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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14375 Reviews
4.7 out of
5
Reviews
Sasha James
Reviewed October 2018
Mont Blanc Highlights review
Overall, I felt the holiday was a great experience – the walks were varied and the views we saw were breathtaking. The chalet was perfect, we were fed more than enough and the cake and the hot tub after each walk was the perfect ending to a day walking in the sun.
Most Inspirational Moment
The surrounding views, seeing Mont Blanc for the first time and of course, Lac Blanc. The treck up the mountain was definitely with it for the views.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Jenny was great, very knowledgeable about the surrounding areas and the mountains. It was interesting to hear all about her previous experiences up the mountains etc, however it did sometimes feel the walks were a bit rushed and that we were on a mission to get back to the chalet for 4pm.
It was a shame that we spent a short while getting up the moutain, to enjoy the views for a short time, i.e. Lac Blanc.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Make sure you train and build muscle strength in your quads. Walking will seem much more comfortable when you're ascending as some steep areas can be difficult.
Kathryn Smith
Reviewed October 2018
Enjoyed every minute!
The itinerary for this trip gives a good variety of activities at a reasonably relaxed pace. We stayed in each accommodation for a minimum of 2 nights which meant there wasn’t too much packing/unpacking.
Most Inspirational Moment
The land-based whale watching was incredible. I honestly could not believe how close to shore the whales would be.
The game drives were also amazing and I loved the cheeky little penguins on Boulders Beach.
The botanical gardens at Kirstenbosch are worth a visit too.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our guide Justin was fab. His knowledge of the country, history, animals, birds etc was excellent and he brought it all to life by sharing details of his family life and growing up in South Africa. Justins passion and enthusiasm for his country was infectious. Watch out for his wicked sense of humour!
Advice for Potential Travellers
Think about doing some of the additional activities. I did the additional game drive that was offered - very reasonable cost, we saw lots of animals and had a delicious meal included. The kayaking at Tsitsikamma was hard work but fun.
Margaret Dunn
Reviewed October 2018
No change
Gentle walks through beautiful scenery with lots of opportunities to sample prosecco!
Most Inspirational Moment
Lovely walks. Good to discover such good quality prosecco.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Very good leader. Good fun and well organised. Enjoyed her music on our bus journeys.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Bring small change for the water machine,1, 5 and 10 cents. 1 litre of fizzy water 7 cents - really nice and cold.
Doug Gossen
Reviewed October 2018
Blown away!
Our week in Croatia was a very enjoyable mix of hiking, sightseeing, socialising, food and wine. It also included perhaps a little too much adventure when the bora winds struck. On our second hike the winds, gusting at record speeds, literally blew several of us off our feet. Luckily injuries were limited to bruises and scrapes. Our leader, Zeljko Zarak, managed to get us all safely back despite road closures and emergency conditions.
Otherwise the weather was beautiful, the hikes challenging but satisfying and the companionship of the group very pleasant. Some beach time was also included, as well as historical and architectural experiences in Dubrovnik, Split and Zadar.
Zeljko provided very interesting and informative background on the history and politics of the country.
I liked the fact that dinners were on our own but also appreciated Zeljko arranging several optional meals, particularly a bean soup lunch at the midpoint of one hike and a superb dinner at a family farm in Bol. My girlfriend and I are vegan/vegetarian and were initially concerned by what we heard was a heavily meat-based diet in Croatia. But we were very pleased with the options available to us.
We were also told the hotels were very basic but all of them were excellent and each was better than the last as we moved from Dubrovnik to Bol to Starigrad and then Zadar.
Most Inspirational Moment
When adversity struck in the form of record bora winds I was impressed with the way the group pulled together, helping my girlfriend and I with first aid for our bumps, scrapes and shock. And our leader, Zeljko Zarak, kept everyone together, safe and calm. He got us into a sheltered space and then shepherded us to a nearby inn for warm drinks and comfort while he organised transportation. This wasn't easy as this was a real emergency in that part of Croatia. We heard later about an emergency rescue for other hikers and reports of a windsurfer missing and presumed dead. All the locals said this was very early for the bora winds and that they were stronger than anything in the past 100 years. Roads were closed but Zeljko was able to arrange vans to get us safely back to our hotel.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Zeljko Zarak was excellent, very personable and helpful. He also provided excellent on the area, its history and politics.
Alison Stent
Reviewed October 2018
Fantastic - thoroughly recommended!
Really interesting trip. It has a great balance with plenty of cycling but still having time to explore our destinations and some time to relax too. It’s a beautiful country with friendly local people.
The hotels were generally of a good standard and although 2 were not great, they certainly weren’t awful. I appreciated that sometimes in getting from A to B you have to go through less developed areas.
I enjoyed the food immensely, especially when we went to smaller restaurants away from the hotels.
Most Inspirational Moment
The local children running out to shout hello as we cycled past. Seeing elephants in the wild was pretty magical too.
Thoughts on Group Leader
It was no surprise to find out that Suresh is one of Exodus's top cycle leaders. Nothing was too much trouble for Suresh including tracking down clothes that people had left at hotels or cafes along the way! He was funny, sociable, totally in control of all aspects of the trip and I felt safe in his care. I should add that the whole team were great and always had a smile of their faces whilst looking after us.
Advice for Potential Travellers
You can't underestimate how tough the heat can be. Get as fit as you can before coming on this holiday and you will get more out of it.
The tuk tuks and local buses are bonkers and you need eyes in the back of your head sometimes!
Cycling through busy towns was only a very small part of the cycling but I would recommend that you feel confident cycling in heavy traffic.
Mariana Kelemen
Reviewed October 2018
Tour of Mont Blanc
All went smoothly.
Most Inspirational Moment
Seeing Mont Blanc from Punta Helbronner cable Car station.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Good judgement in all his decisions.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Read Exodus instructions carefully, follow them thoroughly.
Liam Curran
Reviewed October 2018
4 capital cities and 3 currencies in just 10 days.
First few days of cycling are quite difficult as there are a lot of hills. For the rest of the trip the cycling is mostly very easy and flat. You will visit 4 countries and have to get used to managing 3 currencies.
Food is fresh and portions are big. Bratislava is by far the smallest capital on the trip.
Most Inspirational Moment
Cycling from the hotel in Vienna directly to the hotel in Bratislava in a day. Not difficult but very statisfying.
Advice for Potential Travellers
If you want to see Prague go a few days early, as there is not really anytime to sight see on the trip. There are a lot of hills on the first few days.
Even though you will say in 3 and 4 start hotels they tend not to have any soap or shampoo in the rooms.
Roland Pope
Reviewed October 2018
Brilliant experience
If you are not already in awe of the power of nature this trip will remind you who is in charge.
Getting close to these amazing natural features, feeling the heat and smelling the sulphur is an experience well worth the effort.
Most Inspirational Moment
Experiencing Etna at close range.
Thoughts on Group Leader
He was very good.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Be aware that climatic and volcanic conditions can affect the itinerary; we couldn't get to Stromboli because of adverse windage.
We got to over 3000m on Etna and it was chilly when we stopped for lunch so be prepared.
Linda Hellaby
Reviewed October 2018
Just brilliant!
We had a wonderful time cycling the Dalmation Coast. The scenery was amazing, the group were all lovely, our tour leader Marijo was fantastic and the food was great. We loved every minute of it and we had pretty good weather too this late in the season.
Most Inspirational Moment
All the cycling - even those dreaded long uphills, the sheer exuberance of the downhills made up for it!
Also going to Dubrovnik was a highlight for me.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Marijo, our tour leader was excellent - nothing was too much trouble, he had a good sense of humour and his organisational skills were first class. He always had a Plan B in case of unexpected things occurring.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Do a bit of hill training before you go - there are some long ascents (10km or more) but quite doable if you are prepared for it. I was the oldest person in our group and I made it up all the climbs.
Elizabeth Eagles
Reviewed October 2018
Simply Unforgettable
Well where do we begin.
This was simply an incredible holiday and our very first safari.
The crew of four; Boniface aka Stony the driver; Ken head chef; Raymond aka Dolly head chef in training and Patrick our tour leader were all terrific, great fun and very hard working guys. They know their stuff and helped make our holiday.
The trip covers a tremendous amount of miles around 1300 miles in total. Yes there are a few early starts the earliest being around 4.30am to hit the road around 5am but when getting up a little earlier than normal to go and visit the mountain gorillas the early morning start pails into insignifance. The whole itinary is brilliant. We were exceptionally lucky to have seen the big five (elephant, rhino, leopard, lion, buffalo) and so what more could you ask for especially as this was our very first safari trip. The various stop overs were very good with some terrific campsites with options to upgrade to rooms or hotels along the way.
The time spent trekking to see the mountain gorillas can vary we trekked for around two hours which went very quickly but do be prepared for a hilly walk and make sure you have the right footwear and waterproofs as you can come across some small brooks and it could be muddy if the rain comes, we were very lucky as the rain came once we returned back to the start. For sure this experience is likely to remain with you for ever.
It does mention in the trip notes that helping out whilst not complusary, we believe it can go a really long way to get to know the crew and other members of the group you’re travelling with which adds to the fun around the campfires. The food was fantastic and plentiful each day and the variety was excellent.
We thought the trip was really well planned and when things didn’t go quite to plan such as the overland truck breaking down at no stage did we feel concerned and our safety was the crews main concern. Everything was done to resolve the issue in a timely manner.
We would highly recommend this trip to anyone with a love for animals you get to see so much it’s hard to put into words. Truly incredible and prividged to see these amazing animals in their own habitat.
Most Inspirational Moment
Again this is hard to put into words but two things come to mind. Spending an hour with the mountain gorillas has to be up there, they are such incredible creatures. Seeing the silverback and various mums with their 5 month old and 8 month old babies was mesmerising. In addition to this, continuing our game drive with Stony and Patrick as we decided on one occasion not attend a boat trip in the hope of seeing maybe more cats only to come face to face with an amazing bull elephant. This experience was both scary and incredible and again we felt hugely privileged to be in such close proximity to these beautiful wild elephants.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Fantastic! Patrick was very knowledgeable had a great sense of humour and made us feel safe at all times.
Each evening Patrick would say the words ‘something about tomorrow’ which is when we were given the plans for the following day. Everything was clear, Patrick was very approachable and kept us updated if plans changed throughout the holiday.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Go with an open mind, be prepared to get stuck in, make sure you have the right footwear and a lightweight raincoat just in case as the weather can change quickly.
There may be some early starts but equally there are plenty of opportunities for down time. Don’t let the early starts put you off. This trip has been very well thought out and worth every penny.
