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.

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Excellent

4K reviews on

103 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Judith Taylor

Reviewed September 2015

Trip: Cycling in Albania

Great cycling, food, scenery and general variety

A brilliant week of suitably challenging cycling through varied rural, mountainous and coastal scenery in a fascinating country. Great food and high standard of accommodation compared to other equivalent trips. From not knowing what to expect of Albania I loved the whole trip and would go back to explore the more mountainous north. Well-maintained hire bikes suitable for the roads and terrain.

Most Inspirational Moment

Brilliant cycling, great food, and... The Llagora Pass. Chilling out at Farme Sotira. Greco-Roman ruins at Butrint.

Thoughts on Group Leader

We were very well looked after by Armand and Marsela.

Advice for Potential Travellers

This trip is at the high end of a Moderate, more a 4 than a 3 for the combination of hills, distance and temperature (over 30C!). On spending money, food is very cheap by our standards (also very fresh and tasty!). While prices vary and increase slightly as you move to the coast, for the whole week we spent up to £100 on meals, including a drink with dinners.

Alison Carr

Reviewed September 2015

Trip: Cycling in Albania

Cycling in Albania

This was an excellent new cycling trip put on by Exodus. The accommodation and food was excellent but I did find the cycling hard in the hot conditions. I would thoroughly recommend this trip to my family and friends.

Most Inspirational Moment

The last day doing the big pass and getting to the top in the 36 degrees heat.

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was excellent.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Get fit!!!

Maureen Harper

Reviewed September 2015

Trip: Cycling in Albania

Cycling Albania

The trip was not rated accurately. The elevation gains were greater than expected, as was the amount of traffic on some of the roads.

Most Inspirational Moment

I enjoyed the quiet, although rough (which I expected) rural roads in the mountains and viewing the people and scenery there. As always, I enjoyed the company.

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was organized and efficient, but could have added much more to the trip by discussing social, historical, natural history and personal stories about his country. He tended to be somewhat cynical and more interested in logistics rather than the people on the trip. He provided a good overview and profile of each day's ride which would have helped in the itinerary trip description Exodus used.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for lengthly climbs on narrow roads with considerable traffic, particularly in the sections near the end of the trip. The coastal rides were somewhat repetitive and more like a road biking experience.

Reply from Exodus

We would like to thank Maureen for her feedback, but we are very sorry that the trip did not meet her expectations. We have worked hard developing the right itinerary with our local partners and overall this trip has received positive feedback. I cycled the full route when setting up the itinerary for 2015 and I decided on the grade accordingly; although there are some climbs, I found the route to be comparable with some of our other cycling trips of the same grade. The toughest climb on the trip is an optional one and the ride has full vehicle support, both of which were taken into account when setting the grade. We feel that the roads are relatively quiet for the majority of the trip, only getting busier around some of the larger towns, however we appreciate that Maureen feels differently.

Olly Pemberton – Trip Manager for Albania

Paul Masters

Reviewed June 2015

Trip: Cycling in Albania

Cycle Albania

A quite outstanding trip that packed so much into a week. The route combines sleepy agricultural areas, grand mountains and spectacular coastline. Varied scenery combined with some excellent places to stop overnight and a couple of interesting sightseeing stops to enjoy aspects of Albania’s history in Gjirokaster and Butrint. Inexpensive. Some demanding cycling on excellent bikes.

Most Inspirational Moment

Nothing to single out: each day seemed so different.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Armand, supported by Marsela. Extremely well organised - everything to do with the bikes, accommodation, meals happened seamlessly (not for them - they worked really hard.) Quite apart from anything else, Armand trialled and selected this excellent route

Advice for Potential Travellers

Panniers for these bikes were excellent. Can accommodate an extra water bottle which, on long shifts, might be useful.

John B

Reviewed May 2015

Trip: Cycling in Albania

Cycling in Albania

An excellent trip which exceeded expectations. The trip seeks out some of the more spectacular scenery that the country has to offer. The hire bikes were excellent, 30 speed, front suspension and disc brakes, necessary to cope with the sometimes poor surfaces. Arm

Most Inspirational Moment

None, it was a joy from start to finish.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Armand and Junid were a great team, their enthusiasm and helpfulness never flagging.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do it, you won't be disappointed! Get some cycling in before you go as some days are quite demanding, but you always as much time as you like to get to your destination.

Sian Thomas

Reviewed May 2015

Trip: Cycling in Albania

Fantastic!

This is a fantastic trip and it definitely exceeded my expectations! The scenery was beautiful and varied, the food was really delicious and so fresh! The cycling was perfect, a good mix of some more relaxed days with a couple of more challenging days and climbs. The people are super friendly and the guides were very helpful!

Most Inspirational Moment

Completing the long climb on the last day overlooking the beautiful Albanian coastline!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent guides, very knowledgeable, helpful and well organised.

Paul Martin

Reviewed May 2015

Trip: Cycling in Albania

Cycling in Albania

When you told friends you were going to Albania you got some puzzled looks but this exceeded all expectations!
Albania can have a negative image in some people’s minds but nothing about this trip would re-enforce that view. The landscapes are stunning, the people a delight, the food so natural and healthy I might even have lost weight and the cycling and companionship was first class. There is cycling to challenge and overall I would rate this as a 4 not 3 Moderate. This last day, if you ride it all, would rate more like a 6. The cultural aspects blend well with the cycling and there is a very good mix of places to visit. The trip notes describe the whole trip very well.

Most Inspirational Moment

Great country, exhilarating cycling and wonderful people. Just being there with an exceptional group of people.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The guys Armand and Junid are excellent, mixing well with the group, great job guys.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Food and drink are very cheap, only needed £130 converting to cover the whole week with a couple of souvenirs thrown in. Felt very safe, there was never a mention of needing to be careful about valuables etc. Bikes were often left un-secured overnight.

Colin McQueen

Reviewed May 2015

Trip: Cycling in Albania

Albania

Long a mystery Albania is an undiscovered marvel only a short flight from home. Scenery is stunning and varied with snowcapped panorma’s, ancient towns and unspoilt coast. Cycling on quiet roads is a joy, with a real sense of discovery round every corner.

Most Inspirational Moment

Staying at the trout farm, then riding through lush pastures and mountains on the second days ride

Thoughts on Group Leader

Armand and Junid (brothers) were both extremely capable, organised and friendly. A great team and ambassadors for their country.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go soon, it's already showing signs of change

Jane Cornish

Reviewed May 2015

Trip: Cycling in Albania

Cycling Albania

A very beautiful country, not a boring bit to be found on this cycle tour, showed off the best of some stunning scenery.

Most Inspirational Moment

how welcome we were made to feel and the effort put into producing some wonderful food home grown and reared. The ability of the older element of our group, truly inspirational.