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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14278 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Janet Whyte

Reviewed November 2022

Wildlife Bonanza

This trip will go down as one of my best, if not the best, holiday experiences. If you love birds and wildlife it is not to be missed. There is quite a lot of traveling between locations, 4-4 1/2 hrs according to our guide each time & he wasn’t far wrong. However the journey was always punctuated by stops for loo breaks, drinks etc but also for spotting the wildlife be it a soggy looking sloth high up in a tree in the middle of town, a pack of squirrel monkeys crossing electricity wires or a king vulture sitting in a tree that had our driver Randall very excited as he had only ever seen them in flight before. On the plus side 2 nights are spent in each location so there is plenty of time to relax and unwind. Even the early starts were not a problem as it is dark by 5.30pm but light by 5am so early nights were the norm. We soon realised however that our guide was planning the timetable to the weather forecast and if he recommended an early start it was because there was a risk of rain later whilst a late start was because we would be waking up to rain. We had been concerned about going to Costa Rica in October as it is during the rainy season however we were fortunate in that most of the time it rained at night. Only once did we have a whole afternoon of rain and that was when we were in the rainforest! Again our guide must have known as we did 2 early morning walks before the rain started and the rest of the day was free – we still went swimming in the pool, had to be done! On the plus side, going in low season meant that the majority of the time we were the only people in the hotel or doing a tour whereas, knowing the current popularity of Costa Rica, I had expected to be surrounded by other travellers.

Most Inspirational Moment

The wildlife seen throughout the trip is amazing but by far the best moment was experienced in the Esquinas Rainforest Nature Reserve when we treated to the rare sighting of a Tayra as it came to the lodge to feed on the bananas there. Equally inspirational was learning how so many of the Reserves were privately owned, run by and for the benefit of the local people in an effort to preserve the local flora & fauna.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Armando was just the most amazing guide and he, above everything, was responsible for making this such a memorable trip. With his sunny smile and quick witted humour he had the whole group gelling together in no time. His skill at spotting wildlife even in the depths of the forest was amazing. At the start of the trip he asked each of us what we were hoping to get out of the visit and what we most wanted to see, he then made it his mission to tick off as many of those birds/animals as possible. We saw all 4 species of monkey and 4 out of 6 species of Toucan. He knew where to find the endangered Scarlet Macaws and, of course, succeeded in finding the Resplendant Quetzal. I challenged him to find a sloth with a baby & he did that on day 3! The only animal he failed to find was a tapir but we all agreed that the Tayra made up for that. Some birds/animals were difficult to spot but he would set up his telescope so that we were all able to see them and then he took pictures through it with our mobile phones. Nothing was too much trouble for Armando and equally for our driver Randall. They made a great team and if you are lucky enough to get them on your tour then you will not be disappointed. Pura Vida!

Advice for Potential Travellers

I would recommend taking some dollars to get through the first few days as it isn't easy to get to an ATM. Credit cards can be used everywhere but cash is needed for tips. Food & drink is quite expensive but portions are extremely generous and one dish could easily be shared between two. Temperatures vary between locations and some warmer clothing is definitely required for the last stay in Savegre.

Pandora Gardiner

Reviewed November 2022

AWeek in Jordan

I’ve recently returned from an amazing trip to Jordan. The highlight of the trip for me was visiting Petra. I’m glad we had two days there, but it still wasn’t enough time to see everything. The place is huge. I went to the “Petra by night” event and was a bit disappointed it was so short, but it was an amazing sight to see all the lights. Another great tour was Jerash. It was wonderful to walk through so much history.

Most Inspirational Moment

The two most inspirational moments for me was when I managed to climb up both sets of stairs to the "High Place of Sacrifice " and the stairs to the "monastery". I am not the fittest but even though it took a while I made it. The views from the High place of Sacrifice were stunning and well worth the climb.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader Khaldoun was a very informative guide who made the trip one to remember. His love for his country was clearly shown by the way he spoke about day to day life in Jordan. Nothing ever fazed him, even when I was late getting back to the meeting point after our first day at Petra! He is a proud family man, who told us stories about life and religion through his family. His English was perfect too.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Try everything. Don't give up, keep going. It's well worth it.

Janeen Olsen

Reviewed November 2022

Nice walks. but a lot of down time

I really enjoyed the walks and the scenery they provided. Walking around the villages was also fun. Our guide Cecile was great. She explained a lot about Greek culture, plants, cuisine and history. The hotels we stayed at were were just ok for the most part. Nothing memorable but everything appeared to work. On most days I was really disappointed with the breakfasts that were included in the tour. They were sad, cold, boxed meals that didn’t contain much food I would eat. With the exception of the hotel on Naxos, I ended up having to buy something to eat later. The restaurant dinners organized by Cecile were very nice however and I certainly did not end up starving. Perhaps the aspect of the tour that I wish I had appreciated first was just how much time was spent getting to, riding on, and making our way to hotels from the ferries. I just don’t feel the pleasure of the walks and sightseeing visits were offset by the down time spent in transit. I would definitely recommend visiting the Greek Islands, but before recommending this trip I would make sure the person was comfortable with all of the time devoted to logistics.

Most Inspirational Moment

The walk on Santorini was my favorite.

Thoughts on Group Leader

She was professional and provided a lot of informational content to the tour. She was also clear about where and when to meet to catch buses and ferries.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Read the itinerary carefully before deciding if you will enjoy a tour the visits 3 islands in such a short time. The ferry rides might be relaxing for some people, but I found them boring.

Reply from Exodus

We’re really grateful for Janeen’s review, and are so pleased to hear that she enjoyed the walks on this trip and that she was impressed with her tour leader, Cecile. We were, however, sorry to hear that she was disappointed with the structure of the tour and felt there was a little too much down time. This is a relaxed walking tour which offers our groups the chance to trek the most scenic routes of Naxos, Santorini, and Paros, as well as allowing them the time to explore each island at their own pace. We understand that the ratio of free time to activities is a delicate balance to strike on any trip, and we are confident that our trip notes provide an accurate reflection of what our customers can expect on this particular tour.

Having reviewed each of the feedback forms we have received from Exodus clients in 2023, we can see that this tour scores an average of 4.5 out of 5 for its itinerary, and an average of 4.67 overall, which we feel is a really positive rating and indicates that our customers’ expectations are being met. We will, of course, continue to monitor the feedback we receive, and will not hesitate to make changes should more of our clients express views similar to Janeen’s.

– Vivien Urban, Exodus Product Manager

Ray Sharman

Reviewed November 2022

Not as expected

A mixture of amazing and unfortunately, poor/dangerous. The amazing – The views and the landscape. The poor – 1. Organisation of the 3 groups. 2 of the 3 groups had a minimum of 3 solo travelers in except my group which had me as the only solo amongst all couples. Not a disater by any means, but definitely had an effect on the holiday for me. 2. Only being allowed an hour or so at Herculaneum on route to the airport. No one could understand why the driver couldn’t have allowed us more time. Especially as we arrived at the airport 4hrs before the flight and on route to the airport, after leaving Herculaneum he offered us an unscheduled stop at a ceramics factory. The Dangerous – 1. Private coach drivers driving us from A to B to and from the walks. Talking on the phone while driving a coach along any road, let alone the extremely narrow roads of Amalfi is dangerous. One driver actually held the phone in one hand as he drove the coach full of people. 2. Being led walking as a group along busy narrow 2 way roads with no walk ways for pedestrians, through car tunnels and walking on the wrong side with the traffic rather than against it. Unbelievable.

Most Inspirational Moment

The views and landscape

Thoughts on Group Leader

A nice person for sure.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you're a solo traveller, ask for a guarantee that you won't be alone in a group of couples when there are other numerous solos on the same trip in other groups. Expect functional accommodation.

Reply from Exodus

We would like to thank Ray for his review, although we were sorry to hear the concerns that he raised about the trip, as Walking The Amalfi Coast is one of our most popular tours and usually gets great feedback. The organisation of our walking groups in Amalfi is done on the basis of including a mixture of twin and single rooming clients in groups of equal number, which we usually find works well, though we understand Ray’s disappointment in being the only solo traveller in his group, and going forward we are considering allowing different-sized groups if it improves our customers’ experience. We are aware of the issue that Ray’s group had with the driver who took them to Herculaneum; we use a trusted local transport company and the drivers they provide are usually excellent, but we do not tolerate a driver being on the phone while operating their vehicle and we have assurances that this individual will not be hired to drive Exodus groups in the future. We understand that Ray would have appreciated more time in Herculaneum, and though we would say that our groups give generally very positive feedback about this optional trip and the time they spend there, we are sorry that this was not reflected in his experience. Finally, we are sorry to hear that Ray was worried at points during the walks, as we understand that the routes we take mean that our groups do briefly walk alongside the roads in Amalfi. We have not been made aware of similar concerns in the past, either by clients or by the several Exodus staff members who have done this trip, and are confident that our tour leaders, who go through extensive group management training and are well used to navigating the roads around Amalfi, keep our groups safe at all times during the walks, but we will continue to monitor feedback in this regard.

Anne Weare

Reviewed November 2022

A fabulous bucket list trek

A tough but inspiring adventure that provides stunning scenery, great camaraderie and the realisation of a bucket list dream

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro with a group of people who had become as close as family and enjoying the success together - knowing that we had conquered our collective struggles and achieved something that had challenged us.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Happiness was simply the best. She was organised, informative, supportive and motivational. She got the measure of each member of the group very quickly and identified any weaknesses so she, along with the assistant guides, could lend a hand immediately it was required. She gave us confidence and instilled a belief that we could do it. She was also funny, fun and great company.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go for it!!! Find yourself a really comprehensive kit list. I used Mark Whitman's https://www.climbkilimanjaroguide.com/kilimanjaro-kit-list/ Technical kit can be expensive but there are loads of deals on line and I found some excellent bits and pieces in charity shops. When you read the suggested tip amount on the trip notes it might seem a bit high - it is not. The work the team do is phenomenal and they absolutely deserve it. Battery power banks worked better than solar chargers

Katie Watt

Reviewed November 2022

Face to face with Mountain Gorillas!

This trip was abundant with wildlife from tracking chimpanzees through the forest, to spotting leopards on a game drive. Uganda has so much to offer as you get to immerse yourself into the culture as you travel through the rolling hills, forests and lakes.

Most Inspirational Moment

It's hard to choose just 1! My top 3 highlights would be: 1. Seeing the baby Gorillas playing and falling over each other, all the families had babies in lock down so you are bound to see some if you visit soon! 2. The optional night game drive in Lake Mburo National Park, even if you don’t manage to spot as many animals at night the stars were the highlight! We all had our heads tilt back in the 4x4 looking at the milky way 3. Watching a thunder storm over the misty mountains in the Bwindi lodge bar

Thoughts on Group Leader

Robert and Sam were incredible! They were both so knowledgeable and really went out of the way to make the trip special.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bring some gaters for the swamp walk! Although wellies were provided

Amanda Tombs

Reviewed November 2022

Cycling in Jordon

Excellent trip… but my bag didn’t arrive on Jordon airways flight. This was very stressful on a cycling trip and lots of conflicting info as to where it actually was. No chance of buying female cycling gear and finding a swim suit was a challenge. Bag arrived at hotel a few hours before we flew home , after we forced the main rep to help us

Most Inspirational Moment

Dead sea swimming in my husbands trunks, Petra, Wadi Rum & cycling in my husband’s kit .

Thoughts on Group Leader

knowledgeable about Jordon…. but unhelpful with lost bag.. didn’t to hassle him every day.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take hand luggage only. Pack half your gear in partners bag. Take glasses and contact lens in hand luggage.

Jill Mapes

Reviewed November 2022

Food Trip to Sicily

A thoroughly enjoyable, varied holiday. Plenty of interesting visits, no shortage of excellent local food and wine.

Most Inspirational Moment

The cookery experience, and then enjoying the results!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Knowledgeable and enthusiastic, Francesca worked really hard to make our trip work.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Wear loose clothes! Be prepared to hotel hop and abundance of coach travel.

M B

Reviewed November 2022

korea review

Interesting trip to Korea . Initial few nights in Seoul then traveling gradually south until Busan and then back to Seoul night before trip end. trip includes a monastery overnight which , personally , I think could have been missed out . Spend the morning getting there and the monastery tour could have been covered as a day trip with an extra night in Busan instead . The meditation session was underwhelming and next day is very early departure. So you maybe spend 14 hours at monastery . It generally felt a “contrived” exercise ,although presumably its a revenue earner for the temple.

Most Inspirational Moment

Exploring a high tech yet little visited country .

Thoughts on Group Leader

Group Leader Michelle Kim was full of Korea information an dreadily shared it .

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be aware that koreans view eating out as exactly that , eating only. No starters , no desserts simply not part of the culture. Evening meal tends to be 19.00 with restaurants emptying out by 19.45 whereas we tend to view eating out as a social thing for several hours. Limited english in restaurants and hotels. No early check in at hotels , so if arriving on group flight in morning you have to wait until 15.00 to check in to hotel in Seoul . When using ATMs not all accept foreign cards, you have to ensure it has a visa symbol on it and may show a message confirming foreign cards accepted. This may mean a bit of a hunt for a suitable ATM, especially once out of Seoul .

Bruce Patterson

Reviewed November 2022

psychotherapist

Ten years ago on an Exodus holiday I asked the leader what his favorite Exodus cycling trip was. “Jordan,” he said, “to Petra and Wadi Rum”. I’d never thought of Jordan as a cycling destination, but I see now what he meant. This trip has everything: good cycling, great food, amazing historic sites (some Biblical), a dip in the Dead Sea. snorkeling in the Red Sea and the chance to learn the basics about a middle eastern country. It could be titled, “Jordan’s greatest hits by bike”.

Most Inspirational Moment

Coming upon the Treasury at Petra as the steep, narrow canyon entrance opened up, a stunning sight.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Exodus couldn't have found a better group leader than Dr. Sami. His knowledge of Jordan, its ancient history in particular, is vast, his sense of humor a delight, his English excellent (having done his PhD in Sydney) and his attention to the details of our needs impressive. Because of him, it was evident that we were being well taken care of. There were the usual wrinkles (someone's luggage didn't arrive, someone had a medical emergency, a couple had gastrointestinal distress), but Dr. Sami handled them all with obvious concern and patience, never showing the stress that he must have been under.

Advice for Potential Travellers

As we were advised from the start, don't drink the tap water. And pack what you can't do without (medication included) in your carry-on luggage in case your checked-through bag should go missing.

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