Reviews

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

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14339 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Reviewed June 2013

HIDDEN TREASURES OF JORDAN

A really good holiday in a fantastic country with some amazing ancient sites, Jerash and Petra being absoutely stunning. Good country, great companions, a passionate guide, and with a few tweaks to the itinerary, could be an amazing adventure for anyone with an interest in archaeology and biblical history.

Most Inspirational Moment

Petra was just awe inspiring. Spending two days there was fantastic as you got to go off the tourist trail to some of the less well visited parts of the site. However, the most inspiring aspect, was not seeing the Treasury for the first time, but getting up the climb to see the Monastery at the top, which I think is equally stunning, and with fewer people.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Zuhair was very passionate about his country and people which was great. He really made an effort to improve the itinerary from the base itineray from Exodus, including a trip to the see the new National Museum of Jordan, where the Dead Sea Scrolls are now located, a trip to see tha Baptism Site on the banks of the River Jordan, and a night in the camp in Wadi Rum, rather than a quick drive by. I think these certainly added to my enjoyment of the tour. The only downside was that he did abandon us when not on the tour, so we had to sort out our own evening entertainment.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Definitely take your own guide book as you will find yourself having to find your own locations for eating in the evening in Amman, the hotel is nice, but just a typical Westernised hotel quite far out from town. It will also help with some of the background to the larger archaeological sites like Jerash and Petra. Check the itinerary before you go as well, the extra trips our guide had arranged really made a difference to the tour, i.e the National Museum of Jordan to see the new location for the Dead Sea Scrolls, the baptism site on the River Jordan and the extra night in the desert, rather than 3 nights in the Petra Hotel.Be prepared for a bit of walking in Petra, it is not recommended to use the horses, camels or mules as the owners can be quite aggressive when it comes to payment, walking is certainly manageable as long as you have a reasonable level of fitness.When changing money, don't be palmed off with an 50 notes. Nobody in Jordan seems to have any change, even in the Amman hotel, amazingly. Aqaba is seriously hot, (well in June anyway). It was almost unbearable and felt about 10 degrees hotter than anywhere else in Jordan. Also you won't be able to to go on the snorkelling boat trip unless there are enough of you on the trip, we didn't have enough so a few people had to make do with snorkelling off one of the private beaches.

Reviewed June 2013

MT TOUBKAL CLIMB

Much tougher than I’d anticipated and didn’t enjoy it hugely. However, I’m sure others on the same trek would be of very different opinion to me. I’m 68, reasonably fit but found this tougher & less enjoyable than the treks I did to Annapurna Base Camp & Kala Pattar a few years ago (in spite of the fact that the latter was 1,000m higher than Toubkal).

Most Inspirational Moment

Inspirational? Well getting to the summit was an achievement but, IMHO, not hugely enjoyable in view of the terrain one has to trek through to get there. But I did enjoy getting back to Marrakesh and having a wonderful fresh orange juice with ice cream in a cafe overlooking Jamaa el Fna!

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was OK and I think he was looking after our safety which is the main concern. Eg, when we descended from Mnt Toubkal, we were in 3 groups & he stayed with our slowest group & ensured we avoided the snow fields we'd been through on the ascent. But at other times he was very much at the front, practically out of sight and there was no back-marker as I've experienced on other treks. It was up to the group itself to ensure that slower members were accompanied. To be fair, at the start, there was one of the muleteers at the rear but latterly he had to go ahead carrying one of our number who'd suffered a sprained ankle.Our guide was also very kind in taking us to see his home & meet his children, and drink wonderful mint tea!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't underestimate how difficult it is, the Trip Notes (IMHO) are too brief & just don't give the necessary detail, principally that probably most of trek is over lose stones or scree & quite difficult to walk on, requiring a lot of concentration. And the ascent of Mnt Toubkal includes quite a bit of clambering over boulders.Also I was somewhat concerned that we depended on bottled water - I'd taken purification tablets but there's no opportunity to get boiled water & add the tablets. At Toubkal base camp, the only source of bottled water is from the refuge which necessitates scrambling down to a stream & up the other side. I wouldn't have thought that there are any recycling facilities for the bottles.I took an additional mattress but not necessary. Tents were OK although one of them had to be abandoned on the first evening as one of the zips had burst. Be prepared for VERY basic toilet arrangements. Our group didn't really suffer from altitude sickness but it is a tough acclimatisation in just 3 days before you tackle Mnt Toubkal.Also, compared to the treks I'd done in the Himalaya, I didn't find the scenery all that great - it's very arid, dry, stony; but then that was what I expected.

Reviewed June 2013

CYCLE CILENTO & AMALFI COAST

Firstly, the bikes that we had for our week along the Amalfi coast were first class. The whole group appreciated this, especially the lady who had hired an electric bike.It was a lovely bonus to have a pool at all but the last hotel, with our first view of the coastline from the hotel balcony absoutely stunning. The guide was very knowledgeable and kept the group together, showing us hidden gems within the areas.And we couldn’t have ordered better weather!!!

Most Inspirational Moment

Realising that I'd got to the top of the hardest hill of the week without thinking about it!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Paulo was quite reserved in talking about himself but, as a leader of a group, he was excellent in sharing his local knowledge and keeping the group together. He could, I suppose, have circled round to the back of the group more rather than always riding out front, to make sure all of the group got maximum enjoyment from the trip.On the last free day on the trip, Paulo even took a group of us walking in the forests behind Amalfi which was beautiful and which we wouldn't have found without him

Advice for Potential Travellers

This is not a trip for those who only cycle down to the shops at home a couple of times a week - the hills are challenging and you've got to want to conquer them rather than being annoyed by their being there. A couple of people on the trip only cycled the first day and then took up the whole of the possible recovery space for cyclists in the support vehicle

Reviewed June 2013

CYCLING THE DALMATIAN COAST

This was a really good trip with a nice balance of cycling and sight seeing. The islands were the high point with some simply beautiful scenery and unspoilt towns and countryside.

Most Inspirational Moment

The towns of Hvar and Korcula.We had two meals at small, family run restaurants which were some of the best on the trip.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Bojan was a good tour leader, he was well organised and compentent. Some more details on the local history and things to look out for on the rides would have been nice but he was very proficient and we felt well cared for.Boris needs a new van though, preferably one with air conditioning as some of the transfers were a bit uncomfortable, especially with 16 hot cyclists and lots of bags, cycle hats, rucksacks etc!

Advice for Potential Travellers

The cycling is not too challenging and the longer days are broken up with lots of stops. The hills are steady climbs and the views from the top are well worth it, as are the downhill sections!!I would also recommend buying your own water if you have a senstive digestive system. The bottled water provided by the tour leader ran out on day three and was then replaced with tap water.

Reviewed June 2013

MONTENEGRO, BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA

In our opinion this trip far exceeded expectations in terms of the geography, daily experiences, cultural and historical insights and overall quality of guiding services.

We highly recommend this trip to anyone wanting to learn about this amazing part of our world.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were several quite inspirational points of our trip. These would include touring the old cities in Budva, Montenegro; Sarajevo and Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina; and Dubrovnik, Croatia. Each place had its own unique character and history, but for emotional impact Sarajevo would be at the top of the list.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our trip leader, Lorenc, was informative, patient, and willing to answer our questions about any topic, whether it was related to our adventure or of a more personal nature. He always made certain that we were well-informed, engaged in our activities and, most of all, safe in what we did. It's always the little things, the unplanned or spontaneous happenings that make any trip memorable, and Lorenc certainly excelled on all counts!

Advice for Potential Travellers

GO! But be sure to plan an extra day or more in Dubrovnik, as this trip does not include much time there. We went early and booked a local guide for a tour of the old city. Be sure to pay extra to walk around the wall of the old city, and take the gondola to the ancient fort atop the hill for an amazing view.

Reviewed June 2013

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - RONGAI ROUTE

AMAZING TRIP, VERY WELL ORGANISED, WONDERFULL EXPERIENCE, CANT FAULT ANYTHING, DONT DELAY BOOK THIS TRIP WITH EXODUS, YOU WILL NOT BE DISSAPOINTED.I BOOKED ON THE SOLO DEPARTURE AND EVERYONE IN THE GROUP WETE LIKE MINDED AND GREAT PEOPLE, PORTERS,COOKS AND GUIDES ARE FABULOUS, OUT OF THE 14 IN OUR GROUP ONLY 7 OF US MADE THE SUMMIT, I WAS LUCKY AND DIDNT GET ANY ALTITUDE SICKNESS, HEADACHES ETC …. ONE OF THE BEST EXPERIENCES OF MY LIFE !!!

Most Inspirational Moment

REACHING THE SUMMIT WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS SUCH AS HEADACHES, ALTITUDE ETC....

Thoughts on Group Leader

AMAZING GROUP LEADER

Advice for Potential Travellers

KEEP A STRONG MIND AND YOU WILL REACH THE SUMMIT, DIAMOX TABLETS ARE ADVISABLE

Andrea Shorey

Reviewed June 2013

Cycle the Baltics

Cycling along the coast

Most Inspirational Moment

Lucas was a very informed personable leader: The Coach driver, who's name I have forgotten was fantastic, helpful, safe, always ready to adjust the bikes

Thoughts on Group Leader

Try to have more lunch time picnics: too much time wasted on long lunch breaks

Advice for Potential Travellers

Transfers far too long and the heavy German back pedal brake bikes need to be replaced

Reply from Exodus

We would like to thank Andrea for posting a review about her recent cycling holiday to the Baltics; we really appreciate client feedback and are working to improve the issues Andrea has raised. As this trip covers a lot of ground, some long transfers are needed, but we feel that most clients enjoy viewing the scenery on the way. The fleet of bikes is going to be replaced for next season (2015), so we expect that this will make the cycling much more enjoyable. We certainly agree that it would be good to have more picnic lunches during this trip and we will endeavour to put more emphasis on this for future departures. David Sear – Product Manager for the Baltics

Grad Ruderham

Reviewed June 2013

Cycle the Baltics

A good cycling trip, visiting amazing places (especially Tallinn and Riga) that was let down by the poor quality of the bikes, arriving to towns too late to visit the places of interest and inaccuracies in the trip notes.

Most Inspirational Moment

Spending a day in Riga, seeing a wild beaver in the city park, the amazing architecture and the site of the very first Christmas tree. Witches Hill was also impressive.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Very friendly, knowledgeable, sociable and eager to please and support the group.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Apparently Lithuania translates as Land of the Rain and it certainly lived up to its name, perhaps we were unfortunate with the weather but definitely bring your wet weather gear. Also the currency in Latvia is the Euro and not the Latvian Lat as the trip notes state (Estonia and Latvia have the Euro and Lithuania still has Litas - though they too are scheduled to move to the Euro in 2015)

Reply from Exodus

We’re glad that Grad enjoyed his cycling trip overall, but are sorry that he didn’t feel the bikes provided were the most suitable. We have been using traditional European upright bikes for this trip which, whilst we agree may be a bit heavy, we have generally found to be suitable for the flat terrain. We are, however, looking into the bikes used on this trip. An Exodus staff member has recently joined a departure of this trip and has subsequently made recommendations about lunch stops and suggested improvements for the trip notes which we hope will benefit future clients.

David Sear – Product Manager for the Baltics

Reviewed June 2013

ATLAS PANORAMA

A great get away to shake off the modern world and get back to basics for a few days.

Most Inspirational Moment

The walking in the mountains helps put things into perspective, and the hospitality of the people give's a sense of being truely welcome.We were really fortunate to have an amazing group on this trip and we all got on famously. Thanks guys!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader was caring, attentive and made sure we all were well looked after by encouraging us to carry enough water, drink and keep covered up during the hot part of the day.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't pay too much attention to the negative vibes about the food. Ok it may not be the Ritz but given the facilities the food is great and there is plenty of it. Don't forget that pair of walking boots, as you WILL need them. Double layer socks are also a worthwhile investment.You may need walking polls to help you get up and down the steep bits. And a Camelbak might be sensible to keep your water cool, I'm glad I purchased mine.Also remember you will normally need a sleeping bag.....but remember the time of year you are going and take the clothes to keep warm if the advice suggests them.Finally the trip is maked as moderate for a reason....altitude sickness can kick in at less than 3000m and this trip will take you to not much below this.The altitude will make even the fit find it tough at times especially on the 10hour trek.

Reviewed June 2013

CYCLE THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO

Fantastic holiday with a great group of people, enthusiastic guide, wonderful scenery, good food and comfortable hotels. This was a very special week following the last 200 miles of the Camino de Santiago. All this together with challenging and exhilirating cycling made for an unforgettable trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

One of the most inspitrational moments was getting to the top of the hill on the 3rd cycling day. Our group of 16 varied quite widely in cycling ability. Even the best cyclist set himself his own challenge to get up the 8km rise as fast as possible without putting a foot down. I just wanted to get to the top without having to give up and when I achieved this, the rest of the group gave me a round of applause - awesome !!!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Dani was a complete star !! This mountaneer had only led one Camino cycling trip before and was now presented with the responsibility of guiding 16 cycalists of varying ability. He was consistently enthusiastic and encouraging while maintaining a sense of humour. As we struggled to find those elusive yellow arrows he took all our ribbing about his map reading skills with good humour !!

Advice for Potential Travellers

My advice is really about the conflict between the grading and the written description of the trip.In my opinion the trip is correctly graded moderate to challenging.However the trip notes also state "the riding is generally undemanding" Not sure what planet this author is on !! Even the most experienced cyclists on the trip found demanding sections on most days.A later sentence reads "This trip is ideal for the occassional cyclists who exercise regularly" It was on the basis of this statement that my husband and I signed up. In reality it was FAR more challenging than this would indicate. We are SO delighted to have experienced the trip but as "occasional" cyclists we had to dig very deep into our reserves of "regular exercise" to get up those hills !!! My point is that less motivated and stubborn people might be disappointed and demotivated to find themselves on a trip that was too difficult for them.

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