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.

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14440 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Nicola Harpin

Reviewed April 2015

The Lost City of Petra

Most definitely a holiday to remember. Our guide, Zuhair was excellent and given the constraints placed upon him by Exodus, the trip was on the whole an ideal way to travel to the region with a young family. The main disappointment was the lack of genuinely local experiences. The shops we stopped at were of the service station variety. The restaurants we ate at were of the chips and coke variety. The Bedouins we took tea with were happy to welcome us as part of a steady stream of tourists passing through their tent, where commercial goods were available to buy as you exited. The trip was fun and extremely well organised but smacked of a commercially focussed enterprise and not as an opportunity to experience the real Jordan. Visits to Petra (make sure you include the additional walk to the Monastry. The walk up the steps is as memorable as the experience at the top) and the river Jordan site are a must, along with the Wadi Rum desert experience. Aqaba however did not add anything, other than cost, to our trip. We couldn’t shake the very loud western pop music, even on the boat trip. An insufficient number of childrens lifejackets (we only found this out mid journey) and no snorkelling equipment for children, proved without doubt that this was an 18-30 party boat and not a family enterprise.
The best experience we had of the real Jordan was our last night in Amman. Jump in a taxi, head down town and just drink in the city. Souks, shisha, hustle & bustle and super shops for spices, sweets etc and tea at Café Jafra is a must. Enjoy the stress free, well organised and efficient guided tour, but make the most of the “unscheduled” hours of the trip to see Jordan, beyond the tour bus.

Most Inspirational Moment

Ancient history - Petra - just mesmerising Recent history - the River Jordan - just a few metres of water separating the borders of Jordan and Isreal. Quite humbling.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent. The constant narrative, in excellent English, was very welcome and very well received by all ages. Maybe a few too many religious facts for the younger ones but there were a lot of long drives and a lot of religious sights to visit. Traditional Jordanian stories in contrast with current affairs and the history of the region kept us enthralled throughout the trip.

Advice for Potential Travellers

We travelled in March/April. There was no need for solid footwear, my 13 year old spent the week in flip flops. In Petra, there was a significant difference in the quality of the Turkish bath experienced by the females in the group compared to the men. For the same price, the men were given a far more lengthy and comprehensive time in the baths. I would question the value of the baths for ladies. Don't fill your luggage with towels. They can be hired wherever you are although I don't remember being given towels at the desert camp.

Helen white

Reviewed April 2015

Marrakech and the Sahara (AMS)

The most amazing and varied holiday! From the Desert, the camel trip, the High Atlas Mountains, the history, the scenery, the people, the colours, the culture…so much to absorb

Most Inspirational Moment

Sitting on the sand dunes in the Sahara watching the sunset. No artists palette will ever be able to paint the colours, or the scenery. Nothing can replace the memories of the complete tranquil peace

Advice for Potential Travellers

Travelled late March-didn't need a sleeping bag at all-the beds in the 'tents' had blankets. I didn't change any currency before arriving, and found it easy to swap into Dirham on the first day Don't forget swim wear-at least 3 hotels had pools

Colin Bell

Reviewed April 2015

Annapurna Sanctuary

Great adventure with excellent local guides and porters. The Nepalese people are a delight – so friendly, honest and helpful, especially in the mountains.

Most Inspirational Moment

1. Walking up to ABC in the sunshine. 2. Walking along the terraces, through villages and talking to local people.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Gum, our leader was everything that a good expedition leader should be; knowledgeable, dependable, caring and resourceful.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take microspikes in case the walk up/down to ABC is snowy, as in our case.

Dan Bachmann

Reviewed April 2015

trip of a lifetime

Without this trip, my wife and I would not have wandered for 4 days in a desert, climbed rock bridges or had a stress free time of worrying about a campsite, food and water. Having a support vehicle for sleeping bags, tent, food and water aren’t cheating when it comes to desert travel – camels would have been used for the desert trekkers even before Biblical times.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing my wife bravely reach the top of Burdah Bridge. Her sense of adventure is growing that she even agreed to come on a trekking trip!

Thoughts on Group Leader

A perfect leader and a true diplomat to Jordan.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bring some form of first aid kit for a potential blister. Also, there are ATM machines before and after immigration at the airport so you can get dinars for the 40 dinar visa fee. There is no (10 dinar) exit fee from the airport.

Raymond Thornton

Reviewed April 2015

Open, friendly and devoutly Budhist

Ancient fortresses, monasteries, mountainous scenery and colourful festivals. Friendly, open people, happy to help.

Most Inspirational Moment

Travel during festival time. It will be the highlight of you trip, along with the walk to the Tigress nest.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Kunthay was well organised, knowledgeable and made a excellent ambassador for his country.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bring ear plugs as there are hundreds of stray dogs that bark during the night. Driving times are relatively short by Exodus standards but roads are winding and bumpy.

Irene Juurlink

Reviewed April 2015

Cycle Indochina - 21 March 2015

Having just returned from Cycling Indochina, I’m still on a high. This holiday was simply fantastic, with great cycling days, beautiful scenery, interesting sites, delicious food, and lots of laughter. The days flew by far too fast, but because we saw and experienced so much each and every day, it nevertheless feels as if we were there for much longer than just 2 weeks.
The trip was very well organised, and the team leader and the local guides and technical support teams were wonderful, always on hand with a smile to help wherever needed.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were so many highlights and inspirational moments and experiences during this trip, it's impossible to single out just a single one - so to mention just a few: cycling around Angkor and seeing the local traditional villages, visiting Angkor Wat at daybreak (even if it was too cloudy for a sunrise), the visit to S-21 in Phnom Penh, cycling the lovely little backroads and paths in Vietnam on the last cycling day, high-fiving with the children that ran out to greet us along the way in various places, and the homestay in the Mekong Delta...

Thoughts on Group Leader

Rit is an excellent group leader - I couldn't praise him enough. Patient, considerate, well informed, approachable, always cheerful - these are just a few words to describe him. And he's an excellent cyclist too.

Advice for Potential Travellers

No need to bring your own bike - the bikes provided are great. Do bring padded shorts and/or a gel seat, they're pretty essential. Something to prevent chafing (chamois cream or similar) is useful too. There are opportunities along the way (in Siem Reap and Ho Chi Minh City) to get some laundry done (it's washed and ironed for you - and it's cheap), so no need to pack too too much in the way of clothes. Around Angkor you'll be needing to put on 'temple clothes' to enter the temples - so bring some light trousers or a skirt to cover your knees - and also bring a top or shirt that covers shoulders. And bring a torch if you want to see Angkor Wat at sunrise - you'll be walking over uneven ground in the pitch dark. Money-wise, just bring some Baht for Thailand, and other than that just bring US dollars - they're accepted everywhere in Cambodia and Vietnam including any and all shops. There are cashpoints in most cities if you need access to additional funds (Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, Ho Chi Minh City).

Timothy Woodroff

Reviewed April 2015

A Week in Jordan

A great week taking in all the major sites that Jordan has to offer: Petra, Wadi Rum, Madaba, Jerash and the Red Sea.
Condsidering the turmoil in the surrounding countries it’s amazing how safe Jordan feels. The Jordanian people are very friendly and welcoming. So if you want to immerse yourself in different culture for a week without having to bother with a long haul flight then Jordan is a good choice.
Our group consisted of solo travellers – intelligent, inquisitive folk with a good sense of humour!

Most Inspirational Moment

The highlight for me was Wadi Rum - a silent, still, other-wordly landscape. It was interesting to see how the Bedouin cooked the supper in a hole in the sand called a Zarb and made their flatbread called shareeq - delicious too! It was great to sit around the campfire hearing the sound of the oud and the Bedouin songs. The mock wedding with one of the girls from the group was hilarious!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Wa'el was so informative and enthusiastic. Good to hear a narrative that differs somewhat from the usual guidebook spiel. He obviously loves his country.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Petra involves a lot of walking so bring a good pair of approach shoes/trainers.

Jonathan Thirlwell

Reviewed April 2015

Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam - three wonderful contrasts

From the beginning, this trip kept you surprised, engaged and immersed. Everyday was an adventure and thoroughly enjoyable. The guides had carefully chosen cycles routes which were fun and fascinating giving you a peek into the lives of real people and at times getting off the beaten track. It was action packed as expected, but still well paced, allowing the occasional afternoon to “chillax”. The cycling support teams were exceptional. It was hot, but I adapted quickly and cycling actually had a cooling effect.
The enjoyable cycling routes, wonderful scenery, delicious food and memorable sights delivered beyond my expectations.

Most Inspirational Moment

Cycling around Angkor was inspirational. The beautiful templates draped in vines, framed by jungle and set to the atmospheric chirping of cicadas was wonderfully visceral and dreamlike.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Rit was an excellent leader. He was calm, collected and professional. He has a gentle style which was never bossy, but always had everyone organised. He was always approachable and did everything he could to help anyone. And always with a large smile.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Buy a small cycling bag that you can strap to the bike to keep you camera, sun cream and some cash in. I wish I has done this. Others on the tour brought one along and it made carrying a few small belongings with you on the bike much easier.

Neil Robson

Reviewed April 2015

The unforgettable festivals of Bhutan

This was a true trip of a lifetime – 10 days in-depth vitit to the last Shangri-La. Mountains, monasteries, dzongs and monks – and dancing monks

Most Inspirational Moment

The Paro tsechu festival was an honour to be allowed to attend - many hundreds of local Bhutanese enjoyed the music, dancing and the spectacle of this amazing week long festival - and only a couple of dozen westerners. It is an honour to be with such humble and serene people at such a joyous time in their calendar!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Kunzang Namgye was without doubt the best tour leader ever! Enthusiastic, knowledgeable, helpful and proactive, he MADE this trip so special for us by bringing his personal touches and being genuinely enthusiastic about sharing his culture with the group. He is an asset of the Bhutan Travel Service and Exodus

Advice for Potential Travellers

Beware that at Easter it can be very cold after dark at altitude - lots of layers are helpful. Also, when attending the festival, if you wear traditional Bhutanese garments (the gho for the men or the kira for the women) you will get a really enthusiastic response from all the local people and it us a great ice-breaker. The robes can be bought in Thimphu for GBP £20 and upwards. It's a great investment.

Chris Warren

Reviewed April 2015

Cycling Vietnam

This was an excellent holiday, within the time/distance restraints of the trip. Everything was organised and implemented very professionally, and also with genuine attention to customer service. The local team were fantastic. This is a combination holiday – experiencing Vietnam, and cycling. If you like to cycle from start to finish, or are worried by fairly heavy traffic over not-insignificant parts of the route, then this might not be for you. In particular, note that there is a lot of time spent in the coach. However, for us, it was all worth it. We really felt we experienced a lot of Vietnam, we were pushed just the right amount to ensure we felt we’d really achieved something in terms of cycling exertion (we holiday quite a lot on bikes) – and the trip organisation and the efforts of our tour leader (Chi) just couldn’t be faulted.

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching the top of the Hai Van pass and cruising through the flat approaches to Hue seeing unspoilt Vietnamese villages and excited children.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent. Cheerful/knowledgable/patient/enthusiastic.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I would suggest a reasonable level of cycling fitness is required for this trip. The heat/humidity can at times really put the pressure on. Bring a gel seat if you're not regularly cycling!

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