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.

Select a trip specific review:

Select

150 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Rachael Hardbattle

Reviewed June 2018

A fantastic trip full of variety with amazing places to visit

A trip well worth taking. The amazing places we visited took our breath away at times. Even on the long travel days the views were spectacular making time fly.

Most Inspirational Moment

Lake Titicaca and the reed islands

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sebastian was very good - a warm man with a good sense of humour. He was tested during our trip due to travellers becoming unwell. He still made sure everyone else was ok which was very professional. He is now trying to help me with some lost shopping in Cusco which I am very thankful for.

Advice for Potential Travellers

What to wear is tricky due to the forever changing climatic conditions. So be sure to pack layers!!

Catherine Lander

Reviewed June 2018

Amazing trip

An unforgettable trip. Saw so many amazing things. The scenery is spectacular and I just sat looking out of the window throughout the long journeys- not a moment was wasted. The natural landscape is so majestic and yet there will be a track winding up the hillside and terracing right to the top. The power of nature and the ingenuity of people is humbling and intriguing.

Most Inspirational Moment

I walked on my own along the path to the Inca Bridge and, although I thoroughly enjoyed the walk, felt very small and a bit vulnerable knowing one trip or slip and I could fall a very long way- people would have walked this type of path, with their children, carrying everything in the past. I think the geography and landscape was what took my breath away.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Daniel Ramos was brilliant. He had so much knowledge and passion for the history, cultures and geography of the country, which he shared with us. He looked after us all so well. Thank you.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go for it. When Peruvians say it is cold, to those of us from England it was a summer day we would be very happy with! We needed less warm clothes and more hot weather clothes :-)

graham roscoe

Reviewed June 2018

Essential Peru- What a trip, I would recommend to all

This was a fantastic holiday.with a good balance of experiances, tastes and transport.
There were long bus journeys but the scenery was so amazing you will see the local wild life, Alpaca’s, Condor’s plus many others it was never boring, even an erupting volcano on our trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were many, the trip to Machu Picchu, the homestay with mamma Flora,the floating island experience, Colca Canyon and Arequipa plaza's. Cusco and Arequipa city plaza areas are well worth spending time strolling about looking at the colonial buildings both day and night. Visiting on route the churches, cathedrals and convents was really inspiring and interesting either with or without a guide ( most have English translations) We were very fortunate to be there at the Corpus Christie festival in Arequipa what an experience it was.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sebastion was our tour leader, he did an excellent job looking after us, taking us out at night to eat in a variety of restaurants. He gathered us all together at convenient times to inform us of the following days detailed plan including how long on the coach and times between stops. His plan and timing were very accurate, with good stopping places and the viewpoints had good facilities. A very knowledgeable capable tour leader well travelled both in Peru and the rest of the world. I would be very happy to have Sebastion as my tour leader on every trip I undertake. He is an great asset to the company, well done.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Early morning starts were part of the tour ( we had additional early starts due to local strikes) these were cold to start with but by 0800 on most days the sun was up warming us up. The coaches we used had onboard toilet facilities but we had organised stop also at regular intervals. The Exodus office team did an excellent job rearranging hotels and flights due to the local strikes taking place. The local guides helped us get detailed information and a big thanks to Elious ( home stay guide) and Jenny (Colca Canyon guide). The recommended spending money for meals was accurate, ATMs and banks were found when somebody wanted them so no issues, retaurants took cards. Listen to the advice from the guide and tour leaders they are locals and know the expected conditions and potential outcomes. Look into altitude sickness before you go it can affect anyone -you will be at 4900 meters

Suggestions

The tour was great Ive ticked it off the bucket list. It was great to be with a group of people who were so like minded

Helen Seymour

Reviewed June 2018

Essential Peru

This was a fantastic holiday. We had long bus journeys but the scenery was so amazing that they were never boring. We felt that we saw the real countryside.

Most Inspirational Moment

Going to Machu Picchu was awe inspiring. It was even better than I imagined. Though very crowded when we arrived lots of people had been there early in the morning and left mid afternoon so we were able to enjoy the peace and quiet. Another highlight was seeing condors flying overhead in Colca Canyon.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sebastian was amazing. He is a brilliant tour leader. He was a great help when several people had problems with altitude sickness. We had warm blankets on the bus when we had early morning very cold starts. He made sure that we had a box of water wherever we went. We used these to fill out water bottles...what a brilliant idea.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do be prepared for the weather to be very cold first thing in the morning. We took thermals and needed them. Useful gifts for your homestay "mother" can be bought at the local markets. Take fruit, cheese, tea towels, wind up torch. We took the flight over the Nasca Lines. It was another highlight. Some people felt sick as the plane banks steeply so that everyone has a good view. Tale sea sickness tablets before you fly. Altitude sickness can be a problem. Listen to the advice or your tour leader. Don't overdo things.

Suggestions

We fell in love with Peru.

Graham Johnson

Reviewed May 2018

Essential Peru and Amazon extension

This trip does everything it says it will do, BUT, do be aware that where the trip notes mention long days that is exactly what happens. The scenery is spectacular for most of the trip so settle back and enjoy it.

Machu Picchu lives up to all expectations, so if it seems a bit of a faff getting there just let it work its magic on you when you get there.

Cusco is sublime. You have some free time there but you’ll love it, just grab a Pisco Sour and watch the world go by.

Most Inspirational Moment

Machu Picchu doesn't disappoint, watching all the condors in the Colca Canyon was wonderful........BUT 5 jaguars on the Amazon. Blown away.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Right, first off Peruvian plugs are TWO FLAT PIN PLUGS!!!!!! If you buy the standard Boots/travel plugs that say Peru but have two flat pins and one round earth pin THEY WILL NOT WORK except in Lima. I had to beg borrow and scrounge plugs to charge my camera. Boots refunded me but be aware, their plugs don't work.

angela hill

Reviewed April 2018

Peru

Good starter trip for Peru as saw most of the main attractions. Hard going sometimes with long days and huge gaps between meals but overall worth it.
Good guide in Leo.
Amazon extension a bit hit and miss. Jungle walks saw very little except getting bitten to death, but early morning session to see parrots was worth the early start with bonus of seeing 5 Jaguar on rerturn boat trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

Colca Canyon and the Condors. I know Machu Pichu should be, but the condors and then the jaguars were it for me.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Leo was well informed and did well juggling all of us and dealing with the sick couple left behind.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Carry snacks/food at all times in case. There were several days when we would have had 8-10 hours between food breaks.

Brigitte Hease

Reviewed December 2017

A childhood's dream come true.

When I was a child, I read Tintin and the Temple of the Sun. Several decades later here I was, in Peru, a wonderfully diverse country in terms of its geography and culture. Our like minded group of travelers quickly became a team. The itinerary was excellent, taking into account increasing altitude levels, so by the time we started the Inca Trail, our bodies were acclimatized. The great variety and magnificence of the landscapes surprised us. We saw astonishing wildlife on offshore islands, mountain high volcanoes dominating historical cities, flying condors over deep canyons and beautiful valleys. There was the colourful culture of Lake Titicaca and Puno ; the iconic Inca Trail with amazing porters ; the beautiful cloud forest worthy of an RHS gold medal ; many splendid and mysterious archaeological sites ; tempting craft markets and cuddly looking alpacas and llamas ; excellent food and pisco sours… all eased and facilitated by our very experienced, organised, calm and knowledgeable guide Holger.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were many ... but seeing Macchu Picchu bathed in golden sunlight from the Sun Gate brought a tear to my eyes... as did a cloud of pretty yellow and orange butterflies dispersing over the water as our canoe gently approached...one of nature's magic spectacle in the Amazon region of Peru.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our guide, Holger was very experienced, caring, knowledgeable, organised, calm and enthusiastic. We appreciated his great experience of the Inca Trail. He was excellent at flagging areas of difficulty such as steeper sections, pointing out flora (orchids) and fauna along the way. Highlighting good vantage points to take photos, explaining the history and archaeological heritage of the sites, whilst making sure we were all fine along the way. One of the best guides we have had on a mountain trek with Exodus.

Suggestions

This itinerary included some long bus journeys necessary to cover the vast distances between cities, but there were many stops. Our bus was very comfortable and we could enjoy the fantastic landscapes passing by as well as discreetly taking photos of colourful local costumes.

Brigitte Hease

Reviewed December 2017

A childhood's dream come true.

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Suggestions

Cathy Cant

Reviewed December 2017

A ‘bucket list’ trip!

This was a great trip, planned and organised to Exodus’ usual high standards, which enabled my partner and I to tick of a number of ‘bucket list’ experiences that we’d wanted to do since our ‘teens.

The only downside was the number of hours spent sitting on the comfortable coach – but Peru is such a long country, and out itinerary so diverse, that there really wasn’t any alternative. And, as usual, we were able to stop and see places too small for a final destination which we would not otherwise have seen.

Altogether, a good, thorough exploration of Central and southern Peru.

Most Inspirational Moment

Oooh ... the Nazca Lines ... Machu Pichu of course ... floating islands on Lake Titicaca ... the food ...

Thoughts on Group Leader

Daniel Torres was an excellent tour leader - possibly our best Exodus leader yet. Coming from Lima, he thoroughly understood our problems with altitude, yet his own altitude problems never once impacted on his care and attention to detail. A lovely man.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do not underestimate the variable effects of altitude! I was short of breath (especially at night) and experienced disrupted sleep and a complete loss of appetite. At very high altitudes (during brief coach stops) I felt as though I was standing on the deck of a ship - move too fast and I was swaying. My partner also suffered disrupted sleep, but wasn’t nearly as breathless and his appetite was undiminished. We saw the Nazca lines from a small aircraft (an optional extra which the guide arranged) - expensive, but worth it. But we were all very glad to get off the plane - cramped, of course, but did the pilot really need to bank so enthusiastically?

Suggestions

Dany, our tour leader, was a real foodie, and took us to some marvellous restaurants. When we went off on our own we also found some great places - good food seems to be easy to find all over Peru. Warning: Peruvians apparently eat their main meal at lunchtime - and portions are gargantuan! We prefer to eat in the evening - when portions are still massive. But pretty reasonable prices - expect to pay around £10 for a main course. Wine is expensive, but Cusquena dorado beer is usually reasonable.

Barry Hunter

Reviewed December 2017

Wonderful

So much to see and enjoy. The landscape is awesome and the itinerary excellent. All of the places we visited were memorable, from Macchu Pichu to Lake Titicaca (great homestay, so friendly) to Cusco to the condor viewing…..plus many more wonderful places. Always wanted to see the Nasca lines and this was one of the few tours we could find that included it. The weather was largely kind to us so I would say it is a good month to go. We also enjoyed some really great eating experiences – thanks to our Tour Leader ‘foodie’ , Danny.

We really could not fault anything. The hotels were good and well located, the (sometimes long) journeys were broken up by regular stops along the way and there was some dramatic scenery to enjoy. We largely coped with the altitude but be aware that it does affect a number of people in some way.

Finally, our Tour Leader was excellent, probably the best we’ve ever had. All in all a fabulous tour, one not to be missed !!!

Most Inspirational Moment

Has to be Macchu Pichu !!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Fantastic.

Prev 1 … 3 4 5 6 7 … 15 Next