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.

Simply use the selector below to search our trip reviews and start reading real feedback from real Exodus travellers who have ‘been there and done that’!

Lots of our clients also like to post handy tips and advice about their travels. It’s great to know what to expect on an Exodus adventure before you go, so make the most of their experience and you’ll make the most of yours!

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14440 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Laura Savill

Reviewed March 2018

One for the lover of birds

It is a long flight going out, 11 hours. British Airways were the airline chosen because of the direct flight, but the standard of service on the plane had much to be desired could not wait to get off the plane.

The first hotel in San Jose was okay but the food and drinks were very expensive, it would have been nicer to have had a hotel in the centre so that one could go out and see the city.

The adventure really begun the next day when we had a coach journey then boat to get to our first destination.

If you are a lover of birds you will love this holiday as they’re so many to see, however the island is very green with cloud and rain forests which you can explore. It is a country not contrasts and it should be seen.

Most Inspirational Moment

I really enjoyed the walk at night, to go into a forest at night and see night creatures and just to hear different sounds. I learnt to much.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was excellent, he knew so much about the wildlife and was able to spot them while we were driving. He was able to keep the group together and on time.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't expect to much from the food, I found it very boring and plain. The country caters mainly for American visitors which is reflected in prices. Remember to pack waterproof and warm clothing for the evening's.

Stephen Wainde

Reviewed March 2018

Broad sweep through Vietnam ending in the highlight of Angkor Wat

Broad introduction to Vietnam with extension to Angkor, which was perfect climax to trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

Angkor Wat lives up to the hype though it can get over-run with large groups who only seem interested in taking selfies with the temples as a backdrop. However, it is easy to find quieter temples. Siem Reip caters to the western traveller, but has a fine selection of bars and restaurants.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Katie in Vietnam was charm personified. I think we all appreciated her concern for each and every member of the group. She was young, but her youthful enthusiasm carried us all along. I think the tour would have benefitted from wider use of local professional guides ie in Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh to really bring the cultural and political context alive. Jonny in Cambodia was excellent. Amusing, personable and nothing was too much trouble. He was pretty good on the temples too. He had a knack of finding us the quietest corners for viewing and the best places for photos.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I was dreading the early starts and the last half post-Hoi An can seem relentless. However, I quickly followed the local pattern of rising with the sun and breakfasting at 6am and this made the whole experience much more enjoyable. The group was varied, but eveyone rubbed along together very well so no fears here. Do read up on both countries before leaving as there is just too much to see and take in en route.

Christelle M

Reviewed March 2018

Beautiful Amalfi Coast

It was my first ever organised holiday trip and it was a real success. I had such an amazing time in Italy, meeting lovely people, discovering beautiful places and eating great food! The Amalfi Coast is just magical and we managed to see a lot of it during our walks and treks. It was also pleasant to have the coast almost to ourselves at this time of the year and to avoid the summer crowds (especially in Pompei and Amalfi). it’s riskier as the weather changes rapidly in March but we were quite lucky and Enrico, our guide, was really good in terms of organisation to make sure we would always have something to do regardless of the weather. The hotel team was lovely as well and took good care of our group! Definitely recommend it!

Most Inspirational Moment

Hard to pick just one! The walk around the crater of Mount Vesuvius was definitely a memorable experience. Positano and Ravello are really pretty towns too - postcard picture perfect - and the views from the top of Monte Tre Calli (done on day 2) was really impressive. It's the first glance you get of the area and it is so worth it!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Enrico, our local guide, was the best! Very knowledgeable and passionate about the land and plants, the traditions and the environment. He was very helpful with organising our free day and making sure nobody felt left behind. Good sense of humour too :)

Advice for Potential Travellers

As mentioned by others, walking poles are a great help with all the ups and downs and at that time of the year a good wind/rain jacket is a must. Definitely go for walking boots instead of shoes as I felt the support form the boots was needed considering the sometimes slippery terrain/rocks.

Debra Turner

Reviewed March 2018

Good and bad

Enjoyed the places we went to see and the activities planned. Great group of people’. This was my first trip with Exodus so had no idea of expectations. I thought the hotels were a bit lacking for a premium package, however, not having any idea what hotels were like in Morocco, I had no high expectations. I enjoyed the riads as I did feel like I was experiencing the country and how they lived. What I didn’t enjoy was staying at a riad in the High Atlas Mountains with no heat. We were very fortunate that it didn’t rain on our hike to the riad as we would have had no way of getting dry or warming up. It was very uncomfortable to have to go right to bed after eating as we could not be in our rooms unless we were under multiple layers of blankets to keep warm. Showering was impossible as it was too cold.

Most Inspirational Moment

I enjoyed the local guides but didn't enjoy the pressure of being taken to places where you felt like you had to buy something.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Rabia was knowledgeable but not engaging at all. Did not sit with us or interact very well. I found myself asking stupid questions just to engage him

Reply from Exodus

We would like to thank Debra for her review, although we sincerely regret that some of the properties on this tour fell below her expectations and that she was disappointed with her tour’s leadership. We use client and staff feedback to review each property and if any concerns are raised by clients throughout the year, these will be addressed and dealt with accordingly. We have also shared her comments with Rabiaa and we have asked the local manager to discuss with him how he can continue to improve his local knowledge and language skills for future trips.

Tom Harari – Product Manager

Cassy McGuinness

Reviewed March 2018

Everything was first class but the boat

We toured the Galápagos Islands for 7 days. We saw so many unique animals. The trip really made me realize how completely special the Galápagos Islands are. Riss, our guide, was a Galapaguano and was proud of his heritage. He had excellent knowledge of the wildlife we saw, the history of Darwin and the researchers who came after him and the forces which brought the islands into being.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the sea turtles and the white tipped reef shark. Also walking on the recently-140 year old lava. Watching the mating rituals of the frigate birds and the boobies.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Please see the summary. He was excellent in every way, Knowledgeable, patient, flexible, excellent English.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Apply sun screen 15 minutes before leaving, use zinc oxide sunscreen as it is less damaging to the wildlife.

Reply from Exodus

We would like to thank Cassy for her feedback. We are pleased that she enjoyed her trip overall, but we are sorry that she was disappointed with the Astrea, which replaced the original vessel, the M/Y Cachalote, after it suffered irreparable damage prior to this trip. Following the feedback we have received, I can confirm that we will not be using the Astrea for any future departures.

Sarah Ahern – Product Manager for the Galapagos

Imogen Hill

Reviewed March 2018

Fantastic, very well organised tour. Would highly recommend

Breathtaking sights. Very knowledgable guide. Friendly yet not over bearing. Great variety of wildlife and flora and fauna seen. A very intense few days. Probably one of the most exciting and fulfilling experiences we have ever had the pleasure of experiencing. Would highly recommend this tour.

Most Inspirational Moment

The purity of the rainforest... So lovely to see there is still so much natural habitat in existence.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Guillermo was a fantastic tour guide. He was very informative and friendly. Nothing was too much trouble for him. Always happy to help.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take comfy walking shoes and plenty of change of clothes due to the high humidity and heat in Tortuguero. Would highly recommend taking luggage with wheels as its down to you to move your luggage about at all times and sometimes theres a small walk involved with this.

Gordon Edwards

Reviewed March 2018

Colours of Rajasthan

An excellent trip, very well organised, the guide was fabulous. Some long days and coach rides which make it tiring but saying that we would never have seen as much as we did on our own. Not enough free time to do your own thing, and the free time that was available was not long enough. The hotels were of a very good standard and the guide took us to some excellent restaurants. My wife & I didn’t enjoy the buffet meals as it doesn’t give you alot of choice and can be expensive if you don’t eat much, we wanted to experience the food as well as the culture and a buffet didn’t give you that option, we mentioned this to the guide and buffet meals didn’t happen again. The local guides were very informative and made visiting the temples and forts more interesting. The trip is described as leisurely but there were two days with very steep walking and every day was very busy not leisurely at all. We both very much enjoyed our trip and have some wonderful memories and photographs to treasure.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were a few as it was such a great trip. Dawn at the Taj Mahal - spectacular Seeing a tiger in the wild - very emotional Taking part in Holi Festival - alot of fun

Thoughts on Group Leader

Gaj was very knowledgable, funny, accomodating, thoughtful and gave us great tips on how to deal with certain situations which were invaluable when out and about.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take cash, it is easy to change at the hotels, ATM's are not very reliable. Plenty of hand sanatiser and tissues (most toilets out and about don't have toilet paper) Crackers - in case of a bad tummy

Barry Cooper

Reviewed March 2018

Discover (Natural) Costa Rica

This is an excellent tour which visits several National Parks and Reserves in Costa Rica. There is a great emphasis on wildlife and if this is not your interest, do not book this tour.
There are opportunities to see the very varied birdlife in Costa Rica and often you have to go no further than the Hotel bird feeders to see some of the most spectacular species.
There are opportunities for walking in the National Parks and a good pair of walking boots would be recommended. The two nights spent at Manuel Antonio makes for a pleasant beach break in this busy programme.

Most Inspirational Moment

This is a question which I find impossible to answer since an Exodus tour is comprised of many unforgettable experiences. The varied wildlife of Costa Rica is the reason for the visit and we were very lucky to see the spectacular Resplendant Quetzal. This bird is rare and an early morning expedition proved to be successful. Comments from other guides indicated how lucky we had been when they said that it was the best display of the year and others had spent over two hours at the same location the previous day and seen nothing. From the restaurant in Monteverde we had superb views of the Motmot and visits from the Capuchin monkeys. In Savegre the manager has several bird feeders in his garden and you are actively encouraged to just go there and sit quietly and you will see a range of birds from woodpeckers to humming birds.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Hector Castillos was an excellent leader with an encyclopedic knowledge of the natural history of his Country. He was always keen to lead additional walks and his one aim was that the Group should not lose an opportunity to experience all the Natural History that Costa Rica could provide

Advice for Potential Travellers

Spend as little time as possible in the Capital San Jose as except for the National Theatre there is little to see in this somewhat run down City. If you are not interested in Natural History do not book this tour. I have an interest obviously but at the end of two weeks I felt that I had seen enough birds to satisfy me for some time to come. I linked the tour with Discover Colombia and I can recommend this if the dates are compatible. The tours are very different, Discover Colombia being Cultural and Historical whereas Discover Costa Rica is natural history based resulting in a four week holiday of contrasts.

Jenny B

Reviewed March 2018

Excellent first trip

This was my first trip of this kind – I usually go on holiday with friends or family. Due to thick fog, torrential downpours and landslides, the itinerary was changed a bit, to make the most of the good weather. Severio kept us informed and entertained and we had plenty to do. It was a fun, well-organised week with a lovely group of people.

Most Inspirational Moment

The most inspirational moment... probably arriving on top of the slightly foggy Mont Tre Calli -as someone who had never done any hiking, it was a bit challenging, but worth it. Or, towards the end of the week, looking out over the peaceful hilltops and villages and across the blue-turquoise sea in the sunshine.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Severio was fun, but serious and had lots of interesting stories. He was keen to make sure we saw as much of the area as we could despite the weather. He was clear on arrangements (firm with timings etc) but was also friendly and approachable and got to know the group.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do take walking poles, as the trip notes advise. I was one of the younger people in my group and didn't have a knee injury, but still found the one pole that I borrowed useful for getting up Mont Tre Calli - it would have been vital to use the poles if the weather had been hotter!

Kevin Frazer

Reviewed March 2018

In search of a good cup of tea

Myself and my wife (Chris) are both keen cyclists and were keen to have a bit of an adventure. This ride looked like the perfect first trip for us as it meet a number of our requirements. It needed to have enough miles to satisfy my cycling needs but not too difficult for Chris. It had to be somewhere a bit different and it had to go from A to B. Also since retiring 4 years ago I have been blogging about the best cafes/tea shops to go to on a cycle ride and this would give me the chance to blog about tea rooms in the capital of tea.

The trip surpassed my expectations as we cycled through a variety of landscapes, learned about temples and tea plants whilst I was able to update my blog with news of the tea shop culture. A day to day review with photos is on my blog http://www.cake-crusader.co.uk/special-rides-and-trips.html

The second week could have done with a few more miles cycling as there were a couple of rather short days. Although the overnight ride on the houseboat maybe a highlight for some I found it a bit dull (after many trips on the Norfolk broads) and would have rather spent it on the bike.

I was particularly impressed with the organisation of the team once throughout the trip making the whole experienced very relaxing.

Most Inspirational Moment

I just loved cycling in a completely unfamiliar environment but I was blown away by how friendly the Indian people were. So much waving and friendly chatting it was such a welcoming country. As the number one self appointed tea room reviewer in the whole of Norfolk I also loved going to the roadside tea shops in search of a great cup of tea, although I didn't really find one.

Thoughts on Group Leader

As we arrived at Chennai airport we were not sure what to expect but we were warmly welcomed by Shaker, our tour leader, and from that point until we flew home we didn't have to worry about a thing as all our needs were taken care. I don't think we could have been looked after any better by Shaker and his team and I was really impressed with their friendliness and organisation. I couldn't speak highly enough of them.

Advice for Potential Travellers

It was very hot when we went so we probably overpacked 'warm' clothes. Also the trip notes advised not to wear lycra and keep shoulders covered although in practice there was no such restriction and most of the party were in lycra shorts and cycle tops. As the support bus is never far away you can keep you cycling stuff (suncream, money, snacks etc) on the bus so just need a pocket for your phone or camera when riding. Don't be afraid to try the different foods on offer. Most of the road surfaces were as good or better than in Norfolk with the exception of one day when it was more of a hard track along the river but nothing to worry about.

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