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.

Simply use the selector below to search our trip reviews and start reading real feedback from real Exodus travellers who have ‘been there and done that’!

Lots of our clients also like to post handy tips and advice about their travels. It’s great to know what to expect on an Exodus adventure before you go, so make the most of their experience and you’ll make the most of yours!

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14374 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Carol Spiller

Reviewed July 2022

A Great Adventure

This was a great trip travelling through 5 US states including spectacular scenery, a variety of walking trails and the opportunity to see wildlife. Despite Yellowstone being completely closed for the first time in 34 years when we visited we still had a great time in a very beautiful part of the world.

Most Inspirational Moment

A few things. Firstly, seeing moose on the path in front of us and grizzly bears very close to our van. Being caught at the top of a mountain in an unexpected snow storm provided a very good bonding opportunity for the group on the first proper day of our trip. Despite the disappointment of missing Yellowstone, Mike, our group leader, somehow kept us all happy and still produced a very enjoyable holiday for us all.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Mike was an absolute star, he could not have done more to make this a great holiday for us all. Despite losing 4 days of the itinerary for Yellowstone he somehow found excellent trails, places to visit and lovely restaurants to fill that time. The group also all got on very well together and we had lots of fun.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take the full range of clothing from thermals, gloves, hat etc through to sun wear even in June. You will use it all! Give yourself a full day in Salt Lake City before the trip as it’s worth a visit. In addition we booked 2 extra nights in Seattle and that was definitely worthwhile. There was lots to see, it was easy to get around and it’s a fun place to visit.

Ron Hunt

Reviewed July 2022

The Silk Road

Great trip. All countries very different. Certainly non stop.

Most Inspirational Moment

Stunning architechture + eagle hunter + Uygur meal

Thoughts on Group Leader

Both were excellent.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for very hot weather, and a tiring trip.

Carol Taylor

Reviewed July 2022

Bosnia & Beyond

An amazing trip dipping into the complex history, cultural background and natural wonders of the region.

Most Inspirational Moment

My absolute highlight was the day we travelled up, through magnificent scenery, to the village of Lukomir. The views were out of this world and we were made very welcome in the village and treated to a delicious lunch. It was a privilege to be in such a beautiful, sparsely populated place. A truly wonderful memory.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader, Evelin Balta, couldn’t have been better. He was kind, courteous to everyone and, above all, passionate about the area and keen to share his knowledge with us. He always made us feel that what he did was not a job - that he was enjoying the trip as much as we were! His enthusiasm was infectious and no one could fail to be fascinated by the history and culture of the region or to fall un love with the beautiful countryside.

Advice for Potential Travellers

This trip has everything - amazing towns and cities, fascinating history and stunning scenery. Walks are optional but not over-taxing. The many trips in the minibus are kept to manageable lengths with frequent stops but be prepared for a lot of travelling - worth it to see some amazing sights.

Paul Walsh

Reviewed July 2022

Good

A fascinating introduction to the varied landscape of Iceland’s interior with a good range of trekking experiences.
Walking through snow clad mountains, black volcanic sand, ice clad glaciers and magnificent waterfalls.

Most Inspirational Moment

The honour of walking through imposing rock formations, steam vents and glacier valleys. The creative force of nature unfolding beneath our feet.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent! Petur was confident, engaging and witty. A strong character, who dealt with the complex organisation issues well. Although initially setting a strong walking pace, he adjusted to accommodate those at the back with more breaks. A second guide could have kept an eye on the back of the group.

Advice for Potential Travellers

1. Use a good eye mask to shut out the light at night, to enable better sleep. 2. Ensure you have a decent, fully charged power pack, as charging phones etc is not possible in the hills. 3. Bring plenty of Krona for the time in Reykjavik.! Buying meals/drinks is expensive.

John Armstrong

Reviewed July 2022

Fantastic variety of parks with great company

First time using Exodus which we found to be a great experience from start to finish, with the online presentations during covid giving us confidence in the company and were also extremely inspirational.
Our meetup for the briefing at the start of the trip gave us the opportunity to get to know our fellow travelers and cement the bonding of the group.

Most Inspirational Moment

Whilst hiking up Lembert Dome in Yosemite we were on the verge of deciding it was too much for us when our guide, who had had to escort other members of the party back to a easier route, suddenly appeared to advise us on the correct line of assent and also the technique to enable us to get to the top. This was not the only time that Jay appeared out of nowhere as he was also assisting the various levels in our group to achieve the maximum of their capabilities. Each park is fantastic in different ways, whether it be the enormity of Yosemite, the fun of the narrows in Zion, the hoodoo's of Bryce, the throwback to the westerns in Monument Valley, the grandeur of Grand Canyon and not forgetting the ridiculous heat of death valley.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jay was an excellent group leader with his primary priority being the safety of the group. Jay also astounded us with his depth of knowledge on so many different aspects, whether it be geology, astrology or general useful information. Not forgetting his two other main interests (loves?) of music and beer (not necessarily in that order). Many different versions and styles of Route 66 as a example! He was such great fun and so easy to get along with. The fact that he must have driven about two thousand miles whilst keeping us entertained is a testament to his love of the job and stamina. He was also required to accommodate the different expectations and abilities of the group, which he proved he was up to.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Although classified as cultural in the brochure, travelers do require a certain amount of fitness over uneven terrain to ensure they can make the most of the fantastic scenery and enormity of the parks. Also be aware that wifi is sketchy and insecure in places i.e. not password protected, so be careful if required to make financial transactions.

james brent

Reviewed July 2022

Kili Rongai & Zanzibar

The trip was much tougher than any of our Group had expected. It was colder than the seasonal norm but the trip to base camp was really attritional; by the time we got there we (and it was a fit Group) were exhausted. The journey did not only impact on the guests: of the 4 guides, 2 retired sick and neither of the summit porters reached the summit (one through sickness; one through helping a guest back down the mountain). My reflection was that the accumulative challenge was not reflected in the meeting notes.
The hotel in Zanzibar (Zumba Beach) was in an idyllic location and the GM was a strong leader and led her staff well. Again the trip notes should perhaps have been clearer that expectations needed to be calibrated a little lower than in the developed world. Our room was burgled while we were sleeping and items stolen from within 1 foot of our heads. The thieves cut their way in and so were carrying knives; a sobering experience. I don’t think crime there is uncommon and maybe prospective guests should be alerted to it?

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching the peak on the Summit but feeling of relief more than inspiration!

Thoughts on Group Leader

It was her first trip leading and her Summit staff were virtually eradicated before reaching the top. The weather was poor and I fear she was traumatised.....but very full marks for getting most of us to the top and all down safely.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The climb was really difficult. It was less the final climb from base camp but the deconditioning that occurred before....and the weather is unpredictable. There is crime in Zanzibar and important to be forewarned.

Reply from Exodus

Thank you for taking the time to leave a review, James, although we were sorry to read that you were disappointed with some aspects of your tour. As I am sure you appreciate, activity levels are inherently subjective, but we do endeavour to describe each trip as accurately as possible, and we are always open to suggestions to amend our guidance should we be made aware of clients feeling a particular trip’s activity level should be changed. This is one of our longest running trips and we therefore receive a large volume of feedback regarding our clients’ views on the tour. Whilst this trip generally scores highly for trip note accuracy, we are aware that your group experienced unusually cold temperatures, which may have increased the difficulty of some of the treks and caused more cases of sickness than expected. Whilst our product manager, John Penge, and tour leaders remain of the view that the current grading for our Kilimanjaro Climb Rongai Route trip is accurate, I would like to assure you that they will take your comments into account when discussing potential changes to the activity level of this tour. Addressing your second point, we take the health and safety of our clients extremely seriously and we were, therefore, very concerned to receive your comments about a theft at Fumba Beach Lodge. This property has been operating for twenty years and, whilst we are aware of petty crimes in the past, incidents of this nature are not common in this area, mainly due to the heavy police presence on the beach. Nevertheless, we would not wish to downplay your experience, which sounds particularly worrying, and we would like to assure you that the security presence at the lodge has been increased and the mosquito netting has been reinforced to hopefully prevent any repeat of this situation. We recognise that this cannot change your experience, for which we are incredibly regretful, but we do hope it demonstrates that we have acted on it.

Dennis Samuel

Reviewed July 2022

Beautiful Picos

A great trip – fantastic scenery and a great little village with an even better hotel. Wonderful guide and ten fantastic walking partners made this trip quite memorable. Several days of rain tampered the mood but that’s what walking is all about.

Most Inspirational Moment

The last day was perfect. Weather was amazing following three days of rain. Climbed two peaks - Mancandiu and San Carlos - with breathtaking views. Just great walking with a fabulous group and leader.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Nacho (Ignacio) was wonderful. Great sense of humor and very organized. A pleasure to walk with and I always felt like he had things in control.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I did the level 5 departure, and having done several of these, I felt this one to be less strenuous. I felt like these were level 3 walks with some extra mileage added. Although the scenery was fabulous, only on the last day did it feel like it was challenging due to some exposure and scrambling. If you're going for the scenery and to see the Picos, by all means do it. If you're specifically looking for some challenging walking, other level 5 trips may be more appropriate.

Astrid Hatchwell

Reviewed July 2022

The Journey is the destination!

The 4 days hiking through the ever changing landscape from cactus lined trails over windswept mountain passes and through the damp cloud forest made the arrival at the sun gate extra special.
It is physically challenging, but the viws, the history and especially the team on the ground making this holiday happen were just amazing!

Most Inspirational Moment

The 2nd day, climbing and descending from dead women pass. Wilmer our guide was great in giving support and encouragement! Also, the reed islands on Lake Titicaca, its a very special place and I am thankful for the people sharing a glimpses of their past & present lives. (I had a little VIP tour)

Thoughts on Group Leader

Wilmer, is simply the best! I could not have asked for a better group leader. He stood out for his knowledge, enthusiasm and genuinely caring nature. He ensured we were all ok throughout and was always there for an encouraging word, sharing information or simply answering questions. On a practical note, he was well organised and his timings were impeccable - I was very impressed!

Advice for Potential Travellers

The journey is the destination!

V K

Reviewed July 2022

Nice part of Italy

We had a small group so it was really easy to travel and organise. The places we visited in Puglia were all very different and had its own charm and I really enjoyed my week.

However there were parts of the trip which just did not make sense eg two walks (each between 1-2 hours) were scheduled at the hottest time of the day which caused concern for a number of us in the group. To avoid the uncomfortable heat (and quite frankly one of the walks just didn’t even serve a purpose to heighten our enjoyment of the trip) transport was arranged at an additional expense to each traveller to arrive at the final destination that day.

Apart from that, the trip was brilliant and covered alot of the region. A truly relaxed trip for those who want a slower pace for a week.

Most Inspirational Moment

Staying in Matera and seeing one of the oldest towns in Italy, olive oil tour, discovering Lecce and the rich history of this city.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Gabriella was very capable and entertaining and went beyond to help everyone on the trip.

Advice for Potential Travellers

On the free day it would be best to go either to the cave or Monopoli but not both. The churches/cathedrals are closed between 12 and 4pm and there is little else to do in the walled city during that time. Or just spend your time at the beach at Monopoli with no expectation of exploring the walled city.

Claire Holloway

Reviewed June 2022

All round brilliant trip

We waited two years for this trip but it was worth the wait – beautiful scenery, relaxed riding, lovely food, excellent tour leader and a great fun group. Bikes were comfortable and very able to cope with the terrain.

Most Inspirational Moment

It's difficult to pinpoint a single moment - the view from the terrace of our Matera hotel, cycling on backroads through olive groves, the trullis of Alberobello, late night jazz in Ostuni - and getting to the top of that roller coaster hill.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Fabrizio was a star - nothing was too much trouble for him. Bursting with enthusiasm and energy and very knowledgeable about the area. He kept the group cycling at a good steady pace, making sure that no one got left behind and as a single guide with a group of 15 had a great system of shared responsibility for being way markers and back markers. He collected money up front to cover all lunches, snacks, tips and taxes which saved lots of time and was very good value. Definitely one of the best group leaders we've had. Piero our driver was also excellent - always on hand with water and assistance and finding wonderful fresh fruit for our snack stops.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Highly recommend this trip - the distances aren't too great so plenty of time to swim in the Adriatic and the Ionian and explore the beautiful towns you stop at along the way. Hills are very manageable but if you're concerned about fitness, hire an ebike, We had five on our tour and we all cycled together very happily.

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