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

olwen dutton

Reviewed April 2016

from the Indian Ocean to the Arabian Sea

This was an amazing holiday and has completely converted me, before the holiday pretty much a non cyclist and very much a novice, to taking more cycling holidays. I love India and this was such a good way to get to see a lot of the real rural India. Cycling through villages, avoiding dogs, goats, cows, other cyclists and pedestrians, as well as the inevitable motorbikes, tuk tuks and buses and not a few potholes and speed bumps, was always fantastic, as the children all wave and shout hello, as do quite a lot of the adults. Its a complete joy.

Most Inspirational Moment

Realising that I can actually cycle the distances and get up those darned hills! Its difficult to single anything out. Cycling down hill for about 13 kilometres nonstop was entertaining, and the homestay at the end of that was absolutely spectacular. The hotels we stayed in were generally very good. Every day brought new things to enjoy. We also had a brilliant group, we all got on well and encouraged each other. The food, by the way was outstanding, mostly vegetarian. I think that no one was ill with the usual tummy problems, and we ate some amazing meals, especially lunches on banana leaves in little places we would never have found by ourselves.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Seeka ( I think my spelling is wrong, apologies) was excellent, very helpful and anxious to make the most of the trip for us all. As a result everything went very smoothly. He was very entertaining and knowledgeable which was great and had endless patience. The three other guides were also great, although I must admit that I had a soft spot for the wonderful Abi, who cycled at the back of the group ( my usual place) and gave me a helping hand when I needed it!

Advice for Potential Travellers

The March trip did get very hot , about 40 degrees on a few days, which is very hot to cycle in! It was also very very humid. The trip starts of on mostly flat roads, which is good to get used to before you get to the hills, which are challenging. I took my own comfortable saddle, which I was very glad to have, as the bikes were ok, but quite heavy. Clothes that are made of modern sports fabrics that dry quickly are best, as though the hotels will do laundry there often isn't much time as most days you move on. Take plenty of pens to donate to passing children, as the "Pen, Pen" cry is often heard and it will make you very popular.

Nick Ball

Reviewed March 2016

Late season skiiing - Kvitavatn

This being my first holiday in Scandinavia, not having skied for a few years and booked at the last minute I had some trepidation over what to expect. What I got was a very enjoyable holiday, great cross country skiing routes both on and off piste and great group and tour leader to share it with.

Most Inspirational Moment

After a few days struggling with cross country skis it started to come together and get more enjoyable - the views down over Ryukan and from the higher points on the skiing routes were stunning. Also great were the off-piste routes weaving in and out of the trees in the deep snow.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Mary was superb - very patient and great instructor. The slide show of photos taken throughout the week on the last day was very interesting!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Cross country skis are a different animal to downhill skis and more tricky to master - I spent the Monday and Tuesday falling over a lot and trying to re-acquaint myself with skills I thought I already had on downhill skis such as snowplough turns and traversing an incline. Level 2 on cross country skis with no previous experience is doable but hard work for the first few days although it did did start to come together after that. Also as mentioned in other reviews do buy wine or beer at the huge duty-free on arrivals at Oslo airport as it costs more at the lodge. Bear in mind you cannot drink your own alcohol in communal areas - only stuff you have bought at reception which at the time was cans of Tuborg, cans of a sweet Norwegian cider, a few local beers and various wine bottles between 200-300 Kroner.

Mark Smith

Reviewed March 2016

Didn't want the trip to end...

An amazing trip taking in a variety of national parks to see an endless variety of wildlife, just magical.

Most Inspirational Moment

I had hopes of seeing Toucans, Macaws and Quetzals, we saw them all, but our best moments were watching the hummingbirds buzz around the feeders and even have them perch on our hands whilst they fed - truly amazing little creatures and fun to photograph.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Andreas was just excellent, like having a fully fledged naturalist on the trip with us, he knew everything about everything. The trip was well organised and we got all the right advice along the way. A big thank you to John the bus driver too, who did an amazing job of getting our bus up and down the hairpin bends and through some tight gaps.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make the most of any free time by wandering around the grounds of the lodges, I saw so much more by slowly looking around and investigating rustling sounds or bird calls. Be prepared for very hot and humid weather on the Pacific side and keep drinking lots of water. Ear plugs might help at night as the constant chirping of crickets and frogs can be quite loud and some lodges don't have glass in the windows, just mesh, so it's like you're outside.

Nancy West

Reviewed March 2016

A wonderful week in Jordan

A fantastic week packed full with different experiences and giving you a chance to experience Jordan at its best.

Most Inspirational Moment

The variety of activities really made the trip special. I loved the high places walk at Petra, the time spent in the Wadi Rum desert, snorkeling in the red sea and of course the delicious Jordanian food!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Khalid was great: very knowledgeable and keen to ensure that everyone got the most from their trip. Nothing was too much trouble. He was passionate about his country and always happy to answer our many questions.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go! Don't be put off by Jordan's location - the people are incredibly welcoming and our whole group felt incredibly safe during the trip. This is the time to visit Jordan!

Judith Todd

Reviewed March 2016

A Taste of Cuba

This holiday included a variety of activities and locations which gave a flavour of the country. Given the pressure on the island as tourist numbers increase, without the accompanying infrastructure, the accommodation was better than I had anticipated. The range of trips was good with potential to choose other options. Plenty of advice was given regarding the best places to eat and visit in free time.

Most Inspirational Moment

The view across Havana from the Ambos Mundos hotel roof-top terrace.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent. She was able to fill in all the background information required with plenty of local knowledge and a sense of humour.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared to be flexible if accommodation changes.

Ele Rawling

Reviewed March 2016

Finnish Wilderness Week

One of the best holiday experiences I can remember. Basecamp Oulanka is a wonderful place – warm and welcoming and providing all the equipment and clothing needed for the snow activities. The staff are very friendly and professional in their guiding. Oh and the food at Basecamp is excellent too, even for vegetarians like me.

The surrounding snowy landscape with coniferous forest, huge expanse of frozen lake, fast flowing icy river is all that I imgained. Learning to cross-country skii, snow shoe and drive a husky sled were brilliant experiences.

Most Inspirational Moment

Two fantastic experiences (among many) - seeing the Northern Lights three times! and spending a day driving a husky sled across the magnificent Finnish landscape.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jukka was fantastic - patient, professional, a good teacher and with a sense of humour.

Advice for Potential Travellers

For outdoot activities take good under layers - merino or similar. The top layers are provided by the centre. Although the temperatures can drop very low, the Basecamp rooms are lovely and warm due to underfloor heating and a log fire in the main block.

William Thornton

Reviewed March 2016

Sensational!

I did this trip with some trepidation as to whether it would live up to a previous cycling trip I had done with Exodus (IndoChina & Angkor) which was brilliant, no worries there, this was an amazing experience in so many ways.
Firstly the variety stands out for me, each day offering new unseen before sights, giving another view of India.
The organisation was very good, accommodation and eating arrangements all hassle free. Bikes were in excellent condition and easy to ride with their smooth tyres. The trip is classed as ‘challenging’ but don’t be put off by this as only a short ride on first day and the 36 ‘hairpins’ are a challenge. Neither are compulsory and quite a few walked without bikes instead. The rest is fairly flat and downhill and many days are short as you start early to avoid the heat. The roads are mainly quiet with a few busy bits but the drivers in India seemed more accommodating than those in UK!
We were a group of nine and the group gelled really well, we had a lot of fun 🙂 one of the group even had a guitar which added to the entertainment!
It was very hot in March and it is essential to drink lots of water at every opportunity. One particularly good part about this trip is the very few transfers (on the bus) that is has, some trips have quite a few I have noted.
Overall India was a revelation to me, quite different to what I was expecting. The people are friendly and keen to speak to you as they practice their English. I took away so many memories and am so glad I decided to do this trip.
In summing up there is nothing not to like about this trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

Well some might say completing the 36 hairpin climb which was a sense of enormous personal achievement however 2 things stand out for me....seeing and managing to get some really good photos of a leopard, truly amazing to see this amazing creature in the wild. Also the ride after leaving Ooty where you have a long downhill, the bit before this as you pass through the tea plantations, the peace and array of colours did it for me.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader was Safi, an experienced rider who has done this trip 70+ times I believe. He was organised, friendly and sorted out any issue or request we had. He was well supported by Vipen our other biker and Maneesh who was our water and banana man along with being the driver of the bus in which all our bags went. They were a really good team together. They joined in our fun and made the trip so much better for it. I felt safety was high on the agenda and always felt so at all times.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take a good camera, one with a zoom lens and one you can carry on the bike, also get a cheap handle bar bag to carry it in too. Handy for phone, hand gel, sun protection etc. Padded shorts are essential and a gel seat or seat cover will help too. Hand gel/wipes at every opportunity! Travel light, don't take any super smart clothes, you won't need them! Buy clothes and haggle but be reasonable.Take cash £ to change, its easier as sometimes an ATM is not always available. India is cheap for most things so your money will go a long way. Do the kitty the notes advise, makes for much less hassle and is in fact good value on reflection. Don't delay..book it!!!

Julia Gale

Reviewed March 2016

Andes to Amazon

This was an excellent introduction to this very diverse country, including different landscapes, culture and wildlife.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were many highlights, including seeing a variety of birds and wildlife in both the cloud forest and the Amazon basin, visiting local markets and learning about indigenous communities. The walks at Cuicocha and Cajas National Park were both excellent (and we were lucky with the weather!).

Thoughts on Group Leader

Fabian was enthusiastic and knowledgeable. Service in some hotels / restaurants in Ecuador can be variable and he quickly resolved any difficulties when these arose.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take plenty of sunscreen and insect repellent. Pack layers of clothing as the temperatures across the trip vary greatly. If you are taking dollars, make sure they are in small denominations, as changing $50 dollar notes is very difficult.

Lorraine Alldritt

Reviewed March 2016

Cycling Kerala and Tropical India

Our first Exodus cycling trip and we will definitely be travelling with Exodus on our next adventure. It is a great introduction to India if its your first trip (its relative prosperity makes for less hassle from residents) and it offers a different perspective to the hustle, bustle (and many more tourists) of Rajasthan if you have travelled further north in the country. Beautiful and varied landscapes with an interesting itinerary and most memorable for us for time spent simply chatting with our guides along the way about life in India.

Most Inspirational Moment

Our favourites: scenery: ascent to Ooty hill station and the dramatic descent through the hills and tea plantations sight: tiger in the wild in Bandipur National Park town: exploring Cochin relaxation: night and day on the houseboat on the backwaters of Kerala

Thoughts on Group Leader

The whole support team were great company and worked hard to ensure that everyone in our group had a fabulous trip. What they may have lacked in detailed "technical knowledge" about the history, geography and culture of our surroundings they more than made up for with their friendly manner, determination to protect us all from the madness of the indian traffic and their delightful company.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The fitter you are the more you will enjoy this trip (although the Ooty climb is the only really challenging ride so hop on the bus for the scenic drive or walk if you wish to avoid it). Leave your cleated cycling shoes at home - the traffic in towns is very challenging and we felt safer unclipped. Keep really well hydrated (salt and sugar - not just water). we avoided all meat for the duration of the trip and remained fit and well. Be prepared for very basic accommodation and if you can do upgrade to the premium trip for a bit more comfort. if you get chance take an extra few days at the end to rest and reflect on the experience - we opted for a beautiful spa resort further south along the coast - never has luxury felt so welcome!

Tony Williams

Reviewed March 2016

Kilimanjaro Climb - Rongai Route

A brilliant trip/experience. I fully endorse Ivor Davenport-Smiths previous review.

At 69 years I can say that age should not be a barrier as long as you are very fit.

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching Uhuru peak, the early morning sun shining on the glaciers, the comradeship and youthfullness of the team in a different way the Saturday morning tour of the Marangu village sites

Thoughts on Group Leader

Makake was very good, a detailed briefing followed by concern for all participants and good team leadership (supported by a good team)

Advice for Potential Travellers

travel in the drier times of the year, March was good to us

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