Most Inspirational Moment
Seeing the orangutans and Konodo dragons.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Mr Halim was a great guide. The whole trip ran without a hitch thanks to his enthusiasm and organisational skills.
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:
Reviews
Primates & Dragons of Indonesia
I have been on quite a few Exodus trips, and all have been excellent.
Primates & Dragons of Indonesia
We have found Exodus to be a very reliable and excellent company to travel with in order a meaningful connection with a countries wildlife and culture.
Most Inspirational Moment
Orangutans and Komodo dragons The boat cruise within Komodo national park was also excellent with ample opportunities for snorkelling. Also the fruit bat flyover one evening was particularly memorable
Thoughts on Group Leader
Halim was an exceptional leader who was always on the ball and kept everyone informed and up to date with what was happening. Everything ran very smoothly because of his diligence. He did all of this in a very friendly and engaging manner, bringing the whole group together.
A great way to see the less tourist side of Bali and to give yourself a good challenge
This was such a fun trip. The roads are like rollercoasters and there is always something to look out for, dogs, people, vehicles, chickens, rice in the street! It keeps your mind working all the time and it was a great way to escape home life for a while. We covered such a vast area of Bali or Java I feel like I have seen the whole of it although it has left me wanting to see more of Indonesia. We hardly saw any other tourists which was a real positive as much of Bali has become very popular and it was peak season.
We didnt see any other cyclists, what we were doing felt so unique!
Most Inspirational Moment
Reaching the top of Ijen the second and most difficult volcano. It took physical and mental determination to get me to the top but it was such an achievement. To finish the last of it with a walk up to the crater the next morning was also a highlight
Thoughts on Group Leader
Fantastic. Wira and Wayan and his whole team are amazing. So many logistics going on around you but you didnt need to worry about anything. Just cycle! They know every twist and turn in the road, every pot hole. I felt very safe.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Don't do this trip as a beginner. If you are very fit it would be manageable as a beginner but you will get the most out of it if you have done a few other Exodus trips first! The whole island is like a rollercoaster, dont think about the distances on this trip because the challenges are all in the ascents and descents. Do hill training as much as possible in the lead up to this trip.
A Nordic triple (Norway, Sweden and Finland)
A fun trip with a busy and varied itinerary (but still one with a lot of free time built in). Bustling capital cities interspersed with smaller, quieter, more relaxed locations (which become a welcome change of pace). A few long train journeys between locations, but always on comfortable trains with reserved seats. Well positioned hotels, generally in central locations. Joining (and leaving) the trip is really easy, with both Oslo and Helsinki airports being well served by connecting trains.
Most Inspirational Moment
Really enjoyed the trip to Vrångö. Had looked up the island in a guide book, and the very short review gave the impression it's just a very small island with little to see or do. However, a local guide lead us on a really interesting and fun walk around the south half of the island, so much so, we stayed and completed the north end in our free time!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Patricia, as a Swede living in Norway, was well placed to guide us — efficient, personable and a great companion during our trip.
Advice for Potential Travellers
The Exodus itinerary doesn't include nearly enough time in Oslo — if you can, travel early and give yourself at least one extra day (and if you do, consider buying an Oslo Pass). Finishing the trip off with a few additional days in Helsinki is also well worth it. Porvoo makes for a nice day trip and is only an hour away (from Helsinki's Kamppi bus station, a short walk from the Grand Central Hotel). There's also an easy opportunity to turn this into a 4 country tour, by taking a Tallink ferry (from Helsinki West Harbour Terminal 2) over to Tallinn, the capital of Estonia; only two hours each way, putting Tallinn's medieval Old Town well within reach for another great day trip.
Disappointing cycling
I chose this tour with a clear focus on the cycling experience. I was hoping to take in memorable scenery, ride comfortably at a natural pace and enjoy the route. Unfortunately, the trip fell short of these expectations in a few key areas.
First, the routes through rural sections were very uninspiring, with views dominated by agricultural plastic greenhouses, alongside prolific litter and fly-tipping along the roads.
Second, the group pacing felt restrictive. For large sections, we had to ride in single-file behind the tour guide due to being on main roads with a large volume of traffic. The pace was often very slow and I felt unable to ride at my own speed, which made it difficult to catch a breeze or fully enjoy the ride.
Finally, a warning to those who don’t like intense heat – don’t book at the beginning of September! The heat on our trip was extreme, with daily temperatures all week of around 34C. A number of riders struggled significantly with heat exhaustion and in my view, this period is simply too hot for an enjoyable cycling trip. I don’t know if it was a direct consequence of the heat, but we had multiple pit-stops en route for water and to rest. I found this so disruptive and unnecessarily prolonged the day. A 28 mile bike ride should take 3 hours, instead it seemed to take all day with the frequent mini-breaks. Combined with the uninspiring scenery on the actual bike rides and the fixed pace in large sections, it made for a challenging and frustrating experience. I would strongly recommend reviewing the route selection and advising future guests on the reality of early September temperatures.
Most Inspirational Moment
The cities of Ragusa, Modica, Noto and Siracusa are beautiful. The baroque architecture is stunning. However, there was very little time to explore these magnificent places. By the time we reached the hotels, it would often be 4-5 pm and after a shower most people needed a siesta to recover from the heat exhaustion, leaving very little time to explore, which was such a shame.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Michele was a great tour guide. He is to be commended for dealing with all our individual demands and needs! He was also a great sport and engaged brilliantly with the group. He was also very knowledgeable about the places we visited. He gave really good recommendations for places we should visit and eat/drink at when we did arrive in the respective cities. (It is not his fault that the cycling route between the cities was not great!).
Advice for Potential Travellers
Think carefully before booking the early September trip because of the intense heat. Also pack insect repellent. The horse flies have a very painful bite! The cycling is a means to an end to reach the glorious cities, but the cycling itself is uninspiring and unrewarding.
Reply from Exodus
We’d like to thank Alex for taking the time to review his trip and for sharing such detailed feedback. While we’re pleased to hear he enjoyed visiting the beautiful towns of Ragusa, Modica, Noto and Syracuse, and that he found Michele to be an excellent leader, we’re sorry that aspects of the cycling experience did not meet his expectations.
We appreciate Alex’s comments regarding the scenery and route selection. While we recognise that preferences can be very personal, this itinerary has been running successfully for many years and the majority of feedback we receive about both the scenery and the balance of the cycling routes is positive. That said, we’re sorry that Alex found some sections less inspiring than he had hoped.
We also note his concerns about the pace of the rides and the number of stops. Given the temperatures experienced during the trip, the additional water and rest breaks were introduced as important safety measures to help protect the wellbeing of the group and reduce the risk of heat-related illness. Whilst we understand that these interruptions affected Alex’s enjoyment of the riding, the leader’s first priority must always be the safety and comfort of the whole group.
Regarding the weather, our Trip Notes highlight that summer departures can experience daily temperatures of 30-35°C, and we’re sorry that Alex found the conditions more challenging than anticipated. The beginning of September can certainly be very warm in Sicily, and we appreciate his advice for future travellers to consider this when selecting a departure date.
Thank you again to Alex for his balanced review, particularly his kind words about Michele. We’re delighted that Michele’s knowledge, enthusiasm and support helped enhance the trip, and we will be sure to pass on his compliments to both Michele and our local team. We hope Alex returns to travel with us again in the future.
– The Exodus Product Team
A new trip which requires some review
Stunning peninsula with a wealth of historic towns. This is effectively a 2 centre trip involving van journeys to/from the rides each day.
Whilst the two hotels used are of a good standard they are somewhat against the ethos of Exodus I have experienced in the past. Both are large and Corporate, the one in Porec being a resort Hotel over run with families & the one in Pula remote from the town involving either a bus or taxi ride or a 45 minute walk along busy roads. The trip would benefit from staying in smaller Croatian run establishments.
Most Inspirational Moment
Wine & olive oil tastings by family run producers.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Enthusiastic & helpful.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Whilst this is a standard biking trip there are an increasing number of e bikes (2:1 ratio on my trip) & the difference is telling on the hills. The guide also has an e bike!
A well-balanced hiking tour with other activities
This was a fantastic hiking trip and a great way to experience Italy. The hikes offered incredible views and a nice variety of scenery, while the cooking experiences and opportunities to discover authentic local restaurants added a wonderful cultural element to the trip. I especially enjoyed the flexibility of the free day. With the hotel close to a train station, it was easy to explore Cinque Terre, go hiking, visit another nearby town, or simply create your own adventure. Overall, I loved the balance of hiking, culture, food, and free time.
Most Inspirational Moment
One of the most inspiring parts of the trip was experiencing the incredible views along the hikes. Each hike offered something different, and it was rewarding to see the beautiful landscapes after putting in the effort to get there. I also really enjoyed the small, genuine cooking experiences. They felt intimate and authentic and gave us a special opportunity to connect with the local culture and people.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our leader, Roberta, was great! She was very knowledgeable, helpful, and always willing to make sure we got the most out of our holiday. She took us to some amazing restaurants that she had personally discovered and selected for the trip, which made the experiences feel especially authentic. On the free day, some guests wanted to explore smaller towns, and Roberta helped them with ideas about what to see and how to get there. She really helped make the trip enjoyable and stress-free.
Advice for Potential Travellers
This is a great hiking trip, so come prepared to hike and enjoy the beautiful scenery! If you have the time, consider adding a few extra days before or after the trip, either at the hotel or in Pisa, to extend your Italian adventure.
Immersive wildlife experience
If you want to go to Borneo primarily to see the wildlife, this trip is unique in its priority focus on just that. The itinerary’s scope across a variety of national parks and wildlife reserves, as well as a diversity of landscapes, gives you so much opportunity and time to explore Borneo’s incredible nature. It was a truly memorable experience to see orangutans in the wild, gibbons swinging through the trees and families of Pygmy Elephants by the river. Not to mention the many other primates, nocturnal mammals, birds and insects we saw. As an Exodus team member, it was a privilege to be able to join our fantastic Tour Leaders and guests, and to experience Borneo in the way we did.
Most Inspirational Moment
Seeing the bats exit Deer Cave in Mulu National Park in their thousands!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our Leaders on this trip were not only experts in wildlife and conservation, they also gave us insights into local history, heritage and tradition, took us to the best places to eat, refilled our water bottles and kept us all organised and on time, making it all look easy!
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take a decent pair of binoculars!
Debut first run of this tour
This was the first time this trip has run and we had a great time. Tajikistan is much newer to tourism than other countries in the area and there were a few issues with trying to fit everything on the itinerary into the day, with some very long journeys,but this is being looked into. The Uzbek half ran very smoothly as tourism here is well established
The trip provides a good contrast between beautiful mountainous Tajikistan and the wonderful architectural monuments of Uzbekistan and there is a good variety of content plus plenty of great food and wonderful warm hospitable people
A great opportunity to see Tajikistan if the more common trekking trips or long 5 Stans trips are not for you
Most Inspirational Moment
Stunning and tranquil Iskanderkul Lake and breathtaking Registan Square by night
Thoughts on Group Leader
We had different leaders in each country. Both were great in different ways and both tried hard to offer a positive experience
Advice for Potential Travellers
Get your Tajik visa through Exodus to avoid additional stress but be aware that either way that the Tajiks leave processing til very late. Book pre tour accommodation for at least 1 night as the flights arrive in the early morning and the long days dont allow for much recovery time As the trip starts over the weekend many banks are shut for money changing but cards were fairly widely accepted in the capital. Even the open banks looked shut so try the door!
Amazing tour guide and scenery
This trip is great for anyone looking for great food, coastal beaches and small towns with amazing architecture
Most Inspirational Moment
Last day of the trip in Valencia
Thoughts on Group Leader
Miguel
Advice for Potential Travellers
Great trip as its not too strenuous, very flat all the way apart from 2 days but where each have about 15 minutes of hill climbing which is steep. If you want to enjoy it even more, take that e bike upgrade.