Reviews

Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers

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14217 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Reviewed April 2012

GALAPAGOS WILDLIFE CRUISE

What a fantastic way to spend a couple of weeks! Amazing wildlife, enjoyable walks, good snorkeling, relaxed life on board the yacht, great food, siestas after lunch and fabulous weather. Perfect!

Most Inspirational Moment

I loved all of the wildlife, but the absolute highlight for me was snorkeling with turtles. I enjoyed a full half hour in the company of a couple of grazing turtles who were within touching distance (I didn't - I resisted the temptation!). I had to keep circling to prevent myself from bumping into them in the swell - just brilliant. I also enjoyed the occasions when sealions came to investigate/play whilst snorkeling. Oh and the sky pointing, feet lifting displays of the blue footed boobies on the last morning of the trip - I love those birds!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Silvia was a great group leader. She shared a wealth of knowledge and clearly loved the islands and the wildlife. She was a very good organiser, ensured everyone was taken care of and was also great company. Thanks Silvia! Stefan in Quito was also extremely helpful and ensured that we got the best that we could out of our short time there. I was a little concerned about safety in Quito, but his advice ensured we were ok.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Pack light - storage space is limited - it's easy to wash and dry clothing by using the pegs provided on deck. I was unsure whether I needed a wetsuit for snorkeling at this time of year - In the Eastern islands I found the snorkelling warm enough to wear just a t-shirt for sun protection, but in the Western islands it was cooler (actually quite cold in two places) - I had taken a wetsuit type t-shirt, which was fine for all but the two coldest snorkels - I just had to swim a lot to keep warm! Shoes were recommended, but in the interest of travelling light I managed fine with good quality walking sandals, although I am used to hill walking in them. Closed toe sandals with grippy soles are all you need though. Take sea sickness tablets with you just in case - we had a couple of days of Spring tide, with quite a swell and a few people needed tablets. The photographic opportunities are amazing - from reports I read before I went I almost didn't take my 100-400mm lens, but I'm so glad I did as it enabled me to get some really intimate close ups. To get the best out of the trip I'd recommend a wide and a zoom lens. But if you only have a compact, you'll have just as much fun with it. The entire trip requires cash (not cards) - keep it safe in Quito and ensure that all cash is in $20 notes or less - they rarely accept larger notes. Tipping is an integral part of the culture so ensure you have sufficient to tip the crew and guide in accordance with their service levels. You'll need insect repellent on a few of the islands (but not on most) - it's always handy to have some with you just in case.

Reviewed April 2012

CYCLE NICARAGUA, COSTA RICA AND PANAMA

This is the perfect holiday for somebody who loves to be on the go all the time, likes the idea of whizzing through 3 beautiful and interesting countries on a bike, and doesn’t mind a bit of time spent on a minibus, but likes to fit in lots of other things too – birds, animals, history, scenery, rain forests, seas, boats, volcanoes and endless cocktails!

Most Inspirational Moment

Difficult question - was it the vulture migration - amazing; was it finishing a 45-mile hilly cycle ride in the windiest conditions possibly ever known to a cyclist; or was it standing at the bar at the Hot Springs looking in wonder at the sight of 10 Pina Coladas lined up in a row!!! (Not all mine I'd add!) Have to say the River Raft Trip was also brilliant, as was the long, fast, downhill ride in Panama around Day 12 or 13 with such spectacular views, and spending 2-weeks trying to spot Toucans was great fun!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Rob was excellent - organised, knowledgable, professional and got us where we needed to be at exactly the right times. Made the need for 'thinking' a very limited requirement for 2 weeks, as he very efficiently seemed to do all my thinking for me!!! Perfect if you want to give your personal decision making skills a good rest, go with the flow and have fun!!!

Advice for Potential Travellers

The trip is rated moderate/challenging - which is probably about right. We had 3 days of particularly windy weather - windier than any normal person would choose to cycle in at home - so it was a bit of a challenge for most of our group!! I'm a 50 year old female, fairly fit and active - did 2 RPM classes a week through the winter prior to the trip in March - getting out in the winter in the UK and going for some longish hilly road rides would have probably been a sensible pre-holiday plan!! Also taking time to really sort out your own saddle if you have a preference, your gel cover and good cycling shorts before you go might be a good idea!!!

Reviewed April 2012

DISCOVER SRI LANKA

A wonderful holiday that packed in many different experiences. Sri Lanka is a beautiful country, the people are friendly and there is plenty to see and do.

Most Inspirational Moment

The elephant safari, white water rafting, cycling through paddy fields and villages, the stunning views from mountain tops, the delicious food, local people smiling and waving all the time, the wildlife and a very nice group with helpful guides.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sujee was excellent. The holiday packed a lot in and it was all organised extremely professionally. Sujee's local knowledge and obvious love for his country made the trip a real pleasure. He went out of his way to accommodate people who had different needs and requests and he was always helpful and friendly. I don't know when he can have slept! The driver and assistant were excellent too.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for early starts and living out of a suitcase for a couple of weeks. I think we stayed in ten different hotels. It is worth it though, as you get to see so much of a very beautiful country. If you do the Adam's Peak walk, it gets extremely busy near the top. Also, if you go on the whale watching trip don't accept a 'sea sickness tablet' from the captain. Ours had a sedative effect and everybody who took one fell asleep on the way back.

Reviewed April 2012

A TASTE OF CUBA

A fantastic holiday. Great mix of sight-seeing in cities, alongside beach and Caribbean boat snorkelling downtime. And a brilliant group of 18 people, aged from 21 to nearly 70, half and half solo and couple travellers – not Exodus’s doing as a bit pot luck, but clearly their trips attract a great munch of people.

Most Inspirational Moment

Cooling off on a nature trail in the mountains diving (alright, jumping) off a small cliff to swim across a cove. Would not have done on my own but a group of us plucked up courage to brave the waves and rocks!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Great welcome and organisation when we arrived from Exodus rep and group leader. The right balance of information about Cuban life given over the tour and ditto for amount of planned stuff versus free time... first ever organised holiday for me and I didn't feel too chaperoned or tied to everything (eg opted out of one long coach ride for day's excursion to do my own day in Havana).

Advice for Potential Travellers

Follow Exodus advice to just bring sterling and enough for all your needs. Had some fraud on my debit card even though I wasn't using it there! And if you do some wandering in Havana on your own, while it certainly feels safe everywhere, do be aware of constant and persistent hustling as soon as you sit down anywhere or look a tad unsure (it's more than just people being friendly as the group leader said...)

Reviewed April 2012

GALAPAGOS WILDLIFE CRUISE

A fantastic trip, a true 'once-in-a-lifetime' experience. The locals like to haggle over costs and Taxis agree a price prior to your getting in the vehicle!

Most Inspirational Moment

The fabulous wildlife. The birds and reptiles are very colourful but the flowers are mainly yellow!

Thoughts on Group Leader

The impressive knowledge of Silvia (our guide) and her total enthusiasm holds her followers spellbound.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If travelling 'solo', think hard about a cabin to yourself!Take as few clothes as possible, things can be rinsed out and dry quite quicklyDo not get pressurised into giving fantastic tips, make up tour own mind and tip privately.

Reviewed April 2012

JOHANNESBURG TO CAPE TOWN

This is an amazing trip that allows you to see a wide range of places and things.

Most Inspirational Moment

I agree with the other reviewer who said this trip has many highlights, but no one "inspirational" moment. My favorite things included: sunset over the ocean in Tsitsikamma, Lesotho (the area where we stayed was beautiful and peaceful), hiking in the Drakensburg Mountains (stunning!), listening to lions calling outside the camp on a sleepless night in Swaziland, seeing the animals in Kruger (from lilac-breasted rollers to wild dogs to elephants), and exploring Cape Town (fascinating!).

Thoughts on Group Leader

Rob was our guide and Sifiso was our driver. It's difficult to separate one's efforts from the other's, as both worked tirelessly to make our trip as comfortable, easy, informative, and enjoyable as possible. Both have an amazing depth of knowledge about the countries visited and the things you're seeing. Don't hesitate to ask questions! You'll be surprised by how much they can tell you about the most random subjects imaginable.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared to spend more money on optional activities than you might anticipate from the list in the trip notes. Few of the optional things are all that expensive individually, but particularly in the game parks, you'll probably want to do several things (both sunset and sunrise drives, for example), so it adds up. A friend of mine always recommends you take half as much clothing and twice as much cash as you think you'll need, and that's probably good advice for this trip.If you can, do the trip from Jo-berg to Cape Town and not in reverse. That way you're ending up in a beautiful, easy place. Doing it in reverse means you're ending at the airport in Jo-berg, after a long day of driving. However you do it, spend some extra time in Cape Town. It's a lovely and fascinating place! And as cheesy as it sounds, the double-decker tour buses are a perfect way to see the town and areas around it.

Reviewed April 2012

MT TOUBKAL WINTER CLIMB

A weeklong trip that somehow manages to squeeze in a bit of everything into the time you are there. From the hustle and bustle of Marrakech to the peace and tranquillity of the high Atlas, this trip packs it all in. A really great trip, definitely one to go on and you don’t have to be that experienced!

Most Inspirational Moment

On the way up to the refuge and the summit of the mountain, you don’t get to see a clear sight of the actual summit. It’s not till you are quite close that you finally get to see the marker above you. However, once you are finally there the view is stunning. The panorama is breath taking, the snow capped flanks of Toubkal give way to the greens and browns of the foot hills and plains that stretch into the distance as far as you can see. What better reward can you ask for after a morning’s mountain climbing?I also found the second day to be just as exciting, as the summit day. We ascended the summit in clear weather with glorious sunshine, which made the views spectacular. However the next day was in stark contrast, plenty of snow had fallen over night and was continuing to fall all day. Visibility was dramatically reduced so we were unable to climb much higher than 3800m, but saying that we still managed to get to near the top of some adjacent peaks. This truly felt like a winter climb as we made steady progress both up and down the mountain in the falling snow. You couldn’t see much, but was a great day out from the refuge with fun being had by all who went on it.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The group leader Hassan was really friendly and fun. He had a great sense of humour that ensured that we had a really good trip. Mohammed the mountain guide was also great, although his English wasn’t as good as Hassan’s he still made sure that we had a good time up the mountain. Both were really good and looked out for our safety, overcoming the changing weather and kit with a calm and professional demeanour. The cook always managed to rustle up fantastic meals that were so welcoming after a day of fun in the snow.

Advice for Potential Travellers

On arrival in Marrakech it is quite warm in the sun, so it’s a good idea to pack a few warm weather clothes. However, for a good deal of the time up the mountain it will be cold, so pack warm clothes too. As advertised the refuge is quite basic, so don’t expect too many mod cons. Whilst there is a fire in the main lounge area it can still get quite cold inside, especially with the lack of internal doors on the ground level, so pack some warm clothes to wear around the refuge itself. I took a down jacket with me that came in handy at various points on the trip. Take a good book, and a pack of cards, that way you can have a peaceful moment to yourself or have a social game of cards with the rest of your group, guides and other residents of the refuge. Definitely don’t forget to take some ear plugs, you will probably need them.When you arrive try to get a bunk bed away from the door and walls and if possible on the lower levels. I had an upper bunk for the first night and got a bit damp from all of the condensation in the room at night. Moisture also means that the floors in the refuge can get quite slippery, so take care, especially when going up and down the stairs. There is also a shower, but be warned, there is not an endless supply of hot water and it can run out, leaving you to have a cold one, and that is really quite bracing! Still, it is possible and well worth it if you want to clean up. There were a couple of plug sockets so you can charge batteries and phones (though you will have to share with everyone else). The refuge can also get quite busy, so despite not seeing may people on the way up to the refuge, it was surprising to see just how many people were staying there. When it is busy it does mean that it’s not always possible to get a seat in the lounge, but there are other places to sit and have copious cups of sweet tea - not always mint!

Reviewed April 2012

THE AMALFI COAST

This was a delightful trip with beautiful coastal walks together with the opportunity to see Pompeii, Vesuvius and Herculaneum. The accommodation was in a friendly family run hotel, with comfortable en-suite rooms and excellent food.

Most Inspirational Moment

At Vesuvius I took the opportunity to join the group in a guided walk right around the circumference of the crater, including to its highest point. As a fairly novice walker, this was more than I would normally have expected to do, and a fantastic experience. It took us away from the usual tourist crowds on a ridge walk around Vesuvius' brim. This was slightly challenging to people who have never done a ridge walk (like myself); our guide advised us on whether he thought each of us would be able to do it, based on our behavior during previous walks on this trip. Although I am not marvelous with heights, I managed to do the walk without too much difficulty, and I am extremely glad to have had the opportunity of a professionally guided walk in such a dramatic location with spectacular views.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was an extremely experienced walker with a great deal of knowledge of the area. As well as leading our daily walks, he was able to offer advice and tips to help make our trip as enjoyable as possible. It was also clear that he was able to rapidly evaluate and respond to each of our capabilities during the walks on this trip.

Advice for Potential Travellers

This trip does involve quite a bit of walking and while highly enjoyable, I would describe it as walking holiday with sightseeing rather than a sightseeing holiday with a bit of walking. If in doubt it would be worth reading the 'leisurely' and 'moderate' grading in the Exodus Walking & Trekking brochure before deciding on this trip. Even 'leisurely' walks are expected to be 4 to 5 hours during the day. This trip is not really for someone who does not enjoy walking. That said, as a fairly novice walker, I had no problems, but I did take care to be equipped with good quality walking boots and comfortable socks. Also remember your sun-cream! For novice walkers who are happy to 'have a go' I would definitely recommend it.

Reviewed April 2012

GALAPAGOS WILDLIFE CRUISE

A fabulous trip that allows you to experience the varying scenery and wildlife of the different islands to their fullest.

Most Inspirational Moment

Snorkling with the turtles.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sylvia was first class and had a wealth of knowledge about the Islands which she was always keen to share. She made sure to tell us about the history, geology and wildlife of each island and was extremely informative.We were also very well looked after in Quito; airport transfers were reliable and efficient and the guide in Quito (Stefan) provided us with maps and suggestions for places to visit during the free day.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure that you don't take any denominations larger than $20 notes as you will not be able to spend them in Ecuador.Pack light - there is virtually no storage space in the cabins.Photographers - you get very close to the wildlife and I nearly didn't take my 70-200mm lens on this trip as I suspected that I would not use it much. However, I actually used this lens more than any other so I would strongly recommend taking a medium range zoom lens, and this lens is vital if you are interested in bird photography. There was snorkling offered at least once, and often twice every day. The Cachalote has wetsuits, fins and masks that you can hire very cheaply. However, if you are of small build and want a wetsuit that fits properly you should consider bringing your own. Most of the time the water was warm enough not to wear a wetsuit but the sun is very strong and I would strongly advise wearing a wetsuit during all of the snorkeling sessions if you burn easily.

Reviewed April 2012

LAND OF THE TIGER

Everything was perfect. Being on your own you are always a bit apprehensive at the start but the leader and the nature of the trip soon allayed these fears.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were so many but I will identify three; first seeing such a variety of wildlife including the tigers, second the Exodus sponsored school at Bandhavgarh and third the Taj Mahal.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Probably the best leader I have experienced in my many years of travelling. He was always there when you wanted him without being "in your face", he was always cheerful, well organised and most importantly he was knowledgeable - the best.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you are thinking of visiting India don't think any further book the Land of the Tiger with Exodus.

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