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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Reviews

Reviewed October 2012

DISCOVER SRI LANKA

I transferred to this trip from Elephants and Leopard which was undersubscribed, but am so glad I did as it was a really fantastic trip with great variety.  Sri Lanka is a real country of contrasts from great bustling towns, to stunning and tranquil sights and scenery. The people are welcoming and friendly. Had an amazing group and a fantastic leader in Roshan.

Most Inspirational Moment

So many great moments of the holiday but some of the more memorable: climb to the top of Lions Rock in Sigirya and the panoramic view of the landscape, the trip to Pinnewala - we were unable to visit the orphanage but did experience seeing the elephants walk to and from the local lake and watch them relaxing and playing in the water. the walk on Horton Plains, with spectacular views at World's end and Baker's falls. the drives through the tea plantations showed the diversity of scenery from newly constructed roads to green plantations and hills to mountains. Fascinating temples in Dambulla and temple ruins in Polonnaruwa. Yala National Park - sadly the leopards stayed hidden but we saw a rare sloth bear, plenty of crocodiles, peacocks, wild buffalo, and a variety of birds.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Roshan is an experienced and enthusiastic guide who planned and organised every detail of the trip to perfection so that everything was seamless. He has a wealth of knowledge about Sri Lanka and its people which give you a great understanding of the country's history and present. Our original itinerary changed as we had to stay in two different hotels, which caused him some concern but  he remained good-humoured and was intent on making sure that the group was fully satisfied with the substitutes and negotiated some free meals for us. Also, he went out of his way to help some of the group to acquire more currency,or see a doctor with the least fuss.Roshan is one of the best leader's I've met, a real professional who has a great sense of fun and wicked sense of humour. Our Sri Lankan singalongs were a highlight and it felt like we were travelling with a friend rather than a guide.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Listen to Roshan!  he gives great advice and also gives you the right amount of detailed knowledge about Sri Lanka and the sights. He has a love and enthusiasm for his country which is infectious.The optional activities -  elephant riding, visit to the orphanage/lake, white water rafting and small boat trip through the mangrove swamp don't cost that much and are really worth doing.  

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Reviewed October 2012

MT TOUBKAL CLIMB

Overall, an excellent trip and as described.  We had good weather, a really nice group of people (aged from 20-64), 5 days of fantastic walking, stunning scenery and impressive catering.  I really enjoyed myself and would definitely recommend this trip!

Most Inspirational Moment

- The second night of camping in the middle of the nowhere, with a beautiful sunset followed by a stunning view of the stars with a clear sky and no light pollution. - Arriving at Toubkal mountain refuge and finding hot showers AND sit down toilets! - Enjoying the fantastic lunches and dinners prepared by the local staff.- Oh, and the last 100 yards of the ascent to the top of Mt Toubkal were pretty special too!

Thoughts on Group Leader

I thought Yahia was an excellent group leader - clearly knew what he was doing, kept us all moving at an appropriate pace, and got on well with everyone in our group and everyone we seemed to meet in Toubkal National Park and beyond.   Came across as a genuinely good guy! 

Advice for Potential Travellers

- There appears to be a complete absence of small change in Morocco (and/or the locals appear to be quite shrewd!), so change your money into smaller denomination notes and coins (10s, 20s and 50s) if at all possible. - Recommend you bring a travel pillow and ear plugs.  Even with these you're unlikely to get much sleep though, but guess that's part of the experience and didn't detract from my enjoyment of the trip. - I really enjoyed the food and considering how remote we were for much of the time, the standard of catering was superb.  However, if you're a fussy eater and/or have specific dietary requirements, then this may not be the trip for you - suggest you investigate carefully first.  Even with the excellent food though, it's well worth bringing extra energy bars, kendall mint cake, peanuts, etc  with you - or maybe I just eat a lot!- Be brave, try the 'tomato jam' at breakfast time :-) 

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Reviewed October 2012

THE LOST CITY OF CHOQUEQUIRAO

Very enjoyable and well lead trip through some of Peru's less busy trekking trails. Some fairly tough climbs and descents but well worth it to find the tranquility of the Lost City of Choquequirao and explore Peru's beautiful and varied scenery. Was also good to be able to visit Machu Picchu on the last day – a great way to finish the trek!

Most Inspirational Moment

3 key mommnets stand out;- climing the hill from the camp site and entering the Lost City of C. Stunning.- the point where Machu Picchu first comes into view in the distance- the indiviudals in the group each reaching the top of the Choquequirao Pass - a great sense of achievement!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Very good. Really knew his stuff in terms of the history of the Incas and was a very approachable. Also had a very good sense of humour and interacted very well with the group.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bring lots of insect repellant!!

Reply from Exodus

Please note that this review refers to a previous version of the trip which Exodus operated in the past.

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Reviewed October 2012

THE TROPICAL SOUTH

A very good all round trip. Madurai temple was worth seeing, and the backwater cruise in Kerela was definately the highlight. Lovely country, lovely people and tasty food.

Most Inspirational Moment

The most inspirational moment of the trip was Madurai Temple. Seeing people together in the temple, praying and lighting candles was a lovely sight to see.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Suresh was a very good group leader. He had a lot of knowledge of the areas we visited as well as the recent history of India in general.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure you don't take too much money with you. It is hard to try and get it converted back to English pounds on the last days without getting really bad exchange rates.

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Reviewed September 2012

INCA TRAIL, TITICACA & NAZCA

This trip was all I hoped for and so much more!  The Inca ruins were spine tingling throughout the adventure. Daily fabulous experiences.  So much to talk about; so many awe inspiring scenes.

Most Inspirational Moment

Lake Titicaca and the reed islands; Saqsayhuaman; Tambomachay; Raqchi;Dead Woman's Pass; Machu Picchu; Ballesteras Islands.  All breathtaking and all " wow " moments.  

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our guide, Karlos, was knowledgeable, organised and so hard working with all his focus being to make this the best experience for all of us in the group which brought our diverse group very much together.  Excellent chap who brought out the best in his support groups too from porters to drivers.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared - physically and emotionally.  Also remember it is a developing country and there will be problems with plumbing and toilets.

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Reviewed September 2012

HIKING IN THE CANADIAN ROCKIES

My expectations were high and this holiday far exceeded them. It was the trip of a lifetime fo me and I loved every second of it.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were so many inspirational moments I cant choose one. Every hike revealed the most stunning scenery I've ever seen and its impossible  to choose a favourite hike or place.

Thoughts on Group Leader

We were lucky enough to get Renee and Catherine to guide our group. I cant speak highly enough of them. They are so professional and knowledgable, there was nothing they hadn't thought of and they made it an easy holiday.The meals they produced were amazing, not what I expected in a campsite! They were delicious, imaginative and well presented as well as plentiful.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Pack for all conditions. We had snow and warm sunshine but mostly I needed my cold weather stuff. I'd taken a good 3/4 season sleeping bag, thermals and a down jacket and was glad I did.The only thing I lacked were waterproof gloves, mine got soaked and my hands were cold a couple of times.Dont take your best stuff! You'll be sat around a campfire each evening so you'll smell of smoke the whole time and might get 'sparked'.Ladies  I wouldn't bother with makeup or hairdryer either, we pretty soon stopped bothering with any of that... although Catherine did bring a hairdryer and we were all welcome to borrow it.

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Reviewed September 2012

HIKING IN THE CANADIAN ROCKIES

Really excellent in every respect, the trip content, the guides and the company. The scenery was breath taking and the walking great. Don’t be put off by the ‘challenging’ description it was easier than many Peaks or Lakes walks and the paths mainly well-manicured. Some of the slopes are steep tough so you do need to be fit. We did see wild life and our guides went out of their way to try and find it. Which we did but unfortunately the number of animals sighted was limited but there is nothing anyone could do about that if they’re feeling shy.

Most Inspirational Moment

Lots of them. The sheer number of great views and the number of peaks was staggering and every day brought more. I think for me the most spectacular was the walk on day 4 taking in Moraine Lake and the Valley of the Ten Peaks.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Renée and Catherine our guides made the trip. They were simply excellent and worked tirelessly from dawn until night. Nothing was too much trouble or effort and breakfast, lunch and dinner were magiced up effortlessly without a repeat meal in the whole trip – the standard was excellent too. Their local knowledge of the trails, wildlife and fauna was also top notch making the whole experience even better. Many thanks to them.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Nothing is going to challenge the regular traveller too much but the weather was mixed from very warm to snow so you need to be prepared for it all.

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Anonymous .

Reviewed September 2012

GORILLAS & MASAI MARA

Topped and tailed by two iconic experiences – gorilla tracking and ballooning over the Masai Mara, this journey through three countries offered it all in abundance –  amazing wildlife,  stunning scenery and delightful people

Most Inspirational Moment

-Ballooning over the Mara had the edge over the gorillas for me personally - although it was fabulous to actually be so close to these serene and gentle animals and the moment surpassed my expectations, I cannot get enough of the wide open vistas of the African plains. To float gently and peacefully over the vast landscape as dawn broke will be something I remember for a long time.- Getting lots of hugs from the children at the orphanage was quite emotional. Sitting in on the lessons listening to the enthusiasm of the children, it was apparent that they are keen to learn and are very attentive. However, littlle hands reaching out to hold yours is a big reminder that these small people who have no parents to cuddle them just enjoy being close to someone.Visiting the genocide memorial in Kigali was an eye opener - in particular the mass graves at the site. I recall that we had a fairly sanitized version of events in the news in 1994.  However, I was left with an uplifting impression of how Rwanda as a nation has moved on - in particular the cleanliness of what we saw of the country - no litter to be seen anywhere.Other moments -  visiting the point where the Nile flows out of Lake Victoria near Jinja, seeing cheetahs for the first time, so many people waving to us on the truck when we were driving through all three countries, looking across Lake Naivasha from the viewpoint on a cloudless day, revisiting the ele orphanage. I could go on...

Thoughts on Group Leader

I was really pleased to see on the joining notes that we were to have the legend that is Often Konzoro as a group leader. His reputation precedes him and he lived up to it! In particular, on the day that we were going to see the gorillas, I fell ill and couldn't go on the trip. Often took me to the hospital (and seemingly bypassed all the queues!) and then to the pharmacy. The following morning (and I still don't know how he did it) he managed to persuade the organisers of the gorilla tracking to let me go with a group so I didn't miss out on my 'special day'!  No 'use it or lose it' for the permit on this occasion thanks to Often.Often was kind and caring. A member of our group had an accident which required medical attention and this was dealt with quietly and efficiently. Nothing was too much trouble for him and he certainly went out of his way to make sure that our group of 18 were all happy.He was meticulous about hygiene making sure hands were soap washed, dettol rinsed and rinsed again before meals!Often had an excellent team in Ben (our wonderful driver), Wilson ( who kept us fed and watered) and Onesmes (general factotum and my fellow spud peeler). They worked very well together for our safety and comfort and were always cheerful and helpful.

Advice for Potential Travellers

An iPod is useful for the journeys in the truck, but having said that, the scenery is outstanding and there is always something to see or people to wave at!We had no inverter in the truck but managed to keep camera and phone batteries charged with the truck's extension cable rigged up in the evenings or, at the permanent tented camps - no adapters needed as there were UK plug sockets in all three countries.Staying in the Masai Mara, you can take kit for a couple of days in a small holdall and also take your daysack for camera, binoculars etc.Personally, I'm really glad that I started in Kigali and ended in the Mara (altho my plan to start the trip this way in order to stay healthy to see the gorillas at the start of the trip went slightly wrong...). Just spending some time in the Mara left me wonderfully relaxed and the thrill of the balloon trip was just a superb way to end the trip.Quad biking at Jinja was a fun alternative to white water rafting ( which I didn't fancy too much), We did the two hour trip and all agreed that two hours was just right - we were really getting into it after an hour, and after two hours we had all had enough. It's a great way to see the villages though you are required to steer with one hand and wave at people with the other!For your locker, take a padlock that has a key rather than a combination - it's far quicker than trying to read the numbers particularly at night with a headtorch.

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Anonymous .

Reviewed September 2012

GORILLAS & MASAI MARA

One of the best holidays I've ever been on. The crew were very friendly & our tour leader Moses really made our trip such a fantastic trip with his exceptional knowledge and friendly persona – he soon picked up the art of English 'sarcasm' and joined in the groups jokes. The holiday itself was everything I had hoped for and more. I packed so much into it but it was relaxing at the same time, most probably due to the African laid-back way of life. I would definitely go back I loved it that much.

Most Inspirational Moment

There was so many it's hard to say. The balloon ride over the Maasai was very awe inspiring & breathtaking - the sheer size of it plus seeing the wildebeest and zebras migrating will be an image I won't forget. Getting up close to the animals - we stopped near a bush and two male lions just wandered out and came right past our truck, I'd never dreamed of seeing a wild animal that close in its natural habitat. Also the fact that I had no idea what to expect in Uganda, but it blew me away - so beautiful. The chance to bungee jump and white water raft in Jinga is another experience I will always cherish. Of course, the gorillas in Rwanda. I'm still speechless now to put it into words what it is like seeing them so close in their natural habitat. Amazing!!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Moses out tour leader was exceptional. Any questions we put to him he answered with a lot of pride and knowledge. He always made sure we was ok everyday and tried to make the trip as flexible as possible so we could make the most out of any free time we had. I'd also like to say how good the rest of the crew was - we never had a bad meal once all holiday thanks to our chef and helper, and Jackson our driver most certainly knew how to handle our truck!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go with an open mind and embrace the trip. There's lots of opportunities to be had, use your time to get to know the locals where possible and just sit back and enjoy the adventure.

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Reviewed September 2012

ESSENTIAL PERU

our first long haul holiday. saved for three years but well worth cost.good value, very little to pay for except meals,drinks(cheap) and souvenirs. Good company of fellow travellers.

Most Inspirational Moment

Machu Pichu , seeing condors, lake titicaca. Cusco  ( a beautiful place) santa Catalina convent (beautiful and peaceful)

Thoughts on Group Leader

Fabrizzio Cornejo was excellent and very helpful re timings,clothing to wear and avaoiding ams. he was passionateabout his country

Advice for Potential Travellers

travel via Amsterdam, much less hassle and local connecting flights rhere from most/all local airports plus no ESTArequired. would recommend exodus, already saving for next hol

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