Most Inspirational Moment
Istanbul and Ephesus and Kus
Thoughts on Group Leader
Great...Good sense of humour and knowledgeable
Advice for Potential Travellers
Go!
Reviews
Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers
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Reviews
Turkey Trip
Great sites, lovely fellow travellers…guides great fun and helpful throughout…fascinating country with big old cities and lovely coastline and mountains. Will return one day.
Land of the Jaguar Photographic Safari with Paul Goldstein
“The trip surpassed our expectations !
….. despite the extremely hot weather, intermittent aircon in the afternoons and a room with 4 single beds rather than a double bed
The local guides were excellent, organisation very good and Paul was his usual inimitable self “
Lots of brilliant views but hard cycling
A good trip. The views in the mountains and along the gorges were amazing. There were some long hard rides uphill and some long downhills. The trip was well organised with some transfers between places. The guide organised coffee stops, lunch and evening meal restaurants most of which were good.
Most Inspirational Moment
The ride from Zabljak to Pluzine through the Durmitor National Park. The limestone scenery was spectacular and round each corner there was an amazing view. It was a tough uphill climb but worth it for the views.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Julien was very good with a great sense of humour He was well organised and knew the route well. He suggested nice restaurants for lunch and dinner and we all ate together. He was great at meal times sorting out the bill for each person/ couple. The support drivers were friendly and really helpful. He did set a fast pace and there were long stretches between regrouping.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take layers to wear - it was cold in the mountains so gloves and a buff/ hood were needed. Take a head torch/ front bike lights for cycling through the tunnels which were unlit and the lights on the bikes didn’t really light your way. Do a few long climbs to get fit beforehand! Although the bikes were good your upright position on long uphills meant the saddles weren’t that comfortable! Gel saddle or extra padding! Take snacks for refuelling.
Fantastic trip
A well paced trip through Namibia taking in the main highlights.
Most Inspirational Moment
The sand dunes on the ocean edge were awesome.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Very professional , funny and ensured we had a great trip
Advice for Potential Travellers
Make the most of each day, as it’s a fast paced trip through different environments.
WILDLIFE TRAILS -HOTELS
Starting in Salt Lake City we visited 3x National Parks, Grand Tetons,Yellowstone and Glacier Park. The trip covers some distance by road ,with contrasting scenery and plenty of stops and photo opportunities. All three Parks have different scenery and Mountain types, from jagged edges in Grand Tetons to older Glacial features in Glacier Park. Yellowstone provides the geological surprises. The Group leader along with the provided Guides supply the detailed information on the respective Park and their geological features. No query goes unanswered.
Most Inspirational Moment
Wildlife spotting and in particular the early morning start to track wolves in Yellowstone Park, with our expert wolf guide, Evan. Dawn broke and with the light breaking we saw the wolf pack awakening from their slumber, and the younger wolves play-fight with each other, before being joined by the elders. An amazing sight. We moved on before they did, to continue our wild life search. Terrific.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Some 6 years previous we did an Exodus Trip to different Parks and the inspirational Leader of that trip, commented that his favourite Park was Glacier Park. That sowed the seeds should we return to the US. Exodus produced a trip combining Glacier Park with Yellowstone and the Trip was booked. At the Pre Tour Group Meeting, to our surprise and delight that same inspirational Group Leader Mike Harding ,was to be our Guide once again. Nothing is too much trouble for Mike and his knowledge and passion for his Country and guests is outstanding. He goes above and beyond what could be expected, for example making himself available for guests to be ferried into and back from the centre of the towns, for sightseeing and shopping. One guest had left something in their case and Mike was happy to unload the cases for the item to be retrieved. Restaurant and eating places were recommended, and commentary was often provided during the travel between the different Parks.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Expect the weather to be changeable and dress accordingly. We travelled Sept/Oct and had unseasonable warm weather, with t-shirts on some days and woolly hats and gloves on other days.
Cape Town and the Garden Route - Premium Adventure
Petro was a fantastic CEO and took care of all our needs. The weather caused washouts thru out South Africa and Petro always found other interesting things to experience
Most Inspirational Moment
Our CEO and the whole garden route
Thoughts on Group Leader
We could not ask for a better leader the Petro.
Brilliant Trip
A fab trip with beautiful and varied scenery, some challenging cycling with lots of wildlife along the way and great company. Most of the accommodation was really lovely and some quite special places. Restaurants choices were good and the food was excellent. Unfortunately the weather wasn’t on our side so the itinerary was changed to accommodate the conditions for a couple of days but this in no way detracted from a brilliant holiday.
Most Inspirational Moment
Loved the whale watching from the hotel as I never thought we would see them so clearly from the shore. Visiting the penguin colony was also great fun, although it’s possible to see the penguins from the boardwalk it was definitely worth paying to see them closer up on the beach.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Adonia and Ernest were amazing. They worked incredibly hard for us in what turned out to be tricky circumstances due to some heavy rain. They kept us safe on the roads, always had a plan B, kept us informed when things needed to change or provided options for us to choose as a group if there were choices available. Their local knowledge was fantastic and they seemed to enjoy sharing it with us. Nothing was too much trouble and they definitely made this trip special.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Be prepared for changing conditions as sun in the morning could be wind in the afternoon and can make the cycling quite challenging. This also means the itinerary may need to change due to the conditions so best to come with an open mind and be prepared to go with the flow. I bought a 3 pin plug for South Africa at the airport and it turned out to be a great purchase so would recommend bringing one. I also brought quite a bit of cash which wasn’t necessary as card payments were taken everywhere and a very small number of places (penguin colony is the one that sticks in my mind) only took cards. A couple of extra days on to the trip to explore more of Cape Town is worth it.
Best Yet!
Having read the fairly negative review from an earlier tour, our party of five had concerns, and investigated our options to change from this tour. We are all so very glad we didn’t!! After our agent confirmed she had made enquiries, and Exodus had reassured her they were working hard to deal with the post covid supply issues, we decided to continue on with this tour. Every detail was beyond expectation, the bikes were near new, the guide team incredible and the route spectacular. Nothing, other than personal fitness, could have made this trip better.
Most Inspirational Moment
Its not a place or a moment, Central Europe is too beautiful and complex for that, it was the learnings. It was cycling with little concern right beside the remanets of the Iron Curtain. Waking up in a country that was recently freed, and going to sleep in a country that has been relatively unrestricted for many years. Nothing is more inspirational than stopping for morning tea at the memorial to the hundreds who lost their lives trying to cross a boarder, no matter why, which direction or what your beliefs are that is sobering… To spend 11 days, as a 50 something year old, in Central Europe, on a bike, is a privilege of our time, and that inspired me!
Thoughts on Group Leader
We struck gold! Jan is a compassionate, capable, incredibly knowledgeable, gentleman! Teamed with Lubos, our big gentle bear of a support driver - no need nor necessity was left unaddressed! Jan and Lubos are not only fantastic: bus drivers, gear haulers, tour guides, bike mechanics, historians, foodies, medics…. They are funny, warm and perceptive! Even though Lubos had limited English, he took us on side tours, when we chose to take the bus, conveyed instructions, lead us to points of interest, tried his hand at English and never stopped smiling! Jan assessed our group and altered the tour to meet our ability and quirks. We did off trail routes, had the option to take the bus when the elevation and heat made it less than fun, chose a picnic instead of a restaurant, found place we could swim or forage for fruit, stopped so we could work out what the crop growing actually was, or to try a Sugar Beet – because that was our group… He took us to the touristy places, but he also took us to the local hidden treasures, and when the rain hit… he gave his own raincoat to one of us to wear….
Advice for Potential Travellers
If you want to truly enjoy this tour… Get out and do the kms: ride the hills, ride off road! This is 480kms plus of variable terrain, heat, hills (at times), cobbles, gravel and even mud! The bikes are ‘Gravel Bikes’ – not suspended, not wide tyred, mountain bikes. The wheels are skinny, you have disk brakes, and these are opposite (right back / left front) for anyone from the southern hemisphere… But they are perfectly adequate if!... You have done some training off road. It’s not mountainous, but its definitely not flat, and after the uphills there are some glorious down hills – train for this! We rode downhill gravel sections that required a modicum of ability. We carried our, very lightweight, bikes up stairs – so prepare for this, it not hard at all, but carry your bike so the technique is not foreign. We navigated city traffic and tractors in villages. We had a heatwave and a downpour. And we had fun! Lots and lots of fun! Consider a Multicurrency Debit card - you ride through 4 Countries, and the currency can change twice on one day! Most places took a card, but a few notes in the local currency helped – your guide will advise, take note of what they say.
Variety, stunning cycling and a great group leader
This was a truly lovely trip with a range of experiences and highlights. Starting in the quieter and underrated region to the south and finishing in the much more touristy area of Amalfi, the scenery is – of course – beautiful throughout, the hotels are good and the food delicious. Paulo is a superb guide. He and his assistant Emilio (and other members of the local team when needed) worked tirelessly to make sure we had the best possible holiday – nothing was too much trouble. Everything was super-organised and well-communicated with a briefing each evening about what to expect the next day. And we learned lots about Italy – from its ancient past to the issues it faces today, with insight about plants, agriculture and tourism – and anything we wanted to know or discuss – along the way. It’s an undulating route and there are some long hills – but the gradient is steady and (mostly) reasonable and there’s no shortage of rewarding views. The final day from Minori to Sorrento and back comes in at around 1,500m elevation (according to Strava), although there’s the option to go in the van for the long steep climb out of Sorrento. However, this trip is not for the faint-hearted – the Amalfi Coast road is stunning, but very busy with traffic (even for someone that cycles in London); cars, buses, lorries, scooters, etc pass constantly and often pretty close. In some ways it’s all part of the vibe, but it’s potentially unnerving for less experienced riders.
Most Inspirational Moment
Hard to pick just one…
Thoughts on Group Leader
Echoing everything said in previous reviews and noted above, Paulo is an exceptional group leader - highly-experienced, confidence-inspiring, knowledgeable, calm and affable , he makes the tour the success that it is.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Definitely worth doing some hill practice beforehand!
From desert camels to mountain yak
This was the longest duration trip I’ve ever taken, covering the most ground by road and with some (by my standards) fairly extreme variations of temperature, altitude and landscape. But it was mostly very unusual, often spectacular and totally worth the bumpy ride – take layers, medications and a better camera than I did. The people were also a particular highlight. Jabbar in Turkmenistan was an impossible act to follow, but the local leaders were all very good. The group was a great mix and we bonded over one or two minor glitches and some medicinal vodka. We met the friendliest local people in markets, at the border crossings, on the road. They were very often willing to share my three words of Russian, and to practice their English. It was also very nice to be asked to join them for their photos – probably some of these invitations were from other tourists, but was still great to feel like the exotic extra for a change.
Most Inspirational Moment
The night sky, particularly at Son Kul lake.
Thoughts on Group Leader
We were very fortunate to have Alina as our tour leader for the full duration. She’s an inspiration and second to none in terms of her people and organisational skills.
Advice for Potential Travellers
This is a challenging trip – certainly well out of my comfort zone - and most of the group fell ill at some point. So best to be prepared for some visceral reactions and take each day as it comes. Possibly I should have read ahead about the destinations, but travelling without expectations can be a lot more fun, just read the trip notes closely for the practicalities – money, visas etc.