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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14460 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Heather Heather

Reviewed December 2014

Cycling and more

Kerala and Tropical India by bike. What an experience. Joseph our guide made it so much more than just a cycle ride. India is such an interesting country and we were able to discover some of it without feeling like “tourists”.

Most Inspirational Moment

Being befriended by a spirited, dynamic girl while she was back visiting her parents for a few days. Four of us stopped for a drink while "free" for a few hours and later were given chai while Shakira talked about her life and asked about ours. She then took us home to see their house and told us some sad family history which we were privileged that she shared. Her mum then appeared intending to make us dosa. but we had to decline this hospitality as we needed to get back to meet up with the rest of the group. Indians are such wonderful, friendly, welcoming people.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Joseph managed to make his job look easy although keeping 14 of us happy and safe for 2 weeks was presumably no mean feat. He was able to warn us of the dangers of particular sections of the ride and get us to pay attention without scaring us. Joseph took us to small roadside cafes and snack shops and eating establishments use by locals without us succumbing to Delhi-belly. We even ate street food and salad under his supervision. Everything was well organised but appeared casual.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take plenty of antibacterial hand gel. I suspect people who do become ill infect themselves. It was very hot in November and I had far too many warmer clothes for the evenings and when in the hills. The downside of the local eating places is that they may not be air-conditioned. Be ready to eat curry, curry and more curry - it was all wonderful. Sometimes the spoon or fork took a while to arrive as many places expected you to just use your hands. I turned lout to be the only one on the trip who didn't cycle for a past-time at home. It was tough but I managed by missing out cycling up Ooty Hill which was far steeper than I had expected. I had thought I'd be able to manage some of it but I was wrong. I walked a bit and then gave up completely and got in the support vehicle. I would say you can mange this trip even if you're not a regular cyclist at home as long as you are pretty fit.

Niall Campbell

Reviewed December 2014

Cycle Indochina & Angkor

An absolutely superb trip, so much to see in each country – the scenery, landscape, people and culture. Visiting Angkor was amazing as was staying with a local family in the Mekong Delta.

Most Inspirational Moment

The friendliness of the people en-route.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our tour guide (Sutinee Rasp) was absolutely amazing. So well organised, positive, informative, friendly she would go the extra mile to make sure we all thoroughly enjoyed the trip. The only huge disappointment was to hear on our return that her parent company (Peak Adventure Thailand) have apparently sacked her because some of the local team felt her to be "too bossy"! This has left all of use who traveled absolutely speechless. We have all made appeals through Exodus to support her as her treatment by her parent company is totally unfair. Let's hope they listen to those who traveled - at the end of the day it should be the views of the customer rather than some of the local team which matter.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure your take some DEET as the mossies will be around. Also, it would be useful to take an overnight bag for the stay with the local company as you can't take your main luggage. It's not mentioned in the trip notes but is needed for packing the essentials.

Leslie Plumb

Reviewed December 2014

Cycle Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama

Great trip overall but would have liked less bus and more bike

Most Inspirational Moment

Panama Canal

Thoughts on Group Leader

Fantastic

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take an umbrella and poly bags for East Coast Costa Rica - drying wet clothes is not always simple!!

Lynne Tyson

Reviewed December 2014

Awesome. Best holiday ever. Just do it!

Can’t praise Exodus enough. Felt like I’d been away a month we packed so much in! It was fantastic. Stunning scenery, great people, ‘undulating’ cycling, quiet early morning roads, water buffalo, paddy fields, mountains, hilarious nights out and on trains, sooo much good food and (occasional) beers. I’ve come home with so many great photos and memories and am already thinking about my next trip. The cycling was always a comfortable pace.The bus journeys, whilst long, were fine…(and I don’t normally do buses). Halong Bay took your breath away.

Most Inspirational Moment

So many...getting up Hai Van pass unaided and cycling every mile of course. But really it was the people, so unfazed by the unfairness of the country's past, always looking forward without regret or anger. The children coming out in droves to bring flowers and give high fives brought a tear to the eye and the memories will remain with me for ever. Halong bay was the most beautiful place I've ever seen. So many other things...Fresh fish in Hoi Ann. The beer foray through 3rd class on the train. 30km down in the cold and the rain. Food, food, food.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Dhan was absolutely brilliant, so extremely well organised, hard working and knowledgeable as our leader and proud of his country's history. He never stopped working, but was great at socialising too (rice wine night and Dhan's bar!) The bike team were excellent too, with mangos, nuts and the famous lemon juice within seconds of stopping.....and the lump of ice they gave me near the top of Hai Van pass was very welcome indeed. Great team!

Advice for Potential Travellers

The support was so good you don't need bike tools, energy drinks etc. I took them all and only used the high 5 zero tabs to add to my water. Don't expect toilets and changing facilities when cycling...the jungle is all purpose. Do take baby wipes, sanitiser! Take a big suitcase, there is a North face shop that's cheap, plus tailors and baggy pants to buy! Don't take too many clothes, you intend changing to travel after cycling but no one does! Nighttime is casual and laundry services are excellent anyway. Cycle a bit before you go.

Barry Barry

Reviewed December 2014

Darjeeling, Sikkim and Singalila Ridge

This trip consisted of six days trekking and six days touring Sikkim and Northern India finishing in Calcutta and gave superb views of the Himalayan Range.

Most Inspirational Moment

Undoubtadly, the most inspirational moment of the trek was to wake up and go out of the tent to see the Himalayan Range from Kanchenjunga and Everest and beyond a view that I will never forget. I was scheduled to do this trek in October 2013 but had a cycling accident in Lithuania on another Exodus trip and had to cancel at the last moment following a relapse. I am pleased that I cancelled that trek for they had bad weather throughout and the superb views which we enjoyed in October 2014 would have been missed. The area is not haevily visited so you do not have to deal with crowds of other trekkers and in fact we only saw about three other very small groups. This is an unspoiled area and if you want to see the Himalayas in their full glory then I can think of no better trek.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Chospal was excellent. I had difficuly with the altitude but Chospal was always there to support me. He was an excellent leader and Exodus should be proud to have him as an employee.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The Trek is graded as moderate whereas the next trip I did, India Grand Tour was graded moderate to challenging. I would suggest that the trek should be similarly graded as their are steep inclines at a high altitude. The nights can be very cold so a four season sleeping bag is a necessity.

Gordon Randall

Reviewed December 2014

Colours of Rajasthan including Pushkar Fair

Well organized and we did get to see most of what we wanted to.
Be very aware you have very long travel days because of the slow travel speeds for a bus, the road conditions and the distance to travel.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were no inspirational moments, it was not that type of trip for us, we were revisiting some areas of Rajasthan as well as seeing other places for the first time. The high points were - Taj Mahal, Udaipur, Jaipur and of course the Pushkar Fair.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our tour leader was excellent, patient and went well out of his way to try and sort out a major luggage problem for some of the others. I thought he had an excellent knowledge of where we visited and he is to be congratulated for that.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for long travel days but the hotels chosen were more than up to the suggested standard.

Peter TOMLINSON

Reviewed December 2014

Patagonian Highlights

Fantastic mountain scenery enjoyed through great walks, accompanied by perfect weather conditions of clear blue skys and warm sunshine in a part of the world where the phrase “four seasons in one day” is often used.
If you like red meat you are in for a treat, medium rare cooked stakes to die for and the lamb ain’t bad either. I am not used to a what appeared a joint and rake of lamb in the one dish. All washed down with plentiful amounts of exceedingly good Malbec, the good value of the wine only makes you drink more but well it is a holiday afterall.
There are some long drives but to see the best of what Patagonia has to offer, it is a great way to travel. You have a long drive on day 10 and, when you get to the ferry strong winds may delay that 2km trip across the water for 2.5 hrs but don’t worry, the cafe has plenty of beer.
A the end of the trip back in Buenos Aires, which on its own has beautiful architecture and worth a return trip to spend a few more days enjoying the sights, a tango show is a great way to finish the trip with a great stake and more of that Malbec.

Most Inspirational Moment

A difficult one to answer but if I had to pick one it would be the walk to the base of Mount Fitzroy. The walk in starts in the forest with glimpses of the glacier through the trees. Then there you hear the noise of the glacier moving. After 3 hours you have the choice to continue a steeper climber to base or rest for 2 or maybe 3 until the rest of us return. If you do proceed it is well worth it and the guide has one further surprise for few extra strides. On the way down and the walk back the the town the views just get better at every turn. The walk is about 28k but don't let that put you off, it is well worth it and you have to walk past all the pubs before getting back to the hotel. As I mentioned it is difficult to pick one moment as there are other great days to accompany the Mount Fitzroy walk.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The tour leader was great: kept you well informed about the days activity; relevant facts about each area; practical information useful for all of us and there to help and resolve little problems when they arose, very cool and unflustered.

Advice for Potential Travellers

You do need to pack for all weather conditions but as experienced, you may not always need them all. Do pack your walking boots or shoes they will get plenty of use and well worth it. The full day walk in Torres Del Paine is where the moderate activity level of trip is appropriate the but don't bank on a good hearty meal of wholesome food in the evening at the refuge, bring what allowable food you can into Chile you quite likely to appreciate it to stave off hunger. Don't forget the alcohol either, wine and beer, you will save a fortune.

Stewart Walker

Reviewed December 2014

Cycle Indochina & Angkor (16NOV14)

This was one of the best holidays i have ever had…..simple just that!
The team expecially Sutinee Rasp were amazing from start to finish and nothing was too much trouble.
The group were great company and we all had a fabulous time.
I will be back and certainly try to do more of the trips that Sutinee does the guiding on

Most Inspirational Moment

The visit to Angkor and the cu chi tunnels were amazing. The homestead stay i was fearing due to the comfort factor but i have to say this was so very enjoyable and the best night of the whole trip by far, the family were fantastic and so welcoming

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sutinee Rasp was absolutely excellent and kept us all amused and fired up constantly, it would not have been the same without her. I have recently found out that she has been fired by the Thailand part of the journey due to some of the locals restaurants that we visit not wanting to deal with her. I am gob-smacked as she is highly professional but has to keep 18 people in check and make sure food is out on time etc. Someone should check into this as i feel this is very hard on Sutinee and very unfair

Advice for Potential Travellers

book this trip ASAP

Robert Pearson

Reviewed December 2014

Singalila Ridge & Sikkim - A well organised trek and tour

Amazing sunrises and sunsets. We were lucky to have good weather on trek.
Tour drives were mostly pretty rough rutted post-monsoon mountain roads, but exciting, skillfully navigated by good drivers, and comfortable in large cars. Drives were often fairly long – but with tea breaks!
Hotels: the hotel in Darjeeling was perhaps the least comfortable, the basic tea house at the end of the trek the most comfortable surprise, and the hotel in Gangtok the most beautiful and hospitable.
Camping was very well supported. Camp meals were very good, varied and plentiful.

Most Inspirational Moment

On one misty morning, on the ridge, the sun cast our shadows as Brocken Spectres on the mist below, with Lohtse, Everest & Makalu beyond.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Tour leader Dilip was excellent, keeping a watchful eye on folk, leading from the back marker position! Excellent skills organising varied transport, tea stops, support team and the group.

Advice for Potential Travellers

We travelled from Manchester, arrived early and had chance to grab a taxi at the hotel and explore Qutb minar, Humayun's tomb and Lodi Gardens (entertained by Grey Kites divebombing Picnics). Impressive and diverse islamic architecture at all three sites. Do go for good four seasons or arctic sleeping bag plus silk and fleece liners - the nights were cold in November. Would add to pack list - face masks for some sections of the drives & ear plugs for the Ghoom train (can be heard from 40 miles away) (or better still just skip the short train trip and travel in the cars).

Jackie Downey

Reviewed December 2014

Tiger, Tiger

Visiting 3 of India’s National Parks should enhance your chances of finding this majestic predator. However you should also enjoy the rest of what the parks have to offer as well – amazing wildlife and, at this time of the year, scenery to embrace and enjoy.

Most Inspirational Moment

Undoubtedly it is seeing a tiger. Being a bit of a tiger freak, for me it was being able to spend some quaility time with one - which we achieved on our last morning drive - just magical. Nothing like leaving it to the last moment - but it stays with you for a long time!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Singh was good and got us where we needed to be in good time. Nothing was too much trouble for him - even taking some of us to the Spice Market in Delhi on our last day - on the Metro!!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for the very cold mornings at this time of the year (Nov) - wrap up in layers, as it is warm during the day! It can be very dusty at times in the Parks too.

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