Reviews

Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers

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14330 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Graeme Mackenzie

Reviewed October 2022

Cycling in Sicily - October 2022

10 out of 10. Davide Di Mauro leads the cycling (from local tour guide company CicloFree) and works really hard to ensure the cycle tour is well organised and great fun. Giuseppe (van back up driver) provided solid back up support all day long with water and any other assistance always available if required. Accommodation all of a good standard. Cycling pitched at the right level without being overly strenuous. Davide ensures that all routes are safe and relatively low traffic routes. Davide puts lots of effort into selecting / suggesting places to eat. All of which were of outstanding quality but not necessarily expensive. I will remember the tour almost as much for culinary highlights as well as for cycling highlights. The cycling was excellent with the bikes being of high quality and very well maintained. Most of all however is the knowledge and enthusiasm that Davide has for Sicilian culture and nature. It was a huge pleasure to be part of a cycle tour led by Davide. Davide made sure the tour was fun from start to finish with his great sense of humour.

Most Inspirational Moment

Visiting the various old towns such as Palazzolo Acreide, Ragusa, Monica, Noto and Syracuse. Cycling back down the road of hairpin bends to Noto from the Cavagrande National Reserve.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our tour Davide Di Mauro was excellent and made the whole trip enjoyable for all. Davide works really hard to ensure everything goes to plan but also is flexible when required to ensure everyone on the tour gets as much as possible from each days cycling. Davide has a fantastic knowledge of Sicilian culture and history which adds a great deal to the enjoyment of the tour. Davide also has an excellent relationship with all the accommodation providers and restaurants which ensures everything goes smoothly and the group get a warm welcome at all stops. On top of all, Davide has a great sense of humour and prides himself on collecting many everyday English language commonly used sayings - which he uses at different moments which is very funny.

Advice for Potential Travellers

No. All went as expected.

Simon Burbidge

Reviewed October 2022

A fantastic trip!

We’ve just returned from one of our best cycling trips. The scenery was amazing and varied so much day to day – Martian landscapes, amazing rock formations, geysers, salt flats and cacti. It’s hard to single out anything in particular as being a favourite because it was all stunning. The descents were magnificent too. The team were brilliant, sociable, informative and provided wonderful snacks and lunches. Riding at altitude is challenging but we expected that and the itinerary allows for appropriate acclimatisation. The only thing we hadn’t realised was quite how cold it would be at 4,000+ metres! I can’t recommend the trip highly enough.

Most Inspirational Moment

It was all brilliant.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ale Morwiras was great: enthusiastic, sociable, informative and a great organiser.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure you have suitable warm clothes for the days at high altitude.

Alec Campbell

Reviewed October 2022

A fantastic cycle trip..

I was looking for a trip where the focus was definitely on the cycling and this 350km across the spectacular Moroccan terrain didn’t disappoint. There was plenty of uphill and plenty of downhill so it was always interesting. There were some rough patches of road where you needed to keep your wits about you but the vast majority of the time they were very quiet with good surfaces and one felt you were on a real adventure passing through remote villages off the beaten track. The trip notes probably undersell the nature of the cycling as there are two definite climbing days and the other days are pretty lumpy however you can take it as easy or as hard as you like. Day 6 of only 45kms has a 24km 1200m climb, and after 4 days of 70kms across undulating terrain it proved quite the challenge in temperatures well above 30 degrees. There was plenty of opportunity to rest and fuel up and there was always the option to jump in the minibus. Excellent lunches of salad, flat breads and accompaniments were prepared by the guides and a good selection of snacks and drinks were available at stops both morning and afternoon. We also had brand new or nearly new bikes. The accommodation was good especially in the smaller towns. Some really interesting places to stay with real charm, perhaps the hotel in Agadir the least satisfying. After spending the previous four days in small towns and villages, this conventional hotel despite being near the beach was a bit of a culture shock but, it did emphasise the feeling we were seeing lots of different sides of Morocco. It was only 8 days but I felt I was away for a lot longer and it was really immersive.

Thoughts on Group Leader

I can’t speak highly enough about our head guide Abde and his team. All aspects of the trip were really well managed. They dealt with any issues that arose and were always happy to help. They gave good insight into the country we were passing through and were great company.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The weather was dry and warm but it was chilly out of the sun and there was a cold wind at altitude so a wind stopper type top and extra layer are essential. If in doubt always bring something warmer than you think you need to Morocco. As its quiet dusty and there isn't huge amounts of shelter, if it rained I'd imagine waterproof bootees and a proper rain jacket would be essential.

Liz Agro

Reviewed October 2022

Discover Costa Rica - September 2022

It was our first time travelling in a small group tour. We had an amazing trip and saw so much – birds, turtles, sloths, monkeys, caiman, crocodiles and more. We enjoyed the informality of the lodges we stayed at. Pretty much everyone was very friendly. A big shout out to our guide Randall – nothing was too much trouble and he really looked after us as well as the coach driver Randall 2. We are not youngsters but the trip was pitched just right for our capabilities. Randall would explain everything that was involved and if you didn’t want to go ahead, you didn’t have to. I would highly recommend this tour.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing baby green turtles emerging from the nest and scrambling to the sea

Thoughts on Group Leader

Randall couldn't do enough for us. His knowledge of the wildlife and plants and Costa Rica in general was amazing.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for rain! Costa Rica is not a cheap destination either - food and alcohol is quite expensive. We took Costa Rican Colones as we thought why take US dollars for them to convert to local. In the event they prefer dollars, as it's more stable, and convert from dollars to Colones.

Abigail Turnbull

Reviewed October 2022

Amazing adventure!

Something you can’t plan with any trip is your group or the wild animals. I’m happy to say that both were amazing. As lucky as we were to see up close and personal all the wonderful Gorillas, Chimpanzees, Lions, Leopards and so much more… Not forgetting the humble Warthog. This was greatly enhanced by fabulous tour leaders, drivers and chefs. We we’re always well looked after. Jacob our guide was knowledgeable, approachable and made absolutely sure we wouldn’t get eaten at night. Our chefs excelled themselves and turned out delicious food in interesting makeshift kitchens. Our driver was a stone cold legend, keeping us safe in long and challenging journeys. If I had one criticism it is simply that a final night in Nairobi prior to flying home would have been welcomed into the schedule. This would allow the group to settle and reorganise after a long camping trip as opposed to a long drive and flight straight out where goodbye’s were rushed.

Most Inspirational Moment

Although the Gorillas were majestic the chimpanzees were so much fun! Literally running through the forrest and being surrounded by the loud calls was such a moment in time. The whole day was an adventure. Come with a sense of spirit!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Wonderful! Kept us all in line with a smile. Easy to talk too and knew what he was about!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Come with a sense of fun. Enjoy the long travel days with your group and make it part of the enjoyment. Be grateful for every wild encounter and take binoculars. If your not a bird watcher before you might be by the end of the trip!

Emmy L

Reviewed October 2022

Great hiking!

This trip to Albania provided hikes far beyond my expectations, the best of which was crossing the pass from Theth to Valbone. We each ascended/descended at our own pace that day, as the path was very clearly marked, and regrouped every so often at the cafes along the way – the perfect opportunity to really enjoy your own tempo. Dorian was a fantastic leader, really knowledgeable and keen to share. Good food and lovely hosts everywhere we went. I’m a vegetarian and didn’t struggle to find plenty of options – Dorian made sure I was always accommodated for. Take your swimmers for an icy cold dip in the blue pool. Definitely would recommend this trip to anyone who enjoys lively culture, good food and a nice hike.

(Joseph) Desmond Smyth

Reviewed October 2022

EXCEPTIONAL TRIP

This was my 10th overseas cycling trip and none were better than this one-the scenery, food, accommodations ,the local people, the ride-all of exceptional quality. A top experience on these trips though depends on the cohesion and dynamics of the group and the interaction with the Exodus team-in this regard we were exceptionally fortunate as the entire group quickly bonded and we all clearly enjoyed each other’s company. The nationalities ( 10 Canadian and 6 British ) mixed perfectly- all good ,cheerful people intent on having a great holiday.

Most Inspirational Moment

No single moment, but I was inspired by the personal stories of some members of our group. Their determination to enjoy life to its fullest was indeed inspiring.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Rita and Dinis were an excellent and charming team. Rita stepped in at the last minute as the original guide took ill so her leadership was particularly remarkable-never a wrong turn, and a good level of knowledge about local history, sights and culture. And local restaurants ! Dinis was always on hand to ensure the bicycles were well maintained, and his al fresco lunches were a highlight of the trip.

Advice for Potential Travellers

A couple of points 1. this trip is probably correctly rated overall as Leisurely/Moderate as most of it is flat, but be aware that there is a testy, but short, hill on the afternoon of 3rd day of cycling, and on the final day also some short sharp inclines. Nothing to trouble a reasonably fit cyclist though ( I'm on the wrong side of 70 and managed ok ). 2.On this trip Exodus provided a pannier bag at the front of each bicycle with generous space for a mac and other useful items to carry with you whilst cycling.

Arlene Caponiti

Reviewed October 2022

Such a great experience

An all around excellent tour

Most Inspirational Moment

Experiencing the foods eaten by the everyday Jordanian - the best falafel, the spice shop, Turkish coffee, fresh picked strawberries, dinner with the Jordanian family and getting acquainted with them.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Muayad Mismar took care of each member of the group as though they were the only participant, while still creating a great team atmosphere. His enthusiasm for his country was infectious.

Sarah Dennis

Reviewed October 2022

Great trip

Really enjoyed this trip, we got to see most of the island of Sicily whilst being able to taste some traditional dishes and wines.

Most Inspirational Moment

Visiting the local markets in Palermo and Catania

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader Francesca was a little disappointing- she wasn’t proactive enough. On the first night she didn’t organise dinner for the group, she had to be prompted to organise the optional extra tour. There were issues with one persons room in Ragusa but she didn’t offer to sort it out in the end myself and my companion helped the other person. The coach driver had a room in the main hotel whilst an elderly lady had a room at the top of 2 flights of stairs in another hotel down the road. She felt uncomfortable, I felt the group leader should have swapped the room etc. She left us 3 nights to sort out our own meals and in Catania just left us without a clue where the best places to go to were. Also in food tasting she always made sure she got her food first, she should wait until guests had their chance to taste the food. On the plus side her knowledge of Sicily was excellent and she was very interested in making us fall in love with the country and culture.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for rooms in Sicily to not always have access to windows and fresh sir

Don Collins

Reviewed October 2022

TYR: Kilimanjaro Climb - Lemosho Route

The overall trip was a great success. The Kia Lodge was basic but clean. The initial transfer from Kia Lodge to the Moivaro hotel was smooth. The Moivaro Coffee plantation hotel was a good quality hotel with good facilities. The journey to Lemosho Gate was as expected. The 8 day hike was well led, well supported and the food was plentiful and of good quality. The chef did a superb job. The tents could do with an upgrade, and the groundsheets were a tad smaller than necessary. The support staff were magnificent and all played their parts in making this a memorable journey. The return to Moivaro was as expected although some of the admin could have been completed quicker to allow more time at the hotel after 8 days hiking. The private transfer back to Jaro airport was a mess! Transport did not arrive on time, after chaser call, Exodus admin staff member (who did her utmost) arrived to pick us up in private car about 20 mins later but ran out of petrol. Taxi was flagged and passenger ejected. Private taxi then tried to play catch-up and had to stop to fill up before rushing us to the airport exceeding limits, risky overtaking and honking horn. We got to the airport…..but not a particularly satisfactory end to the trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching the summit along with other team members and the 'crew' who were particularly helpful and attentive. The efforts of the entire support staff were truly marvelous and they appeared to work well with their guides and trip leader David.

Thoughts on Group Leader

David was an excellent leader and demonstrated his skills and capability throughout the entire climb

Advice for Potential Travellers

Prepare well, only take what you need and embrace the spirit of teamwork.

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