Reviews

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

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14259 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Reviewed November 2012

CUBAN HIGHLIGHTS RIDE

I very much enjoyed travelling around Cuba, learning about its history and seeing its beautiful countryside in action. Our guide, Freddy was excellent: informative and thoughtful. It was great to be in a group where you could share discoveries and talk about everything we were seeing and learning.

Most Inspirational Moment

Cycling through the rich countryside, past farms and forests.. fragrent and fertile!But the historic visits were much more interesting than I expected and I felt much better informed by the time I left - was glad to learn it all.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Just brilliant: Freddy told us so much about Cuban history and helped us look at what we were seeing with informed gaze. Always ready to answer questions and help us get the best out of our stay. He was relaxed, cheerful and patient with us all!

Advice for Potential Travellers

BRING YOUR OWN SADDLE! the saddles on the hire bikes were excruciatingly hard and knobbly and those who brought their own had a much better time. Bring a universal bath plug - several places had no plugs. Make it clear what degree of cycling energy you plan to put in - and don't be deterred by others with a different outlook.Several of our party were there for the cycling 'challenge' of travelling quickly through the terrain. This made a difficult contradiction with my motivation - at 66 I was there 'to see Cuba by bicycle'.. you can't see much if you are rushing to the max. If you are like me and don't want to rush, stick to your guns, don't be hurried and in extremis get on the bus! Get out and explore each of the places you stay in: you will be surrounded by wonders and you are VERY safe: just ENJOY!

Reviewed November 2012

DISCOVER CHILE

This holiday met all of my expectations and in some cases exceeded them

Most Inspirational Moment

There were many! I think I can only generalise - I was amazed by the extremes of the country from the Atacama desert to snow capped volcanies to glaciers to penguins etc. etc.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader was invaluable for all of the travelling involved and he eased us through the various local airports especialloy the more remote ones where only a little English was spoken. His administration was first class.I do feel however that although he had lived in various parts of Chile he could have provided more 'tour' information, the information he did give was accurate and informative.On the whole he made a positive contribution and the trip was the better for his presence.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Chile was more expensive than I had believed it to be, it is a fairly prosperous society and most things were more expensive than the UK. Almost everywhere would take US dollars and in the exchange bureaux I rarely saw an exchange rate for sterling. Although a little more expensive generally everything was good value and some of the meals were huge!Easter Island was also expensive but as virtually everything is imported this is perfectly understandable.

Reviewed November 2012

CYCLING VIETNAM

Phenomenal tour with first class organisation. The cycling is excellent and anyone who is reasonably fit will manage it. Vietnam is beautiful, hectic, peaceful, serene, overbearing and friendly all at once.

Most Inspirational Moment

Too many to count. Each day you got up, had an amazing time which you thought couldn't be bettered yet the next day somehow managed to! Cycling the Hai Van pass, kayaking and 6am swim in Halong Bay and Hoi An were particular favourites of mine however the show stopper was the 35km descent from 5500ft to sea level after Dalat. Just - wow. 40mph+ down switchback roads on a mountain bike whilst overtaking the motorized vehicles!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Chi simply made the holiday. Informative, funny, a beast on the bike! The support staff (buss driver, truck driver, mechanic) were also first class.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Vietnam is dirt cheap so you won't need a lot of spending money. Take some US dollars in cash (new, pristine notes) with you Bring padded shorts!

Reviewed November 2012

AMALFI COAST: POMPEII & PIZZA - FAMILY HOLIDAY

A great introduction to the area, with experiences which would be difficult to have as a "normal" tourist. A good variety of activities for everyone. We definitely want to return to the region so we can revisit some of the places with more time!

Most Inspirational Moment

There were several:1) Pompeii - just walking down the streets after our time with the guide, saying "Imagine coming out of this house and going to the bakers next door", now that we knew that's exactly what they were.2) Arriving at Vesuvius after horrendous rain to find the clouds had cleared and we had the full view of both the bay and the crater when we reached the top!3) Doing part of the "Walk of the Gods" and having lunch along the way to the sound of a herd of goats nearby4) The view from the top at Ana Capri - simply stunning!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Suzy was a great leader, particularly with the children! She was able to keep them all going even when energy was flagging and it was amazing how brilliantly they all bonded together - in fact, some days we hardly saw our children. Suzy had a lot of local knowledge and was very keen to show us her favourite places everywhere we went; sometimes it would have been better if she had curtailed her enthusiasm slightly and given us more time to explore at our own pace! But overall she was excellent and you certainly couldn't fault her dedication.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure you have cash rather than thinking you will be able to rely on cards; the only time we paid by card was the final bill at the hotel but we did end up having to find bank ATMs several times. Several places specifically asked for cash when cards were produced, despite having the usual card signs displayed. All the families in our group had the same experience. You will need more cash than you might imagine, for example our Capri day cost our family well over 100 Euros and we didn't buy anything in the shops or go on a boat trip.If you go at the end of the season, as we did, be well prepared for rain!If you get the chance to go to Herculaneum, do go - we weren't able to as the weather on our free day was horrendous, but the walking holiday group staying at the same time as us went when the weather was better and said it was even better than Pompeii.

Reviewed November 2012

ATLAS DESCENT

This trip was everything I was hoping it would be, varied riding surfaces, a number of challenging ascents as well as some long (and in places) technical descents, fantastic mountain scenery and great weather. The hire bikes took a real battering but stood up to the conditions well. The Tour Leader and support Team were always available to help out with any punctures and bike repairs that were needed, and always with a smile on their faces.

Most Inspirational Moment

I really enjoyed the climbs on the bike, and also the short technical parts of the riding (as this was something I had not done much of before). However, my favourite riding was on the high pistes around Tafroute, on the first few days of the week, as we were blessed with incredible views of the red mountains with stunning blue skies and warm sunshine.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Liz was great. She managed to keep a large group of cyclists in order and showed interest in everyone in the party so people didn't feel left out. She was very supportive to all riders and their various abilities and encouraged everyone to enjoy the riding, without putting pressure on to speed up or 'take the van'. In what is undoubtably a stressful situation at times for a leader, Liz always managed to keep her cool and got the group through the days with a minimum of fuss.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I would certainly agree that everyone needs some off road biking experience, as some of the sections are quite technical and rocky in places. The bikes that are provided are very good and do take some battering, so I would not particularly recommend taking your own bike from home. I was glad to have taken my own saddle though!!

Reviewed November 2012

SOUTH AFRICA: CYCLING THE CAPE & WINELANDS

Overall, a well organised trip with spectacular scenery and good winetasting. Accommodation was variable in style but most was very good, and the cottages at Franschoek were delightful. The guesthouse at Barrydale was also excellent. a good balance of cycling and sightseeing, although a little more time to sightsee would be good. There were also a fair number of transfers on the bus, but maybe this is unavoidable.

Most Inspirational Moment

Watching whales at Hermanus was hard to beat - they are HUGE and very close to the shore. Cycling Chapmans Peak Drive on the last day was a most beautiful cycle, not as tough as feared, and glorious scenery. Also the headwind had dropped a little!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Tallis was very organised, and kept the different abilities of the group together with good humour. He was also sensible enough to cancel one afternoons cycle as it was dangerously windy. Sofiso drove the bus, cooked, loaded and unloaded all our stuff, and was always a most welcome sight at the breaks with water, fruit and jelly babies!

Advice for Potential Travellers

I would assess it as harder than "moderate". Everyone on our trip had hired Exodus bikes and they were heavy ATBs rather than hybrids which would have been more suitable. Most of the cycles were moderate in length but very hilly(which meant lovely views), and there was a horrible headwind almost every day which made the cycling much harder than it sounds on paper. But there is always the option of catching a ride on the bus. And the encouragement of the group generally kept everyone going!

Reviewed November 2012

PETRA & WADI RUM BY BIKE

I don’t think I had any idea of the cultural, religious, and historical significance of most of the places we visited. In fact, I don’t think I had any idea what to expect at all. Nonetheless, the people, the places, the food, the experiences, all of it far exceeded any expectation I could have possibly had. The cycling was mostly downhill or flat and so moderate is probably an accuarate rating for the average person, but for me personally, it was perhaps the only thing (only slightly) disappointing about this trip. If you ever have the chance, do it!

Most Inspirational Moment

The day spent out on the Red Sea (and to think I almost didn't go), followed by a beautiful ride through Wadi Rum, followed by a 4x4 ride till sunset, the traditional Bedouin meal at our camp, star gazing for hours, and sleeping under the stars was by far THE. BEST. DAY. EVER.Notable runners up are the hike up to the monastery at Petra and an afternoon bathing in the Dead Sea.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our guide Danny was absolutely terrific. I felt bad that I could not remember 10% of what he told us, hence I'll have to buy a book on Jordan and read up on all the history and culture after the fact. He also made great recommendations for restaurants where the food was excellent and not all that expensive.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Definitely go with an open mind and a relatively good level of fitness (ie not for couch potatoes) for full enjoyment.

Reviewed November 2012

GALAPAGOS WILDLIFE CRUISE

WOW! This trip exceeded my expectations so much, the trip notes provided the basic itinerary, and guides books help you prepare for what you will see, but nothing prepared me for the WOW factor of swimming with the sealiions & turtles, and that was just the start, seeing the albatross so close and so many, having the chance to see the mating dance, just amazing.

Most Inspirational Moment

So many highlights, but I think swimming with just one sealion on our last snorkel trip, he just wanted to play with us, and it was just lovely, he didn't want us to get out.

Thoughts on Group Leader

We were lucky enough to have Darwin, and having read other reports about him, we knew we were lucky, and I have to agree with others that have had him as their guide, he is so well prepared, ready to answer any questions, so full of information that he spends the time passing on to you. Will adapt the daily routine to ensure that the guests are happy, and takes into account the likes & dislikes as much as he can. Nothing was too much trouble for him.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Enjoy every moment of the trip, as well as getting to know your fellow travellers take the time to also get to know the crew, and they will help make it a great holiday, the team on the Cachalote with us just made us laugh so much, Roberto has a laugh that I will never forget.And a reminder that the storage space in the rooms is very limited, once you get over the shock it is fine, and I think in all cases we all made it work, but don't think we ever got over the initial shock.

Reviewed November 2012

CYCLING VIETNAM

A totally inspiring trip. The route and itinerary have been well researched and provide a cycling, sightseeing, boating, driving etc holiday while experiencing the real Vietnam

Most Inspirational Moment

So many! Gliding down through the vast national park from Delat. Cycling up the Hi Van pass and finally reaching the top

Thoughts on Group Leader

Lam was the best leader we could have had. Ever patient, encouraging,informative and with a pride in his Homeland. Also with a great sense of humour.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go for it. Do try and get a little fitter before you go as it will make it easier in the heat.

Reviewed November 2012

KENYA & TANZANIA ADVENTURE

Brilliant trip, amazing opportunities for seeing wildlife, and a great way to get under the skin of East Africa. Be prepared for some long (but not uncomfortable) journeys, but they are really worthwhile as you see so much of Africa while travelling through the countryside. An experience that will be with me for a very long time.

Most Inspirational Moment

Two real highlights and one slight disappointment. We did a safari on foot in Lake Nakuru National Park, which I will never forget. We got amazingly close to lots of diverse wildlife, and there really is nothing quite like creeping amongst the trees and suddenly coming face-to-knee with a giraffe! Very knowledgable guides kept us safe, and knew where every single buffalo was before we had even noticed one of them. The second highlight was definitely the Ngorongoro crater. I won't spoil it for you... You just have to experience it for yourself - Comletely mind-blowing! The disappointment was not being able to do the balloon safari in the Serengeti. There's only one company operating balloons, and they only take 32 people per day. So, your chances of doing it are very slim, which isn't clear from the trip notes. Another really great thing about this trip is the sheer amount of "typical Africa" you see. If you've been put off by the amount of driving described inthe trip notes, then I would encouage you not to worry. There is one 10-hour-ish journey, but there's so much to see and you get an excellent view being so high up in the truck.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Moses was very knowledgable, spoke almost perfect English, and was very friendly and helpful. He went out of his way to ensure everything ran smoothly and was always willing to answer questions. You can't ask for more really.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't bother taking a mosquito net. You'll want to be in a tent for privacy in the campsites, and for safety (from wildlife) when in the Parks. The tents are completely mosquito proof. However, Deet is your best friend, and if you don't stink of it, particularly during the evenings, expect to be bitten! Take US$ as $50 bills as the exchange rate is better in Tanzania. (Sterling exchange rate is poor, and forget travellers cheques.) You must have a single $50 bill to buy your visa to get into Tanzania; smaller notes are not accepted. Everyone will tell you to get a spare camera battery, and don't ignore them! Power is intermittent and the supply on the truck has limited capacity. There is a strict 15kg weight limit on the flight to Zanzibar, which isn't in the trip notes. We had to pay for excess baggage, but it was only a few dollars. If you're not that keen on camping, don't worry! Most nights you can upgrade to a simple room with a proper bed for around £10. A good headtorch is essential, as you may want to scan around for eye-shine before emerging from your tent at night!

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