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.

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14433 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Jo Griffiths

Reviewed September 2022

A Full-On Adventure!

Definitely not a relaxing holiday, but if you’re looking to immerse yourself in a unique and fascinating culture, this may be the trip for you! It’s busy, you pack a lot in via a range of modes of transport. You cover a huge amount of miles (I loved the sleeper train!) but the rewards are great.

Most Inspirational Moment

Really difficult to answer, but I really enjoyed the boat trip from the second homestay to Thung Nai, the scenery was beautiful. I also enjoyed the optional bike ride out of Hoi An, and the cookery class. I would definitely recommend doing these if you can. It's just a great trip and there are too many highlights to mention!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ashley is a legend!! The most professional, organised, knowledgeable and fun group leader you are going to find. She works so hard, we were lucky to have her lead this trip.

Advice for Potential Travellers

It's a busy trip, but the rewards are great! Embrace all the opportunities, even if it means an early start (the floating market).

Charlotte Reeve

Reviewed September 2022

Varied trip with stunning scenery and picturesque towns

I thoroughly enjoyed the trip, which let us enjoy the highlights of Montenegro and Bosnia. There was quite a lot of driving, but it’s nearly all through stunning scenery, so it didn’t feel like a chore. The itinerary was very well put together to provide a real variety of experiences, from old towns, to nature, to modern cities with an interesting past. The included walks were enjoyable, and not too challenging (although the optional climb up the city walls in Kotor was hard work in the heat and humidity). The food throughout the trip was excellent – while meat and potatoes were the staples, there were always other options available when you wanted a bit more variety.

Most Inspirational Moment

The drive through Durmitor National Park was absolutely stunning. Although very busy and touristy, I also really liked the towns of Kotor and Mostar, and they contrasted well with the natural areas we visited.

Thoughts on Group Leader

This was my 20th group tour, and I have to say that Samra was probably the best guide I have had on any trip. She was very personable and felt like a friend to the group, and was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable about everywhere we visited.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The roads are generally very twisty, so I was very grateful for my travel sickness tablets (although our driver, Big Sam, was excellent and his smooth driving certainly helped). The roads up to Lukomir were bumpy as well as twisty, so I'd recommend medicating that day if you suffer from motion sickness.

Margaret Forgie

Reviewed September 2022

My first Exodus holiday

This was my first walking holiday with Exodus…..but I’m sure it won’t be my last. I usually go cycling holidays but this is the first year I have been on my own after losing my husband. My very good friend has been on many Exodus holidays and suggested I go with her this year and see what I thought. Well we had a fabulous time. We were with a lovely friendly group of like minded people who all got on really well. The hotel couldn’t be faulted. The staff were all lovely and the food ….well what can I say……it was first class. i must say I wasn’t looking forward to eating in the same place every night but by the time we returned in the evening I was so glad we were eating the fabulous food and all sitting together sharing our thoughts from the day.

Most Inspirational Moment

Well that's easy....our visit to Vesuvius ! The views were fab and it was so fascinating. We were so lucky to have a lovely guide who took us right round the top part where the general public are not allowed to go. Would definitely recommend this trip.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was the best....Severio. He made sure nobody was left behind. We had frequent short stops which was needed considering the heat. He took photos which we were all sent. He ate with us every night which was lovely and answered all our questions. All in all we couldn't have wished for a better guide. 10/10 !

Advice for Potential Travellers

I'd say you need to be reasonably fit to do this particular walking holiday. I consider myself quite fit but I suffered with cramp in my calves with all the downhill steps we done the first 2 days. A pole is a must too, thank goodness my friend brought 2 with her!

Vicky La Trobe

Reviewed September 2022

How do you choose highlights?

What a remarkable journey of exploration, a rare opportunity to begin to understand, at first hand, a country, people, landscape and biodiversity unlike any I have experienced before. An intimate trip which does not try to disguise the challenges and difficulties of life in Madagascar but very honestly celebrates its diversity and energy. Whilst our main reason for taking the trip was the unique, endemic wildlife, which we were lucky enough to see so much of, we were equally staggered by the incredible range of environments and landscapes that we journeyed through and the glimpses that we got into the villages and lives of the proud, friendly people who call Madagascar home. Travelling by road in order to include so many high lights in 2 weeks is quite hard work, but surely the best way for any visitor to really appreciate this incredible country.

Most Inspirational Moment

Hearing the morning calls of the Indiri Indiris in the forest in Andasibe NP. Hearing those beautiful, mournful cries ringing out across the tree-tops was literally like listening to the voice of the rainforest and then shortly after being surrounded by a large family group of Diademed Sifakas and being with them for more than 20 minutes as they leaped and chattered- incredible.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Armel was superb! What an absolute gem! His experience and professionalism made the trip the success it was. He worked tirelessly to ensure we enjoyed every possible experience and saw as much as we possibly could in the time available and became not just a tour leader, but a friend who made us feel genuinely welcome in his country. Organising and managing a trip like ours in Madagascar cannot be easy but Mel made it appear effortless. We cannot thank him enough for his hard work, enthusiasm and humour together with his encyclopedia knowledge.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't think twice about booking this trip! Please go and enjoy this country and its wildlife. The Exodus trip helps to support local businesses and aims to help local economies which is something very important to this country. Road journeys are long but they are worth it- don't be put off- the scenery is so diverse and beautiful. We travelled in September and the first half of the trip, especially in the higher altitudes, was cooler than some of us expected so we'd suggest taking more lightweight, long sleaved trousers and shirts than shorts for example. They are not only useful when it's cooler but also help avoid scratches when hiking in the rainforest or spiny forest. On the internal flight back to Tana, hand luggage is weighed and there is a strict 5kg limit that you have to adhere to.

Joanne Hunt

Reviewed September 2022

Fabulous trip that incorporated both coasts and more remote places

I loved this trip! The itinerary was excellent – we saw so much and varied wildlife – dolphins, whales, a tapir, howler monkeys, quetzal, scarlet macaws, sloths, turtles and so on! Lots of variety and included some more remote places. Cahuita was great, and Torteguero, and Drakes Bay were particular highlights. Savegre was a lovely cooler spot for a couple of days, really loved Corcovado and the snorkelling. Accommodation and food was of a really good standard overall. La Marta needed more time spent there – the short walk didn’t really do it justice. I had maybe expected some longer walks generally on some of the days activities, however we were able to do some additional walking on our free days / time. We had a group of ten which was a nice number, and a really great bunch of people!

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing a turtle laying eggs and seeing turtles mating at sea, seeing a whole flock of macaws, spending 10 minutes watching a tapir munching fruit, and of course, seeing the quetzal! Waking up to the sound of howler monkeys and the forest. Too many to mention!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Randall was fabulous! His fun, friendly and organised way of leading the group, combined with his enthusiasm, expert knowledge of wildlife, plants and of CR more generally, made him one of the best tour leaders. As well as the itinerary activities and optional trips, he arranged other things not on the itinerary such as stopping at a cafe where there was a good chance of seeing a quetzal (which we did!), and organising a trip to the sloth sanctuary at Cahuita.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be realistic when wildlife viewing - trying to looking for birds and animals often in dense forest means that wildlife can be difficult to spot even when there is plenty of it! Although Costa Rica is not a huge country, some places are quite remote so travel can take time- but travelling by boat is always enjoyable!

Lori Phillips

Reviewed September 2022

Great trip!

Six days of cycling on and off road, tough but super enjoyable and interesting. Lucky to have a great group and tour guide, Alfonso.

Most Inspirational Moment

0’Celebrio and final day , save your energy for both.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Caring and considerate, Alfonso was a good tour guide.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Train for two tough days.

Catherine Bannatyne

Reviewed September 2022

Brilliant Baltics on a bike

I was drawn to this trip because I wanted to visit and learn more about this fascinating part of the world which has such a dramatic history. As it was my first cycling holiday I was also keen to choose a trip that wasn’t too strenuous and offered a good balance of activity and cultural interest. The trip fully met, and in fact, exceeded my expectations. I would highly recommend the trip as a way of having a really enjoyable and active holiday while experiencing the history and culture of these proud and vibrant countries. (The fantastic weather was a lovely bonus!)

Most Inspirational Moment

The trip is a series of discoveries and revelations that expand what you know and give context to many of the key events of the last century making us all too aware of how fragile our peace and security are. Visiting the nuclear launch site that is now a museum of The Cold War was a chilling reminder of this. But it was a trip filled with fun too. I loved swimming in the Baltic and cycling through the sand dunes. The cities were visited were lively and full of great bars and restaurants with people young and old enjoying life. Particularly memorable was the brilliant band in the Jazz club. I’m not sure if the dancing of Andrius and me did the musicians justice but we certainly had a great time.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Andrius was an excellent guide - intelligent energetic, informed, funny, opinionated and thoughtful - and good company at all times. I always felt that he was working really hard to make the trip enjoyable and rewarding for everyone in the group - a very challenging task when different people sometimes had very different expectations he had to balance. I think he did this with tact and good humour. He always kept us informed about his plans each day but also gave us scope for doing our own thing when this was appropriate. When he did have to deal with a very unfortunate accident involving one of the group members he managed it very sensitively, professionally and compassionately. The success of the trip was in very large measure down to him. Thanks, Andrius! Our driver, Mindaugas, was super too. Totally professional but always with a smile.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Read the trip notes and you will be fully prepared. If you have wanted to try a cycling holiday but haven’t been sure about it, this would be a great trip to start with. I loved it and would now like to try something a little more demanding.

Donna S

Reviewed September 2022

Beautiful country - highly recommend visiting

End July 2022 visit My first visit to Croatia and I wasn’t disappointed. The places visited and the coastline are beautiful, lovely blue clear waters and great weather. Split, Trogir and Dubrovnik are key highlights of the trip, however the small islands visited are also a much see. This trip doesn’t involve too much time travelling, so you get to experience what Croatia has to offer, the accommodation also gets better as the trip progresses, and the food is amazing. I was part of a group of 13, we all got on really well and had an amazing time. Ivan the guide was super efficient and very helpful, encouraging us to share his love of walking in the many beautiful places we visited. Highly recommend this trip as a Croatia taster, I will definitely be visiting the country again.

Most Inspirational Moment

I enjoyed visiting Dubrovnik and hearing about its history, walking the walls in Dubrovnik is a must.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ivan the group leader was brilliant, really well organised and super helpful to all of us in the group. Arranging great places to eat and unique experiences along the way.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Pack some beach shoes as some of the beaches can be made up of sharp stones.

Susie Marchant

Reviewed September 2022

Hiking the Fjords

A level 3 moderate rating but the owner of NES Gard, Anders, really isn’t tolerant of those clients who are slower than his expectations. To my mind, all clients pay the same so we are all entitled to enjoy the experience and not be made to feel we are not up to the trip. The trip is open to anyone so if Andrrs only wants qualified mountain hikers, this should be made clear at the point of booking or Exodus should appoint a guide who can deal with all abilities

Most Inspirational Moment

I enjoyed the optional glacier walk - we had a very charming and supportive Nepalese guide. Really outstanding. It was a great experience to get up close with glacier ice and experience the beautiful blue colour. The first day on the Jostedalsbreen National Park was stunning - we were walking on snow in August!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Anders is the owner of NES Gard as well as the guide for most days. He certainly runs the trip along his own principles rather than as you would expect an Exodus trip to pan out. He is quite intolerant of slower walkers to the point of making them sit out or turn back unsupervised on a walk as the pace is holding back the elite walkers. In my opinion if you want to run a group for mountaineers, you need to specify at the point of booking and only accept bookings from qualified people. I paid 3k as did others so we were entitled to full participation of the walks on offer. There was a walk in the Mykkersdal valley which is very dark and gets no sunlight and in addition on this day it had rained all night and all day so the rocks were very slippery and there were lots of boggy patches. So at lunch in a clearing, Anders picked people out to turn back as they could not keep pace. I wAnted to continue but was told to turn back. There were 4 ladies and one very concerned man who was also a doctor, accompanied our group. The terrain was very tricky. Unfortunately we seemed to take a wrong path as the markings were not obvious and we got some way before realising this route was not correct. We carried on a bit further as we thought it might come out at the carpark but then decided to turn back. Meanwhile the elite group had got back to the bus to find we had not returned so Anders set out to find us. There was no phone signal in the valley so our messages had not been received and if anyone had had an accident, we had no way of contacting anyone. Also Anders did not carry a satellite phone for emergencies. This really was not an acceptable regard to the health and safety of the clients and Anders should not have split up the group. Usually Exodus guides stop frequently for catching up and normally take the opportunity to tell clients something about the history or geography of the area but Anders didn’t seem to have any such information to share. I did not learn anything about the history or mythology of Norway from Anders or the geology

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don’t go on the trip unless you are A frequent hill or mountain Walker or walk on uneven terrain at a fast pace. You might come home feeling you failed to keep up. The terrain really is very uneven and you might have to scramble over rocks on your front occasionally . That said, the scenery is stunning!

Peter Moores

Reviewed September 2022

Cycling The Baltics

A fascinating trip through the 3 Baltic countries. The terrain was quite flat and the cycling easy over an amazing mix of forest trails generous cycle paths and some road travel. We were blessed with good weather and even managed to swim in the Baltic 3 times. The tour gave us a great insight into the conditions within all 3 countries during the Soviet era and how things have changed since then. The trip encompassed a wide range of activities and experiences ranging from climbing a forest fire watch tower to descending into the depths of an old Soviet nuclear missile site. Our travels were very much “off the beaten track” and we were able to meet the locals and had the opportunity to sample the local cuisine, including pink beetroot soup, smoked herring and potato-covered “zeppelins”.

Most Inspirational Moment

The visit to the Soviet nuclear missile site. It brought it home what the Cold War was all about.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Andrius was a absolute star. His command of English was excellent and he also understood (I think) the British sense of humour. His knowledge of the history of the region was encyclopaedic and there were very few questions on almost any topic which he was unable to answer. He took great pains to arrange our itinerary so that we saw as much as possible within the limited time available and built in little "extras" where he could. His organisation was superb and the whole tour, which was action-packed, ran to schedule. Andrius made a big contribution to our enjoyment of the tour and we were very appreciative of his efforts. (By the way the driver was also a real star: hard working, always smiling and popping up in the right place at the the right time to load our bikes or replenish our water bottles.)

Advice for Potential Travellers

Wear padded cycling shorts. It might be worth while reading up on the history of the Baltic States although you will get a thorough briefing from Andrius on the day.

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