ASK A QUESTION
hero-image

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.

Simply use the selector below to search our trip reviews and start reading real feedback from real Exodus travellers who have ‘been there and done that’!

Lots of our clients also like to post handy tips and advice about their travels. It’s great to know what to expect on an Exodus adventure before you go, so make the most of their experience and you’ll make the most of yours!

Haven’t posted your review yet? Here’s how to do it…

Once you return from your Exodus adventure holiday, you will be emailed a link to add your review. Any feedback collected is posted onto our website, totally unedited.

Alternatively you can navigate to the relevant trip page and add your review via the Reviews tab.

Reviews

Two unforgettable national parks!!

From the very start, the trip felt immersive and beautifully balanced. The wildlife in Kruger National Park was unforgettable, spotting elephants, lions, and giraffes in their natural habitat was a real highlight. We were very lucky spotting the ‘Top 5’ and most exciting was seeing 2 leopards to complete the set! I was equally captivated by the more rural, untouched areas, which showcased a quieter, more authentic side of South Africa. The Drakensberg Mountains were simply stunning, with dramatic scenery that felt almost prehistoric, it was a joy to hike around, with next to no one else there. Visiting the historic site of Rorke’s Drift added real depth to the journey. It was a rich, rewarding, and truly memorable experience!

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the view at the top of Tugela Falls. We spent the day hiking to the summit and seeing the mountains from the top down takes your breath away. The mountains roll on for miles and you truly feel like you are on top of the world.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Clifford was very knowledgeable and passionate about the history, culture and wildlife of South Africa and Eswatini. He was a fountain of knowledge who could answer any questions we had, as well as telling many stories to bring the place to life!

Advice for Potential Travellers

This is a very adventurous trip but also a busy one. We stayed in over 10 hotels (to see as much of the area as possible) and there were a lot of early starts. If you are going for comfort then this may not be for you, but if you are going for hikes, beautiful views and amazing wildlife, then you'll have a great time!

Discover South Africa's Garden Route

This exceeded all my expectations especially thanks to the group leader.

Most Inspirational Moment

Highlights were the surprise elements of the trip that our excellent tour leader Malik planned - for example to show us the best wine estate and tastings taking into account our group’s specific interests and wishes.

Thoughts on Group Leader

My flight was significantly delayed and on arrival at the hotel, having not slept much, Malik was a very welcome face! He adapted the first day’s morning schedule to wait for me to arrive from the airport so I could join the group who had already had met the evening before and shared dinner together. This made me feel very welcome and helped my swift integration into the group (I would have missed the whole first day otherwise). Throughout the first day he was especially attentive as he knew I was a little sleep deprived! The tone was set for the rest of the trip - Malik was able to adapt to all circumstances and read the group dynamic seamlessly. His excellent local acknowledge gave us a valuable insight into life in South Africa, organisational and communication skills, kindness, boundless energy, great sense of humour and unwavering professionalism made it a holiday to remember.

Wild Costa Rica

Our guide Mnfred Cyrman was great, the itinery was very interesting and well thought out with a perfect balance of group activity and personal time for relaxation. All of the food and accomodations were great, and the transport bus and driver were also great.

Most Inspirational Moment

Just experiencing "Pura Vida", especially swimming in the rivers and waterfalls. We also all enjoyed visiting "Dona Leila" in her traditional house for a meal in the rivera region, and the experience near La Fortuna with a family gathering herbs and cooking a meal. Of course that should not be every night because the restaurants were ver good too and you don't want to be making your own meal, but the variety is what was good.

Natural Highlights of Costa Rica

Great trip all around!

Most Inspirational Moment

Birds, frogs, other animals/wildlife, scenery, learning about Costa Rica, making friends with my fellow tourmates, benefiting from the extensive knowledge of our guide, and mostly great food.

Thoughts on Group Leader

He is absolutely professional and extremely well-informed. He is polite but not "warm" per se, and he can sometimes seem a bit bossy, but I think it's because he wants everything to go according to plan.

Incredible Tour

This itinerary was fantastic! Loved the fun activities, knowledgeable and passionate guide, great hotels & vehicles. Saw loads of wildlife in such a small amount of time.

Most Inspirational Moment

The night walk - amazing to see so much wildlife in the rainforest at night

Thoughts on Group Leader

Alejandro was very considerate of everyone's needs in the group. He was so knowledgeable - It was fascinating learning about Costa Rican culture and history. Also great at spotting wildlife on drives so there were plenty of photo stops.

Discover South Africa's Garden Route

Very well organised and varied, interesting itinerary. The guide, Malik, was exceptional. Energetic, enthusiastic and knowledgeable. He was always looking out for the group, giving us suggestions and choices and adapting things as necessary. His colleague, Nicole, was a great enhancement to the group; Also great fun, helpful and a mine of information, especially about the wildlife.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were so many it's hard to specify. The scenery around the Cape and coastal regions along the Garden Route, was spectacular. The food was very good throughout. The De Opstal Country Lodge was particularly memorable for it's welcome, style and setting and the meerkats were an absolute delight!

Thoughts on Group Leader

We had complete confidence in him throughout the trip. He really looked after us all.

Potentially great trip let down by unroadworthy bike

Bike: Rear caliper loose, rear tyre coming off rim, excessive play in headset, poor brakes as calipers not aligned with discs. Bike replaced after a couple of days but they sent the wrong size. Leader was at best average. I cycled in Kerala two years age with different company, good Bike, brilliant leader. Hence 2 stars.

Most Inspirational Moment

Homestay and Backwater trip.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Average, made poor decisions about eating places. Communication poor, not using WhatsApp to remind us of important timings , like diner, breakfast and departure. Didn't even set up a WhatsApp group, so I did.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Check your bike thoroughly or get someone with bike knowledge and refuse to get on it until all faults are rectified to your satisfaction. Pot luck with leaders. I walked out of our first night dinner in Varkala without sitting down. Next daythe others said they should have followed me.

Review Centre
Reply from Exodus

How’s this:

 

We’re sorry to read that Charles felt this way about his Cycle the Coast of Kerala trip, and we appreciate him taking the time to share such detailed feedback. Exodus places great importance on the condition and safety of all bicycles used on our cycling itineraries, and we have stringent checks in place before every departure. Feedback from other members of this group indicates that the majority of bikes were generally in good condition overall; however, the comments Charles raises about his bike are not acceptable and this is being followed up with our local team. We fully understand how frustrating it must have been for Charles to begin his holiday with an unroadworthy bike, and we’re glad a replacement was provided, even if the sizing wasn’t perfect. One of our UK team was in touch with Charles during the trip and we would have been happy to organise a different replacement bike if he had requested at the time.

 

We were also sorry to learn that Charles was disappointed with his tour leader. We’re proud to have a strong team in Kerala who usually receive excellent feedback for their organisation, communication, and local knowledge, so it’s disappointing to hear this wasn’t reflected on this occasion. His comments regarding communication, restaurant decisions, and group coordination have been noted and will be shared our local manager.

 

It’s encouraging that Charles still enjoyed aspects of the trip, particularly the homestay and backwater experience, which are often highlights for many travellers. We appreciate him offering advice to future customers, though we feel that our ongoing equipment checks and leader development mean guests can join this trip with confidence.

 

We’re grateful for Charles’s honest reflections and will use them to ensure we continue strengthening the experience for those travelling with us in the future.

 

-Oliver O’Boyle, Exodus Product Manager

Unforgettable Experience in Southern India

This was my first time to India and I decided I wanted to start in the south because I heard it was a bit more beginner friendly and I was traveling with my daughter in her late teens for our first time just the two of us. I was blown away by the warm hospitality, the scenery, the food and how well organized this trip was. The itinerary is varied and really includes a bit of everything you need to see in Kerala and Tamil Nadu: verdant tea plantations, historical architecture and incredible access to temples, welcoming and warm connection with local people and guides, spice gardens, wildlife preserves, drifting down the backwaters in a houseboat with your own cook and captain, I still can’t believe we did and saw so much. We ate a huge meal one night with a local family and then toured a village and learned about traditional crafts with another family, we got beach and pool time and watched thunderstorms out over the Arabian Sea as we enjoyed dinner as a group. Just truly an unforgettable experience every step of the way.

Most Inspirational Moment

It's so hard to name just one inspiring moment, but I will say one of the top experiences in mine and my daughter's life is going to the closing ceremony at the Sri Meenakshi temple in Madurai. You cannot bring your phone into the temple, you must remove your shoes, there are many people going there to get blessings and pray, you're just forced to be there present in the moment and take it all in. When the ceremony starts, the air fills with incense and music, the oil lights are burning, the flowers are laid and everyone is so focused on the ritual unfolding before their eyes. Truly one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. Then, the next day, the group goes back to see the temple during the day time and when we were there an actual elephant came walking through!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader, Biju, is truly one of the best guides in the world, if not one of the best human beings in the world. He was warm and genuinely welcoming to everyone in our group and all the local people we came in contact with really loved him too. He was knowledgeable on every subject that we discussed and I watched him tend to everyone, whether they had dietary requirements or other needs. Biju is what made this trip go from excellent to unforgettable in every way.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I would really recommend that you try to do as many of the optional excursions as you can as they each offer a unique way of experiencing southern India and Kerala or Tamil Nadu and they are all so varied. I would also recommend that if your guide offers to take you to a local place to eat, go there and try all the things they suggest, you cannot go wrong with the food in Kerala, it is sooo good!

Amazing Amalfi

Walking the Amalfi Coast was my second trip with Exodus. What an amazing part of Italy. Lots of stairs on first few days. Thankfully we had good weather despite the time of year. Beautiful hikes and great scenery on most of our days.
Food was meant to be a highlight of the trip but we were told on arrival that the kitchen was closed in the hotel so we had to eat dinner at a local restaurant. The food was reasonable at the restaurant but very few vegetables or greens served.
However one evening we had a barbecue at the hotel that was very good. It was an additional cost though.
The company was great and lots of friends were made.
Our guide accompanied us on most dinners

Most Inspirational Moment

Pompei and Vesuvius!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader was very charming in his own way but did not re assure us well on what to expect or how to be prepared better. The climb to Vesuvius was extremely cold and we were not guided on what to bring to stay warm. I think a few us caught a cold from this. Also he would always stay with the front walkers on the hike rather then the slower more cautious ones who may have needed more support. Overall a good leader but not brilliant. More attention to detail needed.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Great location but be ready for steep hikes so be prepared. Strongly recommend this trip but make sure you read trip notes well

Fabulous adventure.

I recently returned from the trip- December 2025. Everything about the trip was terrific. Wonderful scenery, great places to stay, interesting towns and cities to visit and a terrific guide. I enjoyed every minute.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing a tiger print on the path!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Santos was excellent. He attended to our every need. Adjusted the walks to suit the different levels in our group. He took us to some great places such as a local person's house for tea or the brick making on the side of the road. Nothing was too much for him. And he is fun!

Advice for Potential Travellers

A good idea to take your own leech socks as we encountered leeches on a couple of days- yuck! Also a bottle of gin or whisky if you like sitting round the fire in the evening having a drink with others. You can't get it easily in India though Santos will get beer for you.