Thoughts on Group Leader
He made the holiday.
Reviews
Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers
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Reviews
Evia
Like most Exodus guides, Thano was excellent. However he went beyond expectations, his local knowledge was extensive (he seemed to know everyone on the island). Always approachable. The packed lunches were varied (and filling). He ordered the starters at every meal which meant that we sampled lots of local delicacies that we would otherwise have missed. Lots of little things (sampling the ouzo, beekeeper visit and so on) added to the overall enjoyment. The guided tour of Athens on the final day was a bonus. On a personal note, he spoke to a doctor on my behalf as I was suffering from an injured shoulder.
Magical Jordan
I fell utterly in love with Jordan on this trip. The people gave the warmest welcome, the sights were awesome and the food was delicious. The tour took in the best of Jordan: the northern castles, amazing Roman ruins at Jerash, weird and wonderful Dead Sea, spectacular Petra and the breathtaking Wadi Rum. I have never felt so safe and awestruck in all my travels.
Most Inspirational Moment
Petra was spellbinding, but the most vivid memory is the Wadi Rum at night. The stars and the peace of the desert was food for the soul.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Ahmad was the most amazing group leader. His knowledge of Jordan's history and culture enlivened the entire trip, bringing to life over 2,000 years of history and providing understanding the present day. Ahman was generous with his time and his own experience, using stories from his own life to help us understand the current practices in Jordan. Kind and helpful at every step, Ahmad enriched my experience and made the trip truly spectacular.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Follow government guidance, but my recent experience on Jordan (April 2024) is that it is perfectly safe. If you feel comfortable I would recommend now as a perfect time to go. Tourist numbers are very low, meaning that you will have some sites almost to yourself. Petra has never been so quite!
Suggestions
The food is amazing. Try everything, no matter how it looks. You will not be disappointed by the taste!
Enjoyable despite the cycling
This review is written in the context of being a regular cyclist and having cycled with Exodus “Coast to Coast India” and “Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama”.
This trip definitely ranks third in that list. Vietnam is a long, thin country, with 1000+ miles from HCM to Hanoi – it is unclear on what basis the 320 cycling miles on this trip were chosen. Many days the routes are long and featureless, the riding punctuated by aggressive air horns from passing lorries. Some days felt like cycling for cycling sake – starting at a random point out of town, and finishing somewhere equally random.
Long periods on the bus.
That said the segments of cycling along quiet backroads, through traditional fishing villages etc was delightful.
Days are full on – early breakfast and start and late arrivals into destinations leaving very limited chance to appreciate the towns and facilities.
The stops at Whale Island, Hoi An were a welcome relief. The trip to Ha Long Bay at the end was superb.
Most Inspirational Moment
Cycling into Hue as the sun was going down through traditional backwaters.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Luang was excellent, well organised and all the evening meal recommendations were excellent. Perfect English and a mine of local information.
Advice for Potential Travellers
If you want to cycle 100km somewhere enjoyable and scenic - do one of the other Exodus trips ( or go to Wales or the Peak District). Book an extra day at the end in Hanoi and consider the optional Cambodia extension at the beginning.
Suggestions
It’s graded moderate - but in March, if you factor in the heat 35c+ and humidity, I would grade it higher.
Enjoyable but hot walks in a lovely part of Spain
Varied walks in a beautiful landscape, some testing steep uphill sections (particularly on the “gentle” Day 2 walk) given the high temperatures at the beginning of the week.
Comfortable farmhouse with spacious public rooms. Pleasant and accommodating staff. Good breakfasts, delicious varied dinners and packed lunches.
Most Inspirational Moment
Loved the Day 3 Sierra de Grazalema and Day 6 with the El Caminito del Rey and optional Ronda visit. The optional Seville tapas lunch organised and selected by Michael was exceptional. The tapas lunch on Day 2, while enjoying (and in some cases participating in) the Flintstone festival, was also delicious.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Michael was very approachable and informative, sharing his knowledge about the local area and people, the flora and fauna, tips for enjoying El Caminito del Rey and comprehensive and helpful arrangements or tips for the occasions where he was not present (Seville and Ronda).
Advice for Potential Travellers
If you are a keen photographer, the pace of the walks does not fully allow you to indulge in your hobby. There were a few occasions where I paused to take photos, only to see the group disappearing round a bend some way ahead. However, it was always possible to catch up at the intermediate rest stops. The optional visits to Seville Alcazar, the Seville Tapas lunch and Ronda were very enjoyable and worthwhile. Tell Michael if you would also like to visit Seville Cathedral. We had a few mosquitos in our room in spite of the dry heat, so bring some insect repellent. Worth looking at suggestions from earlier reviews on coffee, electrical points etc which I found useful.
Suggestions
A full length mirror somewhere in the hotel public areas and a good light over the bathroom mirror would be good!
Fantastic trip - highly recommended
This was the most amazing trip. Well organised from the moment we landed in Amman. The wonderful sites we saw were enhanced by the fantastic cycle routes we took. The cycling was as described – so in the main downhill through beautiful rural countryside. The roads very very good and the support team exceptional. There were a couple of really steep climbs in parts which i struggled with especially in the heat so I took the support option and out my bike on the back of the truck and rejoined the tour at the top. The sights we saw en route would!not have been possible if we had been on a bus. The hotel s were good quality. We would thoroughly recommend the trip
Most Inspirational Moment
Petra was a very emotional experience - it has been on our bucket list for so long. The night in the desert was amazing and Jerash was fantastic . In reality every day was different and wonderful.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Sami was our tour leader and Yousef and Lloyd our cycle leaders, Sami was very good and knowledgeable. Lloyd has to get a special mention - he was funny and knowledgeable and his English was very good so we had long conversations with him. He was very encouraging on the hills and we felt very safe cycling with him
Advice for Potential Travellers
Book it you won’t regret it. Be aware that the recommended tip kitty amount is based on a full trip if (as we were) you are a smaller group you will pay more. We ended up being a group of 2 so paid significantly more to enable meaningful tips. Go a day early and have a look round Amman - some interesting sights.
Suggestions
Tourist numbers are low currently due to the Israel situation this was compounded by Amman closing the airport for 12 hours which unfortunately meant that all other travellers were turned back or redirected whilst in the air. Whilst people on other trips came a day later for some reason no-one on our trip did. This meant there was just the two of us. This did not impact on the tour quality however we did miss the group dynamics .
Fantastic trip - highly recommended
This was the most amazing trip. Well organised from the moment we landed in Amman. The wonderful sites we saw were enhanced by the fantastic cycle routes we took. The cycling was as described – so in the main downhill through beautiful rural countryside. The roads very very good and the support team exceptional. There were a couple of really steep climbs in parts which i struggled with especially in the heat so I took the support option and out my bike on the back of the truck and rejoined the tour at the top. The sights we saw en route would!not have been possible if we had been on a bus. The hotel s were good quality. We would thoroughly recommend the trip
Most Inspirational Moment
Petra was a very emotional experience - it has been on our bucket list for so long. The night in the desert was amazing and Jerash was fantastic . In reality every day was different and wonderful.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Sami was our tour leader and Yousef and Lloyd our cycle leaders, Sami was very good and knowledgeable. Lloyd has to get a special mention - he was funny and knowledgeable and his English was very good so we had long conversations with him. He was very encouraging on the hills and we felt very safe cycling with him
Advice for Potential Travellers
Book it you won’t regret it. Be aware that the recommended tip kitty amount is based on a full trip if (as we were) you are a smaller group you will pay more. We ended up being a group of 2 so paid significantly more to enable meaningful tips. Go a day early and have a look round Amman - some interesting sights.
Suggestions
Tourist numbers are low currently due to the Israel situation this was compounded by Amman closing the airport for 12 hours which unfortunately meant that all other travellers were turned back or redirected whilst in the air. Whilst people on other trips came a day later for some reason no-one on our trip did. This meant there was just the two of us. This did not impact on the tour quality however we did miss the group dynamics .
Amazing first visit to Amalfi Coast
Fantastic way to explore the Amalfi Coast
Most Inspirational Moment
Walking the Path of the Gods, truly beautiful
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our group was very fortunate to have Veriano as our leader. His enthusiasm and knowledge was limitless. Always conscious of everyone's wellbeing and safety, and was especially encouraging when having to tackle the vast number of steps on the Amalfi Coast!!
Advice for Potential Travellers
Some of the walks were pretty strenuous over uneven ground, so reasonable fitness required
Suggestions
The food and hospitality at the Hotel 2 Torri was very good
Amazing Vietnam
We had not done an adventure family holiday before and were unsure as to what to expect. Any anxieties were very quickly dispelled and we had a memorable 14 days discovering Vietnam from north to south. The schedule was paced so that we had time to recover from flights and travelling. The heat took some getting used to. Our tour guide said that Vietnam has two types of weather, hot and hotter, so don’t pack a jumper! There were five other families on the tour and we all got along really well. Our tour guide Huyen Nguyen made sure everything went smoothly and imparted her in depth knowledge of Vietnam giving us context and descriptions of her beautiful country. The tour was a mix of activities from rickshaws in Hanoi, Cooking classes in Hoi An and relaxing at Whale island. We didn’t really get into the history of the “American War” until late into the tour which was good, because Vietnam is so much more than its history! The Vietnamese people were warm, welcoming and generous. It is also helpful that English is spoken widely and quite well, which is useful as the Vietnamese language is very difficult to understand. The food was really tasty and we enjoyed the Ban-mi in particular. One final note, the Hotels were really good, particularly the Sincerity Hotel in Hoi An which has a very good swimming pool.
Most Inspirational Moment
So many to choose from! Hanoi and Hoi were beautiful cities which retain their exotic charm and heritage, with Saigon being a bit more metropolitan. Standing in front of the Presidential Palace felt like a moment in history, however snorkelling amongst the Coral on Whale Island has to be the best memory.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Huyen was an amazing group leader who ensured we were well briefed on what was coming and gave really
Advice for Potential Travellers
Don't pack clothes for cold weather - you won't need them. Laundry service was available at Hanoi, Saigon and Hoi An at cheap prices. There were cashpoints around but Vietnam seemed quite safe and we carried cash around without any issues. VISA payments were available in most places.
Cycling trip
This was the best way to experience the country of Sri Lanka. The back roads on a bike gave access to the most amazing wildlife, natural beauty and glimpse into the culture and way of life. The cycling was challenging at times due to the heat, humidity and one day of tough climbing. The hotels and food were of a high standard and nothing was too much trouble for our support team.
Most Inspirational Moment
Reaching the top of the hill in Nuwara Elia was a relief but felt like a great achievement.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Suresh was outstanding. He led our group with such vast experience, knowledge of the country and the itinerary was so carefully planned. I really enjoyed the whole experience, not just the cycling.
Advice for Potential Travellers
This trip is a must . It is not for the inexperienced cyclist however. This is due to the heat, humidity, one big climbing day and occasional busy traffic. The food is varied and delicious but can be spicy. Sri Lanka is a beautiful country and seeing it from a bike is ideal. You don’t need too many clothes. Hotel laundry was very reasonable.
Suggestions
We had to have some early starts but it was much cooler in the early part of the day.
Fun But Tiring
This was a jam-packed itinerary, with many walks and other activities, combined with a lot of driving. We moved on every two days, which was necessary to see everything, but it also meant there was no down time. Although this was a wildlife trip, at times the wildlife was rather shy. Some walks we saw very little. We probably saw more wildlife on the boat trips. Our expectations were probably not realistic, but we expected toucans and sloths to be hanging off every branch. It’s not like that (at least in the dry season). We didn’t see a sloth until halfway through the trip when there was one on a tree next to our hotel. Never saw a yellow-billed toucan, although we did see other toucans and toucanets (never knew there was such a thing!). Final count was around 150 different birds, as well as many other creatures (many of which we didn’t know existed). So the wildlife was amazing, but you need to know it doesn’t necessarily just pop out at you. On some walks, especially in Manuel Antonio, there were so many other groups looking at the same thing that it was quite difficult to get in to see things and was quite tiring at times. The walks throughout the trip were also very slow and we understand the pace was to suit looking for wildlife but walking so slowly was difficult and tiring in the heat.
Most Inspirational Moment
Spotting wildlife in its natural habitat is wonderful.And looking at the stars on the beach in Tortuguero. Amazing!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Jonathan had an encyclopedic knowledge of birds and other wildlife. We've never had a guide who knew so much detail about everything we were seeing. However, the organizational side was a bit confusing at times. It would have been useful to have had an opening formal briefing with everybody introducing themselves and then daily briefings to let us know what was going on the next day, which we have had on other Exodus trips. Our driver Keylor was great, getting us over some quite rough terrain at times, and even spotting and stopping for monkeys and other animals along the way.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Half of the group got sick (plus Jonathan and Keylor). We are not sure exactly what the source was - although it may have been improperly filtered water from a hotel. So bring enough Imodium for a few days (to help with the long bus rides in particular) and we found rehydration salts helpful. A couple of people brought ciprofloxacin just in case. We don't want to over emphasize this aspect, but we've never been on a trip with so many people falling ill and it did impact our enjoyment of the trip as we had to miss out on some activities. Obviously not Exodus' fault - just the nature of the type of region we were in. Note that you can get laundry done along the way, and the prices are reasonable, especially at Esquinas Lodge. It is difficult for things to dry if you wash them yourself since it is humid and you don't much time at any one place.
Suggestions
Be prepared for long drives - 4-5+ hours at times, with stops. We did the extension to Tamarindo. Because of a bridge that was out, combined with a holiday weekend, it took 7 1/2 hours to get there. On the way back, Exodus arranged for a private transfer because we needed to make a flight. That took 5 hours. A regular group transfer would take longer because you need to change vehicles halfway there, adding a half an hour. So the 4-5 hour estimates are not particularly realistic. Tamarindo was eye-opening, and not entirely in a good way. On the positive side, it is a beautiful position on the Pacific. And while it is quite busy and noisy (the booming music never seems to stop), we were able to find some quieter spots. Our hotel was nice - Arco Iris. Set back from the hustle and bustle a bit, a nice pool and great breakfasts (although not much else on site). On the negative side, Tamarindo represents a highly problematic side of tourism. As we drove in from the north (our driver went off-piste to avoid traffic), we saw lots of luxury hotels and gated communities in development. This appears to be primarily for the American market and likely does not return much to the local communities as foreigners buy up the country. And the roads were atrocious (presumably this will all change in a few years since the rich expats wouldn't stand for this as they drive to their luxury villas). Tamarindo itself was a bit bizarre. Nice beach town in some ways but with an undercurrent of a developing country being gentrified. Once you got off the main road running parallel to the beach, the roads were very poor, frequently without sidewalks, highlighting the dual nature of the place. And then there were the golf carts. You would see men driving their families around in golf carts and then parking them in designated golf cart parking spaces, as if the entire town was just one big luxury resort for their personal enjoyment. And the jacked-up dune buggies were also a sight to behold. So while eventually the extension provided us a bit of downtime after the trip, it was a bit unsettling. And driving back to San Jose to catch a flight the same day resulted in us being in transit for 31 hours, which was a bit exhausting. If you go to Tamarindo we suggest you spend an additional night in San Jose before flying home. However, we suggest that Exodus consider whether Tamarindo is the best place to send its customers. It certainly does not sit with its commitment to sustainability (lots of water is diverted from other parts of the country to sustain Tamarindo and the development around it, and it is clear that the development is not for the locals). Perhaps there are other places on either the Pacific or Caribbean coasts that would not have such a negative environmental and social impact. Also, while we understand why Exodus includes the home visit, it was a bit strange and awkward. It also came at a bad time at the very end as we were on our way back to San Jose when people were tired and many still feeling unwell.