Reviews

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

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14318 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Reviewed December 2012

ESSENTIAL PERU

This trip certainly covers the ground and gives you an excellent taste of Peru. There are long travelling days but the rewards from the scenery make it all worth while. Early starts but you don’t feel rushed as there are plenty of stops to enjoy the scenery. The bus was very comfortable and even had it’s own loo.

Most Inspirational Moment

Machu Picchu is magnificent and lives up to the hype. Best to go in the early morning to avoid the crowds. The site is much bigger than I expected. The other highlight for me was the home stay with a local family on Armantani Island in Lake Titicaca. We were welcomed with open arms and well looked after while there. Seeing the condors at Colca Canyon was another highlight. Magnificent birds soaring effortlessly on the thermals - wonderful. The Ballestas Islands on the first full day is another highlight. The boat gets you quite close to the wildlife so good photo opportunities there too.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Juan was a star - well organised, very knowledgeable and had a great sense of humour. Everything ran very smoothly and his knowledge when visiting all the archeological sites was second to none.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take your camera and lots of memory cards! As others have said, pack light; take layers and remember a sun hat. There are laundry facilities available at the hotel in Cucso - excellent value at 7 soles per kg. Money changing is easy too; change some at the airport but there are plenty of money exchanges in the towns as well as ATMs. Take US dollars as sterling is not always accepted even in banks. Dollars can be used to pay some of the entrances and tours. The Sacred Valley of the Incas is an optional tour but I would recommend it; Ollantaytambo and Pisac are worth it. Follow the advice about drinking lots of water as it does help avoid altitude sickness. There are shopping opprtunities everywhere and the goods on offer are well made and cheap. I didn't have the heart to bargain too hard when the prices were low to start with.

Reviewed December 2012

EVEREST BASE CAMP & GOKYO LAKES

Great trip, very hard and may need re evaluating by Exodus

Most Inspirational Moment

Climbing up to the top of Gyoko Ri and looking over 4 x 8000m peaks

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was great, and very well supported by our assistant guide. My wife got altitude sickness at Gorak Shep and they did a brilliant job in looking after her and in the end we went down to Lobuche that evening. As Exodus are one of the biggest groups in the region, they were able to borrow an assistant guide from another group so the remainder of our group could continue, but we could go down with 2 people and be safe. Amazing service and can't recommend Exodus highly enough.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The TNE trip is really hard and the days that you do Gyoki Ri, Cho La pass and Base Camp need all th energy you have.

Reviewed December 2012

ATLAS PANORAMA

Great holiday – not too strenuous so plenty of time to feel like I was getting some ‘rest’ (albeit whilst walking!). The mountains were peaceful and remote. Just what I needed and no stress of packing everything up every day – a nice change from other holidays I’ve done.

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking back towards the village on the last day in the mountains, seeing the stark contrast between the barren brown mountains against the lush green of the irrigated land in the low sun. Whilst we walked and talked, we passed many of the villagers walking into the 'fields' to work. It looked beautiful and it was humbling to see the locals go about their daily lives.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Leader was good but could perhaps have been more accepting of our questions about what was happening - us Brits like to ask lots of questions about what the plan is for the next day BEFORE it gets to the night before!!However, besides above, Hassan was very modestly and quietly caring, looking out for EVERY member of the group at all times.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you're going in November, don't underestimate how cold it might be in the evenings!! It wasn't ridiculously cold, I admit, but I was still FREEZING in the late afternoons/evenings in the gite - probably due to the temperature change more than anything else. I needed full thermals and as many jumpers as I could squeeze on. I wished I'd taken a warmer jacket (I left it at home thinking it wasn't needed). However, the gite does provide really warm blankets, which you can use any time and I was more than warm enough at night with a 2-3 season sleeping bag plus their blanket. The temp in the day was more variable but there was a definite chill in the air even in the sunshine. Quite pleasant when walking but could be a little chilly when stopped.

Reviewed December 2012

GALAPAGOS WILDLIFE CRUISE

One can always count on Exodus to provide the best way to discover new territories, and the Galapagos wildlife cruise aboard the "Cachalote" was awesome! The captain & crew are fantastic, I was even able to steer the yacht at Latitude 0! Our guide Darwin was exceptionnal, and the wildlife was….. WILD!!!!!!

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking on the lava fields and imagining how it must have been when the earth was booming with activity. It made me feel very humble towards the magnificence and power of our planet.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Darwin rocks!!!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't hesitate: just GO! But do not forget to take good earplugs as the engine is really loud in some cabins.I had a long wetsuit and was never cold, so consider bringing one too.

Reviewed December 2012

PETRA & WADI RUM TREK

This was my first trekking holiday and it was a fantastically fulfilling experience. It was very well organised and I will definitely be looking to travel with Exodus again.

Most Inspirational Moment

Tackling the climb up Burdah was a quite a challenge but the detailed guidance and encouragement given by our leader ensured that we all got up safely. The thrill of crossing the Arch of Burdah, (albeit on my hands and knees!) made the effort well worth it.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Saleh, our leader was fantastic. He was knowledgeable, considerate, immensely encouraging and always had a massive smile and great sense of fun.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The scramble up and down Burdah required a fair bit of pulling on rock and a pair of gloves would help protect hands.

Reviewed December 2012

ANNAPURNA SANCTUARY

This trek provided a truly superb experience. We were blessed with excellent weather throughout and enjoyed clear blue skies with only a few hours of patchy cloud, normally in the mid afternoon. The route was very attractive and gave a sensible opportunity to prepare for altitude. Only three of our group of sixteen seemed to be affected by it. The locals were friendly and warm; they responded enthusiastically to our five words of Nepalese!

Most Inspirational Moment

Entering the Sanctuary and listening to the growl of the glacier and the rumble of the avalanches in the far distance.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent, Prasant was a superb leader; combining fun with a high degree of professionalism. He was ably assisted by his three guides all of whom added to the enjoyment of the trek.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for single sex dormitories at the overnight stop before MBC, at MBC and ABC and make sure you have a good supply of hygienic wipes to cover those three days when showers were not easily available. Make a note of the food you order at the tea houses.....it can be quite embarassing when delivered to the table and you find you have eaten someone else's lunch.....

Reviewed December 2012

DOLOMITES, LAKE GARDA & VENICE RIDE

This was a very enjoyable trip; a nice combination of mostly easy cycling and getting a taste of the countryside and cities of Northern Italy.

Most Inspirational Moment

Venice is amazing - it was on my 'to do' list for quite a while, so being able to combine it with an activity holiday was great.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Michele was excellent. The guidebook, including maps, and list of hotels provided at the start were also very useful and informative - it would have been possible to find the route and the hotel each day even if you had been separated from the group.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go for it. The days are a bit more 'full on' than on other trips, not due to the cycling but due to the time spent visiting the cities in the evenings, where there is rather more to see than in cycling holidays in more rural areas. If you want a holiday with more-difficult cycling, chose a different trip, as this was probably the easiest of the 'moderate' grade holidays I've been on, with only one reasonably serious hill on the trip.

Reviewed December 2012

MOUNTAINS & VILLAGES OF EVIA

A great holiday, with a very pleasant group, a brilliant leader, good walking in attractive scenery, and based at a simple friendly family hotel.

Most Inspirational Moment

Thanos's moving account of the Canadian soldiers whisked to safety during the war and what happened to the family that helped them.Walking-wise, the Demosaris gorge and the Roman aqueduct descending from Castello Rosso.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Thanos was brilliant. He organised things very well (cafes, transport, etc - and finding a reliable taxi-driver and central hotel for us when my friend and I used the free day to end up with 2 days in Athens), answered all questions and had fantastic local knowledge, and walked at a reasonable pace on the whole (but we did get a bit too strung out on occasion when going downhill and there was the deadline of a bus to catch).

Advice for Potential Travellers

October seems a good month - I was glad that on no day was it uncomfortably hot while walking. I found the long descents over boulders quite testing, even with poles, as falling forward is more painful! but overall the walking was very enjoyable. Good hotel breakfasts, evening meals at local cafes acceptable (with wine flowing freely) but pretty unimaginative.

Reviewed December 2012

IMPERIAL CHINA & YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE

If you want to see the highlights of China then this is definitely a good way to do it. Apart from satisfying your curiousity about the past it also helps you put the potential future of the country into perspective. But there is relatively little countryside/wildlife on this trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

The great Wall of China threw everything at us: we started in the rain, then got a sprinkling of hail, thunder and lightening, before clearing up and showing itself in beautiful light with views far into the distance. Could have spent more time here, enjoying the beautiful mountain scenery. The Panda breeding centre was another highlight. the animal enclosures are well done and look reasonably natural. An early arrival ensured we saw them in active feeding mode, incl a cub playing with its mum (?) and within a few meters. Going to the enclosures a little further, we found ourselves alone with one adult chomping its way through breakfast, with clear sound effects. Also enjoyed the day walk up Emei Shan, through the woods, with lovely temples. Despite the crowds, the felt very peaceful.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sophia/ Huey was very helpful and spoke excellent English. She was always considerate to the needs of the whole group.

Advice for Potential Travellers

You don't need anywhere near as many clothes as you think. Haggle very strongly, esp in Yangshou (starting point seems to be three- four times the final price you can actually pay). Suggest to your guide that the tipping kitty does not include the cruise ship element; it's better left to your own discretion. Don't take suitcases, bag-style luggage is easier to carry and you have to carry your stuff around to/from trains and planes.

Reviewed November 2012

A WEEK IN JORDAN

This is a fantastic trip full of history and culture. Jordan is a wonderful place to visit, the people are very friendly and you feel very safe and well looked after. If you would like to visit the middle east this is the trip for you.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were so many wonderfull highlights to this trip it is hard to decide. Petra is amazing and takes your breath away when you see the Treasury for the first time after walking through the Siq as was the long walk up the steps to see the Monastary and the high place of sacrifice. You definitely need the 2 days there to take it all in. The Wadi Rum is perhaps my favourite place of the trip, its so peaceful there and you feel truly inspired by the stillness of the desert. Our bedhouin hosts provided a delicious meal and made us feel very welcome in their camp. sleeping under the stars just finished the experience off perfectly. The camel ride in the morning was the perfect way to end our time there, a real 'Lawrence of Arabia' experience.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Danny our guide was fantastic. His knowledge of all the places we visited was amazing and he brought the history of each place to life. He was very passionate about his country and wanted us to experience the best that Jordan had to offer us. We were a large group so we all had differerent demands but he was always willing to accommodate everyones needs.

Advice for Potential Travellers

This is an action packed trip with not much time in some of the places have any 'free' time to look around or shop which may be frustrating for some. You get a free afternoon on the second day in Petra and there are plenty of souvenir stalls to brouse round and grab a bargain. The jewellery is particularly good quality here and the bedhouin traders always happy to barter. There's a lot of history to take in in each place so it does help to have one of the guide books like 'The Lonely Planet' to refer to. Take a sleeping bag and plenty of layers for the night in Wadi Rum, it does get very cold at night.

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