Reviews

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

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14516 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Jenny Cox

Reviewed November 2017

Fantastic, incredibly varied off the beaten track teahouse trek

Highly recommended. By far the most varied trek I’ve ever done and excellent for gradual acclimatisation. Starting from around 600m, the heat (30degC) and almost tropical lowland scenery was quite unexpected and we passed some beautifully quaint Nepali villages surrounded by terraced hillsides, padi fields and banana trees. The route follows the Buri Gandaki River Valley for the first week, which at times steepens and narrows to form a spectacular gorge with cascading waterfalls. You cross some amazing high suspension bridges over the river. As you climb gradually higher the vegetation changes to bamboo thickets, rhododendron and alpine forest and eventually you get above the treeline, where yak pastures, stark hillsides and snow-capped mountains dominate. The villages and people themselves also change as you near the Tibetan border. Crossing the Larke Pass (over 5000m) is a gradual ascent on undulating moraine – the best mountain views are from the ‘second summit’ (past the prayer flags) – save enough energy for the long descent!

Most Inspirational Moment

On our rest day in Bhimtang after the pass, our team of porters decided to collect firewood and host a bonfire for everyone. It was a lovely gesture and all the more special under a starlit sky - the Milky Way a clearly visible streak above us. After sharing the local millet wine (rakshi) we plucked up the courage to join in with the dancing and singing (plus keeping on moving helped us stay warm). It was lovely to see our support team or porters, guides and Tenzi (our tour leader) relaxing and enjoying themselves, having been working so hard to look after us. Music and dancing is very much part of the Nepali culture and it was great to be a part of it. Two of our porters were students and spoke some English - they challenged us to sing a song for them in return...we agreed we would but on the last night. We adapted the lyrics of a song to have one verse about each of our guides - it went down a treat at the time but I think we're all hoping there's no video evidence!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Tenzi Sherpa, also known as 'The laughing Sherpa' or 'Haha Tenzi' (owing to his distinctive and incredibly infectious laugh and gleaming white ear to ear smile), was a fantastic leader - I would request him next time. Attentive and safety conscious at all times, very well organised and managed the different walking paces within our group as well as possible. He was quietly knowledgeable if you asked him about something but without overloading you with information.

Advice for Potential Travellers

You will experience a huge range of temperatures on this trek as you climb from 600m to over 5000m - bring lightweight layers for the lowlands and high SPF sunscreen and lip balm as well as a warm fleece/down jacket for higher up. Bring mosquito repellent for the lowlands too. There are some very narrow trails and numerous high suspension bridges so I wouldn't consider this if you have a fear of height/vertigo. Not all of the lodges have electrical charging facilities so bring a power bank or solar charger / use lithium batteries if possible as these last longer in the cold. Bring lots of wet wipes - it's not practical to have a proper wash every night or when it's very cold. Travel games/cards are good for the evenings. Ear plugs are useful in the teahouses as the walls are very thin.

John Cambridge

Reviewed November 2017

The Lost City of Choquequirao

It is a seriously insane trek across big country traversing a number of valleys, each of which takes a day to cross. There are no rocky ridge routes to relieve the arduous nature of the walking and the fine views are hard won. Having said that I did enjoy it as we had the paths almost entirely to ourselves and over the course of the trek were able to gain a real appreciation of the Inca heartland and the work they put into cultivating the landscape.

Most Inspirational Moment

The setting of Machu Picchu amongst the towering pinnacles.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The criticism from my fellow traveller is unwarranted. Tomas was very enthusiastic and in addition to leading the walks, did all the guided tours of the sites. I did not feel there was any lack of connection with the group, quite the contrary. He also managed to keep everything to schedule, not easy with a group of 14.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take a close look at the route before deciding if it is the one for you. This is only one of several alternatives to the very popular Inca trail.

Byron Campbell

Reviewed November 2017

Ancient & modern Japan

This was a brilliant trip with a great group of fellow travellers. It took us along the length of Honshu, from the coast, cities, and into the mountains, using very efficient public transport – the Shinkansen & Tokyo metro which are experiences in themselves. We saw friendly deer, excitable snow monkeys and dressed-up dogs in prams (an example of an eccentric sight Japan will offer many of). It offered relaxing moments like bathing in the hot springs and warming sake, to quite intense moments like navigating busy train stations and some longer days on our feet exploring parks and cities.

Most Inspirational Moment

I travelled to Japan to particularly catch the autumn colours - amazing! Late November was the perfect time of year for acers and they are a sight the country over, so Japan kept giving beatiful views throughout the two weeks. Ginkaku-ji in Kyoto gave my favourite moment for autumn colour - it's optional, but I v much recommend. If in blossom, the Philosopher's walk would be stunning as it's lined with cherry trees, again this was optional.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ayaka had great enthusiasm, was very humourous and she was very well organised. She moved 18 people several times through Tokyo stations at rush hour without loosing anyone! She offered great advice on sights to see on our free time, and gave useful maps with recommendations highlighted. She knew her Japanese food, and I particularly liked the group treats she sourced in Kyoto and she got us into some lovely restaurants despite being a big group.

Advice for Potential Travellers

There's more walking than may seem obvious in the trip notes, and most is on paved urban surfaces, so it could be quite uncomfortable by the end of the longer days. So take comfy shoes and be prepared for several miles on one or two days. Tokyo's rail carriages get busy and cramped, and the stations themselves at rush hour take a lot of patience. But, for me it was part of experienceing the modern side of Japan so added to the understanding of what it means to be a local. Busy! There's more time in Tokyo then I'd really appreciated, so I'd recommend doing more research than I did on your options so you can make the most of it.

Claire Palmer

Reviewed November 2017

Thoroughly enjoyable trip

Excellent trip giving a great introduction to the culture & history of Japan.

Most Inspirational Moment

- autumn colours - Hiroshima - Kyoto golden temple - snow monkeys - bullet train - Nara It was all fabulous!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ayaka did an excellent job of organising a group of 18 people & keeping us on track. She was always cheerful, friendly & helpful.

Advice for Potential Travellers

There was more walking than I expected. It was fine for us but I think it's worth letting travellers know that you could be walking 6-7 miles a day. There was also more transport changes than we expected.

Edward Bird

Reviewed November 2017

Knockout trip!

A really wonderful trip, I could not find fault with it, even if I wanted to. Namibia is a fascinating place to visit, the scenery, wildlife and people make it a delightful destination. The itinerary is good and the trip is the right length.

Most Inspirational Moment

Sitting eating 'al fresco' in the evening (after a day tracking a rhino and watching a breeding herd of elephants) when we spotted a lioness and her cub passing by about 40-50 metres away! Surprised even our experienced + seasoned guides. Brilliant. The next day our guides (and us) tracked and found them again. Also the visit to a Namibian primary school was unmissable.

Thoughts on Group Leader

We had two guides (Koos + Mathias) and they were absolutely first class. They were friendly, helpful, knowledgeable and good fun. I cannot recommend them enough.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be aware that the trip involves a lot of driving on Namibian gravel roads + off-road tracks, and can be a bit rough and tiring. However, if you want to go to some of the less visited spots and see wildlife that is still genuinely running wild, then for me, it is well worth it. Also it is hot in Namibia in November, typically into the mid to low 30's during the day on our trip. On the plus side the nights were cool and made sleeping comfortable. For the primary school visit you can take exercise books, pens etc to donate. but our guides also gave us an opportunity to buy some before visiting (very useful as books/paper can be heavy).

Caroline Speller

Reviewed November 2017

Andes to Amazon

A great trip – to somewhere that most tourists don’t visit. Fantastic scenery, lots of wildlife, loads of views of volcanoes and some quirky places to stay.
Some days are long but the travel is always broken up with things to see.

Most Inspirational Moment

I loved the cloud forest - the birds and plants were glorious. Cuenca is a lovely colonial city and it is relatively flat - a nice change as most of the time the trip is up and down hill.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Fabian was the best guide we have ever had. Showed us and told us about the country and its life, stopping the minibus when something caught his eye. He had a fantastic sense of humour. We were looked after but never smothered with too much fuss.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Midge repellant, anti histamine and and sun screen. The midge bites were rare but very itchy. Long sleeves are a good idea. The altitude can take it out of you so tell your guide if you feel rough. Walking poles handy and walking shoes/ boots essential. Warm hat for high altitude volcano walk, sunhat at other times. You need waterproof cover (poncho/mac) for the waterfall but goretex would probably be too hot. Dark swimwear for the thermal baths as the water will dye light colours. Wellies are supplied in the rainforest but your feet can get very sweaty so take several pairs of dry socks. No electric so you need a torch, which you also need for a night walk. You can only take a small bag (not your main bag) to the rainforest.

Vicki Nunn

Reviewed November 2017

Cycling, food, temples, boats, villages, history, villages and cities - a great and varied fortnight!!

Like cycling Kerala & the a Tropical South (which I can totally recommend) this was another wonderfully varied trip. Loved the fact that there were many cultural, religious, historical and culinary experiences intermingled with cycling in a great part of the world. The cycling in Thailand was not as scenic as we’d hoped but the food and stops to see temples, rubber plantations, etc. made the long cycling days more interesting. We changed bikes 3 times (different bikes and back up teams in each country) which was not ideal but crossing the busy border between Thailand and Cambodia was a highlight for us (like India without the saris!). It was very hot and humid and some of the fairer people were sunburnt on the cloudy days!

Most Inspirational Moment

No one thing! The variety of experiences was the best thing about the trip.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Nut was great - he looked after us all very well.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Pad your saddle (take your own if comfy) and not yourself - padded cycling shorts were very unpleasant (they just became tight, sweaty/wet and hot). We ended up cycling in loose thin white t-shirts with loose thin shorts and walking sandals and found that to be most comfortable. You are on a holiday cycling through rural villages after all and not in the Tour de France!!). Despite the trip notes advice most of our group avoided taking anti-malarials and just used repellant (Incognito worked well and avoided nasty DEET products) and many didn't cover up but only one or two bites across the 18 of us were had! As always, an extra day or two at the end of the trip to just decompress and reflect on all you have seen and done is a good call - cocktails and reminiscence by the pool on our first full day in Saigon was a real highlight! And the Water Puppet show in Saigon is a must - bizarre but totally mesmerising!!

Catherine Matthews

Reviewed November 2017

Manaslu ciruit

a fantastic trek in a remote, beautiful part of Nepal. the Northern part of the trek is very close to the Tibetan boarder and hence has a very Tibetan feel, which is interesting and quite different from the more Southerly, Nepalese villages, people & animals.
not to be underestimated. high altitude, although very good acclimatisation (& I took Diamox)
and basic accommodation – very basic as you get more remote, nearer to the pass.
the first and last parts of the trek are well worth it in their own right. fantastic landscape & people. very Autumnal when we were there in November; very fertile & well populated. a marked contrast with the wilder, more remote areas further North.
a very well organised, well balanced trek. far better than Annapurna sanctuary for example, which has become over popularised.

Most Inspirational Moment

every day brought something new & inspiring

Thoughts on Group Leader

excellent leader & trek staff we were well looked after & I felt very confident in the leader's experience & abilities a better standard of English would add to the trip. being able to ask questions about the area & it's people has added to previous treks but otherwise excellent

Advice for Potential Travellers

do it!! go, now, whilst it's still relatively unknown & unspoilt but you do need to be aware of the altitude and be prepared to rough it around the pass days. no technical difficulty to speak of. a trek for experienced mountain walkers upwards - it is cold at night - I don't feel the cold but I needed a blanket several nights

Alan Long

Reviewed November 2017

A voyage of discovery.

Having been on many trips of discovery with Exodus, I had never been on one that offered so much.
The itinerary was exactly right.
The starting point is Rwanda were we met our leader for the tour Jacob, as usual a friendly face after a long flight out from the UK.
After a nights rest, the next day we visited the Museum to the genocide which took place in the mid nineties, the museum has graphic pictures of this terrible time in Rwanda`s history. A reminder of how the west turned it`s back on the suffering of a whole group of people.
Onto our first highlight, the mountain Gorillas. After a long trek up into the foothills of the Parc National des Volcans we met our first Gorillas after about an hour of walking through mud and clothes clawing undergrowth and overhead vine. This first encounter was unbelievable, such gentle creatures given the size of the alpha males. We spent an hour with them and they just carried on eating/ playing and sleeping as if we were not there.
On into Uganda, no problems with crossing the border and onto Lake Bunyonyi. With the lake there are opportunities to take boat rides on the lake or hire canoes for a leisurely paddle.
On through Uganda with it`s abundance of wildlife, mammals and bird life.We had our first encounters with the real wildlife in all their natural environment.
Adrenalin seekers will love Jinja as the site we stay Adrift, were you can do white water rafting on the Nile or perhaps bungee jumping.Or you can just take a stroll around the local are to veiw the many and varied bird life.
On into Kenya, this is when they asked to see our Yellow fever certificate, other than that it again was straight forward.
Due to adverse weather we had miss the village camp, however not to worry, onto the Masai Mara.
Arriving at lunch time we enjoyed yet another great lunch prepared as always by Wilson and Ester.
We then had a half day taster into the game park. Nothing could have prepared me for what I was about to encounter. All you ever see on TV was there in front of you in all it`s splendour, to many to list. The next and last full day of the tour(excluding travel days) you again go into the park for a full day`s game drive. Amazing experience, so well organised and lead by the team, from the leader through the driver and cooks who took so much care of us.
Thank you .

Most Inspirational Moment

This is not an easy choice, but it has to be the Gorillas, so human like.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jacob, I have been on may trips with Exodus and all the leaders are excellent. Jacob`s leadership and ability to adapt to required changes puts him at the very top of the top leaders.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you want to visit Africa and this appeals to you then do the same trip(reverse) it seemed to us who travelled together the best itinerary. Gorillas first then working your way though to the Masai Mara to end your trip.

Susan Hall

Reviewed November 2017

Moroccan Highlights Solo Travel

Highly recommend this trip. A really varied trip showing the best that Morocco has to offer. Marrakech is very manic and a bit ‘in your face’ but thanks to an excellent tour leader and local guide the group were able to find our way to such hidden gems as the Majorelle Gardens (Yves St Laurent’s former gardens) and the ‘Secret’ Garden. The trip up to the Atlas Mountains and stay in Douar Samra was nothing short of magical, I got to stay in the Tree House while others stayed in the very unusual and individual rooms in the house or annex. Meals were a delight thanks to the marvellous cooking of Rashida the resident cook and the atmospheric use of candles (there is no electricity in the main house) and traditional low level seating and tables. Your luggage is transported the final distance by donkey and there are also ducks and all vegetables are grown in the Douar’s vegetable garden. Fabulous views and sunsets and great walking in the mountains. However the gem is absolutely Essaouira. I had never heard of this place before but it is the most delightful and fascinating seaside town. Again great orientation tour from local guide Rashida and plenty of time to enjoy the shopping, sweeping sandy beach, bars, restaurants and busy exciting fishing harbour. Our leader, Abdul, was very informative and accommodating and great fun. Morocco is well worth a visit and I will be back!

Most Inspirational Moment

The walking in the mountains and stay in the Douar Samra. Seeing disadvantaged youngsters being trained to do delicate silver work in Essaouria and having an elderly artisan in woodwork explain all about his 'boites magique' in a backstreet workshop without any pressure to buy.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Abdul was great fun, very informative and accommodating. He obviously loves his home country and is enthusiastic about its history and culture.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The walking is not really what I would call 'leisurely', although it is all perfectly manageable so long as you are reasonably fit, have the right equipment and are used to walking in mountain areas. Walking poles are a good idea and proper walking boots essential. You need to fill in forms for both arrival and departure and be prepared for long waits at Marrakech airport getting through Passport control. Money is easily changed at the airport and offers a much better rate than can be obtained in the UK. Take sweets or something like bubbles to entertain the local children in the mountain areas.

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