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

Charles Trimingham

Reviewed June 2015

Chianti: walking and wine

An excellent and relaxing holiday.

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking through beautiful countryside to arrive at San Gimignano on foot as opposed to being "bussed in" like many of the other visitors.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Liz was really excellent. She has comprehensive local knowledge. She went out of her way to help members of the group. Very professional and friendly. Thank you Liz!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do not expect to do anymore than get a brief overview of Florence in one day. If you want more you will have to go back!

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Jacqueline Anderson

Reviewed June 2015

I LOVE the Balkans!!!!

My 8th and, quite simply, THE best Exodus trip I have done (and that’s saying something!) We had history, from both the first World War and the more recent conflict in the 1990’s. We had culture. We had some hikes through beautiful locations. We had the vibrant cities of Sarajevo (now on my list as one of my favourite’s) and Dubrovnik. We had the Eastern feel of Istanbul in Mostar. We visited Churches, Monastery’s and a Mosque. We had great food and even better wine and beer from the Balkans!! The prices were really cheap too. Great hotels, especially in Zabljac and Dubrovnik. Weather was in the early 30’s and that was May/June. The local people were friendly and most had good English.

Most Inspirational Moment

Standing on the line where East meets West in Sarajevo, seeing the famous bridge in Mostar, seeing the mountains and Black Lake in Zabljac, Montenegro. Walking the city walls in Dubrovnik. Visiting the Sarajevo tunnels and having people that lived through the conflict share their experiences.

Thoughts on Group Leader

We were lucky enough to have 2, as Evelin will lead the next tour he was shadowing our leader Mustafa. They were both excellent. They could not do enough for you. They were always punctual, polite, funny, knowlegable, helpful and respectful. Carried our bags to the hotels .Very concerned for our safety both on the hikes and in the towns/cities. They tried to teach me some of the Bosnian language but to no avail. I found it one of the hardest languages I have ever heard! lol

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take high factor sunscreen as the sun was fierce even in May/June. Some of the hikes had some sheer drops and i'm not good with heights (but the leaders stayed with the people like me) Don't take sterling. In Mostar and Dubrovnik they were happy to take Euro's (as well as Bosnian Marks and Croatian Kuna) The hotels could not change Sterling( they would change Euro's) and you would need to go to a bank. Dubrovnik is pretty but I found it very touristy, especially with the cruise ships in town.

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Karen Mackie

Reviewed June 2015

Amazon Rainforest & Inca trail

Trip of a lifetime. Loved every minute of the trip. Food fantastic, action packed agenda and Inca Trail was manageable as it was undertaken at a pleasant pace. Beautiful country.

Most Inspirational Moment

Camping above the clouds! Enjoying every moment of The Inca trail. In fact, not wanting the walk to end!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Holyer is a credit to Exodus. He really looked after us and was good company too.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for the heat and humidity of jungle and then the cold of up at 4200m. Busy agenda!

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Charles Whytock

Reviewed June 2015

Walking Tuscany

A wonderful experience of walking in a more remote, mountainous part of Tuscany with an excellent and experienced guide.

Most Inspirational Moment

Very difficult to isolate one moment but probably the 360 degree view from Monte Sumbra encompassing the Italian coast and the Appenines. The wild flowers were stunning in particular the wild peonies in the Orecchiella National Park.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sara was a brilliant leader - encouraging at the front or supporting at the back! Her knowledge of the area, flora and fauna were inspirational. Our free day in Lucca went without a hitch thanks to her help. She recommended shorter, low level walks, complete with maps and directions for anyone who needed a 'day off'.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I would recommend boots, for ankle support, and trekking poles - particularly for the descents. Braccicorti is not in a village and walking along the roads is not recommended because of fast traffic. Opportunities occur at the end of some of the walks to find shops and ATM machines. If you need extra snacks for walking take them with you from home.

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Fiona Galazin

Reviewed June 2015

A wonderful week in the Picos de Europa

It was a great week which far exceeded our expectations. Good food, comfortable hotel, magnificent views, and a really informed, enthusiastic and attentive guide who had the knack of making us all feel as if we had his undivided attention. The hotel owners, Jim and Pilar, went out of their way to satisfy our diverse dietary requirements and provided a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the early morning sunlight on the mountain range from our bedroom window and knowing that we would soon be in amongst them.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Alvaro is a great group leader. Every day he told us at breakfast what to expect from the day and what to take. Throughout the walk he was encouraging, informative and great company. Nothing was too much trouble for him. He organised the week's walks to suit the weather and on his day off was busy checking out the snow conditions for a walk later in the week. I can't speak highly enough of him.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Poles were useful. I needed more than 2 litres of water on the longer days but Alvaro carried extra water for the group as he was concerned about the heat. What a hero! The wild life was great - black redstarts, Egyptian and gryphon vultures, chamois, wild boar. For those interested in wild flowers, the first week of June was a good time to be in the mountains.

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Kevin Nuttall

Reviewed June 2015

Amalfi Coast Walking

The 2 Torri Hotel in Bomerano is an excellent choice as a base for this walking holiday. It is located in a friendly village surrounded by beautiful mountains, high above the coast. The walks are spectacular. There is also time for sight seeing at Pompeii, and on the free day. We were fortunate to also include a visit to Herculaneum on the return journey to the airport.

Most Inspirational Moment

The 'Walk of the Gods' is the most inspirational coast walk that I have done anywhere in the world. Cycling in the Agerola area on a bike borrowed from the hotel was memorable. Drinks on the terrace of a 5 star hotel at Ravello watching an afternoon thunderstorm was a fitting end to the final walk. Herculaneum brings home the human devastation of the Vesuvius eruption.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader Suzie was excellent. She worked very hard to make this a special holiday for everyone, and in the evenings socialised with the whole group. Her knowledge of the area is vast, and we frequently benefited from her contacts with local people. She led the walks with consideration for each person's ability and safety.

Advice for Potential Travellers

This is a walking holiday not to be missed. The balance of walking, sightseeing and leisure is just right. Be prepared for lots of steps both up and down and drink plenty of water on the walks as it can get very hot. A 'Camelbag' type of waterbottle proved very useful.

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Arthur Caves

Reviewed June 2015

A Great Way to Walk the Way

An excellent opportunity to walk the Camiño de Santiago in relative comfort, enjoying the surprisingly varied and striking scenery of one of Spain’s less visited (by the English) areas.

Most Inspirational Moment

Arriving in to Santiago with the group, surrounded by other fellow pilgrims.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Saint José, who kept us in wine from Samos to Santiago made the trip that much more enjoyable.

Advice for Potential Travellers

30km is as far, if not further, than it sounds and depending on your experience of walking in hot weather a light walking shoe or robust sandal might be preferable to full boots.

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Gale Carruthers

Reviewed June 2015

Highlights of Georgia and Armenia

A very good introduction to 2 hitherto unknown countries. Well organised, good guides, hotels better than we expected, though Health and Safety issues in some of the hotels.

Most Inspirational Moment

Views of Mount Ararat - and Mount Kazbek

Thoughts on Group Leader

Both were very good and a fund of historical and theological knowledge - almost too much to absorb at times I'm afraid! But we had been warned there'd be a lot of churches - and they are a very important part of the history of these countries.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be aware that the quite appalling roads in Armenia and almost as bad in Georgia will make the journeys by bus from place to place very uncomfortable. We hadn't realised that we would spend so much of each day having our bones shaken to this extent! Anyone with back problems take heed. Make sure you have good footwear - you'll be walking on a lot of very uneven surfaces and some very steep and slippery rocks if you take all the opportunities offered.

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Gerard Feeney

Reviewed June 2015

The High inca trail

The seven day trek rather than the 4 day trek to Macchu Picchu was definitely the right choice.;The first three days we hardly saw anyone, gave a real sense of adventure, almost as if you were on an expedition

Most Inspirational Moment

Camp below Salcantay, seeing the moon set and sun rise over the Andes. Sense of achievement in reaching Macchu Picchu Witnessing, from a safe distance , avalanche on Salcantay. We were at top of pass (5000m) on day three when tis occurred

Thoughts on Group Leader

our leader bobby was very knowledgeable and experienced, showed a real passion for his country and Inca history. he also had a good sense of humour

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure you have a 4 season sleeping bag or hire one,. camp at Salcantay can be very cold

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Alexander Templeton

Reviewed June 2015

Caucasian Colloquy

The Lady at the office when my trip was booked said that she doubted whether this was a trip that would suit me. She was right. This was a lot less active than I prefer, designed for relatively immobile people. This was combined with a distinctly Nanny like attitude of both guides. I left the trip three days early because of this. I stayed in the country a few days afterwards and much preferred travelling round by marshrutka than the very leisurely pace of the trip. Spending about four houirs a day on meals for example seemed a waste of time.

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking in the Caucasus though I would have preferred to walk up to the church rather than being unable to see much from a bumpy car. Walking down was treat. The Cascade in Yerevan was a real treat.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Both Marina and Anna were well informed. Perhaps it was me but I did not get an answer from either of them when I tried to ask questions, so I gave up asking.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The trip should really not be labelled moderately strenuous (I am 76!)

Reply from Exodus

I was on this tour with Alexander and I was sorry to read that this trip wasn’t as active as he was hoping for. I think the trip grading of leisurely/moderate is correct, but I agree that it was a shame that we weren’t able to walk up to the Hotel Trinity Church from Kazbegi; unfortunately we had experienced some terrible weather whilst crossing the mountain passes so it wasn’t possible, but thankfully the weather improved enough so that we could walk down. It was also disappointing to learn that Alexander found the leaders to be rather protective. In my view, which I believe was shared by most of the group, I found Marina and Anna to be knowledgeable, kind and well organised. Whilst I was in Georgia and Armenia, I did provide our local team with some training and advice, so I hope that this will be reflected on future tours.

Rachael Stone – Customer Services Manager

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