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Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers  

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14877 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Reviews

Japan without the crowds

Maybe you have been to Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto and come home loving Japan but feeling you have missed the natural beauty and any sense of the real Japan away from tourist attractions. Or maybe, you have always wanted to visit but don’t like crowds and regimented itineraries. If so, this trip is for you.
We explored a quieter area of Japan at ground level, on buses, trams, local and fast trains, ferry and yes, on foot and by bicycle. Some days were challenging, so it’s definitely for those who love an active life. But other days were fascinating, charming and awe-inspiring as we walked in the footsteps of princesses and warriors (wear socks!) and saw Mother Nature’s raw volcanic power up close (bring sturdy shoes).
There’s a lot of travelling on this trip, but the landscapes are so lovely I finally understood the old maxim – better to travel than to arrive.

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking around Setoda town on Ikuchi island looking at deserted temple sites and watching the sun going down over the Inland Sea we had cycled across earlier in the day. The perfect end to a fun day.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ayako was a super ambassador for Japan, as well as a really well organised tour leader. She went out of her way to help us with dinner and activity recommendations so we enjoyed our free time to the fullest. She also kept us to schedule on and off all that transport and gave us confidence to explore on our own. I really enjoyed the little history talks she gave us, and appreciated the time she must have put in to research them for us.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Unless you're a v regular cyclist, consider an ebike for the Kaido cycle. It makes short work of the steep hills up to the bridges, and you can always switch the motor off for the rest of the ride. I'm not a cyclist, but even I absolutely loved crossing the long high and wide bridges slung across the islands. Unmissable.

Spectacular scenery and very enjoyable hikes

Some exceptionally beautiful views and friendly people made this trip a memorable experience. Paths winding around rice fields and through bamboo forests, being led by local guides – very different to the walks I do back home! The warmth of the people we met, some of whom laid on delicious lunches along the hikes, added to the experience. And the cruise around Lan Ha Bay was a pleasant way to relax and enjoy the coastal scenery.

Most Inspirational Moment

Being welcomed to crash a house-warming party on our hike to Raspberry Hill to allow us to escape a downpour until it passed!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our tour leader, Tri, was fantastic, full of enthusiasm and kept us well informed. He is also an accomplished photographer and shared some excellent photos of our hikes with the group.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The trails can be muddy, so good walking boots are advisable. Tri did provide a walking pole, if required. If you're like me and take lots of photographs, then you'll definitely not want to forget to pack your charger!

Amazing Morocco !

Of all 27 trips which I have done with Exodus, this one packs in the most in terms of the variety of scenery and experiences of any I have done ! There is everything from the large cities, such as Casablanca and Rabat, the medinas of Fes, and Marrakesh and Meknes, the Sahara desert camps, walking and taking camel rises over the dunes, two nights in the High Atlas with a hike in the mountains, experiencing a hammam at the local village where we stayed in the mountains, the lovely costal city of Essaouira as well as meeting local people (including lunch with a local family in their home). There are some long days travelling in the bus but there are lots of stops for coffee/lunch and to see things on the way. Seeing the variety of scenery on the way made it really worth it.

Most Inspirational Moment

Lots of brilliant moments - The iconic camel ride over the dunes, particularly the ride in the morning, hiking in the mountains, having lunch with a local family in their home near Meknes, choosing fish from the market in Essaouira and having it cooked for us at a local restaurant. Admiring the change in landscapes throughout the two weeks was also amazing and incredible.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Hassan was brilliant !! He was a very experienced guide and was extremely organised. Everything ran smoothly and effortlessly. He was also calm with a great sense of humour. Very sociable with the group. We also had a lot of local guides on this trip who were also all excellent. Our driver, Abdul was also amazing and we all felt very safe with him on the long bus journeys.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Just let go and enjoy every moment ! The village in the mountains can get cold, particularly at night (I was there in April and it was still a bit chilly at night), so pack layers of warm clothing.

Japan in all it’s glory

This was one of the best tours I have been on. The itinerary was fantastic… Travelling through the Japanese islands and doing activities like hiking or cycling and visiting small villages was amazing. Our tour leader Ayako was delightful… always attentive and ensuring everyone was having a good time and able to complete the activities. She had to ensure that we always arrived on time for the trains, trams or buses, and also guide us through different sites with full explanations. She had done her to research ahead of time and as well versed at every site. Our group bonded well and we had lots of laughs.
All in all… 5 stars! ⭐️

Most Inspirational Moment

The food and the cleanliness

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ayako is a natural leader and tour guide - always attentive, knowledgeable and her navigation through the lesser known areas of Japan, and timeliness was impressive.

Advice for Potential Travellers

There are several options available in Japan, but if you want one with more physical activity, less crowds, surrounded by the natural beauty of the islands then this is for you.

Action-packed and exhilarating adventure in less-visited Japanese islands

Dorian and Kit enjoyed a mixture of fast trains, buses, hill-walking, cycling, exploring countryside and visiting historic castles, small towns as well as cities. Action-packed, but with time to chill out and absorb Japanese culture and the way of life, especially the intriguing local food. With raw fish often on the menu even at breakfast, it’s not for the conservative taste, but we loved the variety on offer. However, the hotel breakfasts included western staples such as toast and scrambled eggs for the unadventurous. The hotels provided comfy beds, and even futons in one traditional place. We learned to respect the Japanese way of life, for example not to be noisy on a local bus where we annoyed the driver!

Most Inspirational Moment

Impossible to pick just one, there were inspiring moments every day. For example: cycling across high bridges between islands; climbing through different zones of vegetation and reaching the summit of demanding Mt Yufu; seeing steam bubbling from thermal pools; being revitalised by the cherry blossoms in historic Nagasaki after visiting the sobering atomic bomb museum.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ayako was a great leader: caring for everyone, calm, well-organised, knowledgeable and keen to impart information. We appreciated the group and individual photos she shared via the WhatsApp group.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Pack light, you will only have a back-pack, not your main luggage on any of the trains or buses, it will already have been sent ahead to the next hotel.

Japan adventure

Excellent guide. Good food. Varied forms of travel. Good accomodation. A variety of activities and experiences and cities and towns. Good value overall.

Most Inspirational Moment

Too many to pick a single moment. The people of Japan perhaps.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent. Very attentive. Always bright and cheerful.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take the trip.

Bathing in the wonders of Japan

Superb leader, luxurious onsens, testing hiking, dramatic biking on superb bikes, more trains than Michael Portillo, and raw fish with an occasional snail to eat

Most Inspirational Moment

Trains that arrive and depart on time from an absolutely spotless litter free station

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ayako was a superb logistician, very knowledgeable, an excellent communicator and a good friend

Advice for Potential Travellers

Seize every onsen opportunity - especially being buried in hot sand and also lying on a bed of herbs in a roasting steamy cave!

The best bike trip you'll do. From someone whose done a few

As an Exodus staff member (quality control Director) – whose done 6 different cycling trips – you wont get better than this one. The combination of superb local leader& driver, quiet cycle routes and stunning southern Italian towns is almost perfect.

Most Inspirational Moment

We all loved the first 2 rides. On the quietest of rural backroads between Matera and Alberobello, and Alberobello and Ostini. Topped off by a welcome stay at a rural Masseria with large gardens, a great pool and lovely resturant.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Alessandro Tau is one of the best. Charm, personality, humour and care that we get the best experience. He also happens to be a qualified sommelier (knows the best local Primitvo wines) and archaeologist!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Book it - if possible aim for early / late season to avoid some of the holiday traffic that builds into June to Sept.

Highlights of Albania

An interesting country to visit: mountainous scenery; archaeological sites; mosques and churches; enjoyable food and wine; and friendly people.

Most Inspirational Moment

Berat and Kruje are attractive cities. The Bunk Museum in Tirana, which lays bare the oppression under Enver Hoxha, is sobering. Some beautiful icons, especially in the museum in Korce.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Artur, our guide, was very diligent, ensuring that every part of the trip ran smoothly. He provided lots of information about a country which he loves and went out of his way - and was personally generous - to try to ensure that everyone enjoyed the trip. Artur picked good local restaurants for optional group meals. Our driver, Diu, drove very safely and, despite having no more than a few words of English, was very much part of the group - not least through taking, and circulating, many excellent photos.

Advice for Potential Travellers

We went out a day early and came back a day late, so that we could get direct BA flights. On our extra day at the end, we had a beautiful walk up 2,000 feet to the top of the mountain behind the hotel to visit the sanctuary there - a good option if you have the time and energy.

Best cycling tour - so far!

This trip came well reviewed from many other travellers I have met on other cycling trips so we had so see what it was all about – expectations were exceeded in every way. The cycling was challenging but rewarding, the team flawless, most importantly, it provided an immersive experience in the very best Sri Lanka has to offer that you simply can’t get from seeing the country any other way.

Most Inspirational Moment

Too many to list, but cycling through the tea plantations and having dinner at a locals house were special standouts.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Suresh was THE most professional, personable and attentive guide we have ever had. They have all been fantastic, but he took it to a new level, bravo.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you want to be exposed to everything this country has to offer then - book it and go!