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!

Haven’t posted your review yet? Here’s how to do it…

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.

Select a trip specific review:

Select

24 Reviews

4.9 out of 5

Reviewed October 2012

NATIONAL PARKS OF THE WEST

This was definitely the holiday of a lifetime! Highlight after highlight as we covered 2,200 miles visiting some of America’s most stunning national parks. Our young Californian guide Collin bubbled with enthusiasm and energy and looked after us brilliantly and it was a great group of fellow travellers, all keen to make the most of the opportunities on offer, including hiking, horse-riding, jeep tours and canyoneering.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were so many highlights, with sunrises and sunsets in all the parks, but a personal memory that will never fade was the sense of achievement and awe on hiking to the top of Angels' Landing in Zion - we saw condors flying below us!We saw lots of wildlife, including a bear, coyotes, elk, vultures and condors in the parks, plus dolphins in the bay below the Golden Gate Bridge.

Thoughts on Group Leader

In his own words: awesome! Collin was great fun and inspired us all with his love of the places we visited, and added to that he was a safe and thoughtful driver and guide.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Travel light: there were hairdryers in all the hotels and some had launderettes for washing clothes. American hotels provide coffeemakers but hot English tea is not so common - iced tea is widely available. Be prepared for lots of early starts and long days and take advantage of the optional excursions which are very good, but cost extra. Breakfasts were often fruit and granola bars as we were up and away before most places opened, and there were a number of sandwich lunches, assembled ourselves from the frequently restocked cool boxes. Evening meals were taken in restaurants from pizza places to steakhouses.The journeys on the road in the minibus were well broken up with stops at places of interest and/or food every couple of hours. We swopped bus seats regularly and the front-seat passenger got to play their iPod selection of music, which gave us a great variety of soundtracks to our travels.

Suggestions

Consider taking a few days either side of the trip if you can - we really enjoyed relaxing after the long flight out for a few great days in San Francisco, staying at Fisherman's Wharf, before the trip started; and then we returned to the city at the end to chill out and shop. It's a beautiful oceanside city with lots to do - don't miss the wild sealions at Pier 39 or the wonderful foodie shops at the Ferry Building!

Reviewed June 2012

NATIONAL PARKS OF THE WEST

A wonderful adventure through the parks, canyons and deserts of south west America with options for all levels of walking/hiking at most destinations.

Most Inspirational Moment

The Grand Canyon was simply amazing. Yosemite and Zion National Parks exceeded expectations, (which were high), and Bryce Canyon was simply out of this world. Oh, and yes, I loved Las Vegas. What's not to like about it?

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was a Prince in more ways than one. Very committed to the group and his job, was always about to advise and to chat and was a very careful and rerspectful driver. Had everything organised in a laid back sort of way. An ideal tour leader for this kind of tour.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be careful with you packing. Temperatures in May were 35C and higher but a few days after we got home Ron emailed to tell us it was snowing in Yosemite. If there's one thing that is essential to bring its an appetite. The size of American breakfasts has to be seen to be believed! And wait till you order a pizza!!

Suggestions

This really was a great adventure seeing the American west in its full diversity. The accommodation throughout was very good and quite exceptional in a couple of places. I found the Americans I met to be friendly and helpful whether visitors to the area or serving in shops or restaurants. I lost track of how many nice days I was to have!!Route 66 was of course deeply interesting to anyone of my vintage and Las Vegas was a wonderful way to wind up the fortnight. What a contrast. Simply fabulous.

Reviewed October 2011

NATIONAL PARKS OF THE WEST

An excellent tour, covering a wide area but allowing adequate hiking time in the famous National Parks. The variety of trails available in the Parks make the tour suitable for people of different abilities. The scenery was tremendous, and the hotels generally of a high standard.

Most Inspirational Moment

Undoubtedly, the Grand Canyon is an awe-inspiring sight, but the rim views of Bryce Canyon and particularly walking the trails in that Canyon were probably the best moments of the tour.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The group leader was fine. An experienced tour leader he was well acquainted with the region and organised the various walking options in the Parks well.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Limited time is allowed at San Fransisco or Las Vegas at either end of the tour. Potential travellers might consider whether they wish to add a couple of days (or more) at these locations.

Suggestions

The tour vehicle was very cramped. Fortunately one person booked on the tour did not appear, otherwise with a full complement of passengers for the vehicle, the situation would have been worse. The improvised lunch arrangements worked well enough.

Reviewed June 2011

NATIONAL PARKS OF THE WEST

A packed two weeks seeing the highlights of and hiking in the National Parks of Yosemite, Zion Canyon, Bryce Canyon and the Navajo Nation lands of Monument Valley, finally ending up at the Grand Canyon. The variation and beauty of all the sites made the few long journey days well worth while.

Most Inspirational Moment

All the hikes were excellent but for me the hike up to Angel's Landing was the most inspirational moment, mainly because I was very apprehensive about the sheer drops and very nearly didn't do it. Even the shuttle commentary mentioned the occasional deaths!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Top guy and guide. I felt that he really wanted us to get the maximum value out of the trip. He organised the most delicious 'proper picnics' and each evening invited us to reflect on the day over 'adult beverages'-this was very popular!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Expect a couple of longish transit days and come prepared for a range of temperatures.Before we went we booked a show in Las Vegas for the last night and really enjoyed.

Suggestions

The range of walks offered at each of the parks varies from easy to strenuous, I would recommend pushing your limits- especially at the Grand Canyon because the sense of achievement becomes one of the highlights of the trip. The jeep trip at Monument Valley ($40-50) is a worthwhile option and those who did the helicopter trip at the Grand Canyon raved about it, but it was pricey at $240.

Prev 1 2 3