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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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15394 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Reviews

Northern Vietnam: The perfect mix of incredible hiking, culture and amazing people

Hiking Northern Vietnam exceeded all expectations and was one of the most rewarding travel experiences I’ve had. From the bustling streets of Hanoi to the remote mountain villages and spectacular rice-terraced landscapes, the trip offered the perfect balance of culture, adventure, and authentic local experiences.

What made this journey so special was the opportunity to connect with local communities and experience a way of life that feels untouched by tourism. The homestays were a highlight throughout, offering warm hospitality, incredible home-cooked meals, and genuine cultural exchanges. The contrast between vibrant Hanoi and the rural regions of Northern Vietnam added another layer to the experience, showcasing the incredible diversity of the country.

Expect stunning scenery, welcoming villages, and memorable encounters. From start to finish, this trip was exceptional and one I would highly recommend to anyone looking for an active adventure combined with meaningful cultural immersion.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were so many inspiring moments on this trip that it's difficult to choose just one. The stay at Ta May Homestay immediately set the tone for the adventure. The hospitality of Ta May and her husband, combined with the delicious home-cooked meals, made us feel incredibly welcome from the very beginning. A particularly memorable experience was visiting a family homestay where we learned how to make a traditional palm-leaf hat and even helped harvest a cinnamon tree. Spending time with multiple generations of the family was so special and felt authentic, personal, and far removed from typical tourist experiences. The hike to Raspberry Hill Viewpoint was a unanimous group favourite. With terraces of emerald rice fields, with panoramic views across the valleys, was one of the most breathtaking sights of the entire trip and undoubtedly one of the most beautiful viewpoints we encountered. Another standout was our stay at Panhou Retreat. After several days of trekking, relaxing in the thermal hot springs, infinity pool overlooking rice terraces and enjoying the traditional Dao herbal bath (a Red Dao wellness tradition native to Northern Vietnam) was pure bliss. The spa facilities provided the perfect reward after the hiking days, and I would highly recommend taking advantage of them.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Linh Vo was an absolute star and one of the highlights of the entire trip. He was attentive, knowledgeable, friendly, and genuinely passionate about sharing his country with our group. Linh went above and beyond to look after everyone. His storytelling brought the history, culture, and traditions of Vietnam to life.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bring a reusable water bottle and hydration bladder for the hiking days. Pack Trekking poles, sun-protective clothing, a hat, lightweight & breathable clothing designed for hot and humid climates. Be prepared for the heat and humidity, which can make the trekking feel more challenging. Be sure to enjoy the traditional Dao herbal bath at Panhou Retreat - it's the perfect way to relax and recover after a day on the trails.

Incredible Tuscany

A fabulous trip taking in historic cities: Florence and Siena, ancient hilltop towns : Castellina, San Gimignano and Volterra and local food and wine tasting. We packed so much into the week but never felt rushed.The Hotel Le Renaie was comfortable and all the staff were friendly and helpful. Together with the beautiful Tuscan landscape it made for a perfect holiday.

Most Inspirational Moment

Hard to choose as there were so many. Top 3 were: The visit to the organic vineyard with the owner explaining growing grapes and producing wine - the skill and understanding needed is impressive. The visit to the Contrada museum in Siena and hearing their passion for the Paleo Making pasta at Fattoria San Donato

Thoughts on Group Leader

Lorenzo was brilliant.As a local his depth of knowledge of the area was outstanding which made the trip even more interesting. He worked hard to meet the varied needs of the group and ensured everyone had an enjoyable trip.

Advice for Potential Travellers

We had very changeable weather even in late May so lots of layers and comfortable shoes for the cobblestones.

If you like scrambling, this trip is for you

I was attracted to this trip in large part because it promised a fair bit of scrambling, and it did not disappoint (see other reviewers comments). Great fun. The expectation of minimal crowds was also an attraction, and that did not disappoint either. Other highlights including seeing a bear in the wild and the food and hospitality at Villa Hermani. Finally, our guide, Sebi, was outstanding — a capable guy who was also great company.

Most Inspirational Moment

Perhaps the most inspirational aspect of the trip to me was the general vibe of place. There seemed a palpable sense of possibility now that the country has been released from its repressive past.

Thoughts on Group Leader

As already mentioned, Sebi was outstanding. On some days Leo joined as a second guide. I enjoyed hanging in the back with him and botanizing, as he was well versed in the area's natural history.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I think the Trip Notes and other reviewers' comments do a pretty good job of advising travelers. Read them and take note.

Best trip with the Best Views!!

Great trip in Andalucía! As an Exodus employee, I really enjoyed this itinerary. It offered a wonderful balance of walking through quiet olive groves and exploring some of the region’s more vibrant, well-known cities.

The food was excellent every evening, and the accommodations were comfortable and welcoming. Having access to a pool at the end of each day’s walk was especially relaxing and made the experience even more enjoyable.

Most Inspirational Moment

Hiking in the Grazalema Natural Park , we got to see an Ibex.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Michael was excellent—very accommodating and always attentive to the group's needs. He made our safety a priority throughout the trip. Since I traveled during the hot summer months, he ensured we started our walks early each day to stay ahead of the heat, which made the experience much more comfortable and enjoyable.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bring lots of water bottles to refill, it gets hot as the day goes on, Bring hiking boots and hiking poles if you use them.

Trip of a lifetime

An African safari has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember. This has been an incredible and unforgettable adventure. This tour was full of so many special and memorable moments. It surpassed anything I could have imagined.

Most Inspirational Moment

So many! So hard to choose just one. From the incredible wildlife, even along the roadside (elephants, zebra, kudu, giraffe and many more), giving everyone a boost, particularly on some long drive days, or stopping to let them cross – LOL! To being so close to a baby rhino, a male lion or elephants (to name a few). It has been an absolute privilege to see so many wild animals roaming free in their natural environment. And so many different birds – I never realised! Seeing them all co-existing in their natural habitats. Amazing memories that will last a lifetime!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ado (our group leader) – a fountain of knowledge. His energy, infectious enthusiasm, and passion for these countries and wildlife created an unforgettable adventure. He went above & beyond, accommodating individual requests & dietary requirements without hesitation. Nothing was too much trouble. Ado & Sifiso (our driver) made an exceptional team, working tirelessly to ensure we had the best time and remained safe. Sifiso incredibly kept us on schedule over extremely broken roads, always smiling.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do not underestimate how cold the early morning game drives are (if going in July) – take layers, including a warm jacket, gloves, hat, etc. These can easily be removed once it starts to warm up. Roads can be very dusty too when out in the jeeps – a buff is very useful. Recommend taking small US$ notes ($1 & $5), particularly for Zimbabwe – these small notes are not easy to get whilst there, so recommend buying before you go, as very useful for tipping, etc. You can also change up to local currency whilst in Botswana. But US$ notes are accepted widely. If you are considering this tour, just book it, you won’t regret it!

Hidden gem

This is an unspoilt and spectacular area which surprisingly is still very accessible and close to Alicante. The hiking is lovely with great views and variety. Except for one descent which is slightly trickier, all the walks are quite doable for a fit person. The accomodation is boutique, authentic and personalised with lovely food. The guide Jose is outstanding. It’s his business and he is passionate about the region. He is knowledgeable, good fun and an excellent communicator. This was the perfect trip for us in February and I would highly recommend it.

Great introduction to the enigmatic and historic state of Mongolia

A good mix of temples and monasteries, natural wonders, traditional lifestyles, and everyday modern life.
The gers were fine, even the more basic ones, as were the hotels. It was good to have the option of en-suite bathrooms in some, which made things easier for my wife. Several other group members would have take up tthis option if they had known about it, although Duuree did well to arrange them on the fly.
The drivers were all good, some better than others obviously, and presented an interesting variety of characters and styles. Special shout-out to Oggi. The cars were comfortable recent-model Lamd Cruisers, not just “jeeps”, which is just as well because there is a LOT of driving.

Most Inspirational Moment

The Naadam Festival was, of course, a highlight, but it is the grand open landscapes, dotted with gers, that will stay with me. And, funnily enough, the sky and the endlessly changing cloud formations.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Duuree was a great guide, dealing with day-to-day activities and the odd emergency with aplomb. Her English is excellent, and she was very thoughtful, inclusive, accommodating and iinformative, and a bundle of energy to the end. She dealt with us vegetarians very well (the food was not very exciting, but that's not Duuree's fault). The WhatsApp group was very active.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If I had to criticize, I would maybe say: too much food! Most peple didn't want Ior need a huge lunch as well as a big breakfast and dinner, but when food is put in front of you it's hard to pick at it and waste if. Too much food can be off-putting and awkward.The best lunches were the picnic-style ones. In particular, the long trek through crowds to the Japanese restaurant during Nadaam was a mistake, most people agreed. The vegetarian options were generally pretty boring and repetitive (and protein-free!), but that was not Exodus' fault. The other thing - a pet peeve - is that I was disappointed with the take-up of refillable water containers. Despite the constant availability of water refills, a lot people still used little plastic bottles, and many were distributed at mealtimes too.

Unforgettable adventure

The itinerary was well-balanced, and the landscapes were breathtaking. Everything ran smoothly from start to finish

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the local wildlife in their natural habitat

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader Agustín Toro was super knowledgeable, friendly, and always took great care of everyone.

Advice for Potential Travellers

"I recommend doing some high-altitude hiking practice and aerobic training in advance. Keep an optimistic and open mindset to fully enjoy each day of the journey!"

Had a great time in Madagascar. Organisation and Leadership was great

Had a fabulous time in Madagascar. Amazing wildlife and dramatic countryside. Organisation and Leadership was great and Mihaja Randrianjaka was very helpful, making sure that everything went smoothly

Most Inspirational Moment

Loved seeing the Lemurs and the dramatic countryside

Thoughts on Group Leader

Mihaja Randrianjaka was a great bloke. Happy, supportive and knowledgeable

Advice for Potential Travellers

It's an adventure

Wildlife heaven

Everyday a new adventure bringing amazing wild life encounters!

Most Inspirational Moment

Too many! An elephant herd walking past our camp in the Okovango delta and walking with zebra and giraffe. Star gazing, milky way, Southern cross etc. Being eye to eye with a baby rhino in Matobo hills! Spending time with a young male lion in Hwange and watching hippos play.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ado was amazing, passionate and knowledgeable about Botswana and Zimbabwe and brilliant wildlife and bird spotter. A great chef, cooking up a storm in the Delta ! Sifiso, our driver was the most capable, considerate, safe, calm driver on atrocious roads! Great wildlife spotter too! All independent guides on each game drive were wonderful.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do not underestimate the long poor gravel, dirt, potholed roads! Trip notes comprehensive but state " neutral colours" ie take clothes the colour of the landscape( NO white, pale grey, pink, pale blue etc) Photos opportunities around every corner, take huge memory cards! JUST GO ..it was a fabulous trip!