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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14217 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Tracey Fitzgerald

Reviewed November 2023

Cycling though paradise

Loved this trip. Tamil Nadu was lush and the people very friendly. Lots of wildlife. Hindu temple in Madurai was really worth a visit. Food was fantastic. Tamil Nadu and Kerala very different places. Western Ghats forests and tea plantations stunning. Kerala was beautiful. Decent hotels. Good guide and back up team. They could not have been more patient and kind. The cycling at times was challenging. Some days the temperature was 38 with high humidity. The roads were generally very good apart from day 3 which was an awful road. There were a lot of punctures that day. It was for me the hardest day. More like mountain biking. There are some long flat days at the start and some hills in the middle which were actually ok( I did the recommended pre trip training). The days in the hills were the best. I wasn’t mad about the houseboat stay. I’d have been happy with a day boat trip and another night on dry land. I enjoyed every day though (even day 3).

Most Inspirational Moment

I liked the temple in Madurai, the birds, the days we cycled in the Ghats and the tea plantations best. And the food.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Shekkar was very knowledgable. All the team were very kind,friendly and helpful.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I wouldn’t bother with taking clip in pedals, too many hazards on the roads to make it safe. Cows buses etc. Cycling in city traffic was scary at first but actually quickly worked out it’s not aggressive like the UK. Everyone gives way for you and no one drives too fast. I would take light weight bike lights. We had a couple of late finishes and really should have had lights. Take plenty of mosquito repellant, especially for long days when you might arrive at dusk. They bite through your cycle shorts. Some long days in the saddle. Worth investing in good cycle shorts. Take your own saddle maybe. Pack light as you can have washing done midway through at one of the 2 night hotel stays. Most places we stopped for lunch had hand washing facilities but wet wipes were handy. Take a water bottle with a mouth piece cover as roads very dusty. They give you plenty of snacks and have electrolytes for your water bottle.

Claire Norfolk

Reviewed November 2023

Another fantastic trip

My last Exodus trip was cycling Kerala (just before lockdown) and it was fantastic. This trip to Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam was just as good. We had 18 in Kerala and no couples, this one was only 13 and mainly couples so different dynamics but another great group. The whole trip was well organised, especially considering we had to travel through 3 different countries. Nut, our main leader was fantastic and went above and beyond in my opinion. All the many other guides, mechanics, drivers etc were also great, friendly, helpful and informative. I enjoyed the longer cycles in Thailand but feel we saw less of the real country than Cambodia and Vietnam. Lots of culture with temples, rice fields, water buffalo, boat trips etc. The killing fields and S-21 in Cambodia and the War remnants museum in Ho Chi Min City were sombre with many personal horrifying stories from our guides. The home stay was a highlight, lovely accommodation in the Mekong Delta and with a chance to try cooking our own Vietnamese food. Bikes were good, food excellent and nice hotels. Note for next trip, check flight options as there seemed to be a variety of options that were slightly more direct.

Most Inspirational Moment

Too many, Ankhor Wat, S-21

Thoughts on Group Leader

Nut was absolutely brilliant. Couldn’t have done done more for us all.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Check out flight options. Enjoy every minute! Cycling does depend on the group. The Kerala trip was supposed to be harder than this one but I found this one harder as some of us struggled in the heat - 37c - and long cycles at a decent pace. Kerala was shorter cycles, not as hot (around 27c) and flat apart from the challenge of Ooty Hill.

Steve Taylor

Reviewed November 2023

Full on week.

Lots of history, lots of culture, lots of scenery.

Most Inspirational Moment

2 or 3. The Muscat Grand Mosque for architecture, wahabi Sands and the Grand Canyon of Arabia for scenery.. seeing a turtle laying eggs and a couple of babies running for the sea was magic too.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ahmed was efficient and personable. Gave goof insights to life and history of Oman.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Prepare for some longish drives and maybe slight difficulty with avegetarian diet, but these are not insurmountable.

Leonora Thramann

Reviewed November 2023

Fabulous way to experience South Africa

The outlined itinerary covers the vast, varied, and stunning scenery of the more rural South Africa. Plus time spent in Kruger National Park. This trip is for easy going and seasoned travelers who are willing to ‘go with the flow’. There are times when a route might change, the weather isn’t cooperating, or a pause for mechanical issues is necessary. This trip is a value !!! Together, in the sprinter van, long transfers are covered, the host/guide, makes comfort stops accordingly, and our bikes are on the trailer, with us. We are never too far from our day packs , snacks, and fluids. Having our own van in Kruger gave us flexibility for our own game drives. Having our meals prepped in Kruger gave us more time to use the pool, rest, birdwatch, and at night, watch the evening sky. We had little cultural interaction with the local people, yet we cycled through small town centers, farmland, and housing settlements with waves of “hello’ hello’.

Most Inspirational Moment

Songimvelo Nature preserve; hard packed gravel through an abandoned mining town. The birdsong was non-stop and the flora was all ours. Hlumu mountains, the overlook was very impressive. Mac Mac pools was a welcome refresh after a hot and hilly ride. We had a good mix of friendly people, really fortunate, good laughs, adventurers, able to chill and enjoy.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Tellus is an experienced leader. He loves South Africa and wants his guests to embrace it, as he does. He is able to pivot and change course when the need arises. He delegates appropriately to his assistant, Rhea. They work in tandem without disruption. Rhea is eager to see that the slowest rider gets to where they need to be and does so with a smile. They both know alot about wildlife. Tellus was helpful in preparing us for our 'add-on' self drive journey. They both prepared delicious meals and were reluctant to accept help with clean up. They were always planning ahead, where to buy beverages before nightfall...what groceries we'd need to the next day It was obvious that they wanted us to have a wonderful and safe experience and they were going to do everything they could to facilitate that.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Get in shape. This is challenging cycling, lots of "undulating' terrain. It is doable but you want to enjoy it. The road surfaces vary, hard pack, tarmac, gravel, most have shoulders and most of the time we were not in heavliy trafficked areas. The weather can be cold, damp, rain (pack accordingly) to hot, hot, hot.... Day 1 cycle starts at altitude .. do not be discouraged, pace yourself, the remaining days are not at altitude. Pack a type M adapter(for purchase at JNB airport)AND a multiport USB if you have more than one item to charge or are using an e-bike (outlets are limited in some accomodations). You will need a headlamp for evenings. Americans cycle with lots of safety gadgets: I was thrilled to have my rear view mirror on my bike helmet. The SA driver does not regard cyclists, at all, so on the few roads with traffic , seeing behind me was reassuring. Padded gloves for the downhill when the road is bumpy, the bikes are good but the repetitive vibration can be numbing. Pack a head scarf or kerchief, you'll use it. You will want your own hydration packets, i.e.LMNT. If you can't tolerate instant coffee, pack your own travel press. Hot water is available but a true brew, hit or miss . Groceries are well stocked with snacks, juices, fruits, cheeses.

Sharon Ruschkowski

Reviewed November 2023

Nile Cruise & Aswan - Premium Adventure

The guides are excellent. The quality of hotels and transportation are exceptional.

Most Inspirational Moment

The Valley of the Tombs.

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was a very good leader with exceptional social skills,

Veronika R

Reviewed November 2023

Indias North & South - Premium adventure

Great holiday excellent guide

Most Inspirational Moment

Taj Mahal the guide the company

Thoughts on Group Leader

Fantastic all round.

Lynne Bateman

Reviewed November 2023

AMAZING!

First of all, this is an AMAZING trip. It is perfectly designed to have the right amount of activity, sights, experiences and cycling. There’s downtime, there’s bike rides, there’s not too long in the coach, there’s swimming and hammam and sights and I really appreciated three nights in the same hotel in Petra. I had never been on a cycling holiday before and so I have a few things to say about that! I cycle around my home town a lot and go to the gym so I kinda thought I would be fine. And I was fine, BUT what I wasn’t prepared for were the steep downhills! So that is what I would like to warn people about. If you are not a confident cyclist and if you are scared going fast downhill, then be warned, there is a LOT of that! Here is my breakdown of the cycling. Everything else was pretty much PERFECT! Obviously, we pretty much all got sick! And our cycle guide was pretty useless, but apart from that…! DAY TWO [first day of cycling]. Got our bikes, our cycle guide Iz, zoomed off downhill along a major road, without any introduction. I found this a really challenging first day. There was no gentle introduction to the roads, off we went! There was a mix of downhill and flat, but the pace was crazily fast. Things settled down on day three, but I thought the guide was really rubbish on this first day and there was no pacing at all. He was monosyllabic anyway, but I was at the back the whole time and he really didn’t care to check in! Our guide eventually had a go at him and he did token checks on us, but not impressed! DAY THREE gentle ride to Nebo and then we had to go down the windy highway for ages. I was dreading it, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought and actually better than yesterday! The pace was much better. The last part of day was a flat, hot slog along a motorway [!] to the Dead Sea. DAY FIVE Pleasantly undulating! My favourite day of cycling. Little Petra was fab too! DAY SIX I was of course sick by this point. The big bad long day! There are maybe two super steep sections and maybe two long ascents, but it was definitely a great day’s ride. Iz didn’t want to tell us about the ride, for some reason, but he eventually described it as section one downhill, section two undulating, section three flat, and that’s broadly true. DAY SEVEN needed a bag for swimming, a bag for wadi rum camp ,and a bag for the bus. So that was a mental challenge!! Today’s ride was another flat, hot slog, but great. I’m starting to think I actually prefer undulating! At one point the guide, Iz, told me to get a move on! Wadi Rum completely exceeded expectations. Loved the camels. Loved the stargazing. Loved everything – food, culture, the sights, the hotels, it was all great. I give this trip 10/10 for experience. Consider if the cycling is the right level for you, it WAS the right level for me, but I was always at the back because of the scary downhills, but i’m SO GLAD I did it! Also, our group was just gorgeous.

Most Inspirational Moment

Stars at Wadi Rum, floating in Dead Sea, the first glimpse of Petra, Little Petra which I adored, the camels and the dogs and the kittens... hang on - did you only want one?!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was adequate. We know he did a lot of sorting out behind the scenes, but he was also pretty tired.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bring bags for various packing that's needed! I expected Wadi Rum to be freezing at night [nov] and it wasn't so I'd overpacked. Spent about £275 in extras, including hammam and camel ride and £75 to leader for tips and snacks.

Eric M

Reviewed November 2023