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!

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14462 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Ian Middleton

Reviewed August 2015

Dancing on top of Vesuvius

Lovely spot on the Amalfi Coast away from the crowds down on the coast / beach itself. Scenery is dramatic. No shelter from the sun (or other weather!). Food is excellent. Developed calf muscles that I have never had before!!!

Most Inspirational Moment

Making & spinning pizzas with the hotel chef. Feeling the heat (sun & volcanic) at the top of Vesuvius (excellent local guide giving geological tour round the entire lip of the volcano - off limits to unauthorised visitors). Found time for a brief dance at the top.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Christine is an excellent tour leader. She is very positive, helpful and informative yet suitably relaxed. Great sense of humour. Looked after the slowest in the group as well as directing the way for the faster walkers. She set up an excellent low fuss sandwich service which catered for all our tastes with plenty of variety.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Walking poles help. Stair training is good practice. There are only 3000 steps between you and the beach. Fortunately you do not do these all in one go! Pompeii - take a small shoulder bag for your sandwiches, etc. as rucksacks are not permitted by some museum officials. Carry plenty of water as most days do not have water refill stops until the end of the day.

Patricia Moore

Reviewed August 2015

Highlights of the Dolomites

The walking was varied and challenging enough ( Grade 5), our group was a good mix which seemed to click straight away and we were blessed with perfect weather the whole week. The views were magnificent and the walks well planned. It was good to use the available ski lifts to save slogging up the lower slopes, so that we could start higher and go further.

Most Inspirational Moment

Climbing up a steep slope to the Vaiolon pass, involving a fixed ladder on Day 2 Coming down a long and steep descent through meadows and forest on Day 4, after a stimulating walk over a couple of passes.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Albert was excellent. Sometimes a man of few words, he was always aware of where everyone was and how they were doing. I always felt comfortable in his group.

Advice for Potential Travellers

This was a more expensive holiday than I had expected. last year ( in Tuscany) the daily travel to start the walks and the wine with the meal was included. Here, everything was extra and we used both bus and ski lifts in abundance because we were staying a long way down the valley from many of the walks. People should be warned about this

Myra Daly

Reviewed August 2015

Trip of a Lifetime!

This is the first time I’ve ever written a review online but I feel that it’s absolutely worth it. I’ve just returned from the Cycling Cuba trip with a group of 17 others (from late teens to mid-sixties) plus our excellent guide Laz and drivers Tuna and Alberto.

The trip surpassed all expectations – I loved it and really feel that I saw and experienced a lot of Cuba; from bustling Havana to the Caribbean beaches, old town Trinidad, 5* hotel in Santiago, fishing village of Gibara and much, much more. It was all excellently organised and Laz made the organisation look so easy, which no doubt it wasn’t. The drivers were so helpful and everybody always had a smile on their faces. There was a variety of food and accommodation – some not great, some excellent but that reflects what’s on offer.

I’d recommend this trip to anybody. Do it, do it soon before the American brands move in and it’s awash with Starbucks and McDonalds!

Most Inspirational Moment

Everything - the variety, the music, old cars, feeling that I was using all my senses (smell, feeling of sunshine on my skin, hearing the birds, looking at the views etc). Seeing the inside of houses was an amazing experience and really showed me what real life is like. It's very difficult to pick one moment though - everything added up to a great trip. Cycling-wise I really enjoyed the bits off the main roads.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Laz was excellent - so knowledgable, calm, personable, funny, organised and professional. Everything we needed/wanted and more. Couldn't have asked for more, he made it an excellent trip!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bring lots of suncream, long sleeves if you're sensitive to the sun (it's really really hot in mid-summer), wide-brimmed hats for when you're not cycling, snacks (otherwise there is only fruit at the stops), electrolytes and salt replacements (yes, you'll sweat!). If I was going again I'd definitely bring a small handlebar bag for the bike to store my camera.

Rebecca MacLeod

Reviewed August 2015

Cycling Vietnam - July 18th 2015

This was a very diverse holiday, with a great group of people and a well organised guide and support team. Fantastic food – seafood like you have never seen before, and beer the equivalent of 35p – £1.00.

Most Inspirational Moment

The 10 km climb up the mountain on day 8 was a killer but so exhilarting when reaching the top without stopping. Hearing the other side of the story with regards the Vietnam war. Learning a bit about the different Kings who ruled over the years in Vietnam and what they did or didn't do for the country. Vietnam, neither the war or culture, was a subject I covered at school/univerisyt etc so was quite an informative holiday.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Extremely well orgnaised. Nothing was any bother. The group was well looked after. Danh was exceptional when finding and/or recommening places to eat and drink. The support team also was very well organised when it came to drink stops and also at busy junctions, stopping the traffic or making sure we navigated around busy streets safely.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure you are confident cycling in traffic - if necessary get in touch with your local council sustainable transport dept and find out about an assertive cycling course. The traffic in some of the towns is very busy and chaotic - if you are a nervous cyclist then this could make you stressed. Although you have the option of going on the bus and not cycling, the whole experience of cycling on the roads in Vietnam is all part of the experience and you don't want to miss it.

Peter Jackson

Reviewed August 2015

Rodopi mtns

A very good holiday ,good mix in group. Good hotel food and service.

Most Inspirational Moment

Every day in mountains

Thoughts on Group Leader

Good, but could have got us to introduce ourselves, and to our very good bus driver, and arranged an exchange of e.mails as we all left at different flights.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Just to order your brochure!

Peter Jackson

Reviewed August 2015

Rodopi Mtns

A very enjoyable holiday with a good mix of people. Good hotel and food ,service was excellent.

Most Inspirational Moment

Every day in mountains, great scenery.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader was good, but could have got us to introduce us to each other, like other trips I have been on, also to the very good bus driver, she ought to have arranged to have us exchanged e.mails, we left at different times for flight back so was a rush.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Just to order your brochure !

Graeme Donnan

Reviewed August 2015

Mont Blanc Highlights: July 2015

This was an excellent holiday; I wholeheartedly recommend this trip. I went with my grown-up daughter and we both thoroughly enjoyed the walks which, thankfully, were blessed with excellent weather. Had we organized the trip ourselves (which I thought about doing), I doubt we would have found such interesting and varied walks. A very good itinerary that has to remain flexible owing to the vagaries of mountain weather. The accommodation at Chalet Mont Blanc was very comfortable, with excellent homely food cooked by our equally excellent hosts Collin and Jane. They made the group feel very welcome.

Most Inspirational Moment

The whole trip was well-worthwhile and enjoyable. I doubt there was one inspirational moment. When on the Italian side of the Alps in the beautiful Ferret valley a flock of Italian sheep ran towards us - we expected them to go around us and keep well away. Not so. They ran up to us wanting to be petted and even licked our boots! Are Italian sheep always so friendly?

Thoughts on Group Leader

The tour leader (Rupert) was excellent; very attentive to the needs of the group and each individual, very knowledgeable about the area and relaxed in his approach to leading the group. I have been with several Exodus (and Explore trips) and Rupert is by far the best leader I have so far been with. Exodus are lucky to have him as a leader.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bear in mind that the weather is a major factor. Our leader Rupert adapted the itinerary according to the weather forecast, which of course he was wise to do. We only had one day of bad weather though, which happened to be our free day. Take clothing for hot/dry through to wet/chilly conditions. Anything can happen in the Alps, even in summer. It was snowing high up on the Aiguille de Midi.

Dawn Tomlinson

Reviewed August 2015

Cycling Cuba

We were part of a group of 18 aged 16-64 that got on very well and made for a fun time. The most challenging aspect was the extreme heat and humidity on afternoon sections. We were grateful that our guide and drivers provided us with shower stops improvised from water bottles at the worst times and the bus was always available for a rest from the heat if necessary. The accommodation was good to excellent (with the exception of one) and although we were told not to expect much from the food it was mostly good too.

Most Inspirational Moment

The day cycling from Gibara off the beaten track was a highlight, as was the day cycling from El Cobre into Santiago. More days like this rather than long straight roads would be a bonus.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our drivers Tunas and Alberto looked after all our needs well. Our guide Laz was top class. Exodus is lucky to have such an excellent staff member. He organized everything brilliantly and was able to adapt our itinerary without any fuss when things didn't go exactly to plan i.e. accommodation in the mountains being unavailable. He was professional but friendly and joined in our group comfortably.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I believe cycling is an excellent way to see all the different sights Cuba has to offer. Do it!

Rosemary Hyde

Reviewed August 2015

Cycle the Baltics

An excellent family cycling trip, with plenty of time to appreciate the endless countryside (as well as the cities) of the Baltic States.

Most Inspirational Moment

Visiting the old cities of Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius

Thoughts on Group Leader

Vaida was an outstanding group leader, totally dedicated to her role, and very caring with the children. She went well beyond what we expected for a guide. Tadas, our driver was also excellent, and very reliable, in his own quiet way - following behind the bikes in his van if anyone needed help, and getting the bikes ready each morning.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The trip works well for families (we were the first Exodus family trip), but best for older, rather than younger teenagers, who can find cycling each day a bit repetitive, and don't always have the stamina. Weather can be quite variable - just like the UK - so plan for sun, cloud and rain. Hire bikes were fine - newish hybrid bikes with standard brakes and 24 speeds, quite heavy but reliable and ideal for the cycling conditions.

Michael Cronin

Reviewed August 2015