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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14502 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Joanne Parker

Reviewed January 2018

Amazing trekking experience.

Namaste! When we decided to book this trek we considered several things – costing, availability, timings and fitness level; and upon reflection, we chose the right trek at the right time – it was a fantastic experience. The trek itself is 18 days (with varying levels of distance) through a variety of scenery – from forests to valleys, from large villages to small hamlets – each day is unique and interesting with stunning views of the Himalayan mountains. You acclimatize slowly on gradual routes with a small group and guides: porters carry your large bag (exceptionally fast!) so you just have a day pack with you.
As we trekked in December we hardly saw other trekkers on our route and this made for a more remote feeling: you are embedded in the local culture from the start and to the end. This will be a memorable trip for you.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were several inspirational moments on our trip - passing the Thorung-La pass, the views from Poon Hill, the views from Manang, the temples of Muktinath, the villages we passed through and the Nepalese people we met. I think overall it was the grandness of the mountains that overlook the circuit - they are incomparable and astounding to see and you will be in awe of them. The whole experience hasn't fully sunk in yet!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Bikash Tamang was a fantastic group leader - compassionate, caring, funny, friendly and knowledgeable. He made the experience enjoyable and ensured the pace was suitable for all; we never felt rushed nor unable to stop and admire the view and take pictures. Bikash pointed out views we would have otherwise missed, recommended things to try and took us to good quality restaurants in Pokhara and Thamel. I felt safe with Bikash as group leader and reassured that any issue I might have had he would do his utmost to help sort it. He is proud to work for Exodus and is a good representative of the company and their ethics. We want to book another trekking experience in Nepal and I will be asking for Bikash as our group leader (if he is available).

Advice for Potential Travellers

The circuit can be dusty in a lot of places so a buff/face mask is a must - this was a great bit of kit that was used often and saved a lot of coughing. We found that the Steripens we used struggled to work at higher altitudes so take back up tablets for sterilisation just in case. Jelly babies! A good 'pick me up' for when energy is low. A good tip would be to write on the map you're provided with the dates of the mountains you see for reflection when you return - it is also useful the take a photo of the day's itinerary on your camera before you start snapping pictures that day so you know which day's photos are on your camera and can match up to any trip notes you make in your journal You won't spend as much as suggested in the trip notes but take that amount anyway as there's a lot to buy in Thamel and having extra spending money was great for us (practice bargaining as well if you're not used to it!). Don't be afraid to ask questions from your guides! Stop, take photos, interact with the locals and admire the views. Lastly, a headtorch. Some people in our group didn't pack one but I found I used mine often and there are a couple of days where you start in the dark and it is needed.

Judy pogson

Reviewed January 2018

Hiking Northern Cyprus

I really enjoyed this trip and the group were fun and our leader was helpful. I would have preferred more challenging hikes as the abilities were quite different. I would also have preferred to be able to choose our own restaurants rather than being taken to one of the Leaders choice which wasn’t always good.

Most Inspirational Moment

Really enjoyed seeing the Monasteries, as well as the Ghost Town. The Christmas eve dinner the hotel put on and the party were both great fun.

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was nice but not sure he always managed the very different hiking abilities in the group. There were several really fast ones and some very slow and the ones ahead were constantly were having to wait for the slower one and he often went ahead with the faster ones.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The food is very heavy and the lunches were boring (always the same white bread rolls and cheese). So much meat the vegetarian options not always good.

Jayne Griffith

Reviewed January 2018

Trekking in the Anti-Atlas mountains

An absolutely amazing trekking holiday! This was my first holiday with Exodus and have booked another one as a result!

Most Inspirational Moment

Loving the holiday/adventure so much, wondering why I hadn't done this before!!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Mohammed was fabulous! He led the group in a non- dominating manner, answering any questions with incredible knowledge and understanding of everything. He was friendly and very good company and everything he did seemed to go ahead seamlessly.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure you have a good, down 4-season sleeping bag as it gets really cold at night. We had frost on the first one!! If gluten intolerant (as I am) take lots of carbohydrate snacks as rice was the only carbohydrate I could eat.

Denise Morgan

Reviewed January 2018

Coach trip with a bit of biking bolted on??

Have done quite a few trips with Exodus before and all have been generally well organised. I felt this trip was really organised as a coach trip with a bit of cycling bolted on and its a shame the trip leader didn’t double up as the cycle leader. I was hoping for a fair bit of cycling on this trip but found myself being led to local mosques (it was in the itinerary therefore we must do it, come rain or sunshine) for a “tour” which I was’t really interested in.

The quality of the bikes used weren’t fit for purpose (Exodus, you need to get new bikes for his trip!!), and they were certainly not the front suspension bikes advertised in the trip notes. In fact, given the amount of steep downhill riding, it would be very helpful to have bikes with functioning brakes (my rear brakes could be fully engaged and I’d still be able to push my bike forward!), or even better, with disc brakes. It would also be useful to have bikes that would change gear under pressure (i.e. when cycling uphill). I understand that bikes on these types of trips are heavily used, but that doesn’t mean they should be badly looked after. Finally, on the subject of bikes, the bike mechanics on this trip were also pretty awful – I had a bike that would not change gears on the uphill (see point above) and when I asked the mechanics to look at this, their answer seemed to be to spin the peddles, change the gears and tell me there was nothing wrong (or worse still, that I didn’t know how to ride a bike).

Most of the cycling was pretty great, its a shame there wasn’t more of it. The only gripe I had about this was that the coach would literally trail behind the last rider by only 2 – 3 meters and if you are the last rider, that is not a pleasant experience!!!

The trip leader was fairly knowledgeable, though very repetitive, and a little confusing with his plans at times. I also wish trip leaders on these types of trips would actually recommend nice places to eat, rather than to suggest always eating in hotels – I had high hopes for the food in Jordan but unfortunately I only had one memorable meal. That brings me onto lunches and snacks…. We were asked to cough up 45 JD at the beginning of the trip for lunches and tips for the hotels – this was significantly more than the trip notes suggested (20 – 25 JD) – this covered us for snacks (biscuits and dates and 5 lunches (mainly pre-bought sandwiches). When asked if it was necessary to provide money for snacks (I had brought a lot of my own), I was told it was mandatory, not optional as the trip notes stated.

Quality of the hotels was generally fine. Wadi Rum is an “experience” if you’ve never done that type of thing before. If you have camped out in the desert before, then its just another forced night out in a random campsite. In Morocco last year I did a night out in the desert in a similar camp – the folks running the camp then at least tried to entertain us with local music, but there was no such thing in Wadi Rum – the trip leader and staff disappeared straight after dinner.

Finally, the transport used was kinda dirty, and I mean chewing gum stuck on the back of seats dirty – the coaches could certainly do with a bit of a clean.

Most Inspirational Moment

The day of cycling across the desert - the scenery is amazing, though there are a few steep hills which are quite hard work when your gears don't work!!!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Very knowledgeable but a bit too repetitive and talked way too much. I've also never felt so controlled by the trip leader on a trip before.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you are wanting a cycling experience, there are better trips out there. If you're interested in culture and are happy to have a trip leader talk to you for ages at a time, with a bit of leisurely cycling thrown in, this trip might be for you.

Reply from Exodus

We would like to thank Denise for her feedback, although we are very sorry to hear that she was disappointed in the quality of equipment provided for the trip and other aspects of the itinerary. We have contacted Denise on an individual basis, but would like to confirm that a new bike fleet has been purchased and these will be used for Exodus trips from March 2018.

We have also reviewed the set-up of snacks and lunches to ensure that this is communicated clearly to clients in an appropriate way.

There is normally a performance of Rababa and dancing at the Wadi Rum camp and we have discussed this with the Bedouin Camp owners to reiterate what our clients and Exodus expect as part of this experience.

Monica Princic – Product Manager for Jordan

Ana O

Reviewed January 2018

Beyond Expectations

An absolutely amazing trip. Nepal is such a beautiful country with very beautiful, kind and open people, and this trips opens a door into this culture. I have been mountain trekking and altitude trekking before, but this is by far my most favorite trip: first, there’s plenty time to acclimatize, a very gentle way up, with gradual increase in altitude, easy on the body (considering the trip and the physical activity). I found it easier on this trip than my other experiences (Kilimanjaro, Toubkal). And one of the things I enjoyed the most is passing villages, seeing the local people and how they live. You are embedded in the local culture from the start and to the end. This makes Nepal quite distinct! The landscapes change every day, and you can’t help but want to one picture after another. The food and accomodation are mostly basic, but one has to expect it on these kinds of trips, and as long as you have the right expectations, you’d be able to enjoy it hugely.

Most Inspirational Moment

All of it! So hard to pick! Seeing people, seeing children, dancing with porters, putting another rock on top of the rock towers, Poon hill, NEPAL! Loved it all, every day!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Bikash is the best! I'd go to Nepal with him again tomorrow! He is very attentive to everyone's needs and moods, and goes out of his way to make this trip an amazing experience for all!

Advice for Potential Travellers

1) don't change money at the airport - they take commission which you can easily avoid in town! most places would change you all money you want, so you don't need to worry about the limits. You do need local cash from Kathmandu to Pokhara. Take cash pounds or $, as ATMs (in Kathmandu) have stricter limits (some 10,000 rupees = $100 = GBP80) and commissions (one definitely cannot take all one needs in 1 go at an ATM). 2) be prepared for temperature range - you could go from a tshirt during the day to down jacket over dinner. Take layers and be prepared. I would also advise taking cold medicine and sore throat meds along, just in case: It's easy to get one when not used to this temperature range. 3) nights are cold: it will be cold in your room, either take a good sleeping bag, or rent one from exodus, take a bottle appropriate for hot water (and a sock to put it in) for hot water bottle if you tend to be cold. The Thorang La Pass is going to be cold too! make sure you have appropriate clothes, including socks and gloves! 4) hot showers are not guaranteed, take wet wipes, that would make your life simpler! 5) snacks (chocolate bars) are easily available from all along the trek, but jelly babies go a long way in the mountains! Take them and share with your new friends! 6) we definitely used less money for meals along the trek than the trip notes suggest, but there are plenty of shopping opportunities in Pokhara and Kathmandu + some along the trek. Kathmandu has a lot of outdoors shops, easy to get any trekking gear you want if you don't have any, and it'll be cheaper - if you have enough time in Kathmandu before the trek begins. All above true at least for December departures!

Hazel Nissen

Reviewed January 2018

Annapurna circuit group winter trek

A trek that shows Nepal from the city to the mountains. Watch the landscape, people, villages, food and animals change as you climb from the city, to subalpine, to alpine. A wonderful introduction to Nepal that has adventure as well as social fun with the guides, porters and other trekkers in the group. Also a good way to start high altitude trekking with experienced guides who carry oxygen and first aid.

Most Inspirational Moment

Meeting local villagers who live high up in the mountains with limited resources

Thoughts on Group Leader

Experienced, knowledgeable and also joined in with our group socially and befriended us. Worked very hard to include everyone's preferences and requests even though it was a group trip

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take the altitude seriously and join a group or be very careful taking time to acclimatise and take plenty of very warm clothing and sleeping bag and thermos. Be prepared for limited hot showers during the winter season and electricity

john odonnell

Reviewed January 2018

CENTRAL AMERICA Nov11th

After braving the ridiculous American vetting of transit passengers[I was lucky came in through Dallas not Houston]things immediately became better.The tour leader and staff were really good.The trip was well organised and the staff were on the ball at all times.The group were really great and mixed well.The three countries were so different and added to the enjoyment of the trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

I think the most inspirational theme of the trip was that all three countries were providing power or attempting to through renewable energy e.g. wind turbines. Made me ashamed to be Australian given our energy policies.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Worked so hard and so determined to ensure we had a good trip and an enjoyable one.The supporting staff were great as well and worked very well as a team.

Advice for Potential Travellers

There is a great diversity in the countries and a simple example is added taxes to meals for example Costa Rica is the best example of this.I slightly overspent on budget but it was no big deal.Learn some Spanish I had not and wished I had

Sabina Heywood

Reviewed January 2018

Truly magical experience

This trip is a fantastic way of exploring northern Finland. The activities throughout the week keep you physically active so it’s an ideal holiday for people who enjoy that! It’s a beautiful location and the scenery took our breath away on several occasions.

Most Inspirational Moment

All the activities included are fantastic but our highlight was actually going on our own 10k snow trek with the snow-shoes. There's lots of information at Basecamp provided. The dogsledding included in the Exodus package was another highlight! We also chose the full day of dogsledding but the included option had better scenery.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Bjorn is fab - lots of knowledge and a great sense of humour.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take a hairdryer if you use one...they have them at Basecamp but you have to keep returning it. Your own base-layers, hat and face buff are useful too. The wifi didn't work at Basecamp but it wasn't a problem for us as we used our 4G.

Gurcan S

Reviewed January 2018

Adventurous trip

It is an adventurous trip which offers an interesting overview of the country. The tour was generally well organised and ran smoothly, the driving was safe, the only criticise is about the comfort of the vehicle: the group of 16 people tried to be fitted in the small van, and one of tourists had to share the seat between driver and the guide in the front…
The group leader Lahcen Hamyouy was very knowledgeable guide, friendly and responsible person.
The best day of the journey was camel riding through Sahara desert and star gazing in bedouin camp. Also the Atlas mountains scenery was magnificent while driving and walking as well. One of the highlights was visiting kasbah Ait-Ben-Haddou, in Ouarzazate province, after seeing this ghost town you understand why this place has attracted a lot of directors and writers of various film industries to shoot movies such as ‘Lawrence of Arabia’, ‘The Mummy’, ‘Gladiator’ etc.
Tour organisers should consider to spend more time in this beautiful place rather than wasting it in the remote village in Atlas mountains in freezing prison cell-like plain rooms. That guest house was very uncomfortable to stay in and needs a lot of improvements (little mobile heaters can make big difference).
The food was good overall BUT hygiene and sanitation was very poor I am afraid (most of places with non-working flush toilets, missing toilets paper and open rubbish bins).
The last part of the trip – visiting Marrakesh – was not that much exciting than others. Central square with its chaotic market is really dangerous place to walk because of annoying street hasslers and pickpocketers. One Italian restaurant “Portofino” recommended by the group leader was very decent place to have a meal…

Most Inspirational Moment

star gazing in Bedouin camp, riding camels through Sahara desert

Thoughts on Group Leader

The group leader Lahcen Hamyouy was very knowledgeable guide, friendly and responsible person.

Tracey Lawrence

Reviewed January 2018

A peaceful nation in the middle east

An amazing introduction to the Middle East and Jordan with a fabulous mix of culture and activities across the country. People are really friendly and say ‘welcome’ all the time.
loved the fact you aren’t changing hotels every night like some trips.
large comfortable coach.
Highlight obviously Petra and it didn’t disappoint. 2 days of hiking around Petra with every corner another wonderful sight and a view to take your breath away.
I also wasn’t knowledgeable regards the Roman Sights and they were a fabulous surprise.
Dead and Red sea great but abit chilly during Decemeber….so a short dip to say I did it 🙂

Most Inspirational Moment

Petra! ....and an impromptu arranged marriage at Wadi Rum Camp...all for a bit of fun.

Thoughts on Group Leader

very knowledgeable and informative. Full of passion and stories all day every day. Minor constructive comment would be that sometimes it felt like a boot camp especially as his loud voice bellowed at you for dropping back to take photos and he really liked it his way and being centre of attention.

Advice for Potential Travellers

order a sleeping bag....its free even if you don't want it. take sturdy shoes/boots for Petra...we did over 60,000 steps and near 40km over 2 days according to someone's fitbit!

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