Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers
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42 Reviews
4.7 out of
5
Reviews
Peter Keeney
Reviewed September 2017
A truly wonderful experience
Having read a couple of books, with regards to the Camino, and being keen walkers my wife and I thought it would be a great challenge and the opportunity to move away from the more traditional summer holiday. We didn’t know what to expect but can honestly say it was a fantastic experience.
Everything was extremely well organised, from the flights, transfer, our daily accommodation and meals where necessary. The daily distance wasn’t too bad as it is split between morning and afternoon with plenty additional stops on the route, if required. Our group of 16, travelled at different paces and that worked very well. We’d often meet up along the road and exchange different experiences of the day.
The overall route, is relatively easy, with only a few hills, here and there and three larger ones towards the end.
Accommodation, on the route was extremely good. It varied from a log cabin type to a room that had four double beds! Meals were very good and look out for the Pilgrims Menu – 10 euros and plenty of wine.
Most Inspirational Moment
I think the most inspirational moment(s) has to be arriving into Santiago and the Pilgrims mass. It was a feeling of achievement, with a group of people we didn't know the previous week, but have now ended up as friends.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Alfonso was an excellent leader. Extremely knowledgeable about the area, the history of the area and the history of the Camino. He was always on the lookout for us all, but not in an intrusive way. He organised a number of meals, for us (daytime/evening time) and everything went really smoothly.
Couldn't have asked for a better leader.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Choose your footwear carefully. I walked mainly in boots and as most reviews say "they're often not required". Most of the Pilgrims walked in some form of light trainer/walking shoe.
Take up the freetour in Santiago. It's very informative. You can make a contribution, at the end. We used Santiago DC.
Just take it all in and enjoy.
Sheilah Whyte
Reviewed June 2017
once in a lifetime
The walk was quite an achievement for me and, as I am close to 70 years old, I’m glad I have experienced it. The travel arrangements by Exodus were good, though I would have preferred to arrive at the start in Samos much earlier than 2.30am! All the hotels were modest and clean and comfortable for our overnight stays.
As a group we ate dinner together which was nice, with our guide often suggesting suitable venues. So all in all a wonderful experience.
Most Inspirational Moment
Not sure you'd call it an inspirational moment but ..... when I completed the 29km day walk!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our leader was Jose Manuel. He was excellent as a leader ensuring that all of us were ok at all times. He emphasised at the beginning the importance of letting him know if any one of us should have the slightest blister so that appropriate care could be taken. He would explain the route for the day and helped us with ordering food and drinks at all the breaks/stops. He would also suggest suitable restaurants for dinner in the evening.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Make sure you take more than just 1 pair of walking shoes/boots. Even though I had done several walks in my walking boots, I had very sore toes and a blister after 2 days of walking and had to abandon my boots and then walk in my sneakers for the rest of the camino. A couple of people in our group walked the whole 130km in sandals. The walking trails and paths are well trodden and relatively flat, so this might be an option for some.
As a mature person, I found my walking poles invaluable but many others in the group did not find them necessary.
Diane Mark
Reviewed May 2017
A Really enjoyable experience
Having been on a number of Exodus walking holidays, I think this was one of the best. The walking is accurately described in the trip notes and although 6 successive days of walking was tiring, the different walking paces of all in the group were accommodated and there were good opportunities for stops for lunch, coffee and dinner, all well researched by Jose, our group leader.
Most Inspirational Moment
Meeting other walkers from many countries along the way - often the same people on successive days
Thoughts on Group Leader
Jose was always cheerful and lead the group well, identifying and recommending the best places to eat and reserving spots along the way - really important when there are so many walkers and, in some places, not a lot of places to sit and eat.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Look after your feet by having good and comfortable boots, walking trainers or walking sandals! Make sure you are used to walking on successive days, so that you avoid the risk of blisters
Paul Everett
Reviewed January 2017
Exceeded all expectations
My wife and I did this trip in August, it was our first holiday of this type and we were worried about whether it would be for us. We needn’t have. We both enjoyed it immensely and were sad when we have finished the walk. We did not find the walking too tough, challenging yes, but very manageable. We worried about doing the walk in August but again the weather was ok, one wet day, but not excessively so. The heat never became too much even for someone fair-skinned like me. The accommodation was always good, sometimes outstanding, same for the food. The bag transportation worked well, with only one glitch which was quickly resolved by the local agents (who are excellent). To say this trip changed our holiday lives would not be an overstatement. We are going back to do the Santiago to Finisterre & Muxia section next year, alas with another company as Exodus/Headwater do not offer this.
Most Inspirational Moment
All of it, but the others doing the same walk at the same time as us have become firm friends. Its no cliché to say that its the people that you meet that make this trip so special.
Thoughts on Group Leader
No leader as such as this is a self-guided trip, but the local agent in Leon was excellent as were the local staff when one of our bags went awol.
Advice for Potential Travellers
The walking is relatively easy, no heavy boots required. There are plenty of cafes on the route so don't worry about food and drink during the day.
Harry Johnson
Reviewed October 2016
Superb!!
We went with a group of friends from Church and the experience was absolutely brilliant!The trekking every day is not for the faint hearted and even the best prepared among us received blisters. However, the whole adventure from start to finish was so well organised and a great tribute to the package that Exodus has put together for us. It felt really personalised and the group leader Josea was fantastic. His attention to detail and his kindness and thoughtfulness throughout the trip was truly inspiring. He genuinely cared about every person in the group. I’m 60 years old and can say genuinely say that this was an experience of a life time on many different levels. The food and drink in Galicia was also fantastic!
Most Inspirational Moment
When the group were becoming very tired walking we sang all sorts of songs ranging from modern pop, musicals and hymns-absolutely magical. For me it was also seeing seriously disabled people walking the Camino at their own pace but with such determination. I found this very moving and humbling.
Also completing the trek as a group in the beautiful old city of Santiago which is a very special place.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Josea was absolutely superb. He was very protective of the group, was the first up in the morning and the last one to go to bed. He would provide fruit and sometimes cake for the journey and had intimate knowledge of the Camino and surrounding area. He was constantly planning ahead and arranged many fantastic meals at local pensions/restaurants at unbelievably low prices. He quickly assessed the ability of the group members and developed a bespoke approach to every person. Fantastic man management and thoroughly decent and likeable person. We couldn't have wished for a better guide. In fact we were all very sad as he left the group at the end as it was like being parted from a really good friend. He burned with the desire for every person to enjoy their Camino and this desire shone from him.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Really do your home work on walking shoes/walking sticks and other gear. Make sure you have plenty of appropriate plasters for blisters and make sure that you have broken in fully any walking boots. It is worth investing in really good walking socks too. Watch the film "The Way" with Martin Sheen which is set around walking the Camino.
Anne Marie Bailey
Reviewed September 2016
TSO170916 Camino de Santiago de Compostella
This is a walk mainly along roads and tracks. It is well signed and walking is good. You meet many people en route of all nationalities and abilities, young and older. We enjoyed the experience. Lots of places to eat and drink along the way. Lovely countryside, villages and small churches. Santiago is a wonderful end to the walk. Mass in the Cathedral was amazing.
Most Inspirational Moment
An old lady walking very slowly, using sticks, with so much determination. I do hope she made it.
Also we saw a group of people on our next to last day paddling in a stream. That was a vision of bliss!!! Unfortunately we had more walking to do.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Jose Bartolome was a gentleman, he was very attentive to the group. We were of very differing abilities but he was brilliant with everyone. He looked after our food, wounds and kept up morale when necessary which wasn't often. He even tended other pilgrims blisters etc.
Advice for Potential Travellers
The walk doesn't need mountain boots. Strong trainers would have been more comfortable on this trip. I took boots as advised but my feet got far too hot and I got blisters. Some people walked in sandals but I don't think that is the answer as there are loose stones on the tracks.
Margaret Tatam
Reviewed September 2016
Camino de Santiago
Unusually hot for September.Trainers would have been better than boots as lot of road and gravel walking although I didn,t get any blisters.Very pleasant group of 16 some with Exodus for 1st time.food great. Most meals taken in a group .Camino busy but that meant lots of cafes which we enjoyed.
Most Inspirational Moment
Finishing the 18 mile day!
Thoughts on Group Leader
He had not walked the Camino before although he had cycled it .Very pleasant
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take trainers as well as boots.
David Shelton
Reviewed May 2016
Great trip
This trek is very well organised and straight forward for experienced walkers. The countryside is similar to the Cotswolds and there are few hills and no difficult sections. Our guide was brilliant and the walk was well paced – if you can walk 10 miles a day you can do this trek.
Most Inspirational Moment
Arriving in the old town in Santiago and the service in the Cathedral with the "swinging" incense - even if you are not Catholic you will find this a very special ending to the trek.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Hose was the perfect guide - he made sure everyone enjoyed the trek and managed the pace very well. He looked after those with blisters and dealt with any other problems with great professionalism. You won't find a better guide anywhere in the world!
Advice for Potential Travellers
You don't need heavy walking boots as much of this trek is on lanes or hard surfaces - good walking shoes are more than adequate. Everyone in our group was an experienced walker but the hard surfaces caused the blisters - some walked in strong sandals which worked quite well.
Christopher Moss
Reviewed May 2016
A great walking experience
Starting the Camino in Samos makes a lot of sense, it is itself a lovely setting with a great hotel for the first night, a pause before the walking starts. The walking programme was well planned building up slowly, after a couple of days it was easy to walk 25k, particularly as we were blessed with sunny weather and our group was honestly full of really friendly walkers. Even the hotels, although modest, were at least of Premier Inn standard.
Most Inspirational Moment
Arriving in Santiago at the Cathedral was brilliant, lots of high spirits against the backdrop of the Cathedral and then later that evening, Pilgrims Mass in the Cathedral, anyone would be taken aback, I have never imagined the atmosphere of so many people together in a church!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our group leader was great, a natural, very easy to talk to and he organised the trip really well, even down to making sure we all dealt properly with any blisters on our feet!!
Advice for Potential Travellers
I think you have to keep your fingers crossed that the weather goes your way, a couple of rainy days at the end of the week took the edge off our two days in Santiago.
Alan Gelson
Reviewed October 2015
A well organised and well lead walk along the Spanish end of The Camino
Despite rain for the first three days we enjoyed it immensely.
Most Inspirational Moment
The arrival at Santiago after 90 miles of walking
Thoughts on Group Leader
He was excellent. Concerned for our welfare and great fun.
Advice for Potential Travellers
The walking is easy in that the trail is well maintained and although there are some ups and downs and one long day of 29 kilometres it will be well within the ability of a regular walker.
