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

Ulrike von Saldern

Reviewed December 2014

Amazing

Definitely one of the best holidays I have ever been on. Amazing wildlife, fantastic guides, good hotels and even the weather gods were on our side (3 minutes rain on the bike was the only time we got wet :-)). The cycling starts off very easy in the first few days but then gets more challenging when entering Costa Rica.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the first sloth, sitting on a tree branch, clinging to the tree trunk and sleepily smiling into my camera.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Janielle was the first female tour guide I had on an Exodus trip and she was the best guide I ever had. She never got stressed about anything, expected to have to tell things several times, is very knowledgeable and very organised. I don't think we would have ever managed to get some food or for that matter pay for it without her organisational talents ;-).

Advice for Potential Travellers

Start a diary on day one. There is so much to do and see that after a few days you cannot even remember what the first hotel was like. Oh, and take a big memory card as you will want to take lots of pictures :-).

Peter James

Reviewed December 2014

Fantastic Holiday

I booked this holiday right at the last minute and was nervous that I had made the right decision – I am so glad I did! This was my first cycling holiday and the first time I had been on a bike in 5 years. It was tough but great fun.
The whole holiday was organised to perfection from start to finish.
Great to meet new people and experience Vietnam on 2 wheels.
Vietnam was beautiful and the people so friendly.
I would recommend this holiday to anyone – I wish I could go again tomorrow!

Most Inspirational Moment

Aside from the great company, beautiful country and people, it was amazing to see a country that had been through so much in recent history and, although not wanting to forget the past, looking forward to their future with no bitterness of past events.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Mot Hai Ba .....Yoh! "oi choy oi" Long was great fun, full of knowledge and nothing was too much trouble

Advice for Potential Travellers

Although I hadn't been on a bike in 5 years, I wish I had done some practise. Not for fitness reasons but my backside was oh so sore for a few days!

Dave Thomas

Reviewed December 2014

Cycling in Sardinia

I had a really fantastic week! Lots of great rides through breathtaking scenery – a couple of challenging climbs, lots of brilliant descents, great swimming at lovely beaches, fab food, good company and lots of laughs.

Most Inspirational Moment

Giovanni and Marco's sudden, unexpected picnics; pretty little towns: Carloforte, Calasetta, Pula; a fantastic storm over the sea at Nebida; flamingoes!

Thoughts on Group Leader

We were really lucky to have both Marco and Giovanni – they are great guys and they did a fantastic job. They know so much about the local area, and the best places to go and they made sure that everything went really well. They are great company, too.

Advice for Potential Travellers

You don't need to train to do this holiday, but if you do a few shortish runs and a couple of climbs then you'll enjoy it even more.

Meredith Bondy

Reviewed December 2014

MUC Review

Having never been on an organized group trip before, I wasn’t sure what to expect but I had nothing to worry about. The views were incredible, the company was great, and it was such a fantastic experience I’d do it all over again! The trip was a good mix of time on the bike, boat rides, and a few touristy bits.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing volcanoes, ending ride a swim in the Pacific, stopping at a school to see the students, the waterfall, seeing sloths on a few different occasions! Going zip lining over the canopy in La Fortuna on a day off, a rafting trip where we saw so much wildlife and flora, and a visit to the Panama Canal...the entire trip was fantastic from start to finish! The cycling was fantastic and a perfect way to see areas you may not otherwise notice if you were in a car. The locals were incredibly friendly, especially the children who were so excited to come out to say hello and wave as we went by!

Thoughts on Group Leader

The guide group consisted of our leader Janiell who was assisted by Luis and Guillermo, and Ronald. The combination of these 4 was great. J was so well organized and managed all of the details. Should would go over our itinerary each morning, showing a map of our route for the day, and would give another overview after dinner every night of what to expect the following day. She ensured we were always taken care of before herself. and answered all of our questions and had a good sense of humour to deal with our group. J was also quick to come up with an alternative when we requested a slight change in the itinerary and handled it like it was no problem. Ronald greeted me with a smile every single day. While there was definitely a language barrier between us, we did our best to communicate with each other each day and he taught me a few key phrases in Spanish. He was very patient and always made sure I was ready to go at the start of each ride. Luis was great; I was never near the front of the pack with him on the rides but he was always friendly and just like with Ronald, he and I would do our best to have conversations. He was always quick to help adjust the bike and was able to fix any issues they had. Guillermo, being a Tico, was a great addition to the team. He has so much knowledge about the flora and fauna and was always on the lookout to point things out to us. He answered all of my questions about local culture, history and traditions in detail and with so much pride for his country. He told stories on the bus which helped pass time (using an impressive sloth drawing and a CR t-shirt used to share facts and history) and was always happy with a good sense of humour.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure you bring padded shorts, lots of mosquito repellent, sunscreen and some hydration tablets. A small backpack or bento box you can put on the bike would be handy to hold a camera for taking photos along the way. Pack your binoculars as well, lots of fantastic wildlife to see along the way!

Liam Curran

Reviewed December 2014

Fantastic Cycling along the beautiful Dalmation coast

If you like cycling along spectacular coastal views and picturesque villages then this is the trip for you!

Most Inspirational Moment

Too many! Dubrovnik at the end of the trip was amazing but every day there were great sights to see.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ana was fantastic. She was enthusiastic about her country, the scenery, cycling, etc. She took us to great restaurants, and looked after us all really well each day. One of the best!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go to Croatia quickly before this unspoiled Paradise is ruined by too many tourists!

Alison Allister

Reviewed December 2014

cycling cuba

brilliant trip but not perfect

Most Inspirational Moment

-flying a homemade kite with cuban children -the other cyclists

Thoughts on Group Leader

-He had a difficult job. He was very interesting about his own personal view of life in cuba and very knowledgeable about the history. I suspect his views, however, were not reflected by all cubans. -It is difficult to make all members of a group feel equal and perhaps some of us felt less equal than others.

Advice for Potential Travellers

1. there is a lot of bus travel involved 2. take some snacks for those days when packed lunches are inadequate. 3. don't expect hot water, a door handle and a toilet seat in all accommodation! 4. in spite of this it really was a remarkable holiday

Jillian DAVIS

Reviewed December 2014

Sierra de Aitana

One of the best short treks with good challenging walking and no fewer than 4 peaks to climb – so if you like peak bagging this is a good choice! Great having a two centre base, as the two valleys were quite different and you get a good insight into the whole area.

Most Inspirational Moment

Every summit! The views - seeing other peaks we'd climbed or would be climbing. Staying in Serra - lovely warm atmosphere living in houses instead of a hotel. Fun group - we all got on well.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jose is knowledgeable about the area including history, geography and the natural environment. He cares very much about the people and the place, and his enthusiasm is infectious.

Advice for Potential Travellers

It's not an easy trek, the terrain is tricky and often steep - I enjoyed the challenges. If this is what you like too, then go for it. Just a warning if you're wanting an easy stroll.

Rita Normand

Reviewed December 2014

Highlights of Turkey

This was an incredible trip and our guide Zafar made it so. He was extremely knowledgeable about Turkish history and was able to impart it in a very interesting way. His sense of humour and the stories he was able to tell about life and events in history made it come alive.he willingly arranged group suppers for us every night of the trip and we were able to have amazing culinary experiences we would not have had otherwise. The scenery and the variety of experiences meant we were never bored.

Most Inspirational Moment

Several. The hot air ballon ride, the underground cities, the amphitheatres.......

Thoughts on Group Leader

Extremely good. In addition to faithfully following the itinerary,he went out of his way to take us places that were not on the the itinerary but were well worth seeing. He would patiently translate for us in restaurants and elsewhere, not an easy job in a larger group. He was always a gentleman and was very helpful if someone needed to find a pharmacy, buy stamps and other little incidentals. His knowledge was incredible. Exodus is lucky to have him as a guide.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you plan to take this trip, try to get Zafar as a guide. I have already told this to several friends who are considering a visit to Turkey as a result of talking to me about my trip.

Michael B

Reviewed December 2014

Everest Base Camp & Gokyo Lakes

Truly the hardest but the most amazing trip I’ve ever done. An excellent trip from start to finish. We were looked after by the best leader and guides and we had the best group to trek with. Awesome!!!!!!

Most Inspirational Moment

There were many but to list a few.... my first view of amazing Everest; trekking past the beautiful Gokyo lakes; reaching the summit of Gokyo Ri with amazing Himalayan views (so tough but so worth it); reaching the top of the demanding and icy Cho La Pass,

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our Group Leader, Gele was incredible! He took such care of us each day with patience and sensitivity. He took the time to get to know us all as well as sharing his stories. Gele was dedicated, attentive, informative, caring and supportive, a fantastic team leader. The entire Exodus team was great, very friendly and always there to offer assistance.

Advice for Potential Travellers

This trek is very difficult however if you listen to your guides and take it slow and easy you will have an amazing experience. Equipment: This is very important, if you go without the proper equipment you will fail. A good water proof Gortex jacket is a must. You will need a good down jacket for the tea houses Boots: Good worn in boots are critical to your success. Make sure they are very comfortable and supportive around the ankles. Layers: Take wicking material (don't forget good thermal underwear) – Icebreaker rules Invest in a good sleeping bag; Crampons for the glacier; Protein bars and beef jerky Finally listen to your guides! They know best.

William Thornton

Reviewed December 2014

You have to go!

This trip has so many positives it is hard to list them all but here goes;
Organisation from Exodus pre-travel was excellent as was the slight changes I made to my trip to accommodate onward travel to Hanoi.
The guide was amazing and her humour and attention to detail made it all run really smoothly.
This type of holiday allows you to see at first hand real people and observe their sometimes simple and challenging lives, you would never see this in a coach or car.
The bikes were were good quality and sized accordingly. Roads and tracks were easy going really, some shallow inclines and easy off-road. The issue i guess is the heat when cycling rather than the distance. This is compensated for by regular pre-planned stops and plenty of fluid and nutritional snacks, provided by the kitty.
The support crews were the unsung heroes really, they made it all work so easily and despite most of them not speaking any English they were always happy to help. It was this whole package that made the trip work so well.
The hotels we stayed in were o0n the whole very good and the food was good too. We chose as a group to eat together each night which was a good way to unwind from the exertions of the day!
A group holiday required a bit of give and take and that means being a bit laid back, group dynamic is everything to a successful trip. Our group was great ans we all got on really well and helped each other when required.
The trip itself offers quite a variety of experiences such as remote farming and fishing communities, temples (plenty of those!), some ‘nightlife’ such as Pub Street in Siem Reap and equally tranquil moments in really remote places. The variety is there too as each country is different in many ways and it is this that you will remember most.

Most Inspirational Moment

Well 2 things really; firstly the many children we met and saw, they are so happy and so keen to shout 'hello' and 'high-five' as you ride by. It was this interaction which I will remember for a long time as this is such a contrast to other countries I have been too. The other was the guide in Phnom Penh who explained his personal experience of the Khmer Rouge and the civil war, it was incredible really the way as Buddists they are able to forgive and move on rather than take revenge on the persecutors. This act has allowed the country to move forward rather than end up divisive and embittered. I felt this was something we in the West need to think about a bit more.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader 'IS' was the key part of this trip, as you would expect of course, however she was more than that, she was special. Why/ well because she had infectious humour, was a good sport and really cared about us, both individually and as a group. Safety and getting the best from our trip was always in the forefront of her mind, she also was thinking ahead all the time. Guides on these type of trips need to be resourceful and never can switch off. The others guides who joined us in both Cambodia and Vietnam to support her were also very good and added considerably to the knowledge we gained about these respective countries.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go with an open mind on what you will see, I saw much more than I expected too. You will get a group experience and this is great especially if you are traveling as a single person. Karaoke was our group bonding event, but don't worry its not compulsory!!! Don't take any super-smart clothes, you won't need them and they take up valuable luggage space! Sun protection essential as is mozzie spray but they were not a real problem for us in Nov/Dec. The snacks provided for the group out of the kitty are adequate but only take your own if you are partial to them. I took a small and cheap bag to attach to my bike handlebars, this was great for carrying a camera and money etc, better than a rucksack, worth the investment. If you taking a special saddle or pedals they are easily changed by the bike crew. Padded shorts are essential also, some took a gel seat cover as well. Food is generally cheap as are drinks, bill sharing for meals is much easier and saves time when paying too. Clothes washing is easy and cheap too so no need to bring enough for 2 weeks. Bring hand gels and use common sense with hygiene and you will have no problems, the guide will advise as well. A small and easily set-up camera is best while traveling, I took 2 one on the bike and one in the van. Plenty of opportunity to buy cheap clothes and quality goods made in Vietnam.

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