Most Inspirational Moment
Walking with and sharing the Camino experience
Thoughts on Group Leader
Fine
Advice for Potential Travellers
Slow down, participate and enjoy the Camino experience Wear trainers not boots Pack your compeeds
Reviews
Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers
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Reviews
El Camino trek
This trip will give you a taste of the Camino. I would encourage you to slow down and experience the Camino as a peregrino, rather than race to the lunch stop or the hotel at the end of the day with your head down. Lift your head up, enjoy the views, talk to the other walkers. Enjoy the Camino. Wear running shoes or trainers rather than walking boots. Expect blisters.
Essential Peri
Thoroughly enjoyable trip. Felt like 4 weeks rather than 2 as we did so much. Very long days, on the coach 5.30 to 7 am starts, but most people slept on the coach, and meant we made the most of the holiday. Beautiful scenery. Tour guide announced it was an adventure not a holiday, and it was. Very varied.
Most Inspirational Moment
Machu Picchu without a doubt. Amazing place. Lake Titicaca a close second. Beautiful, friendly people. Everything at a slower pace, probably due to the altitude!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Very knowledgeable, very caring, particularly over the altitude question. Made us feel we were in safe hands.
Advice for Potential Travellers
The altitude is no joke! If you suffer from motion sickness, like I do, you may suffer. Even the travel pills which usually keep me okay on these trips didn’t help and I was very sick for the day of long driving (10-12 hours ), and the boat trip on Lake Titicaca. But having said that I wouldn’t have wanted to miss the trip, it was well worth it, and the upside was I was given the front seat of the coach for the rest of the trip! There were only 2 nights I missed as had to sleep it off. In the trip notes it says explore the island when on Lake Titicaca. By this it means walk at altitude from 3,800 to 4,100 straight up to the top of the island! Beautiful views,but at that altitude the less fit members of the party were not able to do it and we had 3 hours allowed to go up and come down again.
Walking in Tuscany
This is the third Exodus holiday that we have been on and the best one by a long way. The walks in stunning scenery were varied and interesting and are do-able with a good level of basic fitness. The farmhouse was warm and cosy with excellent home cooked food, we are vegetarians and had no worries or disappointments with the food. What made this holiday exceptional and one we will never forget was the leader, Sara. Her enthusiasm and positivity for looking after “her clients” shone through in every thing she did; for example buying rail tickets and arranging taxis made all the difference. Out on the mountains, Sara’s knowledge of the terrain and love for the area was infectious. To top it all, the company of Sara’s wonderful dog Elvis, trotting alongside us, made this an unforgettable holiday. If you are thinking about booking this holiday, just do it!
Most Inspirational Moment
The autumnal colours and scenery seen from the top of Monte Prado.
Thoughts on Group Leader
See above.
Trekking in Madagascar - September / October 2017
This trip is a thoroughly varied and perfectly paced active journey through one of the most captivating African destinations I’ve ever visited. The scenery is constantly stunning, the wildlife which is often unique was a privilege to see and the Malagasy people are humblingly friendly and welcoming.
Most Inspirational Moment
Inspiration was frequent and varied on this trip: from spotting lemurs in the treetops (we saw a total of 5 species) to being amongst some dramatic rock scenery in both Andringitra and Isalo National Parks. If I had to choose one moment, it would probably be the sense of achievement in reaching the summit of Pic d'Imarivolanitra and marvelling at the remoteness and drama of the surrounding scenery. The Hotel de la Plage at Ifaty on the coast was a gorgeous way to end the trip too with the opportunity to take a sedate pirogue trip out to sea and snorkel on a beautiful reef.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Rija worked tirelessly and always with a great sense of humour and patience to ensure that the tour operated smoothly. She was typical of all the Malagasy people we met who continually impressed me with how they achieve high standards with limited resources in a country that is obviously lacking in economic clout.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Although the road journeys are often quite long, the scenery is continually interesting and helps you get a real sense of rural Madagascan life so don't let that put you off. Temperatures can be quite high and the sun can be fierce in late September so sun protection is important. Although accommodation and food standards were generally high, there were a few cases of food poisoning in our group so don't forget to pay attention to food hygiene.
Discover Sri Lanka Sept 2017
This was a wonderful trip, full of colour and variety. We travelled all over the country and saw so many interesting places and had fantastic experiences, but also had time to relax along the way. The tour leaders in Sri Lanka were the winning leader team in the Exodus leader awards in 2016 and I can see why.
Most Inspirational Moment
I enjoyed all of it! However I particularly liked the Polonnaruwa ruins and loved our visit to the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy. The countryside was so colourful and lush, and we saw lots of animals and birds even outwith the parks. To my surprise I also enjoyed the white water rafting which I had never done before.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Sujan Weerakoon was an excellent tour leader. He knows the country inside out and was a mine of interesting information but delivered in small digestible chunks. He was very well organised and gave us lot of helpful advice re what to take/wear/expect each day. Everything was taken care of for us and we were able to relax. He was friendly with everyone and had a good sense of humour. He judged the mood of the group well and on one memorable occasion was able to conjure up tea and chocolate cake just when we were all running out of energy.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Do take up the offer of the leader to organise the tipping kitty. Everyone expects a tip in Sri Lanka and it would have been a complete nightmare to manage this ourselves. Sujan did this for us and kept meticulous records and it smoothed our path through the country. Many of the activities are optional and opting out does not cause a problem. I did not do the cycling and was able to follow the group in the support vehicle.
highlights of armenia and georgia
Out of a group of 16 , my wife and I had a good time but could of been better if not for the ” Worst Guide of the Year ” award , GUYANE !
Exodus subcontract her from a local company but she was terrible.
First morning we drove off in the bus and she left 2 people behind !! Then things went downhill from there. No personality, didn’t smile, no welcome meeting, didn’t say driver’s name, we were late getting into 2 hotels ( 9.30 pm ) , cable car wasn’t booked in time , looked bored, tired and didn’t care less about her clients.
We got Sophia ( Georgian guide ) at the border, She was brilliant and lovely !!
Armenia is a lovely country trying to get back on it’s feet after Soviet Rule. We liked it better than Georgia. Beware of the wines there, we had a few dodgey stomachs in the morning.
But, it’s great to see , you’ll be bored with looking at churches after this trip.
Hotels OK except in Yerevan which was great ! Transport good.
Don’t do this trip if you’re a veggie !! Meat heaven !
Enjoy !
Most Inspirational Moment
Leaving the Armenia guide at the border and collecting our new one , Sophia !!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Armenian Guide - Guyane ? was a complete mess. Did someone tell this woman , you look good, you present well and speak english well , why don't you be a tour guide !! Wrong !! You need to have a personality, look after everyone , not us 2 people who befriended you and used you as their personal tour guide, smile, count all people before you drive off ( she left 2 people behind after day 1 ) !!, know what you're talking about instead of reading it off your IPhone ( google ) etc etc !! Georgian guide - Sophia - what a turnaround !! She was a brilliant guide. Someone should video her and show it to Guyane , this is how you look after people !!
Advice for Potential Travellers
Bring something for your stomach, the wines are a bit dodgey on the stomach. They are made a different way to normal. Love churches and read up on the history first.
First timers to Exodus - Won't be our last....
My wife and I booked our first Exodus trip knowing we were not the most keenest of cyclists, but wanted a more active holiday than a standard package holiday typically offers. We were a little fearful of whether we could manage to cycle for 6 days solid. We are both early 50’s and enjoy active outdoor pursuits including walking, golf and occasional gym.
We thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience, and even managed to complete all days without any assistance from the transport who followed the group. Being part of the 16-strong group, it was nice to be able to meet so many different people and talk to them all during the cycling and also during the group meals and stops along the way.
I would recommend this holiday to anyone who enjoys an active holiday, with stunning scenery and the friendliest and most hospitable Sardinian people.
Most Inspirational Moment
The second day of cycling (Day#3 of the itinerary) is the most physically demanding with a long uphill. The sense of achievement when racing down to the meeting point was not only inspirational, but also exciting helped everyone enjoy the meal and their sleep in the beautiful hilltop hotel.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Giovanni was very passionate and dedicated to make the holiday as enjoyable as possible. He was a little serious at times, but this was his way of ensuring everyone enjoyed themselves. He was very knowledgeable about the Sardinian history and also provided good advice and insight into the upcoming hotels and restaurant choices. He also very honest and made known his feelings on what was good or not so good value / service in many of the restaurants we could choose. Simone was very enthusiastic and easy to talk to. He had better English than Giovanni, and tended to understand what the group wanted to do compared to Giovanni.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Prior to starting the holiday, there is a checklist provided. The checklist does not include cycling gloves, but on Day#1, it was strongly advised to wear gloves. Fortunately, individuals within our group had spare pairs, which they kindly allowed us to borrow. The hotel stay on Night#4 is absolutely stunning. Suggest you request a room with a balcony overlooking the pool. Our room also had a washing machine which enabled us to wash our first 3 days of cycling gear. This hotel was the least friendly. The staff were very controlling, insisting on serving you breakfast rather than allowing a self-service, more relaxed arrangement that occurred at the other hotels. On our last evening, in Cagliari, the hotel was changed (with 1 day notice) from one in the town centre, to one on the outskirts of the town. This was a shame as it meant the group was unable to walk to our hotel from the busy, bustling centre of Cagliari. It also meant our last night fizzled out a little earlier than we certainly would have liked to. In hindsight, we should have remained in the town centre until we felt it was time go back, and obtained taxi back to our hotel.
Porto to lisbon
This was our 6th cycling trip and one of the best,we usually do moderate but this time did leisurely to moderate,thought it might be to easy but there was a couple of challenging hills,hotels were very good,trindade hotel in Porto advertised a rooftop bar but there wasn’t one,another hotel had a rooftop bar but was closed for the season bit early I thought. Our guide Pedro and our driver jaun were excellent nothing was too much trouble ,super trip .
Most Inspirational Moment
Scenery and beaches
Thoughts on Group Leader
Brilliant we all loved him .
Advice for Potential Travellers
Ride a couple of hills before you go.
Inca trek, a must for anyone who enjoys trekking.
A seasoned Exodus traveller, this holiday was the best so far! The trek was brilliantly organised, walking over 4 days, we arrived to see an almost empty Machiu Picchu. Our guide Reny was fabulous, and had a great knowledge of the trek and the Inca history. The group had a fantastic atmosphere. I would highly recommend this trek to all it was hard work but really really worth it.
Most Inspirational Moment
Walking through the Sun gate after 4 days walking and the monkey steps!!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Reny was fantastic, he ensured a group atmosphere. As someone who had done the trek a few hundred times he really knew the way, and was so supportative when the it was tough. As well he had a fantastic knowledge of the Inca history.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Sign up and do it, it is really worth it.
Discover Sri Lanka
What a fantastic trip! Travelled with my new wife on our Honeymoon and although I had high hopes of Sri Lanka the tour went far beyond our expectations.
A guided tour of 16 with a real mixture of people we visited many sights and places and overall was a very well balanced trip that comprised of history, culture, tradition and a bit of R&R. The tour allows you to experience the different provinces of Sri Lanka that provides its unique vibe.
Most Inspirational Moment
So many to choose from. Seeing wild elephants on the roadside and a leopard on the safari to watching the sunset over the plains at Giritale. The bike ride was great fun where we were greeted with wide smiles by the village children. Every day was memorable.
Thoughts on Group Leader
I cannot speak highly enough of Sujan, our group leader. Friendly, knowledgeable, funny and very professional. He made everyday run like clockwork. An example of this was that he told us exactly where to stand within the Temple of the Tooth. When the ceremony began we had perfect location. Further, he appeared to be on very good terms with all staff at every hotel and excursion personnel which helped to create a friendly atmosphere. Sujan also went the extra mile for us both knowing it was our Honeymoon and managed the tipping process perfectly. Absolute asset to Exodus and his country.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Definitely remember a jumper AND raincoat. Can get chilly when in altitude and weather in the tea plains is just like Britain. Comfy walking shoes also a necessity. A towel for the rafting also otherwise an uncomfortable trip in the bus back to the hotel.