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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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!

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14455 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Joseff Rees

Reviewed August 2019

Great trip, great company and a plenty of sticky rice!!!

Excellent trip from beginning to end and thoroughly recommend it. This was my third Exodus trip and I can not recommend Exodus enough as a travel company!

Most Inspirational Moment

The Great Wall of China is truly amazing. Approximately 90% of the time we were on the less touristy sections of the wall with our group being the only people on the wall. To have one of the wonders of the world all to yourself is something not many can say and was really special I thought. Even though walking along the restored sections was beneficial in understanding how the wall looked a few hundred years ago - or in 'Mulan' - I really enjoyed walking along the original/unrestored parts as it gave you a sense of the history regarding the wall but also the people who worked/served on it.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jerry!!! This was my third exodus trip and like all Exodus guides I have met, Jerry clearly loved his country as he was very passionate and knowledgeable about all things Chinese ranging from culture, food, history and language. Jerry had a good sense of humour which ensured a positive group atmosphere throughout.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't be fooled by the distances listed in the trip notes. It may look as if the distances are quite short if you are a keen walker, however the constant up and down of - at times steep - steps in almost constant 30+ heat and 90% humidity ensured it is challenging even for one who may consider themselves very fit. I took a pair of walking boots and trail-running trainers, my advice to future travellers is to take a pair of trainers with good grip because on the one two occasions I wore my boots they were too warm meaning I wore my trail-running trainers for the rest of the time. Also you will need trainers with good grip because the wall is very steep in places and on the one day we had rain the wall was also very slippy! General travel advice, be prepared for plenty of sticky rice and practise using chopsticks before you go if you are afraid of looking like an amateur.

Laura C

Reviewed August 2019

Amazing

This trip was absolutely brilliant. Helped out with great weather in July, we had five stunning days of varied walks in this gorgeous part of the world. A privilege to see MB from so many different perspectives, and so much alpine botany etc.

The whole experience from start to finish was fantastic, from airport pick up to drop off – aided largely from having brilliant chalet hosts, a heroic team leader and a lovely, lovely group of other travellers (a mixed bag of couples, friends travelling together and those who had arrived solo).

Definitely on the classier side, with a comfortable chalet, spectacular food made and served by the lovely, fun and friendly Zohi and Ben, and access to all the amenities of fancy Chamonix.

The trekking was no walk in the park, and you have to be prepared to feel very tired at the end of each day. But if you really wanted to cop out and stay put in town for the day, of course you could – but no one in our group did as the walking and banter was too good!

The only negative was the fairly pants service by Swiss Air – I’d recommend just getting an Easyjet for half the price to be honest and meeting everyone at Geneva / saying bye bye there on way back.

Most Inspirational Moment

Everyone making it through - pushed on by our fantastic guide Emma - each and every day of stunning walking - felt like such a cumulative and collective act of willpower and achievement, despite everyone feeling quite tired and achy! Zohi's meals in Chalet Chocolat were simply sensational and a culinary inspiration every evening. Truly amazing meals that made everyone realise how rubbish we are at cooking and how much more there is to learn!

Thoughts on Group Leader

AMAZING! Emma was brilliant. She made us feel like a team from the get go, joined us for dinner every evening to recover from the day, was able to rally us all through five days of quite intense physical exercise, and was incredibly knowledgeable about the terrain too. Made for a much ricer experience than a thoughtless if pretty trudge up the mountains. We all felt we had come to understand a lot about the region, its flora, fauna and geology. Top marks, Prof. Emma! She tended to minor mishaps and injuries with calm and care, and kept an eye on all of us - but pushed us to completion and didn't let the pace slacken to a grinding halt when we were all a bit tired. She also made us do some interesting warm ups...but we'll forgive you! Emma had faith in all of us and kept us going. Her previous experience - from the Arctic to Siberia, as well as a thorough understanding of the MB area - meant we all felt in safe hands.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Check your travel insurance for paragliding on the day off, if you want to book a session. We had to cancel last minute realising we weren't covered and this was rubbish for us and the company we let down. Be prepared to feel tired but in a good way! It isn't easy meandering, although a super pro might think so. But most of us, all in pretty reasonable nick, felt whacked out at the end of each day and slept deeply. Definitely recommend walking poles as descents could be pretty steep and sore on the knees. Consider flying by Easyjet instead as we were pretty underwhelmed by Swiss Air booking via Exodus - especially the long queue at Geneva airport on the way back as there was no way of checking in using the machines to avoid it. It was especially hot on our last day of trekking, so be prepared with tonnes of water! Obvious but important.

kitty odell

Reviewed August 2019

Fantastic cycling in stunning Tuscany

A well organised wonderful cycling tour with a perfect balance of cappuccino/gelato and lunch breaks, often in charming ancient hill towns where there was always time for a bit of exploring too. I’ve fallen in love with Tuscany and Chianti, the scenery is simply stunning, the route was fantastic with a great mix of some challenging hills, fabulous descents…. and even some flat bits too amidst the rolling hills! Nice small group and decent hotels too!

Most Inspirational Moment

Every moment that I was on the bike!

Thoughts on Group Leader

David and "Vandy" were both great!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be fit!

Elizabeth Newman

Reviewed August 2019

Beyond wonderful

I had visited eleven game parks on two continents, and spent twenty-six years trying to see a leopard. We saw four different individuals, close enough to get some excellent photographs. We also saw countless lions, two cheetahs and a serval, as well as lots of other game. The food that was cooked on an open fire was terrific, and it was a lovely group of like-minded people.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were so many it's hard to choose one. Seeing two cheetahs giving each other a very affectionate wash and brush up. The stand-off at the OK Waterhole - when five lions approached the two elephants occupying it, the elephants weren't having it. The lions called for reinforcements, and another five turned up. So the elephants also called for reinforcements, and a third elephant arrived. We then watched them squirting the lions with water, and chasing them off now and again. The lions had to make do with a puddle at the far end of the waterhole. Seeing an adult male lion sniff out a tiny three week old cub. We watched with our hearts in our mouths, but he was a new dad and had been left to babysit. The cub wanted to cross the road, and dad tried to stop it without much success. He was very gentle, and it was a delight to watch. Seeing a serval, which our guide said was most unusual. And last but by no means least - a mother leopard taking a surprising lunch back to her half-grown cub - an African wildcat.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Anton was very knowledgable, and extremely clever at driving round the back of the other vehicles to get a better view from the other side. He also knew when to wait - if nothing exciting seemed to be happening and he was in no hurry to move on, there was always a reason.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take a small camping light for the tent, and lots of wet wipes. Also take a power bank if you have one, and as many spare batteries as you can afford. I have a camera trap, and I set that up on several nights so that I could see what was sniffing round the tents - turned out to be a honey badger and a hyena. If you need to go to loo several times in the night remember that it's not a good idea to leave the tent. I took a litre-sized plastic jar with a lid, and was very glad I did.

adam espir

Reviewed August 2019

Adventures in Madagascar

great trip in an exciting and interesting part of the world.

Most Inspirational Moment

Breakfast on the road watching the sun come up. Lunches cooked by Madame Le Chef from Tana Seeing the countryside change as we cycled south.... Relaxing on the beach at the end.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader, Mel, was excellent. Put his heart into making us have a special adventure in his country.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Madagascar is off the map for a lot of travellers, but it has interesting wildlife and stunning scenery. It is also a very poor country, but the people were very friendly. A lot of the locals speak French, rather than English, so be prepared to speak some basic French. In August, its winter, so cold nights but warm days - ideal for cycling...and less mosquitos !

Jayne Cordingley

Reviewed August 2019

Colourful Costa Rica Cycling

A superb holiday in a wonderful country: jaw dropping scenery, brilliant cycle routes, unbelievably beautiful and abundant wildlife, friendly locals and a really professional and dedicated guide and his team.
I would recommend this trip to anyone who loves cycling, nature and great company.
I would not hesitate to go back to this awe-inspiring county.

Most Inspirational Moment

Cycling through the Orosi valley with its lush vegetation and beautiful views, along with experiencing fantastic wildlife so close up in its natural habitat, that has inspired me to see and learn more in the future. Not to mention, casually riding or driving by several of the country’ s volcanoes ( Arenal, Poas, Turrialba and Irazu) peeping out of the clouds was stunning.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Andres and his crew were always helpful, patient ,informative, had a high regard for safety and were just generally good fun. Andres’ knowledge of wildlife was second to none. He inspired us all. Nothing was ever too much trouble and he always maintained a professional manner at all times. It was no coincidence the group ‘ gelled’ so well together from the first instance - instead that was credit to Andres and his personal and helpful nature. He is an excellent, yet modest cyclist too. He was always encouraging people up the hills and trying to keep the group together at all times.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take more warm clothes for the low season as there was around three much cooler mountain evenings ( not cooler necessary for cycling though in the daytime ) , plus a good few pairs of decent cycling shorts and a hairdryer to dry them off last minute as it’s very humid! Take lots of DEET and a decent camera, SLR or compact. There is no need to take your own snacks or rehydration tablets for cycling as their was always ample supply in the mini bus during frequent stops. Roads are good quality tarmac with few pot holes , there is little traffic on the planned cycle routes and the drivers are courteous often given a friendly ‘pip’ to cheer you on.

Lisa Hall

Reviewed August 2019

Fabulous trip

Amazing trip walking the Amalfi Coast. Lovely group of people with a fabulous guide who made every day fun.

Most Inspirational Moment

Rising to a new challenge every day. The first day we walked up a mountain in extreme heat. Everyone pulled together despite only meeting the night before and supported each other.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Stefano was simply amazing. He was patient, funny, knowledgeable and encouraging at all times. I’m worried about how to manage without him now that I’m home! He deserves a medal!

Advice for Potential Travellers

The level was 2 but I do think people need to have a degree of fitness to complete this walk. Take walking poles, water bottles and energy! It is a full on week so be prepared to be on the go all the time!

Bev Chinnery

Reviewed August 2019

Terrific Vacation

Where else do you get the opportunity to meet 15 wonderful people from Italy, England, Australia, Scotland, Belgium and the US and spend long, delightful days riding, taking in beautiful scenery and history, and summer nights eating and strolling the sights and sounds of Italy, capping it off with a long day trip to Venice (bring your walking shoes!) and a delicious evening meal on the canal. This trip is much more than cycling.. it’s a step in time in truly one of the most beautiful places in the world.

Most Inspirational Moment

There was a collective beauty as the miles unfolded.. rivers flowing for miles on end, hilltop castles jutting toward the sky, unending vineyards and apple orchards, and fresh air to breathe in as each new scene came around the corners. Blending this with the group dynamics of idle chatter and laughter along the way and at various stops, and a few short history lessons now and then, made me feel like I was truly a visitor in a magical place for a while.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Michele was a strong leader. His riding skills, group leadership and overall knowledge were exceptional. Michele’s sense of humour was much appreciated and he was a gentleman in anticipating the needs of all group members and took the time to ensure everything was running smoothly. He’s a good communicator and kept us well informed about the expectations of each day.

Advice for Potential Travellers

It’s probably best to have completed several 75km daily rides to know the distance and time on the bike. The first day is particularly long and straight, so music and headphones might be nice to help enjoy the miles. We had some triathlete riders in our group who were fabulous.. and strong riders, so even though it’s NOT a race, it is nice to be able to keep up off and on. I didn’t mind falling back at times but was glad I could reasonably stay with the group along the way. Bring mosquito spray and sunscreen. Electrolyte water tablets were helpful. Small, easy snacks for the distances. A cooling towel during hot afternoons made a nice difference. Lake Garda beach is beautiful but rocky ( no sand), so flip flops are good to bring along. If you like scenery, the ferry ride is a pleasure as it criss-crosses the lake and ours was the last stop. We arrived around 9pm and by the time we checked in, a few of us opted out of dinner, so the pre-ferry purchases were dinner too. I stayed a couple of days in advance at Lido and took the boat rides into Venice to wander around. It was a great way to relax into the trip, and Lido Beach is well worth the time!

Claire Newman

Reviewed August 2019

Costa Rica Cycling

A wonderful holiday – great and knowledgeable guide, fantastic group, enjoyable cycling, great wildlife and scenery! I would definitely recommend this trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

It was probably seeing a sea turtle laying eggs - it was amazing! However, all the wildlife and scenery was incredible. .

Thoughts on Group Leader

Andreas was an excellent group leader - extremely knowledgeable about the wildlife, an excellent cyclist and we were always clear what we were doing and when.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Remember to take some layers for the mountains - there are 3 evenings which are definitely cooler! When looking at the distances it's worth noting there are quite a few hills in there! If you are weighing up going away on your own, just do it!

Hannah Fairbanks

Reviewed August 2019

Mixed bag - parts excellent, the concept of a second gorilla permit seemingly misleading

One of the biggest selling points of this holiday is the optional possibility of a second day trekking to see the gorillas. Fair enough the permits aren’t guaranteed – completely understandable, but if you follow Exodus’s guidance you are made to feel like a nuisance and from my experience you won’t get one. The webpage tells you to request additional permits when booking, they also bill you for additional permits at this point, but when you ask about the permits the emails you receive can seem quite rude and basically tell you to go away and ask the guide when you arrive. When arriving on the trip and all 7 people said they wanted additional permits and it wasn’t really a surprise that the guide couldn’t conjure these up with less than a week’s notice. This did result in the group participants being fairly cross, people had requested additional permits 8 months in advance, paid for them, been told they were the only ones interested in a second day – which was a lie, etc. it was just incredibly unprofessional for such an established holiday provider. It’s the first time I’ve done a trip with Exodus and I’m still a little taken aback by the lack of organisation related to these permits, the billing of these permits months before any action is taken, and the blunt/verging on rude emails. The gorillas is a highlight of the trip and it’s is sold as a real possibility whereas in fact due to their lack of organisation it was impossible for anyone on our trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

The gorillas were just incredible.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Really nice chap, knowledgeable, helpful and friendly. Unfortunately he hadn't organised a boat trip so we waited around at a hotel needlessly for 2+ hours and went on a later boat trip after about 90% of the animals had left. These things happen and he did go out of his way for us on the rest of the trip.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't base booking this holiday on the chance of obtaining a second gorilla permit.

Reply from Exodus

We would like to thank Hannah for her feedback, although we are very sorry that she was disappointed not to have been able to secure a second day’s permit. We only request extra permits once the trip has been guaranteed as, otherwise, the permits will have to be paid for in full even if the trip doesn’t run. Whilst this information is now stated in our trip notes, we are sorry if it was not clearly communicated at the time. Second permits had, unfortunately, already sold out by the time Hannah booked on the trip and, having exhausted all other possibilities, we suggested that there may have been be a slim possibility of the tour leader being able to get some last-minute returns for the group. We regret, however, that this was not the case and we appreciate Hannah’s disappointment. We are very sorry that Hannah feels that her pre-trip enquires were not dealt with in an appropriate manner, as this is not the type of feedback we are used to receiving about the standard of service from our customer operations’ team. We were pleased, however, that Hannah had a fantastic experience overall and that she found her tour leader to be knowledgeable, helpful and friendly. Tom Harari – Product Manager

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