Reviews

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

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14456 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Reviewed November 2014

A ride of two halves

Having completed both this & the ‘Kerela & Tropical India’ trips the concept of a coast to coast ride has instant armchair appeal. However the reality of this trip is that the riding in the first few days is rather repetitive & flat & would benefit from a re-think of the route to take in more hills – perhaps commencing further South? Once in the hills the riding is excellent with a great variety of accommodation.

Most Inspirational Moment

Staying in fantastic manor houses & homestays.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Good organisational skills but lacking the ability to always understand the desires of the group. Fluency of English adequate but the cause of some frustration in the group.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Prepare to be in the saddle for 7 hours per day - particularly in the first week. With the best will in the world there are not cold beers available after each ride. If it is a choice of this trip or Kerela & Tropical India I would book the latter first.

Reviewed November 2014

SIERRA DE AITANA - AN UNEXPECTED SPANISH TREASURE

Great walking, stunning scenery and plenty of wine and beer – what more could you want!

Most Inspirational Moment

The scenery is amazing and really unexpected so close to the cultural graveyard of the Costa Blanca. There are impressive limestone peaks and ridges stretching into the distance. Views from the tops are amazing - even Benidorm takes on a certain grandeur when spied from afar! The trip also offers a good dose of rural Spanish culture. The village of Sella is a delight, there is nothing better than coming off the hills after a great day of walking and retiring to one of the village bars for beer and tapas!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jose is a fantastic leader - knowledgeable, great company and a pleasure to be with on the hills. His enthusiasm for the area is infectious and I shall certainly go back.

Advice for Potential Travellers

A pair of walking poles is useful particularly for some of the steeper downhill sections. The trip starts on a Sunday so consider spending Saturday night in Alicante, which is just a short 3.75 Euro bus ride from the airport. The old town is worth a look and a fun way to spend a Saturday night - very Spanish with not a rowdy Brit in sight. It also means there is no stress with linking in to the group transfer should your low cost regional flight be delayed.

Reviewed November 2014

Essential Peru

This holiday covered all the main visitor attractions of Peru. It was very well organised and the guide (Aleks) was excellent. It was all that the brochure said it would be (apart from the Condors not showing themselves at Colca Canyon – but it was a very cold morning, they were probably waiting for thermals, or weren't hungry!!) We had been very fortunate in seeing Condors in the wild a few days before.

Most Inspirational Moment

The Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu; the wildlife, particularly seeing the Condors in the wild. The textiles. The people, especially in the mountains. The Home Stay, our hosts were such wonderfully warm people. The spectacular scenery.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Aleks was very professional, kind and attentive. He was very well organised and good humoured, especially when briefing us about the next day and the early start! He was very careful in advising us about personal care, especially keeping hydrated, using sunblock, sunglasses and wearing a hat, especially at altitude. Also dressing for "four seasons" as he put it.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Yes, read the travel notes carefully and take note of their contents; follow the advice of your Guide. All the members of our party had consulted the internet regarding expected temperatures but it was much hotter than we had expected, so pack with a view to wearing layers, especially when in the mountains.

Reviewed November 2014

Best holiday of my life! Book it!!!

Words can’t really encapsulate why this trip is so so brilliant …. Vietnam is an amazing country! From lush green countryside to stunning white sandy beaches, the scenery is breathtaking. And what better way to see it than on the back of a bike?! Everybody travels by two wheels in Vietnam, including us! But it’s not just the scenery that makes this a special country.. It’s really the people. Happy happy people who love to see you cycling through their villages (i think really they think we’re all bonkers cycling in the heat!) – the kids run out of their homes to shout hello and try to catch a high five! I knew it was going to be a special trip from the get go when a Vietnamese lady who’d been sitting near me on the plane came over at the baggage carousel to give me a hug goodbye! That’s typical of the Vietnamese people – full of joy. And that really was probably my favourite bit of the trip, the people. Of course, Halong Bay is stunning, and riding 30km downhill through a beautiful valley, have also been imprinted on my memory too! In fact, I wish I could experience it all again right now!

Most Inspirational Moment

Making it to the top of 4 giant undulations (hills, but I think the leaders think undulations sound less scary!) without getting off my bike. My gears were on 1-1 and I was puffing and panting and sweating but I made it to the top without walking. Gave a little sob amongst the gasps for air when I got there!

Thoughts on Group Leader

What can I say about Danh apart from amazing, amazing, amazing! The very best tour leader we could have wishes for - we wanted for nothing. The bikes were brilliantly looked after, snacks and drinks on offer at stops, water bottles mysteriously refilled etc etc, and all of this organised by Danh. His knowledge of Vietnam was brilliant and I really think he showed us the real Vietnam. He avoided tourist trap restaurants and took us to local places which were brilliant. I can't say enough about Danh really, he's a credit to Exodus and a credit to Vietnam.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Start training!! This is a fitness holiday, not a mooch on flat backroads. The trip notes need to be updated, on one day we cycled 114km, which is no mean feat! Vietnam is not flat, it's hilly, and you will be cycling sometimes on main roads with trucks flying past you. Exodus have given this trip a moderate rating but I'm reasonably fit and I'd say it's more than moderate. But don't let this put you off, just get on your bike before you go and do some uphill rides! And don't forget a padded gel seat cover or your own saddle!

Reviewed November 2014

A great week away walking

This was my first walking holiday with Exodus and the itinerary for the week was fantastic. The walks were varied with diverse scenery from mountain peaks to coastal walks. I particularly enjoyed the Mallorcan picnics during our walks. Eduard, our local tour leader, had a lot of knowledge which he shared with us enthusiastically.

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching the summit of Puig d'en Galileu on day 7. It was a steep but rapid ascent and I thought it was a suitable and rewarding way of ending the trip on a high peak.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Eduard is a highly experienced, genuine and caring tour leader. He was dedicated to providing the best experience he can whilst we were on the trip. His light-hearted humour made the trip very enjoyable!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bring loose change with you for freshly squeezed orange/lemon juice served at farmhouses. Sa Fonda restaurant, 5 minutes from Lluc monastery serves excellent food. The restaurant provides free wi-fi (wi-fi access is payable at the monastery).Buy 5L of water from nearby shops around Puerto Soller. It is much cheaper (approximately 1 euro) then buying small bottles and more environmentally friendly.

Reviewed November 2014

Japan Ancient and Modern

Good trip to get a taste of Japan.We’ll definitely be going back to explore more.Apart from a day of rain,we were very lucky with the weather which was warm and sunny. The trip involves a lot of journeys by trains and it’s essential that all group members are punctual. Food was varied. Hotels etc of a good standard and comfortable. The trip covers busy cities and visits to small villages.

Most Inspirational Moment

Hiroshima! Would have liked to spend longer here as was a little rushed. Watching the bathing snow monkeys.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Mayuko Terao was an excellent guide-ensured that the group worked together well and everything ran very efficiently. She tweaked our itinerary as typoon Phon-Phon was due t hit and knew we were all looking forward to seeing the snow monkeys which we did. She also managed to get us in to see a morning training session at Sumo stables!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take comfortable footwear and travel light. If you forget anything, you should be able to buy in Kyoto. Have an idea before you go what you may want to do on your free days. Can decide at the last minute but if you want to do or visit something specific it's good to plan ahead.

Reviewed November 2014

Cycle Indochina

This is a great trip. The first few days featured the most challenging cycling, which I enjoyed although the scenery was not particularly interesting. I would have prefered more cycling in Cambodia and Vietnam which were more scenic. However I did think the trip offers a good balance of cycling and sightseeing. There are not too many bus transfers, although I would have prefered to pay $40 to fly to Phnom Pen from Siem Reap rather than the 9 hour bus ride! The Thai backup team were superb and made the first few days cycling a joy and meant that we could all cycle at our own pace. There was less backup in Cambodia and Vietnam which together with busier roads meant we had to stick together, which was frustrating at times. The Cambodian and Vietnamese guides were not as good. The Vietnamese guide was inexperienced at leading cycle tours, which did lead to one or two safety issues, plus he left as soon as we reached Saigon, which was a pity as we had no local guide to show us around the city.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were lots! Angkor Wat didn't disappoint. However it will be the Killing Fields and S21 that I will always remember.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Rit, our group leader did an excellent job. Exceptionally friendly and always cheerful. He was extemely well organised and made sure everyone's needs were met.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The trip notes state that vegetarians are well catered for, however this is untrue unless you are happy for your food to be cooked in meat stock and contain fish sauce. There were several occasions where I had to go without meals. Take a spare USB or SD card, as Mr Black takes many fantastic shots on the Thailand leg and will transfer these for you. A gel saddle is a must! Remember to take a spare passport photo for your Cambodian visa. The laundry services offered are very good and cheap.

Christine Harrison

Reviewed November 2014

Cycle cuba

Great adventure, amazing country and countryside.

Most Inspirational Moment

Cuban countryside way of life.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Freddy was AMAZING. The best group tour leader I have ever come across.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Cycling days start at about 8am until a late lunch.Afternoons tend to give way to thunderstorms. Often spent travelling to next overnight stop. Pace of cycling is, as a result of this quite fast.

Reviewed November 2014

Jordan - Worth Visiting

Jordan is a lovely country to visit. In the midst of the current troubles in the Middle East, it feels safe. The history is evident in all the places visited – from the Romans through the Byzantines and the Crusaders to Lawrence of Arabia in Wadi Rum.
Travelling in October the weather was pleasant – a couple of showers on the first 2 days but after that it was shirt-sleeves weather all the way to Aqaba, where the sun shone and it was 30+.
There are so many different sites to visit it is difficult to pick a favourite. The 2 days in Petra were intensive walking and climbing, but the views were worth it and the site is vast so there is much to see.

Most Inspirational Moment

Climbing to the monastery in Petra. A tough climb and an awesome view. Watching the sun rise in the desert. The sunset was fantastic, the starlit night was frighteningly vast, and the sunrise the next day worth getting up for Snorkelling in the Red Sea - what a lovely relaxing way to spend the afternoon away from the sand and mountains for a bit. Watching my daughter climb to the top of a sand dune as I struggled along behind!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Khaled is a very busy person. He has a role with the ministry of guides which means that he was on the telephone an awful lot and I felt he was somewhat distracted during the week. There was a one-hour strike on the first Petra visit day by all the guides. However, I was impressed by the way he almost ran up and down the boulders when he took as round the back of Petra on the second day to visit the high place!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do not over-pack. Jordan does not require great formality in wear, You will need decent shoes for the Petra walks for 2 days - I had good quality trainers, or lightweight walking shoes, Do not expect to be in the middle of nowhere for your stay in the desert. You will be able to walk to another camp or to the road from your site

Reviewed November 2014

Treasures of Sicily

I had an amazing time! Our departure was the last one for the season, but still weather treated us very well.
This trip is fantastic because in only 8 days gives you the chance to really appreciate the highlights of the island. Sicily has uncountable beauties. Its history is in every single building and temple and it’s just overwhelming. Local products and traditional cuisine were definitely a big part of the treasures we had the pleasure to sample throughout the week. Forget about your diet for a week! (unless you have any allergy, of course)

Most Inspirational Moment

The Zingaro walk was particularly meaningful for me. 30 years ago the Reserve risked to get cut in two by a highway. National associations along with hundreds of Sicilians demonstrated against the distructive plan and thanks to them we can now enjoy beautiful walks with breathtaking views. As an Italian myself, it simply made me proud.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader, Fabio, has been the key to the enjoyment of our holiday. You can tell that he loves and knows every inch of his region.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The Zingaro and the Mt. Etna walks aren't demanding at all, but if you feel unsure walking poles can make the difference. Walking shoes are more than enough though. Local transfers are usually quite long, so a good book or some music could do. I personally took a lot of pictures (and sometimes a nap!), plus our leader now and then gave us information about what we were seeing while driving by, making the journey not boring at all.

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