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!

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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.

Reviews

Avril Roulton

Reviewed September 2015

South African dream

This was a fantastic trip from Cape Town to Johannesburg, showing off the scenery and wildlife of South Africa at its best. Blessed with fantastic weather throughout the 3 weeks, and as it was in the dry season the grasses were low, we had amazing views of the country and all it had to offer. We had 2 wine tasting sessions at Stellenbosch, saw the penguins at Boulder, had lunch in a garden restaurant while watching whales in the bay, saw beer making in Lesotho and visited Rourke’s Drift. We spent time in Kruger Park, as well as visitin g Cape Vidal and Edeni Game reserves and had a river cruise at St Lucia to see the hippo and birds. It was everything I hoped for and so much more.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were so many special moments it is difficult to select just one, but driving into Kruger and seeing a leopard sitting at the roadside, watching a mother rhino and her baby at Cape Vidal, seeing the Drakensberg mountains bathed in sunlight and viewing hippos in the river at St Lucia must be among my favourites.

Thoughts on Group Leader

We had 2 group guides and a driver. Jean-Paul was very knowledgeable about his country and willing to share that knowledge with us. Bevan was very knowledgeable about the wine industry and helped us to make our selections - our water cool box rapidly turned into a wine cellar! Sophiso was our first driver and we felt very safe with him at the wheel, but unfortunately due to sad family events, he had to leave us halfway through the trip. His replacement Chris was also good, coping with some difficult roads - he was also an excellent animal spotter. All of the guides were very sociable and willing to oblige with special requests, photo opportunities and additional 'comfort' stops. There was good provision for phone and camera charging on our truck when on the road as the constant snapping of scenery and wildlife soon drained the batteries. Our guides were excellent cooks and we ate very well when camping and out during the various day trips - roadside picnics were a regular occurrence and the evening meals were yummy - Bev's curried fruit treat was a delicious surprise.

Advice for Potential Travellers

It was quite a difficult trip to pack for because of the very different cliamtes across the country; Capetown was warm, while Lesotho was cold at night - but using summer tee-shirts as vests and having some long sleeved jumpers it can be managed. Take plenty of memory card storage on the phones and cameras. The plug adaptor required for South Africa is a 3 round pin - not easily available in Europe, but Bev took us straightaway to the shop to purchase one when he collected us at Cape Town airport - he knew we would need it to charge electricals etc.

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Maureen Harper

Reviewed September 2015

Cycling Albania

The trip was not rated accurately. The elevation gains were greater than expected, as was the amount of traffic on some of the roads.

Most Inspirational Moment

I enjoyed the quiet, although rough (which I expected) rural roads in the mountains and viewing the people and scenery there. As always, I enjoyed the company.

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was organized and efficient, but could have added much more to the trip by discussing social, historical, natural history and personal stories about his country. He tended to be somewhat cynical and more interested in logistics rather than the people on the trip. He provided a good overview and profile of each day's ride which would have helped in the itinerary trip description Exodus used.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for lengthly climbs on narrow roads with considerable traffic, particularly in the sections near the end of the trip. The coastal rides were somewhat repetitive and more like a road biking experience.

Reply from Exodus

We would like to thank Maureen for her feedback, but we are very sorry that the trip did not meet her expectations. We have worked hard developing the right itinerary with our local partners and overall this trip has received positive feedback. I cycled the full route when setting up the itinerary for 2015 and I decided on the grade accordingly; although there are some climbs, I found the route to be comparable with some of our other cycling trips of the same grade. The toughest climb on the trip is an optional one and the ride has full vehicle support, both of which were taken into account when setting the grade. We feel that the roads are relatively quiet for the majority of the trip, only getting busier around some of the larger towns, however we appreciate that Maureen feels differently.

Olly Pemberton – Trip Manager for Albania

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Lynn Roulstone

Reviewed September 2015

Fantastic holiday

A wonderful way to spend a week, walking the beautiful Ligurian coast, visiting the Cinque Terre villages and Portofino. The walks are well planned stopping at great places to eat lunch (Lots of good places in Moneglia to pick up a delicious slice of focaccia). Moneglia was a very pleasant town with a great atmosphere, ideal for strolling round on a warm evening. The hotel was very pleasant, and I liked the breakfasts, though fans of a Full English will be disappointed.

Most Inspirational Moment

Looking across to the village of Volastra while walking from Riomaggiore to Corneglia, the blueness of the sea, the wooded paths of the Portofino perninsula.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Emily was great, well organised, patient and funny. We'd never done this sort of holiday before and she completely put us at our ease.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The walks were a bit tougher than I expected, I hadn't factored in the gradient or the heat. Certainly make sure to take a pair of good walking shoes, I very nearly didn't.

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Penelope Wood

Reviewed September 2015

Imperial China and the Yangtze River

We wanted to get a real insight into China and see the great icons of the country too and this trip certainly delivered on both fronts. It was hard work at times because of the full on travel but the upside was that we saw a lot of the country and how the infrastructure works (or doesn’t, with floods in Xi’ian!). Our guide Alan/Hongbin Liu was excellent – more on him later.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were many, but I've selected two. Walking along the Great Wall and seeing it weave ahead over the mountains in to the distance, imagining all the thousands of people involved in it's construction. Second top moment was being among the Karst Mountains - summiting one that was right behind our hotel in Yangshuo and cycling along the Yulong river with the peaks as a glorious backdrop.

Thoughts on Group Leader

In a nutshell, he was brilliant. He was cool, calm and collected throughout the trip and really wanted us to get a sense of China, it's history and how it's developing in the modern day. Nothing seemed to be too much trouble for him and he had a great sense of humour - not sure how he maintained that, particularly when rivers of water where running down the streets in Xi'ian and it seemed a certain bet that we'd miss our train to Chengdu - however he was right to be calm as we had loads of time in the end!

Advice for Potential Travellers

My advice would be to make sure you are pretty fit as this is quite a full on trip, lugging baggage on and off various forms of transport and there are some great active optional activities to take up too. Be prepared for high volumes of people and when jostled, jostle back or you won't move very far! Also, go soon as from what we experienced China is changing fast.

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Elizabeth Bretherick

Reviewed September 2015

Carpathian Walking & Bears

A great series of walks with a knowledgable and fun leader.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing wild bears in their own habitat.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Udo was v knowledgeable and had a great sense of humour.

Advice for Potential Travellers

None of the walks were hard but there were plenty of climbs. Bring waterproofs! Don't get too excited about seeing "Dracula's" castle.

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Simon Barber

Reviewed August 2015

Simon Barber's Markha Valley review

A trip of a lifetime! My first time in Asia – a difficult place to get around in. I was attracted by the terrain and the altitude: I’d done over 4000 m last year in Morocco (Mt. Toubkal), this year I fancied a go at 5000 m. I made it, but not with much breath to spare.
An excellently organised trip but not for the faint-hearted or those with any vertigo/balance problems. The Markha valley trail is up a flash-flood prone canyon that several times a year wipes out all vestige of the old trail, and the locals valiantly hack a new one out of the loose, crumbling cliffs above the gorge. In places the track is a foot wide and the drop a hundred feet and more. Not pleasant.

Most Inspirational Moment

Getting over the 2 high cols. The first one I managed on zero sleep - although the schedule tries hard to acclimatise the trekkers, it doesn't always work on schedule. The second high camp I was unable to sleep at all - rather like a night of being waterboarded by all accounts, But I still made it over the col the next day, feeling like death. The second, high col (5200 m) I was a bit better acclimatised for, managed 2 hours sleep. Makes all the difference!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ngima was the one who really kept us going; I can't speak too highly of him. Whether organising the first and last nights meal in Delhi or keeping us on the trail, his leadership skills were superb.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be sure you don't get vertigo or any balance problems, if you want to take this trip. There's a lot of rock-hopping and stream crossing. Equipment; I wore a pair of almost knee-length Meindl boots, and recommend them or similar.

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Tony Birch

Reviewed August 2015

Wildlife & Wilderness of Botswana

This is an excellent holiday for people who want to get really close to the wildlife of Botswana. Seven of the 13 nights are spent wild camping right in the heart of national parks and wilderness areas. You will not only see, but hear and smell the life around you. It is a very immersive experience.

Most Inspirational Moment

It's the sights and sounds of this trip that will stay in the memory. Africa has amazing sunsets and, on this trip, a night sky totally unpolluted by man made light. The Makgadikgadi Salt Pans have to be experienced for their total absence of sound. The animal life was amazing and you saw them within their environment. The sounds of hippos, hyenas, elephants and lions just the other side of a piece of canvas are rather exciting! The people you meet are wonderful.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was very, very good. His job was to give us a great holiday, pure and simple. His assistants, and the other guides, were first class. The majority of them were born, and has spent their entire lives, in the very areas we were visiting. They had an absorbed knowledge of the region that could not learned from books.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Read the trip notes carefully. When it says there are "some long and bumpy roads" and "staying in some remote locations" that is exactly what you will get. The mornings can be cold, followed by slamming heat a few hours later, so take clothing that can come off in layers. The roads, particularly in the dry season, are very dusty. Glasses or goggles, and a snood to cover your mouth and nose, are essential.

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Judith Atkinson

Reviewed August 2015

Backroads of Sri Lanka

The cycling was challenging due to heat, roads under construction, hills, dogs, traffic but rewarding. Beautiful diverse scenery and friendly people.

Most Inspirational Moment

Getting to the hotel after 102 Km and finding swimming pool overlooking paddy fields. Body boarding in the sea at Koggola, The Hill Club experience,

Thoughts on Group Leader

Brilliant so well organised and going that extra mile to make sure everything was planned ahead. Very keen to make sure any problems were sorted straight away.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Definitely take your own saddle, padded shorts and wet wipes + hand gel.

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Ruth Flynn

Reviewed August 2015

The Classic Inca Trail

A fantastically organised trip where every detail had been though of, planned for and executed well. The walking route was well structured to make it as simple and pleasant as possible.

Most Inspirational Moment

The most inspirational moment was probably seeing Machu Picchu Mountain for the first time at the end of Day 3 of walking. Although there were so many highlights it's hard to choose one. Other great moments; Exploring Machu Picchu, Walking through the cloud forest, Sliding down the Inca slide at Sacsayhwaman, seeing the chef in full whites (and eating his marvelous creations), The Andes.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The group leader Cesar was obviously passionate about his country and was keen for us to understand the culture, both past and present. He and the second guide Jose were both knowledgeable on flora and fauna along the trail. Cesar also arranged and accompanied us on additional trips during our free day in Cusco.

Advice for Potential Travellers

My only advice for other travelers is to do everything the guide recommends for acclimatisation, including taking things easy and not drinking alcohol before the trek. We did and it really helped. The porters on the trail work so hard to deliver a fantastic experience, if possible leave something behind with them, a t-shirt, fleece or whatever that you might not need. They really appreciate it.

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Richard Thornton

Reviewed August 2015

Walking the Picos de Europa

Great walking, good company, top notch leader, stunning scenery and a lovely hotel.

Most Inspirational Moment

Hard to choose, if pushed I'd have to say the walk taking in the summit of Macondiu peak and San Carlos peak. The Cares Gorge walk was also a highlight.

Thoughts on Group Leader

In short, Alvaro is an excellent leader with a passion for the Picos.

Advice for Potential Travellers

This was the challenging week and is highly recommended.

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