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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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.

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14217 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Surinder Mason

Reviewed April 2024

Lots to see but definitely not leisurely!

Fitting in an impressive amount of places, although it is a lot of driving we had a fantastic driver. Really enjoyed the sites, and finished off with the breathtaking Taj Mahal.

Most Inspirational Moment

Aside from the Taj Mahal…the lakes of Udaipur at sunset are absolutely stunning. As well as experiencing Holi festival in Jaipur was a really great experience.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Got us through the trip, however other members of our group had to look out for slower members of the group. Sent my sister and I to a jewellery shop that didn’t stock the item we had asked him where the best place to buy it was. Although we appreciated the help he seemed disinterested when members of the tour asked questions. It also felt like he had a very close relationship with the owners of the restaurants we ate at and many were low quality with poor service which led to us walking out of one much to his discomfort.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Requires meticulous packing and organisation due to the amount of moving around. Be aware of what prices you are paying as were paying 2x to as much as x6 local rates and on at least one occasion were given a different tourist menu with English pricing. I would also recommend getting a SIM card although advised we didn’t need one by our tour leader, the long bus journeys and non or low - quality wifi at the hotels certainly warranted one.

Reply from Exodus

We really appreciate Surinder’s review, and are glad she enjoyed the sites she visited on her trip to India with us. We’re sorry that a couple of aspects gave her cause for disappointment, though.

Many restaurants in India have different rates for local Indian people than they do for foreign tourists, particularly tour groups. This is particular true for restaurants which cater towards tourists, which are generally those recommended by our tour leaders, as they have good hygiene ratings. This is similarly why we don’t include trying local street food, as while our clients are free to do this in their own time, it is simply not something we would recommend given that it could lead to a very upset stomach. We are, however, sorry that some of the establishments Surinder’s group ate at were not to her liking.

Surinder’s tour leader has explained that he recommended a jewellery shop that he was sure was reputable, and regrets that it didn’t stock the item she wanted; he didn’t, however, feel comfortable recommending other nearby stores which he was aware may have stocked fake items.

Surinder’s leader receives very positive feedback from clients overall, so we were regretful to learn that she didn’t have a similar experience with him on this departure. We would mention that clients in Surinder’s group rated her leader at 4.33 out of 5 overall, which is a very good score; however, we have spoken to him about aspects of his performance which could be improved in the future.

We’d like to thank Surinder for detailing her experience, and hope to be able to welcome her back on another Exodus trip when she travels again.

– Sarah Puttnam, Exodus Product Manager

Jo Rimell

Reviewed April 2024

A Comprehensive and Fabulous Itinerary but too Fast Paced

The trip included all the sites we wanted to see, but it was done at such a pace that it was exhausting and difficult to take everything in.

Most Inspirational Moment

The Taj Mahal at sunrise - so beautiful. Other highlights were the tigers at Ranthambore, the Seikh temple in Delhi and the cooking demonstration in Jaipur.

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was good on the whole, but not impressed by his serious participation in the Holi Festival celebrations. In the end he was a bit more flexible, we did not want to see another fort when we got to Delhi!

Advice for Potential Travellers

You need stamina. The notes say you do not need to be fit, but the pace is relentless and the hours of travelling took us by surprise.

Reply from Exodus

We’d like to thank Jo for her feedback. Whilst we are pleased to read that she enjoyed her holiday overall, we were sorry to learn that she had concerns about the activity level of the trip and particularly did not enjoy her visit to Varanasi. We do mention in our trip notes that this is a busy itinerary, with longer journeys, mainly because this region of India offers so much to see and experience in the time frame. Our customers generally find the pace to be appropriate for the duration of the trip, but we do appreciate some customers may prefer more guidance on this aspect of our trips. There is a big focus on the local experience which we highlight in our trip notes so that our customers know what to expect. We are aware that some customers are a bit wary of travelling in open carriages for the sleeper train however, due to the seat allocation system for the Indian trains and limited capacity of seats in higher classes, this is the most suitable option for our groups. The tour leader is always close by if there are any concerns.
We’re grateful for the time she took to leave a review and hope that we can welcome her on future trips with us!

– Sarah Puttnam, Exodus Product Manager

Amal Al-Zarban

Reviewed April 2024

Beautiful Destination and Fabulous Guide and Hosts

I had an issue with my trip and Exodus took care of it professionally and gracefully. So thank you. In regards to the tour, I would not change a thing. The food is delicious, the towns are beautiful, the route is smartly selected, the hosts are generous and the guide is fabulous. Thank you Severio. I Will be back for sure for another trip with this great travel agent.

Most Inspirational Moment

A lot.. I cannot name one

Thoughts on Group Leader

Severio, absolutely fabulous

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bring comfortable shoes

Felicity Eagles

Reviewed April 2024

Amazing Tiger sightings

We had a truly wonderful trip. The national parks were lovely with beautiful views. We were really lucky and had some wonderful tiger sightings as well as sloth bears & leopards & wild elephants. A large array of birds from different species of Eagles, Kingfishers, Owls and many more. We didn’t see tigers on every safari & sometimes would have different sightings to our other travel companions. In the last park we didn’t see a tiger until our last safari then we had 3 amazing close displays from them. The accomodation at the last lodge was by far the nicest. The drivers & guides on the safaris could really vary in English ability & knowledge. Obviously it was alot better when you had a good guide. The overnight train was interesting & we enjoyed it. The facilities were better than expected with western toilets. We took a dinner pack up from our hotel & bought drinks & snacks before getting on. Although there was some long travel days they didn’t feel ling. There was plenty of stops and things to see. Travel between was in comfortable Aircon suvs. If you want to see some amazing wildlife but also want abit of culture this trip is for you.

Most Inspirational Moment

The tiger scratching the tree by our jeep or the sloth bear digging for food. Or maybe the elephant charging us & speeding away

Thoughts on Group Leader

Krishna was amazing. He was so knowledgeable and looked after everything for us. He would rotate between the heating safari vehicles each trip & we were always happy when he was in ours as he was a lucky charm. Krishna became part of our group & a friend.

Advice for Potential Travellers

It's not Africa so don't expect to see the constant abundance of wildlife you did there. Go on each safari with an open mind & just enjoy the scenery & any animals you do spot, remember it's wild so if you spot a tiger, bear, leopard it's a big bonus! Take bite sprays we did get bite at the lodges in the evenings. The food was amazing. Breakfasts on safaris plentiful so we didn't need to buy lunches. Although limited can be abit hit and miss we could pay our bills by card at the lodges.

Colette Maynard-Bond

Reviewed April 2024

Amazing wildlife

If you want to see a wide range of animals in their natural habitat, this is the trip for you. We selected the coastal secrets trip due to the variety of national parks, climate, scenery and type of animal. This didn’t disappoint. We saw over 130 different types of birds, 3 types of monkey, a range of reptiles and swam with a basking shark and a turtle whilst on the Osa Peninsular. The trip has a lot of variety, travelling by boat to see the wildlife in Tortugerro, walking in the NP in Cahuita, emersed in beautiful gardens in Savegre and exploring the wild Osa Peninsula.
Jonanthan was a wonderful guide. His knowledge and understanding about the wildlife and his country was outstanding.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were so many on this trip... Seeing our first sloth, swimming with turtles and sharks, watching monkeys swing through the forest at speed, seeing the Quetzal bird, being emersed in a garden full of hummingbirds, seeing reptiles in their natural habitat, spending the day with the Bri Bri community.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Amazing. His enthusiasm was infectious. His knowledge about every animal we saw was second to none. He was extremely professional and nothing was too much trouble. He had excellent communication skills and a good sense of humour.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you love wildlife sign up now for this trip. The food and accommodation weren't 5* so go with appropriate expectations. The wildlife however is 5*. Travel with clothes for every eventuality. We had rain and we also had hot sunny days. Be prepared for early starts to see the best of the wildlife. It was worth it. We added an extension to Tamarindo. This was very relaxing at the end of a busy trip.

Paul Manning

Reviewed April 2024

Great way to see the real Vietnam

This is a great way to see the ultra-friendly Vietnamese people go about their daily lives. We saw weddings, various foods being farmed, people carrying multiple double mattresses on mopeds and had children high fiving us as we cycled past or as they went past on scooters! It’s a fairly busy itinerary but we had a fabulous time on this trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

One of the most inspiring moments was probably getting to the top of the 600m climb on the Hai Van Pass. At that moment I felt like I could conquer anything! Having said that, the joy on children's faces as they waved us past was a daily inspiration!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Son was an exceptional leader. I can't think of anything he could have done better. His approach should be documented and used as a blueprint for others to follow. He genuinely loves his job and it shows in how he comes across to the group, tackling everything with a highly infectious sense of fun. His ability to get 18 cyclists safely round a roundabout or across a dual carriageway in rush hour using a whistle to tame the traffic was amazing. It's also the little things like always setting off at a steady pace to ensure the group is together and no-one feels rushed, under pressure or left behind. Despite the busy nature of the itinerary, Son was always keen to ensure that it should still feel like a holiday and our enjoyment was his always his priority. He was knowledgeable, passionate and meticulous in his approach. This was my first Exodus and first cycling holiday and Son has set a very high bar for what I expect from a group leader!

Advice for Potential Travellers

For people without much hair, take a thin beanie or something similar to protect your head from the sun and avoid getting cycle helmet patterned tan lines! Hydrate often, even between the hydration stops.

Vicky Brown

Reviewed April 2024

Simply amazing

A fantastic trip with one highlight after another. Wonderful sights and sounds and a huge variety of scenery. Excellent hotel accommodation and food choices. Excellent guide Alejandro and driver Randall who went the extra mile throughout to ensure we had the best time. A lot of hours spent travelling and early mornings but so worth it. I cannot recommend this trip highly enough. I absolutely loved Costa Rica!

Most Inspirational Moment

Tapir on the beach, quetzal on the tree near our hotel, turtles when snorkelling, sunset and swim on the pacific coast….. too many!!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Alejandro was really excellent. So helpful, thoughtful and professional throughout. He really went the extra mile! He gave me very good camera lessons too to improve my photography!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bring and wear lots of mozzie spray. Mix of clothes for heat and cold. Bring a decent camera if possible.

Sarah Vaughan

Reviewed April 2024

Holi Festival in India

An unforgettable and once in a lifetime experience

Most Inspirational Moment

Holi Festival and visiting the amazing marble Jain temple but also tiger spotting and Rathambore safari plus all of the other amazing site visits - too many to mention...

Thoughts on Group Leader

Gaj was fantastic and looked after all of us very well. Loads of knowledge and a great leader.

Advice for Potential Travellers

A lot of minibus travelling between sites so take your ipad or a book.

Chris Pedder

Reviewed April 2024

Trek Malaysia

Great trip…KL to Taman Nagara rainforest then tough trek up Mt Kinabalu

Most Inspirational Moment

Trek up Kinabalu starting at 2.30 a.m!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Brilliant!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go for this trip...rainforest, mountains and lovely islands off Borneo

John Spillare

Reviewed April 2024

Borneo Wildlife Discoverer

great tour leader, nice traveling group, great trip

Most Inspirational Moment

our time in Mulu. The caves, the rain forest, the ambiance of the village we stayed in and the locals.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Rony was a great leader, he went out of his way to make sure we got the best experience he could offer. he was so happy that we got to see the big 5 of Borneo. No request was too much to ask for and he went out of his way to make sure that questions and requests were all taken care of.

Advice for Potential Travellers

this is a great trip to take if you are of average fitness or not that young, yet be warned, to be prepared for high temperatures and high humidity, in the 90% range. We have done many trips into 3rd world countries and I must say that this trip was the safest feeling one that I've ever been on.

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