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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14306 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Julia Larsson

Reviewed June 2022

Portugal at a glance

A very busy trip with not very much free time.

Most Inspirational Moment

I loved Porto even though it was very busy with tourists. The included lunch at the port winery overlooking the Douro and Teda rivers was excellent with plenty of vegetarian options and nice wines. The tour beforehand was entertaining.

Thoughts on Group Leader

We had Carlos Santos and Flavio as our leaders/drivers. They were both efficient, friendly, helpful and safe drivers. Carlos took me to a late night chemist when I needed some medication for a bad cough. He did this when we were actually settling into the restaurant for dinner - we still got back in time to eat! Flavio would always find out answers if he didn't know the answer immediately. We had a very enjoyable group dinner on Thursday with both of them as this was the last evening they would have been with us. The food was good - lots of veggie choices - Carlos played guitar and we all sang along. One small criticism is that some of the evening briefings were rather long.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I have raised this issue with Exodus already. The group flight home is very late. We were collected from our hotel in Lisbon at 5 p.m. on Saturday afternoon and I walked into my house at 1 a.m. on Sunday morning. Exhausting. I would have liked a bit more time to look round Obidos. We were there for two nights but went to Sintra to visit the Pena Palace and the Moorish Castle. Pena Palace was extremely busy, it took about an hour to get in and then you just had to shuffle round due to the amount of people inside.

Clare McDonnell

Reviewed June 2022

Croatia Cycling the Dalmatian coast

My son (23) and I (57) have just returned from this trip and I’m now looking to book another Exodus cycling trip! We have not done a trip like this before and we’re little nervous! There was no need!
The group leader Mario was excellent and made sure everyone was comfortable with the pace and really was an exceptional lead and a great ambassador for both Croatia and Exodus.
Our group of 11 was mixed age and ability but everyone got on well and had a fantastic time!
Amazing scenery, beautiful crystal clear waters and quiet roads.
Organisation was brilliant, water, snacks, when and where to break…bus and trailer availability etc. Nothing was too much trouble and Mario
really put in loads of effort to ensure everyone had a great holiday.
Hotels were good and better than I expected.
If you have doubts about whether you should book… just do it! It was fantastic!

Most Inspirational Moment

Day trip to Mljet, swimming to lakes and spotting a 2 tailed Pasha ( butterfly!) for the first time.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The group leader Mario was excellent and made sure everyone was comfortable with the pace and really was an exceptional lead and a great ambassador for both Croatia and Exodus. Our group of 11 was mixed age and ability but everyone got on well and had a fantastic time! Amazing scenery, beautiful crystal clear waters and quiet roads. Organisation was brilliant, water, snacks, when and where to break…bus and trailer availability etc. Nothing was too much trouble and Mario really put in loads of effort to ensure everyone had a great holiday. He was tolerant, easy going and friendly … even when he had to repeat himself several times because people hadn’t listened to the instructions ! Mario really contributed to making this holiday one of my best ever holidays!!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don’t be put off by the ‘Undulating’ nature of the routes… the descents are amazing and the support vehicle is always there if you need it! ….. I am not a cyclist… just reasonably fit.. and I managed the trip no problem. Bring beach shoes… there are sea urchins!

Irene L

Reviewed June 2022

Lovely scenery, disappointing walks

I booked on a Level 5 Challenging departure in April 2022. Mallorca is a beautiful island with absolutely lovely scenery but I was extremely disappointed with the walks chosen. Short, coastal walks at a very slow pace and far too many stops. There was only one day where we were really reached a summit. It was very frustrating and has deterred me from booking a guided tour with Exodus again. I specifically booked a Level 5 departure for the challenging hikes but Exodus did not deliver. I travelled with Exodus on many occasions in the past and always had a fantastic experience. I would not book with them again based on this trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching the summit of Puig Tomir

Thoughts on Group Leader

We had two group leaders which led to the trip being disjointed. Jacob for the first three walking days and Eduard for the last two days. Very knowledgable about the area and keen to share that with the group, which was really interesting. However, ultimately they did not deliver on the Level 5 Challenging nature of the trip.

Reply from Exodus

Thank you for taking the time to leave a review, Irene, although we are incredibly sorry that you found some of the walks to be too easy, as we recognise that you were anticipating more of a challenge from this trip. As I hope you appreciate, activity levels are inherently subjective, but we do endeavour to describe each trip as accurately as possible, and we are always open to suggestions to amend our guidance should we be made aware of clients feeling a particular trip’s grading should be changed. We have been operating this trip for many years, and we therefore receive a large volume of feedback regarding our clients’ views on the itinerary. Whilst our product manager, Malcolm Parkinson, and tour leaders feel that the current grading for our Walking in Mallorca trip is accurate, we are aware that adverse weather conditions and the abilities of some of your group members prevented you from completing some of your walks and affected the pace of the walks that did go ahead, which we acknowledge must have been extremely disappointing. It must have been further frustrating to have two different tour leaders, as this is not the usual arrangement. This should certainly not have been the case, and, following your feedback, we have instructed our local manager to not operate future trips in this manner. We are hugely grateful for your loyalty to Exodus over the years and we genuinely hope that you will reconsider your decision to not book with us again.

Steven Mansfield

Reviewed June 2022

A unique way to explore Greece, Gods and Myths

Our very first Exodus trip (recommended by friends) commenced apprehensively (and very early) in the Terminal 5 Lounge at Heathrow. After a couple of ‘Pineapple Juices’ for breakfast and 40 winks on the plane we were soon at our hotel to meet the Group Leaders Dimitris and Dimitris soon being referred to as D1 and D2.
Very soon the eclectic mix of people were entrusting the next 7 days of cycling, eating, drinking, swimming and dancing with D1 & D2. We couldn’t have made a better choice. We had fantastic cycling, the snacks, lunches and juices that D2 provided in support were excellent and D1 and D2 excelled at their dinner choices every evening giving us a superb taste of local foods (at very reasonable prices). D2 (the wine connoisseur) helped us choose the best wines to go with the meals, although he was not put out when the odd carafe of house red, or the local beers were ordered as well!
D1 and especially D2 excelled in imparting their local knowledge, Greek history and Greek Mythology at many of our stops to visit ancient sights and places of historical interest. Even better were the lunches that they prepared and the snacks they offered during the days.
In summary, D1 and D2 were fabulous The rest of the group got involved to make it so enjoyable. We had a fabulous time and met some great people. What a fantastic lot! We loved it.

Most Inspirational Moment

Hearing two American young lads Hum Ave Maria in the Mycenae Tomb of Clytemnestra. The sound / resonance was amazing. This was closely followed by a Pink Floyd rendition from "Dark Side of the Moon" in the same tomb! Our first ever trip to the Acropolis wasn't bad either.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader Dimitris S was great, but it was made so much better with Dimitris G as support. I am sure that they work well individually, but they make a great pair. Their knowledge and support were excellent. I had to leave the group on the last morning for personal reasons, and they both helped me out in getting to where I was going.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Please come along to enjoy the cycling, but make sure that you get involved with the group and join in with all the other activities - you won't regret it. The cycling and scenery are great - you can even swim (or just paddle) most days if you want. We did have a couple of issues with electric bikes, but it didn't detract from the holiday. It just meant that some had to peddle harder than others! (These were sorted out).

Lianne S

Reviewed June 2022

Scenery, sites, salads and stories

I originally booked this trip for summer 2020, it was rolled over twice due to the pandemic, but my word, it was a trip worth waiting for! Challenging cycling, spectacular scenery, fabulous food, and heaps of history – it has something for everyone, and then some. One of the best trips I have ever done (and this is my 12th with Exodus), “Team Dimitris” made it a wonderful re-introduction to cycling holidays abroad after the last few years of uncertainty.

Most Inspirational Moment

As a student of ancient history, visiting Epidarus and Mycenae could not be beaten. As a cyclist, the scenery was simply stunning, especially the Nafplio coastline. As a foodie, absolutely all of it!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Dimitris on the bike and Dimitris in the van have to be the best double act on an Exodus trip I have ever had the privilege to be a part of. Their meticulous attention to detail with elevation profiles and distances, maps, carefully selected snack and rest spots, and particularly their choices of local cuisine, meant that everything ran smoothly and all we had to do was pedal along, eat, and enjoy ourselves. The real magic though was in their storytelling - if you love Greek myths (or even if you don't), you will be spellbound.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be open to sharing evening meals (and a kitty for arranging lunches, snacks, and drinks). Team Dimitris chose a wonderful selection of local dishes on each day which, when shared between all, meant our group could try a huge variety of delicious food at a really reasonable price. Handing over the decision-making never tasted so good!! The itinerary is quite a busy one but regardless of how hot or tired you might feel, keep going! You won't want to miss out on a single thing.

Christian Pulham

Reviewed June 2022

Pura Vida

Costa Rica is well known for its biodiversity, and this itinerary is well designed to show it off given the wide range of habitat visited over the 2 weeks. Starting on the Caribbean coast, we spent our first 2 days exploring the waterways of the Tortuguero National Park. From there, we visited various rain forests and then cloud forests as we increased altitude, climbing the central mountain range that divides the country and then descending to the Pacific coast.
Be prepared for contrasting weather as go, from hot and (very) humid to much cooler at the greater elevations, and be sure to pack accordingly. It’s interesting to see the flora and fauna vary with these different ecosystems as you progress through the trip.
As previous reviewers have already commented on, the range of wildlife we saw (and heard) was huge, and included birds, mammals, reptiles, and invertebrates. Highlights for me include the toucans, humming birds, quetzal, sloth, and some impressively sized crocodile.
The accommodation was very comfortable and very well presented and the various eco-lodges certainly fitted the focus of the trip, helping you to feel immersed in the forest. Most had wildlife walking trails that you are able to explore without a need for a guide. I’d highly recommend the optional (guided) night walks as an opportunity to see the tree frogs and other amphibians and snakes.

I visited at the end of May, and decent waterproofs were essential – If, like me, you’re taking cameras, make sure you have a waterproof bag for these too. Having said that, the weather was kind to us and although it rained frequently, it was pretty predictable and tended to be limited to the evenings so didn’t impact on the excursions – but be prepared and aware that the itinerary is flexible to account for the weather if required.

Most Inspirational Moment

The conservation ethos is Costa Rica is impressive. Their dedication to the protection of their natural habitats is paying obvious dividends. The sounds of the forests is something that will stay with me for a long time, particularly first thing in the morning!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our guide, Johnny, deserves a special mention. His knowledge and friendly manner were exceeded only by his enthusiasm and contagious passion for his country and it's wildlife. It was really nice to see his obvious excitement at some of our wildlife sightings (notably a huge boa constrictor crossing a road during one of our bus transfers!).

Advice for Potential Travellers

Pack a comfortable pair of closed toe walking shoes. These are required for some areas due to the potential for snakes, particularly if you want to make the most of the self-guided trails or night walks at the lodges. ..and waterproofs. If you're planning on taking advantage of the laundry services as to go, be aware that these tended to get more expensive as we went, so I'd recommend doing what you can earlier in the trip.

Tracey F

Reviewed June 2022

Another wonderful trip with Exodus

The trip was excellent from start to finish. The hotel has been described as basic but it has everything you need. It is scrupulously clean & the owner(s) / staff cannot do enough for you. There is a beach 5 minutes walk away at most & the hotel has a bar opposite where you can relax with a book & enjoy the light breeze after a walk.

Most Inspirational Moment

Looking down at the town & clear blue water of the bay, realising just how far we had climbed to experience that view.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Nanou is one of the best tour leaders I have had with Exodus. Her enthusiasm & energy is contagious. She is very kind & patient - towards the end of one walk my brain was telling me I could finish however, my legs were telling me otherwise. Nanou arranged for a vehicle to collect me &, when I said I was ashamed that I had "failed", she insisted that there was no reason because I had made the walk. She also took us to a restaurant with an amazing ambiance that we would never have found for ourselves.

Advice for Potential Travellers

After 2 & a half years in lockdown when the extent of my walking was from my sofa to the fridge & back I would say that you really do need to prepare for the trip. Also take into account the heat.

Phyllis Ryan

Reviewed June 2022

Great trip

We were a group of seven people on this trip. Our tour leader’s name was Bledin (probably the wrong spelling). He was an excellent leader, very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. For some of the time we were really just sightseeing, but when we were trekking it was quite hard work. This trip is classified as moderate, but I do feel that it should be classified as moderate/ challenging, as when we were trekking in the alps, we were on shale, which is rather challenging, especially as I’d never walked on that surface before. However, with Bledin’s help I was able to successfully negotiate the three days of trekking. Our forth walk was on rocky steps which I am more familiar with.

The Albanian people are very friendly, and helpful. The wife of one of the hoteliers even leant me a pair of boots, when mine fell apart!

All in all, a very enjoyable trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

Managing to walk across the snow on the pass between Theth and Valbone'

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was excellent

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure that you can walk up mountains on shale.

Harry Jerman

Reviewed June 2022

An excellent tour of an amazing country

This trip really does do a great job of showcasing what an amazing country Jordan is – taking you to some of its more well-known sites (e.g., Petra, the Dead Sea) and some of its lesser-known ones (I had never heard of the Wadi Mujib Siq Trail before but it was my favourite part of the trip). The trip strikes a great balance between fun activities and time to relax. The first hotel (Rum Art) is a little basic, but the standard improves as the week goes on which means you appreciate the later ones even more. I have never had longstanding ambitions to go to Jordan but, after this trip, I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Most Inspirational Moment

The Wadi Mujib Siq Trail (wading/scrambling through the gorge) was my own personal highlight - but hiking in Petra, jeep and camel rides in Wadi Rum, and floating in the Dead Sea were all very close runners-up!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader, Ab, was amazing; he was funny, he looked after us, he shared his enthusiasm and passion for his country and its history, he took us to great food spots, and even adapted the tour where he could to give us the best possible experience.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I would advise other travellers to arrive a day early so you can explore Amman (potentially with others from your group who are doing the same). In terms of clothing, I bought a couple of pairs of cotton/linen trousers based on what I'd read online and, whilst it's nice to respect the Jordanian culture, it really didn't seem to cause any offence any time that I opted to wear shorts.

Karen Sandler

Reviewed June 2022

Pleasant, but not an Atlantic Ride. Needs another guide with 16 people.

This was described as an Atlantic ride. We did not even glimpse the Atlantic until the end of day 3 out of 5. After that, we saw it in parts and it was lovely. It was hopelessly misdescribed. The ride was reasonable, but incredibly slow, particularly on the first 2 days, and on main roads. I am not a fast cyclist, but to travel at an average of 10 to 12kph on a flat main road is ludicrous, and dangerous. It was very hard to control the bike at these speeds and to keep stopping and starting on busy main roads is far from ideal.
The problem was that there was only one guide and no support vehicle following us, so the guide had to keep stopping and then riding very slowly. This was incredibly frustrating and annoying, especially as the scenery was boring for the first 2 days. This was not good enough.
The accommodation was a bit hit and miss. It was okay, with a couple of very poor and cramped rooms. In one hotel, not only did we get the booby prize of an unsafe room, it was also the venue for the group dinner. The food was inedible, and my husband and I ate very little. The hotel was quirky and very interesting, in Obidos, but we drew the short straw.
Overall, I would not particularly recommend this trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

I enjoyed most of the company, and the food and the wine, when not organised for us. The picnics were mainly good.

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was good, on the whole, and the support driver was excellent.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I would not advise people to do this trip. I just do not think the cycling works.

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