Reviews

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

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14440 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Russell Conway

Reviewed April 2014

Primates in Uganda

This was a road trip around Uganda with an intention of seeing as many varieties of Monkey as possible.
On the way we saw a great deal more, strange birds, odd looking antelopes and a few things that remain to be identified.
This was a brilliant and unusual trip with a high activity content and some of the walks will stay with me for a long time.

Most Inspirational Moment

Yes seeing the mountain Gorillas is always going to be great but there were so many other moments. Seeing 3 huge chimps swing out of their tree a few inches away from us, figs in their mouth and the smell of chimp heavy on the nostrils. Seeing the cormorant like African Fin-Foot peck flies off the back of a basking buffalo in Lake Mbouro and minutes later seeing a nest with 2 white backed night herons is just as good as it gets birding-wise!!

Thoughts on Group Leader

A very nice guy. A great driver who throughout the trip never once had a problem on roads which could be difficult and he had to put up with swerving to avoid animals, bikes, odd vehicles and on another occasion a snake. He facilitated all the check-ins seamlessly at the 4 sets of accommodation and on top of all of this he could identify most birds and mammals. Nothing was too much trouble, whether it was loaning me his waterproof or repairing a pair of glasses. He was a jack of all trades and a master of them all. We also had a bit of a bonus in that as well as the group-leader we had a representative from Exodus accompanying us which was fun and we all felt very well looked after.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for long walks on uneven terrain. And it rains. A lot. But don`t worry this is a wonderful trip and as long as you are prepared the memories will live with you for a very long time. Electricity supply can be a bit intermittent. Bring torches.

Sue S

Reviewed April 2014

Fabulous Holidat

This trip was a fantastic overview of Jordan, focusing the best sites in the country and giving travelers the opportunity to get to know the kind hospitality of the Jordanian people.

Most Inspirational Moment

It is hard to pick just one. Jordan at night. Standing on a sandstone mountain looking down into Petra. Dinner at a cave in Petra (this was an optional thing we did as a group). Shooting stars in Wadi Rum. Talking with Jordanian people.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Danny was really superb. You could tell that he was telling us the essentials of what we needed to know about each site and that we could easily ask for more details, if we wanted to know. He was very sociable with the group and really helped us to learn a bit about Jordanian culture. He made wonderful recommendations every day of the trip (i.e., where to get lunch, places for dinner, ideas for optional activities); Danny was one of the key reasons this trip was so wonderful.

Advice for Potential Travellers

This trip is a must! You'll have 2 full days in Petra (which most other tours do not offer), so take your time to savor and enjoy this wonderful site. And take time to talk to the people of Jordan; they are so eager to tell you about their country and their culture. On a more practical note: do read the trip notes to know what to expect and what to bring. Some people did not read this before the trip and did not bring the proper shoes for walking in Petra or did not bring a flashlight as outlined.

Alvina Labsvirs

Reviewed April 2014

Wonderful Wildflower Walking on Evia

Easy walking on hills and mountain gorges. The weather was nearly perfect, warm spring sunshine. Food was wonderful. The perfect antidote to a wet miserable British winter.

Most Inspirational Moment

The wild flowers carpet the hillside. Not only did they look amazing the scent was the best aroma therapy.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Thanos was excellent. Knowledgeable and accommodating. Nothing was too much trouble for him. Dedicated to the group and intent on giving us the best experience possible.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't expect to be stretched. Walks were leisurely but delightful. Hotel was comfortable but not luxurious.

Reviewed April 2014

A Week in Jordan

This trip is an excellent way to get a real appreciation of Jordan, its history and to visit the main sites in the country.

Most Inspirational Moment

Our visit to Petra. We found that the 2 full days in Petra was absolutely perfect as it gave us time to see all the main sites and have a guided walk in the hills surrounding the site.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader, Danny Haddad, was excellent and really made the trip. His knowledge was immense and he was very able to put material across in a very interesting way. Nothing was too much trouble.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The weather was perfect for us (end March/1st week April) and the temperature ranged from upper teens to upper twenties which meant that it was never too hot to visit the sites and do the walking trips in Petra. The evenings could get chilly but all the was required was a flease or a jacket.

Ruth Morgan

Reviewed April 2014

Calypso's Isle

We’ve just returned from a week in the stunning Ta’Cenc Hotel on the cliffs of the south coast of Gozo, which was a last-minute booking and proved to be an excellent choice. We had a very comfortable room which opened out onto the poolside, in this well designed single storey complex of rooms and trulli, in its own landscape of limestone and flowers. While the weather was quite warm and sunny, there was always a breeze (or more) which stopped us using the pools, but there was also a spa with warm in/outdoor pool and all facilities – the perfect end to a day of walking. The food was superb, with buffet breakfasts and four course dinners, and the service was immaculate.
The holiday is self-guided and we did most of the walks suggested by Exodus, sometimes bumping into other hotel guests on the way; the walk notes we’d been given were so detailed we never got lost. But we did miss the group activity that are such a feature of the previous Exodus group holidays we’d been on and that people benefit enormously from.
The hotel had a courtesy bus into the main town Victoria, from where local buses went out to all the villages, so we either caught them or walked from the hotel. The cliff walks were amazing and the flowers a myriad of colours; the views were stunning. The limestone quarrying and the salt pans fascinated us but we were upset by the evidence everywhere of the shooting of migrating birds.
Being early in the season, some of the villages were sleepy, but there are many fine churches and archaeological sites to visit, as well as the citadel and museums in Victoria. We liked the folklore museum in Gharb and it was good to hire bikes and explore the villages (though the drivers are crazy!). It would have been easy to have a day on Malta by bus and ferry but we had no time.

Most Inspirational Moment

Climbing steep rock-cut steps out of Xlendi bay among all flowers of all colours, to catch the view at the top. The view from the bell tower in the church at Xewkija and the bells tolling right above our heads!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Self-guided.

Emmanuelle Rolland

Reviewed April 2014

Beautiful Iceland

Well-thought itinerary that allows you to see the highlights of Iceland in just 5 days with stunning scenery and great activities.

Most Inspirational Moment

We were lucky to see them for one night only, but seeing the Northern Lights is truly magical, especially with Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon as the backdrop. Jokulsarlon black beach is stunning too and glacier walking was amazing. Great photos opportunities, the striking contrast of the black sand and the blue ice at the beach, and the layers of black ashes and blue ice on the glacier.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Kristjan is an excellent guide. Landscapes are beautiful, but he also made me interested in the culture and the people. He's very knowledgeable, full of interesting stories, he made sure everything run smoothly and managed to avoid the crowd. He did his best for us to see the Northern Lights depending on the conditions and made various stops en route to take photos.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take lots of layers, I think we were lucky with the weather as it wasn't that cold, but it's better to have more, as it's safe to leave things in the bus. There was still a lot of snow on the ground. Seeing the Northern Lights is hit and miss, sometimes the forecast is promising but you don't see them, sometimes the forecast is not great but you see an amazing show. So when you do, be prepared to stay out late at night in the cold. Also, they can appear a bit dull to the naked eye, they look more greyish than vivid green, but you can still see the strands and the flares and don't get me wrong it's absolutely fantastic. But I would advise to have a DSRL camera with a fast lens (at least F2.8) and a tripod, then with the correct settings, Kristjan will help you, but usually ISO 800, F2.8 at 15 seconds, and the colours will pop on your photos. I truly recommend renting a camera and/or a lens if you don't.

Philip Loat

Reviewed March 2014

Just do it!

If you have been thinking about climbing Kilimanjaro for a while but have hesitated go ahead and do it. The Lemosho route gives you plenty of time to acclimatise and why go all the way to Tanzania and rush it? The guides make sure no one goes too fast and it was only on the summit climb that we gradually split into small groups according to ability. So don’t worry you will not get left behind and you wont get made to feel you are slowing the group down. EVERYONE goes slowly. It’s compulsory. And don’t worry if you want to go solo. I think most people climbing Kilimanjaro are solo travellers anyway.

Most Inspirational Moment

It wasn't the summit - the cloud cover was too low and we didn't see much even though it had been a beautiful clear night with a full moon. (What percentage of summit climbs end up with clear dawn views anyway??) There were many individual inspirational moments - a view, managing to make it to a particular point, watching as the porters carried huge bags up the mountain. When you have made it to camp at the end of a long days walking you will have a great sense of achievement whatever your ability and everyone is very supportive of each other.

Thoughts on Group Leader

All the main guides, including the group leader were employed by The African Walking Company for our climb. Without exception they were kind, helpful, informative and good fun. The cooking was outstanding considering the conditions and to see the porters carry your heavy possessions at twice your speed will leave you feeling humble. The guides ensure no one goes to fast and runs out of steam. Other tour companies are not so vigilant.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Prepare for the climb by doing plenty of hill walking. Build up to making the walks as steep and as long as possible. This is the best preparation in addition to perhaps cycling or swimming. Think about paying extra for a single tent. If you haven't camped for a while try doing it again a few of times to get used to it. Being able to get a decent nights sleep under canvas is essential to a good days walking the following day. The mat provided by Exodus is fine. I didn't use my blow up mat at all. Take a pee bottle so you don't have to get up and go outside to the loo in the middle of the night! Take a good sleeping bag and a liner (mine was a fleece liner) Again the more you can ensure you get a good nights sleep the better. Most people in our group took Diamox for altitude sickness and seemed fine with it. And most experienced some form of altitude sickness in the form of the odd headache but it did not last more than a day. The Diamox pill I took gave me a lot of pins and needles all over my body and it made me feel worse do I did not take it again. I did have dull headaches but nothing serious.

Nicki Ashenden

Reviewed March 2014

Cycling Vietnam

This was our first Exodus and cycling holiday and had just the most amazing time. It was a wonderful way to see the country.

Most Inspirational Moment

There was something inspirational every single day; from cycling through villages; the people; the food; the traffic and spectacular scenery. We both managed the Hai Van pass which was a great achievement. Every day was special.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Danh - what can I say, he was the best; his knowledge and love for his country; his infectious laugh; nothing was ever too much trouble and everything ran incredibly smooth. It was very well organised thanks to him. He is amazing. Cannot praise him enough.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take good padded shorts and there are laundry stops so you do not need to take loads. Be prepared for very long days and definitely get some cycling training in. We wish we had stayed an extra night in Hanoi.

Louise Southall

Reviewed March 2014

Cycle the back roads of Sri Lanka

This was our 3rd Exodus trip and it exceeded all of our expectations I really do not think that any other trip would ever top the two weeks that we had in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan people are friendly and smiley, the countryside breathtaking and the wildlife is amazing.

Most Inspirational Moment

Every day was full of new experiences and challenges but we loved the elephant orphanage and Lions rock. Our guide Suresh took us to a temple one evening were we made an offering to the Gods and were blessed by the holy man (for a safe journey) Suresh also took us to Little Adams Peak in Ella as the sun was going down which was amazing.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Suresh our tour leader- what can I say words do not do justice to this lovely gentle man. Everything was planned to perfection, Suresh and his team are a credit to Exodus, they all went above and beyond their duties to ensure we had the holiday of a lifetime. Suresh organised many activities not listed in the trip notes and was at hand 24 hours a day should any problems arise. He has a great local knowledge which maximised our experience of Sri Lanka.Thank you Suresh, Sandy,Chamara, Amila and Upali for a fabulous 2 weeks we will never forget you all, such lovely people.

Advice for Potential Travellers

You do not need to be a hard core cyclist but get bike fit there are two tough days.This is a group holiday and we had brilliant travel companions who all gelled from day one. Go with an open mind and try everything have faith in your leader.

David Scott

Reviewed March 2014

Antarctic circle quest

One of the best experiences of my life. Icebergs, whales, seals, penguins, historic huts and awe inspiring (in the true sense of that overused term) scenery.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were inspiring moments every day: spotting the first iceberg on the horizon, whales surfacing next to the zodiacs and boat, being served hot chocolate on a zodiac in the middle of an ice choked bay, stepping inside the time capsule of a historic hut, crossing the circle. I could come up with many more.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The experts on board really contributed to the pleasure of the voyage. They gave illuminating and interesting lectures during the sea days and then worked hard to ensure that excursions were a memorable experience.

Advice for Potential Travellers

A good quality down jacket will keep you comfortable when standing on deck while wildlife watching. Also a pair of binoculars is essential. They don't have to be expensive.

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