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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14469 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Alexander Templeton

Reviewed June 2015

Caucasian Colloquy

The Lady at the office when my trip was booked said that she doubted whether this was a trip that would suit me. She was right. This was a lot less active than I prefer, designed for relatively immobile people. This was combined with a distinctly Nanny like attitude of both guides. I left the trip three days early because of this. I stayed in the country a few days afterwards and much preferred travelling round by marshrutka than the very leisurely pace of the trip. Spending about four houirs a day on meals for example seemed a waste of time.

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking in the Caucasus though I would have preferred to walk up to the church rather than being unable to see much from a bumpy car. Walking down was treat. The Cascade in Yerevan was a real treat.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Both Marina and Anna were well informed. Perhaps it was me but I did not get an answer from either of them when I tried to ask questions, so I gave up asking.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The trip should really not be labelled moderately strenuous (I am 76!)

Reply from Exodus

I was on this tour with Alexander and I was sorry to read that this trip wasn’t as active as he was hoping for. I think the trip grading of leisurely/moderate is correct, but I agree that it was a shame that we weren’t able to walk up to the Hotel Trinity Church from Kazbegi; unfortunately we had experienced some terrible weather whilst crossing the mountain passes so it wasn’t possible, but thankfully the weather improved enough so that we could walk down. It was also disappointing to learn that Alexander found the leaders to be rather protective. In my view, which I believe was shared by most of the group, I found Marina and Anna to be knowledgeable, kind and well organised. Whilst I was in Georgia and Armenia, I did provide our local team with some training and advice, so I hope that this will be reflected on future tours.

Rachael Stone – Customer Services Manager

Frances Connell

Reviewed June 2015

Discover Costa Rica

An interesting trip with a wide variety of flora, fauna and climate. As always, a good group and a good group leader make a trip like this and we had both.

Most Inspirational Moment

The visit to Tortuguero with its flowers, wildlife and calm waters, Arenal volcano emerging from the clouds and the thunderstorm in Esquinas were all memorable.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Gustavo was very friendly, knowledgeable and professional. His experience and advice meant we were able to see things we wouldn't otherwise have seen.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for rain at any time! (advice from Gustavo) Expect your clothes to get creased and crumpled due to the high humidity but be assured there are opportunities to get them washed. Take waterproof footwear, not necessarily walking boots, is an absolute must. Most of the walking is not too strenuous, but be prepared for lots of steps up and down.

Robert Hill

Reviewed June 2015

Mt. Blanc Highlights - Perfect in every way

A perfect hiking vacation for those with a moderate level of fitness who are used to several consecutive days of hiking in the mountains. Snow capped peaks, verdant alpine meadows full of flowers in June and (lucky me) blue skies and sunshine every day (not guaranteed!!). A small group of friendly and fun people led by an expert professional who made sure everyone was safe and comfortable all the while letting people enjoy the hiking, the scenery, photography at their own pace. Excellent food and accommodation which far exceeded expectations.

Most Inspirational Moment

Waking up each morning with a view of Mt. Blanc and the Bossons Glacier knowing that each day of hiking would bring us through forests, alpine meadows, mountain passes in unparalleled scenery. Paragliding off Aiguille du Midi right up against Mt. Blanc and over the glacier, across the valley, over Chamonix for a perfect landing. At 68 I might not have had the nerve to do this but was encouraged by two young women in the group to do it together and it was one of the most awe inspiring things I have ever done. Thanks Emily and Vickie!!!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Simon was a true professional, extremely well organized, eager to share his wealth of knowledge about the area, the trails we were on, even the alpine flowers and animals (Ibex, marmots) that we encountered. He obviously cared deeply that everyone was safe and comfortable each day of the hike and went out of his way to be with the group, sharing amazing stories and bringing fun and laughter to us all. You could not ask for a better leader.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure you are used to hiking up and down mountains before you go. Also not everyone will get the perfect weather our group had so make sure you have appropriate gear for rain and cold. Spend your day off paragliding off the Aiguille du Midi - YOLO!

Hema Kariyappa

Reviewed June 2015

Overall, a good experience

It was a well organised trip and I’m pleased I completed the trail.

Most Inspirational Moment

When I climbed the 4215m summit on day 2 with the help of fellow group members who egged me on

Thoughts on Group Leader

Knowledgeable, considerate and funny. Can do with a bit of training on handling issues

Advice for Potential Travellers

1. If you have special dietary requirements, make sure this is passed onto the airlines, too by Exodus. I was taken care of during the trek but flights each way didn't cater to my special diet and it being long haul ones, it wasn't nice to live on cheese& crackers and salads 2. As a group, I'd suggest not to take the Sacred Valley Tour the next day of landing in Cusco. It seemed like a good idea but by evening everyone had a headache, couldn't eat propery and some were nauseous. This creates a general concern on being fit for the trek that starts the next day.

Reply from Exodus

We would like to thank Hema for her feedback, but we are very sorry that her dietary requirements were not catered for on her flights and that the altitude impacted on her time in Cuzco. We recommend the Sacred Valley Tour as it is of a lower altitude than Cuzco itself and can help acclimatisation, however clients are always able to rest at the hotel if they do not feel up to going on the tour.

Jenny Cox – Trip Manager for Peru

Bernice Hird

Reviewed June 2015

Bosnia & Beyond

Probably the best European trip I’ve ever taken.
Great mixture of scenery, culture & history.
A couple of very gentle walks, personally I would have liked more.
Weather was great, just a short thunderstorm in Sarajevo, and then very hot (with biting insects) in Mostar. End of May/ June was perfect time to go.
Drives were fairly lengthy, and days full which made it feel as though we had done and seen a lot.
Hotels were very comfortable, and group was good.

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking up the hill behind Kotor old town for views of the bay. Zabljek mountain scenery in Montenegro was beautiful. Sarajevo fascinating. Mostar stunning - go up the minaret in the mosque for best view. Dubrovnik was a nice end to the trip, try and walk around the city walls before dinner, only takes 50 minutes.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Mustafa was excellent, and we were lucky to have Evelin as a second guide, he will be taking the tour in future. Both passionate about Bosnia and good fun.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Watch the biting bugs in Mostar if you are near the river. Do those little extra walks/climbs for worthwhile views.

Joanna Penn

Reviewed June 2015

Gorgeous scenery, great cycling, lovely food

Great cycling, a couple of challenging hills. Lots of gorgeous scenery to look at. Clear blue waters, pine trees, simple lovely food. Recommended trip, even for infrequent cyclists

Most Inspirational Moment

The day trip to the island of Mljet was brilliant, clear blue waters to swim in and quiet cycling

Thoughts on Group Leader

Krsto was knowledgeable and kept us laughing with a great sense of humour

Karen Sandler

Reviewed June 2015

Good trip. Too much time on the bus. Some poor hotels.

This was a well-organised trip that attempts to do oo much. The net result is a trip spent on a bus, with some cycling. Some of the hotels were good and some were frankly dire. The unfortunate thing is you don’t really get to see anything, as you often arrive near dark and set off early. Shame, it could have been so much better. Exodus is rapidly going downhill, and this is far from being just my opinion.

Most Inspirational Moment

Some of the scenery, such as Ometepe Island was simply spectacular. The Pacific Ocean is wonderful to swim in.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Roberto was simply great. Nothing was too much trouble and everything was well organised. I must not forget our fabulous driver, Ronald and our mechanic Dionysius.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I am not sure I would do a trip like this with Exodus again. There are better trips to be had. Hint though, if you do travel on this trip, anti-malarial tablets are not necessary. You also do not need a yellow fever jab.

Reply from Exodus

We would like to thank Karen for her feedback, although we sincerely regret that she was disappointed with aspects of the itinerary. We are aware that this trip has a busy itinerary in order to visit the highlights of Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama in a relatively short space of time, so there are some large distances covered and consequently some long journeys. We are sorry that Karen was underwhelmed with some of the hotels she stayed at; we have been in contact with Karen on an individual basis and her comments have been discussed with the relevant hotel managements, which we hope will help to avoid similar client disappointment going forward.

Adam Roberts – Product Manager for Cycling in Central America

Susan Holmes

Reviewed June 2015

Uzbekistan Uncovered

This was an amazing trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

continuously exciting along the Silk Route, seeing the beautiful architecture. The Uzbeks are wonderful people. So hard working, happy, friendly and respectful through all the generations. The country is clean & organised. We stayed in great atmospheric small hotels. The guide took us to amazing places to eat off the beaten track!

Thoughts on Group Leader

We had the perfect local guide. He was so informative, friendly, there for any questions.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Travel very light. So much shopping from hand done paintings to carpets.

Peter Gillett

Reviewed June 2015

Hidden Treasures of Jordan (AXE) June 2015

Travelled in May/June 2015. This longer than the usual trip covers a huge area, taking in most of the main historic and ancient sites, the Dead Sea, the Red Sea, Wadi Rum, Petra, and all points in between.

Most Inspirational Moment

So many. Petra astounds, to quote my guide book. This is true. If your only knowledge of this site is glimpses of the Treasury on TV documentaries then prepare to be amazed, the immense scale of the ancient city is breathtaking. Spending two whole days in there allowed us to cover a lot of ground, but still left us wanting more. The old cliché of floating in the Dead Sea does not disappoint either, such an unusual experience, and very relaxing. Lunch in Pella (continuously occupied since Neolithic times ) looking across the Golan Heights to the Sea of Galilee, the borders of Syria, Israel and Palestine, with ancient Roman excavations scattered across the landscape.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Wael was immediately likeable, enthusiastic and knowledgeable about his country and its complex history, giving the group a huge amount of relevant information to absorb about the sites, but stopping short of statistic overload and allowing time for personal exploration. He responded well to group members’ individual needs, and did this with an ever present sense of humour. The only thing he lacks is a volume switch! :-)

Advice for Potential Travellers

If time allows ask for a little longer in the National Museum of Jordan, in Amman. The new location for the Dead Sea Scrolls in a dedicated, beautifully designed limestone building. There is so much to see here and everything is well presented and interpreted. It provides a great introduction for this trip and puts the history into perspective for the rest of the journey. Walking in Petra requires a reasonable level of fitness. It is very hot in there, and to get the best of the site and discover the more remote spots will mean around 15 to 20 miles walking each day. The initial walk through The Siq to the Treasury is about 3 miles! When changing money, don’t accept 50JD notes. Ask the bank to give you 20s, 10s and 5s. Nobody in Jordan seems to have any change, and small 1JD notes can be useful for tips, toilets and snacks. Petra and Jerash are very exposed in the heat without much shade, so keep covered and keep drinking water. Alcoholic drinks are limited in Jordan, but when available are very expensive. They always add service and tax onto the menu price. The breakfasts in all the hotels were limited (apart from the 5* Dead Sea hotel) and considering throughout the land there are the sights and sounds and smells of roadside coffee brewing the use of instant sachets is unforgivable! The hotel in Aqaba was particularly run down and unpleasant, and the long journeys too and from there just for a boat trip seemed excessive. Extra time at Wadi Rum with an overnight stay in one of the many camps would be preferable.

Fabio Cambiaghi

Reviewed June 2015

Camino de Santiago

I have always heard people talking about the Camino de Santiago as something very special and spiritual. After doing it myself I can only confirm that everything they say about it is absolutely true. It was very nice to walk and chat with the group and get to know other walkers along the way. Such a great experience!!
Buen Camino!

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching Santiago de Compostela was the highlight of the week for me and sharing the moment with the rest of the group was amazing!

Thoughts on Group Leader

José was a great trip companion and leader. He was fun and professional at the same time,and always ready to help us throughout the Camino.

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