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.
Select a trip specific review:
14499 Reviews
4.7 out of
5
Reviews
Nicola Moulsdale
Reviewed March 2017
Discover Sri Lanka Trip 18 February to 5 March
We had heard such good things about Sri Lanka and were very much looking forward to the trip. We chose to book through Exodus as we had been to Cuba with them and were impressed by the whole organisation, combined with the knowledge of the local Guides. This trip did not disappoint. It was full on, but gave us a wonderful insight into this beautiful country and its people.
Most Inspirational Moment
Gosh, it's difficult to pick out one, as we loved the walk up to Sigiriya, leopard spotting in Yala, and seeing the beautiful tea plantations. But I think one of the highlights for me was seeing the majestic herd of elephants in Kaudulla National Park.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our Group leader Roshan was amazing. He is very much a seasoned traveller having been a leader for 15 years, but his enthusiasm, care and sense of humour are still as fresh as ever. He obviously loves his country and is proud to share all his knowledge with us. And when the bad weather meant we couldn't walk on Horton Plains he had a Plan B which took us on an earlier train, and a lovely walk up Little Adams Peak in Ella.
Advice for Potential Travellers
It is a full on and wonderfully varied programme with quite a few early starts but this just meant we got to places before the crowds, and before the sun was too hot. Have your own alarm in case the wake up call gets missed! Take lots of sun tan lotion and insect repellent, and a sunhat. If offered that the Guide organises all the tipping and also water on the bus, do go for that option as it's so much easier and takes away the stress of having change for tipping. Negotiate prices for souvenirs and for photographing the stilt fishermen. The roads are not really as scary as they look as the drivers are very skilled, and we had Garmini as ours and we all felt very safe in his capable hands. Nisha, his helper always counted us back on the bus, helped back the coach up and kept it clean.
Cheryl Edwards
Reviewed March 2017
Classic Vietnam & Cambodia - Awesome!
Takes a while to get used to the frenetic pace of Vietnam (ie; confidence to cross the road!) People were so friendly. Halong Bay was magical, even though the weather wasn’t brilliant and the kayak was worth it. At times it felt a bit rushed although that may be because most opted for the additional activities. Very little down time. I’m glad we finished with Cambodia and the temples as it felt slightly calmer. Wish we had one more day in Cambodia to do a bit more than the temples, ie; visit the food markets.
Most Inspirational Moment
Halong Bay - cruising through the structures and the first glimpse of Angkor Wat. Both truly magical
Hoi An because it was a bit quieter and pedestrianized so easier to walk around and explore.
Street food tour in Hanoi.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our group leader in Vietnam Mao was great. We were a large group of 16 and he did well to manage and accommodate us all. He had a lovely temperament and was always courteous and polite. He had a lot of knowledge to share and did well to keep us in check.
Our guide in Cambodia was also very good, but at times it felt as though other groups received more information. To be honest, we only had a few days with him so it was hard for him to build a relationship with us. However, the driver he organised for us was just so helpful keeping us supplied with water and cold wipes.
Advice for Potential Travellers
This is a full on trip - be warned there is not much down time.
Pools in most hotels, but little opportunity to use them.
The sunrise over Angkor Wat is worth it, but you will be sharing it with thousands of others.
If you get hit with D&V you can buy Cipro over the counter which worked for me.
Jane Emery
Reviewed March 2017
We really enjoyed ourselves
This is a very busy tour with lots of variety. Although a lot of time was spent travelling (as you’d expect from a tour covering 1500 miles in 14 days) a great many different things were packed into the holiday (eg 1000 years of history, food, shopping, cycling, kayaking, walking, boating, caves, puppet show.) Vietnam was more prosperous and sophisticated than I had imagined, with free wi-fi in every accommodation and restaurants. Everything was very clean and well organised. Things ran on time, including the 12 hour overnight train departed on time and arrived early. The people were friendly and smiling.
Most Inspirational Moment
I found the Vietnames people very inspirational. It is only 40 years since there was almost total devastation in the war. People were very positive and enthusiastic and proud of Vietnam's achievements and that their economy is improving. We saw a lady making fashionable shoes on one the markets and she proudly told us that Vietnam used to import its shoes from China, but now they manufacture their own.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Trinh was excellent. One of the best leaders we've had. Very well organised and always went the extra mile to help and answer questions. He was also good fun.
Advice for Potential Travellers
The only thing I would mention that has not been covered by other reviewers or in the trip notes/advice is that it would have been a good idea to have a neck flap for the cycling. On one of our cycling days (Mekong) it was a sunny 35 degrees.
Jonathan Jagger
Reviewed March 2017
Great trip
A fantastic way to see three countries and test yourself with some challenging cycle routes. The various destinations varied a lot in terms of the evening distractions – some were town centre with plenty of options – others were more remote. Worth reviewing the trip notes so you can plan.
Most Inspirational Moment
The volcano trip was particularly breathtaking - worth the queueing.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Great - Gerhard's knowledge and patience was admirable.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Do some training if your not that fit - otherwise the first few days cycling can hurt. Heat and hills!
Lindsey Kemp
Reviewed March 2017
Cycling Cuba - Fantastic!
What an amazing way to see Cuba! I loved every second & Freddy, our guide, was so knowledgeable & clearly passionate about Cuba, that it really added to the experience. The group was great fun too. All in all a brilliant holiday.
Most Inspirational Moment
Reaching the lake at the top after a gruelling 7km uphill on the final day 40km cycle - such an achievement
Thoughts on Group Leader
Fantastic - highly knowledgeable & alwys ready to help
Advice for Potential Travellers
Go!
Janet Joy
Reviewed March 2017
Cycling through Rajasthan
India is an amazing place – totally different & totally mad but what an experience it was. This is a busy holiday packed with so many different places and many wonderful memories.
Most Inspirational Moment
So many different memories- the overnight train ride, the mental traffic, tut tut rides! the wonderful people and children welcoming us everywhere we went, the amazing Taj Mahal, chai tea ! - the total India experience.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Manu was was brilliant. Very knowledgeable, very organised, great sence of humour & a totally top chap.
Advice for Potential Travellers
This is a busy trip but make sure you go at your pace and enjoy the different experiences and savour India.
Simon Burbidge
Reviewed March 2017
Three Central American countries in one brilliant trip
An amazing whistlestop tour of Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama, their Pacific and Caribbean coasts and their rain forests, cloud forests and arid plains. We covered a lot of ground on the trip, over 330 miles on the bikes and in excess of 2,000 miles in the bus. For nature lovers the variety of birds and animals is wonderful. We managed to see sloths, toucans, ospreys, howler monkeys, various iguanas, an armadillo and a crocodile not to mention numerous unusually coloured birds, on which we got the full low down, thanks to David, a keen twitcher in our group. He drew our attention to Montezuma’s Oropendola, a member of the Blackbird family with a yellow tail that builds a hanging nest. Until then I would have said it was something nasty one went down with on holiday!
My knowledge of the geography of the three countries was scanty prior to the trip and I hadn’t appreciated how many volcanoes there were, nor that several are still active. The resulting terrain is quite ‘lumpy’ from a cycling perspective which made for some energetic days, especially given the heat (and humidity in some areas).
We finished in Panama City and, of course, got to see the canal and the container ships being guided through it and experienced the crazy driving of the Panamanians.
All in all a wonderful trip and one that I would heartily recommend. Having been on the Cycling Cuba trip last year, which my wife and I thoroughly enjoyed, I would say that this exceeded it.
Most Inspirational Moment
Like other reviewers, there were many highlights - looking down at molten lava in the crater of the Masaya volcano; a guided trip down the Rio Tenorio where the iguanas and ospreys are so numerous that we became blase about them; the wildlife around Lake Arenal; the hot springs near La Fortuna; bathing in the Pacific after the day's ride at Las Lajas and the Panama Canal.
Thoughts on Group Leader
This is our third Exodus trip and each of the leaders has been excellent in terms of organisation, humour and imparting local knowledge but Roberto was definitely a cut above the others. Everything was done that bit better than before e.g. daily briefings on the route with its profile, where the refreshment stops would be and any specific things we had to be vigilant about; paying for the meals, rather than us delaying things by doing it individually and then presenting us later with our own aggregated accounts; copious photos and videos being uploaded daily to a WhatsApp group so we could review and chat about them over dinner; melding the new group of support staff into a harmonious and happy team. The result was that we (and, I believe, they) had a ball. His Pièce de Résistance was his male howler monkey impersonation that certainly had the desired effect on the local monkey population!
Advice for Potential Travellers
We hadn't appreciated that the prevailing weather comes from the Caribbean and so, even in the dry season, it can be wet on that coast. Also, like another reviewer, we had debated about taking anti-Malaria tablets. In the end we used Deet and saw few mosquitoes, which vindicated our decision not to take them. Do take advantage of the laundry in La Fortuna, which was efficient and used to cycle wear.
Kathryn Barrow
Reviewed March 2017
The Tropical South
An amazing and wonderful insight into beautiful Kerala.
Most Inspirational Moment
Too many to narrow down to just one! The fishing nets at Cochin, the walk into the tea plantations in Munnar, the houseboat on the backwaters.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Sam was a brilliant group leader. The group got on very well, and am sure this was down to Sam. His knowledge of everything from politics to history to wildlife was excellent. Nothing was too much trouble, and he ensured we were always happy and safe.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take lots of mosquito repellent, and change money at any opportunity you can - the ATMs could be a little temperamental.
Helen Tinsley
Reviewed March 2017
Vietnam Adventure
A comprehensive tour of Vietnam covering most of the tourist favourites. The hotels were good, the train an experience I would only want to do once!
Most Inspirational Moment
Ha Long Bay even though cloudy and cold.
Hoi An vibrant touristy but lovely.
Cu chi tunnels for the ingenuity of the Vietcong.
Mekong Delta being on the water and experiencing the local village.
Thoughts on Group Leader
We had an excellent leader Viet. He had great knowledge and humour. I had a problem with the internal plane ticket which he solved and prevented me from having to buy another ticket.He choose great local restaurant s and ordered shared meals for the first few days. He was supportive of the workers in the community using their guide services.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Halong Bay was cold in February.
Take warm clothes for the boat. If you like a pillow take something to add to train and Homestay pillows which were very thin.
Karen Gill
Reviewed March 2017
Cuban Highlights Tour
Fantastic trip with great cycling, cultural and historical aspects. The entire trip exceeded my expectations for the quality of bikes to accommodation and food. The cycling was relaxed and, although mostly on main roads, traffic was not heavy (unlike the headwinds!) and there was always full back up with the support bus. The food was simple but tasty and the casa’s were comfortable and far more interesting than staying in a hotel. Cuba was fantastic and everything we needed was available, just be prepared for some unreliability such as lack of hot water, toilet paper etc
Most Inspirational Moment
The entire trip!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Freddy was excellent. Very knowledgeable about Cuba and it's history and patiently dealing with all our questions and ability to miss the (almost) unmissable cycling stops
