Reviews

The Most Fabulous Trip!

This trip went beyond my expectations. I mean I was hoping for a lovely week given that we were walking along the wonderful Portuguse coastline but it delivered beyond my expectations. Seeing the incredible coastline, the huge pristine beaches and the STORKS nesting on the rocks knocked my socks off. And each day was different – different terrain, different flora and fauna – it was a feast for the senses. But what made the trip so very special for me were our two guides – Francisco Simoes and Ines Monteiro – they were incredible! I can’t praise them enough for their care, friendliness, patience and knowledge. They’re a massive asset to the trip!

A fantastic adventure!

This was my first Exodus trip in many years – and what a trip. So much more than I expected – walking, swimming, history, culture, food, wine and super company. We packed a great deal into seven days – some high intensity days of climbing/walking up and down the mountains – but also rest days at the beach with pristine clear water and visiting historical monuments of which there are many. Sardinia has a rich history and a proud culture – I came away with a deeper understanding of the people and the country – and a greater appreciation of Sardinian landscape, beaches, wine and food. This trip is such good value – almost everything is included such as flights, accommodation, most meals including packed lunches for our walking days. We had two excellent meals out in Dorgali where our family run hotel was based; these were self funded but great value – mountains of food! The hotel was run by three sisters who worked their socks off to give us a good time. It’s an authentic three star family run affair – I loved that so many local families came to dinner with their children and filled the restaurant with chatter and laughter.

Fantastic week away

We both had a wonderful week in May 2023, Walking Portugal’s Coast and Beaches, guided by Francisco and Ines. It was theses guides that made a good walk into a fantastic walk. They are a great team, passionate about the history, nature and conservation of the area. They complemented each other like 2 pieces of a jigsaw. We were briefed each preceding evening on the appropriate clothing, type of terrain, difficulty and interesting features to expect. At the end of every day, they encouraged feedback to gauge if we were happy with the speed and terrain. The lunch packs were made up by local bakeries and were appropriate to everyone’s needs. Their choice of hotels and restaurant recommendations were excellent. The coast line is both scenic and dramatic, with every bay and cliff top being pristine and litter free. We visited a vineyard and a Medronho distillery with tasting and snacks provided. We also visited a reconstructed castle in Aljezur, an abandoned village, Aldeia Da Pedralva, which has been restored to its former glory and a huge wall mural dedicated to Amalia Rodrigues a famous female Portuguese melancholic singer. All these visits were very informative. On the first day Francisco and Ines had asked us to share our particular interests and unusually I said “Rocks”. To my surprise and delight both Francisco and Ines made a point of showing me some unusual geological features everyday. They were both careful and courteous and drivers. Had we opted for a self-guided tour we would not have seen, enjoyed nor learnt so much about the region and its excellent well priced eateries. With their local, inside knowledge they were able to tailor the walks, activities and suggestions to take account of the most up-to-date information. All in all, an excellent week of walking rendered outstanding because of the ethos of these 2 guides.

Great Experience

A wonderful experience walking and sightseeing in the Garfognana area, Tuscany. Staying at a picturesque, comfortable family run Agricultural Farmhouse. Very friendly, hardworking staff providing us with homemade food and wine. A friendly group of 12 and a very experienced and personable walk leader.

MMI: Cycle Morocco’s Great South

I was quite nervous about the trip as travelling on my own for the first time & unsure about my level of cycling fitness. I’m a fit 51 year old but more of an ‘about town’ cyclist with a few extra laps of Richmond Park & its hills put in the the month before departure. But with a determined attitude I managed all of the challenging ascents.

It’s great - when the sun shine

Iceland is a clean, safe, ( subject to volcanic action), and beautiful place to visit, but in between the places of interest there is a lot of lava. Green, black or white, it becomes tedious, and particularly when visibility is limited. The journeys between the sites can be rather dull, long and boring. If and when the sunshines, everything looks brighter including the numerous waterfalls and beautiful beaches, but Iceland this May was fairly wet and cloudy. The accommodation we experienced was absolutely fine. Food is expensive but by the end of the tour we got used to the cost and even splashed out on a beer each. Prior to that, we shared a glass! The fish at The Grillhuise in Reykjavik was excellent.

Stunning

The tour was absolutely amazing. Marrakesh was intriguing and beautiful, the mountain views during the drive to Ait Benhaddou were breath-taking, the Sahara and the camel ride were amazing and the Tighza location extremely picturesque. The whole trip was fabulous!

Cycling in Albania April 2023

Being honest, I knew very little about Albania, I only selected the trip to spend a week cycling after finishing work and entering a “between jobs” phase and this trip seemed very good value for money. However, this trip exceeded my expectations on every aspect. I have come away with information about the Albanian people and some of their countries difficult history, respect for the Albanian hills, magical memories of the stunning scenery, a happy stomach after a week of Albanian food and drink (including the local Raki spirit!) and stronger legs 🙂 This was my second Exodus trip and I’m not sure if I have simply been lucky but the group dynamics on both trips have been wonderful with everyone getting along just great. I definitely recommend this trip to others.

Exactly that

Better than walking in the Dolomites. Great variety and three climates in one mid-May week including snow. Hotel Torrecerredo is an ideal walkers hotel, clean, easy going, relaxed and good varied menu.

I LOVED this trip

I LOVED this trip…my 10th with Exodus but my first walking holiday, and there was so much to enjoy. The walks were tough and I was nervous; I’m used to walking much further but not used to such steep hills and the many, many steps. But though my legs were often screaming, it was well worth it and I’d highly recommend the trip and the area.

The hotel was nice, rooms simple but had everything I needed, the town we stayed quiet but lovely, the restaurants are all fantastic in the town, and the beach is lovely – and it’s a rare thing for a beach to not be dominated by the Italian ‘beach clubs’ that usually take up most of the best spots.

The wine tasting is a very special evening.