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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!

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Alternatively you can navigate to the relevant trip page and add your review via the Reviews tab.

Reviews

Western Explorer

A wonderful trip with each day having numerous wow moments.

Most Inspirational Moment

Difficult to pick just one but the most unexpected was the walk down Antelope slot canyon and photographing the spectacular colours and shades on the rock that the sunlight cast. Also the 4x4 drive in Monument valley with the Navajo tribe a place I have always wanted to visit.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Erin was excellent. She had a couple of long days driving but still had loads of energy. She had a good knowledge of the places we visited, had plenty of suggestions for our free days and tried to vary the places we ate at.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you are planning on spending extra time in San Francisco at the start then there is no need to visit the Golden Gate bridge. On the first actual day of the trip the minibus deposits you at the bridge and allows you time to walk across before collecting you from the other side. Don't expect any time to visit / see Hoover dam, due to security restrictions meaning all our bags would have had to be searched we did not stop. Although we did visit Glen Canyon dam which is a similar structure and size earlier on the trip There are a couple of long days travelling one of which is around 7 hours, however there are numerous stops and videos to watch also the time seems to pass quickly when looking at the scenery. The earliest we set off in the morning was 7. All the accommodation was good with the 2 nights at Zion particularly good

Western Explorer

There are some long drives but the scenery is awesome and we were fortunate getting day after day of warm sunshine.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were several. Seeing El Capitan and Half Dome again after 33 years. Climbing to Angels Landing in Zion NP. Seeing the Hoodoos at Bryce Canyon. The Navajo experience at Monument Valley and descending to Plateau Point in the incomparable Grand Canyon.

Thoughts on Group Leader

We had a different leader each week. Both of them were very good.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for some long days travelling and carry plenty of water. Eating out is a great pleasure but allow for the 18%tips.

The Wide Wild West by Mike Giles

When we started serious travel over 20 years ago the USA was never near the top of our agenda, to be honest it was never on our original list of must see places at all. However with the developing world reasonably well covered our time had come to visit our cousins across the pond. We started our holiday with a couple of added days in San Francisco. Highly recommended. It is a city easily negotiated with local transport and there are sights not to be missed. You can reach the Golden Gate Bridge from the city centre using local buses, ask for a transfer and, if a senior, accept a substantial discount and proffered seat. A return walk across the 1.7 mile span of the bridge is invigorating and gives magnificent views of the harbour. Have care for the trendy cyclists who, head down, pedal the pathway looking only to knock seconds off a previous best. Cable Cars are a nostalgic way of getting to and around downtown, the boardwalks and Chinatown. The Californian line, which is the least crowded, ends close to the Holiday Inn where day passes can be purchased. With stops every couple of blocks you can hop on and hold on as the locals always did but expect to queue in the most popular spots. The National Parks visited on the tour are magnificent and each very different with a range of walks and activities to be savoured individually depending upon fitness and ability. We cannot, as others, tell of the elation of reaching Angels Landing, wallowing waist deep in the Zion Narrows or descending perilous tracks into deep canyons. However we can recount we had some wonderful peaceful hikes in breath-taking locations at our own pace and distance. Free shuttle buses are operated by park authorities which make it possible to link easy-going and moderate hiking routes to viewpoints and to otherwise enjoy full days in the park. Monument Valley, Death Valley, Lakes, Dams and the sheer magnificence of scenery just kept rolling out ahead of us as we journeyed on through what is really just a small part of the west of this immense country. We are not hedonistic travellers, preferring natural wonders and historic edifices of an ancient world than modernity, so Las Vegas held little lure for us but we were to be dumfounded by its temples devoted to Lady Luck. Based in a prestigious central hotel we were well placed to explore every other luxurious resort on The Strip. We went to Paris, Venice, Rome and Egypt all in the course of one day and two evenings. Each vista faithfully reconstructed with no expense spared, such are the profits of the relentless gaming which epitomises this city. Unbelievable! We just loved it! The final day was a drive across desert to Los Angeles where this particular trip ended at Custom Hotel LAX with an immediate evening flight for UK participants. Again we added to the schedule, pre-booked two nights there and once more made use of local transport. We joined the old hippies and young things at Santa Monica Pier, the end of Route 66, and also chilled out on Venice Beach and Boardwalk. 'They playing our song Gal?' 'Yea Man!'

Most Inspirational Moment

Monument Valley is truly inspirational but the Grand Canyon however must be our highlight, it is after all, well, much grander than the others. Awesome! You will hear this said a lot on your travels but this is really what the word is all about. You may feel the helicopter trip is a very expensive option but we took it, really enjoyed it and have no doubts whatsoever as to money well spent.

Thoughts on Group Leader

On these trips driver and courier are one, not an easy role with many long day's driving followed by checking in and admin procedures. Ron Prince was a safe and patient driver and organised the days well. He periodically stopped at (super)markets so that we could buy breakfast foods, drinks etc. whilst he shopped with the luncheon kitty. This made a great difference to the economies of the trip and the daily picnics he planned became a feature of each journey.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If there are two things we UK travellers cannot get our heads round its bargaining and tipping. The good news is you don't bargain in the West except perhaps at a local Trading Post, but then why just hit on the indigenous people? However tipping is a part of a culture you must quickly embrace especially in the leisure industry, where staff who provide services essential to your trip are poorly paid. Simply put, it is the anticipation of a generous tip which elicits the high standard of service which exists and conversely it is deserved. Not to adequately tip your waiter, maid, driver etc. on the basis of personal economy is both unfair and insulting. Unless of course you have had poor service in which case it is customary to say why you think this is so.

Western Explorer

This was an amazing trip. The scenery was outstanding and became unbelievably more so on each successive day. The unexpected snow both in Yosemite and at Grand Canyon added to our excitement rather than dampen our spirits and although we were disappointed not to fly over the Canyon due to weather conditions, it was still a wonderful holiday.

Most Inspirational Moment

The fantastic shapes of the hoodoos in Bryce Canyon. were so out-of-this-world and Monument Valley brought back lovely memories fo the old Westerns we used to watch as kids.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader did everything to make our trip as good as it was. She was a great driver and organizer as well as being knowledgable about the places we passed through. She was also caring and fun.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take layers because the weather is unpredictable especially in the mountains, whatever the season.

Incredible views, great food and wonderful memories!

This was an incredible trip which exceeded my expectations! The National Parks on the itinerary were all places I’d wanted to visit for a long, long time but actually visiting them was much more impressive than I had imagined. Often this was due to the scale of these natural wonders which you just can’t get a sense of in photographs or it was due to the varying colours of the rocks such as in Zion or the Grand Canyon which made the views all the more enjoyable. Unfortunately when we visited Yosemite there were forest fires nearby and the smoke spoiled some of the views but luckily the park itself remained open! Yes there are some long drives but the varying landscapes, regular stops for photos or snacks, WiFi, good conversation and a wide range of music available on the tour leader’s iPhone all made them pass fairly quickly. It’s a fairly busy itinerary but I did feel it provided enough time in each place to really get a ‘feel’ for them! The vast majority of restaurants I ate in were terrific (be prepared for large potions), the standard of hotels was very high and it was a great group of people to be on holiday with!

Most Inspirational Moment

It's difficult to choose as there were many but sunrise at the Grand Canyon was very unique as you could watch the many ridges in the canyon gradually catch the light until the whole view was illuminated and then take an early morning hike!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Lana did a terrific job - she was always full of energy and happy to answer questions! She strived to make sure we all had a great experience whilst on the trip and organised everything very well!

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you can, spend a day or two in San Francisco prior to the trip starting and if you plan on visiting Alcatraz be sure to book tickets as far in advance as you can. I'd also recommend hiring a bike and cycling over the Golden Gate bridge. Some days on the trip we started fairly early in the morning so be prepared for those.

Western Explorer

A taste of many things! A time to walk alone and travel together. What a great way to discover Western USA.
From walking the Golden Gate Bridge with clear blue skies to the ‘awesome’ view from Angel’s Landing in Zion Valley. From the unforgettable moment you reach the rim of Bryce Canyon to the madness of Las Vegas. As a sworn-in Ranger (a very rigorous assessment) I feel qualified to recommend this trip to those who love variety and do not want to sit on a beach and roast. Fantastic.

Most Inspirational Moment

Looking over the edge of Bryce Canyon was wonderful OR the precarious climb up to Angel's Landing and then just looking...

Thoughts on Group Leader

Devon was very informative and patient. He had a great sense of humour and was passionate about his country. He even tried to teach me the rules and tactics of baseball - what a sport (him, that is). He adjusted the schedule to allow us see a few extra sites. He even even had a word with an obliging barman who slid a glass cold turkey down the bar for me to catch. He was my 'dad'. Devon deserves a pay rise.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Packing and unpacking frequently does not suit all travellers and many hours on the road can be uncomfortable. It terms of money, is important to allow for tips. The cost of tips took some of us by surprise. Top up with water whenever you can (our guide was excellent at reminding us). When you've taken the trouble to save up, book and travel, do everything.

WESTERN EXPLORER

Ever changing scenery even made the travelling seem to pass by quicker than on other trips. A real variety of landscapes and colours with options for walking depending on individual wishes. All the scenery from the ‘Westerns’ and more. Wherever we went the views were fantastic. Hotels good and the outdoor lunches (and the evening barbecue) inspired by our tour guide were just right for the settings.

Most Inspirational Moment

Having avoided looking at pictures before going, the evening view from the rim of Bryce Canyon is unbelievable and unforgettable. Views stretch the equivalent of north London to the south coast!  We weren't planning on taking the helicopter ride at the Grand Canyon but the closure of the National Parks (this was the only one we missed) prompted us to take the plunge. Even flying over the canyon it is impossible to take in the scale and to realise the river is a mile below. The change in the vegetation coming from the Sierra Nevada to Mono Lake, with its tufa rocks and wildlife, was almost instantaneous and summed up the trip in terms of the ever changing scenery. The trip around Monument Valley with the Navajo guide was all that was expected from the films.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Rebecca was full of enthusiasm and sought to meet everyone's needs. She did a sterling job as driver (safe and comfortable), guide, luggage handler, hotel booker inner, lunch organiser etc., etc. 

Advice for Potential Travellers

Very limited time in San Francisco so worth considering travelling a day or two beforehand. The National Park walks are at a fairly high altitude so be aware of this for both for breathing and temperature. 

NATIONAL PARKS OF THE WEST

I think it’s a privilege to have had the opportunity to visit and hike in these breathtakingly beautiful and awe-inspiring locations. An amazing trip that I really can’t recommend highly enough.

Most Inspirational Moment

Gosh, there were several! Yosemite is just so beautiful and idyllic - I had been before but I still found it stunning.I really hadn't been sure if I would be able to brace myself to make it to the top of Angel's Landing in Zion National Park, but I did, and the spectacular view at the top was a wonderful reward!Wading in the Narrows at Zion National Park was a very memorable experience - a beautiful setting and the water was lovely (after the initially quite bracing sensation of stepping into it!).Monument Valley is as amazing as you hope it will be, given what a familiar location it is from films and TV. The jeep tour followed by dinner with the Navajo is extremely enjoyable, inspiring and fun. How can you beat sitting outside under the stars eating dinner by a campfire in Monument Valley?!The Grand Canyon: even standing there in person, looking at it in the sunset, I still found it hard to truly get my head around the sheer scale and beauty of it. The true meaning of the adjective 'awesome' has been somewhat undermined as it used too lightly now, but in the case of The Grand Canyon, it truly is legitimate to describe it as 'awesome'. 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Alex Yakshe was great fun, very organized, well informed and keen to ensure that we were all having the best-possible holiday experience. In a group you are always going to get varying tastes and interests, and he did everything that he could to accommodate different requests and/or suggestions.People on holiday tend to put their brains into a bit of a 'powered-down setting', and for my own part I appreciated that he seemed to be completely un-phased by having to explain things more than once (or twice, or three times...!).Alex has an infectious enthusiasm and energy, and I surprised myself by willingly waking very early to greet several sunrises. I'm not usually much of a morning person but it was undoubtedly worth it and in fact I would highly recommend it! It was pretty cool to get to attend a rodeo one evening, and also very educational.Importantly, he regularly emphasized safety considerations and taking the right kit with us, and we were well drilled in keeping ourselves properly hydrated - very important in the kinds of conditions that we were often hiking in.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take aqua shoes or water-proof sandals so that you do have the option to wade in the Narrows at Zion National Park. You couldn't do it without appropriate footwear and it is a lovely experience.Remember to take a spare camera battery or camera-battery charger, and a spare memory card (or a memory card with *a lot* of capacity) as you will want to take many, many photos! If you are considering whether or not to do this trip - DO IT!

NATIONAL PARKS OF THE WEST

This was an absolutely amazing holiday that met and exceeded my expectations! We went from one breathtaking moment to another everywhere we went.

Most Inspirational Moment

The walk through The Narrows at Zion was glorious - you do need waterproof shoes/sandals for this as there are large and slippery rocks to negotiate, we didn't need a wetsuit but we did have our swimwear on just in case it got particularly deep. I also loved the Monument Valley jeep tour with the Navajo (stay for dinner and you'll drive back under the stars) and Bryce Canyon and its Hoodoos were 'awesome'.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Alex was fantastic! He took very good care of us all and was extremely well organised and knowledgeable. Often the group split up to do different walks or activities and he always made sure that could be accommodated. He was endlessly patient, despite our constant stream of questions about everything from the colour of American cheese to gun legislation, and he did his upmost to ensure that everyone was having a great time.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Definitely take waterproof sandals/shoes so that you can do the Narrows walk. Take a good camera (plus charger) as there is so much you will want to take photos of. Unless you can read on a bus, don't bother taking a book as you won't have time to read during the day and you will be far too tired to read at the end of it!

NATIONAL PARKS OF THE WEST

WOW is the best word to describe this trip. The landscape is vast and amazing.

Most Inspirational Moment

The entire trip was inspirational! Yes there are some long drives (one our leader aptly named "Van Appreciation Day") but there is so much to see even that long day passed too quick. The walks were definitely the highlights of course. The Yosemite walk up the waterfall trail was superb, especially walking in the spray from the falls and the sun created rainbows through which we walked - pure magic! Angels Landing in Zion was very exciting and Pam & I will never forget it - standing on the narrow ridge with vertiginous drops on either side of us - wow again! Bryce Canyon was wondrous, the Hoodoos have to be seen to be believed. We walked the Fairyland Trail and the name is spot on. It was early morning and we were the only ones on the trail, silence, birds singing and amazing rock formations all around. We would love to go back and explore more! Of course the Grand Canyon is the most awesome site - it is immense! Walk in the early morning though - it was like an oven! Which did we prefer? Hmm they all have their qualities but we opt for Zion & Bryce, there is something about them that wants us to go back and explore them more.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Brady our leader was great. He went out of his way to make sure we enjoyed the trip. He even added on some extra locations and little surprises which were not on the itinerary. He gets our vote as leader of the year! He also did all the driving too and was VERY safe, at no time did we feel uncomfortable in the van.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Pam & I have been on over 12 trips with Exodus now and the leader has always accompanied us on the walks. However due to some quirk of the parks regulations in the USA in this case he cannot accompany you! But the trails are so easy to follow that you cannot get lost and it was not a problem. Bearing that in mind though ensure you take some first aid with you as the leader would normally carry it for the group! Also follow all his instructions regarding water - you need LOTS of it on the walks. We didn't manage the walk through the narrows in Zion due to lack of time, but in the itinerary it does not mention the need to hire wet suits as the water can be waist deep in places!One last word - the van holds about 13 travellers and would be very cramped with a full complement. As there were only 7 in our group we could spread out and swap seats as we went along. This added to the pleasure and comfort of the trip.