Most Inspirational Moment
Nazare
Thoughts on Group Leader
João Colaco is the best, really caring , knows the trip inside out. An inspiration
Advice for Potential Travellers
Well worth the decision
Reviews
Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers
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Reviews
A great ride
My 4th Exodus trip did not fail to impress.
Great scenery , good hotels , felt a little harder than the 2/7 rating
Fantastic Guide in João Colaco
Very wet but thoroughly enjoyable!
The trip was unavoidably very wet indeed due to unseasonable weather! The wind direction was also coming the wrong way the whole time which meant that instead of blowing north to south giving us a tailwind all the way it was actually blowing south to north giving us a headwind all the way!! This made cycling very difficult for those of us on standard bikes! As a result the tour guide said it was the hardest conditions that he had ever known. Act of God! On saying that, it was an extremely well organised trip and the time we had cycling was fun and full of good humour even though we were soaked to the bone most of the time!
Most Inspirational Moment
The fact that I actually managed to complete the trip in what were the worst conditions that any of us (including the group leader!) had ever encountered! The whole trip was a sense of achievement!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Joao Colaco was absolutely brilliant and deserves a huge bonus!! He was always around when needed, and full of local knowledge. He fully understood the cycling conditions, was careful with the health and safety aspect, catered for all our needs and always went the extra mile. He managed to quickly repair punctures and changed itineraries (restaurants and arranged fado etc) without fuss and always with a smile. He has become a friend and someone who we all deeply admired! Excellent and without fault or compare!
Advice for Potential Travellers
Bring wet weather gear!!
Suggestions
We loved this trip despite the weather and our group leader made it very tolerable and fun indeed!
Perfect way to learn about this fab country
What a great trip. Two fabulous cities. Really nice hotels. Great cycle routes on quiet roads past beaches and villages. And a fab local team to guide us through.
Most Inspirational Moment
Trying an e-bike for the first time! A lightbulb moment.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Ruben and his 2 buddies were the best. Such professionals, but so charming and fun.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Dont worry about the cycling. The trails are easy and quiet. There is a support vehicle most of the time. And get an e-bike if you still arent sure.
Suggestions
I beleive new arrangement for Lisbon are being added for 2024 - making the trip a full end to end expereience with your leader. A good move Exodus.
A great trip - leisurely pace and fabulous scenery
Although my fitness level is high my cycling prior to this trip was limited to Spin classes so I was a little nervous that the 55-60K per day would prove too demanding. I need not have worried – the pace was leisurely and extremely pleasant, mostly cycling on quiet roads and cycle paths beside the sea, and inland through villages and woodland passing rivers and lakes and always with plenty of time to appreciate and enjoy the often breathtaking scenery. I was impressed with the route planning and the timing/locations of coffee, lunch and viewing stops each day, and with the variety of our overnight hotel stops – and the fact that our bikes were always checked over, cleaned if necessary, and lined up outside the hotel ready for us to hop on each morning after breakfast, whilst our suitcases were spirited away to the next hotel and lined up ready for us to collect with our room keys on our arrival, with checking in all done. Excellent service! This was my first experience of holidaying with Exodus – it will definitely not be my last!
Most Inspirational Moment
Probably the fun on day 4 of switching on my e-bike for the first time and clicking straight into Turbo mode to race up the mountain and enjoy the amazing view from the top with everyone before the spectacular Atlantic Ocean views on the way down to our seafront hotel and a sundowner glass of wine on the rooftop bar
Thoughts on Group Leader
Reuben, our group leader, was fantastic, as was his colleague Joao who on our week was responsible for driving the support vehicle, moving our luggage and organising the group’s hotel check ins, arranging our restaurant and picnic lunches, and generally keeping in close contact with Reuben to ensure everything ran smoothly, which it certainly did. I understand the guys take turns week by week through the season to lead the cycling group/drive the support vehicle etc, which is a great system. Both men were local to the area that we were cycling and their love of and pride in their region was both infectious and endearing. In our briefings at the end of each day’s cycling Reuben was genuinely excited at what we would see and what he would be able to share with us the following day which greatly added to our anticipation and enjoyment. His wider knowledge of Portuguese history was also extensive and very well transmitted - we learnt loads!
Advice for Potential Travellers
Relax and enjoy - you are in good hands!
September 2023
A brilliant trip all round. The cycling, accommodation, food, bikes – all excellent. Variety of coastal roads, forest paths, villages. Good road surfaces. Liked the hotel to hotel cycling nature of the week.
Most Inspirational Moment
Zooming downhill at a speed never reached before!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Ruben was a superb leader. Joao too, they made a great team. Ruben was attentive, friendly, ensured all were happy and well organised. His warmth and love for his country came through at all times. A briefing at the end of the day provided a summary, forecast for what to expect the next day and great recommendations and advice about what to see and where to go for dinner. This was followed up with reservations made and maps to make sure we got there! Joao was a great driver, back up and picnic provider. Nothing was too much trouble. Can honestly say they are the best team I have had on my various Exodus holidays.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Enjoy! The pace is leisurely and plenty of time to regain your breath after the odd hill!
Porto to Lisbon ride.
The ride, accommodations, and dining were superb. Armando Nava is an excellent guide who provided many insights along the way. Beautiful ocean towns and ocean sights. There was a nice north to south tailwind for the whole ride; you would not want to do it in the other direction! The Level 2 designation is appropriate. Porto, Lisbon, and Nazare are fascinating towns (cities) . Highly recommend.
Most Inspirational Moment
The Big wave museum in Nazare
Thoughts on Group Leader
Armando Nava is excellent.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Don't expect to swim. The Atlantic is very cold.
A great experience!
This was my third cycling trip with Exodus but the first one that is more or less hotel-to-hotel cycling, with only a bus transfer at the end to get to Lisbon. I loved that the focus was very much on cycling (as opposed to other trips that combine the cycling with lots of sightseeing) and the pace was nice and relaxed. I’m a pretty fit 40-year-old and, yes, I could’ve cycled faster and further and I still would’ve enjoyed it but for an active holiday that’s not super-strenuous this was perfect. Since I loved the cycling so much I found the beginning of the tour in Porto and the end of the tour in Lisbon to be the least enjoyable. In fact, I think it would be better if the final day was a choice between a day trip to Lisbon for those who want it or an additional day’s cycling around Óbidos. Most of us signed up for a walking tour in Lisbon, organised for us by our cycling tour leader, but for me this was definitely the most disappointing part of the whole trip since the guide just wasn’t very good. In general, we were all left to our own devices in Lisbon and somehow it felt like an anticlimax after the five days’ cycling togather. However, there were plenty of other positive points – the accomodation was of a very good standard and all the hotel breakfasts were delicious, the bikes were pretty good, and the cycling routes were a lovely mixture of coastal roads and forest paths.
Most Inspirational Moment
The reward of the beautiful view at the top of THE hill on day 3 made the physical effort well worth it. The food was also really good everywhere we went (if you like fish!)
Thoughts on Group Leader
Cristóvão was the best! He and van driver/mechanic João worked really well together, they were super-organised and seemed to have thought of absolutely everything so that our trip went really smoothly. Cristóvão seems like a natural tour leader; he's really enthusiastic, fun, warm and friendly, and knows a lot about the history and culture of the areas we visited. Cristóvão and João even found the time to teach me some basic Portuguese since I said I wanted to learn a little during the holiday - they were so kind and patient with me, thank you!
Advice for Potential Travellers
Learning how to order coffee or tea in Portuguese is definitely worthwhile. It took me three days to figure out that the kind of cofee I usually drink - known as 'cortado' in Spain or 'macchiato' in Italy - is 'pingado' in Portugal. Don't be surprised if you can't pay by card everywhere you go, especially for small amounts such as a couple of beers - make sure you have plenty of cash. Finally, don't be conned by the Lisbon hotel's offer of an airport transfer for 20EUR, since you can get a normal taxi out on the street for only 10EUR!
Suggestions
If I remember correctly the trip notes didn't mention anything about the local tourist tax that some hotels charge. It isn't much, often just a euro per person per night, but it would be good to know about it in advance.
Cycling
We had a well organized cycling trip. Our leader Rita C and her partner Denis were great!! The planned lunches were a time saver!! and they were healthy and delicious!!! We were a group of 15 cycling plus our guide. Good size for a group. Would not want it any bigger. Most of the cycle paths in Portugal are great!! We did come across some rough roads full of potholes and bumpy, good thing there were not too many of those!! There was a long board walk that needs several repairs. I commented on that in the last section. The coast of Portugal is beautiful to ride!! We also had amazing weather, sunny every day with a warm breeze. All of the hotels are nice except the last hotel in Obidos. I commented on that in the last section.
Most Inspirational Moment
The scenery is so beautiful!! The people of Portugal are kind and helpful.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Rita Caetano was a good Leader and her partner Denis was helpful and well organized. We received a briefing at the end of every day so we had an idea what to expect for the next day's ride. Thank you. A guide is needed on this trip as we do have to go away from the coast at times and it would be confusing to know where to go without a guide. Denis was our shuttle service and he also prepared our 2 picnic lunches and they were delicious!!! Thank you.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take at least 3 days to visit Porto before the cycle trip, and take two days in Lisbon at the end. During the trip, include everyone to meet up at the restaurants for dinners/ evenings. Your leader can make reservations for all of you. From Lisbon, you can take a train to the Algarve. Take the time to visit this area and enjoy the beautiful beaches and the coastline. Spectacular scenery. Take a boat ride along the coast!!
Suggestions
The cost of the trip for Canadians is very expensive $$$. It was disappointing that only hotels and breakfasts were included. Not one dinner or lunch!! Not even a welcome dinner or last evening dinner!! Last May we did a guided tour of Ireland on a coach bus with Royal Irish Tours flying out of Toronto. Flights, a guide on the bus, all hotels, breakfasts, 7 dinners out of 10, 3 lunches, all passes to museums, entrance tickets... included, and the price was the same as this cycle trip. The last hotel in Obidos is ok to visit however not to stay. The Library hotel smells musty as soon as you enter. If you are placed on the second floor, there is no elevator and the walk to the second floor rooms involves several flights of stairs and several turns. Ridiculous!!! There was a long cycle on a board walk that had several areas that were a high risk for injury. Boards broken, parts of boards missing, holes... Not safe!!! I would also recommend that the cycling start in Gaia. Cycling out of Porto on the cobblestone streets, cars passing right beside you.... best to have the group place their bags and luggage in the van and leave the Naya hotel and walk over the bridge and start cycling in Gaia.
Porto to Lisbon Atlantic Ride
refer to my comments hereunder
Most Inspirational Moment
Small cycling group, cycling along the coast, experiencing Portugal's culinary cuisine (prices for our evening dinners were within reason)
Thoughts on Group Leader
Very organized, excellent communicator, patient, and always made sure everyone was safe
Advice for Potential Travellers
if you are an occasional rider, think about using an e-bike, some days it can be very windy along the coast;
Suggestions
The hotel room in Ovar and Obidos were deplorable, definitely not a 4 star, I would barely given them a 3 star. In my opinion, Exodus should find better accommodations or reduce the trip fee accordingly.
Fabulous First Experience
From start to finish I was impressed with this trip. There is so much awful (non-existent) customer service around these days that it heart-warming to speak to real people who really cared and knew how to organise and make things happen to suit me. Only my flights gave me grief (BA was a cosmos away when it came to their customer service) and this was no fault of Exodus, who did everything that could reasonably be expected to resolve the issues. Well done Exodus and the guides. I will definitely be joining you again for some future breaks.
Most Inspirational Moment
For me the most magical and memorable moment was lunch on the third day (I think) where I swam in the clear spring water pool before enjoying a delicious lunch organised by the guides.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Excellent, just excellent. So attentive, aware of the groups needs and a nice friendly guy all round. He and the other guide (bus driver, bag man, picnic maker) made a perfect team. They worked so well with each and for us; great professionals and much appreciated. My only suggestion is that they shouldn't worry so much, what they did was perfect, first class.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Don't overpack! (okay, so that advice is aimed at me!)
Suggestions
My experience was all the more enjoyable for the other members of the group. I really appreciated their company (even if they did lose me on day one!) and their experience of cycling, Exodus and other holidays they had been on. Thank you.