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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14485 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Bruce Macdonald

Reviewed November 2015

Bucket List Must

The Great Wall Walk/Trek organised by Exodus was a great experience. The tour leader (Jerry) must be congratulated on his professionalism – he never missed a thing (even carried a lady down the Wall after she had either broken or sprained an ankle). Accommodation was better than I expected in the villages we had to stay in. The Food was always fresh and there was plenty of it (mostly vegetables though but still tasty).
The magnitude of the Great Wall is overpowering. Must say that for anyone who intends attempting the Walk then I suggest you have a reasonable level of fitness if you are over 50 years of age – the steps (numerous) at times are taxing. Strongly recommend Exodus if you intend “shopping”the net for companies who run similar ädventures”>

Most Inspirational Moment

Looking back , realising what we had achieved at the end of each day and thinking that for an "old fart", 66 years of age and overweight that I still could tick stuff off the bucket list

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jerry was the best tour leader I have ever encountered in all the years of trekking/hiking throughout the world. You could always see that he double checking things in his mind. From early morning to late at night , he was always there to ensure all was OK He is a great asset to Exodus.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure you take stocks with you (particularly if you have knee or hip problems) - they really help on negotiating the steps. Take a small, lightweight camera with you - it is a pain have to drag good camera gear out of your backpack every time you want to take a snapshot.

Eileen Bigg

Reviewed November 2015

Jordan from top to bottom

A packed week covering ancient history and modern-day culture

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking down the winding Siq on the way to Petra, past wonderful coloured rock formations, until we were confronted by the Treasury

Thoughts on Group Leader

Great fun, very attentive, pre-empted every situation

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take earplugs (to muffle the early morning call to prayer) and a universal bathplug. And be prepared for lots of walking in Petra - the site is bigger than you think.

Marilyn Turner

Reviewed November 2015

Walking the Great Wall

Approximately five days walking up to and atop the Great Wall of China, largely in sections that are closed to the general public. The walking is sometimes challenging and the conditions, unique (e.g., hundreds of steps, often narrow or with high risers; steeply sloped stone paths, like staircases without stairs; ladder access) but the scenery at the top is awe-inspiring. In addition, there is a tour of historical sites in Beijing plus a visit to the East Qing Tombs. While the add-on to Xian focuses on the terracotta warriors, it also offers the chance to see another different city quite different from Beijing.

Most Inspirational Moment

Being on top of the wall in quite solitary places and getting a sense of the level of engineering, foresight, and work that went into its construction. It's a wonder, yes, but I hadn't expected it to be so beautiful.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Kevin is a brilliant group leader: focused, fit, friendly, intelligent, knowledgeable, caring, humorous and fun. Not only is he highly skilled at his work, but he's a super multi-tasker willing to take on any job to make our visit easier. He served tables, made us tea and even sorted out the plumbing. The four of us who went onto Xian couldn't have found our way around the rail station in Beijing without Kevin's help. Plus he makes a point about being transparent about how our tip money is spent. Exodus and its clients are lucky to have him!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be aware that a certain level of fitness is required for this holiday. Several of our group were daunted by the steps, the heights, and the ladders. The ability to manage steep paths is essential. Take warm clothes if you go in October, as the nights can be cool (2 C) and the homestays are neither well heated nor insulated. Wear layers. Always carry toilet paper with you.

Jonathan Anthony

Reviewed November 2015

Everest Base Camp

With only 24hrs to go before we were due to depart the UK Foreign Office were still advising against all but essential travel to the trekking regions of Nepal. My son and I were determined to go and with real efficiency Exodus delivered the trek with great communication in just 24 hrs. We were not disappointed! The trek was simply superb, the scenery beyond description and the personal achievement a real buzz, not an easy trek but one that I would not have missed. Or guide, Jangbu Ang, was extremely knowledgeable and experienced, he had summited Everest three times, knew every peak, described every climbing route, explained the culture and religion and perhaps most importantly managed our walking speed so as to ensure that altitude sickness was never a concern to us. We played cards and pool with him and our porter, Ang Cady, undoubtedly the “coolest dude” on the trek, and they let us win occasionally. Although our group consisted of just my son and I we rapidly met others on the same route and established a camaraderie that enabled all to get to Base Camp and ensured a celebration in both Lukla and Kathmandu.

Most Inspirational Moment

Realising that I was actually going to achieve a goal that I had set myself nearly two years earlier as we approached Base Camp, following in the footsteps of some great men and women.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Simply superb as described above.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Commit to it and you will do it, every moment is worthwhile, remember slowly slowly, the mountains aren't going anywhere, enjoy what's round every corner!

DAVID BELL

Reviewed November 2015

Walking in Picos de Europa

A wonderful week of walking in amazing scenery. The hotel is very comfortable and the food 5 stars.

Most Inspirational Moment

All the walks were excellent but the Cares Gorge stood out as the scenery was magnificent.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Alvaro was an outstanding leader. Very knowledgeable about the routes, the history, the flora..... He looked after the group very well and his level of fitness was superb. Nothing was too much trouble for him.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take binoculars to appreciate the scenery and bird life.

Graham Dobbie

Reviewed November 2015

Primates & Dragons of Indonesia (Oct 15)

Fantastic wildlife experiences, but not for those who want a relaxing holiday. There is a lot to see and therefore a lot of long days, but definitely worth it.

Most Inspirational Moment

Up close and personal with the orang-utans and snorkelling in Flores.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Yadi was pleasant and helpful.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take account of the amount of travelling on this trip. The internal flights are at the mercy of the airlines and scheduling may not always be as efficient as travellers would like - you just have to go with the flow. That said, the individual wildlife and other experiences certainly make it worth it. The Trip Notes suggested taking a mosquito net, etc, but the hotel in the malarial area - Flores (that we stayed in - Eco Lodge) supplied them, along with a plug and tablets (so we didn't require them) and they weren't required on the boat.

Stewart Shaw

Reviewed November 2015

high inca trail

A trip to Peru in october 2015 , a couple of days sightseeing to acclamatise to the altitude, followed by 6 days hiking in the Andes, following the high Inca trail, we had fantastic weather, no rain , excellent company and brilliant support staff, guides , horsemen and porters and the Chef made fantastic food, and a chance to see the iconic Inca ruins macchupicchu made for a superb holiday.

Most Inspirational Moment

The six days hiking getting to Machupicchu was fantastic, the high mountain views and varying landscape was incredible, the numerous Inca ruins were a treasure to see, varying wildlife , birds and flowers added to the adventure and the thought of finally seeing an anceint Inca stronghold was enough inspiration for all to complete the trek.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Wilfredo was an excellent guide, very knowledgable in all things Inca, good understanding of individual hikers needs, all ways willing to help and resolve issues and knew the mountains well providing excellent camp sites with fantastic views

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go with an open mind , expect the unexpected, the weather and temperatures can vary in the mountains so go prepared. check the packing list but only take essentials due to weight restrictions

Petra Hirst

Reviewed November 2015

Dolomites to Venice

This was a truly outstanding tour with the most exceptional tour guide – Michele Quaresimin. I have already recommended this tour to numerous friends. It’s a great way of getting a taste of the Tyrol and Italy. I’d also highly recommend the Puglia trip with Michele and the Girolibero bicycles! All round excellence.

Most Inspirational Moment

We lost two days of cycling due to rain but Michele quickly sorted a new itineray and in each town he found excellent restaurants and the best tourist sites to visit. In Padova the Scrovegni chapel painted by Giotto was a marvel to see.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Michele Quaresimin is the best guide I have ever come across and I have travelled the world and come across many guides! He is professional, friendly, caring, resourceful, gives 100 % every time - he brings back customers to the Exodus tours because he makes the trips come to life.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you like cycling and love Italy and Austria - do this trip.

Anne Edinburgh

Reviewed November 2015

Ancient and Modern Japan

Excellent introduction to all aspects of Japan from ancient, beautiful temples, shrines and castles to the peace of the mountains (and snow monkeys in the hot pools) to the crazy, neon, shopping madness that is Tokyo. Busy, long days starting at 08.00 finishing around 17.00 or later. Lots of walking – a total of 120 miles in the 14 day trip. All travel by local transport on trains, buses or trams. On two consecutive days we took 5 or 6 trains each day. This was quite an achievement for our guide who ensured that all 15 of us were extremely punctual. In busy places 15 felt too big a group. We saw a huge amount in the two weeks and don’t think it would have been possible to have seen so much without a guide. The hotels in Kyoto and Tokyo were excellent, one riokan was a bit like a youth hostel. The Garden Hotel in Matsumoto was a disaster as it only had single rooms and half were smoking rooms.

Most Inspirational Moment

As others have said, too difficult to choose just one. The many shrines where locals are praying while tourists gaze upon them, the giant Buddha at Nara, the Golden temple and gardens, the scenery of the Japanese Alps with the autumn colours, the monkeys, the excitement of the bullet train's speed and the unforgettable experience of the Onsen.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Chiko Hansen worked very hard to ensure we all saw as much as possible. She offered suggestions and accompanied people on visits that were outside the itinerary. It was tough for her to try and keep 15 people together in the busiest railway station in the world. She is incredibly energetic and it could be hard work trying to keep up! It is a huge benefit that she is Japanese (though now lives in Australia) and so could give us insights into the Japanese way of life. We ate with Chiko in some great local restaurants that the ordinary tourist would not have found. On the downside, her sense of direction was not always the best and she had to be persuaded to occasionally stop to allow eating or comfort breaks.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for more walking than the trip notes suggest. Quite a lot of energy required and good idea to carry snacks and water in a small backpack. Take comfortable shoes that are easy to slip on and off for temple visits. Do plenty homework to help decide what you want to do on the free days as some places will need advance booking. If you want to see the Tokyo fish market make a plan to go early (0600-0700?) as when we went at 1000 it was closing. Evening eating places seem to close by 9pm, so plan to eat fairly early. Look out for the "Western style" toilets as you have to squat in the Japanese ones

Anne Neary

Reviewed November 2015

Cycle Albania - Do it

Great holiday. Who knew Albania is so beautiful. The trip covers a lot of the south – interior and coastline. Great guide – helpful and knowledgeable always taking time to tell us about his country. The maps Armand provided each day with each leg of the route were great as they are a good reminder of the trip (and helps to remind me of the place names!) Some tough climbs but so worth it. Also some exhilarating downhills with very little traffic. Loved the food – although could have done without the chips – I think they were served just for us.

Most Inspirational Moment

Not caving on a 14% slope and doing the last hard climb all in one go!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent. Armand was friendly, knowledgeable and very helpful. A great group leader always available to help, take us out to great places to eat and motivate us to ride!

Advice for Potential Travellers

A rather tougher 3 rating than some of the others, but so worth it.

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