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.

Simply use the selector below to search our trip reviews and start reading real feedback from real Exodus travellers who have ‘been there and done that’!

Lots of our clients also like to post handy tips and advice about their travels. It’s great to know what to expect on an Exodus adventure before you go, so make the most of their experience and you’ll make the most of yours!

Haven’t posted your review yet? Here’s how to do it…

Once you return from your Exodus adventure holiday, you will be emailed a link to add your review. Any feedback collected is posted onto our website, totally unedited.

Alternatively you can navigate to the relevant trip page and add your review via the Reviews tab.

Reviews

Reviewed April 2012

LAND OF THE TIGER

This is a truly special trip. I’ve done a fair few of these and my advice to you is – Just book it!

Most Inspirational Moment

1. Getting the nod that we'd found the elusive blue eyed tiger, seeing our leader coming towards us stood up in his jeep yelling for us to shift and our driver putting his foot down to get there. When we pulled up, a magnificent male tiger was sat in a watering hole calmin drinking and chilling in the sun - magic!2. Following a huge male along a track with 10 or so jeeps all jostling for position, torn between taking a picture and simply watching him swagger down the road without a care in the world. His tummy was full of his recent kill and he didn't care that he was being chased by papparazzi! 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader Harish Kumar was totally brilliant. He couldn't do enough to make our trip unforgettable. His passion for the worldlife and tigers inparticular coupled with his realtionship with the local staff guarantees you some great sightings. I've done a trip like this before and he made the difference.

Advice for Potential Travellers

My advice would be to do every single optional game drive you can - you never know what you'll see.

Suggestions

Best trip I've done in 10 years - just book it!

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Reviewed April 2012

DISCOVER SRI LANKA

We had a wonderful trip travelling for the first time with Exodus. Everything ran like clockwork and was very well organised. The group of people we were travelling with were very friendly, funny and excellent company throughout the holiday. 

Most Inspirational Moment

This is really difficult to pin down as there were so many. A small group of us walked up Adam's Peak. Sunrise was very magical. The visit to The Temple of the Tooth was fantastic for me. It was a real privilege being able to witness something that clearly meant a lot to local people. Our optional trip through the Mangrove Trees was great too. The visits to Temple and Cinnamon Island were well worth it. I even got to make my own cinnamon and was taught how to weave the Banana leaf! Other stand out moments include eating lunch in the jungle, our group makeshift disco, the food, playing Sri Lankan games and our tour leader Roshan.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader Roshan was wonderful. His knowledge about his country added greatly to our experience. He was always helpful, polite and was very funny too. During the trip there was Tsunami alarm triggered when we were in Yala National Park but he handled the situation brilliantly. He was calm, told us everything that was going on and kept us informed. 

Advice for Potential Travellers

Try everything and make the most of it, you'll proboably only do this once! 

Suggestions

Thank you to our fellow travellers and Roshan for making it such a wonderful holiday. 

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Reviewed April 2012

IMPERIAL CHINA & YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE

China is amazing, and on this tour you will get so many highlights. There are fantastic places as the forbidden city, the Great Wall, the Terracotta warriors, the hiking at Emaishan, the pandas in Chengu, the Yangtze cruise, the wonderful landscape around Yangshuo, modern Shanghai and much more. Meeting the openminded Chinese people and having a guide, who did more than anyone could expect for giving her travellers the best holiday ever, are other highlights making this tour to the best you can imagine.

Most Inspirational Moment

It was fantastic to walk on the Great Wall, to visit the many temples in Beijing, to see the historic terracotta warriors, to hike at Emeishan to the most beautiful view I have ever seen, to see the amazing 3 gorges on the Yangtze Cruise and to bike around the beautful landscape near Yangshuo. But, the highlight for me on this tour was visiting the pandas in Chengdu. It was amazing to see so many pandas in different sizes and ages, how they played with each other, climbed trees and enjoyed their life in the nice sorroundings in the breeding center, and the most inspirational moment was for sure when I had one of the young pandas sitting with me and touching it when feeding. This was once of a lifetime experience.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was unik. We were her family from the beginning to the end of the tour. She did everything for us, and used her great personality to solve all problems.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I can only say, go for it. This tour will be one of the highlights in your life.

Suggestions

Don't wait too long, or the tour will be sold out

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Reviewed April 2012

WALKING IN TUSCANY

Great walks, stunning scenery, an inspirational guide and Mama’s cooking.

Most Inspirational Moment

Finding myself scrambling over rocks and admiring the most incredible 360 degree views!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sara is an outstanding group leader. She has a love for this area of Italy and a real feeling for the Garfagnana, it's people, way of life and culture. I found myself on a trip that took me out of my comfort zone and Sara's calm, yet inspiring leadership enabled me to achieve the ascents and descents that we undertook. She did so much for us whilst we were in her care and I've come home feeling that if you put your mind to it anything is possible. Thank you Sara.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The moderate walking week is in parts quite challenging and I would recommend that some preparation is done before the trip, to ensure that you have the stamina to cope with the rocky and steep paths of the Alpi Apenine. Walking poles are essential!

Suggestions

Braccicorti is a special place and although we were out for most of the day, once we were eating Mama's wonderful food, it was like being part of the family. 

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Reviewed April 2012

EVEREST BASE CAMP

A truly unforgettable adventure! Mind blowing scenery, fantastic people (locals and fellow trekkers), and great banter. Tough at times as expected but this only added the sense of adventure and feeling of accomplishment. This trip has supplied me with brilliant memories and stories for a lifetime.

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching the top of Kala Patthar (in perfect weather) for the most incredible vistas of Everest and it's neighbours.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Lakpa Lama was quite simply fantastic. Always on hand with the information and stories that people wanted to hear. His patience and bed side manner when dealing with those unlucky enough to be ill for a day or so was excellent. When I had to deal with the inevitable Delhi Belly on day 3 he was on hand with encouraging words and necessary medication. All this with a smile on his face.Special mention to the other guides who consistently went above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that all my fellow trekkers were comfortable and every need catered for. All done with a smile and not a hint of a grumble (even when I'm sure we were being a bit demanding!) 

Advice for Potential Travellers

Listen to your guides. They know what they're doing! Take your time to enjoy the scenery, take plenty of photographs and enjoy the company of your fellow trekkers. There's a reason why the guides take you up slowly and it will maximise your chances of reaching base camp and the summit of Kala Patthar. If you do have an off day where you don't feel at your best, dont panic! It will most likely pass fairly quickly and you'll be back to 'normal' in no time.

Suggestions

There will be times on this trek when you will feel cold, tired, hungry, grumpy and, if you are unlucky, a bit unwell. I can promise you that all this will pale into insignificance when compared to the highs of being in amongst the most incredible mountains in the world, making new friends and sharing an adventure. If you have ever even vaguely considered doing this trip I advise you to book up now. You wont regret it!

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Reviewed April 2012

A *FANTASTIC* WEEK IN JORDAN!

Jam-packed but brilliant tour of this beautiful, fascinating country. Saw so much I felt like I’d been there for two weeks, not one!

Most Inspirational Moment

The hiking in Petra was wonderful, if tough at times, but Petra At Night was very special, especially looking up at thousands of twinkling stars...and seeing a shooting one too! However, my most inspirational moment probably has to be the night at Wadi Rum: the vastness, the silence, and more stars than my brain could compute! A very special place.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Zuhair was an excellent group leader. Highly knowledgable and charismatic, I enjoyed his numerous stories, even if I lost the thread a few times! He clearly loves his country and was very proud to show us all it has to offer.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't deliberate any longer - book it!! Seriously, you'll love it! The accommodation is quite mixed (we had a good room in Wadi Musa [for Petra], but more of a mixed bag at the hotel in Amman) but this is not a 5* luxury tour and really, it was all fine. Camping at Wadi Rum was wonderful: we brought sleeping bags but you could probably get away with a liner or a sheet to put in between you and the (very heavy!) blankets they supply. The toilets at the camp were a little grim at times, and there's not much in the way of running water but, really, none of that matters; it's such a special place.Other advice would be: bring a little cash with you (I only managed to get cash at an ATM on my third attempt!); bring good walking shoes for Petra, and don't scrimp on the water; do Petra By Night!; go for a camel ride at Wadi Rum - wonderful!; the sun was very intense at times, so bring a hat or scarf for your head; carry tissues and wet wipes (some of the loos are grim); don't wear any "good" clothes at Petra or Wadi Rum!; shower and changing facilities are pretty limited at the Dead Sea resort but you *must* go for a float!; keep your shoulders, head, and upper legs covered as much as possible, especially if you're a white female: you'll be noticeably more respected and receive less stares - but please don't let this put you off! Jordan is very friendly and welcoming, it is purely a cultural difference.

Suggestions

I'm so glad I booked this trip! I've been to the Middle East/North Africa a few times (toured through Egypt, Turkey, Tunisia, and visited Dubai) but there is so much to see in Jordan - it's not just Petra! I found I got much less hassle than I did in Egypt (especially Cairo) and that made the whole experience much more enjoyable. Thank you, Exodus!

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Reviewed April 2012

EVEREST BASE CAMP

Beautiful scenery, stunning views, amazing people. A life changing experience on so many levels 

Most Inspirational Moment

For me the most inspirational moment of the trip was a moment of self realisation on the particularly hard climb up to Namche Bazaar. Having suffered from the standard Nepalease tummy & a bout of Altitude sickness I was in no shape to tackle the tough ascent, however I pushed through the pain barrier and made it to the remarkable Namche Bazaar! It truely made me realise I'm made of tougher stuff than I thought

Thoughts on Group Leader

Lakhpa was #1, an absolute gentlemen and a scholar. His knowledge of AMS & associated mountain illnesses were second to none. His manner in treating individuals and his care and attention to people when they are at a low ebb was indeed first class. His knowledge of the trek and the surrounding area was invaluable, he knew how to immerse you in stories and entertain with his tales :-)

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do it. Do not hesitate, you must go on this trip. It is challenging, and it's no cake walk...however if you enjoy peoples company & stunning scenery then it is a must. Once in a lifetime experience

Suggestions

Be prepared to chat to the other members of the group, this trek is as much about socialising as it is trekking & taking pictures. Remember this is a shared experience, everybody is there for the same end goal. Be under no illusions that this is a race to the finish line, it is an experience to be savoured.Coming out of this trip I have learnt more about myself, made some excellent new friends, and had an experience that I will take with me for the rest of my life.UP & DOWN WITH EXODUS!!!!xx 

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Reviewed April 2012

A WEEK IN JORDAN

The pre-holiday documentation and bookings were not of excellent quality, but the holiday itself was fantastic. The Dead Sea, Wadi Rum and Petra were excellent. Our guide gave us the right amount of time in each.

Most Inspirational Moment

The most insprirational part was the two and a half days in Petra. The skill and industry of the people who built it at around 100 B.C. was mind blowing.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our tour leader was excellent. He had the knowledge to describe each and every site at the right level f detail for me, but had a wealth of background knowledge, so he could answer virtually all questions. He knew how much free time to give the group at each site. He also had humour. When it was a fellow traveller's birthday, he stopped the coach at a local garage and bought cakes and squash for us all to celebrate it.

Advice for Potential Travellers

We spent less than £25 per person per day on average. Our tour guide directed us to good quality local supplers of cooked and fresh food if we needed to buy lunches.

Suggestions

Jordanian people are friendly and humourous, often cracking jokes with tourists, without giving hassle.

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Reviewed April 2012

EVEREST BASE CAMP

A fantastic experience in so many ways; an adventure, breathtaking scenery, wonderful people and a challenge.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing Everest for the first time, the awesome views from the top of Kala Patthar and achieving a lifetime ambition. 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Lapka was incredible throughout the trip he went above and beyond his duty caring for all the group from the begining to end, at any time of day or night, enabling us to reach our potential. His local knowedge was exceptional and he regaled us with many entertaining stories. 

Advice for Potential Travellers

Ensure you have a reasonable level of fitnessTake chocolate and snacks, dry shampoo, a good down jacket and warm sleeping bag and plenty of wet wipes. 

Suggestions

A true adventure

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Reviewed April 2012

DISCOVER SRI LANKA

 Intensive holiday lots to do and see. Loved Sri lanka – Hated the Hotels.

Most Inspirational Moment

White water rafting was brilliant. Cycling around Giritale. Elephant ride and the Elephant orphanage.The walk on Horton plains to see World's End.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sujan was great very helpful and Knowledgable.

Advice for Potential Travellers

 It was a great trip but I felt let down and cheated by the standard of the hotels provided. Before each one Sujan warned us how bad it would be and what to expect. I just wish this was told to us before we booked.8/10 hotels were shockingly bad - dirty sheets, dirty towels, dirty bathrooms - plus loads of little crawly friends to keep you company in the room. Geckos come as standard. A lot of time is spent on the bus - take travel sickness pills.Expect curry and rice for breakfast lunch and dinner.Do all of the extra activities not only because they are worth it and fun but also because the alternative option is staying behind doing nothing at one of those awful hotels.Take loads of insect repellent and sun screen. Don't forget Afterbite. 

Suggestions

 I believe most of the extra activities should have been included in the holiday price. Much longer time needed at Galle - 90 minutes is not enough time.  

Reply from Exodus

I thank Samira for her review of this trip but am obviously dissapointed that she was unhappy with the hotels that we use on this very popular trip.

Most of our clients find the level of hotels on this trip very good, which I think other reviews reflect, we are very open about what standard of accommodation we use in our brochure and trip notes. I am constantly looking at client feedback to make sure the standards that I expect are being met, I will continue to do this and change the hotels used if needed.

Feedback is always welcome so again I thank Samira for her views.

Katherine Tory – Sri Lanka Product Manager

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