02034116734
ASK A QUESTION
Review Centre
hero-image

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.

Excellent
4K reviews on

Select a trip specific review:

20 Reviews

4.9 out of 5

Reviews

All Good

All Good

Most Inspirational Moment

Snorkelling on the Coral Reef

Thoughts on Group Leader

Great…both very professional and very friendly

Advice for Potential Travellers

Most of my points have already been covered by other reviews…but would add that this trip works particularly well as regards tagging on extra days either pre or post the Group Travel Itinerary dates. In our case we arrived at (the Group hotel, excellent) Ubud 3 nights early and enjoyed temples, walking through villages, meals, shopping and adjusting our body clocks. We also stayed on a few nights in the Group Hotel in Canngu…though in truth the hotel is probably more at the top of Seminyak…which has a more established feel to it, than Canngu which has a more hipster, surfer feel. Actually some of the nicest groupings of bars and restaurants we found in the area, were just along the seafront to the left of the Group Hotel.

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.

What a varied cycling adventure!

For anyone who is looking for a variety of experiences AND who loves cycling too then this is for you! The variety of cycling up (and down) volcanoes, fast straight road cycling as well as off the beaten track cycling through paddy fields and coffee plantations was brilliant. But we also exchanged bikes for walking shoes, hiking up Ijen to witness the biggest acidic crater lake in the world as well as slept in tents on the beach! And some of us ended our cycling in the sea complete with cycle gear was such fun. Highly recommended.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were lots of inspiring moments but for me, probably the most inspiring was on Day 3 of the trip. We spent the morning cycling up Mount Batur, which was challenging but breathtaking at the top but then had the opportunity of cycling down into the caldera (the collapsed crater from an eruption 28,000 years ago) and standing in the lava fields with balls of lava bigger than you could ever imagine. For me it was a real WOW moment!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Wira was an exceptional leader and Wyan an equally exceptional sweeper and leader too, with a brilliant team, who prepped wonderful meals and snacks to keep us going throughout our cycle trip. Communication was brilliant, Wira's local and more widespread knowledge was fantastic. Honestly couldn't have asked for a better crew

Advice for Potential Travellers

I wouldn't hesitate to book this as a stand alone cycle trip

Enjoyment and Exhilaration in equal measure.

Another fantastic cycling and cultural adventure. The Indonesian people showed us nothing but friendliness and warm inviting smiles. Memories to treasure.

Most Inspirational Moment

Day 3 cycle up to the crater rim of Batur Volcano gave us all a real sense of achievement. Day 7 hike up to the sulphurous crater lake of IJEN volcano presented a diversionary challenge from cycling and was worth every step we took to get there.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Wira and his support team did a tremendous job in making this an experience never to be forgotten. They kept us fed and hydrated for the entirety of the trip. We were constantly kept up to date with the geography, politics, flora and fauna and all aspects of Indonesian culture. Nothing was too much trouble for them.

Advice for Potential Travellers

A challenging trip worth every ounce of effort required. Overall the cycling was moderate except for a couple of tough days. Dig in and the rewards will be replete.

I’m still breathless

We’ve been cycling with Exodus for 10 years or so and the last couple of trips have disappointed but this one restored my faith. It’s pretty full on, with a varied program, and we were pretty exhausted by the end, but happily so. Bali has a reputation as the Aussies’ Blackpool and certainly the areas around the airport and Ubud are choked with traffic and full of tourist tat. The great thing about this trip was that we ventured into areas where westerners rarely go – the central mountains and the north coast were particularly quiet and gorgeous.
The east of Java was, possibly, even lovelier.

Most Inspirational Moment

I loved the day climbing up to Batur’s caldera and then descending down to the crater floor where we crossed an old lava flow. The snorkeling was also awesome. I even enjoyed the night at the homestay near Ijen, though don’t forget to bring a sense of humour in view of the paper thin walls

Thoughts on Group Leader

Wira is probably the best leader I’ve met on Exodus trips. Very calm, very organized. He was aided by his crew- I’m not sure how many of them there were but we always had three guys marshaling us on the rides and we also had our own chef who provided some super picnic lunches. Nice guys particularly Aan who always had a smile and learnt our names instantly.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Another review has mentioned the traffic. Most of the time we rode quiet lanes but there certainly were some busy stretches. Indonesian drivers are a more tolerant bunch than their equivalent in the UK. There were no two finger salutes or obscene hand gestures or verbal abuse. Stick close to the left side of the road and you will be fine

We only cycled on Bali and Java

A very interesting and varied country and culture but too much traffic for comfortable cycling

Most Inspirational Moment

Cycling up Ijen volcano

Thoughts on Group Leader

Wira was a really attentive and well organised leader with a safety conscious approach

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be aware that cycling may not be as relaxed as on some other Exodus cycling trips

Fabulous holiday, lovely country and people!

A great holiday. I’m not a sit-on-the-beach type and this trip was anything but that (though the beaches are beautiful!) It was all so interesting. Huge variety – cycling through villages and coffee plantations, snorkeling, camping, temples, rice paddies, mountains, volcanoes, craters, old colonial homes… Exodus packs a lot into this trip! And such friendly people. Yes, there are a couple of really big hills, but if you’re reasonably fit, they’re doable. We had plenty of breaks and went at the pace of the group. (Please see my note below on trip rating.) One thing I really liked was that the distances weren’t as long as on some Exodus trips I’ve done. That meant a more relaxing start (7am breakfast not 7am start!) And we generally got to the hotel at the end of the day in time to read a book or go for a swim. Made for the perfect holiday.

Most Inspirational Moment

Can I have three? Cycling through the villages on both Bali and Java - marigold offerings at the gates in Bali, the call to prayer on Java. The snorkeling (Nemos, turtles, fish of every colour...) Camping at the beach and the great dinner the team put on.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Wira is a fantastic guide. Organised (things ran like clockwork), helpful, friendly. Great sense of humour. Patiently answered all my questions about his lovely country. Wayan, our #2 guide, was great fun and super-helpful too. And the rest of the crew couldn't have been more helpful and friendly. Lovely people.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Pack light but not too light! The humidity makes it hard to get washing dry. Having done several Exodus trips ranked moderate/challenging, I'd say this was harder than those more challenging trips. The distances were shorter, but the hills were bigger! If, like me, you don't eat red meat or chicken, Indonesia is your place. Excellent vege food and great fish. If you like gold and silver jewellery, you won't find better than at the first hotel in Ubud (where they make their own).

A trip to remember

Fantastic trip and a great experience. The guides were excellent and great ambassadors for Indonesia. We’ve all heard of the country but perhaps no little about it so it’s a great way to improve your knowledge and understanding about its geography, history and people. Food was also excellent and whilst rice is very common at meals there are other options available.

Most Inspirational Moment

The scenery and the friendly people. Bali and Java are incredibly beautiful and blessed with some fine scenery. The opportunity to go snorkeling for the first time was mind blowing with a huge variety of tropical fish to see. Each day we passed a number of villages and whilst perhaps it was unusual to see cyclists, the people, particularly the youngsters, were very friendly so always remember to wave back!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Wira was an excellent guide, always willing to share his knowledge about Indonesia and always on the ball with his briefings about the day's cycling. He also has a great sense of humour and kept us motivated throughout the trip. He's also got aspirations as a singer - as you'll find out on the night when you camp! The size of our group also warranted a second person to help with the cycling and in this respect Wayan was also fantastic. Always cheerful and definitely kept us all motivated, even on the days when the cycling was fairly tough.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't underestimate the cycling even if the trip is graded moderate. A couple of days require some significant gain in altitude so do some training beforehand. There's always a support vehicle if you don't feel up to it of course but the challenge of getting to the top is always rewarding. You'll also need to cope with the temperatures but as long as you keep your fluids up you'll be fine. Whilst a bloke I'd over-packed when it came to evening clothes so I wouldn't worry too much about having lots of different outfits to wear as you mainly eat in the hotel or a nearby restaurant. Whilst cycling you'll definitely get very sweaty but just accept it as everyone else is the same! There are one or two opportunities for laundry during the trip but you'll likely need to do it by hand half-way through as you won't spend sufficient time to get it laundered before leaving the hotel the next day. There's more opportunities though nearer the end of the trip if you get desperate for clean clothes! As regards money the trip notes are slightly out of kilt. The $100 mentioned covers both a kitty for misc. expenses plus the tips for the support crew including the second cycling guide. The tip for the leader of course is your discretion but as our one was excellent we each gave 1m rupiahs (approx £55).

Amazing time in Bali and Java

Another brilliant trip with Exodus visiting the beautiful islands of Bali and Java. Breath-taking views, welcoming locals, delicious food and sometimes breath-taking climbs were the highlights of the two weeks. The fantastic support team made this already amazing adventure truly unforgettable.

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching the top of the highest climb in Java

Thoughts on Group Leader

Wira and his team did an amazing job. Everything was perfectly organised for us all the time, we felt spoilt by the support team's attentiveness while they all made their hard work look so effortless and fun. Wira thought of everything, briefed us all the time on the next segment, the next program, the next day.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do this trip! And pack enough spare clothes so won't need to rely on washing/drying opportunities as they are scares due to the schedule and the humid weather

Great downhills

Cycling the hills – both up and down – was a thrill. And the last two days the flat village riding was charming. Traffic was a too heavy to properly enjoy the connecting sections. Accommodation was varied. Some lovely hotels. One rather damp and unpleasant hotel ( acknowledged as a fudge after covid closures). The homestay however was dire. Only 2 hours sleep after inconsiderate guests partied until 2 and then from 4 for an early start. Even without them however the homestay was going to to cause problems. Walls were quant but thin bamboo and the the whole place was seriously delapidated but still offering ~ 25 rooms.

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching the caldera rim on day 2.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Wira was keen, helpful and very efficient. Very personable. The whole team was too.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I hope you like rice! Vegetarians well catered for - I was nearly converted! Easy to avoid or indulge in chilli and spice.