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!

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325 Reviews

4.8 out of 5

Estelle Macdonald

Reviewed July 2015

Vietnam Cycling

Working up a sweat is a great way to bond with a group of complete strangers of varied fitness levels and life stories. By day 14 you know who you will endeavour to keep contact with, and those you don’t have still contributed positively to your whole experience and provided lively holiday tales.

Most Inspirational Moment

A fresh understanding of a different culture was a highlight as well as the mental and physical challenge of the cycling, which I am new to.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Lam was a star. Very organised and always cheerfully encouraging. He also had great support team who worked hard and made every step easy.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Even though the trip is described as moderate, you will enjoy it more if you do a bit of training. I cycled for an hour, including hills, 3 days a week for a month before departure and that was a big help. Seasonal temperatures play a big part in energy levels also. Next trip will definitely be in spring or autumn. The 10km hill climb on day 10 was a killer in July heat. Check with Exodus contacts regarding equipment needed. We did not need sleeping sheets or torches but a little handle bar bag would have been useful for camera, money etc, rather than the heat of a backpack.

Rachel Laycock

Reviewed July 2015

Holiday of a lifetime

From Saigon to Halong Bay we experienced Vietnam and its people and cuisine at close quarters. We felt that if we had done the trip without cycling we would not have seen the real Vietnam. It was fantastic from start to finish, Lam our guide went above and beyond expectations and is a credit to this company.

Most Inspirational Moment

The children in local villages coming out shouting hello hello.

Thoughts on Group Leader

We met a stranger who ended up being a friend, his attention to detail was first class and his organisation was second to none.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Get fit before you go and take a camel back it is a must.

D Cox

Reviewed June 2015

Cycling in Vietnam

An assault on all the senses in an endlessly fascinating country. We hugely enjoyed this trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

Probably the climb up Hai Van Pass (in 39 degrees heat and high humidity!), super descent, a cycle around the stunning bay to a fabulous restaurant on stilts, followed by a cycle to the hotel door. I also enjoyed the food markets, the encouragement from children waving to us on the route, and the occasional close encounter with water buffalo!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Chi was a very capable and informative leader. He helped create a good atmosphere despite our exceptionally small group (due to some cancellations). He took us to some great places to eat that we never would have found as independent travellers. The Vietnamese language is not easy to pick up and the culture is so different - a local guide really makes the difference for this trip.

Advice for Potential Travellers

You don't need USD - Dong is fine and there are lots of ATMs. Pack double the SD cards, sun tan lotion/after sun that you think you need. If you are fair skinned June is a challenging time to travel - our local guide told us that Jan-March is cooler which isn't particularly clear from the trip notes. I took anti-UV arm sleeves which were brilliant (local guides also wore similar to protect their skin) and on occasion wore my three quarter length cycle shorts. Also don't forget insect repellent, particularly for dusk on the first night in Saigon. The hotels were a much better standard than previous Exodus cycling trips. All rooms had kettles and tea bags.

Russell Donkin

Reviewed June 2015

Wow!!

If you want a good workout on the bike,some really great hotels ,food and culture this is for you!!
Oh and a great tour leader to boot!!
But treat with caution the term “moderate”
When cycling in the warmer part of the year.

Most Inspirational Moment

34k downhill!!!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Superb!!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be fit!

Gillian Hodgson

Reviewed June 2015

A fantastic experience in an amazing country

This was the first group cycling holiday that I have been on, my second holiday with Exodus. It was an amazing experience with a great group and an extremely efficient and organised leader. I loved Vietnam, the friendliness of the people, the exotic sights, smells and tastes: wonderful to experience such totally different culture. The cycling was more challenging that I was expecting ( I do quite a bit of cycling) and the route more”undulating” than we were lead to believe but entirely manageable. Some of the bus transfers were long, we had early starts and late finishes to our days but that was necessary in order to cover the distances and see more of the country.

Most Inspirational Moment

The people, especially the children as other reviewers have said, rushing out to shout "hello, hello" and trying to give us high 5s! They seemed genuinely so pleased and excited to see us. Experiencing a totally different culture whilst exercising and being amongst a great group of people.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Lam was a truly fantastic group leader, organised, efficient, helpful, flexible and always ready to help and offer suggestions. He was very knowledgable about the history of his country. His restaurant suggestions were invariably good and were much appreciated when time was short when we arrived late. He was assisted by a great team: Ly, Vu and Thach who made sure that we were looked after on our breaks with plentiful drinks and snacks and Ly, the mechanic was always there at the back to support us. The whole team were always so happy and cheerful.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Definitely do this trip! I would strongly recommend to anyone considering this trip to book on! Helpful to take your own saddle and pedals and bike bottle. Also helpful to take a sleeping bag liner for the overnight train. Clothes can be washed out and there are several opportunities to do laundry( arranged by Lam) so don't need to take loads of clothes.

Jim Taylor

Reviewed June 2015

My first Exodus experience

A lovely country, great guide and crew always willing to help. IMHO Wrong bike choice for terrain although they were reliable and maintained MTB were def wrong choice. Be prepared for hot weather. Not sure if there is scope for two tours a north and south so you cut out the overnight train and some of the bus journeys which were up to 3+ hours long. “On the road” supplies were good and plentiful.

Most Inspirational Moment

Visit to Cu Chi. Cave in Halong Bay. Use of family businesses.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Knowledgeable, approachable and never to busy to help. Dhan was a gem.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Watch out for the heat. Having said that our guide altered rest stops etc to acc that.

Hazel Ryder

Reviewed June 2015

A feast for all the senses

Vietnam – you see it, feel it, smell it, taste it and hear it when you pedal a bike from south to North, Saigon to Hanoi

I took the Cambodia extension at the start of my trip and found that it was an ideal way to adjust to the heat, food and time difference ahead of starting the cycling. It was also an amazing introduction to a fascinating country and I would love to go back and visit again.

Tran Phu

Most Inspirational Moment

Through manic cities, busy towns and quiet rural backwaters, up into the Highlands, through a mountain pass, along the coast, down amongst the coral reef and paddling through limestone karst. These two weeks in Vietnam have truly been a delight. Young and old shouting 'hello' as you peddle through, waving and high fiveing as you pass by. A cheerful wave, a nod of the head, a gracious smile - we couldn't have wished for a better welcome. Always a traveller, never a tourist

Thoughts on Group Leader

Lâm was just brilliant. Always cheerful with a great sense of humour, a mine of information about all things Vietnamese, always ready to pull over for (yet) another photo opportunity, totally organised and with a great support team of mechanic and drivers. Lâm took the stress out of constantly being on the move, allowing us to just get on and enjoy the adventure. His local knowledge and pride in his country meant we could experience the 'real' Vietnam and fall in love with a facinating country.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Just go! Take two or three sets of cycle gear, there's opportunity to have it washed en route (very inexpensive), your own saddle is a great bonus and I am glad I took my own clipless peddles and shoes. As I use a compact DSLR I found a bar bag ideal as it kept it safe but accessible. I also took my bike computer, just because I like to know my speed and how far I have actually cycled! To get the most out of the cycling do prepare for this trip. You will be very active and there are some very early morning starts! I am a regular cyclist and also do Pilates and yoga so found the daily mileage very comfortable and I could relax and enjoy myself without becoming anxious at the distances covered.

Alison Stent

Reviewed May 2015

Best holiday ever!

This holiday combined the best of everything as far as I was concerned: a beautiful country with friendly people, great cycling, delicious food and a really good group of people we were lucky enough to travel with. Looked after by a great team too.

Most Inspirational Moment

Getting to the top of the Hai Van Pass. I nearly gave up but so glad I made it. Also, like so many other people have written, cycling through little villages and children running out to wave and shout hello - it's the nearest I'll ever get to being a celebrity! It's also difficult to miss the fairly recent 'American War' and that brought some poignant moments too.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Long was truly inspirational! He is a very professional leader, funny, knowledgeable, good cyclist and we all respected him. His organisational skills were second to none.

Advice for Potential Travellers

It really pays to get fit before this trip. I would call myself a weekend cycler and I had built up my level of cycling before the trip to do cycle rides of 30 miles. If I'd had more time, I would have liked to have done even more because nothing can prepare you for the heat. Also padded shorts and chamois cream were a must!

Kim Legg

Reviewed April 2015

Cycling in Vietnam

A superb holiday which was excellently organised allowing time to get an inside look into the wonderful country of Vietnam whilst enjoying the wonderful fresh air and enduring exercise.

Most Inspirational Moment

The young children being so excited to see us when cycling through the villages - having big smiles, high 5's, big hugs and being welcomed

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent - the best - very knowledgeable - very professional - nothing too much trouble - always happy to help - always smiling

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do this holiday - it is the best - take a sleeping bag liner on the train

Edward Helps

Reviewed April 2015

Cycling Vietnam Holiday

This trip provided a wonderful insight into life in Vietnam and took me from one modern city, Saigon in the south to another, Hanoi in the North. I learnt about the history, culture and the people and travelled on a train and three different types of bot. The cycling not only enabled me to improve my fitness, overcome personal challenges but also allowed me to get ‘up close’ to the people and wildlife in this beautiful country.

Most Inspirational Moment

Completing a 10 KM a sent up a 10% hill (or was it a mountain).

Thoughts on Group Leader

Yuan was an exceptional guide who went above and beyond the expectations of me personally and the rest of the group, many of whom like me, are seasoned Exodus travellers. Yuan was committed to ensuring we sampled all the sights, sounds and tastes of Vietnam and he had a great 'road team' to support him. He created a family for the duration of the holiday and he should be highly commended for all he did to make the trip so memorable.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Only to take a camel pack with a mouth piece for sucking water as I had one with a manual valve on the mouth piece. Cycling in the heat was a trial on some of the days and I would have found life easier with a better system for drinking.

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