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

14477 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Keris Mcdonald

Reviewed September 2018

Two Out of Three Aint Bad

We did this trip as a private group of friends. We’re all keen on history and museums – we’d also managed as a bonus to book tickets for the closing ceremony of the World Nomad Games, which coincided with our visit to Kyrgyzstan.

The Islamic monuments of Uzbekistan were breathtaking, and the natural scenery of Kyrgyzstan was lovely. Both countries are clean and well-ordered and felt safe. I enjoyed the yurt camp far more than I expected too – it had the best beds of the trip 😉

Kazakhstan I cannot recommend. It’s the only country I’ve *ever* been to that I’d consider not worth the effort. It feels like going back into the Soviet era – there was a plainclothesman lurking outside our hotel reporting on arrivals for example – and the police are flat-out corrupt. One of our number was held at the Kazakh border for 7 hours on the way out – there were strong attempts at intimidation (though luckily he kept his cool) and it all ended with him slipping a £100 bribe to an officer to get out of the country.

Most Inspirational Moment

Finding out about Ulug-Beg and his astronomy was inspirational. Bukhara is wonderful - a golden jewel of a city. Samarkand's mausoleums are unforgettably beautiful.

Thoughts on Group Leader

We had two leaders - Tahir in Uzbekistan and Ermek for the rest of the trip. Both were conscientious and flexible, and were willing to put in extra hours to take us to museums we wanted to see that weren't in the official itinerary. Ermek stuck with our detained friend right throughout the crisis - he was our hero.

Advice for Potential Travellers

All three countries on this tour are police-states to some extent. Mostly this means people are well-behaved in public, but BE REALLY CAREFUL. In Uzbekistan you will not be able to avoid tourist shops as they are literally set up within every corner of every historical monument. Don't feel hassled to buy anything - there isn't any hard-sell. Do take the opportunity to shop in the food markets though - and buy the smoked cheese strings, they are awesome! Kyrgyzstan is the opposite - if you want souvenirs you might well have to ask your guide to find you a shop. In Kazakhstan DO NOT SMOKE IN PUBLIC - the police are looking for a chance to shake tourists down. DO NOT BUY A SOUVENIR KNIFE AT ANY POINT ON THE TOUR, even if the vendor tells you it is certified to be allowed across the borders. It isn't. If you do get detained, stay absolutely calm despite every provocation; they're just trying to pressurise you so that they can extract more money. And remember to refer to your guide only as your "translator." PS: Take Enterosgel with you. It's better than imodium.

Nancy Liu

Reviewed September 2018

Norway hiking

The accommodation and the guides could not have been better.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing everyone hiking up and down despite their ages.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Awesome

Advice for Potential Travellers

Michael Townsley

Reviewed September 2018

Waliking on the Greek Islands

Excellent Guide, Scenery and organisation. Some of hotels were not of a reasonable standard.

Most Inspirational Moment

The walk along the Caldera, Santorini.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent knowledge, very well organised and good personality.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for the heat when you are walking at this time of year. Keep luggage to a minimum as there are trips between the islands where you have to manage your own luggage.

Barbara Elliston

Reviewed September 2018

Cycle Romania

A wonderful trip exploring very rural parts of Transylvania – varying terrain – some stretches of unmade roads. Beautiful scenery and interesting visits to Monasteries and fortified Churches. No problem with the bicycles provided.

Most Inspirational Moment

Cycling through very rural parts. Meeting up with friendly hosts at the overnight stays in the towns and experiencing some of their culture and food.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Very good and knowledgeable and able to cope with all eventualities. The driver of the van was also very knowledgeable and very helpful moving luggage, mechanical issue with the bicycles and providing refreshments.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Not many places to get cash out of machines so make sure you have enough.

Barbara Elliston

Reviewed September 2018

Cycling in the Transylvania area of Romania

Most Inspirational Moment

Cycling through very rural parts. Meeting up with friendly hosts at the overnight stays in the towns and experiencing some of their culture and food.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

Not many places to get cash out of machines so make sure you have enough.

Sioned Jones

Reviewed September 2018

Berchules, Sierra Nevada, Spain

Another great holiday thanks to Exodus! This was my 13th walking holiday with Exodus and one of the best, thanks to the varied walks, excellent leader, great scenery, wonderful family run hotel and good weather.

Most Inspirational Moment

Following the Moors waterways into the hills and enjoying the long varied walks along the rugged landscape and through pretty little villages. We covered 9 miles, 10 miles, 9 miles, 10 miles, then 12 miles during the week, which was challenging enough for a Grade 3 walk. It was great to be out for a full day, before returning "home" to the wonderful, family run Los Berchules Hotel. Our hosts were Alejandro, his wife Csilla, the lovely Wendy (Alejandro's mum) and Omar. The staff were amazing and nothing was too much bother for them. Alejandro cooked us fantastic, locally sourced food, whilst Csilla and Omar waited on. Wendy made the excellent home made puddings and gave us a warm welcome "home" each day front of house.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Dan was a great leader. His local knowledge of history, the way people live and wildlife was second to none and his Yorkshireman sense of humour added to that! Dan allows you to walk on at your own pace, but has control of the group is an unassuming, professional way.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Having exhausted most of the Grade 5 centre based options over the years, we were looking for a more challenging Grade 3 walking trip and this one surpassed our expectations in terms of terrain, scenery, length of walks and accommodation. I would highly recommend this holiday.

Sioned Jones

Reviewed September 2018

Berchules, Sierra Nevada, Spain

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

Sudie Ghosh

Reviewed September 2018

Absolutely amazing.....

The trip was amazing – made so by the friendliest and most accommodating tour guide, great tour group, and the beautiful trails and amazing food.

Most Inspirational Moment

I have done group tours before and this was my first with Exodus, and honestly was the best tour group I could have asked for. Everyone clicked and we all got along and enjoyed our hikes and chats along the way. Needless to say the Dalmatian Coast did not disappoint. I enjoyed our hikes, the picnics, the breakfasts together, the beautiful sea. The van rides were very comfortable too.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The tour guide Ivan, was simply the best. He paid attention to each and everyone of us and listened to what we had to say. He sang and chatted with us along the trails, on the bus and the meals. He took care of specific needs and requests as well. It will be tough for future guides to get a better rating.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Yes, do this trip!!!!

Andrew Goff

Reviewed September 2018

Brilliant Trip

This is a well designed trip giving an excellent overview of all three Baltic states. This not only included the capital cities but other towns and much countryside. We were given expert led tours of all the cities that we visited but time was then allowed for us to wander on our own to explore or revisit sites. But this is much more than just a city tour. We also visited numerous other sites, both natural and man made including museums that record the turbulent history of these countries. Highly recommended.

Most Inspirational Moment

The way that these countries have come together and shaken off the horrors of the past. Only 30 years since they became independent of the Soviet Union yet they feel like fully developed European countries. The roads are excellent, the hotels comfortable and we ate some fabulous meals, both traditional and world wide. And so clean - barely any litter at all. Before the trip I imagined these countries might be a bit grim and Soviet-like still. Absolutely none of it.

Thoughts on Group Leader

We had an excellent group leader. Vaida travelled with us the whole way, facilitating tours, hotels and meals. Occasionally she would conduct the tours herself, particularly when we got to her native Lithuania.

Advice for Potential Travellers

This is a full on trip. There are some early starts in order to cover the miles. The tours involve quite a lot of walking (on some pretty bumpy cobbled streets in the old towns) and standing. Some of the older buildings involve climbing up steep, tight staircases though these are optional. The weather was exactly like the UK.

Jill Kilpatrick

Reviewed September 2018

Beautiful Bosnia

Yet again Exodus has offered an amazing package. The best guides, the best views and the best locations. The Bosnian mountains are stunning and the local people are so welcoming.