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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128 Reviews

4.6 out of 5

Aloisia Oldland

Reviewed October 2016

Walking the Great Wall

What a truly unique experience to walk various sections of the wall and see rural China, as well as Beijing city and Xi’an.

Most Inspirational Moment

Apart from seeing the Great Wall in all its splendour I would say meeting the Chinese people and experiencing their culture first hand. Doing Tai Chi just before sunset was a highlight too.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader was Jerry Wu and I feel very privileged to have met this most interesting and engaging young gentleman, and a real gentleman he is too. He's a very colourful character (in a good way!) and his command of the English language is first rate. He looked after us so well and nothing was too much trouble. He gave tips on what we could do in our free time and always put our best interests first. He also has a wonderful sense of humour which makes his commentary all the more interesting. He was so much fun to be with.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I travelled in October. It was fresh in the mornings and evenings so, if you're nesh like me, take plenty of layers and warm pyjamas too, especially for the basic guest houses.

Nicholas Sutton

Reviewed October 2016

Great Wall of China

An amazing 10 day trip that was full of inspirational moments – breathtaking scenery and a varied itinerary meant that the time flew by too quickly! The group size at 9 was ideal, meaning we all fitted around one table and were able to discuss the days proceedings! Really great set of people too.

Most Inspirational Moment

Climbing the first "Spider Wall" with no hesitation and being overwhelmed with the views!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our Group Leader Jerry was very organised and "full to the brim" with local knowledge and history! He was very passionate about China which came across in his group chats. He looked after the whole group ensuring we were all fed and "watered" to our satisfaction at all times, and constantly checking that we were drinking enough water etc

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure you work on your leg fitness before you go to get the full enjoyment out of the holiday, also worth the investment in decent walking boots! Take a camera with plenty of memory - you'll be taking loads of pictures.

Alison Carr

Reviewed October 2016

Great Wall of China

This trip was to celebrate my 50th Birthday and was my 8th trip with Exodus. I vowed after my son then aged 9 went ill suddenly 15 years ago (and is now severely disabled ) that life is just a rehearsal and I want to see a different country every year now before I die! I hopefully will have many many trips with Exodus as would not use another company now. The trip was fantastic and extremely well organized!

Most Inspirational Moment

Going up the Spider Wall on the first day of walking and also seeing the Terra cotta Warriers.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jerry our Group leader was everything you would want in a leader. Extremely well organized and felt very safe with him. One of the best leaders I have had with all my Exodus trips.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't the massage - they about kill you!!!!!

Vinay Mohan

Reviewed September 2016

A superb introduction to China!

Flying into Beijing, visiting Tiananmen Square and walking some off-the-beaten-path sections of the Great Wall was a wonderful introduction to China. As usual, excellent local guidance and support from Exodus.

The trek itself is more ‘challenging’ than ‘tough’ and usually left me feeling there was just a little bit of that ‘extra action’ that was missing at the end of the day.
That being said, if you’re a first-time hiker or looking for short bursts of quadricep-burning challenges with lots of photo-ops, this is a great place to start.

Most Inspirational Moment

Probably the 'Tai Chi' lesson at sunset in Gubeikou, with the uplifting Chinese music playing in the background. Also, climbing up the 'Spider-man wall' on Day 2 and approaching the 'Stairway to Heaven' on Day 4. Definitely not for the faint of heart or vertigo-sufferers! But a great feeling once you've overcome these challenges. I made some wonderful friends over a forgettable number of rounds of 'Mongolian Firewater' and karaoke!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jerry Wu is a fantastic tour leader. Active, funny, efficient and full of information - he made the experience memorable and clarified many a misconception that we had around ancient and present-day China. Huge respect for Jerry, Driver Ding and all our hosts in the country-side guest houses whose hospitality and efficiency made this a superb adventure holiday.

Advice for Potential Travellers

1. Pack light. An 8L daypack with 1.5-2.5L water per day is more than adequate. 2. Some of the guest houses baths do not have 24/7 hot water. Check the drains for blockage before soaping up. 3. While the food was delicious, strict vegetarians must be prepared to contend with traces of meat in stocks. 4. If you'd like to step up the challenge level on this trek, do not bring trekking poles. 5. Bed Bugs!

Patrick Dunn

Reviewed August 2016

A Great Walk

A personal journey into the unknown became a truly memorable experience. My first Exodus trip into a country I didn’t know and with people I didn’t know. With the wisdom of restrospect, I possibly should have known that such a venture would bring together like minds – adventure seeking, fun-loving, witty, sociable, interesting lives – yes, all of these. I was so lucky to be thrown into this group of people and they made it for me.

Most Inspirational Moment

One dusky evening we were led in Tai Chi on the Great Wall right by the Asian Gate. We then watched a very beautiful sunsetting behind the Crouching Tiger Mountain which we had climbed that day. On the penultimate evening, our leader advised us to go out into the town where we danced with the locals (mainly elderly ladies) in formation to funky Chinese techno pop music. An act of true and honest community on their part and not at all for our benefit as tourists.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader and guide, Jerry, was endlessly patient and charming. His pride and enthusiasm for his native China gave us something of the true essence of this fascinating country.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I underestimated the challenge of the trekking at times, but managed nonetheless and had a great time. I would advise potential travellers to prepare physically - lose a bit weight, walk lots, go to the gym and do steps. The notes advise long trousers but shorts are much better and fine. It's very hot and humid (August). I went out on my own the last day and wandered the streets of Beijing for a while. I felt perfectly safe and comfortable. No-one bothers you and no-one ever hassles you. The Chinese are very polite and respectful.

Paul Appleby

Reviewed July 2016

Great walks on the Great Wall

It is a myth that you can see the Great Wall of China from space. But close up it is an amazing structure, with a fascinating history. This walk took us to parts of the Wall that other tourists never reach. And with a guide who brought Chinese history and culture to life. It is a strenuous walk, with lots of steep ups and downs – I lost count of the number of times we encountered “the thousand steps” or “the stairway to heaven” – but it is well worth the effort.

Most Inspirational Moment

There was a moment on the third day of trekking when I looked around and realised that all I could see in any direction was uninhabited wooded hills, with the Great Wall snaking through the landscape from one horizon to the other. And we had this breath-taking, awesome view to ourselves.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Could not have wished for a better group leader than Jerry Wu. He kept us safe and together through some pretty wild terrain - we were his "sticky rice dumpling". He shared his considerable knowledge of Chinese history,culture and language with us with passion and good humour. And we enjoyed excellent food, drinks and accommodation which all just appeared effortlessly - no doubt thanks to Jerry's efforts behind the scenes. (Jerry is his chosen English name; on the last night he revealed his Chinese name and why he doesn't tell groups that name on day 1 - a story which had us all in stitches. If you ever get to meet him, do ask!)

Advice for Potential Travellers

You do need to be prepared for some physically challenging sections, scrambling up or down steep and uneven slopes. I took trekking poles and was very glad of the extra support. If you are afraid of heights some sections will be uncomfortable. But our group of mixed ages and abilities - from students to retirees, from occasional day hikers to multiple marathon runners - all managed the walk. The only real problem was the heat and humidity - if that bothers you don't do this walk in July!

Brett Scott

Reviewed July 2016

Up and Down on The Great Wall

A great trip, which opens the eyes and the mind to the achievement that is the great wall. Hard work but gratifying. There is no other way to put it into context other than to “climb” and see for yourself.

Most Inspirational Moment

To see the magnitude of the structure and try to imagine the difficulty of the construction at the time, all by hand, cannot be anything but inspirational.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jerry was great, super informative, jovial and well organised.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Have some fitness, not a trip for couch potatoes.

Peter Pope

Reviewed June 2016

Walking the Great Wall of China

I have waited for the last 3 years to go on this trip having been stopped by one thing or another, but now I have finally done it and it was everything that I had hoped for and more. It was tiring, it was exhausting, it was Magic. The whole thing from start to finish was perfect, (well apart from the flight home) the guide met me at the airport and looked after me until he dropped me off to catch my flight home, thank you Jerry.

Most Inspirational Moment

There was nothing that stood out on its own, the whole thing was a blast from start to finish. The bus ride through the streets of China, the various home stays that were used, the food and the quantity of it, the scenery from the Wall and the watch towers, even the climb up from the road to the Wall was breath taking in more ways than one. No there was not one thing there was many.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jerry was the group leader, a first class chap he was too, a constant flow of information no matter where we were and with an answer to all the questions about the Wall, the tombs, the forbidden city. He kept a constant check on us all the time with updates on what we would be doing and what we could expect on our next track. I dont know what your other group leaders are like but if they are like Jerry then you will have no complaints.

Advice for Potential Travellers

There are a few things that I would like to pass on, firstly if you are thinking of walking the Wall do it ASAP as it is being rebuilt bit by bit and I would guess that it wont be too long before it will have all been done. The other thing I would mention is that the Wall is not flat, in fact you will find if it is not going up at an alarming angle it will be going down in a similar manner, there is very little that is anything like flat. The best thing that you could do to train for this walk is to climb up and down stairs and I mean tens of hundreds, our first walk on the Wall was up 1000 steps just to get to the base of the Wall, I had trained but not for that and it almost stoped me. But it didnt and after I made it to the top the views were worth it. My advice is train on stairs, good luck on your trip

Karen Baker

Reviewed June 2016

Walking the Great Wall

What a great holiday! From Walking the Wall, the food, Beijing, the amazing acrobat show, eating in the ‘hutongs’, seeing the Terracotta Warriors and travelling on the overnight train (on the Xian extension) – I enjoyed it all and can’t enthuse enough about the entire trip. I’ve never been anywhere ‘out of the ordinary’ before this holiday or travelled with Exodus and I would totally recommend this particular holiday and the company.

Most Inspirational Moment

It is difficult to pick just one inspirational moment on this trip as there were many! One of the best moments though was stepping onto the Wall for the first time as it truly is as amazing as it looks in all the photographs. Other memorable moments were seeing the Terracotta Warriors, the sights in the cities of Beijing and Xian and the food - totally delicious - and mastering chopsticks!

Thoughts on Group Leader

The group leader for the main trip was called Jerry - he was knowledgable, experienced, had a great sense of humour and looked after the group really well. He made a great trip into a fantastic trip. Ling looked after us during the Xian extension (well worth doing) and again, another great local guide.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Some of the accommodation was quite basic and most of the beds were fairly firm; so travellers should go with an open mind and don't expect luxury. The bedding however was always clean and fresh and the accommodation hosts were always welcoming.

Jayne Burman

Reviewed June 2016

Walking The Great Wall

What a fabulous holiday, off the beaten track, seeing a bit more of real China. Can’t recommend it enough. We had a great group of people, a mix of singles and couples and we all got along well. I thoroughly enjoyed the overnight train experience to Xi’on too. The walking was at a good pace and the hills and steps a welcome challenge.

Most Inspirational Moment

The Great Wall itself. Until you walk on it and experience it up close, you cannot possibly appreciate just what a feat of engineering it is, and to think it was built so many years ago without today's modern equipment.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jerry was a treasure. He was very helpful and knowledgable, he fit in well with the group and would happily chose him as a guide again on another visit to China should the opportunity arise.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Yes, the trip notes sat soft bags which it right, but make sure they have wheels still! A couple of drop offs from the coach involved a walk, not long for most but with 20kg of weight after a day's walking would not suit everyone.

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