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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14469 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Rita Jones

Reviewed November 2018

Amazing adventures

This trip packs in so much. Close encounters with orangutans, Komodo dragons and an amazing amount of marine life on the best coral we have ever seen. All the hotels used were lovely with nice pools to relax by. Our guide Elly was lovely and local guides on trips couldn’t have been nicer. Wonderful food including an amazing jungle picnic. Really felt well looked after on this trip. Wish I could go back right now!

Most Inspirational Moment

Difficult to select one....there were so many! Being so close to a huge but very placid male orangutan and his family. Especially when he stood up and wanderered about on two legs so close to us.

Thoughts on Group Leader

She was lovely. Very caring to the whole group

Advice for Potential Travellers

Volunteer to sleep on the deck of the boat. Cabins are a bit stuffy in the heat. Take your own towels on board. Jungle treck needs a reasonable level of fitness but you can go as slow as you want. Plenty of guides around to help.

John Wood

Reviewed November 2018

Superb

Fantastic atmosphere, brilliant guide, porters and support team. Just wish it was longer!

Most Inspirational Moment

For me, day three on the trail was the best, as we moved into the forest and the soaked up the atmosphere, including many Inca ruins previously unknown to me. And of course, arriving at the Sun Gate and looking down on Machu Picchu, just as the late afternoon sun lit it up, almost devoid of day trippers!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Frank was incredible. He was inspirational in getting us to gel as a team and ensure we all helped each other to get through the tougher sections. His knowledge of Inca and current local culture was encyclopaedic and he was so funny! He was also something of a talented photographer with all our cameras (is there a camera he doesn’t know how to operate better than we do?). It’s hard to imagine anyone better.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Some of our party struggled a bit and sadly one (plus her husband) had to drop out through altitude sickness. Though that can affect even the fittest, it’s fair to say that this is quite a tough trek (most of us felt it could be rated a bit higher than the grade 3 “moderate” rating). To enjoy it fully, make sure you do plenty of training on hills or similar - it is almost constantly up and down and often steep steps. Those who had trained by walking on the flat found it difficult.

alfred cronin

Reviewed November 2018

PERU

It started with my late flight into Lima,I had to find my taxi ride to the hotel amongst a lot of other signs.The car driving in Lima was crazy.Up early that same morning,onboard a coach to southern coastal Peru.It was very much like this the whole trip,but you get used to it.The tour guide Fernando was exceptional,filling in the dots of questions we had of Peruvian culture.The photos I have of Peru just does not do justice of the kind people and scenery of Peru.

Most Inspirational Moment

We had brought with us teaching supplies,oranges,dog food and good hearts to the people of the highlands,just meeting these Peruvians in their homes,it meant a lot to them,it came with a lot of tears from us.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Fernando was exceptional,he has a lot heart for his people and Peru.He has a lot of energy,fore planning,and utilizes time wisely.He answered all our questions on Peru,advised us on water,altitude,clothing to wear,food acceptable to eat,I could to ask more of the man.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Read up on Peru,is walking part of your life everyday,you will need this and more for Peru.Get your shots,get a medical screening.I say this because if you are not fairly fit,Peru is mountainous,lots of stair climbing,altitude adjustments.Pick a tour that is in your age group,is realistic to your fitness level and comfort level.

Peter Hislop

Reviewed November 2018

Has it all, must do and indulge

This trip incorporates the wide variety of activities and sights that the country has to offer.
Cycling, walking sailing, train & coach are some of the various types of travel experienced from the lowland to their highlands and the vast variety of landscapes that Vietnam has to offer this trip allows you to experience this breadth of experiences in a fantastic organised holiday and tour guide participation is second to none.

Most Inspirational Moment

Its hard to pick out individual items as its so full of wonderful exhilarating experiences and that's part of trip and the guide skills. Each day is packed with differing things and they are great full days.The obvious places are Hoi An, Whale Island and Ha Long Bay, the trip overnight on the train is not to be forgotten nor those decedents down on our bikes will never be forgotten over 10 km in some stunning scenery.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Son, was so well informed in his Country's culture and developement that it come over in his love of his job. Nothing was to much troblem His attention to detail shown through and his ability to offer differing views and thing to see never failed to help and inspire us. Cycling: his attention to H&S came over time and time again which is very helpful as well.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Just book it...you will NOT be disappointed.

mike power

Reviewed November 2018

a week in the Galapagos

a brilliant holiday, unfortunately cut short through no fault of Exodus.In the circumstances they handled everything well and re-arranged flights to our complete satisfaction,the itinerary was great, the boat amazing and you couldn’t want for a more amiable and knowledgeable guide. We
visited all the islands in the east and were fortunate enough to see all the wildlife on our wish list, and although we were offered the chance to return and do the western Isles, I decided to take a full refund for the lost week and arrange another holiday with Exodus in the future. In summary I would say it was not just a great holiday but a lifetime experience

Most Inspirational Moment

there were too many to mention but watching albatross try to take off was highly amusing

Thoughts on Group Leader

brilliant

Advice for Potential Travellers

go now and enjoy. As there is a fair amount of snorkelling take a waterproof camera

mike power

Reviewed November 2018

a week in the Galapagos

Most Inspirational Moment

there were too many to mention but watching albatross try to take off was highly amusing

Thoughts on Group Leader

brilliant

Advice for Potential Travellers

go now and enjoy. As there is a fair amount of snorkelling take a waterproof camera

Melanie Benn

Reviewed November 2018

Stunning views (but not as good as the Circuit

Having done the Annapurna Circuit and the Singalila ridge I thought it was time to go back to Nepal. I enjoyed the Circuit so much I thought that the Base camp would be a good experience. I love Nepal very much but this was a very different experience – the trek itself is a bit of a route march after Chhumrung due to the fact it’s one path in, one path out in effect. There were lots more people on the route and the tea houses were very much standalone (due to restrictions on room numbers) rather than being part of communities. Also the heating was non-existent – probably as a result of it being a conservation area but cold is very fatiguing over a few days.
I very much enjoyed trekking though the forested areas – we saw lots of birds, flowers and common langurs.
Base camp itself is spectacular – as long as you get clear weather.
The extra day in Pokhara was welcome.
Overall I am glad I did the trek. I’d vote to get rid of the Poon Hill diversion (not a necessary aprt of the route) and to spend longer in Chhumrung or in one of the villages on the way down.
Be warned that the multiple shared accommodation is not spacious at all. I was with friends and the rest of the group I was put with was excellent company. If the group isn’t gelling then it might prove tough to be at such close quarters.

Most Inspirational Moment

Waking on the middle of the night at Annapurna Base Camp and seeing all the stars - just breathtaking with moonlight on the peaks as well. Sunrise at Annapurna Base Camp - just getting there up all those steps felt like an achievement.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Pasang was cheerful, helpful and took very good care of all of us particularly as someone got a knee injury and when I felt really unwell on the way up. His organisational skills were second t none and he was encouraging and supportive throughout.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure you take a lot of layers. The stone steps are relentless - poles a must. Make sure you've got a book/cards/distraction at MBC and ABC as when the weather closes in there isn't much to do but sit in the common room! There is lot of treated water but you might want to still use sterilising tabs just to be sure. If you're only going to trek at altitude in Nepal once the Circuit is, in my opinion, a much better trek even though it is tougher.

Phil Cooper

Reviewed November 2018

Beasties and Birdies of Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a wonderful country, mainly for its variety and volume of wildlife.
Of course Costa Rica is well know for its bird life. While many will have seen humming birds, (as I have) it was a superb sight to be close to these magnificent birds as they weaved their way around us lumbering giants. I never grow weary of watching these creatures.
Howler, Spider and Capuchin monkeys using their prehensile tail moving from branch to branch provided an often amusing spectacle. Other animals featured were the Tent Maker Bats and White Lined Bats, Agouti, Coati, Caiman and Green Iguana.
Although not an ornithologist, brightly coloured birds such as Toucans, Curassaw, Acorn Woodpecker, Scarlet Macaw, Flame Coloured Tanagen and Emerald Toucanet, I find a delight to watch, particularly watching them feeding. It seemed as though even when driving along the roads animals almost posed for us to record them.
One would expect to be roughing it, but it was the last thing I would use describe our accommodation, while the food was always good and often outstanding.
The places visited represent the full variety of environments, from high altitude cloud forest (at Savegre) , to transitional forest (Manuel Antonio Reserve), to tropical wet forest (Tortuguero) to rainforest (Esquinas).
I cannot leave my summary without mentioning the inspirational Michael Schnitzler who as a conservationist has obtained over $4 Million from his Austrian sources to purchase land and develop Esquinas Lodge. Amazingly he has done this in between travelling to between Costa Rica and Austria, where he is an internationally admired violinist and concertmaster the Vienna Johann Strauss Orchestra. A truly remarkable person developing a remarkable environmental project.
Friends who have seen the videos from the trip have been enthralled. Others to whom I have described it have suggested that it be added to their “bucket list”.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were some unique sights of sloths, one mother and child and another of a rarely seen encounter between two alpha male sloths. I was able to obtain unique footage of these events. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TvsyT9BACI&t=3s I was not able to capture the sound of the impact, but they hit the found with a real thud. Andreas in 18 years had never seen the sloths fighting. The amazing thing was that after that fall from 15 meters they kept on fighting! - Albeit in slow motion!

Thoughts on Group Leader

The guide Andreas had an encyclopaedic knowledge of the habitats and plants and animals we found. He was helpful always willing to oblige - the best guide in some ten or so trips I have undertaken abroad.

Advice for Potential Travellers

In a word - Go! Substantial waterproofing is needed and the full array of photographic equipment and back up devices. Check carefully on extra trips, particularly if inclement weather might affect the experience. I also thoroughly recommend the night tours. The one at Esquinas enabled me to produce some great video material.

Ellen Aust

Reviewed November 2018

Cycling in Vietnam

I found it the perfect combination of cycling, travelling by bus, visiting sites.

Most Inspirational Moment

At the end of most days I thought, “ wow, this day was great”. I did not expect to say that each day. Always a new surprise.

Thoughts on Group Leader

I always liked when Son would talk about his country and give his personal opinion about Vietnamese culture.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Know and believe that whoever designed this trip, highlighted the best experiences you could have between Ho Chi Minh city and Hanoi.

Ann Stobbs

Reviewed November 2018

Wildlife & wilderness of Botswana

It was such a memorable adventure – seeing cheetahs, leopards and wild dogs, not forgetting elephants who seemed to like wandering around our camp at night ! The wild camping made it possible to be part of their world which was a real privilege. The camp staff were excellent and I just loved Botswana. All together one of the best holidays I have been on .

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing cheetahs ,leopards, wild dogs, and all the other animals- Having elephants wandering around our camp... The okovango- Beating a hasty retreat from a rather cross elephant - Discovering I like birds - Space light & warmth of Botswana

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take a scarf - the long drives got a bit windy - def take binoculars- It says there are ATM s at Victoria Falls which is correct but not one had any money in them so take small dollar notes (Not a big deal but don't rely on them) Otherwise the trip notes are comprehensive ..

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