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

Kimberly Martin

Reviewed December 2014

2 weeks, 3 countries, 14 cyclists

The Nicaragua/Costa Rica/Panama cycle trip is a great way to cover a lot of ground in a short time. The trip started in Nicaragua which is a beautifully, slow-paced country with lots of rolling hills. Next we cycled through Costa Rica, enjoying the wildlife, fantastic scenery and bigger hills. By the time we arrived in Panama, we were a strong team of seasoned cyclists, ready to attack the big, big hills, heat and humidity! The trip was very well organized with cycling distances and weather/elevation challenges increasing slowly every day.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were several moments, including: - the day our group leader found a live sloth on the side of the road. Paul picked up the sloth (scary!!) and gently placed it in a nearby tree; - seeing the Pacific Ocean at the end of a great day of cycling - arriving at the Caribbean at the end of another great day of cycling - crossing the Continental Divide between the Pacific and Caribbean Seas

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leaders were the best! They checked our bikes and our demeanors every day to make sure both were ready to meet the day's cycling challenge. Despite our special dietary needs, mechanical needs and mental health needs, the group leaders worked tirelessly to make sure every need was met. We couldn't ask for a better support team with our cycling guides and fantastic driver.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for heat and humidity. We were lucky to have several overcast and rainy days which were a welcome relief to the heat. If tropical weather is not your favorite, don't despair. The support vehicle will transport you anywhere and at any time.

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Kevin Ball

Reviewed December 2014

Cycle Indo-China and Angkor

A two week cycling trip through Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Most Inspirational Moment

Cycling through the rural landscape of three contrasting countries with an excellent back-up team. Visiting Phnom Penh and Saigon, two vibrant cities in SE Asia. Staying in a homestay on the Mekong Delta.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Nee was absolutely first class. I have been on a number of trips with Exodus and she ranks as one of the best!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take your own gel saddle if you have one and also take some toe clips or pedals with cleats. The mechanics will put them on your bike very quickly. Don't bother taking any energy drinks or snacks, they are provided for you at every stop. Don't forget sun tan lotion and mosquito repellent.

Reply from Exodus

We would like to thank Kevin and his travelling companions (below reviews) for their reviews. We were pleased to read that they really enjoyed their trip and found Sutinee to be a great leader, and we can fully understand their shock in learning that she will no longer be leading trips for Exodus. Sutinee has been leading our trips for a number of years and we have received excellent feedback about her so the decision that has been made was not taken lightly. Whilst we are confident that it is the right decision in the circumstances, this is a hugely disappointing situation for everyone involved.

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Heather Heather

Reviewed December 2014

Cycling and more

Kerala and Tropical India by bike. What an experience. Joseph our guide made it so much more than just a cycle ride. India is such an interesting country and we were able to discover some of it without feeling like “tourists”.

Most Inspirational Moment

Being befriended by a spirited, dynamic girl while she was back visiting her parents for a few days. Four of us stopped for a drink while "free" for a few hours and later were given chai while Shakira talked about her life and asked about ours. She then took us home to see their house and told us some sad family history which we were privileged that she shared. Her mum then appeared intending to make us dosa. but we had to decline this hospitality as we needed to get back to meet up with the rest of the group. Indians are such wonderful, friendly, welcoming people.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Joseph managed to make his job look easy although keeping 14 of us happy and safe for 2 weeks was presumably no mean feat. He was able to warn us of the dangers of particular sections of the ride and get us to pay attention without scaring us. Joseph took us to small roadside cafes and snack shops and eating establishments use by locals without us succumbing to Delhi-belly. We even ate street food and salad under his supervision. Everything was well organised but appeared casual.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take plenty of antibacterial hand gel. I suspect people who do become ill infect themselves. It was very hot in November and I had far too many warmer clothes for the evenings and when in the hills. The downside of the local eating places is that they may not be air-conditioned. Be ready to eat curry, curry and more curry - it was all wonderful. Sometimes the spoon or fork took a while to arrive as many places expected you to just use your hands. I turned lout to be the only one on the trip who didn't cycle for a past-time at home. It was tough but I managed by missing out cycling up Ooty Hill which was far steeper than I had expected. I had thought I'd be able to manage some of it but I was wrong. I walked a bit and then gave up completely and got in the support vehicle. I would say you can mange this trip even if you're not a regular cyclist at home as long as you are pretty fit.

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Niall Campbell

Reviewed December 2014

Cycle Indochina & Angkor

An absolutely superb trip, so much to see in each country – the scenery, landscape, people and culture. Visiting Angkor was amazing as was staying with a local family in the Mekong Delta.

Most Inspirational Moment

The friendliness of the people en-route.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our tour guide (Sutinee Rasp) was absolutely amazing. So well organised, positive, informative, friendly she would go the extra mile to make sure we all thoroughly enjoyed the trip. The only huge disappointment was to hear on our return that her parent company (Peak Adventure Thailand) have apparently sacked her because some of the local team felt her to be "too bossy"! This has left all of use who traveled absolutely speechless. We have all made appeals through Exodus to support her as her treatment by her parent company is totally unfair. Let's hope they listen to those who traveled - at the end of the day it should be the views of the customer rather than some of the local team which matter.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure your take some DEET as the mossies will be around. Also, it would be useful to take an overnight bag for the stay with the local company as you can't take your main luggage. It's not mentioned in the trip notes but is needed for packing the essentials.

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Leslie Plumb

Reviewed December 2014

Cycle Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama

Great trip overall but would have liked less bus and more bike

Most Inspirational Moment

Panama Canal

Thoughts on Group Leader

Fantastic

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take an umbrella and poly bags for East Coast Costa Rica - drying wet clothes is not always simple!!

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Lynne Tyson

Reviewed December 2014

Awesome. Best holiday ever. Just do it!

Can’t praise Exodus enough. Felt like I’d been away a month we packed so much in! It was fantastic. Stunning scenery, great people, ‘undulating’ cycling, quiet early morning roads, water buffalo, paddy fields, mountains, hilarious nights out and on trains, sooo much good food and (occasional) beers. I’ve come home with so many great photos and memories and am already thinking about my next trip. The cycling was always a comfortable pace.The bus journeys, whilst long, were fine…(and I don’t normally do buses). Halong Bay took your breath away.

Most Inspirational Moment

So many...getting up Hai Van pass unaided and cycling every mile of course. But really it was the people, so unfazed by the unfairness of the country's past, always looking forward without regret or anger. The children coming out in droves to bring flowers and give high fives brought a tear to the eye and the memories will remain with me for ever. Halong bay was the most beautiful place I've ever seen. So many other things...Fresh fish in Hoi Ann. The beer foray through 3rd class on the train. 30km down in the cold and the rain. Food, food, food.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Dhan was absolutely brilliant, so extremely well organised, hard working and knowledgeable as our leader and proud of his country's history. He never stopped working, but was great at socialising too (rice wine night and Dhan's bar!) The bike team were excellent too, with mangos, nuts and the famous lemon juice within seconds of stopping.....and the lump of ice they gave me near the top of Hai Van pass was very welcome indeed. Great team!

Advice for Potential Travellers

The support was so good you don't need bike tools, energy drinks etc. I took them all and only used the high 5 zero tabs to add to my water. Don't expect toilets and changing facilities when cycling...the jungle is all purpose. Do take baby wipes, sanitiser! Take a big suitcase, there is a North face shop that's cheap, plus tailors and baggy pants to buy! Don't take too many clothes, you intend changing to travel after cycling but no one does! Nighttime is casual and laundry services are excellent anyway. Cycle a bit before you go.

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Barry Barry

Reviewed December 2014

Darjeeling, Sikkim and Singalila Ridge

This trip consisted of six days trekking and six days touring Sikkim and Northern India finishing in Calcutta and gave superb views of the Himalayan Range.

Most Inspirational Moment

Undoubtadly, the most inspirational moment of the trek was to wake up and go out of the tent to see the Himalayan Range from Kanchenjunga and Everest and beyond a view that I will never forget. I was scheduled to do this trek in October 2013 but had a cycling accident in Lithuania on another Exodus trip and had to cancel at the last moment following a relapse. I am pleased that I cancelled that trek for they had bad weather throughout and the superb views which we enjoyed in October 2014 would have been missed. The area is not haevily visited so you do not have to deal with crowds of other trekkers and in fact we only saw about three other very small groups. This is an unspoiled area and if you want to see the Himalayas in their full glory then I can think of no better trek.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Chospal was excellent. I had difficuly with the altitude but Chospal was always there to support me. He was an excellent leader and Exodus should be proud to have him as an employee.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The Trek is graded as moderate whereas the next trip I did, India Grand Tour was graded moderate to challenging. I would suggest that the trek should be similarly graded as their are steep inclines at a high altitude. The nights can be very cold so a four season sleeping bag is a necessity.

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Gordon Randall

Reviewed December 2014

Colours of Rajasthan including Pushkar Fair

Well organized and we did get to see most of what we wanted to.
Be very aware you have very long travel days because of the slow travel speeds for a bus, the road conditions and the distance to travel.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were no inspirational moments, it was not that type of trip for us, we were revisiting some areas of Rajasthan as well as seeing other places for the first time. The high points were - Taj Mahal, Udaipur, Jaipur and of course the Pushkar Fair.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our tour leader was excellent, patient and went well out of his way to try and sort out a major luggage problem for some of the others. I thought he had an excellent knowledge of where we visited and he is to be congratulated for that.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for long travel days but the hotels chosen were more than up to the suggested standard.

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Peter TOMLINSON

Reviewed December 2014

Patagonian Highlights

Fantastic mountain scenery enjoyed through great walks, accompanied by perfect weather conditions of clear blue skys and warm sunshine in a part of the world where the phrase “four seasons in one day” is often used.
If you like red meat you are in for a treat, medium rare cooked stakes to die for and the lamb ain’t bad either. I am not used to a what appeared a joint and rake of lamb in the one dish. All washed down with plentiful amounts of exceedingly good Malbec, the good value of the wine only makes you drink more but well it is a holiday afterall.
There are some long drives but to see the best of what Patagonia has to offer, it is a great way to travel. You have a long drive on day 10 and, when you get to the ferry strong winds may delay that 2km trip across the water for 2.5 hrs but don’t worry, the cafe has plenty of beer.
A the end of the trip back in Buenos Aires, which on its own has beautiful architecture and worth a return trip to spend a few more days enjoying the sights, a tango show is a great way to finish the trip with a great stake and more of that Malbec.

Most Inspirational Moment

A difficult one to answer but if I had to pick one it would be the walk to the base of Mount Fitzroy. The walk in starts in the forest with glimpses of the glacier through the trees. Then there you hear the noise of the glacier moving. After 3 hours you have the choice to continue a steeper climber to base or rest for 2 or maybe 3 until the rest of us return. If you do proceed it is well worth it and the guide has one further surprise for few extra strides. On the way down and the walk back the the town the views just get better at every turn. The walk is about 28k but don't let that put you off, it is well worth it and you have to walk past all the pubs before getting back to the hotel. As I mentioned it is difficult to pick one moment as there are other great days to accompany the Mount Fitzroy walk.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The tour leader was great: kept you well informed about the days activity; relevant facts about each area; practical information useful for all of us and there to help and resolve little problems when they arose, very cool and unflustered.

Advice for Potential Travellers

You do need to pack for all weather conditions but as experienced, you may not always need them all. Do pack your walking boots or shoes they will get plenty of use and well worth it. The full day walk in Torres Del Paine is where the moderate activity level of trip is appropriate the but don't bank on a good hearty meal of wholesome food in the evening at the refuge, bring what allowable food you can into Chile you quite likely to appreciate it to stave off hunger. Don't forget the alcohol either, wine and beer, you will save a fortune.

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Stewart Walker

Reviewed December 2014

Cycle Indochina & Angkor (16NOV14)

This was one of the best holidays i have ever had…..simple just that!
The team expecially Sutinee Rasp were amazing from start to finish and nothing was too much trouble.
The group were great company and we all had a fabulous time.
I will be back and certainly try to do more of the trips that Sutinee does the guiding on

Most Inspirational Moment

The visit to Angkor and the cu chi tunnels were amazing. The homestead stay i was fearing due to the comfort factor but i have to say this was so very enjoyable and the best night of the whole trip by far, the family were fantastic and so welcoming

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sutinee Rasp was absolutely excellent and kept us all amused and fired up constantly, it would not have been the same without her. I have recently found out that she has been fired by the Thailand part of the journey due to some of the locals restaurants that we visit not wanting to deal with her. I am gob-smacked as she is highly professional but has to keep 18 people in check and make sure food is out on time etc. Someone should check into this as i feel this is very hard on Sutinee and very unfair

Advice for Potential Travellers

book this trip ASAP

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