Reviews

Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers

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74 Reviews

4.6 out of 5

Reviewed October 2012

IMPERIAL CHINA & YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE

It was a great trip and we beleive we have seen much of China and experienced a totally different way of life. China has so many layers and so much to see if you go with an open mind and wide eyes.

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking the Wall would have to be the most inspirational. To actually be there and see the wall wind its way across the ridges and high points of the mountains. Talking with the local people and hear the proud voices of thier country. Although this was the highlight its closely followed by the Terracotta Warriors, the pandas, Yangshuo with the spectacular rock formations. The lovely water village of Tong li and Beijing with the old and new blending in. Xian was lovely, especially riding around the wall.

Thoughts on Group Leader

William was the best. He ensured that we all got to see China worts and all. We were a large group and of varing levels of fitness and abilities and he went out of his way to ensure we all got to experience the wonders of China.His knowledge of the places we went to was excellant and ensured that we got to taste the subtle differences from various areas.I was lucky enough to have a birthday while on the trip and he went out of his way to make it a special day. Noel needed a fuse and he was very helpful and went shopping for Noel, it was much appreciated. His advcie on handling the crowds was spot on and with such a large group we believe he managed remarkable well, keeping us together and safe.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take you time to look about yourself, its not all about the highlights but also about the local sights and what is happening for the Chinese people as they go about their business.The gardens are different from what we are used to but we realised that you need to sit and ponder and look out from all angles and see the beauty. Definetly take wet wipes, toliet paper and hand sanitizer. A sleeping bag liner is a must for the over night trains. Limit the luggage as you need to tranport your own often. We were there Sept/Oct when is was warm and only need to dress lightly.The laundries are cheap and we found this very handy when staying in hotels for a few nights. Because of the humidity it can be hard to get things dry. Leave the shopping until Shanghai so you do not have to carry it but also because there are great bargains which William will show you.

Reviewed October 2012

IMPERIAL CHINA & YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE

We booked this trip without having been on a touring holiday before. We did not really know what to expect. The trip notes that were sent were excellent and gave us a good idea of what types of accomodation we would be staying in. We had a fantastic time and would recommend this trip as you get to see all the major cultural sites. Whilst it is a bit hectic for the first 8 or 9 days you do get a chance to relax towards the end.

Most Inspirational Moment

The Great Wall of China is awesome and even though it came at the beginning of the trip it was fantastic and is something I will never forget. I have not seen photo's or video footage that does it justice it really is a WOW moment when you get to the wall itself and see it snaking away over precipitous hills. This does not mean the rest of the trip was an anticlimax, far from it. Everything we saw was interesting and there were other wow moments throughout the trip. The only down side I can think off was the trip to the Great Buddha, whilst this is a magnificent statue cut into the cliff all the travelling for 10 minutes there was a bit much.

Thoughts on Group Leader

William was great. He could not do enough for us. His knowledge of the cultural sites was in depth and he gave us it small chunks so that we could digest a little bit at a time. We had a disparate group and William made sure all the party were catered for, from letting some of us hike the Great Wall for 4 hours to making sure the less able of the group still got a chance to see it and arranging local guides to help. His choice of restaurants and local knowledge of the places we visited made sure we tasted the real China. Not all the meals were to my taste as I must admit I did get a bit tired of rice and noodles but that is no fault of Williams jsut me having a westerm palate. My camera broke after just 5 days there and William was great in helping me buy a new one as there is not a lot of English spoken in rural China.If you go on this trip and get William as a guide you will have a great time

Advice for Potential Travellers

The trip is quite hectic at first and there is some lugging of cases and time spent in railway stations but it is all worth it. The train journeys can be a little drawn out and whilst they have improved the third leg of the trip I would still recommend taking a sleeping bag liner. Just go with an open mind and you will have the experience of a lifetime.

Reviewed October 2012

IMPERIAL CHINA & YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE

An absolutely fantastic once in a lifetime holiday!

Most Inspirational Moment

Where do I start? I suppose it would have to be walking on the great wall, such an amazing surreal experince, 3 hours did not feel long enough you just wanted to keep walking another tower then another tower. It was great that we were taken to a quiet part of the wall this allowed us to get some great photo's and fully enjoy the experience, well worth the early morning and long drive.I was really looking forward to seeing the Panda's at the breeding centre in Chengdu, they didn't dissapoint one little bit they were so cute to watch and we were also lucky enough to see 2 babies! 1 a couple of weeks old the other a couple of months WOWThe overnight stay in Tongli was good, such a great little town with bags of character and some great shops for buying souvenirs.To keep the list short my favourite place was Xi'an, a lovely city, the highlight being cycling around the city walls.One last thing, I was part of a great group, everybody was really nice and got on so well that this contributed greatly to the whole experience.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was Emma. I don't think we could have had a nicer person for the job, she was very bubbly and chatty and got on well with everybody in the group. Her organisational skills were impecable and she always made sure everything ran smoothly and dealt with any problems that arose efficiently.You could ask anything of her and she would go out of her way to help. I wanted to visit a taylor to have some suits made, she phoned a personal friend of hers in Shanghai and got a name and address of a good one for me to visit.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Yes take the advice about a sleeping bag liner lol! I wasn't going to bother but was persuaded otherwise by fellow travellers in the departure lounge. You may want to use it for all 3 journeys, as we discovered that they don't change the bedding they just shake it fold it and put it back on the beds!Use the departure lounge before you travel to get to know other people on your trip, that's what it is there for and is great for swapping travelling trips and getting some very usefull advice.For the early morning start to visit thr great wall, take a pillow so you can sleep more comfortably on the coach.

Reviewed October 2012

IMPERIAL CHINA & YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE

I cannot believe how much i saw of China and the culture in 3 weeks, amazing.

Most Inspirational Moment

The Great Wall was amazing and travelling 4 hours to see it in a place where there were not so many tourists (hardly saw another tourist at all) was more than worth the time it took to get there.

Thoughts on Group Leader

I cannot say enough good about her, she was brilliant. She was informative about the culture and people of China, if we needed anything she helped us get it. She was fun, friendly, interesting and a genunely nice person to be with. She made sure we were booked into sleeper berths together and any issues we had she resolved, not that i can remember there being many. We were called Emma's family and she certainly made us feel like a family. I needed help with 2 personal things (one of which was getting a set of false nails fitted the day before i came home, vain i know) she helped me find a beautician who could do it for me, expained my needs and waited for me whilst they were done, really girlie time, great.

Advice for Potential Travellers

You need a sleeping bag liner for the 3rd overnight sleeper train, i would take a mosquito thingymagig for the hotel rooms but i would not bother with a mosquito net. I packed far too much - for the time of the year I went Sept/Oct some shorts and strappy t-shirts were all that were needed for the days, we did not really dress up at night, so jeans, light weight trousers etc., but i would say no high heels (streets are a bit uneven). A fleece and lightweight waterproof jacket is also must. Lemsip as well, lots of our group caught colds. A kindle to pass the time on some of the journeys between sites is also something i used a lot. A packet of baby wipes, squat toilets take some getting used to especially on a moving train.

Reviewed October 2012

IMPERIAL CHINA & YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE

What a brilliant holiday with a bit of everything: from the noise, hustle and bustle of city life to a tranquil cruise on a bamboo raft down the Yulong River; the breathtaking beauty of the Great Wall and the amazing pits with the Terracotta Warriors; fascinating history, lovely, friendly people, great food and a fun group and tour leader – we laughed our way around China together and it was fantastic. I would highly recommend this trip but, as the other reviewers have said, this is not a trip for putting your feet up and relaxing. Your feet barely stop moving but you get to see some wonderful sights and experiences along the way.

Most Inspirational Moment

There was loads of brilliant stuff of the holiday and I loved every day but the three stand out experiences for me were: 1. Walking the Great Wall was my favourite experience. We spent most of the day there in the glorious sunshine and walked about 10 km. The views from the Wall were breathtaking and we had it nearly all to ourselves. 2. Visiting the Panda Centre in Chengdu was also another highlight for me. We got there early in the day so saw the pandas having breakfast and being at their most active. But the best bit was seeing the tiny baby pandas in their incubators. I had to tear myself away.3. The Terracotta Warriors are just amazing in their detail and in their number. I could have spent much longer just walking around. Another great day on our trip.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was Susan and she helped to make this such a memorable holiday. She was very organised, always happy and ready to help and to join in the fun.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The beds in China are hard and the 'soft berths' on the train are even harder - so be prepared to take a travel pillow or something soft, particularly on the train to save you backache.I was advised by the tour leader some sections of the Great Wall we were walking might be difficult for those with vertigo. It was steep in some sections but if you can overcome your fear it actually isn't that bad and definitely worth it for the experience.

Reviewed September 2012

IMPERIAL CHINA & YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE

A great trip with something for everyone. History and culture, beautiful countryside, activities, time for relaxation on the cruise and a touch of the ‘brave new world’ in Shanghai.

Most Inspirational Moment

Yangshou;Cycling, kayaking and seeing the light show.Seeing how the country is developing so fast.Getting to know my travelling companions.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Bruce was exceptional. He was perceptive,proactive, really well organised, polite, entertaining and really went out of his way to help us have a relaxing and trouble free holiday.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you are travelling in August be prepared for the heat, humidity and crowds of Chinese tourists everywhere. There was very little 'peace and quiet' but it's all part of the adventure. Definately go to the show in Yangshou, it is breathtaking and the activities there are good too. The climb up Emeishan was SO crowded...you have been warned!

Reviewed July 2012

IMPERIAL CHINA & YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE

In three weeks we covered more of China and got closer to the Chinese people than I could have imagined.They were amazingly open and friendly. This despite our lack of common language. This China is changing so fast. Go there. Soon.

Most Inspirational Moment

Too many to pick out just one. What was inspirational was the energy and resilience of the people. Life is still hard there. The contrast between rich, glitzy modern wealthy China and the poor majority is striking. Still, it is obvious too that in the hotels where we stayed, all Chinese, that there is emerging a middle class who can afford to travel around, much like in Europe. A few, then. The park in Beijing where all kinds of casual but organised groups of exercise and dance took place. Anyone can join in. Cookery school in Yangshuo also cycling out from Yangshuo. Communal meals around the " lazy Susan"' every day, always good. Trains. We happen to have done several overnight train journeys in Europe recently, and those in China are at least as comfortable and clean, some times a lot better, just to put them into context. Don't grumble about them! The third on the trip, admittedly was the least good, and the longest, but this class of train is about to be upgraded, might have been already. The other daytime trains on this trip are ultra modern, fast and comfortable. Nothing like our own domestic services. The light show in Yangshuo was astonishing. In general I would say, do as many of the optional activities as you can cram in. Nothing is expensive, some are a bit amateurish, but all are fascinating. Walking along the Bund in Shanghai, and out on the river in a boat. Simply stunning.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Friendly and efficient. All our transfers were organised to make them as easy as possible for us. The train stations are intimidating places and the crowds boarding the trains are enormous, so without her guidance and help I doubt we would have managed to board at all sometimes. Full of knowledge about Chinese cuisine which she was anxious to share with us. As we were the oldest people in the group sho looked out for us and made sure we were keeping up and comfortable. When anyone was not feeling up to the mark she kept an eye on them and was sympathetic. Naturally sociable, often on the longer bus journeys, when she could see we were all flagging a bit she would start off some conversation, light heated or informative, which would lift the mood of the group.

Advice for Potential Travellers

My motto for this trip was TOO MUCH STUFF! Like you We had read the advice in these reviews and vowed to take the minimum amount. So I put out what I thought I needed, and then removed a lot of it. NOT NEARLY ENOUGH! We had been to T K Maxx and found the perfect cases, 4 wheeled "spinner" cases. You can guide them along with one finger, and we were grateful that we had them Other people in our group had much more stuff than we had, and in less suitable cases. You really want not to be always encumbered by your luggage. Drinking water, none of the tap water is drinkable. The local people do not drink it, so you will be able to buy bottled water everywhere, cheaply and easily. Many of the hotels provide a bottle a day each at no charge. Also most hotels provide a kettle, or a thermos and boiling water. Also there is a tap for boiling water in each railway carriage. Do use the tea bags in your hotel, they are good. I really can't seek the point of taking PG Tips to China. The tea is one of the best things you will get. Also you need milk for black tea. You might buy a Chinese tea cup with built in infused while you are there. I didn't and wished I had. In Tongli, I was very disappointed with the accommodation where we stayed. On reflection, if I had been prepared for just how basic it is, I would have been happier. The rooms are tiny and the facilities really simple, but is is clean. I hope they will have improved the breakfast by now. Money. There are ATMs everywhere and we had no difficulty using them. Laundry. Our guide kept us well informed about where the next one would be. In the first part of the trip that was helpful as we were constantly on the move.

Reviewed July 2012

IMPERIAL CHINA & YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE

This is a great trip for those that want to have many and varied experiences packed into 21 days. The itinary is full on and involves a great deal of internal travel. Overnight trains were probably the low points but were coupled with the brilliant highs of walking on The Great Wall, visiting the Terracotta Armies and seeing some very cute baby pandas!

Most Inspirational Moment

I was very much looking forward to visiting The Great Wall and it did not disappoint in any respect. We travelled to a quiet part of the wall and for most of the time were the only people on it. This was a terrific start to the trip!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was great, full of energy and very clearly wanted us all to have the very best trip possible. He balanced the needs of the group well and his own energy and enthusiasm was infectious.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Anyone considering this trip should be prepared for an unrelenting itinary that requires some stamina. Toilet facilites are of a varied nature! You will not spend many nights in one place so packing needs to be given careful thought along with ensuring you can carry/wheel your bag in/out/onto planes, trains and buses.

Reviewed June 2012

IMPERIAL CHINA & YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE

I asked Exodus to arrange a 5 day trip to Datong and area before the main tour began. This worked really well as we were acclimatised ready for the tour. I had high expectations for the trip and I can honestly say that other than the weather I was not disappointed.A trip packed with such a variety of experiences!

Most Inspirational Moment

There is something truly awe-inspiring seeing the terracotta warriors from close range, the pandas were just adorable particularly the mother with 4 active and playful youngsters, the scenery in Yangshou takes your breath away and then of course the Great Wall. Unfortunately we did the latter in miserable weather which meant that the hoped for grand view was invisible. The Hanging Monastery near Datong was well-worth the additional cost. What I also greatly enjoyed was the two meals we shared with local people - very simple cooking but so tasty.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jerry is very knowledgeable and was keen to do all he could to make the trip memorable. With a very mixed group of people with different wishes it wasn't always easy to please everyone.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I don't eat meat and found it very difficult in the first half of holiday. Our leader had been advised that I am a vegetarian so only presented simple vegetable dishes. If like me you eat fish make this known before you go as Chinese generally classify fish as meat which leads to confusion.Everything on the Yangtze cruise is really expensive so keep your shopping and beauty treatments for either Yangshou or Shanghai - there is plenty of choice. There is a lot of carrying of luggage in railway stations so ensure you can carry your bag and take plenty of reading material for those long train journeys.

Reviewed April 2012

IMPERIAL CHINA & YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE

China is amazing, and on this tour you will get so many highlights. There are fantastic places as the forbidden city, the Great Wall, the Terracotta warriors, the hiking at Emaishan, the pandas in Chengu, the Yangtze cruise, the wonderful landscape around Yangshuo, modern Shanghai and much more. Meeting the openminded Chinese people and having a guide, who did more than anyone could expect for giving her travellers the best holiday ever, are other highlights making this tour to the best you can imagine.

Most Inspirational Moment

It was fantastic to walk on the Great Wall, to visit the many temples in Beijing, to see the historic terracotta warriors, to hike at Emeishan to the most beautiful view I have ever seen, to see the amazing 3 gorges on the Yangtze Cruise and to bike around the beautful landscape near Yangshuo. But, the highlight for me on this tour was visiting the pandas in Chengdu. It was amazing to see so many pandas in different sizes and ages, how they played with each other, climbed trees and enjoyed their life in the nice sorroundings in the breeding center, and the most inspirational moment was for sure when I had one of the young pandas sitting with me and touching it when feeding. This was once of a lifetime experience.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was unik. We were her family from the beginning to the end of the tour. She did everything for us, and used her great personality to solve all problems.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I can only say, go for it. This tour will be one of the highlights in your life.

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