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.

Select a trip specific review:

Select

14348 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Mark Smith

Reviewed November 2022

Annapurna Sanctuary 2022

Beautiful views and a good standard of lodge accommodation with great food. After four years away from Nepal it was great to be back – an excellent group and fine weather really helped with the enjoyment of this trek, but if you’re thinking of doing it be prepared for almost endless stone steps and quite a few other people on the trails.

Most Inspirational Moment

For me it was the rare alone-times, having a night actually at ABC (some other trek companies don't do this) gave me time to find a secluded spot amongst the big peaks and just admire the dramatic landscapes and summits.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Phurba was great, like all the Exodus group leaders I've trekked with in Nepal. Ever present and helpful, and we all really enjoyed his evening 'lectures' on various aspects of Nepal.

Advice for Potential Travellers

As stated above, this trek involves a lot of stone steps between the villages, so be prepared for that. The route is quite populated too, it's never too far to the next village and the ease of access by the ever-growing network of roads makes this a busy route for trekkers, both foreign and Nepali. As a result it's quite unlike other trekking regions in Nepal I've been to - I never really felt relaxed or 'away from it all' like I have in places like Manaslu or Everest.

andrew young

Reviewed November 2022

Great trip

The group my son and I were in was with a great other couple, Wan in Malaysia was a great tour leader. The trip I found tough at times , but well worth it. The trecks we went on really let us explore things and there was lots to see and do. There was so much done in such a short time. The second leg in Borneo included a hike up Kinabalu, which was tough but well worth the effort and the optional last day trip to an island well worth it

Most Inspirational Moment

Getting to the summit of Mt Kinabalu, wild swimming in a river with local wildlife ( soon got out ) Night walks with great leaders, Orangutan sanctuary.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Wan in particular was a great leader in Malaysia as was Talia in Borneo

Advice for Potential Travellers

Some of the trecks were tougher than I expected, but worth it. accommodation was good, sometimes great, but the Kinabalu lodge was basic, that is not a complaint as we were half way up a mountain

Robyn Long

Reviewed November 2022

A must do trip!

This trip is an absolute must do. For me i knew i had high expectations of what was to come but this trip blew my expectations out of the water. Jordan was an absolutely beautiful country with so much to offer.

Most Inspirational Moment

Petra was of course breathtaking. It was much bigger than expected and had so much to discover. I knew that would be amazing and it did not disappoint. We also got to have dinner with a local family which was a trip highlight for myself and the rest of the group. The family were so welcoming and the food was delicious. We were able to see a small glimpse of the locals' life which they were happy to share with us which i will never forget.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Mouayad was amazing. I feel extremely lucky to have been shown Jordan by such a knowledgeable, friendly and patient person. Mouayad is so passionate about his country which is so lovely to see. He made everyone feel welcome and always had a smile on his face. Our trip was made even more special because of Mouayad.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you are interested in seeing the best parts of Jordan then book this trip! It is a full packed trip so expect to be busy.

Kerry McConnell

Reviewed November 2022

Fantastic trip

This is a great trip for those who love both wildlife and hiking. In terms of wildlife, I thought St Lucia and Letaba were special and found Kruger a bit too commercial (like Etosha). The scenery for the hiking is fantastic, particularly in Swaziland and the Drakensberg (one of the most beautiful places I have ever been). If anything, I would like it to have been a bit more challenging as the walks were a little short for myself and other members of the group on some days. This didn’t take away from a wonderful trip which I would recommend to anyone.

Most Inspirational Moment

The Letaba reserve was wonderful - less animals than Kruger but we had it to ourselves which was so special.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was Marco Olivier, and he was absolutely brilliant. He was supported by Clifford, who was also excellent. The logistics were seamless and the food was great (pretty much always better than restaurant equivalents). They shared so much knowledge about their country - history, people, animals and flora. They always had our well-being at the top of the list and couldn't do enough to make the trip special. Our small group of 8 had so much fun and this was definitely influenced by the relaxed and happy environment the guys created. I've been on about 8 Exodus trips and Marco and Clifford were amongst the very best team that I've experienced.

Kate Nichol

Reviewed November 2022

A Great Adventure

A wonderful trip with fabulous scenery, wildlife, food and wine. Lovely cycling on good roads, some surprisingly good hotels and excellent restaurants.

Most Inspirational Moment

I enjoyed learning about the people, who were all so friendly. The whales were unforgettable and amazingly acrobatic and the penguins were delightful.

Thoughts on Group Leader

We had the dynamic duo of Adonia and Ernest. They were both so knowledgeable, patient and kind. They did everything they could to make the holiday an enjoyable experience.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Arrive a day or so earlier, or stay later so you have time to enjoy Cape Town and Table Mountain.

Mike Crook

Reviewed November 2022

“Jordan? Really…why?”

Before we went on this amazing trip whenever we were asked where we were going it invariably provoked a “Really…why?” type of response. We’re now much more qualified to answer that question. Firstly, let’s address the 4/5 rating. Don’t get us wrong, this trip was amazing but it’s up against our first Exodus holiday to Costa Rica in Christmas 2019 and that’s a very hard act to follow. Being more cultural, historical and less about animals and adrenaline, this is a far harder holiday to make work with our particular family. Despite this, our time in Jordan was virtually non-stop and we’ve come home with memories that will last our lifetimes. No more comparisons.

Most Inspirational Moment

Jerash was our first opportunity to explore what is an amazingly well-preserved ancient Roman city. Unfortunately we didn’t get to see the gladiator or chariot display but the vastness of the site gave us plenty more to absorb. Jerash was just the teaser though because Petra makes that look tiny in comparison. We were not at all prepared for the vast awesomeness of it all and spent a good day there covering over 10 miles on foot. The site is a tourist trap but once you get beyond the treasury itself there’s plenty of room for everyone. Highly recommend making the extra effort to climb up to The Monastery. We also did the optional Petra by Night which we enjoyed the candlelit walk to but were a bit underwhelmed by the “show”. A few of us also enjoyed climbing up to the “best view in the world” (there were a few of those) at Little Petra. The less said about the hotel in Petra, the better. These trips are not about the accommodation, that said our two nights at our Red Sea 5-star hotel were enjoyed, by the kids in particular. The Wadi Rum was a magical experience with all the sand dune rolling, jeep exploring and sunrise watching we’d been promised. This definitely met expectations. However, we would recommend not interrupting this experience with the optional stargazing excursion. It’s a great experience in itself but being 45 minutes away by jeep it does rather distract from the isolated experience camping overnight in the Wadi Rum is supposed to deliver. Finally, the Dead Sea experience is just plain weird. Very strange indeed but an experience not to be missed.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Mekhled, our group leader, was great. Genuinely well informed and available for our needs at all times. He did his best to manage a group with a wide demographic, including children covering a fairly wide age-range. He engaged well with all. I think this may have only been his second family trip as a guide but that didn’t show.

Advice for Potential Travellers

As ever with these types of holidays be prepared for early starts and long journeys. Take enough local currency so that you’re able to pay in cash for many of the optional extras. Try to bring a day pack which you can use for the overnight stay in the desert, those jeeps aren’t well suited to carrying loads of suitcases! Perhaps pack a travel game or two. We didn’t need to bring our snorkel stuff. We dressed modestly (by western standards) in public areas and found the Jordanian people to be friendly and welcoming. We were more sensitive to local customs in rural and less touristy areas and we think this struck the right balance.

Peter Stocker

Reviewed November 2022

Mexico Day of the Dead Oaxaca

An excellent introduction to the sights , sounds and culture of Mexico. It involved long days travelling on occasion, and a larger bus would be an improvement. The one provided had the exact number of seats for the passengers so there was no possibility of spreading out, the seats in the back being particularly cramped.

Most Inspirational Moment

I particularly liked the visit to Teotihuacan and walking along the Avenue of the Dead from the Citadel to the Pyramid of the Moon. Chichen Itza Was also spectacular.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Arturo Romero was excellent, very knowledgeable and worked really hard to make everything run smoothly.

Paul Bacon

Reviewed November 2022

Amazing adventure with stunning views

3rd time in Nepal after doing Annapurna and Base Camp. This trek was by far the best views of all 3. Tough trek with lots of up and down but well worth it

Most Inspirational Moment

Crossing the high pass after getting up at 2.30am. It was hard but the views are worth it.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sukman was a great leader. Always happy and smiling and kept our spirits high.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Hardest of all the treks in Nepal so need a good level of fitness. Also take snacks to keep your energy levels up.

Juho Ranta-Aho

Reviewed November 2022

Well planned Trip, left room for improvements

The trip was good but definitely not in Top 3 on my Exodus Trips. Despite what the Trip Notes and Exodus description might say about this trip it is actually all about Namibia with very brief drive throughs in South Africa and Botswana. So this trip is great for all those who want to see and experience Namibia as the vast majority of the trip is spent there. The itinerary for the trip was good but this time it really felt someone had decided to play the scrooge. Some of the hotels were clearly sub-standard. When you send people to a land tour at the time when it is almost 40 degrees outside and if you pay almost 5,000 pounds for the trip, you are entitled to expect working air-conditioning. Especially the Seeheim Hotel in Namibia was rubbish. Same applies to the vehicle used on this trip. Our truck broke down three times during the trip and again, no air-conditioning on the truck. If Exodus really wants to do this cheap and cheerful style, then by all means but based on my previous trips I expected more and this was disappointing. Some of the items on the Trip Notes did not materialise either, for example there was no vineyard visit in South Africa. So Exodus might check a bit better as to what to include in the Itinerary or Trip Notes. And it is a bit weird to finish the tour on Victoria Falls if you do not even include the visit / entrance in the falls. That is the main reason to go to that city in Zimbabwe. Having said that, there were plenty of good things on this trip as well and if Namibia is what you want to see, then this trip has it in abundance. Stunning country. Especially Fish River Canyon was very impressive, so was Etosha National Park. Swakopmund was great too! But do not go to this trip if it is Botswana, South Africa or Zimbabwe you want to see. There are better trips to see those countries than this one. At the end of the day, this trip is about Namibia, no matter what the Trip Notes or Exodus description might suggest. But we had a great gang on this trip and Jonathan and LeRoy did great job!

Most Inspirational Moment

Etosha National Park was great and probably my favourite part of the trip! We saw so much wildlife there. Fish River Canyon was also very impressive and I really liked the Orange River canoe trip.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jonathan and LeRoy did the best they could in sometimes tough conditions. They worked hard and were fun to travel with. No bad thing to say about them. Really nice guys both of them.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for lots of early starts / wake-ups and long days in the truck. Take some good reading or iPad with you to keep yourself entertained during the long drives in the desert. Good walking shoes will take a long way on this trip. And don't take this trip if you are more interested in Botswana or Zimbabwe or South Africa than Namibia. The first mentioned countries will be swept through on this trip.

Reply from Exodus

We appreciate you taking the time to leave a review, Juho, and particularly for sharing such positive feedback about our local team. On the other hand, we are genuinely sorry that you were disappointed with aspects of your accommodation. At the end of every season, our product managers and local managers review all feedback from clients and staff who have undertaken trips, to see where improvements can be made, and there is always scrutiny on Southern Africa as we send so many groups to this part of the world. While the majority of our clients who travelled on this tour in 2022 rated the accommodation as either “Good” or “Excellent” in our Holiday Evaluation Forms, which makes us confident that that the hotels, lodges and guesthouses used on this trip meet the 2/3* standards we expect, we have spoken to the management of the Seeheim Hotel about your comments to give them the opportunity to make changes. We have subsequently received much better feedback about this property, which, for context, is used for a one-night stopover and has a great location nearby Fish River Canyon, which means shorter driving times at the end of a busy day.

We are further sorry to learn that you felt your vehicle was unsuitable and broke down several times, as I can appreciate this must have been extremely frustrating. We highlight in our trip literature that roads in Namibia are punishing on vehicles, and we are aware that surfaces have deteriorated in recent years, but it is unusual for so many breakdowns to occur on one trip. We have followed up with our local manager on the issues your group encountered and hope that future groups will have a smoother experience; we realise this cannot change things for you, however, and we remain apologetic for the disruption caused to your trip.

John Penge, Product Manager

Matthew Tett

Reviewed November 2022

What an amazing trip!

This is a wonderful trek through the Sierra de Aitana, led by the amazing Jose who is so knowledgeable about the local area. Using Rincon de Pepe as a base, and hosted by the wonderful Raquel, this week encompasses five tough, but very enjoyable, walks in the area. They range from walking from the base, through to starting in different places after a short drive. Each day starts with a lovely buffet breakfast – we were fortunate, in November, to be able to eat on a sun-drenched terrace each day. Jose, enthusiastic and passionate, leads the walks in an area he knows very well. Perfect packed lunches are provided and Jose’s sandwiches are second to none: varied, tasty and with plentiful contents! Post-walk, there is usually a chance to grab a drink in a local bar, or head back to Raquel’s – and her gin and tonics are definitely worth a try. Before dinner, which is always extremely tasty with good local wines included, Jose briefs the group on the next day’s walk – and this is a great way of getting prepared for what lies ahead. I sincerely recommend the Sierra de Aitana trek. The rest day is perfect (after three day walks) and allows a trip to a nearby coastal town – for more walking, if you wish, or some superb fish. You may even choose to visit the chocolate factory (my partner and I didn’t, but wish we had!) This trip is great if you want to explore a beautiful area, with varied walks and a wonderful host.

Most Inspirational Moment

All the walks, particularly the final two days to the peaks, as well as meeting lots of different people - always inspirational.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Amazing - one of the best, if not the best! Jose has a great rapport with everyone and is so interested in the area, and keen to share the beauty of it with the group. He is an expert sandwich-maker, and provides delicious snacks for lunches, as well as refreshments in a designated room - people can help themselves throughout the day/night. Also, when my partner's walking boots broke on day one, he went out of his way to repair them, mid-trek, and took us to Benidorm to buy new ones - very kind and helpful.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The walks are great - you do need a good standard of fitness, and in some cases, a head for heights. However, Jose is very adept at knowing if people are up for certain walks, and will advise if not. Take walking poles, if you think you need them (we did, and found them brilliant, having not really relied on them before) and be prepared for changeable weather. Our experience - stunning, all week, but this could have been different, I think.

Prev 1 … 249 250 251 252 253 … 1,435 Next