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

Julie Furze

Reviewed February 2024

A good and varied tour

A fast paced and busy trip with sensory overload

Most Inspirational Moment

Many great moments throughout the tour (game drives especially). Most inspiring moment was snorkelling with the dolphins at Ponta Do Ouro as I have never done this before. I am quite a nervous ocean swimmer so this was big for me. From launching the boat, cutting through the surf to get out to the deep blue, finding the dolphins and watching them play, to getting into the water with them.... the whole experience was awesome. Dolphin Encounters is an exceptionally professional and respectful organisation doing really important work. We witnessed quite a few wildlife "stories"including rhinos chasing off 2 cheetahs and a pride of lions returning to a buffalo kill and the scavengers trying to sneak a meal. Able to watch the scenes for up to an hour.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Andrew and Paul were great throughout the tour working very hard behind the scenes to make the tour a great experience for us

Advice for Potential Travellers

This is a great and varied tour and would highly recommend it. However I would add two caveats to that:- 1. Travellers should be aware that the sea at Ponta Do Ouro is quite rough with huge breakers and a large swell once out in the deep blue. You need to be quite fit to anchor yourself into the boat via your feet and to be strong enough to hold onto the edge of the boat (rib Boat) as you cut through the breakers and swell. 2. The game drive vehicles are 9 seater long base trucks (3 x3).We found we were incredibly cramped with virtually no room for daypacks. If we had been 10 then they would have to have used an additional truck. We did ask for an additional truck and to pay any extra cost but it was not forthcoming.

Roger Heward

Reviewed February 2024

Awesome wildlife & adventure trip

Amazing tour from Caribbean coast to Pacific coast with outstanding tour guide

Most Inspirational Moment

So difficult to pick one! Overcame my fears and completed zip wire and tubing 🤗

Thoughts on Group Leader

Glenda was fantastic and delivered over and above what was required of her

Advice for Potential Travellers

No need to take local currency and take plenty of mosquito spray Poncho & rain jackets are essential

Mary Gottwald

Reviewed February 2024

Costa Rica Adventure

A brilliant trip, travelling from the East Coast and the rainforest to the West Coast and the sea. Fantastic birds, monkeys, crocodile, caiman, sloths, humpback whales, dolphins, great flora and fauna. Also lots of activities such as zip lining, horse riding, tubing, hanging bridges to name but a few.

Most Inspirational Moment

Beautiful colourful birds, whales and dolphins

Thoughts on Group Leader

Brilliant, enthusiastic and so knowledgeable.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Relax and enjoy!

Jim Watson

Reviewed February 2024

lack of snow but still good!

There was no fresh snow for my two weeks but we still managed to have extremely enjoyable days skiing.

Most Inspirational Moment

Skiing down the Fischleintal on perfect tracks.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Both group leaders Michele and Alex really good as usual.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure you read the guidance regarding grades and ask to speak to an expert if you are unsure. Three people on my second week did not and it could have made it difficult for some other guests and the group leaders.

Robert Pyner

Reviewed February 2024

Trails of NZ

This was an excellent holiday. There were some physically demanding elements but this was balanced by time to rest and relax. We saw lots of the regions of NZ. Jef, our guide, was excellent adapting the programme to meet our needs and the weather. He has a great deal of knowledge about NZ and Maori culture which he shared willingly.

Most Inspirational Moment

Hike in foothills of Mt Cook.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jef was excellent. He readily shared his extensive knowledge of the history and culture of NZ. He shared many aspects of Maori culture. At all times he was good humoured and patient.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be aware that there are some demanding hikes. These are optional but worth it.

Genevieve Smyth

Reviewed February 2024

Brilliant- highly recommended!

I’d always wanted to visit Kerala. This trip exceeded my expectations. The sheer variety and planning that went into this trip is mind boggling. I loved the people, the food, the countryside, the wildlife, the culture…I loved it all!

Most Inspirational Moment

The mountains and waterways are breathtaking. Travelling to see tea and spice and then plunging down the mountains (all well driven in a comfy coach) to see reservoirs, lakes and canals- I think we did four different types of boat trip! And just seeing everyday Kerala life going on around us- the traffic, the shops, the temples, the families, the school children, the animals. Being able to see ambitious cities, bubbling towns and quiet villages gave us a unique and valuable perspective. I felt more like a traveller than a tourist.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Biju Kumar is a great Amassador for India, for Kerala and for Exodus. He deserves a pay rise and a trip to the UK at the least! He MADE this trip- his professionalism, knowledge, humour, patience and humanity- he was the beating heart that pushed this trip from great to out of this world.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Relax! If you can just relax into Kerala- it will love you back. India and Kerala have a proud and noble history and a bright future. Particularly as a British person, it’s wise to bring your humility and gratitude to this great nation.

Andy Jinman

Reviewed February 2024

Kerala and The Western Ghats were fantastic - with a few changes, this trip could be a 5-Star trip

For us the highlights of the trip were very clear – the Western Ghats (Munnar, Thekkady, Periyar), the Backwaters of Alleppey, the beaches of Kovalam at the end of the trip and, of course, Biju and Vinod looking after us!
The “areas for improvement” were also clearcut –
a) the choice of hotel in Kochi – while the Abad Atrium is ok, it’s in completely the wrong place! We all wanted to be located actually in Fort Kochi, to avoid the several hours in the bus and the heavy traffic, getting to and from Fort Kochi
b) we felt that the Homestay in Erattupetta was a wasted night – the welcome felt begrudging and the rooms are tatty; we would have much preferred an extra night up in the hills (Munnar or Thekkady) or on the Houseboat in Alleppey (SO relaxing!)
c) the conclusion to a tiring fortnight turned out to be staying up until half-past midnight, for a transfer to the airport and then a flight at 04.30 – ghastly; this ensured we had an exhausting day of travel home. We would have liked to at least been offered the option of the Etihad flight out the next morning (at about 10.00 am)

Most Inspirational Moment

The early-morning nature walk in the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary

Thoughts on Group Leader

Biju was an outstanding leader and guide for the group; he worked really hard to maximise our enjoyment, understanding and pleasure; whatever you pay him is not enough! And don’t forget the driver, who so often is the “unsung hero” of such trips; Vinod navigated the long and often “challenging” drives with great skill and composure; he managed the luggage without a hitch and kept the bus spotlessly clean.

Advice for Potential Travellers

1. Consider other options for flying home; the Emirates flight at 04.30 almost guarantees that you get NO sleep that night 2. You don’t need a mosquito net (at least not in January) at the Homestay or on the Houseboat 3. There’s no need to take US dollars - we exchanged sterling at a good rate and used those rupees for all our costs, including the excursions 4. Don’t worry about some reviews of the final hotel (Soma Palmshore) -it’s not luxury, for sure, but the staff were great and the location is perfect; as well as a pool, it effectively has a private beach below it!

Sally Bunning

Reviewed February 2024

Good

Inspirational, beautiful, very well supported and organised, wonderful lodgings, good healthy food and moderate to challenging for active multi-sport persons. Highly recommend.

Most Inspirational Moment

Achieving the Andes crossing to puerto blest and cycling camino de Los siete Lagos and in Conguillio national park

Thoughts on Group Leader

Tai was super professional, very informative, fun to be with, supportive and conscientious and always in a good mood.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take good quality hot, wet and cool gear even if like us you are super lucky and don’t have to face torrential rain or strong wind. Prepare to swim in cool unspoilt lakes.

Els Vercammen

Reviewed February 2024

Did not meet my expectations at all!

Trip notes are totally out of order: too much driving in bus to do the proposed activities.

Most Inspirational Moment

Not really any; New Zealand is a very beautiful country, but it misses culture, fine dining and good accommodation. Trip is far to expensive of what it actually had to offer. Some accommodations were below standard and really dirty.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Bad; only interested in what he wanted to do, not following the trip notes at all

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do not go there!!!

Reply from Exodus

We would like to thank you for taking the time to review your Exodus trip to New Zealand, Els, although we were incredibly regretful to learn that it didn’t meet your expectations in several areas. You will be aware, having travelled with us many times, of the role our leaders play in elevating our groups’ experiences in destination, so we are sorry you found yours to be so poor. Exodus requires all tour leaders to complete our online induction module and read our leader manual to ensure they understand the expectations of both Exodus and our customers, and our local operators supplement this with their own extensive training programmes. We can assure you that your leader completed all the relevant training ahead of your tour and we had every confidence in him to deliver your tour to a high standard. We are pleased to observe in other reviews that he was enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and organised, although we remain apologetic that this is not reflective of your experience. We are further regretful that you felt your tour failed to capture New Zealand’s culture, food and quality accommodation, as this is not the type of feedback we expect to receive. As you may be aware, New Zealand is a particularly expensive country, with high operational costs, although we still feel our tour represents value for money due to the variety of activities it incorporates. In terms of fine dining, whilst this is available in the major cities, the hospitality industry in rural areas has been much slower to bounce back after the pandemic, which means that restaurant options are very limited. Though we recognise that not all the hotels will suit all our customers’ preferences, we are not aware of previous feedback regarding properties being unclean, so we were surprised to hear this. Nevertheless, we have shared your comments with the hotels directly to ensure any issues are rectified immediately. We realise this response cannot change the disappointing experience you had, but we do hope it shows that we have listened to your concerns.

Kelly Reid, Product Manager

Andrew Lawson

Reviewed February 2024

An Enjoyable Journey of Discovery

I knew very little about Vietnam before taking this trip, but I feel that it has given me a good understanding of the country, as well as an enjoyable experience. It helped that our fellow travellers were a group of likeable, diverse & interesting people, and our guide and his support team did a first-class job of looking after us.

Most Inspirational Moment

I find it hard to identify a single most inspiring moment , but the overall experience certainly was inspiring. Some beautiful scenery, friendly people, great food, some challenging cycling (and some fun descents), plus insights into the history, economy and the everyday lives of Vietnamese people.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Nam Nguyen was great! Each day would typically start with him saying "xin chào, xin chào, story time!" followed by an explanation of the day's itinerary and insights into Vietnamese life. He was friendly, organised and kept us safe and happy.

Advice for Potential Travellers

1) Pack light - there were opportunities to get clothes laundered at reasonable prices whenever we stayed more than 1 night in the same place and we also successfully hand-washed our own cycle kit in hotel washbasins and it dried OK after rolling in a towel and being left in front of the air conditioning. We took far too much stuff with us, which was a nuisance when travelling on the sleeper train and when lugging it through the airports. 2) Choose flights carefully - we preferred to fly from a regional airport rather than Heathrow. Exodus offered us a few alternatives and we opted for night flights which we hoped would minimise jet-lag (they did). The downside, which we hadn't thought through properly, was that we arrived after the rest of the group and departed before them, thus missing out on time to explore the cities of Saigon and Hanoi. 3) Cycling in high heat and humidity can be hard going - quite a few of our group thought that the cycling was harder than the official "moderate" rating of this tour might suggest. Heat and humidity affects people differently, but I think a decent level of fitness is needed for this tour. If in any doubt, you could opt for an e-bike.

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