Reviews

Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers

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14469 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Les Wilson

Reviewed April 2018

Everest Base Camp Trek

This was my first trip with Exodus and I was not disappointed. From my first enquiry, throughout the planning, during the trip and afterwards, Exodus were superb. I was kept informed of an changes to the itinary or flights and whenever I asked a question an advisor responded promptly.

I hadn’t met any of my group until we arrived at Heathrow or Kathmandu but very quickly got to know some great people who I hope to keep in touch with. There’s even talk of some of us meeting up in the future for another trip.

The guides were all first class. Ozzy, Sorros and Mingma along with Yak Man took great care of us and couldn’t do enough for us. Acclimatisation and staying healthy is key to a successful trip to base camp. The guides took great care over getting this right.
All in all, a great Exodus experience and I look forward to tackling Island Peak next year.

Most Inspirational Moment

Sunrise over Everest from Kallapatar. Beautiful!!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Very well organised, very knowledgeable, couldn't do enough for his clients and had a great sense of humour.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Listen to the guides and take their advice. Ozzy's advice was simple but absolutely accurate: 1. Walk slow 2. Pack light 3. Sip water constantly 4. Don't lose your apetite Don't burden yourself with anything you don't need. 1 set of clothes will easily last several days!!

Kath Tordoff

Reviewed April 2018

Great mix of walking, sightseeing & relaxing!

I’ve been on several Exodus trips and this was definitely up there as one of my favourites. All three islands were beautiful and very different from each other, the walks were really enjoyable and there was just the right amount of free time to enjoy some sightseeing, shopping or even relax on the beach! I was concerned that the number of ferry transfers would eat into our holiday time but we spent most of those journeys out on deck in the sunshine and it all added to the experience. I’d recommend this trip to anyone.

Most Inspirational Moment

I loved the whole trip but an added bonus was an unexpected stop off at the Acropolis on our way back to Athens airport! My friend and I had been regretting not flying out a day or two earlier to explore Athens so this just made our week. Other highlights included a bouzouki concert in Naxos and gatecrashing a Greek wedding on our last night!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Thanos was a real character, had loads of knowledge about the islands to share with us, and made our trip run very smoothly. His help in navigating the ferry journeys was invaluable! He chose some great, inexpensive restaurants and tavernas for our evening meals and made sure there were no arguments over the bill!

Duarte Rocha

Reviewed April 2018

A great hike and a small taste of China that leaves you wanting more.

I enjoy hiking and love the Far East for its culture so this trip was a good choice when comparing length, cost, activities and travel involved. The majority of the time was spent hiking the Great Wall (6 days).

A worry I had before setting off were that it could be quite monotonous spending all your time walking on a wall but I was pleasantly surprised to find that each day and usually multiple times during the same day the terrain would vary from fresh reconstructed parts of the wall to sections that were ruins and had not been touched for hundreds of years. The constant ups and down, with some sections being *very* steep, some minor scrambly sections, areas that looked to have a sheer drop to one side and also not really knowing what was coming next as you headed around a corner or over a ridge made for a fantastic hike.

The scenery was amazing, seeing the Wall snaking over the beautiful mountain ridges for miles into the distance leaves you in awe of the sheer scale of its size and human effort that went into building it. The apricot trees were blossoming and the skies were blue for most of the trip.

Walking the untouched areas meant that for the majority of the trip we were the only group walking the wall which added to the experience and lessens that feeling of “being a tourist”. One day we did walk a beautiful but touristy part of the wall that was fairly packed with visitors but this was a nice experience, especially the huge groups of local school children who wanted to practice their English skills with us and take selfies with members of our group.

At the homestays the local families were friendly and welcoming and the food provided was outstanding, and quite different to the usual fried Chinese food you may be used to in the UK.

Our final day was spent in Beijing, visiting Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City which is a worthwhile experience and along the way we attempted Tai Chi, visited a Taoist shrine, saw a Kung Fu and an acrobatics show as well as some shopping in town. This was just a small taster of the China experience and it did leave me wanting to visit other parts of that vast country at some point.

I’ve been on a few Exodus tours and I’ve been fortunate once again to have shared this one with an extremely friendly, kind and funny group of people that made the trip all the more enjoyable.

Most Inspirational Moment

The Great Wall of China is immense and the views of it passing over the mountains for miles on end are breathtaking.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jerry Wu is one of the best leaders you could wish for. Very knowledgeable about the history and culture of the locations we visited. He would often break into long but entertaining, funny and enlightening monologues telling us of his personal experiences in China. Our welfare and enjoyment was always his number one concern and so we always felt we were in very safe, organised and capable hands.

Advice for Potential Travellers

One thing I wish I'd researched before leaving is access that access to certain web services are banned in China so you may need to find an alternative or a work around so you can use translation or messaging apps while on the trip. I don't believe O2 has a 4G contract with the local telecom services in China so if you have a travel bolt package with them your data speeds will be slow. Wifi is available at the hotel and homestays but they can also be quite slow. The taxi drivers don't speak a word of English. Make sure you have the name, address and tel no. of the hotel you are staying at written in Chinese characters to show the driver in order to prevent a potential faff at the airport. Also, use the officially licensed taxis, they are very cheap and wont charge over the odds compared to drivers standing at the airport arrivals (This generally holds true for many places around the world). I wore running trainers for the hike and was glad I did - they are more flexible, have good grip for fairly flat surfaces and light, I felt they suited the terrain better especially in the dry season. The homestays usually had boiled eggs as part of the breakfast but they do not provide salt so bringing some along might be an idea. Chop sticks are your only option for some of the meals. Be prepared for squat toilets and make sure you have some warm clothing and waterproofs, mountainous areas can see drastic weather changes - on our trip the temperature dropped at least 10 C degrees literally overnight and went up again the day after. Plenty bottled water is provided by the driver or available at the homestays and you can pay for them (cheap) at the end of your stay (honour system). Beers in most places cost around £1 for a 660ml bottle, the hotels in Beijing may charge 3 x that much. The local "fire water" is an acquired taste but guaranteed to liven up an evening.

Ed Helps

Reviewed April 2018

Great guide and group made the trip

The cycling was challenging in the heat but the guide, mechanic and driver provided great support. A group were inclusive and the sights seen were spectacular.

Most Inspirational Moment

Looking into an active volcano at dusk.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The group letter was exceptional. Nothing was to much trouble. He looked after the safety and welfare of the group.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The hills are challenging for casual cyclist in the heat of the day.

Dave Farmer

Reviewed April 2018

Winter walking

I went on the winter ascent of Toubkal specifically as I wanted to experience the mountain in winter conditions and learn and practice winter walking skills with crampons and ice axe. I wasn’t disappointed. We had excellent training with both bits of kit with plenty of time to practice during the training, and a chance to put the training into practice with an acclimatisation walk before the actual ascent. The itinerary allows for at least one days delay due to weather, and we needed it. The weather in the mountains changes rapidly and our guide was wise enough to know when to call off the summit attempt. The day we summited was pretty much perfect – blue skies, lots of snow and ice and stunning views of this beautiful country.

It was harder than I expected – the height gain per day is greater than most other treks and inevitably on a shorter trek, acclimatisation time is compromised. But I have no complaints. We had a blizzard on the day we descended back to the bus, but our guide (Youssef) and assistant guide (Lassan) were both on top of the situation, and we descended safely and together for a welcome mint tea at Imlil.

If you are thinking about the winter ascent (and haven’t done winter mountain walking before), you have to understand that the weather conditions and the snow and ice add considerably to the difficulty but make for a much more rewarding summit.

Marrakech is a beautiful city. I loved the contrast and really appreciated having a full day after the mountains to relax and enjoy exploring the city.

Most Inspirational Moment

It's tempting to say getting to the top, and that was a wonderful moment after the effort we had put in. But equally, bonding as a team so that we all got to the top together meant a great deal to me. Getting through the tough descent back to Imlil was, on reflection, an achievement that I was proud of, too.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Youssef was knowledgeable and informative from the start. By the time we'd reached the mountains and completed the winter training, we trusted him so that when he said that we couldn't summit because the weather was likely to get worse, we knew he was right (and he was subsequently proved right). We learnt a lot about the country, the culture and beliefs, and the way the trekking business worked from him.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure you have the right kit. For the winter climb, your boots must be able to take proper crampons and be worn in. Mine were, but I still developed blister as the crampon straps tightened the boots slightly differently. Take plenty of plasters! I wish I'd done a little more aerobic/gym training instead of concentrating on hill walking. I've done Everest Base Camp and Kilimanjaro but this is different again - the ascent comes in short, intense bursts so that extra fitness is worth having so that you can enjoy the trek. In cold conditions, the drinking tube of a bladder system can freeze, as can the bite valve. Blow the water back out of the tube after you've drunk and tuck the bite valve under your armpit or into your jacket. Or take a smaller water bottle and keep it inside your coat. Horde your small change. In the mountain villages and refuge, there is next to no chance of breaking a 100dh note for single bottles of water or snacks. Similarly in Marrakech, I found the shop owners (even the supermarket next to the hotel) extremely reluctant to take larger denomination notes for small purchases. Jemaa el Fna is a fantastic place but is best visited after dark, when the square fills up and the food stalls are out. It's busy, noisy, chaotic and fun and not as intimidating as you may first think. Local families got here. But be sensible with your valuables and watch out for kids who crowd around you trying to sell you little glow sticks - it's a distraction while they go for your pockets. It happened to me and I felt two hands unzipping my jacket pockets. I just managed to stop them taking my camera and phone. Don't let this put you off. Just keep everything in inside pockets and be a little wary.

Sue Rosser

Reviewed April 2018

Discover Namibia -Lodges

This trip combines the highlights of the Namibian landscape with game viewing in the parks. It did not disappoint!

Most Inspirational Moment

The wildlife was the highlight for me. The most memorable being the night drive when we found a lioness at the waterhole nearby, she got up and walked down the road in front of our truck - roaring on the way. We must of followed her for almost an hour. She then met up with a male and disappeared into the scrub. On our return to camp that night, she was waiting at the roadside with her mate. My husband and I went to the camp waterhole when we got back and found the male there. Just the two of us stood in the dark at almost midnight watching this magnificent creature!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ronney was extremely hard working as he also did all the driving on the trip as well as guiding and organising. He was warm friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. Along with Jonas the cook the leaders made a good team.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take any cash in South African rand, one Namibian dollar equalled one rand when I was there. Namibian dollars are only available in Namibia and not exchangeable outside the country. Also, whilst you are there take advantage of all opportunities - you may never go back to Namibia! My husband and I, went on the Dolphin cruise (a bit cheesy but fun) with sea lions and pelicans climbing on the boat as well as dolphins surfing in the wake. The flight, a very interesting perspective of the landscape. A full day and a night game drive and in Etosha, very enjoyable, the night drive was particularly interesting (my highlight of the trip). A game drive in Waterbury plateau which had rare species such as Roan and Sable antelope and rhino. Finally, on the last day in Windhoek as our flight was not till the evening - we went to Okapuka Ranch - which was a delightful way to end the tour. The restaurant/ bar is beautifully designed with the seats viewing the grounds with animals grazing.

julia gibson

Reviewed April 2018

a week in Jordan - much more than Petra

This is a full on trip but we covered so much. It’s probably only now that I am home that I can really appreciate it all. Issa our guide was really knowledgeable and did his best to make sure we all got the best out of the trip. Mohammed, our own personal armed escort, was also a great addition to the trip although a little unnerving at first. Long travelling days were broken up by lots of stops and toilets and water were never far away. We carried our water with us on the coach in the form of two massive plastic containers so we could always top up. The weather was perfect for exploration, sunny but not too hot for Petra although Aqaba was pretty hot. Food was reasonable although a little predictable by the end of the trip. The sheer scale of Petra can only be experienced by being there and having the second day to explore at one’s leisure was great. The beauty of the desert landscape in Wadi Rum took me by surprise.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the treasury emerge between a gap in the rocks then discovering its magnificence in full, and the sheer beauty and tranquility of the night time in the desert were my highlights.

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was very knowledgeable and keen to share it with us. At times it was a bit of a route march to keep up with him, the emphasis was for you to stay with him rather than him to check on us - which led to two of us misplacing the group at one stage!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure you do dress appropriately, it is a strict muslim country and although we were told they are tolerant of visitors we felt more comfortable if covered up to a reasonable degree ( below the knee skirts/shorts and shoulders covered). Alcohol is not freely available, the cave bar at Petra saw a lot of our custom! There are a lot of steps at Petra but most places can be reached by donkey or horse, not just the monastery if you find this tough, you do need a reasonable level of fitness however.

Martin Patterson

Reviewed April 2018

Gokyo lakes and Everest base camp

Having arrived in Katmandu via Delhi we were met by our tour guide Shailesh Tamang who for the next 19 days would be our go to advisor for all things Nepalese. The first night was spent in a Katmandu restaurant getting to know the rest of our group as well as sampling some of the local food. The next morning saw us all gathered for a pre dawn return to the airport in preparation for the flight to the mountain airstrip at Lukla in a small 16 seat aircraft. The views of the mountains and valleys during the flight gave us a sample of the sights we would experience during our trek. On arrival at Lukla and our baggage given over to the porters, who with seemingly superhuman strength carried 2 or 3 bags each, and we were off on our first day of trekking in Nepal. The first day of trekking was fairly short to ease us into what would progressively become tougher days of knee jolting foot pounding trekking. Our days took on a familiar routine of 7am breakfast, trek for a couple of hours then stop for refreshments at a teahouse then move on until lunch was taken at another teahouse and then onwards again until mid afternoon to our accomodation for the night. The teahouses are clean and very basic but do provide everything needed for this type of trip. Throughout the days of trekking there are a constant stream of porters, mules and yaks moving up and down the trail with supplies which adds to the whole experience of trekking in this mountain wilderness. The scenery is constantly changing as new valleys and mountains come into view at every turn of the trail, remember to look behind you as this view is as stunning as what lies ahead. During our trek we experienced weather that allowed walking in shirt sleeves as well as hand numbing bitter cold, so a good set of warm clothing is essential. There were a couple of extra early starts to climb Gokyo Ri and Kala Pattar to view sunrise over Everest which was well worth the extra effort. Our trek up and over Cho la pass was particularly tough as we had to walk through snow and when we started our descent more snow fell upon us, which for me just added to the whole experience. All in all this trip has left us with some amazing memories and a yearning to return one day.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were many moments during this trip that will leave a lasting memory. Ascending Gokyo Ri and Kala Pattar pre dawn for views of Everest, making it up and over Cho la pass despite the adverse weather conditions and reaching Everest base camp.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader Shailesh Tamang was always available to answer any questions and give help where necessary. His years of experience of leading in the mountains was quite evident as he successfully got 12 trekkers of varying experience safely from start to finish achieving all the goals set out in the itinery.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Listen to the advice of your tour leader and guides, this is their back yard after all. Don't underestinate the effects of AMS or how cold it can feel at night. Make sure you prepare yourself physically for the rigours of this trip to ensure maximum enjoyment.

Tracey Patterson

Reviewed April 2018

Everest & Gokyo Lakes Circuit

Had a great time. Was very hard trekking but the sense of achievement is worth it.
Saw lots of fantastic scenery and experienced lots of weather conditions.

Most Inspirational Moment

Making it to Everest Base Camp and the top of Kala Patthar.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Shailesh Tamang was a good leader and looked after all members of the group. He knows his country and imparts his knowledge well.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure you are fit enough for this trip. Make sure you have micro-spikes or equivalent and know how to use them.

Russell Millns

Reviewed April 2018

Albainia 2018

a brilliant trip giving us a great out look of the country going from city to villages mountains and the sea. the only criticism i have was the hotel in permeti was cold no heating but still a nice hotel. the guide which started the trip with was very helpful with the information about his country it was sad for him to find that his grandmother was very ill and had to leave us to go back to his family i send my regards to ed and his family .the second guide we had was again fantastic. the churches and icons are fantastic to look at ,the food was wonderful and vearied.a big thank you to our driver that took us around the country with great skill and he always had a smile on his face. overall veiw i have of the trip was the country of Albainia is a lovely place to go to and has changed my impressions
of the place and people