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.

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:

Select

14493 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Barry Tylee

Reviewed September 2016

Whales & Bears of British Colombia

What an absolutely fantastic wildlife experience. Can you imagine how wonderful it is to witness, Gray Whales, Humpback Whales, diving and blowing and Orca (Killer) Whales. To watch a pod of Orcas breaching, a acrobatic performance which would win a Gold medal in any ones games.To stand and watch wild bears feasting on huge Salmon, oblivious to us viewing. (Well, most of the time!!). This is a wildlife and photographic trip not to be missed. You can add, sightings of Bald Eagles, the list is almost endless.

Most Inspirational Moment

For me, watching the pod of Orcas performing, Tail slapping the water, followed by a giant leaps out of the water. Closely followed by the majestic performance of the Humpback Whales, Blowing, Diving, followed by the famous Tail lift as it submerges, only to rise again. Tremendous photo opportunities. These are things that you don't forget.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader "Mac". Mac was also our driver. Felt very safe during the sometimes long drives. A good organiser and full of information. Nothing was too much trouble for him. A great cook, we had several Bar-B. Q's and he delivered good cuisine in great settings.

Advice for Potential Travellers

September is at the end of summer, so it can be quite cold, wet and foggy. So be prepared for the elements. "Dress" in layers, with a waterproof handy.

Keith Williams

Reviewed September 2016

Imperial China & Yangtze River Cruise

The whole trip from start to finish was an experience well worth taking.
Of course there were a few things which perhaps in hindsight could have been improved upon, particularly the overnight sleeper train journeys. We would have much preferred to have paid a little extra to have used the bullet train or even an extra flight wherever possible in order to have had more time to carry out sightseeing and avoid the arduous journeys.
However, apart from that the holiday which was well organised by Exodus and superbly led by our tour guide, Alan Liu, (Hongbin Liu), who was absolutely brilliant.
When you are on holiday, no matter who you go with, the face of the company is represented by the Tour Leader and in our instance this was Alan Liu.
If we were to go back to China we would go on the understanding that the tour would again be led by Alan.
He was extremely informative, funny, very well organised and knew his subject matter well.
He ensured that we were at a particular venue or place at the right time so as to avoid the crowds and get the best views and this was particularly the case when we visited the Panda sanctuary at Chengdu where he timed it to perfection and we saw the Pandas at their liveliest and just before the main crowds arrived.
Exodus would be so much poorer without the services of that man.

Most Inspirational Moment

There was so much and, of course, the obvious things were naturally going to be The Great Wall, The Pandas, The Terracotta Army etc. Then there were the marvellous views in the countryside which were breathtaking However, the trip we took opened our eyes to the way the Chinese people now have far more freedoms than we had previously imagined and for us this was a good thing although we were not so naive to think that it was like this everywhere. The three day cruise along the Yangtze river was wonderful and allowed us a brief respite to relax and then the vistis to Yangshuo, Tongli and Shanghai were fantastic.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Without a doubt the trip was made for us by our Tour Leader Alan Liu, (Hongbin Liu). His knowledge about the places we visited was astounding and this, coupled with his brilliant nature, great sense of humour and organisational capabilities made our trip that much more enjoyable. This man is such an asset to Exodus and if he were to ever stop working for the company he would be very sorely missed.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you are going to China with Exodus on the Imperial China and Yangtze River cruise trip then make sure you go on the one led by Alan Liu, you will not be disappointed. Be prepared for crowds of people in city centres, railway stations and popular tourist sites and be aware of the traffic. One assumes they must have road laws in China but absolutely no one appears to bother about them. Motor scooters, motor bikes and pedal cycles, of which there are many, come at you from all angles and don't for one minute think that the pavement is your sanctuary as they ride on them as well. Do be prepared to be blown away by the sights and sounds of this country, it has so much to offer and we would strongly recommend that you try and visit China at some stage in your life as you will not be disappointed. However, one other word of caution, the trip is rated as leisurely in the Exodus ratings and whilst it was not extremely strenuous, it was full on with some early starts and a lot of walking so be prepared.

Vic & Linda Young

Reviewed September 2016

An adventure of a lifetime!!!!!

This is a fantastic trip! It was very well organised from start to finish, our guide Flaminia could not have been more organised and helpful.
The trek was longer, hotter and more arduous than we expected, however, the whole group (of 13) succeeded in completing the whole trek. The 2nd day is the most challenging with a 1300 metre ascent with the heat and altitude affecting most people.
The scenery was amazing with varied terrain from rivers to snow capped mountains. The camp sites were clean, tidy and well managed by the support crew and the food was excellent and plentiful!

Most Inspirational Moment

The feeling of achievement after long days of trekking arriving at The Sun Gate on the afternoon of the 4th day.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Flaminia's knowledge of her country, fauna and flora and it's history was second to none. Her spoken English and her understanding of it was excellent. She was well organised, very understanding and patient. Her assistant guide, Johnie was also a great asset.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If possible, an extra day at the start of the holiday would help you to acclimatize. The fitter you are the better particularly for day 2. Make sure you take all of the recommended items on the lists provided, particularly the warm clothes for sleeping during the cold nights.

Sue Ellis

Reviewed September 2016

taste of cuba

superb tour with what must be the best ‘guide’ we have ever had Rayselis, her knowledge, sense of commitment and humour made the tour more wonderful than it was.

Most Inspirational Moment

the whole trip was made up of wonderful moments - not possible to single out just one.

Thoughts on Group Leader

as mentioned above Rayselis was a 'complete gem'

Advice for Potential Travellers

Internet very poor - just be prepared if you think you will need it!

Diane Edwards

Reviewed September 2016

Walking the Amalfi Coast

It was the first time I had gone on holiday alone and was absolutely fantastic. We were a mixed group from different countries and ages ranged from 24 to 64. We all got along brilliantly. The people at the hotel were lovely and Severio, the guide, was fantastic, great fun and was full of local knowledge. As for the scenery- wow! Exodus kept me fully informed and gave me some very good advice for the trip, very helpful as I hadn’t done a trip like this before.

Most Inspirational Moment

Just seeing the most beautiful scenery from so high up, stunning. Also walking myself fitter and realising what a great way to see an area of a country without hordes of people everywhere. At one point you could almost hear the 'sound of silence. On the 2nd days walk I thought I might need a donkey but managed a glorious walk up Tre Calli to meet with more stunning views. I didn't need the donkey after that!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Severius was brilliant. A really fun guy with loads of knowledge, very thoughtful about people's abilities and encouraging. Couldnt have asked for a better guide.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go and do it, everyone helps one another and that adds to the enjoyment of the trip. Just enjoy the wonderful scenery and the people you meet. Don't worry if you are a single traveller, this was the best holiday I've had for a long time and the first travelling alone.

Rebecca Clifton

Reviewed September 2016

Lots of large steps for mankind!

What an amazing trip! I still can’t quite believe I managed to walk up and down mountains for 4 days! It was very hard but so worthwhile – the views were breathtaking! This was my first solo adventure but I didn’t feel solo – it was lovely to spend time with a positive, good-humoured group of people and I felt very taken care of and encouraged by our guide Raul and assistant guide Elizabeth.

Most Inspirational Moment

The sense of elation and disbelief in finally reaching Dead Woman’s Pass - the view is awe-inspiring! Also enjoying the panoramic mountain views at the third camp and having time to sit and sketch them. Machu Picchu itself was incredibly beautiful and fascinating; and a sight for saw eyes after the 'Gringo killer’ steps leading up to the Sun Gate.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Raul met us at the airport and took good care of the group from the start. He introduced us to some great restaurants and gave us an interesting tour of Cusco. Raul was very helpful and attentive and was very knowledgable about Incan history and the various archaeological sites on the trail. He was also good humoured and encouraging throughout the trek. Elizabeth was a fantastic assistant guide (and very patient with those at the back!) and we all appreciated the 6.30am morning calls which came with mugs of hot coca tea.

Advice for Potential Travellers

For some reason I imagined there would be more flat paths - there were hardly any. Going uphill felt like rock climbing in parts and with 30% less oxygen , this was really hard. Going down hill took a lot of concentration and was hard work on the knees (knee supports helped me). Using the step machine at the gym may help with preparation. I was expecting it to be freezing in the evening, but it wasn’t too bad. A hat, down jacket/fleece and a mac is fine for supper time. It doesn’t get really cold until about 3 or 4 in the morning. If you have a good sleeping bag and a hat you’ll be fine. I packed 8 loo rolls which wasn’t necessary as exodus provided them in their toilet tents on the camp (you only need your own at some loos along the trail). Pack rehydration salts - you will sweat a lot! Ibuprofen, Imodium and blister plasters (particularly with all the down hill walking) were also useful. Don’t over pack your day bag on day 2 - any extra weight makes it so much harder to climb those huge steps. Brush your teeth in bottled water and bring plenty of antibacterial gel and wet wipes.

Tony Chau

Reviewed September 2016

Camino de Santiago Cycle Ride, Sept 16

We have been to a number of Exodus rides but this one stands out because 1) It was a “door to door” ride – we rode to/from the hotel from beginning to end without any bus transfer 2) We had some non-technical off road sections which was great 3) The leaders were great (see below) 4) It was a very interesting ancient route (we rode the “Camino”) and had amazing churches and Castles en route that one could collect stamps on your Camino passport 5) We had great weather (quite hot for Sept. in the first few days but turned cooler towards the end) + the food was wonderful and cheap….

Most Inspirational Moment

We had a great group of cyclist with similar ability and everyone got on well. The climb to O'Cebreiro was quite "cheeky" and I am glad that we made it! The scenery was wonderful and we got there during a festival / market day which was unexpected in such a village that is so high up. Finally, arriving in Santiago with everyone getting a certificate for riding the Camino was also very special.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jose was very knowledgable (he knew exactly the terrain, distance in detail so we knew exactly what to expect and how to pace ourselves - but "undulating" means quite a few ups!). The places that we stopped for coffee, ice cream, lunch, dinner were all wonderful. Guillemo, our support driver/mechanic was also great. We never had our Saddles/Paddles fitted and removed for us in previous trips + we had great support from him (making sure our bottles were filled, checking the tyre pressure, fitting the squeaks....) throughout the trip with a smile.

Advice for Potential Travellers

We thought it was just a cycling trip and didn't know anything about the "St. James Way" and the pilgrims walking the trail. It was a very interesting experience but I wished I read up more about the history before hand.

Terence Lee

Reviewed September 2016

classic kenya

I have been to africa many times, and this holiday was up there with the best. A excellent trip

Most Inspirational Moment

I think seeing 7 cheetahs, and a couple chasing wildebeest. Also watching a leopard pass us by. and then following it along , brilliant

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader, Peter , very good, in fact top marks, and his assistant another peter also

Advice for Potential Travellers

Just sit back and enjoy spectacle, no better show on earth

Sandra Taylor

Reviewed September 2016

Highly recommended holiday

Everything exceeded expectation (only the weather failed!) – great walking, great guide and group and wonderful hotel.

Most Inspirational Moment

The walks and the views (on good weather days!) were fantastic, interesting and varied. The day trip to Pompeii and Vesuvius was great with well informed and interesting guides at both. But then there were the little things like limoncello, great coffee in Italian bars, the really friendly and helpful hotel staff who mixed knock out cocktails in the evenings and having an Italian (no sorry, Sicilian!) guide which made all the difference. He brought Italy to life.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Severio (our group leader) was fantastic. He is very chilled and has a great sense of humour and created a super relaxed and fun group atmosphere. He’s such a good English speaker that he can produce an American accent too! We had so much fun with him. He is also thoroughly professional. He paced the walks well, explained clearly where we were going and kept a watchful eye on everyone, being quick to lend an extra hand if needed. He managed the programme with a level of flexibility that was much appreciated. And he is very knowledgeable and interesting about Italy. On the walks he always provided interesting information and local history etc about the places we passed or saw. And on his day off he still worked hard to make sure that we had a good day.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you go in September don’t assume the weather will be good. We had mixed weather and you definitely need a good waterproof. I don’t usually use walking poles but I was really glad I took them on this holiday. There’s a lot of downhill walking and hard rock/steps so walking poles help cushion the knees. And for the beach take flip flops - the beach is stony and very hot.

Catherine Smith

Reviewed September 2016

High Inca Trail

Epic in every sense of the word! We Trekked and camped in the most remote and awesome places, faced hot sun, sub zero nights, snow, wind, mist and rain! We star gazed, swam in a glacial lake, saw stunning sunsets and got up early to see the sunrise on Salcantay mountain. The many Inca sites and Machu Picchu were even better than we could have imagined!

Most Inspirational Moment

Getting up to see the sunrise on Salcantay Mountain, the first glimpse of Machu Picchu at the sun gate, and returning very early the next day seeing it shrouded in mist only to see it clear to give magnificent views.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Bobby was a great leader. He had great knowledge on both Peruvian culture and Inca history. On the last day in the Sacred Valley he went out of his way to arrange extra sight seeing visits.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't under estimate the huge variation of temperatures during the day! In the sun it can be really warm but in the evenings and night it gets extremely cold! You need a down jacket and warm sleeping bag and lots of extra layers.

Prev 1 … 793 794 795 796 797 … 1,450 Next