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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14423 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Simon Bigg

Reviewed April 2022

A great week's walking and culture

This trip was fantastic for me because of the combination of the walks and the culture. The walks were quite varied and the castles and monasteries added to the variety. It was a little warmer than I expected (mid 20s) but I know three weeks earlier there was snow so I think late March/early April is a great time to do this tour, it also being an ideal time for the wild flowers. The hotel is very nice and a well located base for the week’s activities. Our tour leader Gizer was excellent in terms of both his organisation of the trip and his knowledge on the history and the flora and fauna. He joined us for three evening meals, the other evenings were on our own but all Gizer’s suggested restaurants were very good. The optional trips to Famagusta and Nicosia (not currently on the itinerary but it seems usually an option on the final day) were both well worth doing. Our group got on with each other really well which added to a great trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

I can't really pick out just one, for me the variety was what made the trip. The views on the walks, the castles, the Roman remains at Salamis, Kyrenia and its shipwreck were all fantastic.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Gizer is a brilliant guide. Nothing was too much trouble for him and he really went out of his way to deal with any requests that we had. He knew and explained the history of the island and the sights very well, and pointed out various things in the castles and in Salamis that added to the experience. He obviously knew the walks very well as he could always tell us how far there was to go, and he was also an expert on the wild flowers - my favourite was a large group of "naked man orchids"!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't buy Turkish lira in the UK. There are plenty of places to change GB pounds into lira and the rates at the exchange bureaus are very good - there is one less than 100 yards from the hotel. Credit cards were accepted everywhere and the rates seemed good as well. Do the Famagusta/Salamis optional excursion and if possible the undocumented excursion to Nicosia on the final day. The Covid paperwork and regulations are now minimal so this should not now be a concern.

Ian Hazlewood

Reviewed April 2022

Fantastic!

Just completed a fantastic two-weeks traveling around the wonderful country of Costa Rica. This was primarily a wildlife viewing holiday, and it certainly didn’t disappoint – sloths, caiman, crocodiles, monkeys, lizards, iguanas and of course birds. Many different types of heron and flycatchers, plus tanagers, honey creepers, toucans, mot mots, macaws, humming birds – the list is long! We even saw and photographed the elusive but absolutely Resplendent Quetzal! Overall, yet another fantastic Exodus trip!

Most Inspirational Moment

Hard to say! Probably seeing the Resplendent Quetzal at Savegre, but the sloths and Capuchin monkeys at Manuel Antonio were highlights too, as well as all the varied wildlife at Tortuguero. The Esquinas Rainforest Lodge was absolutely delightful. It was great to visit the different types of habitats - coastal rainforest, dry forest and cloud forest - and the various hotels and lodges that we stayed at were all great.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our guide Alejandro did a brilliant job, not least stepping in at minimal notice when our original (and also great) guide unfortunately got sick. He had just come off two back-to-back tours, but quickly got up to speed with all the arrangements, and was really informative as well as being great at spotting wildlife. Our driver, Chico, was first-class and also helped with the wildlife spotting on the way.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take a good pair of binoculars, and if you plan to photograph the wildlife take a good camera with a long lens! If you can, arrive a couple of days early to get over the jet-lag before starting this fairly full-on trip.

Ally Kendrick Clew

Reviewed April 2022

Disappointing

I really looked forward to this trip but unfortunately the trip was spoilt by poor planning and one really horrible hotel. We travelled in March and unfortunately the weather was very cold when we arrived. No effort had been made to prepare the first hotel on Naxos and it was bitterly cold, many of the aircon units didn’t heat up and we had to sit in coats to eat breakfast. If you’re walking, you need somewhere warm and comfortable to relax afterwards. It’s a shame as it’s a nice hotel

Being March, a lot on the islands was closed as the season doesn’t start until Easter and it would have been good to know that from the trip notes as tavernas on the walking routes weren’t open and toilets not available. In some instances it was difficult to find somewhere to eat at night. Full of praise for our Guide, Cecile who did her best to resolve problems with great kindness and humour. She’s a gem

The islands are very lovely at this time of year, full of spring flowers and without the crowds. The walks are lovely and very varied, taking in little villages and mountain scenery. The terrain can be rocky but the pace allows for that, so this would be a wonderful holiday if Exodus didn’t insist on using cheap, poor quality hotels. The Hotel Pandrossos on Paros sadly left a particularly sour note. The beds and pillows were filthy and the sheets full of cigarette burns. Heating didn’t work, no hot water, everything was broken and the whole place could do with a good clean. I don’t know what’s happened to Exodus as I’ve always rated them highly, but my experience post-Covid is of obnoxious staff and couldn’t care less responses. Very sad

Most Inspirational Moment

I loved the walks, particularly on Naxos, walking the ancient tracks between villages. The scenery was stunning

Thoughts on Group Leader

Cecile was lovely, very funny, very knowledgeable and managed the shortcomings of this trip really well. She knows the islands inside out and is well received wherever we went. On one walk, the owner of a closed taverna opened up to offer us a coffee and toilet because of her friendship with Cecile.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I’d avoid this trip until Exodus sort out the hotels. Exodus trips aren’t cheap and no one needs their holiday spoilt by cheap, filthy hotels

Reply from Exodus

We’re genuinely grateful to Ally for taking the time to review the experience she had on this trip in March of last year, though it’s a matter of huge regret that she did not have as positive an experience as she had hoped. We corresponded with Ally following her trip and explained that, unfortunately, temperatures during the first few days of her trip were much lower than is usual or anticipated for March in Greece, and we could only apologise that her hotel had not taken measures to ensure adequate heating.

Regarding the Pandrossos Hotel, we would mention that this property has renovated its bedrooms and bathrooms since Ally’s group stayed there last year, and the hotel receives regular cleaning. From the feedback we have received from our clients who have done Walking on the Greek Islands so far in 2023, we are pleased to say that all rated the accommodation on this trip as being ‘Good’ or ‘Excellent’. However, we sincerely regret that Ally’s experience last year was not so positive.

We’re glad to hear, however, that Ally found the walks and scenery to be a real highlight of her trip; as she alludes to, we run departures of Walking on the Greek Islands in March as it allows our clients to experience a different side of the islands, without the crowds.

We are extremely confident that Ally’s experience of this trip does not reflect what our clients can expect should they book in 2023 and beyond, though we remain regretful for her disappointment. We were also saddened to note that Ally’s impression of Exodus was not a positive one; we would mention that having spoken to Ally, our team resolved her dissatisfaction following this trip.

Vivien Urban, Exodus Product Manager

Vanessa Dunnet

Reviewed April 2022

Brilliant trip!

A fantastic week, in excellent company, with a wonderful guide. José’s commitment to our enjoyment and safety ensured that every member of the group benefited from his care and attention to detail. We were fortunate with the weather – cold, but sunny and clear, providing some of our best ever mountain days. José arranged our itinerary to ensure that we had the best possible conditions. The mountains of Sierra D’Aitana are imposing and beautiful, offering stunning views across the entire coastal region. Throughout our stay, we enjoyed excellent traditional Spanish meals at our hotel, as well as the best ever packed lunches! Thank you, Exodus, and thank you José.

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching the summit of Aitana - a long and challenging trek which handsomely repaid the effort. But also the stunning 360 degree views from the summit of Serrella on our final day.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Simply outstanding! Thoughtful, sensitive to the needs of all members of the group, with fantastic local knowledge and information about the history, flora, fauna and geology of the area. José's enthusiasm was infectious, and his sandwiches life-changing! José used his local knowledge to determine the best itinerary fro us. He went out of his way to ensure that each of us had the best possible all-round experience.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you enjoy walking in the mountains and enjoy a challenge, this is for you! But make sure that you follow the advice in the trip notes to ensure that you're fit enough to deal with some steep paths. And take plenty of layers, as the temperature varies with the landscape.

Mark Butterworth

Reviewed April 2022

The Real Walk of the Gods

A very full week of walking and yes, lovely food and wine at the hotel. Amalfi, Positano, Mt Vesuvius and Pompeii, walks in the hills and a touch of coffee culture are the highlights of this trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

The first view of Positano from the Walk of the Gods is mesmerising and stopped everyone in their tracks. Smiles all round and a great photo opportunity. The winding path brings sight of over-hanging cliffs, running streams, unusual flowers and the best sea view.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was excellent - she had a detailed knowledge of the area and set a steady and considered pace for the walking. She had a lovely manner, engaged with the whole group and managed the weather-related changes to the itinerary very effectively.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for the "moderate" end of the walks - nothing over straining but the walks might leave you needing a nap in the late afternoon!

Amanda Jackson

Reviewed April 2022

Hidden Treasures of Jordan

Not much to add to the previous reviews, as they are comprehensive on what to expect. Visit Jordan – you won’t be disappointed by the many ancient sights and lovely people.

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking through the Roman city in Jerash, seeing the Treasury at Petra for the first time, floating in the dead sea, sitting around a camp fire in the desert, too many things to mention ……...

Thoughts on Group Leader

Mohammed was friendly with a great sense of humour, he explained a lot about the modern way of life in Jordan which was interesting, but not as knowledgeable as perhaps we would have liked on the sites we visited – nothing a good guide book or Google couldn’t sort out though.

Advice for Potential Travellers

It does get very, very cold in the desert at night, pack more warm clothes than you think you'll need. Be aware if you have binoculars in your luggage as you will be stopped numerous times at the airport when leaving Jordan, they will be taken away to be checked, bizarrely by the same person but in different areas of the airport, in all I was waiting around for over an hour!

David Arnold

Reviewed April 2022

An excellent tonic after two years isolation

Interesting and varied wildlife opportunities every day at a very leisurely pace. Some long journey times but with adequate breaks that made it manageable. A great driver (Carlos) and an excellent guide (Jorge) made for a great journey.

Most Inspirational Moment

Every day there was something different from animated sloths, ant-eater, racoons and the vivid colours of the birds through to an encounter with a turtle, humpback whale and a Sailfish. Expect to be woken early morning by Howler monkeys (you'll need to be up anyway). If you want to see the Quetzal expect to wait and wait and wait. You might get lucky and see one in five minutes but that wasn't our lucky. One day we waited for two hours, we saw the tail feathers of the male and nothing else. Another day we waited for another two hours. This time we were rewarded with a glimpse of the head and shoulders of a female Quetzal. The programme didn't schedule this much time but we just made the time after all not that many Costa Ricans have seen their National bird.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Brilliant! Any other comment would be superfluous.

Advice for Potential Travellers

As the Trip Notes mention you need to be prepared for all weathers. 30 minutes before a 6am departure to look for wildlife on the river the heavens opened and the rain was torrential. Just a few minutes before our departure it stopped. We were lucky, a few minutes either way and we'd have been soaked to the skin. Throughout the trip the humidity was high - bottom line, you will not completely dry any clothes. Savegre will come as a shock after many days at 28-30C because at night in the Rain forest you'll be looking for fleeces and trousers to wear (unless you're Canadian). On the journey to Drakes Bay you will spend around an hour in a high powered motorboat. Sitting mid-point in the boat the sound levels were consistently around 100dB. You might want to consider some ear plugs. Cold is not an issue at Irazu but the altitude could be. It effects different people in different ways but just remember that at 3,400m you'll be above the clouds and the air will be thin.

Peter Rogers

Reviewed April 2022

Fantastic trip

This is fantastic holiday, don’t hesitate to book it, this trip has varied landscapes, with the deserts in the south and national parks, with its varied wildlife in the north. There is a lot of long drives involved with this trip, up to 6 hours on some days, but that is part of the experience.

Most Inspirational Moment

There are a number of highlights in this trip, climbing the large sand dunes, feeding ostriches, seeing springboks bounding across the Etosha NP and other animals including Rhino, Zebra, Giraffe, Elephants, because of the rain in the park before we arrived we didn't see many animals around the water holes,

Thoughts on Group Leader

Shane was a great group leader, he was very informative, funny and well organised, he looked after us very well, nothing was to much trouble for for him, this was my 15th trip with exodus, and I think he was the best guide I have had, I would also like to thank Jonas, our cook for the week, he served up some great dishes during our trip, him and Shane worked well together, we had a big downpour of rain while they were packing up the tents, and they did it with a smile and a joke.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for some long drives and early starts, but it is worth it.

Mick Wills

Reviewed April 2022

Children of the revolution!

Great trip, crew worked tirelessly for us, fascinating place.

Most Inspirational Moment

Scenery in SE hills was especially good.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Brilliant, could not be faulted

Advice for Potential Travellers

Change your money on the street!

Yolanda Harris

Reviewed April 2022

Highly Recommended

Busy holiday that introduces you to the delights of Namibia from the sand dunes to the Skeleton Coast and game drives in the national parks. We saw loads of wildlife but due to an extended rainy season the waterholes at the campsites were not remotely busy or active, and the big cats were not seen at all. However, the tour guide was fabulous, and I loved every minute of the trip. My only wish was that we had more time there!

Most Inspirational Moment

There are too many: climbing the sand dunes, seeing Deadvlei, flight from Swakopmund, Dune explore and sand boarding, sky dive, getting up close to ostrich, cheetah, zebra, giraffe, rhino, warthog, dikdik and many more. I also had a great time chatting to the stall holders at the craft market.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Shane was fabulous. Tireless in keeping everything running smoothly and constantly cheerful. His knowledge of his country and of the flora and fauna is excellent.

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