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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14253 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Stacey Kalamaras

Reviewed May 2023

Not Recommended

I had heard a lot of great things about Exodus. However, the local company in Portugal did not live up to expectations. This was a fast-moving tour. We were in a different city (sometimes 2) each day and the guides did not give us the best of each city. Instead, we spent an hour (of the precious 3 hours we had each day) in a a cafe! One can assume this is because THEY needed a break. There was so much to see and we wandered aimlessly. It became a joke that when they would tell us how beautiful something was in a particular city, that meant we were not going to see it. I mean, who is going to be back to visit anytime soon. Also, their knowledge was not up to par. When we were visiting the Monastery in Batalha, there were these portraits on the wall and I asked who they were and the response I received were “they are not significant.” REALLY? I’ve been in enough churches in Europe to know that EVERYTHING has significance! The knowledge of these guides was so awful, it was almost comical. I realize new people have to be trained, but they should not be trained at our expense, as this was an expensive trip. They should pay their dues as local guides, giving local tours so they can learn how to be guides. These women were absolutely terrible. I felt like a friend had offered to show me Portugal and given their limited knowledge, that would have been exactly what I got – limited knowledge. But, I paid for this trip. And so did others. And we paid handsomely. Also, the nightly meetings were stupid. Just post an itinerary. No one wants to be in a meeting after a long day. The trip to Sintra was a disaster. They left us without coming up there with us. They should have been with us. We had no idea where to go or what we were looking at – we needed a guide! Plus, the whole issue with having to pay 12..50 more for the bus was really stupid. We all felt very nickled and dimed. That should have been handled much differently. Do not use Exodus for this particular tour in Portugal. You will regret it. It is far too expensive for what you get. You would be better off going on your own. You would see more and learn much more. They also weren’t very good about keeping tabs on the group. They didn’t wear logo’d clothing or have a flag or anything. We mostly kept track of each other to be sure no one was left behind – isn’t that their job?? And most of the restaurant recommendations were horrible. Very unimpressed.

Most Inspirational Moment

NONE

Thoughts on Group Leader

Terrible, uninformed, ditzy

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do not book this particular tour with Exodus. Perhaps other local companies are better, but this one is not worth your hard earned money

Reply from Exodus

We would like to thank Stacey for taking the time to leave a review, although we are very sorry to read of her disappointment with several aspects of her trip to Portugal. At Exodus we take the roles of our tour leaders very seriously and provide each one with comprehensive training before they are assigned to lead our tours; for this departure, Stacey’s group was led by our experienced leader Carlos, who receives very positive feedback from our clients, as well as Catarina, who has led alongside him on past trips with success. While they were accompanied by a trainee leader who was shadowing this trip to gain experience, we have not found on previous departures that similar arrangements have detracted from our clients’ experience, as our regular leaders guide these trips as normal.

We would note, having reviewed the feedback forms from clients on Stacey’s departure, that the majority of respondents rated both the itinerary of the tour and their overall trip experience as being either ‘Good’ or ‘Excellent’. Further, the general feedback we received from the group about Carlos praised him as helpful and knowledgeable, and mentioned that Catarina was a personable and enthusiastic leader. We do, of course, continually monitor all our leaders’ performances to ensure they meet our high standards, but from the feedback we have received on this occasion we are confident that Carlos and Catarina led this trip effectively. However, we understand that this does not reflect Stacey’s experience, which we very much regret.

We are further apologetic that Stacey did not appreciate the free day in Sintra; we find from experience that our clients often like to explore this location at their own pace, and from previous feedback we have obtained about this tour we find that this excursion is generally very well received. However, we understand that some other group members from Stacey’s departure mention in feedback they have submitted that they would have preferred some guidance on-site in Sintra in addition to information provided by our leaders beforehand, and we are considering making a change in this regard to improve customer experience.

While we feel confident that this trip provides an enjoyable and insightful tour of Portugal for our customers based on the feedback we continue to receive from our groups, we would once again like to express our regret that Stacey was left disappointed, and will of course closely bear her comments in mind going forward.

– Emma Cambers, Exodus Product Manager

Gabrielle Parker

Reviewed April 2023

Introduction to highlights succinct; leisure abundant

The key words in the tour description, “highlights” and “leisurely”, are to be taken seriously: the introduction to various highlights is pretty succinct and the leisure time extensive. It is obvious, reading previous reviews (some going back a few years) that criticisms or disappointments have not been acted upon. There is still too much time spent travelling to “highlights”; the walk is not circular, too short, and the “rewarding” barbecue in a place of outstanding beauty still turns out to be a sad picnic eaten inside an uninspiring dining room. Only the trips to Capri and Herculaneum/Pompeii warrant a full day (in the event neither was actually that long). The actual activities do not follow the full description in the programme and fall rather short of it.

Most Inspirational Moment

No "inspirational moment" in the true sense of the words. The visits to Herculaneum and Pompeii were the most interesting, although both were more limited than needed to be Sorrento trip on "free day" was most pleasant. Capri is splendid and the trip was well organised, though restricted to two venues, other places of interest being deemed likely to be too crowded.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Focused on safety. Friendly. Organised. Limiting and limited - whether anxious to protect his charges, or for some other reason??

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do your own homework about the "highlights": not much to expect from guide. Be prepared for a lot of leisure in a place offering very few amenities and little escape (places of interest are far and expensive to get to) The family-run hotel is nice and comfortable enough, but doesn't offer much.

Anne-Marie Hellewell

Reviewed April 2023

Walking in Andalucia

We have just returned from this excellent trip and can highly recommend it. It is good value for money and provides an excellent insight into the region. There are opportunities to explore the region away from the touristy areas as well as a chance to see Seville, Setenil and Ronda. We were part of a lovely group that bonded well and made the whole experience even more worthwhile.

Most Inspirational Moment

It was lovely to walk in such an unspoilt region serenaded by nightingales and hoopoes calling in the woodlands. Watching griffon vultures effortlessly circling in cloudless, blue skies was magnificent.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Michael is an excellent leader with encyclopaedic knowledge of the history, geography, flora and fauna of the region. His enthusiasm is infectious. He has a great sense of humour and he is thoroughly entertaining. Michael is also attentive and caring of the group and keen to provide information and advice. He is clearly proud of his Spanish heritage but has the added advantage of having an English background as well. Michael is a real asset to Exodus and I will most definitely be voting for him in the annual leader awards.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take the opportunity to visit Ronda if at all possible. If you usually use walking poles, these are a good idea, though not essential.

Mark Evans

Reviewed April 2023

Great Experience - the best!

Best experience to date out of many Exodus cycling trips that i have been on. This due to the excellent trip leader and support crew, great group of compatriots, culture in Vietnam and variety of experiences in the itinerary. The trip is excellent value for money and should be on any bucket list

Most Inspirational Moment

The daily routine of early start, healthy food and cycling, walking tours etc has inspired me to be more active at home. The kind, humble and friendly nature of the nation - from small children desperate to say hello to elders at the home meal, everyone was a inspiration to meet - our population at large could learn a lot from them and be better people for it.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Linh Vo was the best tour leader i have experienced to date on many Exodus cycling holidays. He was completely dedicated to the whole group 24/7 and went out of his way to resolve any problems that anyone had. He has excellent knowledge and gives a great insight into the history and culture of the country. Any future travellers lucky enough to have him on their trip will enjoy the sometimes long coach journeys with his story telling and passion to make you laugh!

Advice for Potential Travellers

The better your cycling fitness is before you travel the more you will get from the trip. Be prepared for heat and humidity - take on the regular fluids and snacks provided. Travel light as great value clothes wash available at Hoi An. Also, leave space in your travel bag if you want tailor made clothes, shoes made for you in Hoi An.

M D

Reviewed April 2023

Brilliant week

Sardinia – what a beautiful Island! Golden sandy beaches, wooded valleys and gorges and warm blue sea. Hotel was simple but spotlessly clean and there was always plenty of good food to be had. Dorgali Town was sleepy while we were there but we were early in the season. Very easy to catch a local bus to the coast on your day off and some great local restaurants when you eat away from the hotel.

Most Inspirational Moment

Clambering into the gorge over rocks and boulders. Great fun and makes you realise how small you truly are. There was also a fantastic cameraderie within the group and so much fun and laughter along the way. This makes a holiday great as much as the fantastic scenery.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Michele was brilliant. Always smiling, thoughtful and one of the best leaders I have encountered, always going the extra mile. Shared his time with everyone and became an integral part of the group with his good humour and laughter. By his hard work we could just relax, laugh and enjoy ourselves. Anyone who can talk a bunch of hikers into a spontaneous Sardinian folk dancing lesson whilst waiting for the bus to arrive must be good! Thank you for making it such a special week.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bring walking poles as they are very helpful over the rough terrain and don't make the mistake of ordering 2 sandwiches for lunch because they are huge!!!

Jo Griffiths

Reviewed April 2023

Remote and Definitely Undiscovered!

Fabulous trip from start to finish. A super friendly group who gelled from the outset. The most incredible food, especially the picnic lunches carried by ‘Picnic’ the Mule. A very organized and efficient, fully serviced camping experience. We were accompanied by two street dogs (Porridge and Pancake) which was a particular treat for the dog lovers on the trek. I think the main draw of this trek is the remoteness, there is no proper path, no maps to follow, just full trust in Lahcen to get us to the next campsite safely. As others have mentioned, we did not see another trekker or tourist on the whole trek; this was a rare treat compared to many of the other treks I have completed.

Most Inspirational Moment

I loved the remoteness of the trek, and despite us being a very chatty and friendly group, it was still possible to catch some quiet time to just enjoy the vastness of the mountains and the stillness of our surroundings. Hearing early morning 'Call to Prayer' echoing down the valley was also special.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Lahcen was fabulous. Obviously a very experienced Tour Leader with fantastic leadership, organizational and people skills. Lahcen and his team looked after us superbly.

Advice for Potential Travellers

We were a group of 13 and the toilet tent struggled with that number of people. I would consider taking a trowel and some biodegradable toilet paper. Most of the campsites were wild, so if properly equipped, wild toileting would be acceptable - just watch out for scorpions!!

Erica Brown

Reviewed April 2023

Triple A - Amazing Atlas Adventure

This trip is a great combination of activity and relaxation. After an excellent guided tour of Marrakesh we were free to shop, visit local gardens (I recommend the Majorelle Gardens not far from the hotel) or relax by the pool. We were all keen to get into the mountains and they didn’t disappoint. From our lovely village location our fantastic guide Abdelkabir Ait Lasri led us off on our daily walks with a characteristic “Yalla yalla, let’s go”. On the walks he kept the pace just right so somehow none of us ever felt either held back or left behind. His knowledge of geology added an extra level of interest to our mountain experience. Most impressive was that the week I went on this trip it was Ramadan so despite not eating or drinking all day, Abdel never failed to give 100% in making sure “everyone ok?” Always adding: “If you have any questions, I am here.” The walks vary in length and as a group we did opt for the short version of the long walk on day 6, which nonetheless was still a pleasant six hour round trip along the river with a picnic (Moroccan style) lunch produced by our fantastic “chefcook”. I met a lovely group of people on this trip and with Abdel at the helm there is nothing I could fault. I had a great time. Highly recommended.

Most Inspirational Moment

The views from the top of the mountains.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Abdelkabir Ait Lasri was a fantastic group leader, always calm, always helpful and always courteous. He made sure everything worked as it should resulting in a seamless experience for the group. He did all of this during Ramadan on no food or drink and yet never faltered - a true professional. He created a lovely atmosphere for the group. Definitely a top guide.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure you have a reasonable level of fitness as some of the walks are quite long and (obviously) hilly, though not overly difficult on the whole

Kelli Keesey

Reviewed April 2023

Fabulous family fun

We are traveling as a family of four with our two girls, 13 and 11 years old for four months. This tour was a highlight of our trip so far. We absolutely loved the animals and the jungle as well as being exposed to the culture and people of Sabah. Our tour guide Nostalia was a fountain of knowledge and took such amazing care of us. The people of Sabah are friendly and welcoming and with our guide as a translator we learned so much more than we otherwise would have.

Most Inspirational Moment

Staying on the Kinabatang river at the jungle lodge was such a fantastic part of the trip. We absolutely loved seeing all kinds of monkeys, proboscis, silver leaf, long and pig tailed macaques as well as crocodiles and the absolute highlight was seeing the Pygmy elephants. The jungles of Borneo are spectacular and our guide was fantastic at spotting things in the jungle and the river while our guide was able to name and tell us details about the animals, insects, birds and plants.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Nostalia really made the trip for us. Her knowledge and caring nature as well as always letting us know what the plan was and what to expect really helped to make us feel comfortable. The organization was incredible and we were very impressed how smoothly things ran through the entire trip. We felt so much more connected to the people and the culture with her as our guide. We hope that she will come to visit us in Canada so we can show her around.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Definitely come to Borneo! It was so much more than I expected and I have a lifetime worth of memories that I will treasure.

Sam Murray

Reviewed April 2023

A magical experience enhanced by a great group and leader

What a beautiful, welcoming country. There were so many magical moments on this trip – taking a camel into the Sahara, watching shooting stars from our desert camp, walking through the mountains – that it’s hard to pick out a favourite. What I do know is that the experience was enhanced by a lovely group and a knowledgeable, friendly guide. I felt like I really got under the skin of Morocco and saw much more than I would have done solo.

VASILIKI NTAVLOUROU

Reviewed April 2023

UNEXPECTED ABSOLUTE BREATHTAKING....MAXIMUM DAMAGE!

Because some people worked very hard to make me feel like this! SURESH: our guide to heaven. Keep the fire in your eyes and in your heart Suresh! You inspired us all SURANGA: my guardian angel as I was riding up that mountain! I wouldn’t have made it without you ! SAMAN: the man who kept us all hydrated and risked his life standing in the middle of busy roads to show as the way GAYAN : my ‘light” in the dark! Driving with patience and a smile on your face behind my slow bike! DHARME: thank you for getting us there and back safe! Thank you for the hours of waiting for us . Thank for the smiles! GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

Most Inspirational Moment

The whole of the trip is an inspiration! Suresh's passion for his country, his enthusiasm for his job, his love for life is the absolute inspiration!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Best!.............so far! :)

Advice for Potential Travellers

GO for it, only if you can handle HEAVEN!

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