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!

Haven’t posted your review yet? Here’s how to do it…

Once you return from your Exodus adventure holiday, you will be emailed a link to add your review. Any feedback collected is posted onto our website, totally unedited.

Alternatively you can navigate to the relevant trip page and add your review via the Reviews tab.

Select a trip specific review:

Select

14450 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

June Egglestone

Reviewed April 2018

Discover Costa Rica

I would highly recommend this trip. The trip is very wildlife oriented, so if that is not your main interest, it may not be for you. However, I wouldn’t say that is normally my main area of interest, and yet I really enjoyed this trip, and it made a nice change. You get 2 nights in each place (except San Jose), so its not as rushed as some trips where it’s mostly 1 night before moving on. The standard of accommodation is very good too. Bus journeys were broken up so they didn’t feel too long, so don’t worry about the time spent on the bus. Great customer service and standards of tourism infrastructure in Costa Rica. An excellent, well organised trip, as perfect as these things are ever going to be.

Most Inspirational Moment

The whole trip was a highlight, hard to pick one thing. Seeing the sloths moving (so slowly!) was good.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our guide Johnny Villalobos was excellent, its no surprise he won tour leader of the year - great at managing the tour and the group, extremely knowledgable about wildlife and nature, and always arranging extra (optional) walks. His enthuiasm was infectious, and this really added to the enjoyment of the trip.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Carry a waterproof poncho at all times, even in the “dry” season. If you are prone to being bitten by mossies, DEET is best, especially for Tortuguero, so use it from day 2. Not all hotels have hairdryers, so if having one is important to you, bring one - I didn’t miss it for the few nights we didn’t have one. You do need a light fleece for 2 places which are at higher elevation and therefore cooler. Plan to wash clothes at Manuel Antonio, as it’s the hottest/dryest place. You can use dollars or colones or credit card in most places. I went on the BA direct flight, which seemed much better than the via USA options. Bring a good zoom lens if you want to photograph the wildlife, and binoculars too if you want – but the guide will have a scope for you to look through to see stuff close up, so don’t worry too much if you don’t own any and don’t want the extra expense/weight. Bring closed shoes (eg walking trainers) as well as walking sandals, as you will need them for some walks. Two swimming costumes would be useful, as they don’t always dry in 1 night. The spa at Savegre lodge was nice, reasonably priced (with Exodus discount), and you can still watch the hummingbirds from the jacuzzi!

Andrew Hicks

Reviewed April 2018

The Time of Our Lives

Though I have travelled to about seventy countries, Jordan with Exodus offered me one of the best weeks of my life and I and my twelve year old will be absorbing the experience for a long time to come. A haven of peace in a troubled region, it is so important that we go to Jordan and support such wonderful people in building their tourism industry. Petra and Wadi Rum were high points, though you somehow have to make it to Jerash, the Roman city north of Amman. Our guide, Sami, organised it for us and we were taken there on the usual tour bus. I will always remember him. He was such a good guide, not just for running the mechanics of the trip but because he was so a charismatic figure, a serious scholar of all he was showing us, a superb story teller and so good at relating to the kids. At Wadi Rum he even bought a football for them and they had an amazing time. Thanks to him for making it perfect.

Most Inspirational Moment

Jerash.

Thoughts on Group Leader

See above.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The minimum age is five but I would think twice about taking a child under eight. It's hardly leisurely. (And I took a six month old baby to the Philippines and to Kashmir when she was one... portable at that age!)

Ann McNulty

Reviewed April 2018

Comfortable trek with beautiful scenery

This is the third trek I’ve done in Nepal, the fourth in the Himalayas. I enjoyed the trek, found it easier than Everest Base Camp, the Annapurna Circuit and Ladakh- the Markha Valley. Yes, the numerous stone ‘staircases’ were a bit tough at the time, but very do-able and we were not rushed but had plenty of stops to catch breath and drink water. The tea-houses were OK (I always find the basic level of accommodation, especially the toilets & showers, also the rooms a tougher personal challenge than the actual walking) – the food they offered was OK (I didn’t get sick!!), if a bit repetitive.
The scenery was beautiful – big mountain landscapes, valleys with rippling streams and waterfalls, small villages and families farming their terraces using water buffalos and wooden ploughs. Always, the high snowy peaks were in the background. Add to that the colourful rhododendron forests and tiny bamboo bridges. When we first arrived at the Annapurna Sanctuary, I was a bit disappointed as there was no snow on the ground….and muttered to my friend ‘Oh no, just a load of old rocks!!’, but then, as we arrived at ABC, it started snowing heavily…and snowed and snowed all afternoon. The next morning, we trekked back across the flattish section between ABC and MBC and it was stunning – a perfect ‘winter wonderland’ and everything i’d hoped for.
This trek reached a lower altitude than I had experienced on my previous Himalayan treks and I was fortunate not to experience any symptoms of altitude sickness at all (whereas I did have some (manageable) symptoms on the previous ones.
Sunrise at Poon Hill was also a delight. I’d experienced this once before when on the Annapurna Circuit, but, unfortunately, on that occasion, although we climbed the hill, there was no view to be had – it was all obscured by clound. However, on this occasion, Mother Nature decided to reward my persistence and we were greeted by beautiful views of the mountains.

Most Inspirational Moment

The walk across from ABC to MBC in the snow! Also, sunrise at Poon Hill (yes, I love snowy mountains!!)

Thoughts on Group Leader

Prasant was an excellent leader. He was always upbeat, very bubbly and full of fun, and nothing was too much trouble. He was very informative and constantly worked very hard to please everyone, always very professional regarding his responsibilities as a tour leader, but ever mindful that we were on holiday and our personal enjoyment of the trip was very important. There was one occasion when a member of the group was suffering quite severe altitude problems in the middle of the night at MBC. Prasant was woken up and he immediately went into action to help her with oxygen etc. We were very impressed with the professional way in which he and his team dealt with this - they had obviously all been trained very well in this and it made the rest of us feel that we were all in very safe hands.

Advice for Potential Travellers

With a strong possibility of snow at ABC this time of year (end of March), yak-trax and gaiters are worth taking. Both can be purchased very cheaply in Thamel (1 mins walk from hotel), the only thing is that you may not have time to do this, arriving at about 5pm, then a trek meeting straight away & dealing with trek-related issues after meeting. (Shops will be open until about 8pm, but....) I didn't take bug spray and anthisan with me, being convinced that it would be too cold for mosquitoes (!!)...however, you are walking through forests, close to water....I got quite a few bites - so take these products with you! It is cold at both MBC and ABC, so ensure you have all the usual cold-weather gear with you, plus good waterproofs just in case it's (not easy to dry out wet stuff in a cold, unheated tea-house!) I wished i'd taken a sarong with me to cover myself when I dashed between my room and the shower! (Often no hooks in shower for hanging clean or dirty clothes on.)

Paul Hickson

Reviewed April 2018

Discover Costa Rica

This trip was one of the best holidays that my wife and I have ever taken. . Costa Rica is a beautiful country but the attention to detail provided by Exodus and their agents ensured that it was a magical experience

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing a quezal and sloth

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our guide Johnny Villalobos was outstanding Aside from his excellent communication skills and knowledge of all matters flora fauna and wildlife he knows exactly when to stop the bus for a walk to break the journey and when to talk and when not to

Advice for Potential Travellers

It will rain in Costa Rica so be prepared at any time

Richard Hoey

Reviewed April 2018

Fantastic all round holiday in Costa Rica

A great way to experience all Costa Rica has to offer! Great Accommodation in a variety of hotels and eco lodges all with their own unique character. Food was excellent throughout the holiday. Very highly recommended.

Most Inspirational Moment

Just too many to choose from!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Faultless! Great all round knowledge on all aspects.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Good camera and binoculars a must.

Martin Samuels

Reviewed April 2018

Walking the Amalfi Coast

This was a superb trip – wonderful walks with stunning coastal views, lovely accommodation, food and drink and great tour guide (Michela). I wholeheartedly recommend it – just beware that there is plenty of up / down climb in the walks, especially the steps +++ down to Amalfi. It was great to visit Pompei and Herculaneum, both fascinating sites and we were lucky enough to have Hectore as our site guide. It was also worth doing Naples for pizza and the museum – we did this on our last day. Michela was really helpful in maximising the options that members of the group chose. Great job Michela and Exodus.

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching the top of Mount Calle or Ravello, making pizza and tiramisu, walking round the whole rim of Mount Vesuvius, all great moments.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Michela was so helpful and very knowledgeable - also very tolerant and flexible with our group!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go walk the Amalfi Coast - it's worth it. Make sure you can walk a few miles with climbs and descents - learn to use walking poles if necessary.

Dorian Moss

Reviewed April 2018

Manaslu circuit: a little-visited gem away from the crowds

The Manaslu trek takes one up a very remote valley through villages where life seems to have changed little for centuries, and gives the chance to see Buddhist people of Tibetan origins. This valley is now threatened by a road being built to the Tibetan border – go there soon before it is completed! The scenery in the upper valley is stunning. The Larkye La pass was very tough for me and I was most relieved to have completed it.

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking under clear blue skies between the towering snowy peaks (especially from Sama to Samdo). Seeing these peaks at sunrise from Lho and Sama. Feeling of achievement once the Larkye La pass was behind us!

Thoughts on Group Leader

(Lakpa) Tsheten is a great leader, very caring, intelligent and informative about Nepal, the people and the mountains around us. He looked after me (the oldest in our group) especially well. I was glad he got us to complete a health-check sheet every day.

Advice for Potential Travellers

You need to be ready for tea houses which are in remote locations and fall well below the standards you might be used to in European mountain refuges. Their standards vary, some are clean and comfortable but others are not. Dharamsala is as bad as the trip notes suggest, but is a necessary overnight stop to be able to cross the pass. It is well worth taking extra food such as energy bars to supplement the monotonous food and fill gaps during the days' walks.

Katherine Holt

Reviewed April 2018

Albania is a hidden gem!

This trip offers an excellent introduction to the varied and interesting country that is Albania. Amazing mountain vistas, coastal views, friendly mountain towns and authentic villages. Food is fantastic, wine is good and plentiful and raki also available in a range of ‘flavours’ for those who like it!

Most Inspirational Moment

I enjoyed seeing long-forgotten frescos in churches previously abandoned during the communist era. I also found the concrete mushroom bunkers scattered everywhere a poignant reminder of the recent history of this amazing country.

Thoughts on Group Leader

We had two leaders as Ed unfortunately had to leave mid-way through. Ed - super passionate about his country, really gave a compelling impression of what it was like to live through recent history with stories of his family, friends (he has many...). I was really sad to lose him so soon. However Erion was an incredible replacement! He had to pick up half way through - a difficult job, but he is such a professional guy. Knowledgeable and able to explain complex subjects in a really clear way. I learnt a lot about Albania from Erion and he was also good company and very funny guy. I think we were lucky in the end to have two guides - Ed was very much 'heart and passion' and Erion was very much 'educator and friend'.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Order wine by the 0.5 litre rather than the glass as its better value!

Vicki Delany

Reviewed April 2018

Three vacations in one

This trip was excellent. For those wanting variety, it was three trips in one. The jungles and wildlife of Borneo, the culture and history of Melaka and George Town, and the beachs and swimming pools of Langkawi to finish it off.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing an organgutang in the wild!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Aldrin did a super job. He was efficient and friendly.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Beware of the Borneo section. If basic jungle lodges and rain and mud are not your thing, this might not be the trip for you. The accomodation is sparse and the food limited and plain on the Borneo section.

Wendy Pillar

Reviewed April 2018

One of the best cycling trips

This trip exceeded my expectations. The scenery was breathtakingly beautiful everywhere. The food was amazing, and the cycling was varied and fun.

Most Inspirational Moment

Visiting the home of the Mediterranean diet was inspirational. Not only was it interesting information, but Pioppi is pretty much paradise, and we had some of the most delicious food I have ever eaten for lunch with one of the best views on the entire planet. The picnic on the beach of fresh bread, mozzarella, tomatoes and strawberries was pretty special too.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Paolo was an excellent leader, so well organized he made it look easy. He managed the different abilities of the group well, picked the perfect places to eat and was always full of local knowledge.

Advice for Potential Travellers

As long as you can ride 30 miles or so and go up a decent hill, the cycling is fine. Going in April is lovely as it is much quieter (although the Amalfi coast was still very busy) and there are wildflowers everywhere. However, it's a bit cold for swimming, and you need clothing for variable weather. Most days were warm and sunny though.

Prev 1 … 620 621 622 623 624 … 1,445 Next