Reviews

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

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14246 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Valerie Merges

Reviewed May 2023

Fantastic scenery, wonderful guides, charming villages

You can’t imagine how beautiful Portugal’s coast is until you do this trip. The beaches are so scenic and uncrowded. The trails were not difficult and everyone in our group was able to keep the pace. There were adequate stops to enjoy the views and take a swim in the water. Our guides Francisco and Ines were absolutely wonderful. I have a special interest in birds and plants; both were very knowledgeable. They even carried a bird book and a plant ID book. The guides brought a camera with a very long lens, so they were able to share close-ups of the baby storks with our group. The guides were always available on WhatsApp if we had any questions (during our free time). The trip was very well organized; the guides did a lot of work behind the scenes coordinating our drop off and pick up locations. I also really enjoyed the smaller villages we passed through and I was able to get some wonderful photographs. Portugal’s food is fantastic, and the guides helped me to find a restaurant to sample barnacles (highly recommended). The wine and distillery tastings were very enjoyable. I combined this trip with the Highlights of Portugal; it was easy to take a public bus from Lisbon and back again. This was one of my favorite Exodus trips (and I’ve done many) thanks to the competent guides and lovely scenery.

Most Inspirational Moment

Passing by an extremely beautiful section of coast line which looked like the Grand Canyon - if the Grand Canyon was next to an ocean. And our guide Francisco explained the geology of this area

Thoughts on Group Leader

Francisco and Ines were top notch! They get the highest rating from me! Both were very knowledgeable, friendly, and caring. Both were highly organized and always available on WhatsApp. The briefings were very good, as were the shared photographs. I appreciated them carrying the bird and plant ID books on the hike.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Wear hiking boots with ankle support (not hiking shoes). Wear hiking gaitors to minimize sand getting inside of your boots for the first day of the hike (it started out sandy). Bring a wind-proof sun hat and plenty of sunscreen.

Valerie Merges

Reviewed May 2023

Sample of the cities of Northern Portugal

This trip covered the cities with the most attractions and sights in Northern Portugal. Our guides Catarina and Marianna were wonderful and caring. Both spoke perfect English and shared a lot of historical information. Both were always available on WhatsApp during our free time. The tour allowed us to see many cities in just one week. We were kept on the move from city to city, but there was plenty of free time. The old towns were so interesting and unique. Strolling on the stone sidewalks and glancing at the tiled buildings is a memory I will never forget. Sintra’s palace and gardens were also a highlight. The wine tastings were very enjoyable. Portugal’s food is incredible and I tried many new dishes. I combined this trip with Walking Portugal’s Coasts and Beaches, which made a perfect holiday of historic sights and coastal beach scenery.

Most Inspirational Moment

Having lunch in the Duoro Valley in a winery staring at the vineyards and sampling wines

Thoughts on Group Leader

Marianna and Catarina are the two nicest guides I've ever had! They were extremely caring. Both were very knowledgeable about the sights & history. I do wish they were with us more often. I would have liked them to accompany us to dinner on more nights.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Wear comfortable walking shoes with good traction. There is the potential for a lot of walking in the cities during your free time. The polished stone sidewalks get slippery if it rains. Add on at least one day in Porto at the beginning and at the end in Lisbon. There is so much to see in both cities.

denis mole

Reviewed May 2023

Sicily

Trip itself was good, weather not so good, but our memories of the holiday were spoilt by the delays to our return to England. While Etna erupting and closing Catania airport was no ones fault, British Airways did nothing whatsoever to help us find a replacement flight, in the end we had to find one through Expedia and fly back with Easyjet at considerable expense to ourselves. We did try to contact Exodus for any advice or help they might give, but had zero response, not your best moment.

Most Inspirational Moment

Getting back home with no help from Exodus or British Airways

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't rely on Exodus to book your flights, ours kept changing, and as they were very early outwards and very late return we had booked hotel rooms, but they resulted in staying at the wrong Heathrow terminal on departure, and paying extra because we had to change the dates. On return the Hotel we had booked at Gatwick was superfluous as the flight was cancelled and we flew to Luton 12 hours later.

Peter Cross

Reviewed May 2023

Etna in action!

This is a fantastic tour if you’re interested in both the food and the history of Sicily, as the tour combines both of them very well. The trip manages to pack so much in, every day there is something new to see, a new place to visit and a new tasting experience. The tour hops from hotel to hotel, using 5 different establishments, everything from small boutique style, to a holiday village with dome shaped bungalows and a 2 night stay in a large hotel complex on the outskirts of Catania. My week was full of a few unexpected things! Lost luggage between Milan & Palmero airports, absolute torrential rain on day 1 while in Palmero, an abandoned walk on Etna due to more extreme weather and to top it off an eruption of Etna on my departure day which coated Catania & the airport in a layer of black volcanic ash! This resulted in the airport being closed, several flight changes and finally getting home 2 days later than planned! It’s a packed itinerary, some early morning starts and a lot of distance covered in the bus. A good guide book together with the trip notes will help you no end.

Most Inspirational Moment

Lots of moments to mention. Visiting a mountain village to learn how to make pasta, the whole village was covered in thick fog! The visit to Ragusa, a perfectly beautiful town, I wished we’d had a little more time there. Being in Catania when Etna erupted! Although she ruined my return home, as a bit of a volcano enthusiast it was a bit of a special moment being part of that.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Alessio was a superb group leader. As an original native of Palmero himself, his knowledge of Sicily was unsurpassed. I found him informative, a great story teller and I appreciated that he shared a lot about life in Sicily as a real local, it gave what he said true authenticity. He very clearly knows his job, and seems to know someone familiar in every town! I liked that Alessio wasn’t overbearing as a group leader, if people wanted a bit of ‘space’ away from the group there was always time to do this.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Despite thinking May would be glorious weather, I’d pack a raincoat and an umbrella as well as your sun cream.

Sue Cunningham

Reviewed May 2023

Excellent

Excellent holiday

Most Inspirational Moment

The 2 days in Petra

Thoughts on Group Leader

Fantastic - very knowledgeable

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for quite a lot of easy climbing

Berenice Manning

Reviewed May 2023

Great experience - highly recommended

We had a great time on this trip. A wonderful collection of fellow travelers. The guide (Severio) and host hotel team were all very welcoming, friendly and really made the experience wonderful. The selection of drivers navigating the coast road were amazing – such pro’s . Thank you to Eduardo for arranging transfers for our extended stay.- really excellent service.

Most Inspirational Moment

We enjoyed the chair lift to the top of Capri and the beautiful gardens of Ravello. Most inspirational is a tough one to say - from Pompeii/Herculeum to the beauty and majestic views of the Amalfi coastline and the fun/enjoyment of relaxing and talking with fellow travelers each with their own stories.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Saverio was friendly, fun and very welcoming. He did everything he could to accommodate the needs of a diverse group of travelers. I would highly recommend him as a guide.

Advice for Potential Travellers

As the trip notes advised there is a good amount of walking and stairs. Although all activity was indeed moderate you certainly need a high level of mobility to explore and enjoy the Amalfi Coast towns.

Suzanne Dalton

Reviewed May 2023

Amazing week in Portugal!

What a stunning coastline to walk, combined with amazing food, wine tasting and brilliant company. The hotels were great too, way above my expectations. What more could you ask for! Our guides Francisco and Ines were fantastic, so knowledgeable and making sure we were safe on our walks. Would definitely recommend this holiday.

Most Inspirational Moment

Too many to choose from! Sitting on a near deserted beach during a walk eating my packed lunch. Spotting Storks in their nests with their baby Storks. Seeing a couple of Peregrine Falcons.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Honestly, Francisco and Ines were the nicest, most caring guides I’ve travelled with. I was a bit wobbly on a couple of parts of the walks and they were always there to help me. They were also taking photos along the way and sharing them with us at the end of the day.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The coastline is beautiful to walk along. Be prepared to walk in some sand which can be a bit more difficult. There were a few parts of the walk which were a bit rocky, but help was always at hand!

Karin Thomas

Reviewed May 2023

The Most Fabulous Trip!

This trip went beyond my expectations. I mean I was hoping for a lovely week given that we were walking along the wonderful Portuguse coastline but it delivered beyond my expectations. Seeing the incredible coastline, the huge pristine beaches and the STORKS nesting on the rocks knocked my socks off. And each day was different – different terrain, different flora and fauna – it was a feast for the senses. But what made the trip so very special for me were our two guides – Francisco Simoes and Ines Monteiro – they were incredible! I can’t praise them enough for their care, friendliness, patience and knowledge. They’re a massive asset to the trip!

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the storks nesting on the clifftops was a showstopper for me. Just breathtaking! After this the vast and stunning Praia do Brejo Largo.

Thoughts on Group Leader

We had two guides - Francisco Simoes and Ines Monteiro - two very special and very personable people. They were easily the best guides I've had on an Exodus trip. Nothing was too much trouble, no question too much, however often it was asked. They were so personable and yet still professional making everything happen seamlessly in the background. They have a passion for showcasing their country and this trip, and it shone through. On the first evening they provided a Powerpoint presentation of the itinerary (I've never had this before on a trip and it was brilliant) and then a glass of bubbles afterwards to break the ice and allow people in the group to get to know each other a bit. Another really nice touch.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for walking through sand - sounds obvious but for some in the group it was quite hard work. Be aware that they're are two guides so you need to budget for two tips at the end of the week. Also there's a group kitty - we paid 45 Euros each, to take into account a wine and medronho tasting trip, tips for restaurants and some drinks whilst out walking.

Maggie Holmes

Reviewed May 2023

A fantastic adventure!

This was my first Exodus trip in many years – and what a trip. So much more than I expected – walking, swimming, history, culture, food, wine and super company. We packed a great deal into seven days – some high intensity days of climbing/walking up and down the mountains – but also rest days at the beach with pristine clear water and visiting historical monuments of which there are many. Sardinia has a rich history and a proud culture – I came away with a deeper understanding of the people and the country – and a greater appreciation of Sardinian landscape, beaches, wine and food. This trip is such good value – almost everything is included such as flights, accommodation, most meals including packed lunches for our walking days. We had two excellent meals out in Dorgali where our family run hotel was based; these were self funded but great value – mountains of food! The hotel was run by three sisters who worked their socks off to give us a good time. It’s an authentic three star family run affair – I loved that so many local families came to dinner with their children and filled the restaurant with chatter and laughter.

Most Inspirational Moment

I stood at the top of the mountain after a long climb of around 2,000 feet and looked across the amazing landscape of valleys, gorges, rivers - green and vibrant. I never thought I would make it to the top - but I did and it was a deeply rewarding experience which will stay with me for a very long time. It has given me the confidence to book more trips - with Exodus of course!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Michele was an inspirational and motivation group leader. He made each and everyone of us feel welcome and included. He was keen to understand what we as individuals wanted from the trip and built the itinerary around that and the weather - which can be variable in Sardinia. He shared his extensive knowledge of the island and the culture so we got a real insight into the place and its people. He had clearly built a good relationship with local people over the years and was keen that we, as travellers, appreciated their environment. Most of all he gave me the confidence to tackle challenging walks and it was a rewarding experience. Go Michele!!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Three pieces of advice: Ensure you are fit enough to undertake some challenging walks. The trip is rated 3 moderate but it felt more like a 4 at times particularly on some tricky screen and mountain paths. The coming down is as difficult as the ascent so you need to train in advance - as advised by the website. Take the proper equipment with you including walking poles - you might think you can manage without but they make a huge difference on difficult paths.Bring wet weather gear - the weather can change dramatically and suddenly. Finally go with the flow - this is an authentic experience in a family run hotel - just enjoy it and be grateful the island isn't full of Premier Inns and other chain hotels

Mr Raymond Krystofiak

Reviewed May 2023

Fantastic week away

We both had a wonderful week in May 2023, Walking Portugal’s Coast and Beaches, guided by Francisco and Ines. It was theses guides that made a good walk into a fantastic walk. They are a great team, passionate about the history, nature and conservation of the area. They complemented each other like 2 pieces of a jigsaw. We were briefed each preceding evening on the appropriate clothing, type of terrain, difficulty and interesting features to expect. At the end of every day, they encouraged feedback to gauge if we were happy with the speed and terrain. The lunch packs were made up by local bakeries and were appropriate to everyone’s needs. Their choice of hotels and restaurant recommendations were excellent. The coast line is both scenic and dramatic, with every bay and cliff top being pristine and litter free. We visited a vineyard and a Medronho distillery with tasting and snacks provided. We also visited a reconstructed castle in Aljezur, an abandoned village, Aldeia Da Pedralva, which has been restored to its former glory and a huge wall mural dedicated to Amalia Rodrigues a famous female Portuguese melancholic singer. All these visits were very informative. On the first day Francisco and Ines had asked us to share our particular interests and unusually I said “Rocks”. To my surprise and delight both Francisco and Ines made a point of showing me some unusual geological features everyday. They were both careful and courteous and drivers. Had we opted for a self-guided tour we would not have seen, enjoyed nor learnt so much about the region and its excellent well priced eateries. With their local, inside knowledge they were able to tailor the walks, activities and suggestions to take account of the most up-to-date information. All in all, an excellent week of walking rendered outstanding because of the ethos of these 2 guides.

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