Reviews

Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers

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14460 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Andrew Baker

Reviewed December 2017

Brilliant experiance for any one wanting to see Northern India

If you want to see India and experience Indian culture in a small way i cant recommend exodus travels enough, after a lot of searching and investigation i booked my holiday / trip with Trail Finders whom recommended Exodus. I chose the colour of Rajastan tour as it covered everything i wanted to see in a short period of time.
I was not disappointed, upon arrival at Delhi International airport i was met by Ronit the Tour leader, he took me to a taxi to take me to the hotel in the centre of New Delhi, explianing that we would leave the hotel at approx 1pm as there was still another flight coming n later, the Taxi driver was friendly and the transfer was included, I checked into the hotel, showered and changed and went for a walk onto the small street outside the hotel, the local shops and market was just 100 meters from the hotel, Met up with the rest of the group at 1 for our tour around Delhi, what an experience, Seeing India Gate, etc. This is a truly brilliant trip, I wont spoil the rest for you but it got better by the day highlighting with the final city of Jaipuir
I would recommend this to everyone, however you have to be reasonable fit expect to walk about 2 to 5 miles each day up steep hills and steps, the Indian Roads are not brilliant once off the main highways and can be very bumpy and rough.

Most Inspirational Moment

The Amber Fort in Agra is superb a splendid and insperational place to visit. For me personally the whole trip was insperational. Having a meal cooked by our Guide in Jaipur in his home, with his family, it was a very special moment.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ronit the group leader was a brilliant host, looking after out group, ensuring our safety, enjoyment and culture of India, he is a credit to Exodus Travel, could not recommend him enough to anyone. Ronit ensured that all the tips at the hotels, tour guides, travel expenses were paid for ensuring that we could enjoy the experience / holiday with out having to worry about having to tip every one.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Pack light, for warm weather, remember to take comfortable travelling clothes as well as sturdy walking shoes, some of the paths and steps upto the palaces, Forts etc are steep and slippery from use Dont take photos when you aren't supposed too, certain forts and palaces dont allow photos in certain rooms and your camera can be confiscated and you may be fined.

Kris and Garth Brookes

Reviewed December 2017

Manaslu Lodge Circuit

One of the best treks that we have done in Nepal fulfilling all our expectations and more!
A brilliant blend of valleys, gorges, forests and unforgettable surprise views of the Himalaya.
Villages are relatively unspoilt as the area does not receive the volume of tourists as on the Circuit or Everest treks.
If interested in nature the area abounds with birds and butterflies plus some mammals.
Lodges, although basic, were perfectly adequate and the standard of food generally very good.
However the lodge at Dharamsala was very basic. We stayed in a room as opposed to a tent but the fact that you get up at 3am it really does not matter. Food was fine.

Most Inspirational Moment

Possibly too many to list. Scenery above Samdo. Walk to Tilje - keep looking back! Not a moment but the variety of butterflies. Lammergeiers and Griffon Vultures.

Thoughts on Group Leader

What can one say about Valerie that has not already been said! Amazing as always. Local leaders were excellent caring for us whilst walking and in the lodges.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go on this trek you will not regret it. There are numerous high bridges but if like me, Kris, you are not very keen they are best crossed on ones own to reduce any movement.

Anthony Lorbach

Reviewed December 2017

Indochina is fantastic

I booked this trip after doing the Vietnam cycling trip in February. I had really enjoyed that one and suddenly found myself with time off before Christmas, and with the threat of a cold Canadian winter looming, I decided to get some sun while I could.
For a Canadian the logistics of this trip required getting the Vietnam visa ahead of time (Thailand didn’t need one and Cambodia offered the ability to get one ahead or at the border). Luckily, having been there recently, my Visa came back quickly. The cost was prohibitive for the few days I would be there, but I enjoyed the country so much last time that I couldn’t resist.
Our guide was professional and knowledgeable. We also had local guides for Cambodia and Vietnam to augment his knowledge. The organization was top notch and things went smoothly, despite having to cross two land borders and meet up with bus drivers and local mechanics, trucks, and bikes. Everything was waiting and prepared for us. I needed pedals installed, but that was taken care of very quickly (three times) and efficiently.
Three countries provided lots of different scenery, different food, and slightly different riding conditions. I saw rolling countryside, lots of livestock, rivers, rice paddies, lakes, vegetation….I am biased, but I liked Vietnam the most.
The sights built into the tour were awesome and important. I am glad I went and I do not regret it for an instant.
The accommodations on the Vietnam only trip were better than the ones on this trip, but there is nothing to complain about on this trip. Rooms were clean and air conditioned.
Our group was small so that allowed for a bit more customization to meet our needs that might not have been possible with a bigger group. I appreciated that our guide worked with us.
If you want to read more about my trip, I blogged about it almost every day (December 2 onward). Here is a link to the blog. If you have trouble finding it through the dates, look under the My Travels heading.
https://todaysperfectmoment.wordpress.com/
I will definitely do another cycling holiday (when finances allow) though I am not sure where. When I got home, the new catalogue was waiting in my mailbox.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing Angkor Wat was amazing. Eating delicious street food for pennies was pretty awesome too. Sitting in the Foreign Correspondents Club in Phnom Penn, drinking a cocktail while overlooking the waterfront was brilliant. Cycling over the new Dam in Thailand was fantastic.

Thoughts on Group Leader

My group leader was knowledgeable about the locations, terrain, history and took time to answer any questions we had. He was a good cyclist, and took care of the group. Because our group was so small, we had more options than a bigger group would have had.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Pack light. There are several opportunities to do laundry for a low price in each country. The food is amazing--and the beer tastes pretty good too. There is quite a bit of cycling packed into the first few days, so be prepared. There are not too many hills on this trip so you needn't worry about your ability.

Tim Hurst

Reviewed December 2017

Patagonia Rocks (pun intended)!

Views of Torres Del Paine and Mount Fitroy are breathtaking. We were very lucky with weather throughout and the trekking was very enjoyable with scenic views at every turn. My inspiration for going was pictures of TDP and it didn’t disappoint. However, Mount Fitzroy is just as impressive – if not more so. Overall I didn’t think the walking was overly demanding (weather helped of course) and am surprised it was a 5 rating. I believe next year, the real tough day is being split into 2 days?

Most Inspirational Moment

I had looked at pictures of Torres Del Paine for a few years and couldn't wait to trek to this area. I was concerned that weather would impede the views but as we entered the National Park, what cloud there was gradually dissipated to reveal the true majesty of these amazing rocky peaks as we got closer and closer. Could not have been a more dramatic or fulfilling. For me, the rest of the trip was a bonus - but what a bonus!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Tomas Toro our group leader was a true legend! Looked after us like a father even though the average age of the party was probably 30 years older than him!! Very conscientious, friendly, personable, knowledgeable, good humoured. The list could go on. Seemed to hear every voice, wanted to ensure our tour was memorable. Nothing seemed like too much of a problem. Carried an extra 10kg rucksack for one person who was temporarily struggling. Well done Tomas!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be careful when reading trip notes. The link I had for final joining instructions was for 2018. This has changed quite a bit. The first long day trek on the 'W' walk in Torres will be split into two days next year and the 2 day trip to the Estancia El Condor has been dropped. With regard to the former, the long trek was tough but not over-demanding. I am surprised it is category 5. I enjoyed this challenge - though we were exceptionally lucky with weather throughout. The packing instructions are also quite confusing as others have said. I took a big holdall with everything in. Left stuff at El Calafate and continued with a 40litre rucksack which I thought was about right for the W walk. Usually in Argentina you can get away with a smaller day rucksack. I travelled with Air Europa to Buenos Aires as organised by Exodus because of problems I had with my own flights on a different occasion. However, it is definitely worth paying a bit extra to go BA to BA

Traveller -

Reviewed December 2017

Trip of a lifetime!

What a way to see a stunning country! Cycling in the heat of the desert, walking through the Siq towards the Treasury at Petra, sleeping under the stars in Wadi Rum. I’d always wanted to go to Petra, so in trying to build a holiday around some time in Petra, it made perfect sense to pick up a bike and see the country rather than sitting in a stuffy coach.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the Treasury emerge at the end of the Siq. Something I've wanted to see since childhood. Stunning.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Isa was so passionate about Jordan, keen to answer all our questions and tell as many stories as he could. His tour around Petra was particularly memorable. The bike team were also fantastic!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't expect any down time - it's a jam packed trip!

Brigitte Hease

Reviewed December 2017

A childhood's dream come true.

When I was a child, I read Tintin and the Temple of the Sun. Several decades later here I was, in Peru, a wonderfully diverse country in terms of its geography and culture. Our like minded group of travelers quickly became a team. The itinerary was excellent, taking into account increasing altitude levels, so by the time we started the Inca Trail, our bodies were acclimatized. The great variety and magnificence of the landscapes surprised us. We saw astonishing wildlife on offshore islands, mountain high volcanoes dominating historical cities, flying condors over deep canyons and beautiful valleys. There was the colourful culture of Lake Titicaca and Puno ; the iconic Inca Trail with amazing porters ; the beautiful cloud forest worthy of an RHS gold medal ; many splendid and mysterious archaeological sites ; tempting craft markets and cuddly looking alpacas and llamas ; excellent food and pisco sours… all eased and facilitated by our very experienced, organised, calm and knowledgeable guide Holger.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were many ... but seeing Macchu Picchu bathed in golden sunlight from the Sun Gate brought a tear to my eyes... as did a cloud of pretty yellow and orange butterflies dispersing over the water as our canoe gently approached...one of nature's magic spectacle in the Amazon region of Peru.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our guide, Holger was very experienced, caring, knowledgeable, organised, calm and enthusiastic. We appreciated his great experience of the Inca Trail. He was excellent at flagging areas of difficulty such as steeper sections, pointing out flora (orchids) and fauna along the way. Highlighting good vantage points to take photos, explaining the history and archaeological heritage of the sites, whilst making sure we were all fine along the way. One of the best guides we have had on a mountain trek with Exodus.

Brigitte Hease

Reviewed December 2017

A childhood's dream come true.

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Pam Peers

Reviewed December 2017

Great introduction to this wonderful country

This was a busy trip covering a lot of ground! It was my first trip to SE Asia and I feel the itinerary was well thought out to provide an overview of Vietnam. We also did the Cambodia extension, which was excellent

Most Inspirational Moment

There were a lot of them: Halong Bay was very beautiful, though very busy and in danger of overcrowding unless numbers are restricted. Our private boat was a welcome refuge from the crowds. Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum was very interesting. The homestay in the Mekong was lovely - many of our group would have preferred to spend an extra night there, perhaps reducing the time at Hoi An?

Thoughts on Group Leader

Bao was excellent and really helped us share his love of his country. He was great at finding interesting and unusual places for us to eat, even in locations where most of the other restaurants were offering identikit tourist-orientated menus. Bao managed very well the balance between organising us and our activities and giving us plenty of free time to do our own things.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't take too many warm clothes - you'll only need them in Hanoi, if at all. Do take lightweight clothes that are easily laundered - wherever we went, Bao could arrange laundry services that were efficient, fast and extremely cheap by UK standards. Do take lightweight rain protection i.e. a lightweight folding umbrella and/or cheap plastic waterproof with a hood. Don't bother with 'technical' rain protection Do take anti-mosquito protection. We used Incognito and found it very effective. I quite enjoyed the overnight train journey and slept well - it's certainly not luxurious but it was clean and moderately comfortable, though earplugs and an eye mask are a good idea.

Pamela Woodward

Reviewed December 2017

cycling vietnam

We were “blown away” over and over again on the trip. Our guide Lam and the support team were beyond excellent. They seemed to know what we needed before we did. Everything was done with a smile and a positive attitude. Over and over again they were checking our bikes and gear. I am so very very impressed with them!!! The weather was hot hot hot in some places and torrential rains in other places. Luckily, no wind. I am coming off from a previous biking injury (broken back and sacrum) and am also taking medication that inhibits my physical ability so I usually finished towards or at the end of the group. I also was not able to finish the Pass however, the guides made every effort to help me out and let me ride in the bus when needed–with no frowns given. The bike rides down the two passes were amazing and had me shouting with joy. The food–excellent. The places Lam had chosen for us to eat were safe for our foreign stomachs as well as being traditional Vietnamese food and good as well. The mid ride refreshments perfect–and often. I have such a positive feel for this trip and the excellent guides. I have been fortunate to have been on several trips with 3 extended biking trips and this trip with the guides, scenery, cycling route… was one of the best.

Most Inspirational Moment

The day I completed the 95 KM day. I have some physical deterrents so I was super excited that in spite of them, I was able to do it. Also, the descent from the two passes. Wow, what a ride! Also, the almost comical riding in the torrential rains with a smile on our faces. The continual "Hello" from the children. We, being from the US did not know how we would be received and the positive attitude and embracing by the Vietnamese was a lesson as well as a humbling experience.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Lam, our leader---oh my gosh! Excellent. Like I mentioned, I have been on several guided trips and Lam was one of the best I have experienced. Lam was accompanied by 3 others--Tang, Long, and Y. They anticipated what we would need before we even knew we needed things. They worked so well together. What a team.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The weather can be extremely hot as well as humid. I don't think, unless you live in similar weather systems, that you can fully prepare for that. Train and do what you can to prepare but even if you cannot do the hills and passes, you can still be a part of the adventure. If having to ride in the bus once or twice gets you to experience this adventure, then "just do it". As I get older, I realize that I do not have to be first but to be part of it is so fulfilling.

Tim Brooks

Reviewed December 2017

Land of the Thunder Dragon

Bhutan is a country whose culture and environment are still free from the negative influences of the modern world. It’s a quiet even serene place, free from pollution and benefitting from a low population (just some 700,000 people live in this small kingdom). The five day point-to-point trek was well run and enjoyable. It included visits to a couple of fascinating monasteries. The highlights have to be attending the spring festival in Paro and the half-day trek to the world-famous Tiger’s Nest monastery.

Most Inspirational Moment

Although the spring festival in the Dzong in Paro was amazing, it's the unexpected things of most trips which last in my memory. For my trip in Bhutan, this was the welcome we got from the monks in the monastery on the last day of our trek as we headed down the valley towards Thimphu.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our guide Norbu and his team looked after us very well. I hope to go back one day and see more of this lovely country. Norbu informed me that Exodus is thinking about opening a new trek in the high Himalayas in the north-west of the country. I couldn't see this trip as an option in 2018 - but will keep a look out for it.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bhutan had been on my bucket list for quite a few years and I was not disappointed. While the cost of the trip is prohibitive, the tourist tax means that there are still relatively few tourists in Bhutan, meaning it's unspoilt. Furthermore, you really don't need much spending money as the tourist tax covers pretty much everything from the accommodation and transport to meals. The only money you'll need is for drinks and souvenirs. This makes the price of the trip more bearable in the overall scheme of things.

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