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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14479 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

christopher Spencer

Reviewed October 2018

Spectacular adventure

This was our first group travel expedition and it did not disappoint. We had been looking at this trip for a number of years through another tour company but we went with Exodus because of the supporting camping option which the other company did not offer (and a benefit that we thoroughly enjoyed). We found the entire experience to be very positive, professional and well organized with just the right amount of flexibility so that we didn’t feel like we were micro-managed. Our mountain guide was experienced and did a very good job of watching over the group while allowing us to go at our own pace (within reason). The camp support leader was funny, helpful, and a fantastic cook.
The near-perfect weather and jaw dropping views obviously played a big part in how much we enjoyed this trip but I definitely think that the quality of this trip was above the pack.

Most Inspirational Moment

Every valley and every col had its own 'personality' and this made each day different. I loved turning a corner and discovering another fantastic view. It was also nice to be with a group so that the experience could be shared with others.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Shaun, our mountain leader was knowledgeable and experienced. He knew the route and the region well and provided very accurate introductions to each day's hiking. His pace was as steady as a metronome and perfect for the speed of our group. Once he understood our capabilities on an individual level he was good about letting us go on ahead or lag behind the pack if that's what we preferred. I definitely felt like I was in capable hands. Peter our camp support was so much fun and a delight to see at the end of each day because he has such a positive and warm personality. We arrived to a camp that was already set up which allowed us to chill out and relax as soon as we arrived. His cooking was fantastic and much better than the few restaurant dinners we had along the way. He was good about ensuring that each of the group members had what they needed for breakfasts and lunches.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be very honest with yourself when evaluating your abilities if you're considering this trip. Our group overall was comprised of fairly experienced hikers. I think that someone who's not able to maintain the group pace would risk not enjoying this trip themselves and also negatively impacting the group. Proper equipment is also a must. Weather can change quickly and being unprepared can make for a miserable and potential hazardous day.

Carol Cummins

Reviewed October 2018

Hampered by weather

We had a great group of mixed ages, abilities and nationalities. We had exceptionally bad storm weather meaning most of the itinerary didn’t happen but Cecile our guide did everything she could to work with the weather. Many of the walks didn’t happen although one of the substitute walks turned out to be the best of the trip. Great guide, great group, hampered by the weather.

Most Inspirational Moment

Route 4 rom Halki - an unexpected 7k walk on our extended. Stay on Naxus. Good pace and distance whilst still leisurely. One to add to the main itinerary.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Cecile was great and more than performed given the circumstances. Very knowledgeable and patient.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The trip is ranked as leisurely and it is. Do not expect it to be anything more. Be prepared for itinerary changes as the ferries are suspended whenever there is poor weather. We had an unlucky week with exceptional weather fir the area and time of year.

J. D.

Reviewed October 2018

Great and Informative Outdoor Adventure!

Had a great time on the Bulgarian Brown Bear trip! Trip leader, Julian, was very enthusiastic and well-informed on the region and subject matter. Bulgaria is a beautiful country and the local people were wonderful. The owner of Hotel Yagodina, Maria, runs a great hotel and her and her staff serve fantastic food. Julian took us on some wonderful hikes and provided great information about bear behavior, habitat, biology, etc.

Visiting the bear hide in the evening provided a fun opportunity to view the bears and other wild life. Julian made sure we had multiple opportunities to visit the bear hide in order to ensure we had an opportunity to see a bear. The hikes themselves were challenging, but not so difficult that we had any real problems completing them. Julian was willing to point out other wild life during our hikes, and was very engaging with people in the group.

Julian is passionate about bears and excited to share the subject with others. He made sure we were taken care of and educated about the wonders of bears!

Most Inspirational Moment

I didn't have any one particular moment that was the most inspirational, but taking in the vistas at the top of mountains we climbed after a long hike were serene moments. It was relaxing and inspiring to look out at all the pristine nature.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Julian was an enthusiastic and well informed group leader. He is very passionate about bears and Bulgaria, and was happy to share his knowledge with the group. He was also well informed about many other aspects of Bulgarian wild life and Bulgarian culture. He made sure we were healthy, happy, and well taken care of.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Wear good hiking shoes and be prepared to fill up on delicious Bulgarian food for the hikes! Also make sure to carry some of the local currency with you, there is the possibility to purchase locally-made traditional crafts from the village. I purchased some beautiful hand-made items in the village.

Sandra Woodward

Reviewed October 2018

Imperial China and Yangtze River Cruise

We have just returned from this busy and full on trip. As other reviews have said ‘China is big!’ We saw and experienced so much – from the different styles of food, transport and sites. Our guide was informative and shared lots of information regarding Chinese culture and history as well as the amazing development that has occurred during the last 20 years.

Most Inspirational Moment

Realising just how far China has come and how far it plans to go. This is awe inspiring rather than inspirational. The infrastructure projects, buildings, size of cities, numbers of travellers/ tourists/people. Reading about it can't really prepare you for the reality.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Dragon was extremely good at managing expectations and ensuring the whole group navigated the busy schedule. He was professional, funnyGo patient and very good at helping us make the most of the opportunities available. This included where to stand on the boat to get the best view, upgrading our dining option on the Yangtze cruise to avoid the scrum in the dining room. We enjoyed hearing his anecdotes of growing up and life in China.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for the crowds but don't let them put you off as the Chinese were always friendly, helpful and good natured. Take mosquito repellent and wear comfortable shoes as there is a lot of walking but it is all manageable. Use the 'farmers' to carry your bag on to the cruise boat there are a lot of steep steps down to the river. Have an open mind and be willing to go with the flow. Foot massages were great (especially the ones on the cruise). Enjoy!

richard boner

Reviewed October 2018

Wonderful

Amazon to Andes involves a fair amount of bus time, but the diversity encountered is well worth it. Some exertion is required, since walks of a couple of hours at high altitudes are involved; but anyone reasonably fit will do just fine. Most of the tour is above 8000 feet; two nights in the Amazon are lower, as is the final day around Guayaquil. Mosquitos were (surprisingly) not present except in the mangroves, last day. Ecuador is a very easy and interesting country to visit. People are friendly, and are obviously proud of their ecological and cultural heritage. Accommodations and food on the trip were excellent, and the tour leader was well informed and experienced (20 years). Highly recommend this trip for anyone interested in exploring this wonderful small country.

Most Inspirational Moment

Really too many to count; it depends on whether one's main interest is in the Various cultures or in the huge diversity of flora/fauna.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Pablo was amazing - highest marks!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't worry about bugs, mosquito nets, or anything like that. Just come with some dollars for food, tips, and a few souvenirs and an adventurous spirit. You will need a sweater and windbreaker on a couple of occasions (hiking on Chimborazo or in the National Park), but otherwise moderate temps are typical everywhere. Long sleeve shirts are normal, but a couple of short sleeves will also come in handy. Bring a swim suit in case you want to spend 30 minutes on floating down the river.

Kirsty Simmonds

Reviewed October 2018

Chalet chamonix

Sarah and rich were amazing hosts the food was out of this world and always on time

Most Inspirational Moment

Meeting other guests and hearing the travel stories

Thoughts on Group Leader

Very clam and organised and knowledgeable

Sarah Daniels

Reviewed October 2018

Discover Chile with Easter Island Extension

Whilst the land based trip – what I experienced of it was excellent – the getting there was not. As a solo traveller (1st time with Exodus) – I figured it made sense to let Exodus book my external flights to make for smooth transfer . I was surprised that the outbound flight they booked for me with Air France & a change at CDG Paris – only allowed a connection time of 1 hour & 20 mins. (In fact only 1 hour when one takes into account that boarding must be completed 20 mins before take off on the long haul flight.) Despite voicing my concerns at the time of booking over the phone with the Exodus sales booking agent, I was reassured that this connection time was the norm – even if it did appear a little tight.
Well – my initial fears were confirmed, when a 75 minute delayed “take off” of the initial flight from Heathrow on the day, meant I was denied boarding to the long haul, & subsequently booked on to the next flight 24 hours later. This meant I not only missed out on the 1st day Santiago city tour, but obviously arrived too late to join the Valparaiso trip on day 2.

Most Inspirational Moment

Putting the disastrous outward journey aside - there were so many highlights. Atacama was amazing & the geysers at dawn. (despite altitude sickness at 4,200 metres.) Astronomical night tour - also a must. Torres Del Paine was possibly my favourite part - I had never seen icebergs before & hadn't appreciated the pale blue colour & even managed to capture a photo of one breaking apart. The backdrop to our hotel - magnificent & worth braving the freezing early morning temperatures for fantastic sunrise photos Easter Island - also unmissable (600 photos of heads still to be edited down ) ALSO THE ENTIRE GROUP - YOU ARE AMAZING - we had so much fun.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ignacio - (Chile mainland based tour only) was fantastic. Very laid back & a mine of information

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be extremely careful if allowing Exodus to book your connecting flights. Thoroughly research first & if the connection time is less than 2 hours - demand alternative options. Surely it is the sales bookings team's responsibility if the connection are "tight" - to explain the risks & offer alternatives - but none of that was forthcoming on my booking. Exodus state they adhered to the Air France requirements of a minimum connection time of 1 hour & hence fulfilled their responsibilities. Air France state that they are governed by Air Traffic Control & so also deny responsibility for the flight delay & subsequent "missed" onward flight to Santiago My advice is - book your flights independently / try & fly direct if possible/ consider allowing an additional "travelling" day & arrive 24 hours earlier to avoid mishap if one has to rely on connections & AVOID using Air France.

Reply from Exodus

We would like to thank Sarah for her review. We were pleased to read that she found there to be so many highlights during her time in Chile, but we regret that she experienced a flight delay on her outbound journey. When booking connecting flights, travel companies must adhere to the minimum connection time (MCT) set by each airline in conjunction with the airport authorities and IATA (International Air Transport Association), and it is not possible to reserve flights with connections below the MCT. We appreciate, however that a 75 minute delay will often have an impact on passengers’ onward travel, and we regret that, whilst Exodus ensured that Sarah did not miss out of the aspects of the tour that she had been unable to join with her group, the situation remained so disappointing.

Lucy Crabb – Exodus’ Customer Services Manager

Caroline Morse

Reviewed October 2018

Bucket List Bhutan

If seeing Bhutan and hiking in the Himalayan region is on your bucket list, then the Land of the Thunder Dragon tour is for you! This trip was such a good mix, that it made me really feel like I got to see a good variety and experience Bhutan to the fullest.
We got to trek for five days, seeing beautiful scenery, visit two festivals (including a really fun, smaller local one, and a more famous and larger one in the city), and visited many cultural sites.
Exodus Travels has an amazing local staff in Bhutan, and the guides were all great. Everything was organized down to the last detail, and the trip was executed flawlessly.
I can’t recommend this trip enough!

Most Inspirational Moment

On the fourth day of our hike, the clouds cleared and we got to see some of the world's tallest unclimbed mountains!

Thoughts on Group Leader

We had two leaders, Norbu and Tshering, and they were both excellent. They knew the answer to every question anyone could possibly have about Bhutan! They both had outgoing, fun personalities and worked to make sure everyone on the trip was happy and having a good time.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Pack warmer clothes than you think you'll need for the hike, and pack modest but cooler clothes for the rest of the trip if you're going in September.

Daphne Dawson

Reviewed October 2018

A lot more than utang-utans

I’d been to this part of the world before, but not to see the rain forests. This trip let me see all the incredible wildlife of the region – from insects to elephants. We had amazing guides who saw and named everything long before most of us had noticed a thing. It was a continuous revelation! It was also interesting to meet local people and see their way of life – even experiencing longhouse accommodation briefly. An exciting and thoroughly enjoyable trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

Visiting the Sepilok Urang-utan Rehabilitation Centre (I'd expected to enjoy this), but also seeing elephants in the wild.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader, Rony, was so consistently helpful. He really knew his wildlife and I learnt a great deal during the trip in consequence. But he was also fun to be with, and saw that we experienced local food and saw a number of things tourists might not notice normally. Great company and an excellent leader.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I'd got pretty worried about leeches and high humidity before going. Don't let these things put you off. Although we saw the leeches, they weren't such an issue. I invested in leech socks which were a good buy for the occasion: I left them for other travelers in the end, as I don't expect to use them again. Showers were good, so it was relatively easy to deal with the humidity too. Just pace yourself.

Kathryn Gormley

Reviewed October 2018

Mont Blanc Highlights

Put simply, one of the best holidays I have ever been on! I cannot recommend this trip enough as a complete de-stressing and uplifting break away. The scenery is breathtakingly beautiful and the walks (although a bit shorter than I had imagined!) let you see some of the highlights of this stunning area. The chalet is a good size for relaxing in the evenings – and the hot tub is a nice extra feature (we had it seating 8 of us). The afternoon tea and delicious evening meals prepared by Rich and Sarah also truly make this holiday something very special. I fully recommend this trip to others.

Most Inspirational Moment

I enjoyed all the walks but in particular the Aguiles Rouges and Aguilettes de Houges were for me the most breathtaking views. These walks were around the 2.5-4 hour mark of walking with some steep sections but plenty of breaks,a nice lunch stop and time to take in the scenery made the day longer. Other than our group, we barely saw any other people at Aguilettes de Houges which was very special.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bring a sunhat!

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