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

Elaine Leitch

Reviewed September 2014

Fantastic trip

A fantastic group walking holiday in the scenic South of France exploring hidden gems in the countryside. Our guide, Stephanie was absolutely great, organising us and looking after the well being of everyone. Menton was a good choice for base as it was a vibrant and pretty town, with a good beach (though stony), many shops and restaurants along with an interesting museum.

Most Inspirational Moment

The trip combined local walking with using the areas transport system. It was lovely to explore on the local buses and trains and visit medieval villages in the hillsides. Having group lunches together overlooking a fantastic view of the riviera or a small hidden village was wonderful. Good team spirit in the group resulting in very chatty and lively group dinners.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Stephanie was absolutely fantastic from start to finish. She welcomed us with a smile and was friendly and encouraging to all throughout the trip. Her organisational skills were superb and she was keen to give choices on the walks if some of the group wanted to visit a particular location. Stephanie was very knowledgeable about the area and always willing to answer questions and give advice.

Advice for Potential Travellers

There was quite a lot of downhill walking, so worth practising if you don't like going downhill.

Suggestions

Hotel was in a lovely position on the seafront, very friendly but the rooms were quite small.

Show more

Robert Parkinson

Reviewed September 2014

Walking the French Riviera

We are both keen walkers and this holiday fully lived up to its expectations. A good mixture of coastal and mountain walking. Spectacular views every day. Menton is a great location from which to walk, being on the coast and just under the Alps. It is an attractive resort with lots to see and do outside walking time, e.g. gardens, museums, old quarter, churches and of course, the beach and marina. Made all the more enjoyable by fantastic weather!

Most Inspirational Moment

First time we've done a guided walk together and this has inspired us to do another sometime soon. The views, the coastal resorts and the pretty mountain villages, along with the super weather, have made us want to come back to this area again. We chose to travel to Menton by train and can thoroughly recommend the journey from Paris to Nice, passing through lovely countryside and along the coast east of Marseilles, which was spectacular.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Stephanie was fantastic. Very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable about every aspect of the walks (the local geography, wildlife and history) which made them so much more interesting. Great sense of humour and fun, and great at including everybody in the group, both on the walks and at the group evening meals. She was a major factor in making the holiday a success for us personally.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Good advice on walking kit is given with the joining instructions. Good boots, a waterproof top and lots of water were needed daily; walking poles were very useful on most days. Don't underestimate the 'leisurely' grading of this holiday. If you plan to use the beach opposite the hotel, bring towels and rubber shoes/flip flops to cope with the shingle/stones!

Suggestions

All the public transport arrangements (bus or train) were well organised. Great to have use of a tour guide like Stephanie who was brilliant at planning and decision making, leaving us walkers stress free to enjoy the holiday. NB. Our itinerary had slight variations from that publicised - on day 4 we took a train to Monaco, then a bus and walked from La Turbie to Eze then Eze-Bord-de-Mer; and on day 6 we took a bus to Castellar and walked to the Italian border and back to Menton. But we were given a revised itinerary which showed these changes.

Show more

Reviewed October 2013

WALKING THE FRENCH RIVIERA

This is a wonderful way to experience a beautiful part of France and includes small villages, mountains and the seaside.  There is more moderate than easy walking involved but it is well worth the effort.

Most Inspirational Moment

Looking down at the views from mountain tops. Enjoying fun and laughter with a group of like-minded people and a fantastic leader, Stephanie.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Stephanie was fantastic.  She was happy to share her knowledge of her country with us.  She was patient and thoughtful.  She became part of our group, sharing laughs with us and special moments.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure you have done a little walking before the time.  On day 2, you do 1 hour of continuous climbing and this can be difficult if you do no exercise regularly. With some preparation, this is a wonderful tour where you can focus on the spectacular views rather than worrying about your physical wellbeing.

Suggestions

Breathe in the mountain air, enjoy the views and embrace a wonderful experience!!!  Your friends will be amazed when you tell them where you are going!!!

Show more

Reviewed June 2013

WALKING THE FRENCH RIVIERA

Lovely part of France, excellent guide who tried to cater to everyone's ability. Hotel was in lovely position . I personally was not happy as the grade of the walks got reduced without an email from exodus telling me. I may have decided to choose a different walk.

Most Inspirational Moment

The views

Thoughts on Group Leader

Stephanie was very knowledgeable and as stated above tried to cater to everyone.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Check out exactly what you will be walking, and make up of group. If you are a solo traveller I would advise a single room as rooms are not that big.

Suggestions

I think Exodus should ask more questions about the ability of the walkers. We had a lady who had only ever walked 5 kms 2 years previous and she expected the others to walk at her pace and stop every 10 minutes . Fortunately she was not allowed to continue with any more of the walking after day 1 .

Reply from Exodus

We are sorry that this client was left disappointed by the grading of the walks on this trip. Following feedback from other clients and Exodus leaders we have updated our trip notes accordingly and we have taken measures to ensure that the walks are now more suitable for the moderate grade of this trip.

Chloe Knott – Product Manager for France

Show more

Reviewed June 2013

WALKING THE FRENCH RIVIERA

It was a lovely trip and I would do it again.

Most Inspirational Moment

Visiting the town of Sospel was a highlight as well as seeing the WW2 bunkers.

Thoughts on Group Leader

She was awesome and I would love to take another walking trip with her as the guide.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bring a pair of water shoes if you plan to swim in the Med as the beach is quite rocky.  If you plan to stay an extra day before/after the tour book directly through the hotel as it's quite a bit less expensive than booking through Exodus.  I used walking sticks and I was glad to have them.

Suggestions

Nothing more to add, just book the trip and enjoy!!

Show more

Reviewed April 2013

WALKING THE FRENCH RIVIERA

Beautiful villages to explore with spectacular views and a hotel right on the beach – what more could you ask for?!

Most Inspirational Moment

Realising our hotel was overlooking the sea. It was wonderful to be able to walk from the hotel and stroll along the promenade whenever I wanted. It was also fantastic to finally see the sun!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Stephanie is a superb leader, extremely knowledgeable and experienced, we all felt very lucky to have her as our guide. Her English is brilliant but she is very happy to chat in French for those who wish to practise their language skills.

Advice for Potential Travellers

There is lots to see and do in Menton, several of our group visited the Jean Cocteau museum and reported back that it was great. There is also a fantastic food market and limoncello shop so leave room in your case if you want to take some treats home.

Suggestions

Make sure you have lots of space on your camera for photos as there are masses of beautiful views!

Show more

Reviewed April 2013

WALKING THE FRENCH RIVIERA

I would certainly  recommend this walking holiday, it proved very interesting.The location is marvellous  with the hotel front overlooking the sea and the  hills behind encompassing these wonderfull walks with such splendid views.

Most Inspirational Moment

The lunch spot on  the last walk, friday, sitting on the ridge in pine trees in the plesant sun with views  to the south down to Menton and north to the southern Alps  with their snowy tops.  A most beautifull location to be at.!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Could not be bettered ! Plesant, well informed, French.  Stephanie looked after us so well. The prepared pack of local information was comprehensive.On the one slight medical concern we had on a walk she acted very confidently...she is excellent. 

Advice for Potential Travellers

The walks are not for the weak willed, the ascents need grit, and this could be harder  as the summer progresses. I used a walking pole and was very glad I had taken it with me.

Suggestions

The local history is amazing relating to the world wars.....I would like "reference" to any novels which encompass  some of the local history.

Show more