Reviews

Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers

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13463 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Reviewed February 2011

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - LEMOSHO ROUTE

Kili climbing… was certainly one of a kind life experience. The perfect conditions to challenge yourself and find your inner peace and strenght. It is hard to describe really, you have to live it to understand it!

Most Inspirational Moment

I loved most of the days, especially being so close to nature. If I had to chose a moment, obviously the summit day (actually night) is pretty mindblowing. After walking up for 5 hours in the dark, when our guide told me 'don't lose your confidence sister' and kindly carried my backpack, 2 hours before reaching Uhuru peak, I suddendly felt an adrenaline kick, and wings growing in my feet...

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was extremely responsible, he knew so much about the mountain, and was great in managing the team and bringing everybody together. The 2 other guides were amazing as well, both wise and professional and yet super friendly and cheerful. We had so much fun. I must also add that our guides' mountain gear was much better than those of many other trekking companies we found on the way, showing they take good care of their staff.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Lemosho route is definetely the best to reach the peak as you spend several extra days on the mountain just to acclimatise in preparation for the summit ascent. It is also really enjoyable since you leave from a beautiful pine forest, and arrive through a lovely tropical forest, so you get a lot of variety.Trust your guides! Drink loads, walk slowly, it is not a competition! Bring a camel bag, as it is the only way to drink enough as you walk to meet the 4-5L water requirement/day.Also, I was happy I had hired a matress through Exodus as they were much thicker than those you get in mountain shops, they also isolate better from the cold. Honestly, I slept like a baby every night.For the summit ascent: bring loads of snacks, better liquid (energy gels for instance) as the cereal bars and chocolate will freeze. An ipod is also great as the summit ascent can get a bit monotonous when you are walking for hours in the dark and personally music kept me going..Keep all electrical equipment next to you body every night (in your sleeping bag) and during the final ascent so the batteries don't freeze. There is signal on the top so you can send text to family and friends to tell them you have reached the top!

Suggestions

The food was fabulous. It was a luxury to have fresh popcorn for afternoon tea, and crepes for desserts. Overall the meals were very balanced and tasty.Be prepared to feel the mountain blues when you come down!

Reviewed February 2011

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - RONGAI ROUTE

A fantastic opportunity to get to the top of the highest mountain in Africa. It is amazing what you can achieve when you put your mind to it. This trip is possible for anyone with reasonable fitness and a bucket load of determination; as the final night slog up the hill is mentally hard – keeping focussed is the key. The guides were extremely helpful throughout the trip and we wouldn’t have succeeded without them.

Most Inspirational Moment

Getting to the top of Kilimanjaro; beyond words.Though looking back on the trip, I would say the guides assistance in getting to the top was inspirational in that they provided excellent support (getting water, warming hands up, doing jackets up) but didn't verbally encourage you to go on, but did so through their patience and just being there. Perfect for such a challenge.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The group was good and organised the trip well.

Advice for Potential Travellers

My partner and I found taking diamox helped us prevent severe headaches. Drink loads of water, it helps. Take immodium in case the combination of altitude, water and food make you ill. Be mentally prepared for the last day by being focussed on what you want to achieve; it is possible.

Suggestions

Camping and food was excellent much better than I expected, especially the vegetarian food; the chef did us proud.It was good to include the one day safari, though quite expensive if only 2/3 of you go.The tip at the end was quite expensive and was more than quoted in the trip notes. Definitely would be better to pay up front (perhaps to Exodus) and include a small tip at the end.If possible take old clothes (mainly male sizes) as the porters are grateful for any contributions. Perhaps Exodus could arrange a collection at the start/end of trip?

Reviewed February 2011

KERALA & TROPICAL INDIA

A great trip. Getting off the beaten track in India, riding through small villages and along back roads, provided an opportunity to see India away from any other visitors. The welcome from the people of India, just riding past them, was amazing and completely unexpected. Some great cycling, and a very well constructed trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

The long descent from Ooty is an amazing ride - mile after mile of sweeping turns, with amazing views amongst the tea plantations.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The group leader has created a great trip, that blends some tough cycling (a very steep climb half way through the trip) with some easy and relaxing days (especially on the houseboats - which are lovely by the way). We also experienced some great food.

Advice for Potential Travellers

While there are 1-2 long cycling days these are taken at a modest pace. Most people of moderate fitness could do this trip and really enjoy it.

Suggestions

This was a trip where we rarely felt like tourists. Most of the places we went to (apart from the first two days in Mysore, and our time in Fort Cochin) were rarely visited by non-Indians, and therefore we were treated and welcomed like visitors or guests, not tourists. This was a privilege and a great feeling. The welcome and greeting from the Indian people in less-visited areas was incredible. I am not exaggerating when I say that I have never experienced anything like it on any trip.

Reviewed February 2011

HIGHLIGHTS OF MOROCCO

A lot of travelling but well worth it to see such variety, and so interesting. The minibus a bit crowded and the first not very welcoming.

Most Inspirational Moment

The Berber people.Gorge walkingDesert trip

Thoughts on Group Leader

Super and kind

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go go go

Suggestions

What an experience !

Reviewed February 2011

KERALA & TROPICAL INDIA

I consider myself pretty well travelled, but this was by far the best holiday I’ve ever been on. The organisation and planning was first class, aided by an excellent guide with local knowledge of the best cycle routes, eateries, hotels and cultural treasures. We hardly saw any other tourists for the majority of the trip which gave the sense of experiencing ‘real’ Indian life. The scenery was diverse and made every day seem like a new adventure, passing through the hustle and bustle of towns, quiet rural villages, tea plantations, coastal tracks and tranquil backwaters. The only constant was a chorus of greetings from excited local children, which seemed to follow us wherever we went. Despite being an active holiday, I found the balance between physical exertion and relaxation to be well planned. The houseboat experience was particularly therapeutic and reminded me how important it is to take some time to unwind whilst away. All in all an amazing adventure that I’d strongly recommend to anyone.

Reviewed February 2011

KERALA & TROPICAL INDIA

I kept thinking, "it can’t get any better", but it did!

Most Inspirational Moment

The 2200m steady descent from Ooty was spectacular. It was quite cool when we set off in the early morning and, after a few undulating miles through the Nilgiri Hills, we glided down through a range of climate zones to palm trees and the warmth of the plain. It was 5 hours of non-pedaling bliss with far too many temptations to capture the stunning scenery on camera. Another of the many highlights was the ride from chaotic Mysore to Bandipur National Park. On quiet country lanes, we were introduced, for the fist time, to rural life in India and jubilant greetings from dozens of children. This became a regular and heart-warming feature during the trip. It really is a different world in these small villages and cycling enabled us to see this at close quarters.Peter, our leader, managed to arange a cycle run to a Hindu festival and this was simply mind-blowing with a dozen elephants adorned in spectacular colours, huge bands of Keralan drummers and horn players and dancers supporting massive colourful spinning wheels. This was Hinduism at it's most vibrant! I heard that they manage to find a such a festival on most trips.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Peter was a suberb and confident leader with a huge bank of useful knowledge about the country. He was pleasantly laid back and there was no experience of being too organised; a problem among some leaders.Joseph, his co leader, was a delightful and considerate Indian guy and quite new to the job. He was invaluable as well as being a strong and fast cyclist.

Advice for Potential Travellers

When we first met as a group, two of the major concerns were, cycling in the chaotic traffic and the climb to Ooty. These were also my worries.Don't worry about the traffic. Things may seem a bit chaotic and your intrusion is just one tiny additional element to the scene. Drivers seem to cope well with all this; they are masters at judging your speed and avoiding you. Cycling through towns becomes a breeze eventually. Try to keep 3 metres away from the edge of the road and mantain a decent distance from the cyclist or vehicle in front of you. There's an abundance of pot holes and speed bumps in the towns and drivers tend to stop suddenly and without warning to negotiate these. Cyclists can be vulnerable in these circumstances, so the most important piece of advice in my view is to keep your distance, particularly in the small towns.The climb to Ooty is not a race even though an element of male and female machismo emerges at times! Some walked or grabbed a lift in the support mini bus for all or part of the climb. Others did it ever so slowly. Believe me, nobody cares a jot or tittle if you don't cycle to the top. It's a holiday, not a competition.

Suggestions

This must be one of the trips you must do before you die!Just do it! You will not regret it!

Reviewed February 2011

KERALA & TROPICAL INDIA

Cycling was by far the best way to get off the beaten track and see 600km of rural India. The diversity of the places we saw/stayed, the locals, the food, the wildlife and the culture made this a truly unforgettable experience.

Most Inspirational Moment

Going through the rural villages where everyone runs out of their houses (children and adults) to see us and wave to us was so special. These people have very little but they are truly inspriational in making the most of what they do have.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader, Pete, was fantastic. He was so knowledgable about everything we saw as well as the history of the country, the politics, the religions, the food and the people in general. He gave this information to those who were curious but didn't preach to those who weren't interested. Pete and his team (Shibu and Joseph - both also fantastic) ensured that our bikes were really well maintained, often working late into the evening whilst we were relaxing.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I had a point and shoot camera dangling from my wrist at all times whilst I was cycling so I was able to capture all the spontaneous wonders that I saw. The only problem with this is that with so many photos and so many places visited, when I got home I had no idea where a lot of them were taken. If you have an iPhone, I highly recommend you use this to double up some of the photos, especially location shots (eg beaches or temples) as the iPhone automatically uses GPS to plot your photo onto Google maps. This has not only helped me identify my huge catalogue of photos, it has brilliantly plotted the route for me. I also took some new probiotic pastilles called 'Bimuno Travelaid' each morning that I was there and a week beforehand. These are available from Boots or online and have great reviews. I would add to the good review - I had no problems with my tummy whatsoever.

Suggestions

This trip had a perfect mix of cycling and down time. Most of the cycling was pretty straight forward and with so much to see, it was amazing how easy and painless it was to clock up 90km in a day. Along the way there was always a festival or dance going on which our guide found out about and spontaneously took us to. That was fantastic. We had an amazing reception from the locals in many places as being the only Westerners there, they were genuinely excited to see us. They loved having their photos taken and were flattered when we did so. A really refreshing change from other cultures. They also loved taking photos or us with their phones. I think I must have posed individually with about 25 men who I'm sure will have gone back to their village and told all their friends that I'm their English girlfriend! The accommodation was all a pretty or very good standard. I had a sleeping bag and mosquito net with me thinking that as some of the accommodation was labelled as basic, I'd need them. But I didn't need either. In fact, the two nights in 'basic hotel' were 2 of the best nights! This trip has been excellently researched and the guides and support vehicle ensured we really got the best out of our time in India. I loved every minute.

Reviewed February 2011

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING: DOBBIACO

Met some lovely people of all ages and enjoyed a very different type of holiday. Got a real sense of achievement from this terrific break!

Most Inspirational Moment

Thinking I couldn't control my ski's down the fast slopes and whooping for joy when I could. It gave me a real high and inspired me to learn new skils!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Albert was excellent - laid back, thought what he said and brought the best out of each of us. Watch out if you have any food left over at lunchtime as Albert has a big appetite and will wolf it down, especially if it's grilled cheese!

Advice for Potential Travellers

take lots of layers of fleeces as the mornings start very cold but you soon warm up. Be a team player and listen to the leader - its not about skiing the fastest or how many people you can overtake, its about applying new skiing techniques to make you a better cross-country skier. Come with a positive, yes I can attitude and you will have lots of fun and make lots of lovely people!

Suggestions

I thought the food was great but the late afternoon flight home was too late as many people had further connections and was a very long day. Also Innsbruck airport is packed and very badly organized, be prepared to queue and bring a book with you!

Reviewed February 2011

THE TROPICAL SOUTH

We were looked after so well, our guide thought of everything. Exodus were well organised and prompt.

Most Inspirational Moment

Visiting a Hindu temple with our Hindu guide who gave us so much infomation.Watching the sun go down from our houseboat on the backwaters. Beautiful.

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was everything one could want from a guide. I liked the fact he was a local man and a Hindu so could give us so much infomation about the way of life there.He was very well organised and went the extra mile.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go with Exodus, you will not be disappointed.

Suggestions

A lovely holiday giving a really good overview of what life is like in Southern India. With a few relaxing bits added.

Reviewed February 2011

CYCLE INDOCHINA & ANGKOR

There is no better way to see a country than to ride it. This average daily distance is ideal for anyone. Even the most unfit one in our group who struggled a little, (just a little), on day one, coped admirably overall. Book it, you will not be disappointed.

Most Inspirational Moment

The first 1k of the first warm up ride on day one. I knew then I was in for a very special holiday.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Al was a star. A small problem maybe, and he was there for you, he just appeared from nowhere.All three country guides were also very good, although I did struggle to understand our Cambodian guide a bit more.I really couldn't fault any of the support staff at all.

Advice for Potential Travellers

As with all Exodus trips, carefully read the, "Is this trip for you", section on the trip notes. If there is nothing major that puts you off, then book it, you will not be disappointed.I rode with open toed sandles, (Merrells), they were great, but dont forget the sunscreen on your toes. Padded undershorts are a must, without pants or knickers, (they will be the most likely cause of irritation), over-shorts, cycling shirt with rear pockets to hold your camera, tissues, and anti-bacterial gel. Girls, sports bra is recommended. A full length zip for the shirt is good to allow for max ventilation. Four sets of shirts and undershorts, two pairs of over shorts, (knee length as this will get you in to temples etc), is more than enough. Take a one litre water bottle for the rides, and aim to drink most if not all between stops when you can re-fill. Personally I wouldn't bother with a back pack or hydration pack as these will just weigh you down and make you sweaty. Don't bother to bring your own snacks, (unless you have special dietry needs of course), as the tip/snack kitty will cover everything you need.

Suggestions

A map of each days ride would be really nice.The communial snacks, nuts/dried fruit that are in a big jar or packet, it would be nice to encourage from bag into hand rather than your hand into the bag/jar for hygene reasons.

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