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

Angela Whitbread

Reviewed October 2023

wow what an amazing and diverse country!! one moment you are in the stunning serene countryside learning about tobacco the next you are in a loud, vibrant city full of unexpected things and history at every turn.
From being invited to dance in a restaurant by an after work group who were out drinking one night in Havana to blackouts, from salsa dancing with a live band to the beautiful beaches a treasure trove of a trip that I will never forget.

Most Inspirational Moment

visiting the cassas where the real Cubans live and very generously let us stay with them often with little English to get by but the shared love of animals and an open mind. visiting a local farmer and a local fisherman to see how they live and work was a privilege. Dancing in Trinidad with my tour leader Jorge accompanied by a live band was defiantly a highlight. seeing how hard it is for Cubans just to get to their workplace and dealing with the blackouts and the Wi-Fi connections and just everyday living that we take for granted. seeing the very different towns of vinales and Cienfuegos with their beautiful buildings then onto Trinidad and the wonderfully historic buildings there is like a time machine!!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jorge was amazing his English is perfect and his sense of humour was on point!! The love for his country and history is infectious and I can say I learnt a great deal from him. He is a very inspirational man. Our driver Juan carols was so good, driving such long distances is not an easy things on the Cuban roads which were mostly empty I might add due the fuel issue. both were such lovely warm people we wont forget in a hurry.

Advice for Potential Travellers

go with an open mind and you dancing shoes for a whistlestop tour of this beautiful country!!

Kasia Woch

Reviewed October 2023

Amazing trip!

I had an absolutely amazing time on the Discover Costa Rica trip. Our guide, Eduardo Lopez, was incredibly knowledgeable, especially when it came to wildlife. Exploring the cloud forests and rainforests was an unforgettable experience, and we encountered a wide variety of animals along the way. The accommodations were top-notch, and the entire trip was exceptionally well-organized. Thank you for this incredible adventure!

Janice Knight

Reviewed October 2023

Peru

In summary, the trip, the organisation, and the itinerary was extremely good.
Leo, our guide, was excellent.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing Machu Pichu and also stopping at an Oasis. The scenery was also stunning.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Leo was excellent. He was knowledgable, caring, answered all questions, and was extremely well organised. He made local stops, such as to an Oasis and also to a Road side stop on one of the long journey days, that had excellent coffee and shopping, and really should be included in the itinerary.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The altitude caused ALL of us problems, from mild headaches to full sickness and needs to be more strongly emphasised. The weather was MUCH warmer than suggested in the Trip Notes and ALL of us had brought too many warm clothes and not enough light clothing. The bus stays are much longer than suggested, with few stops and often unanticipated holds ups meaning extremely long travelling days with little time to do anything on arrival except eat and sleep. The Hot Springs at Chivay shoukd be avoided- 1 overcrowded pool with blaring music and lots of loud teenagers.

Paul Ashley Green

Reviewed October 2023

A WONDERFUL WEEK!

I was curious to find out about Albania. The Exodus circular itinerary gives an excellent overview of the south of the country. The tour reflects the variety of landscapes and experiences Albania has to offer.
The lake at Podgradec is a lovely starting point and excellent for swimming. There were a few dogs wandering around but they were friendly, one of them playfully stole a pink flip flop from the beach but gave it to me after I went after him!
The cycle rides were varied and interesting. I opted for an e-bike so that took the anxiety away climbing the hills and if I stopped for a photo then I could easily catch up with the group. I loved the decents, my e-bike had a small screen showing speed and battery information. On one occasion I reached 55k downhill!
I thoroughly enjoyed all of the food. The freshly prepared locally sourced food was impressive. Usually, we had a variety of dishes, nearly always a tasty salad, bread, sometimes chips, delicious savoury spinach pastries, lovely cream cheese. The barbecued lamb was superb as was the freshly caught barbecued trout.
The organisation of the trip was outstanding and the fact that there were 16 of us in the group didn’t phase our leader and his assistant. Everything ran smoothly and efficiently.
The evening we stayed at the trout farm, Farma Sotira after an exceptional dinner (and a drink or 2) we enjoyed traditional Albanian dancing taught by Julian our guide and singing with the Albanians whilst a log burning fire flickered in the atmospheric dining room. It was a night to remember.
The decent the following day was spectacular!
The thermal springs near to our next hotel were pleasantly relaxing following the cycling.
Gjirokasttra was very interesting and surprisingly touristy. There’s a very good ice cream shop near to the hotel.
The guided tour of the UNESCO site at Butrint was very good. From there we cycled to the coast where there were opportunities to swim in the fabulous Ionian Sea.
From the coast we ascended via dramatic Llogara Pass to the National Park. That really was the icing on the cake and well worth the climb. Experiencing Mount Çika inspired Lord Byron to write a poem.
The next day we left Vlorë and travelled by bus to Tirana Airport. 2 group members and I had booked an additional 2 nights in Tirana so we got the bus from the airport back to the city, very good value for 400 LEK or 4 EURO. The bus also take cards. Cards are accepted widely in Tirana but not in oher places.
Prices are very reasonable in Albania. Albania is courting the EU and are hoping to join in 2 years. EURO notes are accepted everywhere and change given in LEK (the universal exchange rate by merchants was 100LEK = 1 EURO).
The week went fast! The holiday is quite intensive and relaxation time is limited. However every day was different and every day was a joy! You can always add on a few days at the end of the holiday if you want some down time.

Most Inspirational Moment

The decents were extraordinary! We were given the option of stopping for half an hour at a fast flowing stream Julian knew of. It wasn't in the itinerary. I'm so glad I did. It was amazing experience, having a dip to cool off. I also loved swimming in the lake and the sea.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Julian, our guide, was outstanding, as was his asistant Enes. Their communication and organisational skills were really excellent. I felt well cared for. They genuinely wanted us to enjoy ourselves and everything was done to make sure everyone was safe and happy.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you see dogs wandering around don't be alarmed. The one's we saw were calm and friendly, merely seeking attention and affection from people.

Brian Webber

Reviewed October 2023

Brilliant Borneo

We can thoroughly recommend this tour. The itinerary meant a fair amount of travelling but it was well planned and well supervised by Nostalia our guide. In two weeks we ticked off all the creatures on our pre-tour wish list apart from pigmy elephants, more than compensated by brilliant encounters with bats, orangutans, monkeys, hornbills, and flying squirrels. In between we had time to explore the cities of Kuching and Kota Kinabalu and sample great local food from restaurants and hawker stalls.

Most Inspirational Moment

The first came in Mulu National Park where we witnessed literally millions of bats leave Deer Cave at dusk to begin their evening search for dinner on the wing, twisting and swirling like endless murmurations of starlings. The second came from repeated sightings of orangutans and proboscis monkeys in trees along the Kinabatangan River and in Danum Valley, showing that they can thrive in the wild in areas where their natural habitat is being conserved. A pre-breakfast walk in the Danum Valley lasted less than 100 metres before we encountered orangutans that we joyfully watched for the next 90 minutes as they played and fed in the fruit trees near our lodge.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Nostalia was an excellent leader throughout our tour. She provided clear briefings with everything we needed to know about timings, where we were going, what we could expect to see, and what to wear on different occasions. As expected from an Exodus leader, she proved very knowledgeable on all wildlife matters . She was also a great source of information in the towns and cities we visited, advising us where the locals go to eat excellent food at very reasonable prices.

Advice for Potential Travellers

From the trip notes, we surmised that we would be clad in long-sleeved shirts, long trousers, and boots most of the time. In practice, this proved necessary for only four days (Kinabatangan River and Danum Valley) near the end of the trip. For the rest of the time, shorts, t-shirts and trainers/sandals worked very well as long as our exposed limbs were well treated with insect repellent. On the bird-watching front, we had delightful sightings of hornbills, eagles and kingfishers but the vast majority of Borneo's 300+ species proved elusive. If bird watching is a priority, you probably need to seek a specialist birding tour rather than a general wildlife tour like this one.

Aimee Sheldon

Reviewed October 2023

Experience of a lifetime

This 3 week programme was fantastic and delivered on everything I thought it would be.
Made some friends in the process and our tour guides Gift and Ende were wonderful- they really looked after us and fed us some extremely tasty meals ! This trip will be one I’ll never forget.

Most Inspirational Moment

Probably climbing up dune 45 for sunrise- I didn't think I'd be able to make it but I did- it was an unforeseen challenge and it reminded me that I can do something if I put my mind to it !

Thoughts on Group Leader

Gift was great- friendly and knowledgable. Ende was also absolutely fantastic- great driver and sense of humour - they made a great team.

Advice for Potential Travellers

It's very much a team trip so expect to muck in with packing up the bruc, washing up etc. it all adds to the energy of the trip !

Anusha Arasu

Reviewed October 2023

This is a safari and not a holiday

Had the most wonderful adventure with our 2 excellent guides Gift and Ende.They worked tirelessly to ensure that our whole group were looked after and happy.The sites were stunning and interesting and the road trip on the bruck was fun !Gift and Ende had enormous and endless knowledge of the animals and places and people.They were fun and entertaining and their cooking was excellent and healthy.Thoroughly enjoyed their company and leadership and Ende’s infectious laugh .Well organised and and fun camping .Good range of optional trips also.

Most Inspirational Moment

Waterhole experience in Etosha.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Gift and Ende worked so well together and had great leadership.Gift with his enormous knowledge and his calmness and fun with music.Ende had the most infectious laugh and kept us all together.They were organised and worked tirelessly without break .They accommodated most of our requests.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Definitely go on this road trip as it is packed with so any things to see.

Simon Reading

Reviewed October 2023

Excellent Overland Trip with great guides

Excellent overland trip, jam packed with Southern African highlights.
Trip was led by Gift and Ende who both worked tirelessly to make sure we all got the best from the trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

Nighttime game viewing around the waterholes in Etosha.

Thoughts on Group Leader

It worked as a 2-man team (Gift and Ende). I personally thought they were exceptional - I cannot think of a moment they were not working be that driving, cooking or just helping those of us on the tour. Ende was remarkable with his wildlife spotting. Both were good company and good natured throughout. Really good senses of humour.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Great way of experiencing Southern Africa. Full on trip packed with activities.

David Knass

Reviewed October 2023

Once in a Lifetime Trip

The main objective of this wildlife trip was met in that we saw 14 species of lemur thanks to the efforts of the local guides and their spotters. This was interspersed with about 90 species of birds over two thirds of which were endemic species with examples from most of the endemic families. Other wildlife such as reptiles and other mammals were few and far between mainly because the majority these are nocturnal. The travel between the National Parks enabled us to have a good insight into the culture, beliefs and customs of the local people together with visiting various historical sites. We found the hotels better than we might have expected and particularly enjoyed the 3 nights at the beach hotel at Anakao. The food also was generally good especially the fish and seafood at Anakao. Wifi was available everywhere we stayed. Insects didn’t seem to be a problem. You should easily have enough local currency if you follow the Exodus advice and most of us changed currency back to Euros at the airport before coming home.

Most Inspirational Moment

It has to be the lemurs and the anticipation as we approached each species in particular the Indri. Snorkelling off Nosy Ve and swimming in the warm ocean was the non wildlife highlight.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sol was excellent and organised the arrangements faultlessly for the six of us on the trip.. He also sorted out any special needs of individuals without any fuss. He was informative throughout whether it related to wildlife or culture and was good company. His background included wildlife guiding, in particular birds and reptiles, which is ideal for this type of trip. Although the weather was quite hot at times Sol always made sure we all had adequate water. Special mention should be made too of Andry our brilliant driver who was very careful and didn't put a foot wrong throughout and made the journeys as comfortable as possible.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The Trip Notes and previous reviews cover essential information. It is a good idea to search out some publications and read about the island before travelling other than that found in the standard travel guides.

Ferhan Q

Reviewed October 2023