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.

Select a trip specific review:

Select

14462 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Nicki Ashenden

Reviewed April 2019

Cycling through Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam

This was our third cycling trip with Exodus. It was an amazing journey and adventure and we loved every single moment of it. It was a fantastic way to see some ‘highlights’ of three beautiful countries.

Most Inspirational Moment

Without a doubt Cambodia - its such a beautiful country; cycling through villages in Cambodia and Vietnam; the wonderful night in the homestay; the food and the border crossings!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Nut - what we can we say, he is an absolute star and gave us such a wonderful holiday from start to finish. We have been really lucky to have had fantastic group leaders in our previous trips but Nut just stands out there. He has a wonderful sense of humour, makes you feel incredibly safe and well looked after, has such patience when he has to tell you for the third time as you are so tired when and where we are meeting for dinner or the morning, his knowledge is incredible. He’s amazing!!!

Advice for Potential Travellers

The heat - this has been said in previous reviews about the heat and this cannot be under estimated. We went early March and the cycling in Thailand was tough due to the heat. Nut was brilliant and shortened the distances between refreshment stops due to this but it is hard going. Don’t however let this put you off, the cycling is relatively flat apart from a few rolling hills, take padded shorts, there are plenty of opportunities for washing so pack light. Insect repellent is also a must. Be also prepared for long days - it’s a tiring trip but definitely worth it.

Carole Brown

Reviewed April 2019

A Good Holiday But Not A Great One!

My husband and I chose this holiday to Costa Rica mainly to be able to snorkel in the Caribbean and Pacific, together with the chance to see such a fantastic array of wildlife. Like mentioned by people in previous reviews, it was once again too rough to snorkel in the Caribbean and our snorkel near Cano Island was cut short because several people felt queasy. We saw a lot of wild life but this trip is mainly geared to bird watchers, which got a little tedious at times. We enjoyed the stay at Tortuguero,l Cahuita and Drakes Bay but the other two stops were rather boring and there was not much to see. We also ended up at a sub standard lodge in Savegre which didn’t help, Everyone felt that there was far too much travelling in cramped mini buses with hardly any leg room and on boats.

Most Inspirational Moment

Probably snorkelling alongside a turtle and hearing the strange jungle sounds late at night and first thing in the morning.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jorge was competent and tried to make the trip as enjoyable as possible. Everything ran like clockwork and he found us a lovely family run restaurant in the mountains to stop for lunch which we all enjoyed.

Advice for Potential Travellers

We thought there would be a lot more walking involved and not as much bird watching. The mini bus seats are far too close together and painful for taller members of the group. We didn't think Costa Rica was expensive as described and returned home with a lot of local currency.

Mark Crooke

Reviewed April 2019

Cooking in Cambodia..............it was 38C

Loved the trip, Great food, great hospitality and our Guide was outstanding !
Some long days, but you will get a great deal out of a packed itinerary.
Hotels are pretty good, and you’ll appreciate the ones that have swimming pools even more !
The French influence has ensured that the coffee is great just about everywhere, apart maybe from breakfast 🙂

Most Inspirational Moment

Probably the People, their welcome, the warmth & hospitality. You can only admire the way they have come through the last couple of generations. Cambodia is a young, vibrant country which seems to be a good place to be right now

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sokkim was an inspiration in himself. I don't think I have ever met someone quite like him. He couldn't have done more for the group as far as organisation went. He was always on hand with a resolution when anyone had an issue, and was always mindful of what was happening within the group, and our surroundings. Great sense of humour, vast knowledge of all the itinerary items and extremely good with his fellow Cambodians. He had time for everyone, and would put himself out for anyone. Fantastic recommendations for evening meals Couldn't have asked for a better leader ! :-)

Advice for Potential Travellers

In 38C and 90% Humidity - Drink, drink, drink and drink some more, whatever it is ! Make sure you have a water bottle, hat, sunglasses and plenty of lightweight clothes. Don't worry about bringing too much, as the local laundries are great. The food is great, so don't hold back ! The default currency is US Dollars, but don't worry too much, as all the ATM's in the big cities have Dollars in them. Don't both with the Foreign Correspondents Club, as Ibiza is right next door. You can't hear yourself think !

shaun bowler

Reviewed April 2019

Excllent leader but disappointing trip

A beautiful part of Africa. The trip would have been so much better of some proper road bikes. Town hybrid bikes make the cycling up and down never ending hills very hard work. The accommodation and food was extremely average. The rand is so weak, it was cost so very little more to eat in some nice places and stay in some really nice guest houses we passed. It felt that we were on a budget! The food in SA is exceptional and we never got to experience it. The saving grace was our guides who also were good cooks.

Most Inspirational Moment

the Views in the Drakensberg's, especially when going down hills.

Thoughts on Group Leader

they were both excellent

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take some nice food with you.

Reply from Exodus

We would like to thank Shaun for his review. We were pleased that he found this part of Africa to be beautiful and the tour leaders to be excellent, but we are sorry that he was disappointed with the bikes, accommodation and food. We are very confident that the bikes we use are the most suitable for this tour, as they are robust enough for some of the rugged conditions. The route offers spectacular roads and we select the best available accommodation along these routes for groups of this size. The feedback we usually receive about the accommodation and food on this trip, which visits rural parts of South Africa, is usually very positive, as are the reviews for this trip overall, but we nonetheless regret Shaun’s disappointment. John Penge – Product Manager

Andy Longden

Reviewed March 2019

Sensational sightseeing, but the trip should be longer and better structured.

Egypt is a stand-out destination, but Exodus needs to review how this trip operates. Group flights were at anti social times, losing a full night of the trip and necessitating extremely early starts. If group flights are used and the excursion to Abu Simbel is taken, 4 of the 8 nights are materially disrupted. Four nights are spent in luxury hotels, but there is virtually no time to enjoy the facilities. This trip should be longer, or at the very least Exodus should have options to extend the holiday both at the start and end of the trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

For those interested in ancient Egypt, the sightseeing on this trip is sensational throughout, but you need to stay awake to appreciate it!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Tifa was charismatic, experienced and very personable, with good English and historical knowledge. He guided well, given the time constraints we invariably faced. Admin was mildly chaotic, especially over collecting money for optional trips, but we forgive him for that!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Exodus didn't make it easy to pay for optional trips, so we'd advise you carry US dollars to avoid having excessive amounts of Egyptian pounds (you should allow up to $250 per person for these options). Souvenir shopping in Egypt is uncomfortable for tourists due to the amount of hassle - this can feel very intimidating, especially to women. On the other hand, we felt safe everywhere we went, and Egyptians are very friendly, although they will require payment for rendering any kind of service, however minor!! The boat trip is enjoyable, with at least some time to relax and unwind. Unlike other Muslim countries, alcohol (particularly beer) is freely available and inexpensive (also on the boat).

Reply from Exodus

We would like to thank Andy for his feedback; whilst we are pleased that he enjoyed the sightseeing and thought highly of the tour leader, we are sorry he was disappointed with certain aspects of the trip. We are normally able to offer a group flight that arrives into Cairo at a better time but unfortunately it was not available on this particular departure. This a 9 day itinerary that includes the majority of Egypt’s main highlights so the pace is relatively fast, some early starts are involved to allow time for everything but also to avoid the hottest and busiest times of the day. Optional excursions are offered on certain parts of the trip to allow clients to tailor the itinerary to better suit their preferred pace. For those who have time for a longer trip to Egypt and prefer a slightly more relaxed pace, we offer a 13 day itinerary – Egypt: Alexandria to Aswan.

John Penge – Product Manager for Egypt

Karen White

Reviewed March 2019

Fantastic Holiday!

Considering we only had a week, the holiday had a packed itinerary, was brilliant and just went too quick! A stunning country with a wealth of wildlife, trees and plants made even better by a terrific guide!

Most Inspirational Moment

All of it! I learnt so much about Costa Rica. Scenery was stunning. Difficult to pinpoint an inspirational moment but was taken by surprise by how much I enjoyed a stop-off at a banana processing plant and loved the tour of the coffee and chocolate plantation. And, of course, spotting my first sloth!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Miguel Alfaro Lopez was the best guide I have had on an Exodus trip and all my guides have been great. There was nothing he didn't know about Costa Rica right from when it first formed millions of years ago. His knowledge of the culture, climate, wildlife, trees, plants, bird song, politics, education system - everything was mind-blowing. He told us on day one that he would do all the worrying - and he did, not that we had anything to worry about. He looked after us incredibly well and was a joy to spend the week with. He was friendly, had a good sense of humour and nothing was too much trouble. If you have Miguel as your guide, you are extremely lucky!

Advice for Potential Travellers

There's a lot of travelling but enjoy the views of this beautiful country. Definitely recommend the coffee plantation tour and the hanging bridges. When it rains in the rain forest it rains hard but just embrace the experience. Enjoy every minute because this week goes far too quickly.

Bob Christie

Reviewed March 2019

Seeing more of Egypt

I had visited Egypt before, but wanted the opportunity to see Alexandria, more of Cairo, and aspects of Aswan which I had missed due to gut problems. Plus Luxor is always worth seeing. So the trip worked well for me.

Most Inspirational Moment

Old Cairo, Al Moaz street and Al Azhar park are a welcome contrast to the vast and dusty city. The food tour is fun, and gives a chance to walk the downtown streets. And the people really are genuinely friendly and welcoming. The (old) Egyptian and (new) Nubian museums are excellent. The Nile cruise is a great experience, seeing landscapes and lifestyles which seem not to have changed for thousands of years. The tombs in the Valley of the Kings now have much better lighting and footing than before, making them more interesting and revealing to visit. The temples of Luxor and Karnak are awe inspiring sites. And the hotels in Cairo, Aswan and Luxor are good, with great swimming pools!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sayed is knowledgeable, professional and very helpful. He is as informative about modern Egypt as he is about ancient Egypt, while constantly fixing things for us behind the scenes.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Days 6 and 7 are very (maybe too) full, with no chance to shower or change until after dinner on Day 7, before a very early start on day 8. The sleeper train has 2 berth compartments and is a better experience than in most countries. Take food and hand hygiene seriously and you'll be fine - none of our group had any real stomach problems. Alcohol is rarely available outside the hotels and boat. Wifi is usually unavailable, and unreliable even when paid for. Upgrade in Luxor - for $24 you can get a balcony and views over the Nile to the Valley of the Kings, plus watching the hot air balloons rising in the dawn. Even in March you may need warm clothes for Egypt!

Linda Young

Reviewed March 2019

Excellent holiday

Excellent walking, fantastic views. A very well organised trip in a lovely friendly hotel. Our guide Vania was wonderful, friendly, enthusiatic and with a great sense of humour, a most enjoyable holiday.Thankyou to the rest of our group and Vania for being great company and making this such a special holiday.

Most Inspirational Moment

the walking, especially the rim of Mt Versuvius

Thoughts on Group Leader

Vania was faultless, funny and great at her job, the best!!!!

Advice for Potential Travellers

be reasonably fit as although most walking is relatively easy, there are some steep inclines and declines , so may not be suitable for those with knee and ankle problems. walking poles help.... warm clothing on Mt Versuvius rim may be needed early/late season.

Brian Guest

Reviewed March 2019

A rocky road; a wilderness of salt; and an ancient culture.

Rocks; mummies; Routa 40; rocks; vineyards; rocks; cactus; salt flats; rocks; Inca ruins and more rocks!

Most Inspirational Moment

The heat and stark beauty of the Salinas Grandes salt flats

Thoughts on Group Leader

We had a series of leaders over the week. The first was very helpful and acted a driver and guide. Later we were on minibus day tours with different leaders.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't put too much trust in LATAM's schedules. There were several flight amendments before our trip and finally a 12 hour change just days before we were due to fly to Salta. Further delays made us 14 hours late and we missed our first day in Salta. The trip notes and itineraries are liable to change. But this allows you to extend the tour by a few days. Spending a whole day in Purmamarca proved a really good option as it's a long day in a minibus. Your tour may be cut short or altered due to other travellers being late or preferring not to visit sites. We only had 30 minutes to visit the Inca ruins because we were running so far behind the schedule. Research beforehand. More options are available for your free days than may be advertised. Take a good camera with a wide angle lens as the landscapes are stunning. And it also pays get up early for the dawn light on the rocks at Purmamarca. ATM's in Argentina restrict you to 4,000 ARS and cost a lot to use. But Santander Rio have branches in all the towns we visited. If you have an account, it gives you a much better rate. Spend a few days in Buenos Aires if you have the chance. It's pretty safe and easy to get around. There's some lovely Art Nouveau architecture, a lively cafe culture, craft markets at the weekend, fine Opera and bookshops, tango dinner dances and lots of urban art. We recommend a 5-hour cycle trip: Hidden Graffiti And Urban Art Tour.

Brian Guest

Reviewed March 2019

One bike - two countries.

The snow-clad volcanoes and emerald lakes of the Andes mountains.
Gravel tracks, black lava fields and ancient forests of monkey puzzle trees.

Most Inspirational Moment

Crossing the Andes by bike: not once but twice!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Tai and his younger brother Yal worked tirelessly to support the group. They gave a clear briefing on each day's itinerary and generated Stava maps to show the route. On the road they shepherded us through the traffic and managed to control both those keenest to reach our destination and those more content to just enjoy the scenery and walk the hills. They coped very well with the inevitable problems which occurred: our punctures; occasional falls; late transfers; variable accommodation; wet weather; etc, etc. They were always ready to chat with the group and explain about the local people, their history and culture .

Advice for Potential Travellers

The trip notes are not always updated and itineraries may well change. Our mountain bikes were very good but with limited space for carrying spare kit or a camera. Although the support vehicle was close at hand, you might consider a ruck-sac or handlebar bag useful. Research beforehand. More options are available for your free days than may be advertised. We really enjoyed excursions to Mount Tronador from Bariloche and later to Huerquehue National Park from Pucon. Take a good camera with a wide angle lens as the landscapes are stunning. And it also pays to get up early for the dawn light. Breakfasts are sometimes meagre but expect your waistline to expand: portions for lunch and dinner are huge! ATM's in Argentina restrict you to 4,000 ARS and cost a lot to use. Santander Rio have branches in all the towns we visited. If you have an account, it gives you a much better rate. Spend a few days in Buenos Aires if you have the chance. It's pretty safe and easy to get around. There's some lovely Art Nouveau architecture, a lively café-culture, craft markets at the weekend, fine Opera and bookshops, tango dinner dances and lots of urban art. We would recommend a 5-hour cycle trip: Hidden Graffiti And Urban Art Tour.

Prev 1 … 442 443 444 445 446 … 1,447 Next