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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14493 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Vinay Mohan

Reviewed September 2016

A superb introduction to China!

Flying into Beijing, visiting Tiananmen Square and walking some off-the-beaten-path sections of the Great Wall was a wonderful introduction to China. As usual, excellent local guidance and support from Exodus.

The trek itself is more ‘challenging’ than ‘tough’ and usually left me feeling there was just a little bit of that ‘extra action’ that was missing at the end of the day.
That being said, if you’re a first-time hiker or looking for short bursts of quadricep-burning challenges with lots of photo-ops, this is a great place to start.

Most Inspirational Moment

Probably the 'Tai Chi' lesson at sunset in Gubeikou, with the uplifting Chinese music playing in the background. Also, climbing up the 'Spider-man wall' on Day 2 and approaching the 'Stairway to Heaven' on Day 4. Definitely not for the faint of heart or vertigo-sufferers! But a great feeling once you've overcome these challenges. I made some wonderful friends over a forgettable number of rounds of 'Mongolian Firewater' and karaoke!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jerry Wu is a fantastic tour leader. Active, funny, efficient and full of information - he made the experience memorable and clarified many a misconception that we had around ancient and present-day China. Huge respect for Jerry, Driver Ding and all our hosts in the country-side guest houses whose hospitality and efficiency made this a superb adventure holiday.

Advice for Potential Travellers

1. Pack light. An 8L daypack with 1.5-2.5L water per day is more than adequate. 2. Some of the guest houses baths do not have 24/7 hot water. Check the drains for blockage before soaping up. 3. While the food was delicious, strict vegetarians must be prepared to contend with traces of meat in stocks. 4. If you'd like to step up the challenge level on this trek, do not bring trekking poles. 5. Bed Bugs!

Ivan Hlavanda

Reviewed September 2016

The best holiday ever!

This was the best holiday of my life so far and that says a lot as I am a frequent traveller who visited approximately 20 European countries, many beautiful places and had several fantastic holiday experiences. But this holiday trumped all of that. For those who are not sure if this is the trip for you, trust me it is worth every penny.

I am absolutely satisfied with how Exodus dealt with all of my questions and how they organised this trip. It was all very simple. I arrived to Geneva early Saturday afternoon and met with everyone at the airport included our tour guide. The journey to Chamonix took one hour. Chamonix town is like no others. The town it self is very beautiful and is surrounded by even more beautiful mountains. The views were absolutely unbelievable. We were accommodated in a Chalet which was very beautiful. In the Chalet we met with the rest of the group, and I have to say I couldn’t ask for a better group. Everyone (including our guide – Jenny Smith and the two hosts – Rich and Sarah) was nice and friendly and made this experience even better. The weather was very good, except for one day when it was raining, so we had all the fantastic views. Every day was absolutely fantastic, so get in shape so you don’t miss a thing. No words can describe just how beautiful the views were. The trails them self were in good conditions and I felt very safe on them. Yes there were some difficult sections, but our guide has always helped us out. The best thing about the trip is that when you think nothing can out do your day/moment/view there is something even better, and better and better… You will truly see the best parts of the Alps, experience a new culture, taste things you never ate before. You really want to have a hot chocolate in Italy. The hosts Rich and Sarah were wonderful and I am thankful that they were out hosts as they were friendly and funny and always lifted the atmosphere. Not to mention the fantastic food, truly it was world class, and I miss it already.

Most Inspirational Moment

There is so much to chose from as there were many breathtaking moments. Chamonix is probably the most beautiful town I ever visited. The mountains are very beautiful, and there are many memorable places. I enjoyed every second of walking, I loved every view, I loved everything. Even the only day with bad weather (rain and poor visibility) had it own magic. You would think that it would ruin your day, and yes it did a bit but I still loved it. But I think my favourite was the walk from La Flegere to Le Brevent. The views were magnificent, the trail challenging yet very unique and enjoyable. This is the day when you want to have a nice weather and good visibility the most.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader Jenny Smith was fantastic. She was very helpful, informative and had a great knowledge of the area. She is a very nice person who I thought always gave her best and sometimes even went above and beyond in the most positive way. On every evening she informed us about our next tour and always gave us several options on how to do the route depending how good/tired we felt. She is a great leaded who always gave us her hand and helped us to go through all the difficult sections.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Read the trip notes and take all the gear that is says you need and always take waterproof clothes with you as the weather in the mountains is unpredictable and changes very quickly. You don't want to catch bad weather and not have the right gear, because the things can go really bad for you. Also make sure you have the right boots for the trip, I recommend ones with high and strong heels that will support your ankles.

Nandita Nelson

Reviewed September 2016

Walking and Wildlife South Africa

A very varied holiday, filled daily with new adventures so that it felt longer than 2 weeks. The animal sightings on safari and the early morning estuary trip were thrilling and the views on the mountain walks breathtaking. The added excitement of panning for gold, the aspects of historical interest (Anglo-Zulu war) and a day at the beach whale watching made this trip truly memorable.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing a whale launch itself out of the Indian Ocean, do a somersault and land with an almighty splash. Seeing a leopard stroll past the rear bumper of the van. Seeing a group of baby elephants taking a mudbath and an oxpecker (bird) disappear into the ear of an Impala. Seeing the glorious Drakensburg draped in mist, which then melted away to leave a crystal clear deep blue sky. See an African Paradise flycatcher flit through the trees with its orange ribbon tail floating in the breeze. Eating the delicious S African cuisine prepared by our superb guides under the stars, washed down with some excellent S African vintage.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Colly was first class. He was so concerned about our welfare and worked so hard to make sure EVERYONE was having a good time. He never rested really. Also extremely well organized and everything was beautifully organized, on-time and under control. He did also chat and have fun with the group. Definitely "DANGEROUS" when it came to Uno.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for a range of temperatures, the plains are very hot and the mountains cold. Some longish transfers, so be prepared with entertainment. Washing and toilet facilities everywhere were excellent-even in Kruger where there was a shared toilet block and an enormous bath. Mosquitoes were not too much of a problem, but some insect repellent needed. Don't forget some binoculars, or you will miss out. Birders, you will not be bored or disappointed! Not many maps provided, and I wished I had one to trace our route. Easy to purchase wine at supermarket stops--LOTS of good quality S African wine VERY reasonably priced. (Didn't sample the beer, so no comment there).

Petrina Rance

Reviewed September 2016

Cycling Puglia and Matera

This was a hugely enjoyable trip made by our delightful and knowledgeable guide, Marinella Bozzetti . The tour took us through beautiful countryside and fascinating historic towns and the distances and hills were reasonable for regular cyclists with a good level of fitness. I would rate the trip as excellent but felt our tour guide could have done with more back up – at the very least there should be a spare bike of equivalent standard so that bikes could easily be replaced if necessary.

Most Inspirational Moment

We especially loved the farm house and beautiful rooms in the monastery. In better weather the luxurious pool would have been a highlight but despite the storm we enjoyed the comfort and wonderful setting. Swimming in the Ionian Sea one day and the Adriatic the next was also memorable as was the stunning coastal road between Gallipoli and Ortranto.

Thoughts on Group Leader

We all loved Marinella - she was a constant delight. Funny, charming and unfailingly good humoured despite the many " trrrragedies" of our trip ie thunder, lightening and torrential rain. We were all soaked to the skin but thanks to Marinella we came through smiling. She went well beyond her duties to provide informative guided tours at every stopping point and made sure that we were well looked after in a variety of traditional restaurants. She dealt diplomatically and with admirable patience with the one difficult member of the group.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure you do have a reasonable level of fitness because 6 consecutive days in the saddle are quite demanding and this tour does include a number of longish hills. Heat or bad weather both increase the difficulty but the rewards are worth it. A number in our group were in our 60s and this tour was well within our capabilities but we were all reasonably experienced cyclists. A spare pair of shoes would have been welcome.

Linda Bradshaw

Reviewed September 2016

Morocco's Great South

This was the most exciting adventure which everyone enjoyed whether seriously fit cyclists or more leisurely cruisers like myself. We experienced the beauty & drama of the countryside with the everyday life of Morocco in towns & villages. It was truly an exceptional experience, educational & fun.

Most Inspirational Moment

The most moving sights and sounds of the villagers praying on top of the hills on the day of Eid to celebrate the end of Ramadan. It was like the Sermon on the Mount - quite surreal.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Said was the most perfect guide. He was so patient and kind, he seemed pleased & proud to be able to answer all our questions about the history, geography customs and culture of Morocco which enriched our experience. He worked hard always with a smile. Hussein was a good calm driver and also very kind. We were all sad to say goodbye.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The challenges are to be taken seriously or get back on the bus.

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.

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