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

Annie Beecroft

Reviewed January 2018

A magical wilderness that stays with you long after you have left it behind

If you want to run away and have an adventure then this is the ideal escape for anyone looking
to be part of a small group and experience new things. I am not a fan of the snow but there’s not one moment that I would have changed.
Prepare to be challenged, Prepare to Laugh and Prepare to be full of glorious memories.

Most Inspirational Moment

I paid extra for the Husky Dog sledding optional activity. I feel so blessed to have been able to be part of a fun, small group of people that helped make this day so Magical. The natural beauty of the surroundings felt like you are first people to touch the landscape. This will stay with me forever. We sledged over a lake and it was a pinch my self moment. It was perfectly stunning. If you do this, stop and do a 360 degree look around.The lunch by a open fire that was prepared for kindly by the leader. It tasted great and felt like luxury. The Dogs were well behaved. I didn't expect this day to make me smile as much as it does and it's nearly a year since I visited. The other moment that makes me smile and laugh was tree hugging. A small moment. Fat Biking in Ruka. You hire the bikes and it is a lot of fun!. There was no obvious bike trails in Ruka but that didn't stop the enjoyment and thrill of cycling in the snow.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Julia is an Angel. She is an outstanding group leader. She has a wonderful kindness and sincerity. She fun and attentive. She is serious. If you were to get lost in the Finnish wilderness then you would want her there by your side as she fills you with ease, excitement and wonder. There's nothing that she wouldn't do for a person in her group. Thanks is a small word but I'm not sure it would have been half as much fun with out her help guidance, enthusiasm and support.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I remember going to the travel agents and said that I'm looking for an adventure. I'd always wanted to go to Finland. I said to the travel agent that, if this Finnish wilderness week accepts a non skier than I will pay the deposit instantly. This holiday was booked once the reply came in that it was OK. It was worth the 20 year wait to visit a small part of Finland. There are times when you need to think about all options. This trip isn't one of them. Cease this wonderful moment because it does honestly stay with you and it becomes a travel highlight The only thing that you need is a passport and some spending money. Be open to the optional activities because the only thing that is difficult and challenging is working out how to spend your freed time and then trying to fit it all in.

Anonymous Anonymous

Reviewed December 2017

Super trip - bucket list complete!

Great trip – every aspect of the trek was well organised. This is a 6 day trip (not 11 as advertised since that includes 4 days of travelling/arriving plus 2 days where you have to do your own thing in Cuzco). The guide was really knowledgable and the trek was challenging but enjoyable. The support (porters, cook etc) are amazing. Suggest 4 season sleeping bag as a minimum.

Most Inspirational Moment

Arriving to Macchu Picchu - did not have view from Sun Gate but had the benefit of a second day at Macchu Picchu so all good!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Very knowledgable and supportive

Advice for Potential Travellers

4 season sleeping bag. 2 walking poles. 1 rain poncho.

Alan & Linda Ward - Dunn

Reviewed December 2017

What a fantastic experience, led by a wonderful guide!

This was our first organised cycling holiday, recommended by friends who had been to Cuba with Exodus. One of us is a regular road cyclist, the other spent 8 months wondering why she’d signed up for a cycling holiday and endeavouring to get cycle fit through spin classes. Both of us loved it. Our group of 18 plus our fabulous four support team (Lam, Y, Long and Tan – apologies for spelling) got along from the start and made the trip interesting, challenging, varied and thoroughly enjoyable.

Lam was endlessly encouraging and confident in our ability – even when some of us weren’t! He is the perfect cycle leader who also knows his country so well and his pride and enthusiasm in it shone through. The whole trip was really well organised, despite the itinerary having to be slightly amended due to a recent typhoon, and all the lunch stops and recommended evening restaurants provided excellent local cooking and great value. Y sorted out any mechanical issues quickly and Tan and Long were a welcome sight with their smiles and waves at every snack/drinks refuelling stop or tricky junction!

Along with the cycling, we made many stops – scheduled and unscheduled – to experience and understand local culture, everything from peppercorns, rubber, coffee and dragon fruit farms to water buffalo, ducks, temples, war memorials and museums.

The weather was mixed, and we did get very wet on a couple of days but Lam organised local (very cheap) laundry whenever possible which let us get our wet and dirty clothes clean and dry.

All in all, It was a truly rewarding fortnight which showed the diversity from the south to the north and the friendliness of the Vietnamese people throughout.

We would definitely recommend and are planning our next trip with Exodus.

Most Inspirational Moment

Completing all the cycling including the Hai Van pass; the 30k downhill; Ha long Bay was a bonus - great cruise and food - loved Hoi Ann - the wildlife , the friendly reception we got in some of the remoter villages was also brilliant and Hanoi was fascinating. Wished we could have stayed a little longer

Thoughts on Group Leader

Lam is an absolute credit to Exodus. He works extremely hard to make sure everyone was ok and his planning was meticulous - right down to where the 'happy bush' was at each rest stop. He was always cheerful and managed to reach the right balance of keeping us close when road or traffic conditions required and letting us go at our own pace whenever he could. His research for lunch and evening meal destinations was always sound and great value and he really felt like one of the team

Advice for Potential Travellers

Book this trip, you won't regret it. Good to very good hotels, comfortable beds, great way to experience Vietnam for moderate to experienced cyclists. Great shopping in Hoi Ann and Hanoi, leave space in your suitcase or buy another like we did!

Sarah Morrow

Reviewed December 2017

Chimps and Gorillas of Uganda

This is a really great and varied trip. In addition to the chimps and gorillas, the safari drives in Queen Elizabeth NP and Lake Mburo also gave some super game viewings, including lions, zebra, giraffe, hippo and various types of antelope, although not the proliferation of game as the like of the Masai Mara. The boat trips are both interesting and restful, and we had the luck to see the famous shoebill stork at Mabamba Swamp. Overall this is a fantastic trip for anyone who enjoys wildlife.

Most Inspirational Moment

The highlights of this trip had to be the close encounters with the gorillas, but the chimps came a very close second - I was so glad I opted to do the optional second treks, as in both cases, the second encounters were even better than the first, and certainly quite different experiences. It is amazing to observe these primates as such close quarters and the Park staff have done such a good job of habituation, that both chimps and gorillas carried on life, seemingly indifferent to our presence.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The group leader was always there to make sure we were well cared for at the lodges and exceptionally knowledgeable of the various wildlife and birds, as well as a brilliant spotter. We would have missed so much without him.

Advice for Potential Travellers

This trip does entail quite a bit of travel and you have to be prepared for some long drives, but there is just so much to see on route, with great scenery and good wildlife viewing, as well as the opportunity to witness local life. The people are so friendly, and try their hardest to please, but do remember this is very much a developing country, without many of the facilities we take for granted.

P Cruickshank

Reviewed December 2017

Tropical South. Leader Sam G Benjamin. December 2017.

A good introduction to Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Some fairly long mini-bus journeys were necessary to cover the ground, but there were also two good walks and lots of sight seeing. Although we changed hotels more frequently towards the end of the holiday the pace became more relaxed so it worked well.

Most Inspirational Moment

As expected the walk in the tea plantations and the tranquility of the houseboat were highlights. But equally it was the variety and unexpected - traditional crafts like preparing the incredibly long dyed warp threads for the loom on the pavement around a busy square (presumably the only place with sufficient length), seeing and tasting local foods made on the street, the flower market, the kingfishers, the rare and short-lasting but torrential downpours including one in the rubber plantations where we were welcomed into a traditional home for shelter, the many tuk tuk rides etc etc

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sam was a very good leader - the holiday just wouldn't have been the same without him. He was knowledgeable on a very wide range of topics and good at sharing information with us on local customs etc . He was very patient with our slightly unwieldy group of 16 - helping us all to choose meals from the menu and waiting until we had all been served before eating himself. He organised and came to every evening meal (and most of the lunches too) which was much appreciated in our busy schedule. He looked after us all well, and took a mini dental emergency in the group in his stride.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Personally, I was glad of my walking boots on the 2 walks and I wore my waterproof gaiters instead of the anti-leech socks provided which had to be fitted inside ones shoes. However, we only encountered a handful of leeches on this trip and less mosquitoes that I expected, although as always some people got more bitten than others. There was no mosquito screening on the hotel windows or mosquito net provided on the houseboat as I had been told would be the case by Exodus before leaving the UK. A torch was useful in the few short power cuts we had.

Steven Porter

Reviewed December 2017

Classic Patagonia Trek

A thoroughly enjoyable trekking holiday. Fantastic scenery, the company of like minded walkers, in a variety of accommodations in both remote and popular locations in Patagonia, Chile and Argentina. The services of excellent tour and local guides made the experience feel both authentic and comfortable. My hat off to the whole team from Exodus

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the pinnacles of Mt Fitzroy behind the glacial lake.

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was extremely competent and helpful, rescuing me on a very difficult long day in the heat.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you love spectacular mountain scenery, you'll love this trek. If you have the chance, take the Iguazu extension. This was fantastic.

Phil Burrows

Reviewed December 2017

Trekking in the footsteps of Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay

What an experience! After a delayed start due to weather conditions we finally landed at Lukla for the beginning of an awe inspiring trek in the Himalayas. A team of 15 meandered across the Dudh Kosi river to reach Namche and then North eastwards steeply through forests to above the tree line reaching Thangboche. From there we headed to Dingboche, Loboche, Gorak Shep and our ultimate goal Everest Base Camp.

The scenery was excellent from walking through fertile farming settlements, through forest, high altitude settlements and glacial moraine to reach EBC and it wasn’t a disappointment – witnessing the khumbu icefall and ice seracs at base and seeing Everest flanked by Changste and Nuptse and other giants was amazing.

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching Everest Base Camp was the moment for me. It is the fourth time I have trekked in Nepal, and the last time I reached base camp was 2001 so experiences were new for me - even base camp was in a higher position on terminal moraine. It was amazing to see how settlements had grown.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Nirmal, our guide together with Bhim, Khami and Chong were exceptional. They were informative and encouraging. They managed to get all fifteen of us to EBC with no major problems.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Food and drinks were extremely pricey. I have camped previously so all food was catered for however I was surprised how expensive things were in the tea houses and hotels. I didn't buy water I filled by water bag and used a steri pen to treat the water and I had no problems. I managed with a 2-season sleeping bag as blankets are provided so had more space in my trek bag as it didn't take any room up.

Lynn Woods

Reviewed December 2017

Nile Cruise and Pyramids

This was a wonderful trip. It was very exciting to get our first glimpse of the Pyramids which were only a short ride from the airport. There was a few early morning starts which you should be prepared for and lots of optional tours so make sure you have budgeted extra for these. As you have to pay at the local toilets it would be handy to have some small change with you (which isn’t easy to get) otherwise you will have some very expensive pees 🙂 I felt very secure the whole time we were there. There is security at all the hotels and museums.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the pyramids for the first time was amazing. It was a good time to go as tourism is only just getting busy again and when we went to the pyramids we were able to get photos without hundreds of people being in the background.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our guide Randa was wonderful. She was very passionate about everything and made the time to answer all questions.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take/obtain small change. You can use US dollars. Be prepared for early morning starts. Be nice to the traders. You do not have to buy from them but be polite.

Nigel Haizelden

Reviewed December 2017

Egypt - Truly a Wonder of the Wordl

I have always dreamt of visiting Egypt and seeing for my self the many ancient wonders going back to the dawn of history. This trip was a dream come true. Having been back a few days I find it hard to believe I have seen and learnt much about so many awe-inspiring ancient monuments, the life of the Pharoahs, and experienced this wonderful diverse country with its friendly welcoming population.
Yes there were many traders selling their wares at most places we visited, but this did not detract from the beauty and the history. Most were very polite and, bearing in mind the average salary is only 7000 Egyptian pounds per month (a little under £300 at the current exchange rate of 23.6) who can blame them for trying to extract the tourist dollar the economy depends so much on. They have some wonderful souvenirs at mainly very cheap prices too.
This trip packed in so much – it is not for the infirm or feint hearted – although there is plenty of opportunity to opt out and rest if required. Personally I felt obliged to make the most of the trip and see and learn as much as possible. The Cruise upon our boat Mirage I was sublime with stunning sunsets and amazing views as we chugged up the great Nile to Aswan. The crew were friendly and helpful and a good variety of delicious freshly cooked food – and plenty of it.
Overall a dream come true and an amazing experience shared with a great bunch of people on this trip!

Most Inspirational Moment

The highlight of the trip was the recently reopened Seti I tomb in the valley of the kings - the brightly painted burial chamber being simply breath taking - WELL worth paying the extra 1000 Egyptian pounds for entry. In fact I did not regret any of the optional extras I paid for on this trip.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The other highlight was our SUPERB ever-smiling tour leader Ronda who worked tirelessly to keep us to schedule, sort out everyone's problems (including arranging for clothes and medication to be provided when my bag failed to reach the Cairo on the way out), and endless information on all that we saw - putting it into context and showing her very great knowledge and passion for her country and her former profession as an archaeologist. I cannot thank her enough for being such a fantastic guide!

Advice for Potential Travellers

My advice to others taking this trip would be to: Make the most of every opportunity to see the wonderful sights! Ensure you have essentials and spare clothes in your hand luggage just in case you bag takes a different route! Try early on to get small bill Egyptian dollars for things like toilet tips water etc - a small tip can make a big difference to lives of people there. Cash points are never far away and easy to use but will give big denomination bills unless ask for creative amounts (180 will get you a 100, 50, 20, 10 or 3 x 10) Drink plenty of water - it is easy to forget and be carried away with the sights and get dehydrated. Get at least a litre or two on board every day! Sun screen and hats to avoid getting burnt and sunstroke. Take spare camera batteries or if using a phone for pictures charging sticks - dont let lack of juice stop you capturing those memories!

Miriam Carpenter

Reviewed December 2017

A fantastic experience

This trip really lives up to it’s name – every day is an adventure. Most mornings our alarm was set for 6am, sometimes earlier. There are so many different experiences, it was exhilarating. The food is amazing. I would thoroughly recommend this trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

It's hard to single out one moment out of so many. Each area we visited had its own characteristic. I loved the cycle trips in Hue and Hoi An (you don't need to be an experienced cyclist to enjoy it) and enjoyed meeting local people. The cookery class was great. I was fascinated to see the places I had read about, such as the breathtaking cave in Marble Mountain, used by the Viet Con as a hospital in the war.

Thoughts on Group Leader

We became very fond of Duy. He looked after us well and was great company. He was very knowledgeable and keen to share his country with us.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Read the trip notes - if you don't like cities, want to get off the beaten track or like restful holidays this might not be the one for you. I was glad that I had learned something about Vietnam's history before I went, it made some of the places we visited more meaningful- such as the Cu Chi tunnels, 'Hanoi Hilton' & Marble Mountain. It's gruelling to see how much the country has suffered, but humbling to see the resilience and recovery.

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