Reviews

Discover Sri Lanka

A superb trip with so many varied experiences and one which although most of the major sites were visited also included chances to see day to day Sri Lanka and meet the people whose ever smiling personalties are one of the hallmarks of this beautiful country.

an experience but quite tiring

What you get to see and do is quite an incredible variation: one minute in the hustle and bustle of cities – old and new – next in the snow on mountains, then in the desert and next on the coast! Through all of this you get to experience what Morocco is in terms of a modernising African country but you also get to see that it is not all modern ‘1st world’ living, it hasn’t forgotten or left its past; for me the latter was why I came on this trip.

Even for a premium trip some hotels etc and their locations weren’t great; generally cold, damp and you weren’t exactly encourage to explore the local areas at times.

The trip downtime all but vanished and this left us with very prescriptive days which wasn’t what I expected or wanted. Add to this the very uncomfortable bus seats and you’re left feeling very drained and stiff at the end of most days, but also feeling that you’d not been able to make the most of what you visited. Sometimes you want to get lost in a city to explore it, not jolly around on a ‘follow the brolly’ excursion; for me that’s not an adventure.

Our biggest disappointment was the food. Due to the hotel locations or how your guide presents restaurants there is very little variation beyond beef (or is it goat) / chicken tagines, kebabs and salads. And despite the myriad of spices and herbs in the markets most meals were really very bland.

Overall it was quite an experience and I’m glad I’ve done it.

Most Inspirational Moment

By quite a distance the time in the desert, it is amazing. We had a little bit of time whilst at our auberge to explore the nearby dunes getting a taster of what was to come, but the trip on the camels into proper desert environments and spending the night out in the desert I would happily do again tomorrow. Seeing the wonderful changes of colour as the sun dips down across the dunes, watching the shadows grow and the landscape change is magical.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our tour guide was very knowledgeable but at times quite aloof and trip timing seemed to come from a different time zone - 8 hours journeys were 11 hours+.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I would suggest that the rating of leisurely is compared to other tours they do. Whereas we found it ok some didn't; don't expect just gentle inclines or less and for winter tours bring proper walking shoes - trainers won't be good enough. At the back end of Feb early Mar it is a pain knowing what to pack. During the day in the desert it was mid 20's at night though around freezing. Cities at the start were just into double figures but Riads and hotels a little chilly, not so bad if you can get the a/c blowing warm air though.

Reply from Exodus

We would like to thank Steve for his review, although we sincerely regret that some of the properties on this tour fell below his expectations and that he did not enjoy the food in Morocco. We use client and staff feedback to review each property and if any concerns are raised by clients throughout the year, these will be addressed and dealt with accordingly. We are pleased that Steve overall had an interesting experience; however we have taken both his and Teresa’s (please see above) feedback on board and will make any necessary changes.

Tom Harari – Product Manager

Fabulous Trip

Absolutely brilliant trip. Everything I’d hoped for. Loads to see and do. Lovely country, lovely people. Interesting and varied accommodation. Great group of travelling companions.

Wonderful holiday!

I would recommend this well organised holiday to anyone who wants to explore the diverse landscapes of Costa Rica, as well as see a wide range of wildlife – sloths, monkeys, spiders, frogs, snakes, dolphins, butterflies – as well, of course, birds ( we saw over 100 different types!) The accommodation ranged from good to excellent, and the food was varied and plentiful – not just rice and beans! We were also very fortunate to be with the nicest group of fellow travellers.

Colours of Rajihstan

The trip was good, but very fast paced with very little time for any relaxation. We were extremely well looked after and the standard of the hotels were good. The palaces , forts and temples were amazing and we had a local guide to explain all about them, which kept it interesting. The mini safari was good and we had excellent sittings of tiger in the wild. The downside of the trip was the bad air pollution, in all towns, but particularly bad in Delhi . The amount of rubbish in the streets was awful and everywhere which was not good to look at constantly .The standard restaurants and the food in them was very good, and the restaurants were well chosen.
The guide we had was amazing and made the trip really good, by putting in little extra options, like palm reading and henna tattoos.

Winter Wanderings

We had never snowshoed before so were a bit apprehensive before the trip, but our nerves quickly dissolved when we arrived. Villa Hermani was excellent, with a strong focus on good quality local dishes and a wholesome experience. The owners Hermann and Katharina are very hospitable and welcoming. We had loads of fresh snow so the conditions for this snowshoeing trip couldn’t have been better. The trip was more tiring than regular hiking, though still was very enjoyable, and the mountain scenery was stunning. Snowshoes and poles are provided; you just need to take a day pack for extra layers, yak traks, lunch, snacks and a thermos of herbal tea.

Backroads of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a really beautiful country and there is no better way to see it than on a bike with a group of like minded people cycling alongside. This was a special holiday full of interesting and fascinating things to see. It offered a real mix of both challenging and easy enjoyable cycling. Our guide Suresh was nothing short of marvellous. His attention to detail combined with his sense of humour and his care to make sure we always had what we needed was exceptional. I have been on three Exodus holidays so far and this one must surely be the best so far….guaranteed!

Great trip, great guides, read the trip notes carefully

I loved the trip – some magical moments and great rides – great company, wonderful food, superb team….Everybody else’s reviews i totally aree with, it was wonderful. But not enough reviews on here tell the full story, so here as some things to be aware of

Too long spent in the bus transferring from place to place – that was a real downer. The transfer to some hotels took hours, and when we arrived their didnt seem any reason why that location was chosen, especially in the early part of the trip in the south. The days are really full-on, dont expect any time for site seeing and lazing around. Very early starts every day.

A couple of days had rides that were almost boring – long main roads just nocking out the KM’s. I think exodus could plan these a little better. I’d have preferred more backroads, even if that meant lower quality hotels at the end of it.

WUC021418

What a fantastic experience. From beginning to end we cannot fault this brilliant trip, so well organised with a wonderful enthusiastic guide, Jorge and a brilliant driver Alejandro. We took advantage of opting for the direct flight on BA which meant an extra night at the beginning and and end of the trip, all organised by Exodus with pickup and drop-off and extra nights at the wonderful hotel in San Jose, Hotel Presidente. The wildlife had me glued to my binoculars, the knowledge imparted by Jorge and his ability to spot the furthest bird and animal never ceased to amaze us all plus the interesting information he gave us about his beloved Costa Rica.

Costa Rica - Pura Vida

This was a fantastic introduction to Costa Rica, which packed in so much in the space of two short weeks. The itinerary took in both coasts and led us from the steamy heat to the cool of the cloud forest, enabling us to see a huge range of birds and some interesting animals during a range of walks both during the day and at night. Views everywhere are stunning and the Costa Rican people an absolute delight. We stayed two nights in each place we visited, which meant that we weren’t constantly on the move and could have a full day exploring each location. The travel days were also not too onerous, with time on the road 3-5 hours at a time (with pleant of breaks).

All of the accommodation was good, some more basic than others but all of a good standard. All the rooms were large with plenty of space. The food on this trip was fantastic; quite a few meals were included and were delicious. The food generally in Costa Rica is amazing – even if you order a humble burger it will taste lovely and will generally be made from high quality meat!

Some walks/trips were included and some were optional. These were all explained well and if you fancied time to chill out, you could opt out of one or more of these. I missed a jungle walk at Esquinas Rainforest Lodge but when you see the setting for the swimming pool you will see why!

If you want a trip to really whet your appetite to see more, this is it. All in all this was a great trip, not in the least because of our tour guide, Jorge. If you get him you know you are in safe hands. Pura Vida!