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.

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3 Reviews

3.7 out of 5

Sheila Sorby

Reviewed April 2024

Best ever guide . Great itinerary . Happily lovely group . Let down by substandard accommodation in places ( excellent in others ) , under guise of authentic guest house considering expense of trip

Excellent Itinerary brilliant guide . Let down by some very poor accommodation . In one ,one toilet shared by about 8 ish . Tiny towels , small pillows full of some sort of bead . Futons very thin . Expensive single room supplement that was only available for 6 nights . Citing difficulty in finding accommodation ( Explore same itinerary single room available every night ) need for better accommodation not entitled . But long hikes , early starts lots of local transport , so element of tiredness.

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking the Kumano Kodo , with snow patches between trees . Varied scenery . Walk through farms and villages with local produce stands . Peace of the temples .Most requiring quite a hike to get to .

Thoughts on Group Leader

Kouhei Nishida . Best guide ever . Nothing too much trouble . Sensible walking pace on the more challenging days . Always giving last person to arrive time to rest . Informative . Sorted queries quickly . And managed to keep group of 12 together despite public transport mishaps , ( us losing tickets , getting lost etc ! )

Advice for Potential Travellers

Hard to compare like with like . Explore about 2K cheaper for 12 days . Single rooms always available . And all have en-suite toilet . Probably not such a good guide

Suggestions

. Apologies for negatively. Overall a brilliant trip . We were very blessed with our group . The reason that accommodation was an issue , was having experienced Excellent Japanese guest houses before start of trip . It would have made such a difference to the adventure to have better more comfortable sleep

Gary Davey

Reviewed May 2023

50/50

A Great two weeks in Japan. Great people friendly, very helpful and polite.

Most Inspirational Moment

The Kumano Kudo was a little disappointing as there were very few spectacular views. 4 days walking 2 of which it rained consistently. The walk is mainly through dense woodlands so main view was trees. Onsens were great in most places but the two nights in the Sarashinaya Japanese Style Inn was very disappointing, a lot of traffic noise and the futon beds were very thin and uncomfortable, the onsen was in a poor state. The option to dig your own onsen by the river, not a great one when it is raining. Really not a great choice Exodus!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader was very good but lacked some knowledge on the Nara area as he was from closer to Tokyo. Overall a good leader, very attentive to some customer excessive requirements. A very likeable chap.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Out of the 2 weeks (in May) it rained 2 days a week, and I mean rained non stop for 2 days so waterproofs a must, along with an umbrella. Other days were high twenties and at times very humid. You should be prepared for long steep climbs, head down and huff and puff to the top.

Simon Lord

Reviewed October 2019

Kumano Kodo: A fascinating insight in to Japan.

This was an excellent trip that we thoroughly enjoyed, giving an insight into contrasting landscapes/areas of Japan and to its culture and food. After initial exploration in and around Kyoto, the four days on the Kumano Kodo trail were quite demanding (particularly because it was so hot on our departure) but we got a fascinating insight into one of the more rural areas, staying in traditional Japanese hotels. A good proportion of the trail itself was in trees with occasional viewpoints and shrines, it also passed through villages and rural settings. The trails are well made and on some days the walking was long, as set out in the trip notes. The traditional Japanese food we ate every day was elaborate and carefully prepared – a bowl of sticky rice and an array of up to around 10 other small dishes of food for each person – at each meal, including breakfast; lunches were bento boxes. There was much fresh seafood by the sea. Travelling on the efficient Japanese public transport was interesting and enjoyable as it is indeed very punctual, but also uncrowded and generally very comfortable. The last couple of days in Tokyo were different again – a short time to get an impression, but as we are not really city people, this was fine.

Most Inspirational Moment

The end of the Kumano Koda trail after four days of hard walking, with a fantastic temple and views to a high waterfall. We also enjoyed the pearl museum and learning about the Ama divers.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Hide, our leader, ensured the trip ran well which was no small feat give the numerous buses, trains and overnight stays that were required to complete our journey.

Advice for Potential Travellers

We went in early September and it was very hot (often over 30 degrees, a hang-over from the hot summer), and the walking was at the upper end of the moderate scale (give the heat). We found sticks important, particularly as the trail could be mossy and slippy after rain. Bring a swimming costume also – there’s opportunity for swimming in the sea as well as useful for the outdoor hot spring.

Suggestions

A fascinating insight in to Japan.