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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14469 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Jan Ellis

Reviewed September 2017

Backroads of Sri Lanka - Fantastic!

We loved our trip to Sri Lanka and would not hesitate to recommend it. The itinerary is very well planned and there is a really good mix of cycling and sightseeing. We visited temples, caves, a tea factory, a gem factory, a spice garden (complete with massage), several wildlife parks and walked up the famous Sigirya Rock as well as stopping at a number of very individual refreshment stops. The accommodation was good throughout as was the food.

Most Inspirational Moment

It’s hard to pick one but all 16 of our group completing the hill climb to Nuwara Eliya, seeing the elephants at Yala national park, climbing Sigiriya Rock, meeting the local people at some of the tea stops were all highlights.

Thoughts on Group Leader

What really made the trip special was the leader, Suresh. He has led this trip over 70 times so much of the itinerary had been developed by him, including some really special stops at the houses of local people who Suresh – and successive groups of Exodus cyclists – have been able to support and help through difficult times. Wherever we went it was clear that he was greatly respected and no problem was too big for him to sort – and we threw a few at him just test him out! He is very proud of his country and passionate about telling you its history, its wildlife and its culture – his knowledge is amazing! He really brought our various stops to life and they would have meant much less to us without his guidance. He was also amazingly adept at spotting wildlife in the bushes while cycling along at speed! And all combined with a very engaging personality and some enduring catch-phrases. The support crew of Sandy, Upali and Lasa were also excellent, making sure we always had plenty of water, guiding us at junctions and making sure our luggage was always ready and waiting for us.

Advice for Potential Travellers

This trip is action-packed with some long days in the saddle so a reasonable level of fitness is advisable to make the most of it. I would advise taking some energy gels and electrolyte tablets to help with hydration. Be prepared for cycling in heavy traffic in some of the towns, particulary Kandy, however we had no problems and there’s always the option of hopping on the bus. There were a lot of dogs around but we didn’t find them aggressive.

Neil Thomas

Reviewed August 2017

Bears Essential

I had not realised before arriving in Magura just how remote, rural and remarkably beautiful Romania could be. The village where we were based is accessibly only via a long, winding unmade road… so get used to leaving modern life behind. In this part of the world people still travel via horse and cart and cut hay with scythes. It was like stepping back into Tudor times. Fortunately, this also means that Europe’s largest group of wild brown bears are still able to thrive and going to see them from a hide in the forest was one of the highlights of our trip. There is also plenty of opportunity for hiking, with walks of varying severity on all but one day of the holiday. The views are spectacular – in some parts resembling Switzerland or Austria, in others California and the Rockies. We also took in trips to Bran Castle – to which the Dracula legend has been eagerly attached – and to the delightful city of Brasov.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing four bears from our hide in the woods.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Thomas was very energetic, very knowledgeable with - for a German - a great sense of humour.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Read the Trip Notes carefully. There is no opportunity to change money for the first few days, so either take some Lei with you or spend some time in Bucharest first - as we did. I would also recommend taking walking poles.

Linda Joyce

Reviewed August 2017

The Inca Trail - Amazing.

I did The Inca Trail trip as a solo traveller and cannot recommend it enough! Our group, expertly managed by our Tour Leader Dennis and his second in command Javier, enjoyed everything this trip had to offer. From sightseeing and sampling wonderful local cuisine around Cusco to following the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, it was awe-inspiring each step of the way.

Most Inspirational Moment

It's a tough question as there are jaw dropping sights at every turn. For me, the first nights' camping. Coming out of my tent and looking up to a stargazers paradise. Ink black sky with millions of stars. Breathtaking.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Dennis was amazing. 10/10. He is a magician with multiple hats: tour guide to doctor, food enthusiast to mentor, photographer to comedian.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Book it now. Do your research and bring proper attire. You will be walking 6-7 hours per day so make sure you have comfy and durable boots that you have worn it. I travelled in August and it was cold at night so layer up. Bring a full change of clothes for going out for dinner (if you can fit in your bag) for the night in Machu Picchu town.

Rebecca Jones

Reviewed August 2017

I would not recommend this trip if ...

I would not recommend this trip if you are planning on travelling alone, if you are a light sleeper, if you value a sense of freedom, or if you are hoping for any form of relaxation during your holiday.

With one notable exception, Exodus seems to have chosen the cheapest and nastiest “hotels”. They were mostlly rather scuzzy and cramped, which is not very pleasant if you are sharing with one or more complete strangers. Several of them were also right next to busy roads and one just above the motorway leading to the Mont Blanc tunnel, making it all but impossible to sleep. I spent the whole trip sleep deprived, which was not helped by the early starts, in spite of the fact that, when I enquired prior to booking, Exodus had assured me that breakfast was normally at 8.00 am on the hotel trip. Because of the daily morning rush it wasn’t exactly a holiday.

The leader was good, but could have dispensed with the unnecessary morning group exercises in favour of an extra 20 minutes in bed. The exercises were apparently supposed to alleviate the stress of the hectic morning starts, but in fact just increased stress levels by adding another item to the list of things to do in the morning before getting walking. The group members were lovely, but of very mixed ages and fitness levels, meaning that the pace was extremely slow. Personally, I did not feel at all challenged by the ascents because of this slow pace. I appreciate that, on a group trip, the overall pace has to be that of the slowest member, but I would have enjoyed the trip much more if the pace had been more flexible and I had been able to walk a little faster at least some of the time. It seems that the enjoyment of faster members of the group was sacrificed to that of the slower.

Except for one challenging river crossing, owing to heavy rain over a couple of days, the walking is not at all difficult, so, if you are a reasonably experienced hill walker with some time to organise the trip yourself, I would recommend going it alone rather than through Exodus. I wish I had done so myself. The mountains are beautiful – it’s just a pity I couldn’t enjoy them to the full. Personally, I won’t be booking with Exodus again.

Most Inspirational Moment

The one day off when I went walking alone and could go at my own pace.

Barbara Cummins

Reviewed August 2017

Highly recommended introduction to Sri Lanka

A wonderfully varied trip. We did so much. I’ll try not to repeat what Karen said but will add a few thoughts.
The Sri Lanka we saw was surprisingly diverse. We went from low, hot and humid, by the Indian ocean near Colombo, up into the beautiful hill country, with its expanses of tea plantations, then down to the semi arid coast in the south. A great start was meeting the group. They were all positive, punctual and friendly. We laughed a lot.
I loved the food. So much choice! Buffets offered salads, curries, fruit and more for around £6. I didn’t feel the need that some felt for sandwiches and chips instead. I’m not vegetarian but found the veggie choices in the buffets to be the best options. We had great “village meals” on two occasions, plus the opportunity to try mannioc and drink tea from coconut shells.

Most Inspirational Moment

It's tricky to choose from so many. If it has to be a moment, perhaps I'll choose diving into an empty pool at 7am at the lovely Mandala Rosen in Kataragama. Music played underwater, then I came up to the quiet of birdsong as blossom floated down from the trees. More widely, it was the gentle smiling people and the beautiful countryside, especially in the hills.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Neelaka is a Sri Lankan gem. He looked after us with his unfailing cheerful calm. He must have been paddling hard beneath the surface to keep everything running so smoothly. At every hotel we were greeted with a cool cloth and a drink, while our cases were whisked away to our rooms. An absolute godsend was his dealing with tips and small payments. Without this we'd have been burdened continuously, as everyone needs tipping! We loved his little extra treats which included introducing us to fruit and veg we'd never heard of, let alone tasted. He guided us to interesting restaurants, took us to special places when we expressed interest and told us about local culture and behaviour, as well as describing in detail the places we visited. We learned about puberty rituals, which prepared us for the ceremony we saw scheduled in our last hotel, plus the surprising dependence of Sri Lankans on astrologers.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Activities are optional. As the group slow coach, I didn't complete the Lion Rock climb. I went part way and then waited and watched as the stream of visitors climbed the uneven steps. I also didn't complete the Horton Plains walk in torrential rain. (NB - make sure you have a good waterproof. Some didn't. Sri Lankan rain is serious!) If you have to stay at the Hill Club, don't eat there. Go next door to the Grand. If you do have to eat there, definitely avoid the set meal. Don't buy spices at the spice place if you want a good price. A sarong or similar could be very useful in many ways. You can buy one out there. Cash can be changed in many places, with your guide's local knowledge. Check hotel bills are in rupees, not £s or you'll be paying a hotel's exchange rate instead of the bank's.

Tiggy Sawbridge

Reviewed August 2017

Picos de Europa

An excellent holiday with a lovely group in beautiful surroundings, and a very friendly hotel.

Most Inspirational Moment

Too many to mention!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Alvaro is an exceptional leader and he clearly knows the area inside out. He was also able to predict the weather with extraordinary accuracy and I'm surprised he hasn't been headhunted by the Spanish Meteorological Agency! Alvaro was also very encouraging and we all enjoyed his mischievous sense of humour: 'if I return with 80% of you, it's not perfect, but it's not bad...'

Advice for Potential Travellers

The weather is unpredictable so if you're wondering what to pack, bring everything just in case! However, I didn't wear a raincoat or fleece all week.

DAVID BELL

Reviewed August 2017

Classic Dolomites - premium

An excellent week of walking in the dolomites expertly led by Alex. Very comfortable hotel with wonderful food. Breakfasts and evening meals were all very good.
The weather was cool and damp at times but Alex chose excellent routes to follow and the free day cycling to Bruneck was very good.

Most Inspirational Moment

The final day's walk to the World war 2 trenches on the Italy/ Austria border. A great climb up the mountain with wonderful views and very interesting historical sites at the top.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Alex knew the area very well and planned for the fickle weather. He did not always give enough information regarding what to take on each walk but we were generally well prepared for all eventualities.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Get plenty of walking training in before you go and you will love this trip. Be prepared for all weathers and walking poles are a must in my opinion.

Liz Crofts

Reviewed August 2017

Breathtaking Vietnam

A fabulous experience, not least because Vietnam is such a varied and beautiful country with vibrant, hectic cities, enchanting villages and wonderfully welcoming people. This trip gives you the chance to experience all aspects of life in Vietnam and the excellent service you receive from the tour leader means that you can relax and fully appreciate everything on offer.

Most Inspirational Moment

LOTS of this trip was inspirational. All the food we ate was phenomenal - if you like cooking I would highly recommend the cooking class in Hoi An which was great fun and educational. Riding through the backwaters and villages of Central Vietnam and the Mekong Delta was wonderful - the best way to see 'real' life for the majority of Vietnamese people. If you get chance to do the additional cycling day then take it! Kayaking at Halong Bay was great fun and the best way to see the limestone cliffs. The people of Vietnam are truly inspirational having been through so much conflict and to be so open and welcoming to tourists.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Cong was absolutely fabulous. He was engaging and knowledgeable, very proud of his country and wanting us to love it as much as he does. He really understood our group and our sense of humour making the (sometimes long) bus journeys more fun! He encourages us to make the most of our time ("you can sleep on the plane!"). Every recommendation he made for experiences, restaurants, laundry, shopping etc turned out to be excellent. We cannot thank him enough and he was a great ambassador for Exodus.

Advice for Potential Travellers

As our guide advised us... make the most of every second. Yes, it is a full on trip and you will sometimes feel tired. But the travelling was part of the experience for me and I learned a lot just by looking out of the bus window! Mosquito nets are provided everywhere. I only used my cotton sleeping bag liner on the train because it was a bit cold, otherwise it was not needed. Neck pillows did come in handy because of the amount of travelling. The bikes are reasonably good mountain bikes. I did use padded cycling shorts but my husband didn't to no real ill-effect. Don't take a lot of clothes... laundry is available very cheaply at several points on the trip. Almost everywhere we stayed provided soap / shampoo for washing you don't need loads of toiletries (if you are not fussy about what you use). Just take some for the first homestay in My Chau and on the train. They are provided on the boat and in the second homestay.

Anonymous .

Reviewed August 2017

discover sri lanka 12th august

This was an amazing trip, well organised the right amount of activities and free days. Sri Lanka is a truly beautiful country and the people are very hospitable and very friendly. On this tour you get to see and do so much looking back on our 15 days don’t know how we managed to fit it all in. on the whole the hotels are of a very good standard, you do get a bit tired with them mostly serving buffet meals but they are of good quality this and plentiful. There is generally an Al a Carte menu but don’t worry not like the over priced ones in the U.K just standard food and price .

Most Inspirational Moment

This was such a good trip to many to pick just one , one of my highlights was getting to the top of lions rock by 9 am in the morning and seeing that view, breath-taking. The elephant safari was very crowded too many jeeps but did see some magnificent elephants, even better when we got to our hotel (The Lake) we saw the elephants in the distance coming down to the water for and evening drink totally on their own while we were laying by the pool what a sight!! The bike ride and lunch that followed again such a lovely day, white water rafting is a must, great fun. The temples and history was fascinating. The traditional games we played on one of the days was great fun, we were a group of 16 mixed ages from 17 to 70from solo travellers to 1 family of 4 we just hit it off from day one and were like one big family.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader Neelaka was fantastic, nothing was too much trouble, everything was explained to us about the history, temples, best way to see things, he new exactly were and when we had to be somewhere to get the best view, experience on each day, this did mean a few early starts but well worth it, his knowledge and passion for his country showed in everything he did. One of the group had a birthday which none of us new about, Neelaka organised a card for us all to sign. decorated the bus with balloons and streamers and arranged a cake for our meal that evening what a special day. He stopped off on the side of the road to show us things, brought fruits for us to try, corn on the cobs, drink queen coconut milk and stopped off to see a family who produce more things from a coconut than you would ever think possible, non of this was on the itinerary .

Advice for Potential Travellers

Just go and see this beautiful country for your selves before it gets ruined by tourism. Be prepared for many changes in temperature and weather we went from 33 degrees to 14 and back to 36 degrees sun and rain, and make the most of every day.

Allison Legge

Reviewed August 2017

Wonderful and magical adventure with Exodus

We did the Inca Trail trip with the optional Amazon extension. The whole trip start to finish was professionally managed by insightful and knowledgeable guides – the excellent Julio and Shandy. The rest of our group were lovely and we enjoyed their company on the trip immensely.
The trail is reasonably hard for an experienced hiker because of the altitude but we were all encouraged by the guides to walk at our own pace which really made the trek up dead woman’s pass a fun and enjoyable experience with a guide always behind us as a back marker never hurrying us.
All the guidance received about the day ahead and advise on the trek from both guides was spot on they made our trip trouble free and a real adventure.
The chef and porters were amazing hard working people and made the trip feel like luxury.
Anyone wondering about whether to book this trip should just go ahead and book it! You won’t regret it!
You need to be ‘half fit’ for the hike to enjoy it and make the most of it. I cycled 15km 3 times a week and a longer ride once a week of about 50km and found that enough to make the hiking enjoyable and not too hard.

The Amazon extension was very good and we enjoyed it. Coming from South Africa and being people who have been on safari several times meant that we were slightly under whelmed by the wildlife but all the same enjoyed the experience of being in the jungle.

Most Inspirational Moment

The day 2 hike up Dead woman's pace with my partner and friend was wonderful. Walking at our own pace, stopping to enjoy the view and each other's company was special and made possible by Julio and Shandy who quietly walked behind us never hurrying us. A wonderful day in a fantastic trip. Thank you!!!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Julio and Shandy were superb. Real professionals that dealt with all manner of issues quietly and professionally.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Just book this trip!! Peru is fantastic and an unexpected delight. We loved Lima too it's well worth 2 or 3 days before you arrive in Cusco to see the sights and enjoy the fab restaurants.

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