Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

The first homestay. The suggestions offered by our tour guide ( bike trip and cooking class) on our off time. The knowledge of our guide. And the amazing food and people of Vietnam

Thoughts on Group Leader

Quang was extremely knowledgeable and organized. He had in-depth knowledge and many good stories of every area we visited. Every time we got in the bus he told us what we would be doing. What we would see, etc. Timelines of travel time, etc were always given and accurate. He always was making sure it was arranged for us all to have our three meals a day . He did many different things to maximize our time on our stops, such as ordering food in advance. He also went out of his way to guide us and select options for any off time we had, which included making reservations and arranging transport as necessary. He showed a great amount of pride in his country and his family that was so nice to see. We could go on and on about how fantastic he was. Leave it to say that this was our first Exodus trip and we cannot imagine ever having a guide as wonderful as Quang was.

Most Inspirational Moment

Spotting a mother slot with her baby high in the trees and watching them move slowly through the canopy, completely at home in their natural environment. With our leader explaining its behaviour and conservation, it was a quiet, magical moment that perfectly captured the beauty of Costa Rica’s wildlife and the importance of protecting it.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent! Humble, caring, attentive, a brilliant story teller and most importantly, he is passionate! Randall was brilliant.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Pack for all weather, embrace early starts and bring a sense of curiosity. A good pair of walking shoes, lightweight layers and binoculars will really enhance the experience. Most importantly, slow down and take it all in — some of the best moments come from standing quietly and letting Costa Rica’s wildlife reveal itself.

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking Sigiriya Rock - an amazing view from the top and sense of achievement for the group! The times spent with local families were also highlights - fantastic lunch under a banyan tree and hearing more about their local business, and playing traditional games on a families farm, our group had so much fun this day and shared loads of laughs.

Thoughts on Group Leader

As an Exodus staff member who's travelled a lot with Exodus over the past 8 years, Roshan is a true reflection of the fantastic guides we pride ourselves in at Exodus. He's been leading this tour for 20+ years and his knowledge, expertise and professionalism is stand-out. We were unlucky to be on this tour when Cyclone Ditwah hit, and Roshan was absolutely fantastic looking after us as a group, arranging excellent "Plan B's" where needed, while also managing a really sad and devastating situation happening in his country. He brought calmness and good humour every day and is a brilliant ambassador for Exodus.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go with the flow and just enjoy it - November is rainy, but expect that, and be open to plans changing and trusting the guides judgement to still make every day brilliant. All optional activities need to be paid for in cash, so take some local currency or exchange it on arrival, as the first ATM is a few days away on the tour, and not everywhere accepts card payments (some lunch stops). Be prepared for hotel buffets - the accommodation is great, but often further away from towns. The food was often a wide variety and always tasty. Take good mosquito repellent from home, and plenty of it - you can't buy DEET there! The bus can get chilly with air conditioning - suggest leaving a jumper/extra layer on the bus for this - especially for the longer journeys

Most Inspirational Moment

The valley of the kings, and in particular the SETI tomb which was an extra but was well worth the money as it was virtually empy whilst all the other tombs were heaving with tourists.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Andrew was fantastic and a font of knowledge about the Egyptian culture and history of the area. He was always keen to impart his knowledge and he made the whole experience superb.

Most Inspirational Moment

Home stay was fabulous, Cat Ba island and the boat trip and kayaking in an area where virtually no-one else was there. We also saw the Golden Langurs, what a treat!

Thoughts on Group Leader

She was amazing, so professional, helpful and good at interpreting the group and what we wanted, both individually and collectively. Once she got to know us she was even better! Super good.

Most Inspirational Moment

Day 1 was super memorable - we crossed suspension bridges, passing rivers and waterfalls, over rice paddies and hiked up and down many steps through villages. What an intro to what was ahead! One of the most inspiring days for me was Day 7 - starting from Upper Pisang, our Teahouse view was of Annapurna II! We made our way to Ngawal. This day definitely gave us a taste of a continuous climb up as we were just days before the high pass, the views were stunning and it just got better and better as the day unfolded. You look back thinking, I can't believe we came from all the way down *there*.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sukman was exceptionally caring, kind, and patient throughout the trek. He led from the back, ensuring that everyone in the group was well taken care of. Our safety was his top priority. Sukman’s knowledge of the mountains and local life & culture was very inspiring. We would 100% travel with him again in the future!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be mindful of what you pack, and keep your KITBAG weight within the 10kilo limit. You travel with local human porters, who work incredibly hard -something many people don’t fully appreciate. Overpacking can be quite selfish. If you forget something, don’t worry—you’ll still find supplies along the route - For example, in Chame and Manang. We were able to pick up our YakTrax right before Yak Kharka. High altitude is no joke, so having a comfort item can make a big difference. Just remember, keep your load within the weight limits.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the animals and birds at close quarters, climbing the volcano and snorkelling.

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was incredibly knowledgeable about nature, wildlife and the geography of the Islands. Personable and helpful, carrying bags etc.

Most Inspirational Moment

Several... mainly in the countryside, desert and mountains. I particularly enjoyed being in the Sahara with the Berber guides playing music (and encouraging us to dance!) around the campfire. Also, the lunch in a village near Skoura. The family who hosted us were utterly charming and welcoming. The hammam in the High Atlas was also a highlight, with two lovely ladies looking after us well.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Mohamed was superb as mentioned above. He was approachable, patient, calm, quietly getting on with things. Friendly and easy to be around. He was clearly liked and respected by the various local guides we met, and the people we stayed with or visited in the desert and mountains.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Book this trip, you won't regret it! I've read others who've had delays at the airport, we had no trouble at all, it was quick and easy to get through (it's probably improved in recent years). There's no form to complete for a visa, just a few questions at passport control (flight number / hotel details / occupation). Money wise, the exchange rate is slightly worse at the airport than in town. Cashpoints are more expensive in Marrakech than elsewhere (in my experience). If you like buying souvenirs, pack an extra bag for your trip home!

Most Inspirational Moment

Wild life and Trocadero

Thoughts on Group Leader

Roberto who was excellent given his limited support

Advice for Potential Travellers

This was a full tour and was under resourced. They group shoud have had a back rider for safety reasons. 80% of the accomodation was below basic and about 50% had no hot water. . .

Reply from Exodus

We’d like to thank Suzanne for sharing her thoughts and for travelling with Exodus. We’re truly sorry that this departure didn’t deliver the experience she expected.

The Coast to Coast itinerary remains the same one so many of our customers have loved, and we’re committed to ensuring it delivers the adventure and enjoyment they expect. Recent feedback—including Suzanne’s—has highlighted areas where we need to do better, and we’ve already taken steps to improve resourcing and logistics so future departures run more smoothly.

We’re equally concerned by the accommodation points she raised, particularly hot‑water reliability. Though this is sometimes unavoidable in rural Costa Rica, we’re auditing the properties used on this tour with our local partners to make sure stays meet our minimum standards.

We’re pleased the wildlife—especially in Tortuguero—and Roberto’s leadership were highlights, and we’ll pass on her praise. Thank you again to Suzanne for her honest review; it helps us improve and keep this much‑loved itinerary delivering the quality our customers deserve.

The Exodus Team

Most Inspirational Moment

Amakhala game reserve - superb guide and lots of wildlife to see.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Petro made this tour fantastic. Her organisation and knowledge were second to none. She is obviously well known and liked by many of the restauranteurs and hoteliers along the route. She was able to re-arrange the published route in small ways at times, to take advantage of weather conditions or to ensure we had extra time in certain places. We were celebrating an anniversary and she went to some trouble to make it very special for us. I cannot praise her abilities highly enough.