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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.

Simply use the selector below to search our trip reviews and start reading real feedback from real Exodus travellers who have ‘been there and done that’!

Lots of our clients also like to post handy tips and advice about their travels. It’s great to know what to expect on an Exodus adventure before you go, so make the most of their experience and you’ll make the most of yours!

Haven’t posted your review yet? Here’s how to do it…

Once you return from your Exodus adventure holiday, you will be emailed a link to add your review. Any feedback collected is posted onto our website, totally unedited.

Alternatively you can navigate to the relevant trip page and add your review via the Reviews tab.

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15453 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Reviews

Kerala & the Tropical South

I found the whole experience from initial enquiry, to booking, to travelling, to the actual trip well organised and professional.

Most Inspirational Moment

I loved it all, trekking in the tea plantations, dawn city walk around the Sri Meenkshi Temple in Maduri watching the locals start their day with milking, painting 'kolams' around their houses and of course the markets! Early morning walk at the Periyar wildlfe sanctuary and seeing elephants, bison and deer on the afternoon boat trip. Eating in the estate house at the rubber planation, the cooking demo and meal with a local family and of course the peaceful houseboat. Lovely to finish in Kova

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was simply amazing-the best. Biju had an in-depth knowledge of the history and culture of the area. He was able to bring so much of the history and culture alive with stories from his own family. He was happy to engage in discussions on any topic. He went out of his was to ensure the whole group were comfortable and happy. We had one man who was unwell before he came and this continued. Biju made sure as far as was possible his needs were met.

Vietnam & Angkor Wat

Excellent holiday end to end – tour guides, accommodation and itinerary outstanding

Most Inspirational Moment

Very broad ranging itinerary - Ha Long Bay spectacular as was Angkor Wat. But Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh offered different perspectives. The vibrant and lantern lit Hoi Ann was another highlight.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Thanh Vu we spent the most time with - what an incredible leader - full of knowledge and enthusiasm always thoughtful to individual needs. Likewise Chan Ly in Cambodia was incredibly knowledgeable and made provided an equal level of support.

Discover Costa Rica

Excellent service through booking until end of trip

Most Inspirational Moment

Tortuguero and Esquinas Lodge were both highlights. We saw the most wildlife in those locations and Esquinas Lodge was so tranquil and relaxing. Even the torrential rain in Tortuguero whilst on part of the boat trip didn't spoil the fun. Jonathan our guide and Carlos our driver were both excellent and added to the enjoyment of the trip. Jonathan's knowledge is outstanding.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jonathan has tremendous knowledge about the flora and fauna of Costa Rica. He is passionate about protecting both and encourages that enthusiasm in others. He kept us all safe and informed at all times. His happy disposition made me feel welcome and kept us entertained on long journies.

Highlights of Kerala

This trip is not up to Exodus’s usual standards. The bus journies are almost all considerably longer than the trip notes suggest, partly on account of the extensive roadworks currently taking place in Kerala. The itinerary tries to cover too much ground for the time available

Most Inspirational Moment

Lunch at the rubber plantation in a beautiful homestay run by charming people

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was replaced part way through the holiday after a member of the group complained about him. This was dealt with poorly by the local Exodus representative. The new guide left before the end of the trip leaving those of the group whose flights had been cancelled on account of the Iran war with no one on the ground to assist with their arrangements

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for very long bus journies

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Reply from Exodus

We’re grateful for Melanie’s candid review of her trip, though it’s disappointing for us to hear she didn’t feel this departure was up to our usual standards. One of our team has spoken with Melanie directly about her experience and we are certainly bearing her comments in mind going forward.

 

We’re aware that unfortunately there are roadworks taking place in Kerala currently, and we’re working with our local team to find workarounds and keep journeys on the more reasonable side. We’re confident that in the future disruption from the roadworks will be kept to a minimum.

 

We’ve looked to keep this itinerary busy throughout, and feel that without journey disruption this trip gets the balance right with having our groups on the move from site to site without being excessively tiring.

 

Melanie’s leader was changed near the end of the trip, and this was an unusual and difficult call for us to make. While some members of the group were happy with the leader, the concerns raised by others made us feel we had to take action, and we understand many in the group felt organization improved as a result of the change. With that said, it’s disappointing that Melanie felt this was poorly handled, and this is certainly a learning opportunity for our local team, which has been followed up on.

 

Finally, members of the Exodus team and our local team were in touch by all group members affected by flight disruption following the situation in the Middle East. We’re confident from the feedback we received that our clients felt well taken care of during this time and we remained in contact with them for any assistance needed after we rebooked their flights.

 

– Oliver O’Boyle, Exodus Product Manager

Active Costa Rica: Waterways & Wildlife

Great tour leader, excellent organisation, fabulous stops and accommodation. Small group numbers, we had 9 which was perfect

Most Inspirational Moment

So many. The rain forest, the night walk, ziplines in the cloud forest and my personal favourite the boat trip on the Pacific coast where we saw whales and dolphins

Thoughts on Group Leader

Very efficient at the beginning of the trip and once we all got going and got to know each other as a group he became more sociable and joined us for chats and meals. He organised a very nice meal on the first evening however as it was 1am in real terms for us and we'd all been travelling for about 15 hours a 3 course meal was more than we could cope with. Lovely idea though to meet the group and get to know each other.

Snowshoeing in the Dolomites

I always feel well taken care by our guide, as was the case here. The hotel was a premium establishment with great service and food and amenities. The trip was blessed by gorgeous weather and the hiking was just challenging enough to make the days complete and the evenings delightfully relaxing.

Most Inspirational Moment

I reconnected with a wonderful guide from a previous trip. Neither of us had planned this. The gorgeous weather and challenging hikes with a final iconic hike on the last day made this trip special.

Thoughts on Group Leader

A renaissance man. Knew his guiding profession very well. Was well qualified to teach us about the flora and fauna of the area, also the history of the area. Artistically sensitive and empathetic. Optimistic, encouraging, positive and a great sense of humour. Was well organized and made every attempt to give us all the up to date details of the daily schedule and expectations. A really good guy who I would follow on any trip he guided anywhere in the world.

Wonderfully varied trip

This trip was an excellent way to see a lot of Sri Lanka in 2 weeks. There was so much variety in the places we visited and the activities undertaken. We were able to experience culture and history in the temples and towns and then enjoy the wildlife on the safaris and the cycling trip. The Sri Lankan people were very welcoming.

Most Inspirational Moment

I loved climbing Sigiriya. We nearly didn't do the optional elephant safari but are so glad we did. I also really enjoyed the white water rafting - even the higher level wasn't too scary for a beginner. It was interesting visiting the tea factory and the spice garden and visiting a local farming family and playing games with them was fun.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader, Prathab, was excellent. He made everything run very smoothly and was calm and efficient throughout. He was very knowledgeable about history, culture and nature and his love of Sri Lanka shone through. He had a good sense of humour too.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for some early starts and some long days. We had a fair bit of rain in February but it was too warm for raincoats. All the locals carry umbrellas as shelter against the sun and any sudden downpours. It was very humid (sweaty!) and it's useful and cheap to get some laundry done when you're at a hotel for a couple of nights. You will need plenty of cash for excursions and tips though you can pay with card at most of the hotels.

Colombia: Culture, Coffee & Caribbean

Just the right size group. Group leader excellent. Packed with excitement – An adventure rather than a holiday! learn’t so much about Colombia!

Most Inspirational Moment

Staying in Akawanka Lodge Visiting the Cocora Valley Coffee, sugar, and cocoa visits- seeing the whole process from growing to processing. Bird watching!

Thoughts on Group Leader

One of the best - very experienced and knowledgeable. Very dedicated and lots of fun. Had a challenging group to keep happy!

Highlights of Kerala

This was an OK holiday but we’ve been on better Exodus trips.

Most Inspirational Moment

Riverboat trip was relaxing and very comfortable . Boat had only been on a few trips and was comfortable and spacious.

Thoughts on Group Leader

OK, enthusiastic and knowledgeable but have generally been on trips where spoken English of the group leader is better which helps understanding and organisation of the trip

Advice for Potential Travellers

Trip note suggested times for travel between destinations were underestimated - often 1-2 hours longer (and no reflection on the bus driver). The prospect of an 8hr travelling optional excursion on the final day was quickly dismissed after previous experiences. Accommodation was generally OK although hotel at Kovalam was tired and bathroom in particular left a lot to be desired. Sightseeing venues a little underwhelming to me, relative to say Highlights of Northern India which we have been on previously.

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Reply from Exodus

We appreciate Alasdair leaving a review of his trip. While it’s good to hear that he enjoyed certain elements, particularly the riverboat experience, it’s disappointing to learn that the overall experience didn’t compare as favourably with previous Exodus holidays he has taken.

 

We are aware that recent roadworks and congestion in Kerala have resulted in longer‑than‑anticipated travel times, and this may have contributed to the extended journeys Alasdair mentions. We are continuing to work with our local team to find the best possible routing while this temporary disruption is in place, and we expect this to improve as the works progress.

 

We’re also sorry to hear that he found communication from the tour leader less clear than on trips he has joined before. Strong, easy‑to‑follow communication plays a big role in smooth organisation on tour, and his feedback will be shared with our local team as part of ongoing leader development.

 

Although most properties used on this itinerary are selected for their comfort and character, we understand Alasdair’s disappointment and will be reviewing this stay with our partners to ensure standards remain consistent.

 

We’re grateful that Alasdair took the time to share his thoughts. His feedback is important to us, and we hope that future travels with Exodus feel much more in line with the trips he has enjoyed in the past.

 

– Oliver O’Boyle, Exodus Product Manager

A fantatsic chance to experience so much of the Garden Route

From Port Elizabeth to Cape Town, we loved every minute of the tour, learning so much about the country, the culture, the people, the food and the wildlife. Our guide Marco had a wealth of knowledge on all of the above and with boundless energy was prepared to go to enormous lengths to make the trip special (he also has a wonderful sense of humour).
The group comprising 15 people (about the right size) was so warm and friendly, making it a pleasure to get to know everyone.
The hotels were all well equipped, with some better than others: Tsitsikama had amazing views of the sea, House Martin was a clear step up (run by a lovely couple), while The Windsor was great provided you have a sea facing room (do pay for this to avoid overlooking the car park). City Lodge is a typical city travellers hotel but has just been refurbished so it was in good condition.
The trip may not be super-active but the pace is full on as you move from activity to activity and from location to location. We ate in some fantastic spots and Marco was always on hand to recommend the local specialities / what not to eat at each restaurant. He even managed to convince us to try Mopane worms by the end!
Wine tasting under the trees in Stellenbosch was lovely despite the food and tour around the facility being a little shambolic.
When in Cape Town, the Robben Island tour was well worth attending especially for the second part when you are guided by an ex-political prisoner. Our last night of the tour at Marco’s Restaurant (not related) in Cape Town which was such a fun way to bring it to an end.
Overall, a fabulous trip which we thoroughly enjoyed and would highly recommend.

Most Inspirational Moment

The views at Knysner Head and Tsitsikama

Thoughts on Group Leader

AMAZING

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take some cash for tips and enjoy the South African hospitality.