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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14450 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Reg Odbert

Reviewed May 2018

Exodus Trip AOP 11-25 April 2018

We enjoyed the entire trip from the moment that we arrived.
The varied scenery, the culture and the history were all fascinating for us.
We enjoyed the great variety of lovely food that we had every day.

Ayaka, Our guide, was superb and she made the whole experience memorable and most enjoyable.

Most Inspirational Moment

We enjoyed the great variety of sights , food and culture. Probably the most memorable feature was the general high level of cleanliness and efficiency of the transport systems.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ayaka is an exceptionally able guide. She is knowledgeable, kind, efficient and she has an admirable command of the English language. The whole trip ran 'like clockwork' because Ayaka had clearly worked very hard behind the scenes purchasing tickets, organising itineraries, arranging additional trips at the request of members of the group, and ensuring that each individual's needs were accommodated. At all times Ayaka was polite and humerous and her infectious laugh and enthusiasm is a great attribute. She managed to impart a lot of information to us at all of the historic sites and she explained so many features about culture and food. We feel that Ayaka has a very bright future in the tourism industry and that she is one of the nicest and best guides that we have ever met. Please convey our thanks and appreciation to Ayaka.

Advice for Potential Travellers

1. Bring fewer clothes as it is easy to get laundry done 2. Do not bring an umbrella as all the hotels lend them to visitors. 3. Enjoy all of the food because it is all lovely. 4. Relax and explore the cities which feel very safe and clean. 5. Although the railway maps appear daunting, it is very easy to use the metros to explore the cities.

Martin & Pippa Hodgkinson

Reviewed May 2018

Camping in the game parks and see a variety of wildlife

This was an excellent opportunity to see African wildlife and experience camping in the National Parks. We had six nights ‘wild’ camping in the parks and game drives early morning and evening. The other nights were on camp sites with showers, restaurant and a bar (open to 2am so noisy), and 2 nights at Victoria Falls in a comfortable but basic lodge. The wildlife is varied and plentiful and met most of my expectations.

Most Inspirational Moment

Travelling in Mokoros in the Delta was magical although the wildlife was sparse. The activities there were nature walks rather than game drives. The evening cruise down the Chobe River gave us our first real encounter with hippos and other game. Seeing the leopard and lions in Chobe/Moremi close up.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Kenny was great at spotting and tracking animals and birds. His knowledge of natural history was extensive. He was a safe driver which is essential given the terrain and the state of some of the tarred roads. He sometimes had difficulty in herding 11 of us to what he wanted and I had to buy a map (Shell tourist map of Botswana is excellent) before he described where we were going. Botswanas are friendly people and the crew were keen to please.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for some long, uncomfortable journeys in an open vehicle not designed for long distance travel. Seating 12 it will not provide good seats for all if there is a full uptake of places. Wild camping is without any permanent facilities and animals close by so head torch (with back-up), wet wipes and insect repellant are essential! Take a South African plug adaptor for the camp sites and Victoria Falls as they cater for SA visitors. Quite a few extras for the 'optional' activities eg anything at Victoria Falls, Chobe River cruise and flights over the game reserves as well as camp site meals and the usual tips.

Ray Bryan

Reviewed May 2018

Justin's Garden Route

We had an amazing time travelling the Garden Route with Justin as our Guide and Driver. He was very knowledgeable about the local wild life and countryside. The location of the accommodation was great we particularly liked House Martin at De Rust. We enjoyed the wide variety of things that we saw and did. An interesting insight into South Africa, its culture and way of life.

Most Inspirational Moment

Being charged by a Rhino whilst on a safari and zip lining across the gorge at Tsitsikamma, the penguins at Boulder Beach, Robben Island and Table Mountain.

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was very knowledgeable, helpful and made the journey a very interesting one. His advice on local food and restaurants was particularly well informed.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you are thinking of doing the Garden Route, you could not do it a better way.

S D

Reviewed May 2018

Walks of the Cinque Terre and Portofino

An excellent week in every way – sunny weather, wonderfully scenic walks along coastal paths, through forests and across high terraces and a good hotel base in Moneglia where a number of restaurants offered a choice for evening meals. On the “free” day we took the boat from Monterosso to Porto Venere which enabled us to see all the villages from the sea and recognise some of the paths we’d walked.

Most Inspirational Moment

The views down to the villages from the hiking paths were glorious. The evening spent wine tasting was informative and Lucca’s passion for his subject was infectious!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Michela was very efficient and organised, ensuring we never missed a train yet enabling us to spend time in the places we reached. She was knowledgeable and helpful, patient and had a great sense of humour.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Walking poles were useful, especially for the knees on descents!

Audrey Henley-McCarthy

Reviewed May 2018

Full on and very enjoyable

Really enjoyed this trip even though we probably did not chose the best time of year to do this, April. Sayin that the weather was quite kind to us. Letaba Game Reserve was a lovely start to our tour, the rangers at Mtomeni Safari Camp were very knowledgeable and friendly, food, especially breakfast, was very good. Permanent tents were much better than expected. Found the safari section a little repetitive but still enjoyable. Early starts and then pretty full on all day but never felt rushed. Loved the beach at St Lucia, a relaxing few hours there was appreciated as allowed us to recharge our batteries. Battlefields tour very interesting and would suggest if possible that you try and get your guide to add in a visit to Rorkes Drift to complete the story. Drakensburg was the highlight for me, good walking and marvellous scenery.

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking in the Drakensburg, very atmospheric and beautiful

Thoughts on Group Leader

Colly is a great tour leader prompt, helpful, considerate, accommodating, knowledgeable and an excellent cook. Catered extremely well for this vegetarian. Our driver Jojo is a very experienced careful driver who was a great foil to Colly. Jojo is fun and also very knowledgeable especially about recent South African history. A great team.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Walking for me was the top end of moderate as there are a lot of ascents and descents on fairly rocky paths. Walking poles would have been useful. Don't bother talking a lot of snacks with you as there are supermarket shops every few days when you find most of what you want. Sandwich box very useful for the packed lunches so that you do not end up with a soggy mess in a plastic bag at the bottom of your rucksack. Music for the long bus trips was very useful, recommend Graceland by Paul Simon.

Peter Rogers

Reviewed May 2018

Excellent Adventure

Wonderful trip, It was well planned and well executed, We were with a great group and we all got on so well immediately, The Group leader was so knowledgeable.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were a few highlights to this trip, The cruise in Halong Bay was very good, especial the chief making table decorations out of vegetables. The Thien Duong caves and Phong Nha cave were fantastic, and i really enjoyed them. The optional cycling trip was very good, its well worth booking it. Overall every thing was great.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Huy was a great leader, he is very knowledgeable and looked after us very well. This was my 8 trip with exodus and he is one of the best leaders I have had. I'm a fussy eater, but he always found me something else to eat if there was something on the menu i didn't like.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Just go for it, its a busy week, but well worth it, we went in February, while it only rained one day, it was cloudy for the first half of the trip and hot and sunny in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and the Mekong Delta, so you will need plenty of suntan lotion

Diana Schooling

Reviewed April 2018

Enlightening Tour of Morocco!

Thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of the trip. Thought it was well organised.

Most Inspirational Moment

Riding through the dunes on a camel! Staying in Kasbah Oliver and exploring the village and community in the Atlas

Thoughts on Group Leader

Mohammed is a brilliant guide. He is very well informed, imparts his knowledge effectively and with enthusiasm and is always happy to explain anything whether to do with the culture or the practical arrangements of the trip. His commitment to us travellers was evident, all details were carefully planned and executed and it is plain that for Mohammed being a guide is more than a job. Overall he gave us a wide perspective and understanding of the people and culture of his country and we travellers have all come back enriched as a result.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If travelling in the Spring, make sure to bring warm clothes for the desert and, just in case, elsewhere!

James & Kay Crawford

Reviewed April 2018

A wonderful trek in the very heart of Nepal's Annapurna

Annapurna Sanctuary is 14 days of an excellent trek, which is very well organised, with excellent and attentive guides. It is great scenery, with such majestic and magnificent Mountains. You stay in sustainable, if frugal, Tea Houses offering great sustenance, which is all part of the fun experience.

Most Inspirational Moment

Finally, due to the inevitable early monsoon seasons low cloud down in the valleys, those very clouds parted and we saw the splendid neck racking elevations of the massive Annapurnas ringed around us like the teeth of a fierce canine!. We saw the very hill villages, from which the famous Gurkhas set off as young men, to join the British Army. No wonder they are so fit and agile seeing the number of steps and steep slopes they work for a living in their homesteads. The Nepalese are delightful, friendly and a credit to their country. The fabulous Tea Houses provide great food (from their kitchen gardens), and rooms which did ticked all the right boxes for comfort and shelter, considering the logistics of the place. We saw the Bamboo forests, Rhododendron and Magnolia trees in full flower, and whole hill village communities farming their tropical to temperate agriculture spread out on their terraced fields.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader Pashant was a very experienced and competent leader, who took delight in answering all our questions and observations, while being very informative about his country Nepal, its people, places and especially these Annapurnas. His team of cheerful, articulate and hardworking guides and porters were a credit to him and his management style. I would take him, and go on any trek with his team any time.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Its right that the Exodus Annapurna Sanctuary trek uses the Tea Houses to the maximum, as this provides for a sustainable visit by tourists to a fragile part of the earth. It is allowing the residents of those poor hill villages employment and a sensible source of income. Treking can be a low impact activity, so make sure you avoid the quick way to the top by road (or even helicopters!) and trek up and down to fully enjoy the views, the experience and the Nepalese people; they are seriously inviting you into their mountains! Safe sterilised and filtered water, from UV sterilisation or reverse osmosis, is at all the tea houses, so you don't need to bring in any bottled water, or fizzy drinks for that matter! Stick to a vegetarian diet as you consume from the local economy as well as eat a very tasty dishes, which does sustain you for the whole journey.

James & Kay Crawford

Reviewed April 2018

A wonderful trek in the very heart of Nepal's Annapurna

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

Patricia Golding

Reviewed April 2018

Highlights of Morocco

This trip did what it said – we saw the highlights of Morocco from city to coast to mountain and desert. It was amazingly varied, balancing time in cities and countryside, and illustrating Morocco’s vibrant history, culture and people. I certainly came back with a real feeling for the place and people and a greater understanding of an apparently happily functioning Islamic country.

Most Inspirational Moment

I particularly enjoyed the stay at the mountain gite because it was very peaceful, there was no wifi, and all you could hear was the the wind in the trees, the river in the distance and the occasional bray of a donkey. At night the stars were wonderful and the walks were lovely. Best of all was our interaction with the local people there although admittedly it was rather limited. But if you have some French you can make contact.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was Mohamed. He was excellent - he took care of everything with no fuss and had it all at his fingertips. He was calm, fun, and informative, patient and caring. He had a wide knowledge of the country and we learnt a great deal from him.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take a mattress! Even though we were on the premium tour, the mattresses seemed incredibly hard. Depends on what you like I suppose, but I found them pretty uncomfortable with a few exceptions. Take a portable basin plug, wet wipes and a torch. The loos were fine pretty well everywhere we went - at hotels and on the road. Don't assume it's going to be hot if you are travelling in the spring. Take clothes for all seasons. There are a couple of long journeys. I didn't mind the longest, to the Sahara, but the one towards the end, from the mountain to the coast, got me down. I guess I'd had enough travelling by then. I think we all felt the same way.

Reply from Exodus

We would like to thank Patricia for her feedback. We were pleased to read that she had an enjoyable trip overall but we are very sorry that she found the back row of seats in the vehicle to be uncomfortable. We appreciate that with a full group, the back row may have felt rather tight, but it is considered that a more compact vehicle allows access to a greater variety of roads and trails, is more environmentally friendly and enables the trip to be as competitively priced as possible. We are, however, looking at the possibility of allocating one of the new 20-seat vehicles that our local operator’s vehicle supplier has recently acquired, which we trust will improve comfort for our clients. Tom Harari – Product Manager for Morocco

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