Reviews

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

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14462 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Sue Melling

Reviewed July 2017

Walking in Tuscany

I highly recommend this walking holiday staying at the agrotouristic family-run home of Braccicorti in the beautiful Garfagnana valley. Each of the five walks are unique and the scenery magnificent though the view from Pania di Corfino was a little obscured due to the weather. However, this was more than compensated for by the stunning views from the walks in the Apuane National Park to Monte Sumbra, along part of the Appenine ridge to Monte Prado and the walk to Campocatino and San Viviano’s Hermitage. The walk in the valley led by a local guide, Pierre Luigi, was great too as Pierre informed us of the history and farming of the area. But what made this trip truly fantastic and extraordinary was the sensitive and thoughtful leadership of our guide, Sara, accompanied by Elvis her dog. Sara is extremely knowledgable, informative, experienced, inspirational and has a way of communicating that is enthralling and humourous. She worked tirelessly to ensure all in the group were well catered for and throughly enjoyed their experience. Thanks to Sara I had a truly wonderful time with plenty of laughs and new friendships made. Thank you Sara and Elvis! and all the family at Braccicorti.

Most Inspirational Moment

Apart from meeting and spending time with Sara and Elvis and the group members, I absolutely loved the walk in the Appenino Tosco-Emiliano National Park along the Crinali ridge to Monte Prado. The flowers, the scents, the views, the wildlife - all were sensational and all enjoyed in great company.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Amazing! Sara is a real asset to Exodus Travels and if I had any say in it I would definitely vote her 'Guide of the Year'.

Advice for Potential Travellers

My advice to potential travellers is to book now!

Andrew Deeming

Reviewed July 2017

Excellent Trek to one of the 7 wonders of the modern world!

Truly an excellent 2 week holiday! 7 days spent in the Peruvian Andes- 4 days trekking around Salcantay, 3 on the Inca trail, ending at the Sun Gate and that picture postcard view of Machu Picchu. If you have entertained the idea of doing this holiday, or a shorter version of the trek, I’d just book it! You will certainly not be disappointed.

Most Inspirational Moment

Difficult to choose just one but I would have to go with reaching the Sun Gate and getting the first view of Machu Picchu. It really is an eye opener and you definitely feel you have earned it after 7 days of quite challenging trekking through the Andes. As well as MP, the scenery in general, is truly magnificent. There are plenty of times when you'll want to stop and simply take in and admire your surroundings. If you are lucky and get clear skies during the evening, you should see the Milky Way.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Bruce was excellent! Very professional, caring and made sure he understood the capabilities of the group. He has a passion to share his knowledge about his country and it's history and gave very detailed, interesting explanations when we stopped at archeological sites. He made every member of the group feel welcome and brought us all together as a 'family' for the two weeks we were together. A special mention needs to go to Cesar, our second guide. Knowledgeable and very likeable- along with Bruce he made sure all of our needs were catered for and that we all finished the trek in one piece. One final mention goes to the support team- cooks, wranglers and porters. These guys are like machines! While you're struggling up and down the trail, this team carries up to 25kg of equipment per person and make sure camp and lunch spots are set up well before you arrive. Truly awesome.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Train for this trek and be prepared for the change in altitude, it really does make a difference and you'll notice it when you reach the hotel in Cusco. As other reviewers have stated, pack for all seasons. At the highest camp (4,200m), you will be very cold and temperatures will fall below zero. The next day, you'll be in a valley and in temperatures above 20C. We were fortunate not to get any rainfall but it is still a possibility. Take a mixture of Peruvian Sols and US dollars, for use in Cusco.

Gina Eckersley

Reviewed July 2017

Porto to Lisbon Ride (Premium)

A fantastic week riding through beautiful coastal scenery, with fantastic accommodation and excellent food.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were so many highlights on this trip! I loved the Port tasting on the first day - it was a fantastic opportunity for the group and the leader to get to know one another and taste some delicious wine! The cycling was glorious, the first 4 days were easy and then the final day was a little more difficult (but this just meant that eventually cycling in to the walled town of Obidos was all the better!!) I love the bespoke cycling paths that are used on the first few days of this trip - it's great to see a country that puts so much emphasis on safe and enjoyable cycling. The accommodation was also a real highlight - each night's stay was individual and quirky - it felt like it was properly hand picked to reflect the area. The food was brilliant - there is so much of it! There was an abundance of fish/seafood and meat - really delicious. I found myself eating far more than I was burning in calories but I got the opportunity to try a different Portuguese dessert each evening - bliss! I also really enjoyed the Fado dinner on the final night - it was a perfect end to the trip.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Marco was excellent. He was obviously passionate about cycling and Portugal, and this really shone through every time he spoke to the group. I felt there was not a subject he did not know something about! The whole trip ran very smoothly, supported by the driver and Mechanic Joao.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Lots of sun cream! The final day of cycling is more difficult than the rest so don't be lulled into a false sense of security when you are riding on the flat for 4 days! Just before Obidos the scenery becomes more undulating which is really nice to have a change, but means that the cycling day is longer. However, the van is really helpful for those that need it and there was plenty of time for regrouping (and a long lunch!) on that day. It's useful to read up a little on Lisbon before the final day as it is a free day, so nothing in particular was planned. It's a great walking city and there is a good network of public transport so it's easy to get around. If you have time, add an extra day in Porto - it's well worth it!!

Gyan Fernando

Reviewed July 2017

A Real Adventure in A Big Island

A rather hectic journey taking you from Antananarivo, the capital city, to the East and then to the West seeing a large chunk of this big island state. It involves two internal flights and bumpy Jeep rides and two ferry crossings in open vehicle ferries in the scorching-ly hot Sun. All part of the adventure! Just put on your sunscreen and don’t complain! Most of the time it was a comfortable mini-bus driven by Dan, a very good driver Nature lovers won’t be disappointed as there are Lemurs and Chameleons everywhere. The trees (Baobabs) and Eurphorbias are equally interesting but beware that this is a poor country.

Most Inspirational Moment

Two: Seeing Baobab Alley on two occasions, once at sunset and the moment a friendly Lemur gently jumped on my shoulder and stayed put! In spite of the mad rush by our group to get good good pics of the Lemurs at the start, towards the end we found a glut of Lemurs.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sol Razafimahazo, a charming guy, was a tolerant and knowledgeable leader. He had everything in hand from the moment he got us to change money at the airport on arrival, handed us pocket maps and after the interesting tour, made sure that we got checked in for the homeward journey. He was in contact with hotels and restaurants on the long journeys and would pre-order food for us to cut down on the waiting times. One of the best that I have met in over 15 years of traveling with Exodus!

Advice for Potential Travellers

The roads are largely unpaved and washed away. The 4 wheel vehicles are therefore essential. Be prepared for dusty, bumpy rides. The drivers are very safe but do put on seat belts. Take anti-Malaria tablets. The hotels we stayed in provided good mosquito nets and repellents but you can get bitten outdoors. One trek involves rock climbing (Exodus trip notes specifically warn you about this!) and, at my age, I opted out of it. Sensible shoes are a must. There is no point bringing fancy evening clothes. There is no National Electric Grid as such and in most parts the hotels have their own generators which, understandably, only work when needed. Electronic devices are a pain as some of the group found out. Signals are weak and the power not reliable. Internal flights weigh your baggage assiduously! Be warned! Airlines confiscate a lot of items including locally produced souvenirs. Do check with your tour leader before buying. Cuisine is either local or French or Italian. Do not expect a full English Breakfast although in all the hotels, we did get eggs cooked the way we wanted.

Hulda Gunnarsdottir

Reviewed June 2017

Great walk in Puglia and Matera

We were a group of 7 ladies from Iceland and went on the hiking trip to Puglia and Matera from june 3 to june 10. It was an excellent trip with beautiful landscape and the fantastic towns of Matera, Alberobello and Locorotondo. Excellent guide Giuseppe told us all there is about the region and was really nice.

Most Inspirational Moment

Coming to Matera and visiting the Sassi was something we will never forget. Alberobello and Trulli was fantastic and seeing the caves and hearing the history of the region was great.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Giuseppe was really great and we give him our best recommendation!

Advice for Potential Travellers

There is no need for trekking boots better to have light shoes like good sport shoes.

Susan Bigmore

Reviewed June 2017

Cycle the Baltics

It was a fantastic trip, every day was a new adventure. The cycling was varied, and there was a lot of custom made cycle paths, e.g. on the Coronian Spit which consisted of just miles of cycle paths. The hotels were great,
the best being the one in the National Park called Palmse Manor, with a stunning lake. The Hotel Braavo in Tallin was probably one not to return to, as they were obviously doing some refurbishments and it was a bit like a “work in progress”.

Most Inspirational Moment

Finding out we'd cycled 403 kilometres over 9 days! It was tough sometimes, but it was a challenge and I was glad I did it. Another inspirational moment was going into a Russian Orthodox church in Vilnius and there was some chanting going on, and it really was very unique and special. The food we had during the whole trip was excellent, I couldn't fault it.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Minda was a really nice guy and was very encouraging. I was always at the end of the line (out of a group of 16) and sometimes I'd see them disappear into the distance on rides but he would wait for me. I feel that maybe a back-marker might have been useful. When we talked to us in the bus, I was at the back and couldn't hear him that well, a microphone might have been useful.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't take too much luggage and because you're moving on, you never get to unpack your case!

Sharon Chollet

Reviewed June 2017

Walking the Greek Islands in JuneS

A very enjoyable week visiting Naxos, Santorini and Paros with a great group of people. Leisurely walking amongst stunning scenery, refreshment stops at pretty villages and excellent meals at local tavernas. Accommodation was generally better than I expected and as always with Exodus the whole week was well organised

Most Inspirational Moment

The walk along the Byzantine path and all the beautiful sunsets, particularly the last night in Paros

Thoughts on Group Leader

Having met Cécile on the Evia trip 2 years ago, I knew we would be in safe hands. She manages to be both professional and friendly, has a great knowledge of the Islands and always chose great tavernas for our group meals.

Advice for Potential Travellers

As previous review, pack light and obviously be prepared for walking in high temperatures if you go in June. This is a good trip if you have a non walking friend or partner, plenty for them to do whilst the group walks. Books or music are useful for the longer ferry journeys

Eve Doyle

Reviewed June 2017

A Great Experience

This was an excellent trip. Very well organised. Madagascar is a huge island and there are some long travel days to get across the country. Very varied environments and we saw lots of different wildlife.

Most Inspirational Moment

Being close to , seeing and hearing the Indri Lemurs was a very special experience. My favourite day was the walk in Isalo National Park.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Rija was one of the best guides I have ever had. Her local knowledge was amazing. She had done this trip many times and she knew how to make it run smoothly, sometimes in difficult circumstances. Despite her experience she was still really enthusiastic about everything and made the trip really enjoyable.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take walking poles if you usually walk with them. It was torrential rain in the Rainforest and I could have done with my full set of waterproof clothing and back pack cover. I should have taken a warmer jumper as well as my fleece. The hotel at Isalo offered washing very cheaply and we got all our wet and muddy Rainforest clothing washed and dried there. Change all your money at the airport on arrival and when you go back through later. The ATMs [we had two opportunities] may only allow you to change around £50. Those who did try and change money at the bank had to queue around 2 hours to be served!! No where took cards. Be prepared for the unexpected...no electricity, no running water, hold ups, bumpy roads, changes of time, unexpected encounters with local people etc

Laurene Tubb

Reviewed June 2017

Mountains and Villages of Corsica TEB

I was very much looking forward to this holiday and it did not disappoint. You see mountains in every direction and get to ride on a train to get to and from some of the walks. The hotel is charming…..as is Paul the owner. Everyone smiles and you feel very welcome. It is basic…..but this is part of the charm. The showers may be small but there is plenty of hot water all the time. Beds are comfy and everywhere is wonderfully clean. Mostly the food tastes delicious and is well presented and served by Paul himself.

Most Inspirational Moment

The magic of the mountains and the satisfaction of walking up them. Fresh water from the mountain springs and cold plunges into them on hot days !!!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Martin is a little cutie.....ha ha!!!! Kind, gentle and caring. Hope to meet him again on future trips.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Right.........I guess I need to mention breakfast. It lacked one thing. An egg !!!! Juice, croissant, bread and jam (lovely as it was) was not really enough to set you up for the day. An egg (even cooked the night before by the chef and eaten cold in the morning) would have been enough to have made a difference. The local shop rarely opens so possibly people need to bring snacks of some kind to supplement the baguette and fruit supplied for picnic lunch. If not......it turns out to be an excellent way to lose a bit of weight !!!!!

Keith McLean

Reviewed June 2017

Excellent week, lovely islands

This was an excellent trip, that we thouroughly enjoyed. The islands of Hvar, Korcula and Midjet are lovely. The cycling is fairly straightforward, with the first two being the most challenging.

Most Inspirational Moment

Cycling in the countryside of Korcula and Hvar.

Thoughts on Group Leader

We had an excellent group leader (Alan) who was well experienced and very organised. He knew when to lead the group, and when to stay at the back. First class.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Some accommodation is not great. Dubrovnik is very busy, don't hang around there if you want to avoid the crowds. Go out to Split a few days early - do a bike tour or kayak tour, both excellent.uhebc

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