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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14357 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Chris Williams

Reviewed March 2019

South Africa: landscapes, wildlife and battlefields

The Exodus holiday in South Africa was a wonderful introduction to African landscapes and wildlife. I have travelled widely in my life but with little experience of Africa. This holiday exceeded my expectations in two ways: the remarkable opportunities to see wildlife at close quarters in Kruger; the amazing landscapes of the Blyde River canyon, Swaziland and the Drakensurg Mountains. My enjoyment of the holiday had a lot to do with the way it was organised and led by the group leader. I have been left with many great memories.

Most Inspirational Moment

It was inspirational to be in Kruger National Park for a few days and to see the great variety of wildlife. I'm thankful that there remain a few places on earth that have this rich ecosystem. A three hour walk just after dawn was especially exciting - being aware that large animals were around us and that we were walking through their natural habitat, their world

Thoughts on Group Leader

The group leader, Rowan Moon, was excellent and I rate him highly. His enthusiasm and energy was infectious. He is natural leader and developed a close relationship with us as a group and as individuals. Organisation and time-keeping was excellent. He has developed a very good working relationship with Sofiso, the driver, and I felt safe and well-cared for at all times. He has remarkable wildlife-spotting skills and was able to detect the presence of animals (including many species of birds) and identify them accurately and instantly. He also has very good hiking skills and was confident at route-finding and care of people who struggled on more challenging parts of the mountain trails. The driver, Sofiso, was superb: very safe driving at all times on some challenging road surfaces, very well organised for luggage and food preparation and hard working & reliable in all ways. He is also friendly and good company. Betz, a trainee guide, worked hard assisting with food prepapration. A few times she gave information when we were touring in the minibus but I found it really hard to understand her because she has a very strong South African accent. This would have been a big concern for me if she had been our group leader.

Advice for Potential Travellers

My advice for travellers buying this holiday is to ensure that they are as fit as possible for the days of walking. And to be aware that while the trails are not over-long, nor are the altitude climbs significant (about 700m maximum), the routes are very rugged at times, there are parts when there are steep or near vertical sections on or near the route, there are a few quite tricky river crossings and there are very challenging metal ladders on the last two days (see my comments below). The guide Rowan, and the driver Sofiso, gave excellent support on these walks.

Claire Holmes

Reviewed March 2019

Travel from north to South Vietnam

What an amazing adventure that we have had with exodus, never been to Vietnam before this was a great way to see the country.

Most Inspirational Moment

The most inspirational was for us was the trip to Halong bay on the boat, seeing all the islands and the caves. The boat was basic but clean the food was gorgeous and staff where willing to help.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Huy was full of information regarding different places that we visited, he was flexible if we wanted to do our thing i.e having a meal by our selfs.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The over night sleeper train was hard, lack of sleep and noisy.

Philip Morley

Reviewed March 2019

A must for new travellers to this region

As a second time traveller to this area I had seen many of the sites by coach. Cycling is so much better allowing time to absorb the many natural wonders and culture with the wind through your hair. Our tour leader, nick name IS, a fully committed Thai lady, gave 110% to everything for the group, including the 2 boarder crossings that looked like something from a James Bond film!

Most Inspirational Moment

Having seen many of the natural wonders previously, and an appreciation of the countries history, for me the stay over in the Mekong delta Homestay was my highlight. This was tailored for our group only and included a ferry transfer, evening cooking lesson and traditional entertainment with musicians and dancers; an evening of great memories.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader ,”IS”. Was inspirational. As said, she gave 110% commitment to the group ensuring everything was in place, put in place or corrected where found wanting. I can’t sing her praises enough.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Yes, please check with Exodus shortly before departure that all travel documentation is in place, particular if flying with Malaysia Airlines. We had trouble at check-in and we’re not allowed to board until we had signed an Airline Waiver of no responsibility; this caused some angst and was embarrassing holding up other travellers in the check-in queue.

Janice Eastman

Reviewed March 2019

Cycling and Safari in South Africa

This was a good trip with a great balance of cycling and safari. However, there are some really long transfers between days, not just the transfer to and from the airport. With 14 in a 14 seater mini bus it was not the most comfortable of journeys, especially for the men with their larger shoulders.

Make sure you do some training before you go as there are some long hills, which require endurance. The guides were most helpful and encouraged everyone. They also prepared some good meals, taking into account everyone’s dietary needs.

Most Inspirational Moment

Getting really close to some of the animals in Kruger

Thoughts on Group Leader

Bradley was informative and helpful, also a great cyclist.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Train for the hills. There are many and they require endurance, especially in the heat. If you take your own bike, like I did, it would be preferential to have a 11-32 cassette. I only had 28 and it was very hard work at times.

Sheila Morrison

Reviewed March 2019

WONDERFUL NAMIBIA

What a fantastic trip. Our wonderful guide Ronney and his assistant Jonas who both knew all the best spots to spot wildlife (leopard inside a roadside sign) (Pride of 10 lions at a kill) but could also produce 5 star lunches at the roadside under the shade of a tree, effortlessly change rooms to suit my disabled husband, drive with the utmost skill on bumpy roads and have none of us complain and generally do their job at 110% Highly recommend a trip to this most interesting country.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing a pride of 10 lions feeding on a kill (including 2 cubs) who then pottered slowly back to the shade of a tree right in front of our van. Amazing

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ronney was just FANTASTIC. Great at wild life spotting, orgainizing, lunches, bird identification, friendly, always around to assist if needed.

Advice for Potential Travellers

It is hot in February. Internet weather said 28-30c and 14 days of rain expected. One 10 minute shower and temps in mid 30's all the time.

philip isenhouer

Reviewed March 2019

The Pluses and Minuses

This is a nice tour with some highs and low points.
Highs:
Sachatamia Lodge for birds and I mean lots of different types and numbers.
Chachimbiro Hots Springs, excellent
We got onaly a 10 minutes and a 30 minute boat ride in the Amazon River Basin.
Cajabama Indian Market, great local color of locals selling and buying fruit, vegetables, plants.
Hiking in Cajas National Park for animals viewing and great scenery
Churute Eloological Reserve for mangrove swamp boat ride to see many birds and bird species.
Lows:
San Clemente Indigenous Community, slow moving and boring.
Papallacta Hot Springs, over crowded
Not enough boat on the river time in the Amazon Basin. Should be at least 2 hours per 2 days.
Banos, over rated town

Most Inspirational Moment

Sachatamia Lodge for birds and I mean lots of different types and numbers. Chachimbiro Hots Springs, excellent We got onaly a 10 minutes and a 30 minute boat ride in the Amazon River Basin. Cajabama Indian Market, great local color of locals selling and buying fruit, vegetables, plants. Hiking in Cajas National Park for animals viewing and great scenery Churute Eloological Reserve for mangrove swamp boat ride to see many birds and bird species.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Fabian is an outstanding tour guide. Exodus should be happy to have him

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go only in Andes dry season, July-September

DAVID BELL

Reviewed March 2019

Excellent week in Dobbiaco

A great week’s cross country skiing in Dobbiaco. Sunshine and blue skies were great but the snow was getting thin by the end of the week. Hotel was very good. Excellent breakfast buffet and plenty of choice for the evening meal. Wellness suite was great to stretch the muscles after a good day skiing.
Efficient bus service to get to different ski areas each day and only a few minutes walk from the hotel.

Most Inspirational Moment

The skiing was very good every day but my best memory will be having a coffee by the lake above Dobbiaco which is very beautiful.

Thoughts on Group Leader

We had 2 leaders as this was a Level 1 and 2 holiday. Alex led our group and I found the pace and the teaching perfect. He knows the area very well and was able to choose good skiing every day despite the worsening snow conditions.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take lots of thin layers as the start of the day may be cold but once the sun gets up so does the temperature. A close fitting light rucksack is very useful to carry water, suncream and the layers you remove.

Lesley Parks

Reviewed March 2019

Another great holiday by Exodus

Following Exodus’s usual formula of maximising a tour around a country to experience its cultural and history with the added benefit of premium hotels throughout (well one had and enchanting feel of colonial days but that was just one night) I experienced a fab time.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were a few moments but it was a personal one of climbing Adam's Peak with my condition of OSA and seeing a beautiful sunrise.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Suniel had an extensive knowledge of Sri Lanka which he delivered in an amenable way with a gentle Sri Lankan manner that we experienced from the locals throughout the tour.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I needed my waterproofs for the wind at the top of Adam's Peak even though I did not need them the rest of the holiday.

greg cosma

Reviewed March 2019

Cycling Vietnam MOV

The tour leader Mr. Chii Nguyen was excellent. He communicated everything in advance of arrival at each new stop, whether it be a rest stop, a hotel, a train, a boat, a lunch. He responded to all questions about trip details, cultural awareness, vietnam history with a perfect understanding about the question being asked and the preconceived notions that we had about the topic. The cycling days were challenging but entirely doable.

Most Inspirational Moment

Observing the work ethic of the Vietnam people. Observing how the Vietnamese appear to be fully aware of how other countries have treated them through various occupations, colonialism and war, but the absence of visible animosity. Children yelling "Hello!" in loud voices and perfect English, as we rode by.