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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14440 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Imran Arshad

Reviewed August 2016

Inca Trail and Amazon Adventure

This is an amazing trip visiting Cuzco, 5 days Inca trail including a night in a hotel in Aguas Calientes and 3 nights in Tambopata province (Amazon region) of Peru. My Son (12) and I had a fantastic adventure, thanks to all the hard work of our tour leader, porters and local guides. We were in a great company too, our lovely family group consisting of three other families.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were many...1) Seeing my son (12) enjoying the hard day's trekking on Day 2 of the trail and making to the top of Dead Woman pass. Location of all campsites were breath-taking and meals provided by our chef were simply brilliant. 2) Seeing that Inca trail is well looked after by the locals authorities as it is something they really want to preserve for the future generations. Most of the track is in pristine condition. A great place to enjoy birdlife and high altitude scenery. We were either above the clouds or trekking through them every day from an Inca site to another. 3) Noticing how Tambopata/Exodus guides help educate visiting crowds about their fragile eco-systems. All living there know the importance of their rainforest and contributing in a positive way towards a better future for their environment.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Denis was one of the best group leader I have ever had. He was very polite, organised, interested and was always available to help us all in the group with our questions. A true assest to Exodus. He made sure that everyone on the trip is having a great time and was very quick to help with any issues. His knowledge of Incas and Peru is second to none and his passion for his country/people came across on many different occasions. I loved spending time with him to get to know more of him.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Travel light and only carry what you need. You do need clothes for Summer, winter and for days when it rains so plan in a way that you have multiple layers of clothing to keep you warm and dry when it is cold or wet.A good head torch and a half decent camera is a must for this trip specially on the trail and in the Amazon region. Do not miss any activities that are on offer as many start quite early in the morning which is probably the best time to observe wildlife. Carry some small gifts (pencils, pens etc.) for porters help carry your luggage as they were really happy to receive them from one of the family when they handed them over.

Elaine Hobson

Reviewed August 2016

I fell in love with Italy

An excellent trip. The pace of the trip is perfect. A week flew by and we felt we had been all over the Puglia region. So much to do and see in such a short space of time and yet we managed to relax and get some free time in too. The food was outstanding, the wine was delightful, the people were a pleasure to be around. Every stage of the trip was enjoyable and slightly different.

Most Inspirational Moment

The whole trip was perfect but if I were to pick a section that stood out, I would say Aberobella. To stay in a Trulli house was such a wonderful experience - not at all what I was expecting. The cookery lesson was more of a demonstration (although we did get to try make some pasta) but it was thoroughly enjoyable and the meal at the end was the best meal of the holiday.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Salvatore' was an excellent leader. He was knowledgeable, professional and caring. His English is perfect and he has a personable way about him that makes him a pleasure to listen to. Nothing was too much trouble, he didn't once look irritated (particularly by eight women who were always looking for the next loo stop!). His choice of restaurants and eating places was superb. Once you know you're in good hands it is so easy to switch off and chill out.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't hesitate - just book it.

SUSAN BENNETT

Reviewed August 2016

Cycling in Romania

I have been on a number of Exodus cycling holidays but this was one of the best. The cycling was just right with a number of modest climbs but the countryside is so beautiful and unspoilt with so much to see. Mountains, wild flowers, wildlife, forests, herds of sheep and cattle. Also a lot to learn about the history of Romania which explains the fortified churches, the hilltop citadels, the extraordinary palaces, the legacy of the Soviet era. A brilliant holiday.

Most Inspirational Moment

I think the thing that inspired me most was the unexpected variety of each day. The visit to the flour mill on the first day (most were destroyed in soviet times) through to the sightseeing at the end in Bucharest and the unbelievable palace of Ceausescu in Bucharest. Every day was exciting but probably my favourite was staying in Viscri which has been beautifully restored with the help of the Prince Charles foundation. I've never seen bricks and tiles being made by hand before. Or woken up to cows going along the Main Street at 06:30 and people wheeling their milk home in the old fashioned milk churns!!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was brilliant. She was informative, friendly, took care of all our needs (lots of short stops and snacks). Her knowledge of the history was good and answered all our questions intelligently. She directed us to the best sights, great restaurants and was fun to be with.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go. It is a great holiday.

Neil Pittaway

Reviewed August 2016

Tour Du Mont Blanc Camping

I Just have returned from an absolute fantastic holiday on the Tour du mont Blanc camping trek (6-20 August 2016) with it’s breathtaking scenery and amazing walking!!! with some of the best views you will find any where in the world!!

The camping and walking experience is brilliant!!! and is a totally emersive experience with excellent and flawless organisation and in-depth knowledge on the areas and sites visited from our team leader / guide(s) Clare Appleby and John Briggs who made everyone feel included, welcomed at every stage of the holiday sharing their knowledge and passion for the outdoor life style and their love of the mountains in the regions covered on the tour.

Clare cooked some amazing food! and organised all the day to day camping and transporting logistics in a seamlessly flawless manor, whilst John did the same for the walking, providing excellent guiding and knowledge of the mountain scenery with it’s flora and fawner! etc.

The group two was excellent!! – with a good range of ages and mix of backgrounds and was a truly international group where we shared good humour over camping and some hotel dinners and on the trails!

The communal camping experience is also fantastic which enabled us to gel even better as a group sharing life experiences and stories from the trek.

This holiday is exceptional value and is a great introduction to the beautiful scenery of the French, Swiss and Italian Alps.

Most Inspirational Moment

It is very hard to say what the most inspirational moments were on the trip as there were so many magical moments, these included swimming in a beautiful fresh water lake even though the locals seemed to think we were barmy doing this. however it was great fun and a good way to relax after a longish day trekking. The many varied views on the trek, the Helbruna cable car to the Aiguille du Midi and from the campsites watching and recording the sun rise and set on the Bosson glacier were truly stunning and inspirational. The great humour shared by the whole group and leaders during the trek and the communal camping life style Particularly having to muck in with the cleaning and washing up brought everyone closer together and more integrated as a group.

Thoughts on Group Leader

John Briggs was and is an exceptional tour leader!! very dedicated and well organised!! John guided us all safely and brilliantly!! throughout each day of the trek. There were 14 of us on the trek and John set the pace brilliantly allowing for the people like me to have time to take photographs and to record the scenery through painting and drawing. John paced and managed each trekking day extremely well giving a detailed briefing each evening of what to expect on the days trails. John also shared his in-depth expertise on the mountain scenery and its flora a Forna. Whilst on the rest days he gave equally good briefings with options and directions of what's available to do in the region(s) where the rest days were spent. I have undertaken a number of treks in Nepal and some in south America and I have never had explained by any previous guide(s) how to be able to walk properly to use your boots and to be able to trust them to avoid potential walking hazards etc. John did this at key intervals in the trek which was extremely useful and made walking easier and safer. Clare Appleby who also had an equally difficult job of organising all the camping logistics including setting up each campsite, shopping and then cooking great three course dinners as well as transporting the luggage between each campsite. Clare made everyone feel extremely welcome and her cooking was amazing! If you are lucky enough to have John Briggs and Clare Appleby as your team leader(s) then you will get a truly well managed, organised and emersive camping trek that you will remember for the rest of your life.

Advice for Potential Travellers

You need to have a good level of fitness to do this trek with some experience of mountain trekking as some of the days have continuous fairly steep ascents and descents. It is important that you have a undertaken some training / walking in preparation for this trip before you go and to have the right equipment including good well broken in boots. I also find that trekking poles help a great deal whilst on the trails. The tents that exodus use are spacious and comfortable but I would recommend a good self inflating camping mattress and I also took a four season sleeping bag even though it was only cold a few nights during camping. You may need some extra Euros than outlined on the trip notes as some of the refuge drinks can be expensive. If it is clear and good weather it is well worth paying the 80 euros (approx). to do the return cable car trip from Helbrunna on the Italian side to the Aguille Du Midi on one of the rest days for some of the most breathtaking scenery of mountains you will see any where!! You can pay in Euros in Switzerland - so there is no need to take or change money into Swiss francs. Bring some swim ware / shorts - for swimming in rivers etc..

Hapsa Takolia

Reviewed August 2016

Dont delay the trip of a life time

This has to be one of the most amazing, fabulous trips I have ever done. The spectacular views, being in the mountains, supportive guides and a good bunch of walking minded people -top marks!!

Most Inspirational Moment

To have the ability to keep up with other walkers, to finish the tour and to have survived the whole trip camping!!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jeffrey Oonk was our tour guide.. I can not express what a wonderful guide he was. He was always attentive of everybody's abilities, enthusiastic about the walk and very knowledgable about the area, plants and animals. He made the trip exceptional and nothing was ever a problem or issue. He was always giving us advice about using walking sticks and walking up/down mountains as well as being very conscious/ethical about supporting the local communities. I would definitely recommend him as a guide and would be happy to attend any of his tours in the future.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I was a complete novice on travelling alone with small group of people I had never met.. I kept debating about whether this is the trip for me, but now I am so glad I did it as I have had one of the best time. So If you are debating about whether this is for you, I would say go ahead and book. Read the information/guide provided by exodus and use their chat room to talk to like minded people and then you can't go wrong.

Hannah Gray

Reviewed August 2016

Good variety of activities in a beautiful setting

This trip has a good variety of everything – hiking, bears and sight-seeing. Overall we really enjoyed this trip and it’s opened my eyes to Romania, particularly Transylvania, as a holiday destination.

Most Inspirational Moment

You will want to go on the optional bear hide trip (40 euros) as this is a highlight; you won't see bears on the hikes.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our guide was very knowledgeable about local history, flora and fauna and most of the time put in plenty of stops to keep the group together.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Things I didn't pick up from the trip notes: - You have to pay the guesthouse in cash (Leu or euros) and there is a charge for WiFi and the sauna - Having some lei at the start of the trip is useful but not essential; get small denominations if you can. Overall as a couple we spent 500 Leu and 100 euros. - Walking poles are useful for the slippery slopes. I borrowed some from the villa. - There is plenty of food; no need to bring any snacks. - You can drink the tap water at the villa. - A visit to the local pub is highly recommended. - Make sure you know how to turn off your flash AND your focussing light (red/green light) before going to the bear hide. (It might be called AF assist.) - The bird-watching doesn't have any chairs or shelter for an hour and a half; if you don't fancy this, we were given the option to stay in Brasov instead.

Cheryl Hoyle

Reviewed August 2016

Cycle Romania

Overall this was an excellent trip that was a perfect combination of great cycling and lots of cultural experiences and sites along the way.

Most Inspirational Moment

One of my favourite moments was our last 10 km or so of cycling. The cycling and roads seemed to get better and better each day throughout the week as we travelled to more remote areas. This particular road was not paved, but hardpacked gravel, so normally this wouldn’t be a favourite for me. But the lush, rolling countryside and the quiet road was so beautiful, it made up for it. Being our very last moments on the bikes, I didn’t want it to end. The most frequent traffic encountered on this road was horse drawn carts. Also, just as we always encounter with Exodus tours, our fellow travel mates were fun, interesting people that were a delight to travel with.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Raluca was an excellent guide and was the key to making the trip not just a cycling holiday but an opportunity to learn about Romania, its history, its people and making it a fun adventure that we will never forget. Raluca has such passion and conviction for Romania and to life in general that she is very inspiring. She also put her heart and soul into doing everything possible for us.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I would recommend this trip to anyone who enjoys cycling. I can’t imagine a better way to visit Romania/Transylvania than a cycling tour with an excellent guide like Raluca.

Chris Huet

Reviewed August 2016

Tour du Mont Blanc Week (TWP)

Jenny was a patient competent leader. The terrain was amazing and fellow hikers a lot of fun.

Most Inspirational Moment

Loved the steep steady uphill climbs and enjoyed when we were given free rain to climb straight for 2 hours. Also loved the experience on the top of Mont Blanc on the optional day. would love to go back to hike the glacier and possibly learn to summit the top.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jenny was great and worked well with the variety of needs within the group.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure you have a good cardio base before going as well as bring hiking poles. the downhills can be steep and long so will be hard on weak knees.

Susan Meehan

Reviewed August 2016

Mount Toukbal in the summer!

I was concerned about trekking in the Atlas Mountains during summer as I am not very good in the heat! It was very hot but I drank bottle-fuls of water to keep me hydrated. My heart was overworked at times but I managed to complete all the walking plus the optional extras. I was delighted! You do have to love walking to do this trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

Being able to reach the summit of Mount Toukbal with most of the group after a gruelling walk up on a beautiful afternoon was sensational. The sky was deep blue and the views were tremendous.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Hassan was a fabulous leader whose primary concern was for the group as a whole. He runs a tight ship and his approach is meticulous. He inspired confidence right from the start.

Advice for Potential Travellers

We did a lot of walking - about 7 hours each day. On two days we did quite a bit less than this though had a choice of doing optional/extra walks. It is a great idea to take water purification tablets as we had access to water (provided in a jerry can) at lunch and dinner times and could fill up easily and regularly. Drinking tube attachments which you can fit on to water bottles are a great idea as it will ensure that you can continue drinking and hydrating while walking.

Anthony Houlihan

Reviewed August 2016

Cuba Cycling in August!

If you want to see Cuba ‘as it is’ rather than through a windscreen, cycling is the only way to do it!
Each day takes you to a different location to find and experience different aspects of life in Cuba.
The cycling side of things isn’t too onerous if you are a regular cyclist, averaging 40 to 50 miles a day at most. There were a couple of ‘hilly’ days, where the total climb was in the region of 2500 to 3000 feet, but most days the rides were fairly flat. A little hill climbing practice may be a good idea if your biggest hill is normally a railway bridge!

Most Inspirational Moment

The single most inspirational part of the trip was in Havana on the first day of cycling. As we rode through a suburb of the city, I saw a group of lads cross the road ahead of our group (15 plus ride leader). They ran up the line of cyclists cheering and 'High Fiving' us as we passed by. This set the tone for the rest of the tour: we were greeted cheerfully wherever we went, by young and old alike. Kids standing in their gardens, farmers ploughing their fields, even a gang of workmen erecting overhead power lines, all stopped and said Ola as we cycled past.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader (Maurice Galvez) was probably the best your leader I've had the pleasure to accompany, ever! He explained everything in detail, helped us when help was needed and sorted out problems with an ease that belied the complexity of it. All in all, an utterly reliable and charming leader and tour guide.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Heat: August is really hot and humid - drink lots of water and pop a few canisters of soluble sports hydration tablets in your luggage to maintain your electrolyte levels. Hydration tablets are unobtainable in Cuba, so take enough for the duration, working on 4 tabs a day! (Dioralyte performs much the same function, but tastes horribly salty). Sun: Pack plenty of sport orientated (waterproof) Spf50 sun screen in your luggage. I didn't and suffered! Drugs: A couple of packs of Immodium or similar anti diahorrhoea tablets are essential, everyone (bar one) got the trots during the fortnight. Nobody knows why, it didn't follow any particular pattern, it may have been a dodgy ice cube, or the heat, or poor hygiene standards in kitchens, who knows? Money: Allow a minimum of 30 to 50 CUCs per person per day for incidental expenses - not every meal is included in the tour and you'll need some for tips and optional trips too. There are very few ATMs in Cuba and fewer still that work and fewer still that have an English language option to guide you. Change your cash early and make sure that you have enough for the next few days! Pollution: Virtually no vehicles in Cuba have clean emissions. Most are remarkably smoky. Be prepared!

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