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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108 Reviews
4.6 out of
5
Reviews
Deborah Mayling
Reviewed April 2017
Wonderful trip to see tigers in the wild
Very well organised trip to three parks where chances of tiger sightings are high and we were delighted to have many good sightings
Most Inspirational Moment
When a tigress strolled out of the scrub and walked towards us followed after a few minutes by 2 of her 3 cubs.
The train trip was interesting and exciting, and very organised by our leader.
All the driving through the countryside and trying different snacks and buying in the markets was brilliant.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Hamel was very well organised, helpful and friendly and went out of his way to make our trip memorable in so many ways.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Travel as light as possible.
Don't t expect the Taj to be peaceful and serene, it is very popular with tourists of all nationalities.
Suggestions
The Tourist Board should be made aware of the litter problem in the actual tomb area and the surroundings.
Patricia Sayers
Reviewed April 2017
Land of The Tigers delivered the goods
Good trip that delivered the goods eventually! We had one far off sighting in Pench, nothing at all in Kanha but my goodness did Bandhavgarh deliver with interest. One tiger drinking in a water hole, one tigress and 2 cubs walking out straight in front of our vehicle and one tigress drinking from a water hole and then turning and backing into the water to lie down and cool off.
The overnight train to Agra was an experience … and I’ll leave it at that!
The Taj Mahal and the Red Fort at Agra were worth seeing, but we were upset at the amount of rubbish in and around the Taj Mahal, it really could be better looked after.
Most Inspirational Moment
The Tigress and her cubs walking across the road in front of the jeep was exceptional but every Tiger sighting was inspirational.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Hemal was a good leader, and helped us in so many ways. Nothing was too much trouble for him and he worked hard to make sure we were all comfortable and happy in our surroundings. He even managed to supply a birthday cake for me at dinner on my birthday and had the others in the group each sign the back of one of a set of coasters as a present (a wonderful memory of our trip and a complete surprise)
Advice for Potential Travellers
All of the parks are very dusty, do take something to cover your nose and mouth while doing the game drives. Also Bandhavgarh in particular has a very red dust which stains so don't wear anything white or light coloured as the stain doesn't come out easily (have had to throw a few things away)
Suggestions
It's tiring getting up at 4.45 am day after day, it's hot and it's dusty ... but you'll forget all of that on your first sighting of a tiger! Well worth the effort.
Judith Hulse
Reviewed February 2017
Land of the Tiger
Wow! what an fantastic experience, just the right balance of safaris and leisure time. Our guide Vijay was excellent, nothing was too much trouble for him, he even managed to book an extra game drive for us.
Most Inspirational Moment
Seeing Tigers in the wild is very exciting, we saw 9 tigers and a leopard over 16 game drives plus numerous other animals.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Vijay was really excellent
Advice for Potential Travellers
It was very cold in the mornings in February. Getting up at 5am and sitting in an open top jeep requires layers of clothing, the lodges provide blankets but you need hat, scarf and gloves plus a warm coat!
The train journey was "intresting" I personally was dreading it but actually it was quite fun, we were on the train around 14 hours, when we got to Agra we had plenty of time to shower and get changed before the afternoon visit to Agra fort and the Taj Mahal.
Suggestions
If you love wildlife this is a holiday not to be missed, highly recommended
Gail Mccluskie
Reviewed February 2017
Land of the Tiger
A really good trip, with lots of game drives and tiger spotting potential. The 3 parks (Pench, Kanha and Bandavgarh) are all quite different. Guides variable, some excellent. We were lucky enough to spot a number of tigers, as well as a couple of leopards, Indian wild dogs and a sloth bear.
Most Inspirational Moment
One particular tiger sighting where we came upon a huge male tiger lying in a stream just beside a bridge.
It was also inspiring and very encouraging to see the dedication of most of the drivers and guides, and the evident pride they take in sharing the sights and sounds of their fantastic workplaces with visitors.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Krishna was a really good tour leader. He was fun to be with and has a great knowledge of the wildlife. I think some of our best wildlife encounters were as a result of him and the guides working together to decide where we should go.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take more clothes than you think you will need, at least in January. It was freezing, especially on the morning drives. Don't expect to see the number of animals you would see on an African safari
Suggestions
Pench Jungle Resort wasn't as nice as the other 2 lodges. The rooms were dark, dingy and very cold. There was no terrace to relax between morning and afternoon game drives, only a communal area where you had to dodge noisy kids kicking footballs at you.
Some of the food was a bit bland, and Krishna admitted that he had asked kitchens to take the spice level down. We even had a dish marked "boiled vegetables" one day. For me, one of the reasons for travelling is to taste local food, but I feel that most of the food we had in the hotels was bland, tourist food.
Colin Newton
Reviewed January 2017
land of tiger trip
Once we got to India the trip was great. Pity we missed the first 24 hours due to fog delaying our flight to Heathrow.
Disappointed that the Exodus team did little to help us try to ‘re-book our flights and when they did it cost us over 1600 pounds.
Most Inspirational Moment
viewing tiger's and the Taj Mahal
Thoughts on Group Leader
Krishna was excellent and went out of his way to make this trip enjoyable.
Advice for Potential Travellers
depending when you go take warm clothes.
Stephen Lawther
Reviewed November 2016
Land of the Tiger
a great trip, but tiring, it is billed as leisurely, but getting up at 4.30 every day and bumping around in a jeep for eight hours takes its toll. Seeing a tiger makes it all worthwhile. Beautiful scenery and lovely sunrises. The lodges were lovely and the food superb. A nice group of people.
Most Inspirational Moment
Seeing a tiger at close quarters. What an adrenaline filled moment, I was shaking so much my husband had to hold on to me so I could take photos.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Vijay was fantastic, nothing was too much trouble for him, everything ran to time. The only thing he couldn't organise was the Tigers to appear. We went in October, but are told that April/May is the best time for tiger sightings.
Advice for Potential Travellers
The early mornings in October were really really cold, blankets were provided by the lodges but you need warm clothes, we brought a fleece as advised but needed to buy more to go on top, layers are best as it warms up mid morning. One of our group had thermal undies, believe me you need them!
Suggestions
The Taj Mahal is a beautiful building outside, sadly the number of tourists inside pushing and shoving, taking photos and videos despite it not being allowed and the guards trying to spot offenders, blowing whistles and arguing whilst trying to confiscate cameras spoils the atmosphere of what is a tomb, a monument to love and we felt that the inside should be closed to the public and left in the peace it was intended for.
Sophie Smither
Reviewed November 2016
Elusive Tigers!
So much down to luck and timing, it was like looking for an orange needle in a large haystack! We certainly saw a lot of the land where tigers are but the animals themselves are not so easy to see.
Most Inspirational Moment
Undoubtedly the first (and for me only real) tiger sighting. From a large growl in the undergrowth that made everyone jump to despair as the unseen animal disappeared into the dense vegetation. Then further along the track, just round the corner, she finally emerged and crossed the road and went and climbed a hill and sat on a rock to enjoy the morning sun. Far away but she posed magnificently and stayed in place until we had to leave.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Vijay was excellent and very enthusiastic and knowledgeable and did his best with the range of problems thrown his way! Particularly impressive herding of 15 people on and off a very crowded train!
Advice for Potential Travellers
Yes, heed the other reviews with regards to expectations! This is not like other wildlife holidays and in particular very different from an African safari. Tigers are shy and solitary and very hard to see. You need a lot of patience and some luck, or that was certainly the case at this time of year. Be prepared for a lot of nothing - waiting for an alarm call, frustration as tracks disappear where you cant follow and hope that you just happen to be in the right place at the right time! Other than tigers it is mostly deer and monkeys to look at but even they aren't that abundant.
Also don't be fooled by weather forecasts - you will want a fleece or jumper for the morning game drives even if the temp is supposed to be 19 degrees!
Suggestions
Food was really good.
Go with low expectations of the train and you might be surprised!
WiFi available at all game lodges.
Summer supposedly a much better time for tiger sightings (but gets very hot).
Based on our experience in Delhi, maybe the local office should check status of hotels before confirming bookings!
Christine Paterson
Reviewed November 2016
Land of the tigers
We had a great experience on this holiday. The lodges were all free wifi, albeit a bit slow. 2 of the 3 had pools, great for the free time between 11 and 2.30 between game drives. At the 3rd lodge the pool was being renovated which was a shame.
Saw 6 tigers ncluding a fleeting glimpse of 3 cubs on 4 of the 16 game drives we experienced.
Most Inspirational Moment
First tiger sighting was magical, the second when we followed alarm calls and got there before anyone else very special. Last sighting of single tiger also magical as it was our last included drive and we were about to leave the park.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Vijay was fantastic. Nothing too mch trouble coped well with hiccups, my luggage was taken by someone else at Mumbai. I was panicking when we met him at nagpur he calmed me down and sure enough my luggage arrived at the lodge 48 hrs later.
local game park guides bit hit and miss. Drivers more dependable. Everyone anxious to give you the experience of seeing a tiger.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take a fleece. Mornings are cold, maybe socks too! Insect repellant a must for Kahna. Use it as soon as you arrive.
Suggestions
Train journey an experience. Despite our worries, the los were clean, the sheets clean and our compartment quiet. P4E 68
Suzanne Rosser
Reviewed May 2016
Land of the Tiger
This trip, for me, was all about the wildlife and did not disappoint. Although I met people who went on countless game drives and never saw a tiger. I was fortunate (we became known as the lucky jeep) and had 16 sightings of these beautiful creatures; ranging from a dot in the distance to watching them at close quarters. As mentioned in other reviews the wild life is not as profuse and varied as in Africa however the excitement on seeing a tiger is overwhelming. We also saw spotted, barking and swamp deer, Samba, wild boar, jackal, wild dog, gaur (Indian bison), mongoose, rat snake, macaques, langur, peacock and huge variety of birds.
The parks use local people as guides who speak varying amounts of English – you are allocated as you arrive at the gate – consequently, the quality varies considerably. A keen driver and guide made all the difference. We had some that sat quietly and barely said a word and others that were constantly searching for wildlife and communicating.
The hotels we stayed at were all clean, comfortable, had air-conditioning and ensuite bathrooms. Two had swimming pools and all the staff were warm friendly and helpful. The food was nice if a little the same.
The overnight train journey to Agra was an experience and quite fun. We bought a lock and chain to secure our bags below the bottom bunk so we could sleep without having to keep an eye out. I had a top bunk and slept really well.
I felt that the amount of city time v wildlife was correct. We spent one day in Agra seeing the Taj and Red Fort. Our train had been delayed and I felt that therefore it was all a bit rushed and crammed into the heat of the day. I would have liked to have had a break (lunch cold drink) between the two. The Taj was beautiful although I was a tad disappointed it had scaffolding on it! The Red Fort, I am glad I have seen – the smell on approaching the main gate will not be forgotten.
Most Inspirational Moment
The wildlife without doubt!. Although seeing a female leopard flirting outrageously with her male: purring loudly, playing chase, running up and down a tree, rubbing herself against the branches and rolling around on the ground before mating was truly amazing … I went on this trip to see Tigers and consequently they must be my moment. Perhaps my first sighting in Pench of a tiger in the wild, Baghin nala, crossing the road with her four cubs in tow. Or maybe the large male in Bandhavgarh who walked out of the trees and had a drink at the water hole (followed by his sister) and then turned around and reverse parked himself in the cool water only 5m away.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Hamel looked after the safety and organisation of the group and had an extensive knowledge of Indian history.
Advice for Potential Travellers
In March the weather was hot generally hot and dry and the park was very dusty when returning from game drives in the afternoon/evening a scarf or snood helped keep the dust out.
Clothes wash and dry very quickly in the heat so you do not need to pack a great deal; thin long trousers and tea-shirts, swim suit, sandals, hat and lightweight fleece for the early morning starts in some areas.
I read 5 books as, at midday apart from maybe swimming or snoozing, there is little to do in the parks.
Take a bird book and binoculars with you. I had hoped to buy a book there but didn’t have an opportunity till right at the end of the trip.
Take an Indian adaptor plug - 3 round pins.
We spent less money than we thought (even with an extra game drive). We are not drinkers, my husband had the odd beer at supper. We changed £600 into rupee at the airport and still had £150 to change back at the end. We did as recommended by Exodus had about £150 worth of 500 rupee notes and the rest of 100 - with a couple of the 100 rupee notes broken down to even smaller amounts.
Roland Patterson
Reviewed April 2016
Land of the Tiger
A fantastic trip with a group of fantastic people. All our accommodation was just perfect, clean and spacious. Food was excellent throughout the tour. The wildlife was amazing. I think we were quite lucky as we saw tigers on 11 of the 15 game drives. Quite a few out in the open crossing or walking along the tracks. We even got to see a sloth bear walking along the track. The only animal we didn’t get to see was a leopard but I suppose we shouldn’t be greedy. The overnight sleeper train journey from Katni to Agra was a fun experience. Everything was clean. A bit noisy with people backwards and forwards but that’s part of the experience. Then we had Agra Fort and the Taj Mahal. A must for everyone. Both beautiful sites with lovely architecture. you can’t go to India without seeing them.
Most Inspirational Moment
Spotting a tiger before the guide and then watching it come out onto the track and slowly walk towards us as the jeep reversed. Spectacular.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our group leader Vijay is an absolute star. Nothing was too much trouble for him and everything went so smoothly. He truly has a passion for wildlife and his country. He is a wonderful asset to his company.
