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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14246 Reviews
4.7 out of
5
Reviews
Amanda Javes
Reviewed April 2023
Costa Rica
Our group leader, Armando , from start to finish , was the ‘ icing on the cake , for us – he made this trip- memorable!
The wildlife , nature , and environment were absolutely fabulous! We saw so much and the organisation was seamless ! I normally arrange trips myself and was a bit reticence about leaving it to others but I needn’t have worried as everything went perfectly- again aided by Arnando’s professionalism and friendly manner
Most Inspirational Moment
Everything! But Armando spotting a mother and baby sloth will forever be a magical moment !!!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Armando is a credit to his country, for which he clearly has a deep rooted love and passion for, and its environment and wildlife .
He inspired us all and was professional but friendly , funny and approachable throughout! His knowledge was endless and he made everything so easy to understand
Advice for Potential Travellers
BOOK THIS TRIP ( BUT ASK FOR ARMANDO AND CARLOS ( driver)
Pam R
Reviewed April 2023
Fabulous, fast paced trip
Excellent trip, very fast paced as previous comments, this is definitely a cycling trip but very enjoyable. Whale Island was amazing and enjoyed 2 nights stay so could relax. Hotels were excellent, train journey was good. Food was amazing, Loc our your leader was excellent, always making sure we were all ok and enjoying the experience. Took us to great restaurants, advising the best food to try etc. Our group was split between people with Ebikes and regular bikes, which on the hills was an issue, the regular bikes were not able to keep up and created a gap in the group. If you want a challenge ride a regular bike, if you want to have easier rides order an ebike.
Most Inspirational Moment
Cycling through the villages was amazing, children running to wave and shout etc, Learning about the culture, history was very interesting
Thoughts on Group Leader
Loc was excellent, very helpful and interesting
Advice for Potential Travellers
Check if the majority are ebikes or regular bikes, depending on your fitness, the cycling is definitely doable on a regular bike, I enjoyed the challenge Do not overpack, you can wash cycling kit every night, shower gel/shampoo and conditioner etc in every hotel Snacks are provided every hour or so on the bike and are amazing so unless you want something specific you do not need to take any bars etc You are moving hotels nearly every night so the less you can take the easier it is
Angela Beckwith
Reviewed April 2023
Tigers, Leopards and So Much More
What an amazing holiday! We were incredibly lucky with our sightings, not only of tigers but also of leopards (I think our group had 6 individual leopard sighting by the end), wild elephants, Indian Wild Dogs, jackals and the most fabulous array of colourful birds (peacocks, rollers, eagles, vultures – the list is long!). As has been mentioned in previous reviews, there are things to be aware of with the trip, but providing your participate with your eyes open, patience and the right attitude, you will have an absolutely wonderful time: 1) Jeeps are assigned per national park, so the people you share the jeep with will remain the same throughout that national park. Our jeeps were changed up between the parks, so we had three different jeep combinations by the end. 2) If you have one jeep which is not full, the Exodus guide tends to stick in that jeep due to space and comfort. Whilst this is understandable, it does mean that some group members had much more access to the trip leader and his expertise compared to others. 3) Do not expect tigers on every drive or even every day. They can be very elusive and with all things in nature, nothing is guaranteed. We had our first tiger sighting on Drive 2 (one jeep had an amazing view of two separate tigers, the other three jeeps had much lesser views of one tiger). We then did not get another good tiger sighting until Drive 8. And then on Drive 10, the tigers decided to give the most amazing show, with 6 tigers in one day. There was a point when we were leaving Pench where we were joking that we would have to rename the trip ‘India Leopard Safari’, as my jeep had had 3 good leopard sightings and only one glimpse of the backside / ears of a tiger, but by the end of the holiday, the tigers were most definitely the star of the show. 4) As has been mentioned before, it can be difficult when the different jeeps are in different sectors of the parks and thus seeing different things. On our trip, one jeep got two incredible sightings on Day 1, whereas with the different jeep allocations between parks, it took until the very end of the holiday for two members of our group to have an equivalent amazing sighting. Some members did not get a good leopard sighting at all, whereas other jeeps got two or three. It really is just luck and you have to go with the knowledge that each person’s experience will be different. 5) There is so much more to see than just the tigers, so it is important to not get hung up on just seeing them. You can go for days without a glimpse of stripes, so take the time to appreciate the beauty of the parks and the other incredible wildlife that is available. 6) The success of the safari drives can be rather dependent on the quality of the park-assigned driver and guides, some of whom are better than others. I think that every jeep in our group had issues with their driver / guides at some point; however as these change almost every day, you just have to put it behind you and focus on the next drive. Thankfully, with 15+ drives, there is plenty of time for everyone to have the amazing encounters and experiences within the parks.
Most Inspirational Moment
Seeing the five tigers (mum, three cubs and a young male) in the waterhole at Banghavgarh was truly something special. Watching them interact and relax in the water, before coming out and walking right past our jeep was an experience I will never forget. Driving around the corner in Kanha NP and finding a leopard casually wandering down the side of the road, before crossing right in front of us and disappearing into the trees. We were the only jeep around lucky enough to witness the beautiful big cat just going about his business, thoroughly unconcerned by us. Our guide was so excited by the sighting, as leopards are very rarely seen in Kanha, which really added to the experience. Watching the pack of Indian Wild Dogs with puppies in Kahna NP, playing in the water and on the road in front of us, before heading into the trees to jump around on some fallen logs.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Krishna was absolutely fabulous. His knowledge and passion for the country and wildlife was obvious and he went out of his way to ensure that we all had an amazing time on the trip and all got to experience that magical moment of the first tiger sighting. He was always in good humour and was ready to answer our questions and provide plenty of additional information on the areas and conservation activities going on around the national parks.
Advice for Potential Travellers
1) Take buffs for your face and your camera equipment - the roads, especially in Bandhavgarh, are very dusty. 2) Go with the right attitude - there is more to see than just tigers and you will get out of the drives what you put in. 3) Take lots of bug spray and put it on under your clothes in the afternoon - the insects bit through clothing, especially in Pench NP. Non-DEET sprays like Incognito work well on the insects there. 4) European plug adapters worked everywhere we went. 5) Card machines did not work in all the resorts, so ensure you have cash available as well. ATMs stops can be made on the travel days between the parks. 6) Even in April, a light fleece and rain jacket were beneficial. It can be chilly in the mornings, and two of our drives were pretty much a wash-out from the rain. The jeeps are open-top, so if it rains you will be getting wet. 7) There are a lot of early mornings (4.30am early) and bumpy rides (really not suitable for anyone with a bad back). Although the trip is rated leisurely, it is not really relaxing.
Rob Beere
Reviewed April 2023
Fantastic Local Team and Great Group
What a brilliant trek. Amazing scenery. Just the right level of challenge. Wonderful mountains. No other tourists! But this trip was made by two things. Firstly, the Moroccan team led by Lahcen and Khalid were exemplary – friendly, knowledgeable, hard working, supportive. The chef produced the most incredible food in remote locations for 16 trekkers plus the local team of 5. Secondly, the group were so friendly and fun. We all gelled and I can’t remember a single irritable moment! Very highly recommended.
Most Inspirational Moment
The mountains, the local villages, seeing a totally different way of life. The campsites were in incredible locations with great night skies. The hammam at the end of the camping was unmissable. This trip was truly life affirming.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Lahcen was superb. A true leader but also approachable and an excellent assessor of the group's abilities. He didn't put a foot wrong and worked very hard to make our trip special.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Book it!
Liz H
Reviewed April 2023
An amazing country, guide and group - book now!
As most reviews say, this is a full on trip with early starts and long days – but it’s 1000% worth it. From the manic cities of HCM and Hanoi via the enchanting Hoi An, taking in spectacular mountain and sea views; paddy fields with water buffalo having a cooling dip; and the occasional just wtf weird, you feel you’ve scratched the surface of this unique country. The food was a real highlight, non meat eaters well catered for – aided by Linh letting places know how many fish / veggie options we needed.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our leader, Linh, worked tirelessly to ensure the group experienced the best of the places we visited, organising some memorable lunch and dinners for the group. The lunches especially felt as though we were participating in real Vietnam and contributing to local families. Linh helped pass time on the bus telling us about the history and culture of his country and how ordinary people live. His stories of his family's history, the war and his childhood were fascinating. Extra points for telling us how to find the 'western' toilets on the overnight train.
Advice for Potential Travellers
I'd recommend arriving in Ho Chi Min city at least a day earlier than the tour start, there's so much to see, do and explore. Take some electrolyte tablets to add to water bottle when cycling. Energy bars / gels not needed though as excellent and plentiful enroute snacks provided by the 'snack kitty'. The only real opportunity for getting laundry done is in Hoi An, not a problem, just be aware and pack and wear clothes accordingly.
Angela Whitbread
Reviewed April 2023
Dream Come True!!!
An amazing trip to japan to see its wonder and it didn’t disappoint. we were blessed with incredible weather which led to the blessing of seeing Mount Fuji fully during the day and at sunset which is mesmerising. the snow monkeys also came out to entertain us in such a beautiful location. we also had sakura viewings almost every day in abundance in the warm sunshine. spotting geisha wandering along and talking to each other as they were on the way to bookings was a lifelong tick of my list!! seeing a dance show complete with a comedy section which was totally relatable even if we couldn’t understand Japanese eating the most amazing food lots I have never had before and seeing how the real people of japan eat out and drink sake.
Most Inspirational Moment
seeing geisha, Mount Fuji, the snow monkeys, the amazing food, the onsens, sakura galore and celebrating my birthday not once but twice thanks to the fabulous guides Atsushi and Naoko who arranged for a birthday cake with candles which was a huge surprise, staying in traditional ryokan's was fun and the food in them was amazing. I couldn't have wished for a better trip just wanted to stay longer
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our guides Atsushi and Naoko are amazing, they couldn't do enough for everyone and were always answering any question's we had about customs and shrines/temples, suggesting places to eat and often coming with us and introducing us to some amazing food we hadn't even heard of before. sending us group WhatsApp messages and location sharing was a necessity and we had lots of links for shopping and places of interest which was invaluable. seeing them both have interactions with all group members and being very caring towards an older lady who was in need of some extra assistance was lovely. they are a good team together and new family members of mine now; we were blessed to have them. a huge thank you to them both for sharing their beautiful country with us all.
Advice for Potential Travellers
don't just go for the sakura go for everything japan has to offer and try the onsens they are amazing!! The transport is so efficient and clean, the staff on the trains always look impeccably smart, its a great insight into how the Japanese people get around. There will be standing but that's expected in such a busy country it super easy to get around on your own too. I will be going back for sure as I'm now in love with japan and all it has to offer
Deborah Gibson-Smith
Reviewed April 2023
Something a little different
Never having done snowshoeing before we were not sure how easy it would be but if you can walk you can snowshoe! It was a wonderful novel way of exploring the woodlands around the basecamp with plenty of time to chill in the sauna at the end of the afternoon.
Most Inspirational Moment
There were no particular highlights but the scenary was lovely
Thoughts on Group Leader
Anton was a very good tour leader and gave us some interesting insights into the local nature and reindeer herders.
Advice for Potential Travellers
They really do provide all the clothes you need to snowshoe so it would be possible to travel on hand luggage only.
Susie Crisan
Reviewed April 2023
Albania
Albania is a gem to visit. The rugged snow capped mountains to the blue Ionian Sea, there is much scenery to take in. The small villages have character of days of old. The people are friendly and helpful. Edjon the tour guide was excellent. His enthusiasm to share his country with others was infectious. Edjon was prepared, knowing all the information to enlighten the group about Albania. His outgoing personality, individual attention when needed, and small surprises he had planned along the way kept the trip interesting. Edjon is a top tier tour guide, that we were blessed to have in Albania.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Edjon the tour guide was excellent. His enthusiasm to share his country with others was infectious. Edjon was prepared, knowing all the information to enlighten the group about Albania. His outgoing personality, individual attention when needed, and small surprises he had planned along the way kept the trip interesting. Edjon is a top tier tour guide, that we were blessed to have in Albania.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Go to Albania. Ask for Edjon tours.
Claire Holloway
Reviewed April 2023
The very best of Vietnam - and a Cambodia bonus
This was a brilliant trip – but “fast-paced” doesn’t even begin to describe it! Our overnight flight landed in Siem Reap at 9.30am and we were off! River cruise to see the floating fishing communities, sunset at the magnificent Angkor Wat temple, a traditional dance evening, then up at 4.30am for sunrise at Angkor Wat, three more temples, a community restaurant – then a flight to Phnom Penh to the royal palace and the chilling Killing Fields. Another flight and we landed in the madness of Ho Chi Min for the start 14 days of the most wonderful, varied and exhausting trips we have been on. You could not have a better introduction to the culture, history, geography, food and people of these two fascinating and complex countries.
Most Inspirational Moment
It is difficult to pinpoint a single most inspirational moment. Maybe sunrise over Angkor Wat, or the Ta Prohm temple slowly being reclaimed by the jungle. Or cycling through DaLat to the flower market in the early morning and realising that the hundreds of scooters really will avoid you as you ride round the roundabout. Or cycling the backroads through shrimp beds and paddy fields and finding a herd of water buffalo cooling in the water. Or Hoi An at night and all the beautiful lanterns along the river. Or sitting down for a simple but wonderful evening meal with a local family in Hue and learning more about their lives. Every part of this tour was inspirational in its own way - but the real inspiration came from the passion and huge local knowledge of our tour leader Linh and the brilliant support team.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Linh Vo was a star. Unbelievably hard working with a mission to ensure that we experienced as much of Vietnamese culture, history, food, people and places as was possible in a two week trip. His wealth of stories brought to life the reality of life for ordinary families both now and during Vietnam's war years and helped pass the many hours in the bus. We were an oversized group of 17 but no one missed any of the evening group meals, which introduced us to every kind of Vietnamese food possible. And as for the singing... Cycle-Linh you will be remembered! I'd just also like to mention our lovely Siem Reap tour guide, Raus, who looked after us so well and gave us the best possible introduction to life in Cambodia.
Advice for Potential Travellers
This is a full-on trip so just go with the flow. Be prepared for quick turnarounds and have an overnight bag at the ready for the Whale Island and overnight train trips. The hotels are great but there is little time to enjoy them unless you miss out on part of the richness of the tour.
Barbara Thomas
Reviewed April 2023
I.ll be back!
I joined this fully booked trip as a Solo.What a fantastic experience! Full of really interesting places & sights, with a very well thought out programme, not too fast yet we got to see SO much! I can’t choose a favourite experience or sight..they were all so good. Our group gelled extremely well & that really added to the enjoyment. Hotels very comfortable too. I have to give a huge shout out to Guide Alessandro who is without doubt the best Guide I’ve ever come across on my trips. Our driver Graziano & the local Guides were excellent too. If you haven’t yet been to Sicily & you enjoy culture then you cant miss this trip, I’m thinking of repeating,😊
Most Inspirational Moment
Too many to choose..from the medieval villages through to Temples & the breathtaking Monreal Cathedral...stunning,
