Reviews

Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers

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14330 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Sanjukta Dey

Reviewed September 2019

Why Gorilla and Masai Mara Reverse Camping is Better.

This is a trip that’s worth every single buck. I’ll list the pros and cons though.

Pros: Gorilla tracking is physically demanding. So is waking up very early every morning, travelling long distances and camping. Wildlife in Masai Mara is fantastic, no other national parks measure up to it in terms of sightings during this trip. When at the beginning of the trip energy level is high, better to do the gorilla tracking etc. Then in the end of the trip be rewarded by extraordinary wildlife viewing in Masai Mara.
The crew was really great (except one) but Albert (chef) requires special mention because he was funny, kind and fed us amazing food. Stoney (driver) was very helpful and was always helpful with information.

Cons: In some camping sites there is no Wi-Fi or internet, if we were informed before could tell our family not to worry if they didn’t hear from us on certain dates.
The truck was too old and dusty, some of the windows were difficult to open and close. We even had a breakdown close to Lake Bunyoni and that was only the beginning of the trip! Although Gilbert arranged alternative for reaching the campsite soon.
On the days of long drive, why we stopped for lunch (sandwiches) which required preps and thus wasted time is beyond my understanding. There were days when we were given packed lunches (when went on game drives). Why couldn’t the same be done which would have saved time and effort of the crew? Especially as bread in Uganda was horrible.
The water pump was the most inconvenient thing ever! After a certain level it required one hand to hold the bottle, one to hold the neck of the pump and another to actually pump water! I’ve only two and one of crew member who was basically Man Friday, got annoyed because I was asking for help. He also tried to sell me wildlife photos (I’m a photojournalist and was travelling with pro cameras) but I didn’t encourage him.

Most Inspirational Moment

Of course the highlight was watching the gorillas up close. However that wasn't all for me. Watching all wildlife in their habitat is a joyful experience. Visiting new countries, learning about their culture, cruising near Murchison Falls and Lake Victoria, hot air balloon in Masai Mara. All unforgettable experiences!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Gilbert our group leader was very knowledgeable and proud of his culture, which was wonderful. He tried to solve any issue intelligently and swiftly. If it was possible, he tried his level best to get it done.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Those who an to buy additional gorilla permit must know that both happens in two different areas of the Virunga Massif. One in Bwindi and another in Mhinga (sorry about the spelling). The second one has more slope and physically exhausting. Bwindi has heavier growth and thus clear sighting maybe a problem. Unless very sure about being able to handle the climbs and physical exhaustion on two consecutive days, pause before buying the second permit. If someone plans to buy tea, try some in Uganda (my parents are loving it) but Kenyan coffee is better. Locals sell souvenirs in some places (but not outside Masai Mara), they are much cheaper than the souvenir shop they stop in. They sell some of the same stuff at double the price. DO NOT forget insect repellent, they will feast on you no matter what! I forgot my anti malaria pills, so Gilbert took me to a pharmacy in Uganda, where bought weekly tablet pack.

Graham Ritchie

Reviewed September 2019

Great trip!

I generally go for a more active holiday but I enjoyed this cultural trip. The rest of the group were very pleasant and our guide (Megle) was very efficient and informative. There were complaints about hotels but I have to say I was perfectly happy with my accommodation. My one complaint would be the Monday spent in Riga (day 6) – the trip to the beach at Jurmala was nothing special, besides it was too cold to swim and you would have had to wade out about 2km to get water deep enough. The boat trip along the canal and river was no great shakes and the free afternoon in Riga was somewhat spoiled by all the attractions being closed (as they are every Monday). It was rather a waste of a day and would be better being omitted altogether – either spending it elsewhere (Klaipeda or Vilnius?) ar cutting the whole trip short by a day. That however is my only grouse and was overall very happy. Up to the usual Exodus standard.

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking over the dunes near Nida (I skipped the boat trip).

Thoughts on Group Leader

Megle was very good. She explained where we were going and what we would see. Her restaurant recommendations were generally good. She was well organised and good at skipping the queues! She was very knowledgeable about all three countries.

Advice for Potential Travellers

nothing in particular.

Brian Weetman

Reviewed September 2019

The Ups and Downs of Albania

A brilliant week. I have done many grade 3 trips which are very much a holiday with cycling but this grade 5 trip is very much a cycling trip plus a holiday. You will need to be pretty fit or a cyclist to get the best out of this foray into the mountains. Nevertheless you can easily tailor your trip with the odd trip to the broom wagon bus. It will be well worth whatever level of challenge you accept the scenery is stunning beautifully rugged and remote. Cannot fault the accommodation, food or guides Both junid the guide and Tuni the driver did everything they could to make this run smoothly and it did.

As usual with exodus trips the group make the difference and I was lucky to hit on a fabulous mix of lovely people.

Most Inspirational Moment

I should say getting up the climbs but really some of the descents were awesome. The availability of superb cold Albanian beer at the instant we finished each day and the discovery of mayonnaise sachets at day 4 picnic also stand out!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Great guy and did a great job.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Just go life is too short to miss out :-) and go now before Albanian gets full of tourists.

David Denyer

Reviewed September 2019

Madagascan Discovery review

This trip fulfils its promise of seeing Limas in their natural environment. However the country is extremely poor. All the sealed roads are riddled with potholes and the dirt roads are rough. Electricity is hit and miss and there are no street lamps even in the cities. Piped water is a rarity, Meat is butchered locally and sold from wooden huts (no fridges). If you survive this trip without diarrhoea then you are extremely lucky

Most Inspirational Moment

Lima watching

Thoughts on Group Leader

Generally excellent

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take extra care of hygiene

Anne Wenlock

Reviewed September 2019

Everything I could have hoped for.

This was my first holiday abroad for several years as well as my first booking with Exodus. My initial contact with the company was very positive and as soon as I booked my excitement began. The Agriturismo Braccicorti was idyllic and food was both plentiful and delicious (and washed down with Braccicorti wine). As for my fellow travellers, you couldn’t have chosen a more like-minded group. I can’t wait to start planning my next holiday.

Most Inspirational Moment

Climbing Mount Prado, the highest peak in Tuscany. The views were incredible.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Liz was a brilliant group leader. She was knowledgeable about the local area, an excellent Italian speaker and an experienced mountain leader. She went out of her way to ensure that everyone was happy during the climbs and considered everyone's abilities. Liz made train, taxi and restaurant bookings for us. She certainly seemed to go above and beyond!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Read the trip notes very carefully, consider how fit you are, wear technical clothes in summer, make sure your insurance is good enough for this activity - you will be asked to note down if you are covered for a helicopter evacuation. Get a good rucksack which is comfortable to wear for the whole day.

Beverly Eastwood

Reviewed September 2019

Wonderful week

I have recently returned from this holiday and can honestly say it was one of the best Exodus walking trips I have done.
The area itself is unique and stunningly beautiful.
Every day was different and incredibly well organised by Michela , our leader who was excellent.
The week was busy but never felt too much and was a really comprehensive tour of the Ligurian coast.
The hotel was lovely with good rooms and a great breakfast buffet.

Most Inspirational Moment

This is very difficult to say as each of the walks had its own breathtaking moment - - whether it was a view as we walked into one of the towns or the silence of the forests. We also all took a boat trip on our free day and the views from the boat were amazing - sailing into Portovenere was stunning.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Michela as I have said was excellent. There was so much thought that went into everything she organised. If someone did not want to do all the walking or wanted a day off she was so helpful and detailed in regard to other options. She was incredibly knowledgeable and interesting - not only with exploring the area but with restaurant recommendations. The food was fabulous. Nothing was too much trouble and there was genuine concern that we should all have a wonderful holiday.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Some of the walks are challenging as they are steep at times with many steps .... definitely worth it for the views , and you don’t have to be super fit but a reasonable ability to walk up and down hills is definitely advisable.

Anna Anderson

Reviewed September 2019

Don’t leave it to chance

Amazing experience seeing gorillas and chimps but make sure any extra gorilla permits are booked when you book as you will be disappointed otherwise.

Most Inspirational Moment

Tracking through the impenetrable forest and spending an hour in the company of a gorilla family. We won’t forget it.

Katy R

Reviewed September 2019

Amazing insignt into a fabulous country

This trip was FULL ON. The activity level maybe doesn’t reflect the amount of actual physical exercise taken on the trip, but it does reflect the pace. It was completely non-stop from touchdown at Hanoi airport, to hikes and village walks through the hills of the north and absorbing all the culture of Hue and then down to Saigon and the beautiful Mekong Delta. 6am starts and late nights made for a lot of naps required on the bus but to pack this inspiring and amazing country into 16 days was a definite success!

Most Inspirational Moment

Halong Bay has got to be up there as an all time highlight, the kayaking was brilliant too! Along with the guest-house in the Mekong delta and the cycling tours through the countryside Hanoi on a Saturday night for tired, jet-lagged brits who had only been in the country a few hours was a bit overwhelming but Saigon was a dream!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Unfortunately this is where the trip fell short of 5 stars. Having travelled with exodus before and only experienced amazing, intelligent, organised and inspiring guides full of knowledge and humour, perhaps I was a little spoilt. Linh was both disorganised and overly-regimented in his planning. He constantly failed to tell us vital information regarding the days structure ahead which meant that an already packed trip was full of confusion. He was indecisive but at the same time failed to take on suggestions from the group about what they wanted to do. We were given very little freedom or flexibility with regards for activities and he had a very odd idea of time eg City tour in Hoi An was supposed to take 1 hour, ended up taking 3 hours then straight to dinner then another tour after dinner = very tired tourists. He also showed no interest in conversing with any of the group and preferred to lecture us in the coach (very interesting if a little egotistical at times) yet was not open to any two-sided discussion over dinner. In my experience, exodus guides have been quite the opposite and this is just a one off (for anyone reading who has now been put off!). I was also under the impression that Linh did not often take the 'trails' group and usually did the cycling tour - perhaps that is his real forte!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Yes lots! When going to the home-stays with the village tribes, pack lots of clothes and socks (you will need them) and also all the young girls in the villages were desperate to have their nails painted! So bring a pot, it won't take up much space and will really brighten their day! (Wish I had had this advice before going) There won't be many opportunities for buying souvenirs etc so make sure you take time in Hoi An to do that. If you're at all travel sick then stock up on pills - the coach journeys have wonderful scenery but that comes at a cost! You don't need to bring many clothes either, laundry services are cheap and quick and so are the clothes if you need an extra t-shirt or something. The food has a reputation for being dirt cheap, however the places we were taken to were cheap compared to British standards but don't go expecting dinner to cost £5 If you go in August it is constantly hot and sticky, lots of sun cream, lots of DEET, expect to be a sweaty mess most of the time!

Catherine and Andy White

Reviewed September 2019

A trip of a lifetime!

We originally looked at booking the longer Costa Rica Family Adventure as we thought the Family Escape (at 7 nights) may be too much of a whirlwind. However, we liked the fact that there were less distances to travel (as the Family Escape does not include a visit to the Caribbean coast), and that there were more activities included, plus, on enquiry, we found out that on the dates we wished to travel the families booked onto this trip had children of similar ages to our own (16 and 12). We are so pleased we went for this option! From being met at the airport by our wonderful guide, Eduardo, and driver, Cesar, to being waved off as we boarded our transfer on the last day, we enjoyed every minute of our holiday!

Costa Rica is an incredible country and this trip gives you a sense of its diverstiy – from the volcanic landscape around Arenal, to the Cloud Forest at Monteverde, and the tropical beaches of Carillo. The mix of activities is great – from the high adrenaline rafting and zip wire course at Monteverde, to fascinating nature walks and wildlife spotting. The itinery is quite pacy – there are activities most days, however, you get at least 2 nights at each hotel (apart from in San Jose) so you do get chance to unpack a little and enjoy some downtime.

The hotels all offer something different: Los Lagos at La Fortuna is set in lush tropical gardens with its own resident crocodile and butterfly and insect houses. Plus, it has its own hot springs complete with water slides which our children loved. The Country Lodge at Monteverde is a little more basic, but charming, whilst the Nammbu Beachfront Bungalows are super stylish with spacious rooms and a stunning pool area.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were so many.... from waking up to the sound of howler monkeys outside your room, being surrounded by hummingbirds and having them land on your outstretched hand at Selvatura Park, conquering your fear of heights on the hanging bridges and zip wires above the forest canopy at Monteverde, seeing a sloth being rescued from overheard cables by the local fire service, hearing the sounds of the cloud forest at night as fireflies flit around around you, seeing a humpback whale for the first time, watching the sun set over the Pacific Ocean at Carillo Beach.... the list goes on!

Thoughts on Group Leader

From the moment we arrived at San Jose Airport, our group leader, Eduardo, made us feel incredibly welcome in his country. Knowedgeable and passionate about the history, culture and nature of Costa Rica, Eduardo soon shared his love of his country with us all. Within minutes of meeting us, Eduardo had memorised all our names and, refering to us "family", he ensured we got the best possible experience we could - asking us to write down our wishlist of things we wanted to do and see whilst we were in his beautiful country. Eduardo was an exceptional group leader: great with the children in the group, imparting his extensive knowledge with enthusiasm, sharing his photos with us on the WhatsApp group he created for us, treating us to chocolate and ice-cream on a daily basis and instilling in all of us a sense of the "Pura Vida"! We must not forget our driver, Cesar, either. He made sure we were safe on the roads and waited patiently for us after every excursion, always greeting us with courtesy and a smile.

Advice for Potential Travellers

We decided to book a 3 night beach extension - staying on at Nammbu hotel at the end of the trip - which Exodus organised, along with a private transfer back to San Jose airport. We were definitely ready for some rest and relaxation after a packed schedule, so this was really worth doing, plus it gave us a chance to do some additional activies - such as scuba diving (at Samara) and turtle watching at the nearby Camaronal Wildlife Refuge.

Samantha Selkirk

Reviewed September 2019

Cycling The Baltics

The trip was a leisurely cycle and very much as described but further enhanced by the sites of interest we visited. The food was great and Andrius took us to a variety of restaurants, all reasonably priced – eating in the fisherman’s garden and the folk evening were highlights. This was our first trip with Exodus, we thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend.

Most Inspirational Moment

The fish lunch in the museum, food was delicious, the museum was really interesting and in a picturesque location.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Andrius was an amazing ( and very witty) group leader, his flexibility in adapting the trip programme to the interests of the group was a huge plus. His knowledge of the area is vast and the insight he provided in to history of The Baltic States complemented the cycling - he was the icing on the cake! Thank you.

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