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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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!
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14733 Reviews
4.7
out of
5
Reviews
Linda Hamilton
Reviewed February 2026
Disappointing trip with poorly maintained bikes
We added this trip as an extension to the Discover Sri Lanka trip which was fabulous and we highly recommend. Unfortunately
this trip for us fell far short of the standard we have come to expect from Exodus. I write this as a qualified ride leader with over 40 years of experience in bike maintenance.
Our bikes had multiple problems including excessive play in the rear wheel, unreliable gears, poorly adjusted headsets and badly set up brakes all which affected bike handling and created unnecessary risk. Having discussed this with Exodus they have assured us that changes will be made to the servicing of the bikes and that the ride leader will test ride every bike before handing it to a client.
Generally it is easy cycling on flat roads with a few minor hills on the last day. A lot of the roads are fairly busy, the Indian drivers like to toot so you know they are there, so it is also very noisy. The backwater roads are lovely but views of the sea can be limited because of the coastal defences. There is also a lot of litter and some unwelcome smells due to the lack of sanitation. The locals are generally very welcoming and friendly, plenty of smiles particularly from the children.
Most Inspirational Moment
Our highlight was the Kerala house boats, they were fabulous especially watching the sunrise in the morning as we sailed along the backwaters.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our guide, who we understand was not the usual leader, was a poor communicator, disorganised and a thoroughly disappointing ride leader. On previous Exodus trips the leader has set up a WhatsApp group and used it to keep us informed of departure times and other key information. Our leader asked us to set the group up and rarely used it, most communication was by Chinese whispers. He was also a poor time keeper, we left late in the mornings, rode through the hottest part of the day and didn’t get to lunch until 3:00pm. On rides his pace was erratic, he would stop pedalling when on the phone. He also led us down the wrong side of the road, cut corners and failed to give clear signals of his intentions. Again we raised these issues with Exodus, they have assured us that these issues will be addressed with additional training so that Exodus usual standards are maintained on future trips.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Lycra cycle shorts are acceptable apart from visiting the temples/churches.
Use insect repellent on the houseboats overnight as the ensuite had slats and no mesh to keep the mosquitos out.
Linda Hamilton
Reviewed February 2026
Fabulous trip with an excellent guide, highly recommended
The trip is a great introduction to Sri Lanka well organised with a packed varied and interesting itinerary. There was a good mix of activities (walking, rafting, cycling) varied transport (buses, boats, bikes, tuk tuk and a train as well as culture (temples, ancient cities, tea & cinnamon farms, markets, botanical gardens and beaches. There was still enough free time to explore on your own or use the pools/swim in the sea.
The hotels were better than we expected, in good locations, most with lovely pools. The exception was Araliya Red in Nuwara Eliya which was a huge cold soulless barn of a place with the worst food and service of the holiday.
Most Inspirational Moment
So many highlights, Lion’s rock in Sigiriya was just sensational, the elephants on the first safari wandering next to the jeeps, cycling along canals to a local house for an amazing lunch cooked by the family who were so welcoming.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our guide Mr Bujan was outstanding. He was very informative and passionate, incredibly well organised and went out of his way to ensure we had the best trip possible despite the disruption caused by the cyclone at the end of November. He changed the order of events to allow us to travel on the only section of the rail trip that was running again and made sure we arrived early enough to avoid the rows. Every day he briefed us on what was coming up and made sure we always knew where to be and when and how long a stop/activity would last. He then followed up with a Whatsapp reminder.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Expect some early starts and some long days
Take binoculars to see the wildlife.
Optional trips must be paid in cash so worth working out how much you might need for this as it does add up.
If you want an active extension to the trip instead of the Maldives consider the 8 night Cycle the Coast of Kerela. The flight from Columbo to Kochi takes only 1hour 10 mins
lizette Lizzie
Reviewed February 2026
An Unforgettable Kruger Adventure – The Perfect Introduction to Safari Vacations
From incredible wildlife sightings to the majestic scenery of the Panorama route, Essential Kruger delivered magic at every turn. The tour leader was outstanding, the pacing was spot on, and I felt completely immersed in all the experiences from start to finish. An unforgettable safari tour with a few dashes of sightseeing. I’d recommend in a heartbeat.
Most Inspirational Moment
So many to choose from!
Seeing Blyde River Canyon & the Three Rondavels, Bourke's Luck Potholes and God's Window with a clear sky.
Of course, the game drives in the Kruger seeing all the wildlife and amazing birdlife and the surprisingly amazing and authentically African style lunch inside the park
Thoughts on Group Leader
Sammy was next level amazing! He was so well-informed, attentive, caring and took so much of his personal time to be with us. His knowledge of plants and birdlife is extremely broad and he took such good care of our group.
Advice for Potential Travellers
The drives can be long so be prepared for that.
Bring sun protection and drink plenty of water in the hotter months because it can get hot during the game drives.
Walking does occur on this trip during the Panorama route exploration. It isn't technical but you need to be able to walk if you want to experience these sites properly.
The boat cruise on Blyde River is shared with others not in the Exodus group but this is quite fun.
Ann Taylor
Reviewed February 2026
Ancient Egypt Highlights
A very memorable experience travelling from the amazing museums in Cairo, and then down to the tombs and temples of first Aswan then Luxor. We followed the stories of various characters, learning how to recognise Pharaohs and gods from their pictures and symbols. It was dusty and polluted in Cairo (and the traffic was indescribable!). Aswan was fresher and more laid back, and Luxor between the two (I was glad of my hat and drank lots of water – the sun in Valley Of The Kings was unforgiving!). The hotels were great, with beautiful pools. I was really pleased that I had chosen rooms with a Nile view where available. The food was good but for a non meat eater sometimes a little unimaginative. The Nubian restaurant in Aswan (included) and Abydos Nile View (not included) were highlights. I was also pleased that I chose to stay an extra two nights in Luxor- the pool really does float on the Nile!
Most Inspirational Moment
So difficult to choose! Obviously the pyramids are iconic, and why I chose this trip, but there is so much more! But if pushed - the mummies in the Museum of Civilisation and Abu Simbal. I have also returned home with a new inspirational hero in my life - Queen Hatshepsut!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Mohamed made the whole experience. His knowledge and storytelling brought the characters to life, and this developed as we visited all the sites throughout the trip. But his kindness, patience and thoughtfulness brought such pleasure to our whole group (7 of us). Absolutely nothing was too much trouble. He was our friend, teacher and mother! He even brought us baklava baked by his Mum in Aswan. He knew everyone where we visited, he gave market sellers the evil eye if he thought we were being given a bad deal and he had an endless supply of £20 notes for toilet trips!! All the drivers were brilliant- how they cope with Cairo traffic and the endless potholes I do not know! The two local Exodus reps in Cairo and Luxor were excellent in guiding us through the airport process (security is long, inconsistent and thorough).
Advice for Potential Travellers
Go! Use your hat and sunscreen. Drink your water. Be prepared for journeys that are much longer than expected, and much more uncomfortable. Use the hotel pools and enjoy the Nile views. The pace is fine but you see an awful lot in a relatively short time which can have an overwhelming impact on all your senses. Take time to reflect, it will be over in the blink of an eye.
mandy-lee vermeulen
Reviewed February 2026
From Lions to Landscapes: A Truly Magical Kruger Trip
Our trip to the Kruger National Park was nothing short of unforgettable. The itinerary was incredibly well planned, giving us the perfect balance between adventure and relaxation. We had more than enough time to explore the park’s beauty, and still enjoy peaceful downtime by the pool, soaking in the atmosphere and the breathtaking surroundings.
The scenery was truly awe‑inspiring—from holding our breath as we watched lions in their natural habitat, to being completely mesmerized during the panoramic route. Every moment felt magical.
A huge part of what made this experience exceptional was our guide. Not only was he extremely knowledgeable, but also a true people’s person—engaging, warm, and passionate about the wildlife and the park. His insights and enthusiasm added so much to the journey.
This trip was an incredible blend of excitement, beauty, and serenity. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a memorable and meaningful experience in nature.
Most Inspirational Moment
God's Window
Thoughts on Group Leader
fantastic
Advice for Potential Travellers
This is a phenomenal trip for nature lovers and photographers. Remember your insect repellent!
Zahrah Price
Reviewed February 2026
Incredible African Safari
The Kruger National Park, known for being one of the best places on the planet to have the chance to view the Big Five. It is a must visit for first timers to South Africa. The itinerary is beautifully balanced with safari and a chance to view natural wonders along the Panoramic Route. I would highly recommend this trip if you are a wildlife enthusiast!
Most Inspirational Moment
The amount of wildlife viewings in a single drive was incredible. The food was outstanding
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our group leader was knowledgeable about wildlife, nature conservation and the natural wonders and very pleasant. I felt he handled the group well and could answer all of our questions
Advice for Potential Travellers
Invest in a good pair of binoculars, sunscreen even when it is cloudy and apply anti insect spray. This is the trip for you if you are a photographer!
Linda Grierson
Reviewed February 2026
Excellent!
From steamy Tortoguero, with the howler monkeys waking us up at 5.00am (no need for an alarm!) to cool, mountainous Savegre thronging with hummingbirds, this was a tour of contrasting habitats each with their own variety of wildlife, plants and flowers. In addition to the wildlife elements of the tour, visits to the Aquiares coffee factory and CAITE research centre were incredibly interesting. The optional visit to the Bri Bri community was well worth it; we learned all about how chocolate is made from scratch and had great fun trying each part of the process.
While there were some longer travel days, they were well paced, never felt too onerous and we often saw interesting things en route. The boat trips were fantastic- just getting to Tortoguero and to Drake Bay were experiences in themselves, with opportunity to see lot of wildlife on the way. The snorkelling trip was amazing- we were able to swim above sea turtles, rays and amongst lots of colourful fish. Even if you don’t snorkel, the boat trip was worth doing- we saw a pod of humpback whales quite close to the boat, and a variety of birds.
The accommodation was comfortable and in all the hotel grounds we were able to spot a variety of wildlife- great for photographers who enjoy having a camera/phone in one hand and a ‘sundowner’ in the other!
Most Inspirational Moment
A memory I will cherish occurred in Corcovado national park. I was cricking my neck to photograph some noisy spider monkeys swinging around high in the trees above us, when I heard our guide whisper 'don't move'. I looked down and saw a coati by my feet, as oblivious to me as I was to her. She was part of a small group and we avidly watched them foraging around us for quite a while- it was a wonderful experience!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Adriana was excellent and I can't praise her highly enough. She was knowledgeable, friendly, helpful, patient with all our questions, and also had a great sense of humour! Her experience showed; she was always organised and on time and I know she must have worked very hard in the background to make sure everything ran as smoothly as possible. She was relaxed and her pace was good which allowed plenty of time for spotting wildlife. Adriana worked very well with our driver Andres who was also very kind and helpful.
Advice for Potential Travellers
It's worth going a day or so earlier if you can to give yourself time to acclimatise. There are some good museums in San Jose, or you can chill out at one of the hotels- we stayed at the Bougainvillea which has extensive botanical gardens with a variety of wildlife.
Simon Bath
Reviewed February 2026
Awesome crowd, awesome support staff
Group of 12, supported by 45 porters and guides.
Awesome week, clear skies everyday, fantastic porters, well organised, not one fault.
Most Inspirational Moment
The Sunrise summit
Advice for Potential Travellers
Baby wipes & hand gel.
Alison Stent
Reviewed February 2026
Fantastic cycling holiday with a great mixture of cities, backroads and water ways.
One of my best ever cycling holidays lead by a brilliant local team (Vini and Arun) headed up by the amazing Safi. It was good to experience the chaos of a city in Mysore with crazy traffic and cows in the road. Fort Kochi, which is a world heritage site, was laid back with lots of interesting things to see on our day off the saddle and lovely boutique shops where there was no hassle from vendors! The night on the converted rice barge was lovely and relaxing and so nice to float past everyday life on the river. Cycling along the coast, it was good to see fishermen hauling in their catch and to paddle in those warm waters.
I particularly loved waving at friendly locals as we cycled by (and them waving back) and the school children so excited to see us and practice their English.
Apart from the climb up to Ooty which is optional, I felt this holiday should be rated a difficulty level of 3 rather than 4. Once you’ve finished the Western Ghats, the cycling is very flat.
Added to all that, we had a truly lovely group of fellow cyclists on the holiday who all helped make this such a pleasurable trip.
Most Inspirational Moment
The descent from Ooty through tea plantations, a towering eucalyptus forest and areas inhabited by elephants. Also seeing a baby elephant on the safari - adorable!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Safi was a total inspiration. He was friendly, super organised, clear in his instructions, looked after our safety, took us to good restaurants and organised extra activities if we wanted them e.g. a cookery lesson in Kochi and yoga in Varkala. He made checking into hotels a breeze by sending one of the team there in advance so when we turned up, we were handed our key with no unnecessary admin.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Just book it!
Ian Rose
Reviewed February 2026
A great way to get to know a fascinating country
A fantastic way to see an awful lot of Vietnam in a short time. The itinerary is full-on but not overwhelming – the Exodus rating of easy/moderate is about right. There’s enough time for chilling and recharging your batteries and no pressure if you want to opt out of any activities. Hotels are generally of a good standard – all clean and comfortable, a few niggles, but nothing too serious. The homestay in the Mekong Delta was more basic but again clean and comfortable. The Vietnamese people are extremely welcoming and hospitable. Overall, an excellent introductory trip.
Most Inspirational Moment
So many to choose from...sunset on Ha Long Bay, the lanterns of Hoi An, the manic energy of Hanoi and Saigon, the tranquility of Hue, life on the water in the Delta. Vietnam is a beautiful country of great contrasts, where the ancient and modern worlds sit side-by-side. Inspiration is everywhere you look.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Win (aka Tan) was absolutely outstanding. He brought the history and culture of Vietnam vividly to life and has a real passion for what he does. Nothing was too much trouble for him and everything was approached with kindness and good humour. He has a lovely manner that made the whole group feel quickly at ease and was great fun to travel with - we laughed a lot.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Travel as light as you can - there are opportunities along the way to get laundry done overnight, supporting local vendors at the same time. There is a definite climate change as you move south. Hanoi was a bit chilly in the evenings - Saigon is hot and humid. Layering is the way to go and take a lightweight rain jacket. Take a bit of cash if you can to get yourself going - a lot of smaller vendors will prefer it and its helpful to have immediately to hand when you land. ATMs are fine to top yourself up, but look out for bank charges which vary from bank to bank. Credit cards are accepted widely in the cities but vendors often add a surcharge for using a card. Vietnam is great value for money, so even with a surcharge it will still feel like a bargain, but its just worth being aware of.
