Most Inspirational Moment
Taj Mahal and Amer Fort. Rickshaw ride and visit to the village.
Thoughts on Group Leader
He was great.
Excellent itinerary, guides, trip coordination, and travel companions! Why should I risk travelling with someone else?
Reviews
Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers
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Reviews
India's Golden Triangle
Loved the very full itinerary. Felt safe within the group and so was able to see sights that I would never have dreamt of visiting solo.
Vietnam & Cambodia Highlights
Thoughts on Group Leader
Great guides and like-minded fun trip companions.
Expectations Exceeded
We are both in our mid-sixties and this was our first walking tour. We loved it. We always felt safe (even when going up a very daunting slope) and knew that our guides really, really wanted us to have a brilliant experience. Luis was extremely knowledgeable, energetic, friendly and always in good spirits. We were impressed with how the local restaurant, bar, and hotel people interacted with him; there was genuine mutual respect and appreciation. Francisco was also so knowledgeable and patient, and his grandmother makes wonderful Easter Bread. We will never forget our joy at seeing Luis and Francisco drive up to us at 10 p.m. to offer us a ride back to our hotel after another late-in-the-day Portuguese Dinner. Together, our two guides set a very upbeat, positive tone for our week together. They constantly and sincerely listened to our feedback and adjusted to our idiosyncrasies.
Most Inspirational Moment
When my wife and I were finally standing at the top of a steep climb, we knew our adult children would never look at us the same way!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Luis was brilliant. He bent over backwards to make sure we had the trip of a lifetime.
Advice for Potential Travellers
These walks are not meant to get you into shape; make sure you do the work ahead of time so your body will let you enjoy the walk. This is not the time to "break in" a new pair of shoes; make sure you have trustworthy footwear.
Wonderful walks showing the beauty of Madeira!
What a wonderful way to experience the varied landscape and unique plant life in Madeira! This was my first walking trip, and I was worried that I would get bored after a few days of walking, but what we saw each day was so different from the last! We did have one day of walking in the rain, but I think we got very lucky as the walk we did that day was covered for a lot of the way by trees and we were walking through some tunnels as well. The hotels were comfortable and lovely, but the one in Porto Moniz was beauuuuutiful!
Most Inspirational Moment
Making it to Pico Ruivo! The views from the top were amazing and it was relatively clear when we got there, so Andre was able to point out all of the places that we had gone to while on the trip from the peak of the mountain! It was really cool to see all of the places that we had visited over the week on the last walk :)
Thoughts on Group Leader
Andre is a hilarious guide with a lot of passion for his island! He was vigilant when it came to safety while on the walks - especially the day it was raining as it was super slippery in certain areas of the path. On day 5, the walk was meant to the Fanal Forest - it was what I was looking forward to most on the trip, but due to the wind conditions, we had to switch to a different walk. Andre was quick to set up alternative plans for the group and I the walk we did ended up being one of my favourites from the trip!
Advice for Potential Travellers
Definitely bring hiking boots, those are a must! And the trip notes mention this, but the last hike to Pico Ruivo involves walking on paths with a sheer cliff drop on one or both sides of the path. It can be scary for people who have a fear of heights!
Fabulous trip!
This was a lovely trip! We stayed in a nice hotel, and although it had basic facilities there were plenty of good restaurants nearby. The town is pretty but there isn’t much to do there if the free day is a rainy one. Plenty of towns nearby or Venice to visit though. The scenery in the hills was stunning, and the Prosecco was amazing.
Most Inspirational Moment
Coming across a Prosecco vending machine in the hills!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Vania was a great guide, knowledgeable, friendly and easy going, especially when our group had a bit too much Prosecco! Sandra was our driver for most of the week. She was such good fun and made any journey more enjoyable.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Enjoy!
Three fascinating - and very different - countries in just 12 days!
This tour was so much more interesting than I’d expected it to be. Admittedly I knew virtually nothing about the histories of the three countries – other than the fact that they’d all been under Soviet rule – but I hadn’t expected them to be *so* different in terms of their culture, food, architecture, …. I loved the three capital cities – Tallinn’s old town, Riga’s architecture (especially its Art Nouveau buildings) and Vilnius’s university buildings – and also Tartu, Kaunas, Cesis, Jurmala and Klaipeda. I also loved the dunes of the Curonian Spit and walking the Hill of Witches. The Plokstine Cold War Museum visit was chilling (even though I can remember some of the events documented there) and I found visiting the occupation/KGB museums in Tallinn, Riga and especially Vilnius harrowing. Luckily there were much lighter times too: Rundale Palace (where we had a very amusing guide), the beautiful Pazaislis Monastery, the boat trip and walk around Trakai Castle, the amazing sculpture park and reconstruction of Turaida Castle (where I amazed myself by climbing the tower!), the concert in Riga Cathedral, …. So many happy memories of this trip!
Most Inspirational Moment
I think it probably has to be realising that these three countries, which have been through so much in the recent past, are now enjoying their independence as members of the EU and can fully celebrate their individual national identities. On a personal level, for me it was realising that I *can* do things I didn’t think I could do any more, such as iclimbing to the top of the Turaida Castle tower!!
Thoughts on Group Leader
We couldn’t have wished for a better group leader than Andrius! He looked after us all so well and found brilliant places for us to eat lunch & dinner. He was great fun to be with (and was also quick to learn which beers I’d like best!!). Nothing seemed to faze him.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Go and discover the Baltic States for yourself - you won’t be disappointed!
Walking in Andalucia
I very much enjoyed the holiday – the hotel was comfortable with good food, the walks were varied (in length, difficulty and scenery), and the day in Seville exceeded my expectations. It was a very well thought out itinerary, and all the staff we encountered were very helpful, especially our guide, Michael. We had a fairly large group of 14, but we all got on very well, helped by the friendliness of the local staff. We were lucky to get very good weather at the end of April (as hot as summer!), so we could make good use of the hotel pool, and eat our evening meals outside on the terrace.
Most Inspirational Moment
I enjoyed all the walks, but I think the most spectacular was the Camino del Rey along El Chorro gorge. The views were fantastic, and walking along the walkway strung up high on the side of the gorge was a real experience! The gardens of the Alcazar palace in Seville were very beautiful, and highly recommended.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Michael was great, he was enthusiastic and incredibly knowledgeable about the flora and fauna of the area, as well as the history and geography. He knows the area very well, and is obviously well known and liked by the villagers, which made it much easier for the group to feel at home when visiting local bars and restaurants. Information about each day’s schedule was clear, we were always advised exactly what to take and what time to leave and a guide time for return.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Michael was able to organise several things which are listed as optional - the tapas lunch, a suggested itinerary in Seville and a trip to Ronda. I’d advise taking him up on these options, the tapas lunch was fabulous, and the visits and meal in Seville were made so much easier by the advance bookings. I’ve found previously that it can be very difficult to find a decent meal for yourself in a new city, and it can waste a lot of time deciding for yourself where to go and what to do.
Undiscovered Atlas Trek
Well organised trip. Great group of people to spend a week with, and really excellent support from the trek leader and his team. Thank you all for a very enjoyable week! Domestic Arrangements: The food produced in camp was excellent – astonishing what was produced on two camping stoves! The team were super efficient setting up camp, breaking camp and providing food and drink in camp. Comfortable sleeping mats were provided, which was great. However, the toilet tent arrangement (chemical loo) was basically totally inadequate for the number of trekkers (13) and the support team, and Exodus needs to pay some attention to this aspect (and move to composting toilets?). The scenery is spectacular and you don’t meet other trekking groups. Although it was often quite rough underfoot (and boots with ankle support were therefore necessary), the actual trekking was quite tame for the grading given by exodus.
Most Inspirational Moment
Ascent of Jebel Aklim and views from the tops.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Very experienced and sensitive to the needs of the group.
Fabulous holiday
We very much enjoyed this holiday, due to the perfect combination of good walks, great company from our sociable group, an excellent leader and the lovely Cortijo to stay in (exclusive to Exodus). Highlights included the Sierra de Grazalema scenery, the white village of Sentenil with its cliff houses and kestrels, and the Caminito del Rey. After the walks we usually stopped at a bar with view for refreshment, and could swim in the pool, or sit comfortably outside in the shade, once returning to the Cortijo, which was very homely. It was nice to have an honesty bar and to be able to make our own hot and cold drinks at any time. The Cortijo catered well for our dieteryneeds.
Most Inspirational Moment
The mountain views, the village of Sentenil, dinner on the lodge's patio with the views, learning from our expert guide, chatting and laughing with our fellow travellers.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Michael was a wonderful leader, being extremely knowledgable and passionate about Andalucia and the environment. He frequently stopped on the walks to point out plants and flowers and explained how they were used for food, medicine and farming. He was also an expert birdwatcher - we saw Griffin vultures, glimpses of eagles, bee-eaters and others. Michael's background from living extensively in both England and Spain meant he was able to explain the culture and differences from our perspective, and also to join in with our sense of humour. He was very proactive in organising walks and trips, and looked after us very well.
A wonderful trip across five states that immerses you in the music, cuisine and culture of America’s Deep South.
This trip promised a lot on paper, and delivered so much more in reality, exceeding my expectations. Our group leader managed to cram so much in, while at the same time allowing a nice degree of freedom for us to do our own exploration and choose our own optional activities. The tour began with a deeply moving and affecting look at the civil rights movement, covering the life of Martin Luther King Jr (where he was born, the church at which he preached, his memorial garden and tomb; later on we would visit the place where he was assassinated); the slave trade and its role in creating wealth for the plantation owners and the country as a whole; and the continued oppression of the freed slaves after the Civil War and their struggle for basic human rights. As we went on, the focus shifted toward the music that was created on the plantations, the way it developed and seeped into mainstream culture in America before spreading across the world. While this was very informative and educational, there were plenty of lighter moments too and we were a great group who had a lot of laughs along the way. As well as visiting sites that were significant to the music history, there were opportunities to hear live music – jazz, blues and country – at many locations from New Orleans to Nashville. A wonderful experience that we will continue to savour for a very long time.
Most Inspirational Moment
It has to be day 8 on the itinerary, which I named “Super Saturday”: the day we left Clarksdale for Memphis, going down to the Crossroads at Clarksdale where legend has it Robert Johnson sold his soul to the Devil for the gift of music; spending 4 hours at Graceland visiting Elvis’ house and the extensive collection of memorabilia on display in the adjacent museums; an emotional visit to the historic Sun Studios to see exactly where Elvis made his first recordings; a meal of dry-rubbed ribs at Charlie Vergos’ Rendezvous restaurant, a favourite of Elvis’; a walk along bustling Beale Street in the evening before dropping into The Blues City Cafe to hear real Delta blues played by Blind Mississippi Morris, then riding the trolley car back to the hotel. Days don’t get any better than that!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Invariably one of things that makes an Exodus trip such a memorable experience is the quality of its group leaders, and this trip was no exception. I must confess one or two within the group wondered if Lana Haugberg would be up to the job: relative young, petite in stature, she would be working solo as both driver and guide throughout the long trip. But any initial doubts were soon dispelled: word got round that she had just completed an ultra race in which she ran 120 miles in 24 hours, and we also learned that she is a very experienced driver, having taken television film crews across America. In the course of the trip, Lana drove 1500+ miles as well as giving us detailed information about all locations and sites visited. Lana explained all options on offer, particularly for the free days, and made herself available to support individual choices. She was careful to advise on personal safety and ensure everyone knew the safest options for transport. Nothing was too much trouble, and Lana did everything within her power to make the trip run smoothly and to give us the best possible experience. A few examples: she had put together a Spotify playlist of music appropriate to each destination and leg of the itinerary; she purchased a folding step to facilitate access in and out of the minibus, which had a high drop; and while the group was enjoying a self-guided walking tour of Natchez, she checked everyone into the hotel, unloaded the luggage and took the bags to our individual rooms so that we could all go straight there to rest after a long day on the road. She was always cheerful, attentive and responsive, able to engage with everyone in our group, and always good company.
Advice for Potential Travellers
* the itinerary may change due to circumstances: embrace the options your group leader gives you. On our trip the Civil Rights Institute in Birmingham was closed, so we took a detour to Montgomery to visit the Legacy Museum and National Memorial for Peace & Justice, a very moving exhibition. It was not possible to book the Lynchburg option for the final day due to possible departure flight logistics, but our group leader came up with a pleasantly surprising alternative. * there will be plenty of opportunities to do your own thing at the different cities visited. * be prepare to be shocked by the amount of single-use plastics, particularly in hotels, and a lack of recycling facilities - maybe take your own travel cutlery. * try the local food and drink: have a Hurricane in NOLA, eat beignets, gumbo, jambalaya, and catfish (delicious!) there; try dry rubbed ribs in Memphis, or southern fried chicken; drink Jack Daniels in Tennessee. But there are plenty of alternatives if you fancy a change. * beware American sized portions: consider sharing with another person. Many portions are more than enough for two. * there are some long days on the road, but frequently broken up with comfort breaks and lunch stops at a variety of interesting places. Bring your own playlists and ear buds, if you like to chill out to your personal music along the way.