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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14294 Reviews
4.7 out of
5
Reviews
V K
Reviewed July 2022
Nice part of Italy
We had a small group so it was really easy to travel and organise. The places we visited in Puglia were all very different and had its own charm and I really enjoyed my week.
However there were parts of the trip which just did not make sense eg two walks (each between 1-2 hours) were scheduled at the hottest time of the day which caused concern for a number of us in the group. To avoid the uncomfortable heat (and quite frankly one of the walks just didn’t even serve a purpose to heighten our enjoyment of the trip) transport was arranged at an additional expense to each traveller to arrive at the final destination that day.
Apart from that, the trip was brilliant and covered alot of the region. A truly relaxed trip for those who want a slower pace for a week.
Most Inspirational Moment
Staying in Matera and seeing one of the oldest towns in Italy, olive oil tour, discovering Lecce and the rich history of this city.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Gabriella was very capable and entertaining and went beyond to help everyone on the trip.
Advice for Potential Travellers
On the free day it would be best to go either to the cave or Monopoli but not both. The churches/cathedrals are closed between 12 and 4pm and there is little else to do in the walled city during that time. Or just spend your time at the beach at Monopoli with no expectation of exploring the walled city.
Claire Holloway
Reviewed June 2022
All round brilliant trip
We waited two years for this trip but it was worth the wait – beautiful scenery, relaxed riding, lovely food, excellent tour leader and a great fun group. Bikes were comfortable and very able to cope with the terrain.
Most Inspirational Moment
It's difficult to pinpoint a single moment - the view from the terrace of our Matera hotel, cycling on backroads through olive groves, the trullis of Alberobello, late night jazz in Ostuni - and getting to the top of that roller coaster hill.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Fabrizio was a star - nothing was too much trouble for him. Bursting with enthusiasm and energy and very knowledgeable about the area. He kept the group cycling at a good steady pace, making sure that no one got left behind and as a single guide with a group of 15 had a great system of shared responsibility for being way markers and back markers. He collected money up front to cover all lunches, snacks, tips and taxes which saved lots of time and was very good value. Definitely one of the best group leaders we've had. Piero our driver was also excellent - always on hand with water and assistance and finding wonderful fresh fruit for our snack stops.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Highly recommend this trip - the distances aren't too great so plenty of time to swim in the Adriatic and the Ionian and explore the beautiful towns you stop at along the way. Hills are very manageable but if you're concerned about fitness, hire an ebike, We had five on our tour and we all cycled together very happily.
Joanna Pickles
Reviewed June 2022
11 june 2022
The Amalfi Highlights is a wonderful holiday; marvellous sites, marvellous scenery. Basic but very comfortable hotel. Good food. We felt the ambience was relaxing and the trip was full on. The hotel laid on fun evening cooking events.
Most Inspirational Moment
Much fuss made of my father for his 91st Birthday with a cake, and sparkling wine after the path of the gods walk, courtesy of our generous tour guide, Severio. The path of the gods is not to be missed.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Excellent group leader; very concerned for the well being of the group. Very practical and firm with the trip details. Clear instructions. Had done his homework. Knew the local region well. Made us all welcome. Bought a bottle of sparkling wine for my father's birthday which was over and above his role. V kind and much appreciated.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Make sure you have enough pocket money for the trips as the exchange rate is almost 1 euro: 1 pound now. The drinks tab does add up, sadly!
Phillip Burrows
Reviewed June 2022
Spectacular Picos de Europa- 11th - 18th June 2022
Based in Arenas de Cabrales, known as the gateway to the Picos de Europa, a group of 15 explored the region which offered a varied terrain through forests, shepherds paths, green valleys, a gorge, river paths as well as being among limestone peaks. There was beautiful wild flowers such as orchids and blue thistle as well as wildlife where we spotted griffon vultures, chamois, brightly coloured butterflies as well as cows with their bells clanging around their necks.
The Hotel Torrecerredo was our base for all our days walking. It’s a small family run hotel with staff that went above and beyond to make our stay a welcoming and memorable one. The restaurant served delicious traditional 4-course meals and the bar stocked all our post walk requirements at very affordable prices.
Five minutes from the hotel is the village Arena de Cabrales. This is a picturesque village which offers many bars and restaurants offering tasty meals and a few souvenir and outdoor shops as well as local produce shops selling their famous Cabrales cheese.
Most Inspirational Moment
Walking the 12km Cares Gorge. This engineered path, built in the 1940's, is part of a hydroelectric scheme. It wasn't too crowded and you could walk on your own taking in the surrounding peaks that rise over two thousand metres above the path. I was lucky enough to film two vultures flying quite low.
At Cains, the village where we had lunch, rather than walking back 12km along the gorge some of us booked an off road jeep that would explore hard to reach places and return us back late to our hotel - shaken but not stirred.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Nacho was our leader. He was very patient and informative. He was passionate about the culture, flora and fauna of the region and imparted his knowledge in an enthusiastic way. He also had a good sense of humour. The temperatures on some of days reached 38 degree, which was unprecedented even for North Spain, so Nacho had to alter the itinerary to make the walking more bearable. One day he started walking an hour earlier and another day incorporated a forest and river walk where we had opportunities of cooling down in the river pools.
Alan Jordan
Reviewed June 2022
Not Inspiring
This trip lacks to normal expectations of an Exodus trip, no time to get to know your traveling companions, very limited opportunities for meals as a group and no sense of inclusion. It ticks all the boxes for places visited although scheduling could be improved and pacing evened out to prevent the sense of being rushed and then left with excess down time. Hotels used were all good a mostly well located although breakfasts (the only meals included) could have been more appropriate to the class of hotel used.
Most Inspirational Moment
Having time to walk around Selinunte without the herds of tourists, (skipped lunch break for this)
Thoughts on Group Leader
Worked hard most of the time, tried to keep everyone happy, but the lack of an inclusive start meant the group had already fractionated before he could have any influence. At times I felt patronised and talked at (not to).
Advice for Potential Travellers
Sicily is crowded so do not expect much peace and quiet, it is also larger than one might expect necessitating some early starts and long drives. Some Italian would be useful since a lot of signs and labels in the attractions are not translated. If possible find a traveling companion, this trip is not very single friendly.
Nick Potter
Reviewed June 2022
A lot of driving and no photography in churches
This trip is billing as 1 – Leisurely. However whilst there’s not much walking there are a lot of long drives as you cover a lot of ground. Additionally all the hotels are a single night only, apart from 2 nights at Lake Ohrid, so there’s little time to decompress and unpack. The trip also covers a lot of churches and monasteries so if that’s not your thing, maybe pass on this trip. Frustratingly, despite the amazing and beautiful interiors of the churches, almost without exception you’re not allowed to take photos in them.
Most Inspirational Moment
Lake Ohrid was lovely. Being the only location where we had two nights it gave us a chance to relax, unpack, and decompress. Plus the lake and surrounding area is beautiful.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Kristina was a great tour leader. She was funny, insightful with the facts and background of the places we visited, and caring when someone on the tour needed extra help. She also caused me to gain several pounds with her love of ice cream and insistence of grabbing one everywhere we went (lol).
Advice for Potential Travellers
As mentioned, this can be tough with the long drives and mainly single nights in hotels not giving you much chance to relax. A few of the hotels also don't have lifts so you might need to drag your luggage upstairs yourself. Some of the places we visited also contained a large number of stairs too, so bear this in mind if you're not comfortable with that.
Yvonne Carson
Reviewed June 2022
Excellent walking holiday
What a great holiday. The scenery is just amazing, and the walks each day show the best of what the area has to offer. The group leaders are very knowledgeable on local wildlife and I throughly enjoyed looking at the alpine flowers. Very well organised trip, hotel was comfortable and staff were so kind. Big thanks to Paul and Jenny for looking after us all, but thanks especially to them for looking after me!
Most Inspirational Moment
The walking, the scenery and the wildflowers.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Excellent, couldn’t fault Paul and Jenny.
RICHARD COLERIDGE
Reviewed June 2022
A wonderful trip
We had wanted to do this trip for several years, but Covid intevened. The wait was worth it! Exodus have devised a varied, fast-moving trip that combines the magnificent sights of Uzbekistan and the wonderful scenery of Kyrgyzstan, all explained by knowledgeable and personable guides.
Most Inspirational Moment
No need to identify any particular moment; the whole 2 weeks was packed with amazing sights.
Thoughts on Group Leader
There were two guides, Nazim and Valentina. Each was immensely knowledgeable, able to share their enthusiasm and personal stories in near-perfect English. Their connection with the drivers, local agents, hoteliers and restaurateurs was faultless.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Join the trip!
Mark Saunders
Reviewed June 2022
Highlights of the Dolomites
What a fantastic trip, loved every single minute of it. Fun was had in abundance and it was definitely the best group of people I’ve ever met and walked with. In fact I’m laughing to myself as I’m writing this I had that much fun!
The Dolomites are stunning and Campitello is the ideal location from which to explore them. The Sporthotel Enrosadira was brilliant, a lovely family run establishment where they couldn’t do enough for us. Dinner was great, all five courses of it!
Would I recommend this trip to others….. absolutely!
Most Inspirational Moment
There were too many moments to list but just being able to admire the beauty of the Dolomites for a week was enough to inspire me to do more!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Paul and Jenny our two leaders for the week were absolutely brilliant. Their knowledge was exceptional, they were so helpful, very organised, friendly and great fun. Two genuinely very nice people. Mind you Paul's singing is a bit dodgy!
Advice for Potential Travellers
Quite simply book this trip and you will not be disappointed
Christopher Cutner
Reviewed June 2022
Highly recommended
After waiting 2 years it was good to eventually be able to go on this trip. The organisation was perfect, and although only 2* the stay was in a traditional family hotel with friendly staff, a clean and comfortable room, and a good shower to end the day with. The views from my room were spectacular, and the evening meals were superb.
All the walks were of the standard I expected, and all in beautiful surroundings. It was interesting to take the local train to the start point of each walk on most days.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our leader was excellent. He was so enthusiastic, explained clearly what each day's walk would entail, and ensured the group walked at a pace suitable for all, with plenty of water stops (needed in the heat).
Advice for Potential Travellers
A bit of advance research may assist you in deciding what to do on the free day, whether to go to Ajaccio or Corte, or indeed do another walk.
I would recommend taking most money in cash - the hotel only took cash for settling the drinks bill, cash was needed for tips (hotel and leader), and often restaurants and cafes seemed to prefer cash (even in Ajaccio) although the train and shops were OK with card. The problem is that the only ATMs are in Corte or Ajaccio if you run short!
I think there should be better advice about the airport transfers. We changed flights at Nice on the outward and Marseilles on the return. Both airports were very difficult and confusing as to how to changes terminals (even though close together in both cases). Many of us found it tricky, so I don't think it was just me!
