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.

Reviews

Sandra & John Maundrell

Reviewed June 2017

Amazing China trip

Everything about the trip was amazing if a little challenging at times. It included all of the ‘Must see’ sights of China, many of which were mind blowing – how did they manage to build a wall that long and high so high up in difficult terrain?! We travelled on flights arranged by Exodus from a regional airport and the transfers were part of the package and worked well. The optional trips in Beijing were good and the Acrobatic and Kung foo shows were both worth doing and entertaining. The overnight sleeper trains were interesting!! Some stations had escalators which was great but some only had staircases which were challenging and stowing our large bags in the sleeper compartments often involved lifting them onto the area above the door as there was limited space under the beds, the men in the party found themselves lifting several bags each. The optional excursion to the Han Yang Ling Mausoleum, which we did before the Terra Cotta Warriors was on a very different scale and very interesting. Most days involved leaving the hotels between 7.30am and 8.30am in order to travel to the place of interest for that day and arrive in good time before the crowds got too big. In Chengdu we did an optional visit to an ancient Chinese town en route to the Giant Buddha in Leshan which was interesting in spite of the ‘touristy’ nature of the place. We went to the optional Chinese Cultural Show which was amazing – so many unusual brilliant acts, the ‘Face Changers’ were fantastic. The bullet train was very smooth and seeing the porters carry our heavy bags to the China Goddess 2 for the Yangtze river cruise was humbling, they are so strong!! The cruise ship was much nicer than we had expected and the accommodation was very nice, we even got a lesson in playing Mahjong which was quite complicated but very interesting. The scenery in Yangshuo was amazing and the optional trip to the tea plantation was great fun even in the rain! The trip to the Ancient water town of Xitang was lovely and fortunately as we were not there at the weekend, it wasn’t too busy. One evening in Shanghai our guide suggested going to the Global Financial Centre to the Observatory on the 100th floor as the weather was good, to hopefully see the sunset over the city – we were lucky and it was beautiful. Our last day in Shanghai was wet but it didn’t stop any of the activities and we had time to see some of the city before we left the following morning.

Most Inspirational Moment

It was an amazing trip with so many highlights it is hard to name just one. The Great Wall is exactly as named - Great, the Panda breeding and conservation centre was lovely, the scenery in many places was completely unique. The sheer size and complexity of the Terra Cotta Warriors site was incredible, the story about how they were discovered and the work that had to be done to produce what is visible today is amazing.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader - Jenny was lovely. She went the extra mile to make sure everything ran as smoothly as possible for us working tirelessly to make sure all the arrangements for all the excursions were made in order for us to have a brilliant trip. She always had a smile and was very patient and understanding when dealing with any problems or requests members of the group might have.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The beds on the sleeper trains appeared clean but if you got on the train part way through it's journey bedding was not changed so silk sleeping bag liners made us feel more comfortable!! Public toilets are everywhere and free to use but are mostly 'squat' style and having your own toilet paper accessible at all times is essential! Before we arrived at the port our tour guide told us that there was an option to upgrade to the VIP dining restaurant which was limited to about 30 people for each cruise, she explained that the extra cost gave us assigned tables and free wine and beer with meals but the main advantage was that it was away from the 'free for all' nature of the main dining room. After consideration the whole group opted for the upgrade and we were very pleased that we had done as it gave us a much more relaxed dining experience - it was money well spent!! Before we left we were unsure what to do about money for the trip so we took a reasonable amount of Yuen plus credit and debit cards. It turned out that most of the time we needed cash, all of the optional excursions were paid for in cash as were the group meals that were not included as well as drinks for all the meals. There were plenty of ATM's available in all of our destinations and the guide was happy to take whoever needed cash when necessary. Credit and debit cards were acceptable in larger shops but cash was used most of the time. Be prepared to barter for your purchases! We did a lot of the optional excursions on the basis that we may never be in China again and every one was worth the extra cost.

Show more

Joseph Carraway

Reviewed June 2017

Great Wall, great tour

Walking the Great Wall is a great tour with a good mix of activities. I go on theses trips to do some good trekking, but it is also nice to see the important tourist sites in Beijing. What is nice about this itinerary is that you do Beijing, spend time away and then finish in Beijing giving you a nice balance and not spending too much time in the big city. The guesthouses are a unique experience and are run by the nicest people I have ever come across. I highly recommend the Xi’an extension as the Terracotta Warriors are a must see, and Xi’an itself is very different with a lot of charm and character.

Most Inspirational Moment

Overall I enjoyed the day with the spider wall the best but really the highlight for me was any day away from the touristy, restored parts of the wall. That combined with a really great group made the trip exactly what I wanted.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jerry is one of the best leaders you could possibly ask for. He is very knowledgeable and has a good sense of humor to keep things interesting. We had many issues with our itinerary due to the Silk Road Conference, but he handled all the changes well.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Check the weather before you go to ensure you are prepared. I would recommend some electrolyte supplements for those extremely hot days.

Show more

Susan Wiltshire

Reviewed June 2017

Treasures of Sicily

A very busy week spent travelling to a considerable number of places. Not much time to see anywhere properly but a good overview of the island. A lot of time spent in the coach.

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking on Etna was an interesting and inspirational part of the trip - if you enjoy views and volcanoes!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader did not interact with the group and carried out his duties without humour, fun or enjoyment. This was the most disappointing aspect of the week, as having travelled with Exodus before, I have had far better group leaders who can make the holiday wonderful, exciting and longing for more. We had two other tour guides for a short period of time who were knowledgeable and interesting. Vanessa was particularly helpful on our last day helping us with travel arrangements and being a real group leader even diverting the coach to see some extra sites on the way to the airport. What a difference had she been our group leader for the week!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do not take any extra items unless you really need them. Pack so you can find items easily without unpacking your suitcase each night. Bags of items of clothing are a good idea. Some people used poles when walking on Etna. Take them if you feel more comfortable using them on steep slopes - up and down. Take shoes to wear for swimming in the National Park as the beach is made up of large stones.

Reply from Exodus

We were sorry to hear that Susan was disappointed with aspects of her tour’s leadership as her tour leader usually receives very good feedback; we are in contact with Susan directly in this regard and our local manager has also followed up on her concerns with her tour leader. 

 

Marta Marinelli – Product Manager for Sicily

Show more

joanna kurowski

Reviewed June 2017

cycle Romania

A brilliant holiday. The tour guide Raluca Teodor was outstanding. She was passionate about her country with all its history which she conveyed simply so that I remember so much. She was also very kind and always aware of our needs. Her co helper Liviu was also extremely helpful and they both made a good team. In Bucharest at the end of the holiday with the BA flight problems Raluca organised a new hotel for us to cater for our extra stay before our flight home via Turkish Airlines. The whole group gelled very well and this will always be an Exodus holiday to remember.

Most Inspirational Moment

I really cannot find one thing. I would say all of it. Some of the guest houses such as the Water mill, the priest's talk, Sighisoara, the cart rides.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Outstanding (see above.)

Advice for Potential Travellers

Travel light, don't be phased by travel problems!

Show more

Martha Beaumont

Reviewed June 2017

Wonderful hiking trip, great guide Stephanie

The trip was great, really nice group of people ands very knowledgable guide with a great sense of humour. The location was beautiful and the hikes very satisfying.

Most Inspirational Moment

The hike to the Italain border in the hills Overlooking the great views of the sea and the French Riviera and Italy was beautiful and peaceful. Also the walks around Menton in early evening were very scenic.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was very good. Highly knowledgable and supportive. She had a fun sense of humour and lot's of Stories and history of about the area and the plant life.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Lot's of sunscreen and enjoying the lovely French countryside

Show more

Paul Gofton

Reviewed June 2017

Croatia Islands & Mountains

Activity packed trip in the stunning Croatian Landscape
Non stop loads to do and see

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking in Paklenica National Park through the limestone gorge (day 6 ). The initial trek was through a Beech woodland but gradually descended to a fantastic view of near vertical limestone cliffs used for rock climbing. Also the guided tour of Dubrovnik old Town and having the chance to walk on the Town walls

Thoughts on Group Leader

Zeljko was superb. He was proud of his country and had a wealth of knowledge about the areas we walked in. He was also courteous and kind I have been on around 10 Exodus trips and Zeljko is probably the best guide I have had. A real credit to the company.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Think about making your own arrangements to and from Croatia. The flight times arranged by Exodus are suche that you will arrive after 10.00 pm local time on the Saturday and depart to the airport around 5.00 a.m. the following Saturday so the trip is really 6 days (Sunday to Friday). There are flights back from Zadar Saturday evening to Stanstead and Manchester with Ryanair and Zadar is only 45 mins from the last Hotel. May was a good time to go with loads of flowers out. I would think the July and August may be too hot for some

Show more

Gillian Combes

Reviewed June 2017

Highlights of Provence

A lovely selection of walks and we had great weather. The hotel was welcoming and the breakfasts were very good, although some of the rooms were a little cramped. Greoux les Bains was an excellent place to stay, with lots of good quality restaurants in the town to choose from at night.

Most Inspirational Moment

The two best walks - along the Verdon gorge and around Moustier Sainte Marie.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jean Bernard was very knowledgeable about the local area and shared this with us. It would have been good to hear at the start of each day a bit more about the walk, the terrain and possible stops along the way or extensions to the walk.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't be put off by the walk distances which sound relatively short in the brochure - although the ascents were not particularly steep, the terrain underfoot was generally quite rocky/stony and in the lovely heat of Provence the walks took longer than you might expect.

Show more

Jean Brouwer

Reviewed June 2017

Great tour with very interesting history

This tour covered a lot of ground in a short time. We learned so much of the history of this area and its people. It was good to have mix of activities in the cities and country areas. We visited old castles and palaces, national parks, museums, cities and small towns. There was a very good balance of organized activities and time to explore on our own.

Most Inspirational Moment

There are so many churches still in existence and used for artistic activities such as music and art, as well as for worship. Many have been extensively renovated in a variety of styles. Despite difficult times, people retained their cultural background and creativity and are proud of their countries. Everywhere there are memorials to celebrate writers, poets, musicians.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Migle was outstanding. She was totally involved with the countries we visited and her knowledge of the history and current events was conveyed in a way which kept our interest throughout the trip. Her personality and charm, and her professionalism shone through.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for lots of walking over cobbled roads and pavements. You may have to haul your bags up a couple of flights of stairs in some hotels. Read the trip notes before you travel and as you go so that you spend your free time most efficiently and don't cover ground which you will be covering in the guided walks.

Show more

Shane Brown

Reviewed June 2017

Fun travels in Albania

My first Exodus trip and already planning more. A well organised trip to a beautiful, unspoilt country. Yes, the cycling was tough at times with some long climbs but the roads were not busy, the Albanian drivers very considerate of cyclists and my travelling companions very supportive.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing those mountains, villages and coastlines plus of course being able to complete all rides.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Dhimi was great, professional, caring and fun.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for some tough climbs, enjoy the downhills but treat with caution, embrace the country and the lovely people

Show more

Ferenc Suhai

Reviewed June 2017

Walking the great wall

Before going on the trip the highlight was for me of course the wall and the scenic views but this all changed and the whole experience was the people I was travelling with the teamwork and friendships I made.. has left a positive impact on me and at the moment all I can think about is the next trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

The sense of achievement personally and of the group when reaching a high point and then getting photos of the views stretched out below.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Great.. an original genuine character made the trip an enjoyable experience for me

Advice for Potential Travellers

Read trip notes I did and used blister plasters at early stage and managed to keep feet from getting any worse than just a bit sore.

Show more