didn't use them. Don't bother, the ones supplied are much lighter and much warmer. Clothes - apart from one occasion where we wore a basecamp outer jacket, we used our "winter walking in the UK" gear. Yes, they supply everything (and it's all washed before handing to anyone else) but I'm usually a Medium size and had to take XXL to get the sleeves long enough.

Reviewed March 2013

IN SEARCH OF THE SNOW LEOPARD

A very rewarding trip to one of the more remote parts of the Himalaya, with great scenery, a great crew, and overall a great experience!

Most Inspirational Moment

Hearing first-hand about the work of the Indian Wildlife Service, and how the local population are protecting the snow leopard in Hemis rather than persecuting it as in other parts of its range. Support for local communities, in the form of homestays with local families, as well as employing local guides and staff, is a central part of the ethos behind this trip. As a result of this support, and encouraged by the revenue available from sustainable tourism, poaching in the park has been reduced to zero. In a world of environmental bad news, this is surely an inspiring example of how people and wildlife can coexist for the benefit of both.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Valerie is a fantastic leader, but it was also brilliant to see how the local guides were so enthusiastic about the wildlife of the park and it was great to see them warm to the different personalities in the group over the course of our stay. Once animals were spotted, the local guides were just as keen to get time at the spotting scopes and take photographs. And they are good at finding the animals. Quite how they can spot a leopard curled up on a ledge high on a rocky mountain side is amazing to the untrained eye. As a result we were treated to several hours of sightings of a number of animals which far exceeded everyone’s expectations.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Although the trekking days on this trip are neither long nor arduous, extremes of temperature and the effects of altitude can combine to make it more challenging, so I would say that this trip is towards the tougher end of grade B. A super-warm sleeping bag is vital, as is lots of high-factor sunscreen.

Reviewed March 2013

WALKING THE AMALFI COAST

My first foreign holiday for many years. Also travelled solo for first time. Should not have worried as all went very well and enjoyed a fantastic well run holiday. Planning the next one!!

Most Inspirational Moment

How to decide? The challenge of a completely new experience, the fantastic views, the insight into the past in Pompeii and the realisation that even the rain did not dampen my enjoyment and achievement.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Christine was friendly, organised, professional and a very considerate leader. She made the experience enjoyable for all and is obviously very popular with the locals

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't be afraid to travel solo;the trip notes are very helpful and so is a walking pole on some of the slopes and steps.

Reviewed March 2013

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING: KVITAVATN

An entertaining, inspirational and challenging week in beautiful wilderness.

Most Inspirational Moment

Standing in a deserted stretch of ski track with nobody else around, the wind was howling, the sky was blue and I was panting. I felt alive!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Both group leaders, Mary and Ilse, were patient and knew exactly when to push us and when to hold back, providing just the right levels of instruction.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bring a flask so you can have a hot drink at lunchtime. Haribo were a welcome treat too. Have a crack at it. Cross-country skiing is not scary or impossible. It's surprisingly easy to pick up after day one. Don't get frustrated, just try to smile and laugh at yourself.

Reviewed March 2013

A WEEK IN JORDAN

Interesting in every way. Natural history would make it worth the trip. Add in the masses of history and friendly people and you have a wonderful holiday.

Most Inspirational Moment

Just how safe it was. The money exchange in Petra had no locks, no security screens, no cameras. The staff had no need for them and were rightly proud of the fact.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Khaled was friendly, knowledgeable and informative. His input certainly contributed significantly to the success of the trip.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go!Be prepared for lots of walking in Petra - but well worth the effort.

Reviewed March 2013

DISCOVER COSTA RICA

The trip is well paced and relaxing. The wildlife does major on birds even if not on the bird watching departures. The accommodation and food is very good (where included is mostly buffet style to suit all tastes) and any wildlife is generally close to the lodges.

Most Inspirational Moment

Being rewarded for our patience and seeing the Quetzal. The visit to the organic farm near Arenal volcano (optional extra) to see conservation and sustainability in action.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Gustavo was excellent and nothing was too much trouble. He obviously has a passion for his Country and kept us informed and interested during the travelling with his all round knowledge of Costa Rica. Both Gustavo and Mario (driver) were exceptional and particularly helped us with a medical problem whilst not impacting on the enjoyment for the rest of the group.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Expect rain and humidity, the clue is in the fact that you are in Rain and Cloud forests and the Countryside is very lush and green. Good binoculars are essential although you need to be pretty quick. A good Torch for the night walks.

Reviewed March 2013

IN SEARCH OF THE SNOW LEOPARD

I’d wanted to go in search of snow leopards and experience a major Tibetan Buddhist festival since reading Peter Mathiesen’s The Snow Leopard while in Lhasa in 1984. This trip exceeded my expectations in every way!

Most Inspirational Moment

For me there were two amazing moments. The first was at the Buddhist festival at Matho, when after hours of watching masked dancers and musicians, surrounded by expectant crowds of Ladakhis, the oracles appeared and raised the event to a very different level. The second unforgettable moment was when we were sitting on a ridge in the Husing valley and got a message to say that a snow leopard was visible from down in the valley. We sprinted down the mountainside and got to the spot where we saw a snow leopard going up the hillside and over a ridge - but not before he turned round and looked straight at us. This was both something I'd never expected to experience, but had also in some way been waiting for for 30 years. We saw snow leopards on two other occasions: once when stalking (unsuccessfully) a blue sheep; and the other when after watching it sleep, stretch, sleep for hours, it finally roused itself and walked slowly across the mountainside across the valley from us. I managed to switich my camera to video, and the 3 minute film I took is on YouTube.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Valerie Parkinson is the best leader I've ever had - or could hope to have. Her knowledge and understanding of Ladakh, Tibetan Buddhism, wildlife and 'people' is immense, and she shares it with generosity and enthusiasm. She had lots of difficulties to cope with, and did so with complete professionalism, but also with calmness and reassurance.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared to take life very easy when you first arrive in Leh. It's quite an altitude jump from Delhi, and most people need a couple of days to acclimatise. It's cold in winter, so take as good quality warm gear as you can afford. And a set of light-weight crampons (Kahtoola microspikes) was really useful on the frozen rivers. In our group there were people with super cameras and others with compacts. The super cameras produced some amazing photos, and even those with compacts managed to get some shots. But I took a Panasonic Lumix 'bridge' camera (FZ150) which was light, robust and easy to use, and gave me some brilliant photos and video footage. Oh, and snow boots were really good for keeping my feet warm - as we spent a lot of time sitting and standing and waiting.

Reviewed March 2013

DISCOVER SRI LANKA

This was a wonderful trip with a lot of variety. It was a great experience.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the local people in the villages around Giritale working to improve their lives in any way they can. We saw a local man making spoons out of coconut shells to support his family. He used to do this by hand, but his income had been greatly increased simply due to the donation of an electric tool to help him. Riding cross legged on the neck of an elephant, while feeding him bananas. He kept blowing hot banana breath on me through his trunk to persuade me to feed him some more.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sujan was a perfect leader. He was entertaining, yet did not talk TOO much. The depth and breadth of his knowledge and information was amazing. He went out of his way to give us the best possible holiday that he could, and his love for his country was clear to see and very inspiring.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you are intending to climb Adam's Peak and you have walking poles, take them with you. They were definitely worth the small amount of space they took up!!! Also, don't expect to be able to sit down and rest at the top. There was only just enough space to stand alongside all of the people who were sitting and sleeping everywhere.

Reviewed March 2013

VIETNAM ADVENTURE

Vietnam by wheelchair – interesting!! (But very do-able)Beautiful Country, wonderful food and very friendly and helpful people

Most Inspirational Moment

Vietnam is not what you expect - what did I expect...I don't know. It was very beautiful especially Hoi An, Saigon is gobsmacking and really takes you by suprise - more like New York than how I visualised Saigon. The best bit... going on a San Pan and staying at the home stay in the Meekong Delta, lovely... being part of a large family, cooking the dinner and relaxing in the open air on a very pretty veranda.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was excellent, yes we did have a couple of blips but we had some very strong personalities in our group, a partially sighted lady and my husband in a wheelchair... but we all came out unscathed and the tour guide really thought ahead, if we couldnt do it, he had already planned an alternative... that may have been a different route in or out of a place .e.g slope, lift etc instead of stairs or a different activity.. I went up into the caves my husband did Kyaking

Advice for Potential Travellers

Lots and we have written a guide called' Travel tips for wheelchair users in Vietnam', which we have sent to Exodus. A few tips to think about...Walk in the road, go slow and dont rushOnly consider Vietnam if you have a little mobility - you will need to get in and out of your wheelchair as every where has a step or two, but once you are in - fairly flatLet people help you - they are only too willingBe flexibleBe prepared for half measures of disability awareness - lovely assessible toilet with grab rails - up 4 steps...Saigon you can use the pavements - they have ramps - but they are not parallel to each other you have to look for the next one - so you will go down a ramp go across the road and find you are facing a high pavement edgeIt can be hard at times but worth itMake the most of your free time to recharge your batteries

Reviewed March 2013

WALKING THE AMALFI COAST

An excellent trip that completely fulfilled my expectations and this despite very mixed and cold weather for March. Hotel Due Torri was clean, comfortable and offered excellent food; the staff were superb.

Most Inspirational Moment

The 'Walk of the Gods' was spectacular and lived up to its reputation.The walk into the Valle delle Ferriere was superb, full of interest and history culminating in a magnificent waterfall.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Christine Rooney was an excellent leader in every respect; knowledgeable, caring and someone in whom you had total confidence that all would be well throughout the trip. She was at all times appreciative of the group's abilities/interests and made appropriate adjustments according to individual need.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I would endorse the advice from Exodus to take walking poles, useful in my case for some of the long descents and numerous steps.March can be very varied in terms of weather. We experienced snowfall and hailstorms. Be prepared regarding layers and suitability of clothes.

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