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.

Simply use the selector below to search our trip reviews and start reading real feedback from real Exodus travellers who have ‘been there and done that’!

Lots of our clients also like to post handy tips and advice about their travels. It’s great to know what to expect on an Exodus adventure before you go, so make the most of their experience and you’ll make the most of yours!

Haven’t posted your review yet? Here’s how to do it…

Once you return from your Exodus adventure holiday, you will be emailed a link to add your review. Any feedback collected is posted onto our website, totally unedited.

Alternatively you can navigate to the relevant trip page and add your review via the Reviews tab.

Select a trip specific review:

Select

14246 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Reviewed October 2011

TREASURES OF SICILY

If you want a holiday with plenty to see and do whilst learning about the history, culture and geography of a fascinating island then this trip is for you. Travelling right round Sicily in only 8 days means some long days and time on the road but there is so much of interest that it is worth it. We stayed in some interesting and individual places as well as the usual hotels.

Most Inspirational Moment

The highlights for me were the walk around the old craters of Mt Etna - (the whizz bangs we heard on the first morning were fireworks in the village and not a new eruption!) and the coastal walk in Zingaro Nature Reserve. The week we travelled was unusually hot, about 35C, but there was still time for swimming in the sea, wandering the winding streets of medieval towns and sampling the local food and wine.

Thoughts on Group Leader

We had two leaders/drivers, both very thoughtful and a fund of interesting information. Good fun too and very tolerant of my attempts to speak Italian.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you like to be active, informed and kept busy then go for it and don't forget to try the granita with a brioche.

Reviewed October 2011

WHITE VILLAGES OF SIERRA NEVADA

I had never been to Spain before and my first impression was that I wouldn’t enjoy my week as the area was hot, barren and dry. By the end of the week I couldn’t wait to go back and I am now contemplating living in the area for a year to get to know it better.

Most Inspirational Moment

Probably the last day when we walked in the home valley of our guide George. This was a valley full of varied flora and views. We had an excellent lunch in a village hotel and as we walked through the picturesque villages and countryside, we enjoyed eating figs, almonds and walnuts washed down with mineral water from the local springs, including a naturally sparkling spring. Or maybe it was sharing a beer in a village cafe and discussing the day with the group as we waited for the hotel minibus to pick us up and return for a shower, more beer, a swim and supper. Or perhaps just walking with a great group of people.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our original group leader Jeremy had a medical emergency, so having met us at the airport he was only able to walk with us on day 1. He was friendly and sensitive to different walking speeds of the group. He was replaced by another local british guide, George.George had a great knowledge of the area, an interest in the history of the Sierra Nevada, a good command of Spanish and knew many of the locals. He was an athletic walker and inspired confidence and curiosity.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I found the area to be hotter than I expected, and only wore half the clothes I took. I washed my walking kit every night and it was ready to wear in the morning. I didn't spend much money as there were few shopping opportunities. Food and drink was limited in the villages as this is quite an impoverished region. Having said this it was wonderful to meet shepherds in the hills with their flocks of sheep and goats, and to see the "cowboys" who still roam the hills on hores-back checking their stock.My wife and I spent a day in Granada visiting the Alhambra. The visit was very worthwhile but Granada was hot. Great ice-creams and tapas. 6 of us went together in a taxi to make it cost effective. The hotel organised the taxi for us.

Reviewed October 2011

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - RONGAI ROUTE

Overall a lovely holiday with trying & emotional times mixed in with absolute dlelight and pleasure.

Most Inspirational Moment

Getting to the top of Kili, not just on my own but with oldest and youngest of the group.

Thoughts on Group Leader

He has very good, very informative and knowledgeable.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Listen to what you are advised to do on this particular holiday both before and during there were some golden nuggets both in the written advice from Exodus and the team which helped a lot.

Reviewed October 2011

WALKING IN THE WESTERN DOLOMITES

Breathtaking scenery, two excellent leaders, delicious food – what more can you want? Except maybe not getting deep snow in September!

Most Inspirational Moment

Coming up to a pass after an exhausting steep climb and seeing the most stupendous array of mountains all around (this actually happened more than once!)

Thoughts on Group Leader

Both B and C group leaders (Jem and Albert) were magnificent. They had to cope with lots of unexpected problems - standing in at short notice for Eric who was injured, devising new walks that could be done safely after the heavy snowfall, coping with early closure of cable cars. They not only gave us a wonderful selection of walks despite everything, they both gave up their free day to take us out once the snow stopped. What can you say?

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be aware the weather can be changeable - make sure you have good waterproofs and adequate warm clothing (but shorts and t-shirts as well). Also, if you do the C grade, be prepared for some scrambling and some narrow ridges.

Reviewed October 2011

CARPATHIAN CULTURE AND WILDLIFE

A good mixture of wildlife, walking and culture.

Most Inspirational Moment

When a mother bear and three cubs appeared at the bear hide and happily started eating and playing.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Cosmin was great. He retained an air of quiet confidence throughout the week, whilst working hard to ensure our trip ran smoothly.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Please note that about half the week is walking. Some of us had failed to spot this and had chosen the trip due to the focus on wildlife. However this said, the scenary on the walks was fantastic and the exercise did us all good!I didn't need as much money as I thought I would, but then the optional forest walk and bird watching trip didn't even get a mention. There was opportunity to change money on a couple of occasions during the trip when needed.Don't drink too much schnaps, it goes to your head really quickly! The guest house is everything you could want. Clean rooms, delicious dinners and great hospitality. Be prepared for plenty of cheese sandwiches for packed lunches though!

Reviewed October 2011

TUSCANY: CYCLE SIENA & CHIANTI

This trip was a great balance of exercise, culture and all round fun. The accommodation was very good too. No surprise to learn there were lots of hills, but the pacing was good for the slower ones like me, and the support was excellent.

Most Inspirational Moment

We had a very good group - guides and fellow travellers. This helps a lot, but in the end it's the quality of the itinerary that makes or breaks a trip, and it was in my view a very good one. I particularly liked the way it was set up so that we had one night in the starting point hotel, then 2 nights each at each hotel with loops on the second day at each.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Guido was excellent, as was Emanuele. Both thoroughly decent people, with excellent local knowledge and always ready to help. Their recommendations for, and organisation of, meals were much appreciated.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take less warm clothing if you go in mid September. My cold weather gear came back with me entirely unused. Do some hill training before you go.

Reviewed October 2011

PHOTOGRAPHIC SAFARI

If you don’t like to sleep much on holiday, don’t mind getting really dirty, are not afraid of strange noises in the night, and want to stimulate all of your senses, then this is the trip for you! From start to finish the trip was perfectly organised, by a team dedicated to getting us to take better pictures than we thought possible, and everything served with a smile! Impeccable, inspirational, unforgettable!

Most Inspirational Moment

As a beginner photographer, it was easy to feel intimidated at first, but Paul and the rest of the group made me feel at ease. I saw 23 species of animals which I had never before seen in the wild, and took over 2'000 photos! The most inspirational moment was seeing a male lion being mobbed by hyenas at 6am and hearing the collective howling of the pack. I will never forget that sound.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Paul Goldstein is nothing short of a force of nature. He runs a boot camp for photographers. If your ego is easily bruised, it would be best to choose another trip. However, you have to admire someone who denies the existence of time and space (as in cursing at everyone when it takes more than 5 minutes to cross 20 km of off road terrain). This trip is not for the faint hearted, or the prudish, but if you want to be pushed to your limits, then Paul is the best man to do it with. In a very weird way, he grows on you, I guess that is why all the other members of my group were repeat travellers.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Sleep before you come, bring warm clothes for the chilly mornings, bring high factor sun screen, bring more memory cards than you think you will need, be prepared to go with the flow...

Reviewed October 2011

KILIMANJARO CLIMB - LEMOSHO ROUTE

Superb Expedition, 8 days camping on the mountain in ‘different’ climatic zones culminating in a successful ascent of a wonderful mountain with great friends and meeting some new ones as well. Truly inspirational.

Most Inspirational Moment

Apart from actually arriving at the summit which was our goal after all! The minute I arrived at Stella Point 5735m on the crater rim, after six hours of steep ascent in the dark..the sun came up as I reached the rim a glorious sunrise the curvature of the earth bieng visible. An hour later traversing along the rim I reached the summit, euphoria!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader Abrahim, superb guy and a great guide, never in your face but always around, if you couldn't see him you could hear him! Very good organisationally and certainly knew the game, very comfortable on the mountain and his three assistant guides you could see learnt a lot from him.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take a nail brush, dust gets everywhere! Failing that pay lots of attention to your kit it really is cold up there, I recorded minus 20 degrees centigrade on our route up on summit night and that was without the windchill, with a strong southerly (cold) wind blowing. Down jct and good down sleeping bag a must.Respect acclimatisation, go slowly, drink min 4 litres of water a day and be mountain fit before you go. we had a strong team all seven of us summitted preparation is everything.

Reviewed October 2011

CYCLING VIETNAM

One of the best Exodus trips I’ve been on and I’ve been on quite a few; a fantastic welcoming country, with great scenery and tasty food, and the itinerary was exceptional. Not a trip if you want a lazy holiday !

Most Inspirational Moment

The thing that most inspired me and restored my faith in `humanity` was the welcome from the people, especially the children who waved and shouted hello wherever we rode. The riders in the Tour de France couldn't have had a better reception.The opportunities to undertake other activities was better than expected, and included snorkelling, parascending, kayaking, as well as a cookery lesson. And the overnight cruise in Halong Bay was superb.And the cycling wasn't bad either, with one awesome and some moresome descent of 30 kilometers !Mind you, it did get pretty hot as well; and when it rains, you know it, but carry on cycling anyway 'cos you'll soon dry out.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Chi Nguyen, was very hard working; always available to help or translate, well organised and a dry sense of humour. Both himself and his team couldn't be faulted.Apparently he is very good at kareoke as well, but that's just his opinion!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Just go for it, and enjoy !

Reviewed October 2011

MT TOUBKAL CLIMB

A great trip for those who like to stretch their muscles amid stunning backdrops. The walks varied in length and steepness, but were very achievable with a good starting level of fitness. Lots of fun being in a group, with constant chatter and altitude-induced fits of giggles!

Most Inspirational Moment

Climbing Toubkal was an obvious highlight - the steady trip up, the views from the top, and the scree running on the way back down. The mountains were beautiful, and the sunsets and stars also spectacular. We also had some great meals cooked for us on the road, and exploring the local food stalls on the last afternoon in Marrakesh gave us some unusual culinary experiences!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Mohamed was an excellent leader - patient, friendly and organised. He kept the group together well.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for dorms, early starts and the occasional tepid shower... but when approached with the right spirit, it all adds to the experience. Also - buy proper walking socks. They're the best!

Prev 1 … 1,353 1,354 1,355 1,356 1,357 … 1,425 Next