Reviews

Sun, sea, sand, gardens and woodlands - a wonderful walking holiday in the Algarve

This was a wonderful late April holiday in Portugal, my first with Exodus. The itinerary and accommodation were first class. Everything was so well organised and very diverse, the walking covering beautiful countryside and woodland as well as stunning coastal paths. As it was Springtime everything seemed to be in full bloom which was an added delight. As a group of eight coming together for the first time we gelled well together and enjoyed some wonderful walks, meals and activities together. The friendly, gracious and careful way in which our group leader Inês managed the tour was admirable. The additional activities and learning about flora, fauna, and Portuguese customs were perfect additions to the holiday. The bread baking, olives, ceramics, wine and an artisan olive oil producer provided a holistic and rounded experience of the Algarve for us all.

Thoroughly recommended

This was an excellent and varied trip which gave a real sense of Peru’s culture and history, and of its sheer scale. I take a lot of photographs, and what struck me most throughout was the feeling of space. The landscapes are immense and it’s one of those places you really have to visit to properly comprehend.
The itinerary really is full on, and it can feel demanding at times, but I came away feeling I had seen a great deal of the country rather than simply ticking off a few famous sites. We were fortunate with the weather throughout the trip, particularly in the mountains where visibility and light were often exceptional.
Food was generally good, though naturally variable over such a long trip. Traditional Andean food is hearty and quite rustic in character, but Peru also has international influences, particularly Italian, and some of the pasta dishes were unexpectedly very good and seemed to be freshly made.

Beautifully bonkers - an unexpectedly immersive experience

An unforgettable, tiring, enjoyable experience. Wouldn’t have missed it, but was glad to say goodbye to that coach we travelled in most days.
Would highly recommend being in Mexico for the Day of the Dead festival. Oaxaca was a great place to enjoy it – a beautiful city where we were welcomed and felt part of the celebrations. Our guide really helped us understand the history, culture and story of Mexico, from the outset in Mexico City, then led us through it over the following 16 days. I thought that the numerous visits to classical sites would be too much, but every one was different and visits were interspersed with meeting local families, learning to cook local dishes, experiencing local traditions, like following wedding parties, exploring fabulous old cities, enjoying scenery, rivers and mountains. A complete journey through what Mexico offers.

Essential Iconic Sites of China March 13th-24th 2026

An excellent and well organised trip to get a feel of this enormous country and see the rapidity of its development. Although the trip was quite fast paced, having 2 or 3 nights in each of the cities visited meant that things didn’t seem too rushed. As previous reviews have noted, all the iconic sites were covered giving a good amount of time at each and also a fair amount of free time to explore on your own. It didn’t take long to sort out using the metros in the 4 cities but, as has been mentioned in other reviews, you need to be quite fit as walking distances can be considerable(e.g. railway and metro stations) and you often need to move fairly quickly. Buses, metros and bullet trains all very efficient. It was good to be able to sample the different variety of food in the cities, even though sometimes the limited English made life interesting! All of the extra activities were well worth doing-Chinese acrobats, Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show, Sichuan Opera.

Fortnight of fun

The Pekoe Trail offers wonderful walking through these historic tea plantations and because it is relatively newly opened up we often had the whole trail to ourselves. As a solo traveller, I was so lucky to be part of a large, energetic and hugely fun group of people. We enjoyed a mix of authentic rural life and a taste of some of the old colonial buildings from the past. Accommodation ranged from simple homestays to historic hotels.

Stunning trip, poor administration

The “Week in Oman” trip, booked well in advance for April 2026, started with such promise. Neil’s customer service was exceptional, setting a positive tone. Even though I sourced my own, cheaper flights, the anticipation provided by Exodus was palpable as the travel date neared.

But that’s when the poor admin and support became evident. My queries to the Exodus Operations team, intended to ensure proper preparation, were met with generic, outdated direction to the trip notes. Ramadam dates for 2024 and 2025 were irrelevant for 2026, and actual answers remained elusive. The pre-trip administration became a farce: asked for flight details a month out, despite having provided them months prior for the arranged airport transfer. Then, two days later, the exact same request arrived from another team member. My confidence in Exodus’s organizational capabilities plummeted.

Thankfully, when Middle East events cast doubt on the trip, Exodus were back on form. Their communication was swift, options were clear, and the trip was confirmed.

Once in Oman, the experience was truly magnificent, thanks to the incredible team at Zahara Travel. Oman itself, with its stunning landscapes and wonderful people, created cherished memories. While there were minor deviations from the original plan, it became clear Exodus struggles with up-to-date information on their website and trip notes.

Despite the outstanding tour itself, the administrative shortcomings were undeniable. As an experienced fellow traveller aptly put it, “Exodus are not the company they once were.” This trip certainly didn’t demonstrate value for money or actions consistent with their promises.

Where Coffee Meets the Caribbean

As an Exodus staff member, this was a well-rounded and immersive introduction to Colombia, offering a strong balance of cultural experiences, natural highlights, and local insight. The trip showcases the country’s diversity really well and provides genuine sense of how much Colombia has evolved in recent years.

One of the best cycling tours Exodus offers!

I had such an amazing time on this Porto to Lisbon cycling trip. The routes were beautiful and varied, from coastal paths and sandy beaches to charming villages and historic towns like Óbidos. The pace felt relaxed and manageable, with plenty of stops to enjoy the scenery, food and local culture. The hotels were lovely and well located, and everything was really well organised from start to finish. It felt like the perfect balance of activity and downtime, and a great way to see Portugal in a more immersive way. I’d highly recommend it to anyone wanting an active but enjoyable escape. This is also ideal for first time cyclists!

A trip like no other

This 12 day adventure in Northern Vietnam was so much more than a hiking trip; we were invited into the homes and families of those we stayed with and were offered a genuine insight into their lives. It was such a privilege to spend time with Linh and our other local guides, who told stories of their childhoods in the countryside they led us through. This is a new route and feels untouched by tourism, so it felt very special to be part of this trip.

Stunning Algarve scenery and outstanding guide

We loved this trip and would definitely recommend it. The route (& hotels) start to improve markedly after the first couple of days, where there is a lot of riding on busy roads through some fairly industrial areas south of Lisbon. Hence 4 stars not 5. However, once you get to Sines and head towards the Algarve, the experience really takes off and the scenery becomes progressively more spectacular as you ride south. There is much more off road riding (mainly gravel trails) which we prefer and the standard of accomodation is excellent. The trip ends on a high at a superb hotel in Sagres (Hotel Memmo Baleeira) and some of the most stunningly beautiful coastal scenery in Europe. I do wonder whether the trip would be improved by starting further south eg Sines, then adding in some circular rides on the extra days that creates. We’d happily take the trip again if that was an option.