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!

Haven’t posted your review yet? Here’s how to do it…

Once you return from your Exodus adventure holiday, you will be emailed a link to add your review. Any feedback collected is posted onto our website, totally unedited.

Alternatively you can navigate to the relevant trip page and add your review via the Reviews tab.

Select a trip specific review:

Select

14432 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Chandra Kant Sharma

Reviewed September 2017

Trullis, Olive trees and Negative Architecture

Very good exposure to the cave dwellings, trullis and olive groves in the Puglia region. Marinella was an excellent guide who provided us with the background and context in a clear and simple manner. She also took care to introduce us to the variety of foods available in the region – which we may have missed out on if this care was not taken.

Most Inspirational Moment

"Inspirational" is a difficult word! I greatly enjoyed seeing the trullis in Alberobella, the ancient olive groves and the very nice towns and villages we passed through.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent knowledge and communication ability. Very patient and accommodating. She arranged for us to eat excellent dinners though some of these were more expensive than I would have planned for. I suggest that she should advise participants about the options available for dinner before proceeding to make bookings on her own.

Advice for Potential Travellers

a) August is very hot! and the tour in this month should be avoided, if possible. b) The distance from Matera station to the hotel is significant and your suitcase will need to be carried most of the way - so travel light! c) Fresh orange juice is widely available and can be an inexpensive and refreshing pick-me-up.

Sandra Martin

Reviewed September 2017

My Magical Tour du Mt Blanc Adventure!

I did this trip in July 2017. It was the most magical, memorable and rewarding adventure trip I have ever done.! This trip is not about rushing from A to B. This trip is all about the journey. It is about having fun, it is about the magical scenery, it is about the culture of the people who live in the alps and most importantly it is about the people you meet along the way. You get out of this trip what you put in to it.
Our guide Jeff was fantastic. He was professional, intelligent, engaging, fun, friendly, safety conscious, and most importantly very caring towards his customers. Jeff is the most inspiring guide I have ever met!
The accommodation was great. We stayed in a variety of hotels, hostels and auberges. They were all of a high standard, clean, hygienic and all the staff were friendly.
The staff at the Richemond Hotel in Chamonix were outstanding. They were very friendly and helped me practice my French which I greatly appreciated.
Our meals were great, with plenty of choice. You must try the cakes at the Bovine Refugio!
The hiking pace each day was good. It was steady, however you could stop and take photos whenever you liked or even just stop for a few minutes to ‘ soak up nature’.
I liked our exercise session every morning after breakfast. It was a great way to get our muscles ready for our long day of hiking. It also helped with team bonding as we always had lots of laughs during this time, watching each other trying to balance on one leg and hopping about.
If you want to be inspired, have fun, and go on an epic adventure, go with Exodus!

Most Inspirational Moment

The eldest person in our group ( not sure of his age), but he would be over 70, had a fall just before the water crossing and injured himself. He did not cry or complain. After our guide ' bandaged' him up, the man completed the days hike, with a smile on his face, and more importantly, finished the whole trip. He is an absolute inspiration.! Our guide Jeff was equally inspiring during this time as he was calm, confident and reassuring to this man, even though it must have scared him also, not just the customer.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader Jeff, was fantastic. He was professional, intelligent, engaging, fun, friendly, safety conscious and most importantly very caring towards his customers. Jeff is the most inspiring guide I have ever met.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Just do it! But remember, this trip is all about having fun! Don't rush, don't show off pretending you are the fastest and most fit person in the group. Get with the program and be a team member. Pace yourself up the steep hills and remember to hydrate frequently. Water, water, water! I did regular hill training 6 months prior to this trip and this definitely helped. I also did a basic 'French for fun and travel' course prior to the trip and it was extremely useful. Most importantly, go with the flow, get to know your fellow team mates, laugh often and be happy!

Nicola Peers

Reviewed September 2017

There is more to Peru than Machu Picchu

You’ll see amazing and varied scenery on this trip, from islands in the Pacific to barren desert, high mountains, the flat altiplano, lush jungle, lake Titicaca, deep canyons, extinct, dormant and live volcanoes, and bustling cities. Colourful clothing and hats as varied as the landscape, and delicious food.

Long bus journeys but comfortable with plenty of stops and stunning scenery.

Lots of optional trips mean there is time for independent exploration if you prefer.

Most Inspirational Moment

Lake Titicaca - both the homestay and the visit to the Uros Islands. The people were welcoming and keen to share their way of life, so different to ours.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was excellent. She took great care of us all, was very professional and organised, and always ready to help. She was also extremely knowledgeable and clearly has a genuine interest in the history of her country. Thank you Diana!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Drink plenty of water and coca tea to help with the altitude. Stay as long as possible at Machu Picchu and watch the chinchillas emerge as the crowds leave. Learn a few words of Spanish - it shows willing and English is not widely spoken.

Valerie Speirs

Reviewed September 2017

Erupting volcanoes

This was a great trip and I’d strongly recommend it. A reasonable level of fitness is required as the Stromboli night trek is quite tough but it was truly memorable and a great experience to sit around the crater in the dark watching the eruptions.

Most Inspirational Moment

Climbing active volcanoes was an amazing experience. The sunset Stromboli trek was truly excellent and will live in my memory for a long time. The sheer size of Etna was incredible and was a great days walking, if a little windy with a howling gale at times which made it difficult to stay upright. But this just added to a memorable experience.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Raffaelle was a good leader and quite knowledgeable. The volcanologist guide on Etna really knew his stuff and his passion for volcanoes shone through.

Advice for Potential Travellers

This is one of the best Exodus trips I've been on so would highly recommend to others

Fiona McLennan

Reviewed September 2017

Exceptional Cycling

Absolutely fabulous cycling trip. Stunning scenery & superb organisation. Hot, sweaty and at times challenging, but always fun with a great group of people and exceptional group leaders. Pre organised lunches and added extras with the islands, volcanos , spa pools , along with the Panama Canal and restaurants really added to the diversity of the experience.

Most Inspirational Moment

Getting fitter and faster and by the end of the trip actually feeling inspired & ready to do the hills again!!

Thoughts on Group Leader

My group leader was Roberto (Chino), along with Paul and Jackie who will lead her own group in November. We had a lovely driver Lois too, whom kept the team supply of water and freshly cut delicious fruit going during our breaks, along with our safe transfers. The team were fabulous, professional, friendly and worked with everyone. The leaders provided advise and options and certainly set an impressive pace cycling. They had great comaradery with each other and the group. Exceptional.

Advice for Potential Travellers

# Take padded cycle shorts # Take small denomination $USD

Sharron Taylor

Reviewed September 2017

Madagascan Discoverer (2017)

A busy and interesting trip that covers a lot of ground, sights and emotions in 2 weeks – I’m still absorbing the experience almost 2 weeks later! Early starts and some long days of travel, mainly in a comfortable bus or 4x4s – all part of the adventure and the only way to see so much in such a short time. The drivers (Dama: bus driver) and 4×4 drivers were excellent and negotiated sometimes difficult terrain with expertise. I loved the first week; the second week had some great highlights, but a lot of bus travel, which was broken up as much as possible by visits to villages, tombs and local craft areas. The hotels were generally good – a couple were better than expected which was a bonus. Food catered for all diets – meat, fish and vegetarian. Not much variety, but all decent quality. We never went hungry. Loved the opportunities to interact with local people and learn more about their culture. The people were mostly welcoming and friendly, although it’s impossible to escape the poverty. Most children asked for sweets, pens or ‘gifts’ – if you take gifts such as pencils etc ask your guide for advice on distributing them as he will know where they will be of most value. Expect a lot of street sellers in some places. So lucky to share the experience with a brilliant group of people.
\

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing and hearing the indris (my favourite lemur). Climbing the Tsingy - challenging in places for those of us with issues around heights, but well worth it. Sunset at the Alley of Baobabs - although you will be with a large number of tourists gathering to see it - quite a funny sight! The ferry crossing with the 4x4s - fascinating. Isalo National Park walk, including the 'piscine naturelles'. Meeting local people and learning about their culture.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sol was an excellent leader. All leaders that I've met over 12 years of travelling with Exodus have been good - and Sol is up there with the very best of them. He has incredible organisation skills, happily shares his knowledge on all things Madagascan, is a good leader - clear information, always available to help if required, but never in your face. Best of all he's a really nice guy with a great personality and is a real pleasure to spend time with.

Advice for Potential Travellers

On arrival at the airport avoid the 'helpful' staff in high viz vests who offer to help you jump to the front of the visa queue or help with your bags - they will charge you a fortune for the pleasure! Money - change cash at the airport. Only one hotel took credit cards, so you do need cash. £350-£400 should be sufficient for most people, including all tips, unless you like to buy a lot of souvenirs. Spend all your Ariary before check-in for the flight home (Euros preferred in departures). Take a first aid kit - I cut my foot on a rock and was glad I had antiseptic wipes, ointment and plasters to keep out infection. Most people had a 24/48 hour stomach bug (cramps or the 'runs') at some point - not a major issue, but come prepared. Bring toilet wipes as many loos whilst out and about don't have loo roll and hotels only provide a small roll! I'd also recommend hand sanitizer. Hotel laundry services at Olympe de Bemaraha and Ihary were good and inexpensive.

Alan Thornton

Reviewed September 2017

Sicilian Volcanoes

An interesting trip, but there is – of necessity – quite a lot of travelling between locations. Sea conditions can lead to cancellation of the hydrofoils, which disrupts the holiday schedule. If you are a poor sailor, take pills / seabands etc. Hotels were generally of reasonable standard, but the final one in Catania (Hotel Gresi) is unacceptable for a trip of this nature: awful breakfast, no working wifi, mold in the shower, peeling wallpaper, broken electical fittings in the bathroom, loose carpet on marble steps, unhelpful reception staff. There must be far better options.

Most Inspirational Moment

Watching lava eruptions on Stromboli. Free time for lunch in Lipari.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Rafaele worked hard to make the trip a success, and was very helpful.

Advice for Potential Travellers

See summary.

Sue Wilson

Reviewed September 2017

Tour du Mt.Blanc camping trek

Have recently returned from the Tour of Mont Blanc camping trek – led by John Briggs. The trek and itinerary was well organised, varied with a couple of challenging days at the end. John is an informative amiable chap who was well supported by his colleague Agglia who saw we were well nourished and hydrated. Fabulous views, well worth the effort, to be recommended.

Most Inspirational Moment

enjoyed the ice cold swim in the lake

Thoughts on Group Leader

excellent, informative, good sense of humour, managed the group well.

Advice for Potential Travellers

N/A

Rupert and Jo Livingstone

Reviewed September 2017

Grade 5 Dolomites fun

We chose a grade 5 challenging week and it did not disappoint. This part of the Dolomites is incredibly beautiful, Tre Cime is one of the most beautiful places we have walked and we felt part of the landscape, almost swallowed by it’s beauty and grandeur. Each day of walking brought something different and each was wonderful. Returning to the Hotel Adler each day made the trip very special as the facilities, the food, the accommodation and the staff are simply superb.

Most Inspirational Moment

Tre Cime was a highlight with almost too much natural beauty to take in. Throughout the days walk, in each and every direction there were awesome views that made us feel humbled and privileged to be there. Monte Piano was equally good in a different way. The walk up was long and sweaty but enjoyable and worthwhile. The wooden steps and steel ropes were interesting and gave security on what might have been a tricky section. Seeing the trenches and bunkers on the summit, amidst such natural beauty, brought the futility of war and the power of nature into stark contrast.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Alex was very good, imparting some advice to each of us (all experienced walkers) on the most efficient way to walk and use poles. He was enthusiastic without being over the top and the sight of seeing him skip and jump down the trail each day gave our weary limbs a little boost.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Not really, the trips notes are clear and representative of what you will do. We did the challenging week and the walking was what we expected, tough but not beyond regular/experienced walkers.

Helen Skeen

Reviewed September 2017