Reviews

Discover Costa Rica - an unforgettable trip!

From meeting our guide, Andres, and our excellent driver, Victor, we had an unforgettable two weeks visiting different regions of Costa Rica. It is not just the sights but also the sounds that make Costa Rica such a special destination – it’s so green and the wildlife is so colourful. We were delighted to see so many different species and we really appreciated Andres’ willingness to share his knowledge with us. The accommodation was very good and it worked well spending 2 nights in each of the different locations. Our group of 16 got on well and we helped each other to spot birds etc. The food was very good – portion sizes are very generous but you can ask for a half portion. This was a special holiday and it didn’t disappoint.

Very Comprehensive and Interesting

This was a very well put together itinerary with a very good balance between organised time and the opportunity to explore individually. The standard of accommodation and transport was high. A really great trip for those interested in history and architecture/archaeology.

A good trip.

The trip to the Cycladic islands of Naxos, Paros & Santorini was lovely! We had a great group and our guide was the Lovely Cecile.
Although it was very, very cold and windy, the plus point was that the islands were very quiet from the overload of usual tourists. The walks were beautiful and the views were stunning. I’d much rather walk in Santorini during the quiet season than what I have seen (in pictures) during peak season.
Eating out every evening with the group was fun.
My only complaint was the accommodation in Paros. Frankly, it was shocking! I think I didn’t expect this from Exodus. The room was freezing as the heating wouldn’t work and the shower was leaky and broken. I think Exodus needs to rethink the accommodation in Paros.
If you fancy the islands all to yourself, even though it may be freezing, then give this holiday a try in March.

A Fantastic Trip

I found the Wildlife of Sri Lanka amazing, everywhere we went, not just the in the game reserves. Generally cycling along, we found crocodiles, long Lizards, a variety of bird life, mischievous monkeys, etc. One day an elephant was on the road, just before we cycled through. I wasn’t expecting so much nature outside of the reserves.

Rowan, the trip leader, and the boys were amazing in every respect. You will be well looked after.

Be ready for early starts and a quick departure to take advantage of the cooler mornings. The heat and sun when ascending, was challenging, but the bus and truck were always there if it got too much.

I felt completely safe in Sri Lanka. Although there are lots of problems there regarding fuel and food, we did not experience any problems as tourists, so don’t let the News put you off. They badly need tourism to return to pre-covid levels to support their economy.

Sri Lankan selection box!

Firstly just to say how amazing it was to travel long haul again! Every day was a highlight!
It was great to use the first day on arrival to chill and get to know the group round the pool of the hotel then the next day we were off on our adventure.
The Cave temples were fascinating then we were climbing Lion’s rock, looking for elephants and cycling. Not a dull moment! Lots of interesting UNESCO heritage sites to visit .Even the long drives were punctuated with interesting stops eg Spice garden
The Sri Lankan food and hospitality was excellent and there was a good variety of Western food for a change if you wanted it. Loved the fresh pineapple and the bananas.
A well balanced trip with culture, nature and activities but enough time to chill by the pool or book a massage in the hotel spa. Loved seeing the tea plantations and getting a really good cuppa on holiday!
A holiday full of experiences!

Fantastic Trip

What a wonderful holiday. Costa Rica is glorious and the trip leader Roberto and his colleagues Paul and Lois were great. Lots of fun and encouraging on the tough bits.
A great balance between cycling and enjoying the awesome Costa Rican wildlife and plant life.
My fellow travellers were really friendly and interesting which is lovely when you are travelling on your own. I can’t wait to take another trip to cycle in Central America

What a week!

This was my first Exodus Trip, Joining my sister who has been on numerous Exodus trips before – I knew this was going to be a worthwhile trip. It was my first time to Finland and I was on the hunt for the Northern Lights. Having been to Iceland a few years back and not seeing them there I was determined to find the Lights…. And i did….twice!!

Basecamp is warm and cosy and in the perfect location. With a frozen lake and the woods to wander around you are not short of things to do. The staff are all really friendly and more than accommodating. They all have a brilliant but wicked sense of humour and definitely kept us laughing throughout the week.

I enjoyed every single activity that was planned and during our own time we got to explore, practice cross country skiing, sit in the hot tub and play in the snow!

You too can see a toucan, and sloths and monkeys from your bike

This is a fantastic trip. In fact, its so fantastic that this was the second time I have been on it. I have also been on the Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama trip (again organized by the Costa Rican team). My experiences have been uniformly excellent. The trips have been well organized with knowledgeable and super helpful leaders, mechanics and drivers. The bikes have always been well-maintained. Costa Rica is a beautiful country with varied scenery and the Coast-to-Coast ride is carefully planned to allow you to experience the highlights. You will see spectacular birds and animals, hike in the rainforest, visit the lowlands and the mountains, check out Pacific and Caribbean beaches and of course, you will have fabulous cycling.

An interesting tour of this region

This is an interesting tour overall. The three main places visited – Matera, Alberobello and Lecce – are all so historical and individually fascinating to explore, yet completely different. The accommodation is similarly characterful and varied; potentially having a cave room in Matera, next a trullo in Alberobello, then a converted monastery in Ostuni (my room, in the roof, had the original guttering inside the room!) and finally an old palazzo in Lecce. There is a lot of free time outside of the designated free day, which might not suit some people, particularly solo travellers who don’t bond as well with others in their group (our group of twelve had six solo travellers and those who wanted to could always find someone to explore with, as everyone was pretty sociable). Although this trip is graded as leisurely, there is a lot of walking around the various places visited, sometimes involving quite steep climbs on steps/cobbles/slopes, especially in Matera.

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.