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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14318 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Reviewed September 2013

THE TROPICAL SOUTH

A great trip exploring the culture, landscapes, wildlife and food of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Most Inspirational Moment

There are so many, it's difficult to pick one! The highlights were the experience we weren't expecting and which were off the beaten track. Trekking through tea plantations and spotting a wild elephant, meeting tea pickers, exploring Fort Cochin washing ghats, fishing nets, fish market, Jew Town and finding the best chai of the trip, experiencing monsoon downpours in Munnar, sampling local food in Madurai, cookery class in a traditional Keralan home in Thekkady, being in Allepey for the annual Snake Race and partying with the locals, chill time at the end of the trip at Varkala and Kovalam.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Charls could not have done more to make our trip the best possible experience. He checked out our interests at the start of the trip and taiolred the experiences accordingly. He was positive, fun, informative, managed our expectations and ensured that we had a truly local experience, especially in his home town of Madurai. Charls is a great ambassador for India and for Exodus.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Keep your camera charged as there are so many photo opportunities, don't forget mosquito spray, waterproof jacket if you're there during monsoon, hand gel and loo roll!

Reviewed September 2013

MONGOLIAN ADVENTURE

Mongolia is a country well worth a visit. The scenery, the people, the customs and traditions combine well to make it a truly fascinating country.

Most Inspirational Moment

I enjoyed the sweeping vistas of the steppes dotted with Gers and herds of fine horses. It was good to see that customs and traditions are being maintained.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader was helpful and sociable. His English was very good (one of his many languages). We were able to visit a couple of sites that were not on the itinerary because of his suggestions.

Advice for Potential Travellers

It is not a physically strenous trip as there are few opportunities for walks; however, the long journeys on really bumpy and dusty roads are bone jarring and tiring. The food can be challenging especially if you are a non meat eater. Be prepared to eat a lot of carbs and chocolate bars (for desserts!). The picnics were not well done. If thinking of arriving early I'd pick a hotel in the centre of town. Our tour hotel in UB was inconveniently located a long walk from the centre and its facilities were poor.

Reviewed September 2013

CYCLE THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO

A great trail and a brilliant leader

Most Inspirational Moment

Getting to the top of the climbs, and arriving in Santiago on the last day of the trip

Thoughts on Group Leader

Can't imagine a better leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bring your own pedals and bike shoes if you want to clip-in.

Reviewed September 2013

CYCLING CUBA

This is a great way to see the countryside in Cuba which is, on the whole, amazing and quite diverse. It’s also a good way to meet local people as the guide fixed toilet and coffee stops along the way.

Most Inspirational Moment

The countryside was pretty amazing.And that we cycled the whole thing!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jose was very knowledgeable and passionate about his country and adept at communicating this to us. He was extremely good in stressful situations and was able to re-organise the itinerary quickly and effectively to our benefit. He was also able to mix with the group socially and enjoy the 'banter' (mainly from the Aussies at his expense!).

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take small toiletries and possibly old clothes to give away to locals along the route.

Reviewed September 2013

CANADIAN ROCKIES & VANCOUVER ISLAND

An amazing and diverse active trip with fabulous scenery and wildlife.

Most Inspirational Moment

Lake Moraine was my trip highlight, I have never seen colours like that anywhere in my life.

Thoughts on Group Leader

She is probably the best tour leader I have ever had. This was my first exodus trip but I have used many other operators and she by far surpassed my expectations. She was fun but serious when she needed to be, direct and as helpful as she could be, not to mention strong (a very handy requirement given the weight of my case!).

Advice for Potential Travellers

Prepare for extreme temperatures at both ends of the spectrum. When the sun is shining on you it is very hot but otherwise very cold.

Reviewed September 2013

BULGARIA: RODOPI MOUNTAINS

This part of Bulgaria was very remote and it felt as if I had stepped back in time. Knowing that the food we were eating was grown or produced locally, including the delicious cheese and potato based dishes, jams and honey.

Most Inspirational Moment

Taking in the stunning views on the walks every day.Standing on the viewing platform at St. Elijah.The last night when women from the village came to dance and sing traditional songs for us. Also when local people joined in with the singing and dancing and a young man started to play the traditional Bulgarian bagpipes. Fabulous!

Thoughts on Group Leader

She was very knowledgeable about the area and the country in general. Always happy to answer any questions and if she didn't know the answer she would find out. She was always cheerful and had a good sense of humour.

Advice for Potential Travellers

It was very hot in August which made some of the steepest ascents harder for me than they would have been otherwise. Take high factor sun cream.If you go to the bear-hide one evening be very patient. We left just before a group of wild boar came down to eat. The evidence was captured on a night vision camera. No bears though!

Reviewed September 2013

THE TROPICAL SOUTH

This was a wonderful trip. The tour included a wide range of experiences and the group really jelled well. Our leader Charls wanted us to love Kerala and Tamil Nadu and added all sorts of little touches to the advertised programme. Who’d have thought how much we’d love visiting a laundry, for example. The food was wonderful particularly if you like vegetables and fish!

Most Inspirational Moment

There are several contenders: watching the ceremony at sunset at the Sri Meenakshi Temple in Madurai; the houseboat cruise; all aspects of the Nehru Trophy Snake Boat Race at Alappuzha (Alleppey) and sunrise at Kanyakumari - plus sunset at Varkala and the wild seas at Kovalam! I knew we were going to see the Sri Meenakshi Temple, but returning at sunset was memorable. Similarly I'd not realised we'd go to Kanyakumari to see sunrise over the end point of India.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Charls Gnanaraj was absolutely brilliant. He was unfailingly cheerful and helpful (even when monsoon conditions attempted to undermine the schedule). At the beginning of the holiday he checked out everyone's interests and found we shared a lot of things (eg photography, animals and birds, sights of interest, local culture, food, gin) - and also that we weren't interested in (eg gold jewellry). He was very sociable and also mindful of individual needs and preferences.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The day walk in the tea plantations and jungle walk at Periyar Sanctuary require you to wear leech socks. They are necessary: there are lots of leeches. If you've got swollen feet due to the heat to start with, you'll never get leech socks AND normal socks into your boots. However leech socks and walking sandles (provided you don't mind getting them wet and muddy) are fine. I'd suggest not bothering to take walking shoes at all: stick with sandles.

Reviewed September 2013

The High Incas

A great itinerary in the High Incas, getting away from the crowds but into the heart of this amazing region. If you like your mountains and a trekking without the tourist (I know this is an irony!) then this is the Peru for you. I also took the Lake Titicaca (only one out of my group to do so) and I’d highly recommend taking that opportunity when you’re already out there: it’s quite an experience and the transfer etc is expertly organised by Exodus.

Most Inspirational Moment

Camping on the ridge above Phuyupatamarca was fabulous. Although this one of the rare times that we saw other campers it was idyllic to watch the sunset and rise over the mountains, whilst throwing an eye back to Mt Salcantay, where we'd come from. This is also a site which will always make me laugh- I got involuntarily up close and personal with a bunch of llamas, which was quite an experience!!!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Wilbert was a fun guide who was very knowledgeable about the history and culture of the Incas- and always up for a laugh!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do read the trip notes - if you like your comforts then enter this in the knowledge that there will be days without showering- but you are well looked after with daily bowls of hot water, if you want them.

Reviewed September 2013

UZBEKISTAN UNCOVERED

A brilliant tour. Even the August heat didn’t put us off, it just made it better.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing all the amazing holy sites spread across the whole country and realising the amount of effort and money the Soviet regime had expended in restoring them to something like their former glory.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Dilshod, our tour guide was amazing. His knowledge of the culture and history of his lovely country was encyclopaedic and almost made our guide book unnecessary. He was friendly and helpful whenever we needed his support, which was quite often.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Check see if there are any upcoming festivals which might impact on your holiday dates, either positively or negatively. Also, bear in mind that the 'average' temperatures in August are just that, average. Be prepared for temperatures in the mid 30s Celsius and even higher in early August. But the heat is a dry heat so it is quite bearable and makes for a great time!

Reviewed September 2013

AMALFI COAST & BAY OF NAPLES

A good mixture of walking and sightseeing activities. Friendly, welcoming hotel with great food.

Most Inspirational Moment

An awe-inspiring walk around the crater of vesuvius with stunning views of the surrounding landscape.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Friendly and engaging group leader, who did a great job on his first lead on the Amalfi coast.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Put your valuables into watertight containers on the walks, the weather is unpredictable and your phone/camera could be damaged.

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