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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Grade 5- Classic Dolomite Hike. Simply Stunning. Beautiful hikes through the northern Dolomites with views of the iconic Drie Zinnen peaks. The hotel was lovely and the leader really brought it all together. Thank you Thomas.
Most Inspirational Moment
Hiking to the top of Monte Piano and seeing the Austo-Hungarian Trenchs vs the Itialina trenches only 500m away from each other at 2000m up a mountain.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Thomas Mahlknecht was fantastic. HIs local knowledge was excellent with great organization. His ability to speak German, Italian and English in the same sentence was such a asset to overall experience. thank you Thomas.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Bring your hiking boots and be preapered for a hiking holiday! Its truly a hikers holiday. long days out on the hill with a lot of ground covered. especially on the grade 5.
This was my first exodus trip and everything was catered for, our chalet Le Bediere was comfortable and our hosts Sandro and Vieletta were so accommodating and welcoming, they cooked delicious meals every evening and freshly baked cakes to welcome us home after our hikes which were so delish and gratefully received! Also happy to recommend good restaurants, spa locations and other ideas for days off activities. The chalet was clean and comfortable, a wee home from home. Our group of 7 got on great, we bonded during the hikes, chats and meals together, everyone was encouraging and supportive, many interesting chats were had along the ways. Some parts of each hike are challenging but our guide Mark set the pace just right and looked after the entire squad very well. Chamonix is busy and vibrant, there was a jazz festival on during our visit and lots of shops and restaurants and things to do. The chalet is perfectly placed to enjoy everything right on the doorstep, only good vibes noted.
Most Inspirational Moment
Driving through the Mont Blanc tunnel with no issues and arriving in gorgeous sunshine for a hike through the alpine hills in Italy. Trekking to Refuge Bonatti and finding out from Mark the story to this man’s interesting life. Set in alpine meadows with waterfalls and streams flowing down, teaming with wildflowers and butterflies everywhere, truly magical. Then ice cream, such a perfect day.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Mark is an experienced guide and what he doesn’t know isn’t worth knowing POV. He was full of interesting stories, facts and knowledge about the area, the people, the flora and the fauna. He has such a keen eye and was able to spot animals so quickly, and we seen a lot! Ibex, chamois, wee shrews and a beautiful fox, lots of marmots and birds too. We had daily briefings before supper to plan our route, he made changes to benefit us with weather conditions and times etc, everything went like clockwork and again we can thank Mark for his experience and foresight! Easy going and funny with jokes along the way but also serious at times when caution was needed, we all felt safe under his guidance. His knowledge of the area is extensive and he is happy to share it with you and answered all the questions we had.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Be prepared for steep climbs at times but rest breaks are well timed. Enjoy the majestic 360 degree views at every turn and breath in the fresh alpine air. Good boots and two pairs of socks keep blisters at bay and normally I don’t use trekking poles but they were invaluable, esp on the more rocky terrain. Check out the spa in Chamonix, good for tired legs on the free day and Auguille Du Midi is so much better when it’s a clear day if you can plan for it, good luck. The trail descents can be tricky too so watch out, and you will love this trip.
Interesting destination, excellent leader, good accommodation and transport
Most Inspirational Moment
both cave towns, the museums, the trek to Tsminda Sameba was super
Thoughts on Group Leader
Having Maia throughout the trip, and her willingness to share her love of her country and detailed knowledge of its history, really made it a special trip
If you haven’t hiked in the Italian Dolomites, you are missing out. The mountains and region are simply stunning. I chose the Level 5 hike and it did not disappoint. The Hotel Adler was a great base and the evening meals were truly gourmet and comprised multiple courses.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our group leader, Mark was fantastic. His deep knowledge of the region and the hiking trails made all the difference.
Advice for Potential Travellers
You are likely to encounter at least one or two days of rain. Make sure to bring waterproof clothing. I also found it helpful to have hiking poles.
A terrific journey taking in different national parks, animals galore, Vic falls and a wonderful wild camping experience
Most Inspirational Moment
Wild camping in the okovango delta. Meeting local polers who guided us to hippos, giraffe and elephants.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Adonia is a terrific leader, he made the trip so memorable with his expert knowledge and friendly manner. Never phased, always chilled. Always in a good mood. Also a good cook!
Advice for Potential Travellers
As others have posted, take small dollar bills.
Take warm clothing for early mornings and evenings, especially in delta. Also gets cold in open sided vehicles until day warms up.
We loved the helicopter at the delta. Also the last night the group did a sunset cruise, food and scenery lovely.
Remarkable places to visit, poor hotels, itinerary to be improved in the future
Some of the hotels were poor choices, e.g.
Go Schnelli in Tallinn was the worst hotel I have ever stayed at while travelling with Expedia. On one side, it faces the main train station, and on the other, a busy commuting road, which is noisy at all times.
As it doesn’t have air conditioning and it was summer, the interior was stuffy. The mattresses and pillows were uncomfortable. The bathroom was small, and the shower leaked into the washing basin area.
The breakfast was served in a small, busy area, and the range offered was very limited
The Islande Hotel in Riga was humongous, and the breakfast was as busy as a Sunday market; it was very difficult to find a table.
It is located quite far from the old town
The day spent on Hiiumaa island involved too much driving and ferry crossing – it would have been better to add half a day on visiting Vilnius and another half a day on visiting Riga instead
The tour of Vilnius was too brief, and we spent too much time in the trendy area instead of visiting some of the churches or the university’s interior. Rather than walking around Kernavė, which appeared picturesque, we drove for another half an hour to walk in a woodland. We only saw Trakai Castle from across the lake.
Rita, our guide, was a very good organiser, always calm and reassuring
It would be better if Exodus, instead of spending money on TV advertising, chose slightly better hotels to make paying customers’ trips more pleasant.
Most Inspirational Moment
Riga, Tallinn, Helsinki, Kuldiga, Turaida Castle, Saaremaa
Thoughts on Group Leader
Rita, our guide, was a very good organiser, always calm and reassuring
This was our first Exodus adventure and it certainly exceeded our expectations. The majesty of the Mont Blanc region was awe-inspiring! The challenging treks were carefully planned and each revealed an unexpected bonus: a glacial lake, a swinging suspension bridge over a raging stream, a beautiful waterfall, a mountaintop cafe, the ringing sound of cowbells in mountain valleys, and even authentic Italian gelato! The entire trip was eventful and well executed. Airport transportation, mealtimes and hiking departures were timely and convenient. Lodging a t Chalet Chalupa was comfortable and our hosts, Carolina and Sebastien, served delicious and varied meals after a full day of exercise. In addition to our amazing guide, Adrian, we were fortunate to be included in a cohesive and lively group of seven other hikers. This made the trip even more enjoyable and memorable.
Most Inspirational Moment
Arriving at the pinnacle of our first hike and experiencing the spectacular grandeur and almost surreal vistas of the natural beauty surrounding us.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Adrian was a gift. His adeptness and competence as a trail guide were quite obvious, but it was his kindness, encouragement and exuberance that motivated and guided all of us. He truly is at home in the natural world and with all people; his joy is contagious. He made sure that each participant was successful. His nightly briefings were informative and he had everyone laughing at his explanations of all things "alpine"! We are tempted to repeat this exact Exodus expedition just to enjoy Adrian for another week of our lives. Carolina and Sebastien, the chalet hosts, were also delightful. Constantly smiling, they seamlessly performed all the "behind the scenes" duties to keep us happily satiated and content, plus they were excellent drivers when needed!
Advice for Potential Travellers
Our family has done quite a bit of hiking, but this trip was challenging and our feet felt the ill effects. We survived and enjoyed the trip, but Band-aids and moleskin were much needed to help our toes. Moderate hiking in the midwest, USA, where we are from, is very different than the moderate hiking in this part of the world! We also had very warm weather during our stay and slept with open windows. The street traffic in our room was noisy at times so earplugs would certainly help a light sleeper. Meeting new people from all walks of life was a real treat, so come with an open heart and mind!
We have just come back from this trip and had an amazing time; so much wildlife and the Ticos are so friendly and welcoming
Most Inspirational Moment
Too many to mention - maybe swimming in the Pacific at sunrise, zip lining through the rainforest or just sitting and watching birds and monkeys in their natural habitats
Thoughts on Group Leader
Daniel was absolutely outstanding; passionate about his country and keen to share the history, culture and all his knowledge of the wildlife with us
Advice for Potential Travellers
Pack spare memory cards and batteries for your camera! We saw so much wildlife (I think 76 different species of birds) some of which we never thought that we'd be lucky enough to see. We had some properly humid conditions on a couple of days when we ended up sweaty all day (but still able to have fun). Don't assume that you'll be able to get handwashing dry overnight in all locations due to the humidity. Currency is easily available (I got mine from Sainsburys) so take a mix of Colones and US dollars then you can pay in whichever currency is quoted, but do always ask as we thought one price was US dollars and it turned out to be thousands Colones which made the item much more expensive than we first thought. Although not cheap for food and drinks we didn't feel that it was particularly expensive even for drinks from the bars in the more remote hotels. All our hotels were lovely and the food is plentiful with lots of different options.
We hd an amazing trip and the service offered from initial enquiry to our guide and driver in Costa Rica was outstanding
Most Inspirational Moment
All of the 6 areas we visited were spectacular; each new place became my new favourite but I loved them all We saw so many different animals and birds (I think about 75 different bird species in total). No tapirs or jaguars (to be expected) but so many others I didn't think we'd be lucky enough to see
Thoughts on Group Leader
Daniel was fantastic; from his concern with my husband's upset stomach to his enthusiasm to share information about his country with us all. He ensured that every member of the group felt included at all times
A once in a lifetime experience to see and be so close to wild mountain gorillas – just amazing. Every day was an adventure including the Chimp treks, brilliant bird life and wide range of other wildlife. Guides were great in guiding us through all of this.
Most Inspirational Moment
Gorillas, gorillas, gorillas! An experience we will never forget. The chimpanzee experience was also memorable, as was the different primates we saw and such a vast array of birds and other wildlife.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Sam was a very experienced leader who gave us confidence in everything we done. He was great at passing on information about what we were about to do, hints about how to get the best from the different experiences, and lots of local knowledge. A first class leader for this trip. A true ambassador for Uganda and its wildlife.
