Reviews

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

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14440 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

alexander mcneilly

Reviewed July 2016

Novice camper and walker does the Tour du Mont Blanc

In the process of booking to go to Costa Rica with Exodus ( staying in hotels) my wife saw this itinerary in the brochure. Somehow despite the fact camping is not our thing at all we booked the camping version. I think neither of us wanted to show the other that we couldn’t hack it. After the first couple of days of adjustment (it rained heavily, tired after the first walks, communal wash block etc.) we both really got into the trip. Are we glad we booked this trip? Absolutely! It was out of our comfort zone and we enjoyed it all the more for that. The camaraderie with our fellow campers was excellent. The group leader and also our base camp chef and logistics expert were enthusiastic, engaging and fun. 5 stars from us

Most Inspirational Moment

Personally getting up a 500m ascent in under 55 minutes ( OK I admit I stuck with one of the veteran walkers to help keep me going) and walking in snow and snow flurries. Flowers, views, snow, a decent coffee in Courmayeur! Saying good bye to the group at the airport was surprisingly emotional and it made you realise that actually we had completed this challenge together.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Catered to every ability. Knowledgeable about the geography, flora, fauna and history of Mont Blanc. Spent time teaching us how to walk uphill, downhill and across snow in an efficient manner. Felt that he genuinely wanted to share his passion for the mountains and it wasn't just a job. Our Base camp leader was excellent providing good camp food and plenty of it. They made a good team.

Advice for Potential Travellers

My wife and I are over 55 and relatively fit but we didn't follow the recommendation to prepare for the trip by walking at home. We managed but the first couple of days were long. If you are not fit you do need to get in your walking boots and walk at home if nothing else to avoid the risk of blisters on the actual trip.

Sunita Patel

Reviewed July 2016

Wonderful first cycling holiday

This was my first cycling holiday so I was not sure what to expect. Since the trip is rated Moderate I thought it may be challenging as I have not done much cycling before and only bought a bike a month ago. At times it was a bit tough with windy conditions and since I wanted to stop and take photos to make it easier for myself Michele arranged for me to get an E-bike on the second day. This made a huge difference especially for the hills and I didn’t have any worries anymore.

Most Inspirational Moment

I loved the last 2 days, very flat and easy leading to the highlight was of exploring Venice, a city I've never been to but always wanted to visit.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Michele is an excellent tour leader and took care of the group and made sure that everyone had a good time.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Get an E-bike!

Jonna K

Reviewed July 2016

AMAZING TIME walking the Amalfi Coast!

When you miss the group, the leader, the hotel and the views the moment you leave…you know you had an AMAZING time!! And that is exactly what sums up my Amalfi Coast Walking holiday. I don’t even know where to begin to describe it all because no words could really describe how ABSOLUTELY AMAZING and BRILLIANT the whole trip was! Each day was filled with so many wonderful and memorable moments and experiences, breathtaking views and a lot of laughs and a really good time. The whole trip really topped all my expectations, it absolutely blew my mind, it was THAT excellent! The views during the hikes were out of this world, we learned so much about the history and culture, and I loved the dinners each night with the group and with our excellent guide, Severio! There were so many great conversations and laughs and it was just amazing! The hotel was great and the whole hotel staff really went out of their way to make sure everything was perfect! All of the staff were SO NICE and almost treated us like family! The food was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! There was SO MUCH to eat and everything was ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS!! Not only did each dish look amazing, they tasted SO GOOD too! I really can only praise Severio and the hotel staff as well as our guides in Pompeii and Vesuvius. Everyone did an EXCELLENT job!! I could’ve stayed another week!

Most Inspirational Moment

I can't really pick one moment because the whole trip really was one big inspirational moment. The Tre Calli hike and the views from up there were amazing, Vesuvius was brilliant, but so were all the other hikes. We hiked in pouring rain during our last day and even that was fun because our group spirit was so high! And like I mentioned earlier, we had such a good time during every dinner, so many nice conversations, so many laughs...the live music night and everyone singing and dancing together was so brilliant, it really showed the team spirit...I just had a really wonderful time!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Severio was AWESOME!!! I can only praise him!! He paced the hikes really well, there was always a chance to take a break and drink some water (it was around 35 Celsius outside every day so it got really hot and it was crucial that everyone drank enough fluids, so Severio made sure everyone drank enough and reminded us to have some water) and there were also enough bathroom breaks along the way. Severio really took an excellent care of us and always made sure everyone was fine and that no one got lost. He kept counting us to make sure everyone was there so that no one gets left behind or goes the wrong way. Also, on the last day when it was raining really bad he changed the schedule around a bit so that we all still had a great time and got to see the sights but at the same time were safe and didn't take any unnecessary risks due to the rain and possible thunderstorm so that no one would get injured. I really appreciated that. It was nice to know you were in good hands and could trust your guide. Severio also told us a lot about the history and other interesting information and also always kept the group spirit high. It was great to have a real Italian as our guide to show us the "Italian way" and allow us to really get a glimpse of the Italian culture and to teach us a little bit of Italian and to answer any questions we had about Italian culture and customs!!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Definitely make sure to get enough of uphill training before you go because especially the Tre Calli hike includes a LOT of uphill climbing for like 2 hours straight. It's not really an easy hike. Also the way down includes a lot of loose rocks and can get a bit tricky so make sure you have really good shoes and maybe hiking poles if you feel more secure with them. Also for Pompeii, if you're going during the summer, make sure you have LOTS of water with you, as well as a hat and also an umbrella, because it gets REALLY HOT and there is no shade so you will really appreciate the umbrella for the shade! Also I'd really encourage everyone to go with an open mind. Don't be afraid to try new things. Even if you normally wouldn't eat something, at least try everything! You get so much more out of the whole trip and really get to experience the culture! Also...be prepared to have a great time!! Remember that the trip is also part of what you make it yourself! Be open to new experiences and a fun time and you'll have the BEST vacation ever!!

JO Aplin

Reviewed July 2016

CYCLING on the Amalfi....a great challenge

11 of us arrived on Day 1 for what would be an amazing cycling tour, not easy for all, especially me…but lots of fun, and pinch me moments as we travelled through such a beautiful part of the world. Together with the scenery came the food….ITALIANs do food so well, and this Exodus trip did not fail to disappoint! We enjoyed a wonderful mix of traditional foods from a variety of restaurants with the most amazing views and people. Both Paulo and Raphael led our trip with professionalism and with humour and friendliness. Nothing was too much trouble. History lessons on the go interspersed with swimming in the ocean( which when the temps soared were much loved), Macciato coffees, and Saints days all added to the colour of Southern Italy. Yes the cycling was hard…but it was well worth it. Grazie to everybody concerned.

Most Inspirational Moment

Achieving the final day of riding...the longest day from Minori to Sorrento and back...luckily the temperatures had dropped.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Awesome leader Paulo, well assisted by mechanic, water boy and driver Rapha. He did a fantastic job, leading the group, who varied in cycling ability, but Paulo was able to make sure everybody was safe on the busy, roads of the Amalfi but still achieve their cycling goals. A great source of knowledge and history.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Accept the challenge, book the trip then train harder than you think you need! If you can find a 12km hill to train on all the better!

Wendy Pountain

Reviewed July 2016

Wonderful trip, beautiful country, great company!

Great trip, small group (just 3 of us) so was almost a private tour and Diana our guide was brilliant. It is a busy trip but well-paced and you need to keep moving to see this country in a such short time. I feel like we saw the usual highlights but also managed to experience some of the local culture too. First time I had been at this altitude but Diana looked after us well.

Most Inspirational Moment

Machu Picchu and Colca canyon (complete with condors), the Nazca lines and the Amantani homestay are the obvious ones but the dune buggies and sand surfing were such fun, as was the train ride up to Aguas Calientes a nice change from the bus. It was also good having a "base" in Cusco before and after Machu Picchu to get some serious shopping done in the markets!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Diana was fabulous, the 4 of us had a great time together and she was very attentive and practical, looking after me when I was feeling the effects of the altitude and the windy roads up into the mountains. She shared her Peru with us and helped us source some cheaper tours in Cusco using her contacts. Great guide!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Everyone has their own tips and I always follow others' advice so apologies if some of these are already mentioned by others: - It's usually possible to make a sandwich lunch at breakfast time - we saved a fortune! - Dune buggy/sand surfing, fab activity but don't take a good camera as everything will get sandy, and ladies remove earrings (I lost one of mine en route down a dune!) - Nazca flight was worthwhile but v small planes and less stable than helicopter (which they can't use due to the sand disturbance) - Use BCP atms (in the lobby of the BCP banks) as they don't charge you for use unlike other machines housed in shops - Get $ out of atms and change as you need the soles, lots and lots of places evereywhere for money exchange. - Exchange money at Cusco as rates at Machu Picchu worse - Ask your guide about cheaper options for joining group tours at Cusco to save money if you can't afford private ones. - Cusco market is fab - in Chivay "setmenu-and-show" sounded naff but was quite fun and good value.

David Wilkinson

Reviewed July 2016

Cycling from Prague to Budapest

Thoroughly enjoyable trip. A great way to meet new people, have great laughs and the best way to see the fantastic countryside. Bikes were well serviced. The first four days were the toughest, but the most scenic. The latter days were mostly flat and a breeze.

Most Inspirational Moment

The rolling hills of the Czech countryside. Picturesque.

Thoughts on Group Leader

We had two. Very friendly. Enjoyed a good laugh. Always ready with a cheery smile.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Even with Brexit, everything was cheap outside of Vienna. Just bring a can do attitude and grit for the first days of hills.

Richard Mackay

Reviewed July 2016

A wonderful experience

This was a well planned journey suitable for all levels of ability.I was fortunate once again to be travelling with an interesting and entertaining group out to enjoy themselves and never taking the cycling part too seriously.
The whole holiday was made exceptional by the contribution of our guide Michele ( Michael) who carried out his responsibilities far and above the call of duty.
He was very well organised,kind and attentive to all guests with no favourites,funny, informative about the areas we visited as well as the Italian way of life ,found the best restaurants – in fact everything we could wish for from a guide- for me the best in ten Exodus trips worldwide and I know this view was shared by all of my party.

Most Inspirational Moment

I loved the rides from Desenzano to Verona and then Vicenza through beautiful villages and vineyards along cycle paths that took you right away from the noise and pollution of major routes.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Five stars - see above

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take this trip and if you are a bit inexperienced in the cycling part don't worry - there's only one quite challenging climb and if you are really worried order an electric bike - they're brilliant as one of our group will testify

kevin button

Reviewed July 2016

Romania Capathian walking and bears

A great holiday for wildlife and walking enthusiasts

Most Inspirational Moment

We met some characters who inspire us to see the world differently. The guide Udo was full of botanical knowledge, Koreen was so passionate about wildlife, there were poor shepherds who prefer to live outside than in and people preached about it being the most beautiful place in Europe. Watching wild bears was the highlight which makes us want to protect the forests further

Thoughts on Group Leader

Udo was a well experienced leader but he still had the enthusiasm to make our time there as engaging and interesting as possible. He enjoyed spending time drinking with the group in the evening, he liked telling stories and he ensured everyone felt included. He was a role model for other guides

Advice for Potential Travellers

Currency - get it in Romania, much better rates. No more than 1000 leu needed. We were told that the airport only accepts Euros, this was wrong. Food - not great. And bring snacks as there is no opportunity to purchase any as there are no shops until the end of the week. The restaurant had no vegetarian options. Avoid sheep's cheese given out by shepherds! Be prepared to queue for a long time for cable cars. If you want to go to the top of the mountain, it still takes 3.5 hours to walk after going up the cable car

Bernie Healy

Reviewed July 2016

Tour De Mont Blanc

This is my second trip with Exodus and again they have surpassed them selves What a wonderful holiday I had on the tour It was a brilliant experience.Great walking Beautiful scenery, great company and great fun. The group really got on well and all were of a similar standard of walking which helped as no one was under pressure. Our guide John and Camp support Clare I can not say enough good things about them John was a marvelous leader keeping a steady pace( or as he said himself a plodding Alpine pace) so that nobody felt under pressure while ensuring everyone was safe and enjoying each days walking. Some days were tougher than others and we had some very wet days but Johns attitude kept everyones spirits high and we had great fun every day I would recommend that you be fit if going on trip as this would add greatly to you enjoyment of trip.
Clare the camp support was brilliant from cooking great food to pitching tents and alsway in good form and so
helpfull
I really enjoyed the camping but would recommend spending the extra to have a tent to yourself as the extra space means a lot especially living in a tent for 14 nights. Be prepared to help out around the campsite doing such chores as taking down tents in the morning Great fun in pouring rain….. Helping with wasking up and clearing thing away after meals THe food supplied was excellent and plenty of it You will not go hungry If you want a great experience great walking and great fun go for this trip I would do it again if I got the chance

Most Inspirational Moment

All of it Great walking great scenery great group Everything about the trip Wonderful memories

Thoughts on Group Leader

John was a wonderful leader. He kept up a steady pace each day walking so that nobody was under pressure He was so helpful and knowledgeable and such great fun. He really helped to make the trip so wonderful as did Clare the Camp support who worked so hard and s was so helpful and always smiling

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be as fit as you can. Go with an open mind . Be willing to partake in every aspect of the trip If you do you will have a wonderful holiday great experiences and great memories

Alice Cowie

Reviewed July 2016

Carpathian Walking & Bears

A great week spent walking in the Carpathian mountains in the company of some like-minded people. Villa Hermani was a lovely place to be based, and Katharina was a helpful and friendly host. Rural Romania was stunning and straight from another era. The hikes were varied and took in a range of different scenery (alpine pasture, woodland, gorges…), and the grading of leisurely-moderate was fair. Visits to Brasov, Bran Castle and the Saxon Village provided a nice cultural complement to the walks.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing wild bears from a hide was a real highlight, especially the mother with two cubs. The visit to the Bear Sanctuary provided an interesting comparison, and it was moving to learn about the stories of the bears living there. Our hikes took us through some beautiful scenery and it was great to encounter local shepherds (and at one point sample some some local cheese!). The visit to the monastery in the rocks was also really interesting, and made all the more enjoyable by the company of the friendly dog who decided to join us for the trek.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Udo was a great tour leader with a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm about the people and wildlife of Transylvania. He took the time to get to know everybody in the group and always made sure to take plenty of breaks during hikes to ensure no one got left behind! He was very personable and had a great sense of humour, which made the trip all the more fun.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure you take a spare pair of shoes! Mine got wet on the first day and took a little time to dry off, so it was handy to have a second pair. It's also worth bringing a few snacks to add to your lunch if, like me, you sometimes crave the odd chocolate bar (lunch typically consists of cheese / ham sandwiches and fruit, and is prepared by guests at breakfast time).

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