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

Daniela Amabile

Reviewed October 2018

Beauty, as to be found nowhere else.

Waking up every morning to the glorious Autumn colours of the Carpathians is something I will remember for the rest of my life. The beauty of the forests, the splendour of the mountains and the simplicity of the life there is something I never imagined. Granted, I was initially inspired by my interest in the Dracula legend to go but after experiencing the wilderness there, I can honestly say that I fell in love with “the land beyond the forest”.

Most Inspirational Moment

When I managed to make it to the top of the mountain on the long hike without collapsing :-). Seeing Bran castle. Sitting up at the monastery, looking at the mountains with the sun behind them. The views of the scenery during our lunch breaks in various locations. Being on top of the mountains and looking down at the clouds.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Thomas was incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about the natural environment of Romania and its history. He also has a great sense of humour that kept us entertained. With his experience as a leader and training in the army, I definitely felt safe and in capable hands. And he was unexpectedly charming.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Try to remain as healthy as possible the week before this trip. I came down with a 24 hour stomach virus 2 days before the trip and it made the first few days difficult as I was still weakened. Also, walking poles are your friends. Definitely learn how to use a pair before you begin.

J KEYSE

Reviewed October 2018

Porto to Lisbon 22/9

We had an excellent cycling holiday with great leaders and a very sociable group of fellow travellers.

Most Inspirational Moment

Our favourite aspects of the trip were: • Good cycling with relaxing stops at many cafes to enjoy coffee and pasteis de nata • Comfortable hotels • Great choice of restaurants with excellent fish • Very friendly locals wherever we went • Spectacular coastline, especially the huge waves at Nazaré • Great weather (if maybe a little too hot!)

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our guide was João (JP) and assistant guide was Oscar. We can’t compliment them highly enough for the tireless work that they put in to make sure everyone had a great time. They coped with all adversities thrown at them, including making sure everyone stayed hydrated in very hot weather, rescuing people with punctures, coping with a broken down ferry, travellers who couldn’t decide what they wanted to do (!), all with smiles on their faces.

Advice for Potential Travellers

We really enjoyed having an extra night in Porto, which allowed us to see more of the city. Don’t underestimate the undulations, there are some!

Michelle Nogier

Reviewed October 2018

Italy October 2018

The Chianti Walking and Wine Tour was truly incredible. It was a vacation for my personal sensory system….to touch the ground that leads to…….the smell of the crisp Italian forest air, the taste of the locally sourced wine and fresh cheese, to see the vineyards, the cypress trees and the villas and to hear the sound of silence and peace, that can only be found walking the Tuscany Country. The tour was about being aware and in the moment, then taking those memories and sharing them with friends.

Most Inspirational Moment

The whole trip was inspirational. For me to comprehend we walked where only the local people walked. The only other tourists were the nine people within the group and our group leader. That's it....no crowds, no noise....how much more inspirational can that be...

Thoughts on Group Leader

Mark Middleton....super, great and loved his job. This made us enjoy the tour even more.

Advice for Potential Travellers

From personal experience....proper hikers or really supportive runners. The walks can be more adventurous than expected.

Sarah Wichman

Reviewed October 2018

Best Ever

Every part of this trip was wonderful, from the people, to the rides, to the organization, to the food, etc. I loved it.

Most Inspirational Moment

It's hard to choose one, but maybe getting to the top of that looong climb on the last day. I also really appreciated the history and cultural info that Erlis imparted to us throughout the trip.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Erlis was an amazing group leader! I had put in place a lot of structures that made our trip as easy and smooth as it could have been. He shared a lot of history and cultural information that really enhanced our travels and understanding of Albania. He was kind and patient and funny, and the trip would not have been as incredible without him at the helm. Tani, our driver/mechanic/snack procurer/hydrator was also an integral part of the group. He was incredibly thoughtful and accommodating, and anticipated needs we didn't even know we'd have.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go on this trip! The trip notes and packing list covered everything very thoroughly.

David Whittle

Reviewed October 2018

Peru Holiday

A superb holiday from start to finish, taking in many different facets of Peru as a country. From Pacific coast to historical sites, magnificent mountains, glorious wildlife and fascinating jungle. This trip had it all. Add in the variety of different modes of transport and there is something to appeal to anyone.

Most Inspirational Moment

The completion of the Inca trail trek, despite the dreadful weather, was a moment of true inspiration. Firstly for having completed the physically demanding trek and secondly for the panoramic view of the historic site of Macchupiccu, and realising the scale of it all.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The group leader was excellent, dealing with every situation in a cool, efficient manner. His personality was very endearing and his knowledge of the various different places was inspirational. His frankness about the problems facing Peru as a country was refreshing to hear.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do not be fooled by the Exodus rating of the trip. It is harder than they would have you believe. In fact probably one of the most physically challenging things I have ever undertaken. Despite significant preparation there is no way, living in Britain, can you prepare for the altitude effect which affected the majority of our group to some degree.

John Pethick

Reviewed October 2018

Let One Hundred Flowers Bloom

Space, and the (temporary) frontier abound provided that you go boldly, up, more up, and even more up; cast aside fears of teeming hordes, and remember, the people, and the people alone, are the motive force in the making of world history. At times, you become the ‘attraction’ – videoconferencing a chap’s wife on her drive home so she could practice her English (at the top of the Wall, naturally). That was a first. High fiving hundreds of school kids, while teachers convulsed with laughter (on the wall too), in a society where physical contact is not a thing, also a first. Underpinning it all, a long past with, to quote a fellow traveller, “zero history of democracy”. And the kittens really do want their fluffy tummies tickled, oh yes they do.

Most Inspirational Moment

Decades of watching China from afar, dissolving whilst sitting on some unused telegraph poles, on a country road, alone at sunset.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Pema. Well, it's always handy to have a Tibetan guide, when you bump into some Tibetan monks, looking for a group photograph with some westerners for their Instagram. Or need to explain the fire in your room. Retrieve a confiscated bank card. Discuss the geological formations under the wall and the materials in it. Get you through 'Security' painlessly. And be objective about Tibet's relationship with China.

Advice for Potential Travellers

1) the Dong Fang has a machine which converts cash banknotes (sterling, USD, canadianD, euros, and many more) into yuan, which is very handy indeed. 2) two types of ATM exist, ones that hand out cash and return the card, ones that are for account management only, and hold onto the card. Make sure you are using an international bank, and a real ATM. Worth watching what other people are doing for a few minutes. 3) Euro / US plugs sometimes work in the local sockets, but if you require mains, take a three pin Chinese adapter. Not many amps in the supply, so charging is slow. 4) Do not, repeat do not, leave electric oil radiators switched on in an empty room. And stand by for a few minutes to pull the plug out of the socket after switching on. 5) keep an eye out, and the camera hot, for feral panda spotting.

Ed Jackson

Reviewed October 2018

What a trip................

This really is a great trip – with a good amount of cycling with some challenging climbs to get the heart and legs working. I love the fact that every day was busy with so much to see and do. The scenery during the rides was varied and very beautiful. The towns we visited were all full of history and culture whether it was Trento, Lake Garda, Verona, Vicenza, Padova or Venice.

Most Inspirational Moment

The whole trip was very inspirational, but visiting Vicenza was definitely a highlight. You could feel the love and passion that Michele has for his home town and briefly meeting his family was very touching.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Michele was and is the best group leader I have had on any Exodus trip - he was my group leader when I went to Sardinia and I booked this trip for the pure reason that I knew he was the group leader. His energy is incredible and he is 100% focussed in making sure that everyone has a great time.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure you have reasonable fitness just so you can get the most out of the holiday. You want to enjoy the rides as mush as you can and there are sections that are quite challenging , so a reasonable level of fitness is a huge benefit. And "throw yourself" into your holiday - your fellow travellers are a big part of your holiday, so join in with everything and you'll get so much more from the experience. I've certainly come back home with a new set of friends.

Francesca Wiseman

Reviewed October 2018

Cycle Albania

Albania is incredibly beautiful. It has some of the most spectacular mountain scenery that will forever be etched in my memory. Cycling is a fantastic way to see a country and visit lesser touristy places and this trip was certainly no exception. The people are very hospitable and the Cycle Albania team were simply amazing. The food was a fusion of Mediterranean and Turkish meze style and every meal was a feast in itself!

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching the top of Llogara pass was one of the most powerful moments of the trip. The climb itself is not too hard - it is long and steady - but the hills on the way to the pass make the climb more challenging.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader was Erlis Rizvanolli. Erlis was incredibly trusting towards us from the word go: Every day we got a map with a description as part of our briefing which was a nice detail which I have not seen on other cycling tours. Erlis let us ride at our own pace and we would re-group at regular intervals and he did not feel the need to control us and always be in the lead - I really appreciated the freedom to ride how I chose, this is not something I have experienced on other Exodus cycling tours and it made this trip stand out from the others. Due to the meze (sharing) approach to eating, Erlis would pay for every meal and trusted us to record the cost of our food and drink and did not take any money from us until the end of the holiday. Erlis was well organized and the tour ran slick. Erlis went the extra mile to ensure we had a fantastic holiday and even got in the kitchen on the final morning to make our breakfast because the chef was hospitalized in a vehicle accident on his way to work.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Albania is not flat - be prepared to cycle up some hills. The Albanians also love cheese, there is usually one cheese dish per meal (sometimes two) but there was an abundance of food so if you are lactose intolerant do not worry!

Janice Waight

Reviewed October 2018

Highlights of Albania

This was a thoroughly comprehensive tour travelling around a large part of the country, involving visiting many fascinating historical sites, museums, the countryside ….various towns,mountainous regions, flat fertile plains and the coast .

Most Inspirational Moment

There were several.... The stunning mountains, breathtaking views of castles , mosques and the courteousness of the Albanian we met....and learning so much about the country thanks to our guide.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Klodi was a very fine group leader. His knowledge of his country and it's history was extremely impressive. We learnt so much and he was always really helpful and had a great sense of humour ! Also, importantly, Ghent, our driver, was excellent. We couldn't have been in safer hands....driving through the mountains was very tricky at times, but he was always calm and very careful.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go to Albania now before it becomes too touristy. It's a great country and after such a sad history,the people are doing wonders restoring and revitalizing it. Only one criticism....some of the lunch breaks were too long!

T J

Reviewed October 2018

A Fascinating Adventure!

This was a truly wonderful trip that combines hiking, wildlife and scientific research, in a unique blend of ‘eco-research-tourism’. Exodus – please offer more tours like this!

Most Inspirational Moment

The whole trip was inspirational, though the most inspirational part is learning about the bears and other wildlife that live in these mountains, then slowly starting to understand how it all fits together. In addition, the Rodopi mountains are beautiful, particularly in Autumn - there are some great hikes in this trip, with fabulous views. The hotel and food were also great, with local milk, cheese and honey straight from the village. It was also good to be based in a single hotel for the week, with lots of walks starting and finishing right on our doorstep.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Julian was extremely knowledgeable and passionate about all aspects of biology, particularly bears. He is clearly well-known and connected in the local area, and did a great job of making everything run smoothly. One of the highlights of the trip were daily 'lectures' from Julian, usually during our scenic picnic lunches, about the various aspects of bear ecology.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you have a reasonable level of fitness and have some hiking experience, you should be fine on this trip. A typical day would comprises leaving the hotel with a packed lunch at 08:30 and returning at around 16:00, hiking slowly in the mountains in-between. We totaled 75 km and 3500 m height gain over our 6 days of walking, with hikes ranging from 8 - 14 km. So, the pace is pretty slow, as we were constantly stopping to look for wildlife / change camera traps etc. Julian will adjust the pace and route depending on the groups fitness level and interests anyway. That said, the terrain is fairly steep and rocky, though the trails are good. So, if you have new gear or are relatively inexperienced at hiking, it would be a good idea to put in a bit of practice beforehand so that you get the most out of your trip.

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