Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers
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14451 Reviews
4.7 out of
5
Reviews
Rachel Felice Fefer
Reviewed October 2015
Lovely!
Moderate level hikes but leisurely pace – all perfectly doable. Stunning views, walking up and inside Vesuvius is amazing.
Most Inspirational Moment
Views from Vesuvius
Thoughts on Group Leader
Christine is fabulous! She knows the towns, the people, the history inside and out - a true local combined with the perspective and understanding of a Brit.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Going in October was great - I'd imagine the summer heat makes the treks harder.
Bring a walking pole!
Save some $$ for a day trip to Capri complete with private topless taxi with a wonderful driver/tour guide (Christine did a top notch job arranging it for us).
Spend some time in the town and get out of the hotel for at least one dinner.
If you can, spend some time before or after the trip in Italy to have a more complete experience instead of just going/leaving with the tour.
Reviewed October 2015
Sylvia Herd
This was a great trip, showing off the main sights of South Africa, with the added bonus of Lesotho & Swaziland. Although there were some long driving days, we were a small group of 6 who gelled really well & had a very competent staff of 3. Personally I felt the Garden Route was overrated, so I was pleased that I’d done the reverse itinerary as this saved the best until last. But I certainly wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the trip.
Most Inspirational Moment
I really enjoyed St Lucia (which I'd never even heard of before!). Also Lesotho, the Drakensburg Mountains &, of course, the various safaris.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Both our group leader & our cook were really knowledgeable, friendly & helpful & great fun to travel with.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Be prepared for some long days on the bus. The camping was fun, fully supported so you're not allowed to do anything to help, & the S African camp facilities are very good.
Anthony Mcnulty
Reviewed October 2015
Great mix of Exercise and Culture!
The trip was very much according to expectations and as the trip notes described. I was on an October departure and that was “out of season” for some places so some of the usual restaurants/stops that the guides would typically use were closed but they adapted accordingly… The guiding was excellent and as a pilot this trip had 2 guides based on previous comments/feedbacks that it was difficult for one guide to manage if group was fragmented. I was impressed by how they adapted the trip and listened to our feedback to make changes on the go. I was also positively impressed by the amount of history and information on the locations that the guides were sharing. The initial days were a bit hilly but very manageable for anyone cycling regularly. The bikes were hybrid/trek types which were ideal for the purpose as we had multiple terrain types but primarily road. The agenda was quite full so morning starts and new hotel every night… with typically 90mins to 2hours in the late afternoon between arriving back at the hotel and heading out again for a city tour and dinner. It was a wonderful trip with many varied experiences and locations!
Most Inspirational Moment
I very much enjoyed the cycling through the forest part of the trip (Czech Canada) which was very enjoyable and of course the achievement of arriving in Budapest!
Thoughts on Group Leader
We were lucky to have 2 guides, both were very experience on the trip and excellent leaders. They constantly reached out for feedback and give the group options to customise the trip as much as possible.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Definitely be prepared from a fitness perspective so you can enjoy it... If you are regular cyclist it should not be overly challenging. The weather was changeable so suggest also to bring plenty of layers and waterproofs.
Consider going 1 day earlier and/or staying 1 day later to have more time to enjoy Prague and Budapest.
Tim Waudby
Reviewed October 2015
Lots packed in!
This trip covers a lot of ground. I have been to Morocco several times so knew what to expect to a degree and I took my partner along this time to see some of things I have enjoyed in the past. We booked the Premium departure as I wanted to ease my partner into travel in the African continent with as many comforts as possible and we were very glad we paid the little extra as the better desert riad is definitely worth it! It has been mentioned that this is quite a sanitised trip, where there is little interaction with locals and I would agree with this to an extent but you do have free days and we took ourselves off to visit a local (non tourist) hammam, where we had a blast with the locals. We knew that the better parts of the trip would be the desert and mountains so went with the flow in the cities. The city guides were very good and knowledgeable and spoke very good English. I would agree with other comments that the day in Fes does become frustrating as you are herded from one selected shop to another, Fes is a maze and without help you would get very lost. We did feel we learned a lot though and the shopkeepers were good fun. It’s just a long and tiring day in the heat.
Many of the group were ill and I think this made it difficult for some of the group to enjoy much of the trip. One couple were quite rude about making sure they always had the best seats and their insensitivity extended to wildly inappropriate dress when visiting a local household. There was a fair bit of moaning and this spoilt the trip to an extent. I felt like a tourist at times and not in a good way but there were opportunities to make a break for it and do things on our own.
Most Inspirational Moment
The desert camp. We had a fantastic camel driver called Sayeed, we got massages and even a concert at the desert camp, which was all a wonderful experience. The walk through Todra Gorge was excellent, we got to see an eagle soaring over its nest and a nomad family camped up in the mountains.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Yahya was very patient and gave us a very comprehensive intro at the beginning.
Advice for Potential Travellers
We took sleeping bags, which we didn't need. A sleeping sheet/sleeping bag liner is enough until late October early November. You won't need full walking boots just good walking cross trainers with good soles are enough in the warmer months.
Plan ahead what you want to do in Essaourria. Had I known, I might have booked some surfing or quad biking.
You need to go and look for your own entertainment on the free days as few options are presented to you and this can lead to not making the most of your time but there were times we were happy to rest.
We changed about £350 each, which paid for meals and a few souvenirs plus a hammam session for two in Essaourria and a Caleche ride with visit to the Jardin Marjorelle in Marakesh.
Yes there is a lot of time spent on a minibus - but - you stop every hour/hour and a half for toilets/drinks/photo stops so it doesn't seem too arduous. I have been on other trips where you can spend 8 hours in a cramped bus with one stop. Don't let that put you off if you want to see a lot of Morocco in a short space of time.
Don't expect there will always be hot water, working air conditioning, lights in the bathroom and you'll be fine.
Daniel Gradwohl
Reviewed October 2015
Visual highlights indeed, unique experiences not really
If you’re looking to see a vast amount of Morocco this is a great trip. If you want to meet and interact with Moroccans and have in depth experiences and understanding of Morocco, this possibly won’t deliver. There are several long days on the bus and we believe Essaouira could be deleted to spend more time in other interesting areas like Fes or the Todra or Dades Gorges.
Much of a trip’s enjoyment comes as a result of the tour leader and also group dynamics. We felt the group of 15 generally bonded (with a few exceptions) but that the tour leader was very restrained and overly cautious. We believe we saw a lot of beautiful countryside but never really met or interacted with any Moroccans who weren’t in retail or at a hotel.
The food was much more expensive and bland than we were expecting and seemed very generically “Moroccan” with unflavored couscous, limp vegetable tagines, and overcooked meat skewers. Bring some Tabasco if you like food with some flavor.
Hotels were generally of good quality but not always within walking distance of sights (in Fes it’s in New Town and nowhere near the Medina or restaurants).
We do enjoy learning about different cultures and their history, socio-economic policies, and arts and crafts, but each time we stopped somewhere to learn about these it became a (sometimes high-pressure) sales job. The afternoon in Fes seemed completely devoted to going from craft shop to craft shop.
Generally we are happy with the trip and the fellow travelers we met. The hotels were very adequate (this IS Africa, after all) but the food uninspired. The shopping pressure turned us off and we felt our tour leader’s over abundance of caution prevented us from really having contact with local Moroccans. It was disappointing due to heavy rain we weren’t able to experience the Kasbah Oliver hammam. There wasn’t very much physical activity. The long days in the van could have been made more enjoyable and interesting, but instead most of us spent the hours either reading, listening to music, or sleeping. On the days we had free time the trip notes mentioned optional activities but most were never presented to us, weren’t possible, or were reatedly forgotten by our leader. The free morning & afternoon before the camel trek seemed a complete waste with no optional activities and only shopping possible. It seemed we spent a lot of time sitting around between meals and group meetings.
Most Inspirational Moment
Sleeping under the stars at the Erg Chebbi dunes, the camel trek, the rushed hike in the Todra Gorge; seeing the ruins at Volubilis and marveling at the society that lived and flourished there 2,000 years ago.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Moustafa (he never told us his last name, even when asked) seemed to operate with an over abundance of caution, wanting to protect us from dangers never facing us. As a group we'd ask to do something and his first instinct was to reply "It's not safe" and we were constantly warned about pick pockets, unsafe local food, unsafe water, unsafe weather, and unsafe souks where we'll be ripped off if we attempt to buy anything without him around to protect us and supervise our bargaining. Oh, and don't forget the hand sanitizer! This got very old very fast. He did present some basic information about Morocco but tended to repeat himself. With the repetition and constant safety warnings we tended to ignore him.
The last two days in Marrakech required us to meet with him about airport transfers twice. This is unnecessary and intrusive (it messes with the whole day). Just put a note in the room's pigeonhole or post it on the wall. We're adults. If the information is gone, we will get a ride to the airport one way or another.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Bring a sleep sack for the desert camp (and warm socks). It was colder (and wetter) in September than we were expecting. I was glad I had my trekking poles for the Todra Gorge hike and the 5km walk to/from Kasbah Oliver. Hiking boots were not necessary, but was glad to have trainers with support and grip. A headlamp/torch was also handy. There were not kettles in the hotel rooms so if you want tea/coffee in your room bring a travel mug and immersion heater. Most hotels outside the cities did not have hair dryers in rooms or even for loan from the front desk. Again, if this is important, bring your own.
Luke O'Brien
Reviewed October 2015
Uzbekistan uncovered
Very nice trip, good company and leader. Historical monuments are not as old as some in other countries (modern compared with Roman). But good trip none the less – Beautiful tiles
Most Inspirational Moment
Watching Eagles soar above Alexander the Great's fortress
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our group leader was Dilshod, he was very nice and jolly, very polite and knowledgeable.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Most shops and traders deal in Dollars, so don't exchange them all, ask your guide for advice.
Karen Lim Ah Ken
Reviewed October 2015
A Taste of Cuba
A short but comprehensive introduction to Cuba – perfect for people that are short on time.
Most Inspirational Moment
There were many great moments - the visit and dinner at the organic farm in Viñales, the city tour of Old Havana, the cobbled streets of Trinidad. I went on the walking trail in the national park in Trinidad which ended with a dip in a freshwater pool with a waterfall - that was amazing.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Reyselis was amazing - always in a good mood, informative, organised, funny. Nothing was too much trouble for her. A couple of times the weather disrupted plans, but she always came up with an excellent Plan B. She is definitely the best guide I've ever had.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take more money than you think you will need - Cuba is not cheap. Keep lots of change handy - useful of tipping and for toilets. Which brings me to say - keep toilet paper/tissues handy as well as hand sanitisers - there may be toilets (generally fairly clean) but no toilet paper or soap. Don't expect too much of the food - it was very simple.
Malin Arvidsson
Reviewed October 2015
Great way to see a great wall!
This trek is a great way to get an impression of this magnificent wall. We only touched a tiny part of it and yet it felt like we’d seen a big part. All sections looked slightly different, some restored like you usually see in the pictures and some looked more like forest paths as there was so much growth and so little wall left. The pace was good, not too slow, not too fast, and we had plenty of free time to chill out and socialize at the end of each day. The food was excellent!
Most Inspirational Moment
I think the first day of seeing the wall was the most impressive! And the first few days we all kept taking tons of photos of it because it just looked amazing. I think it wasn't until the last day that I slowed down taking pictures.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our group leader, Jerry, was full of energy, cheerful and friendly and he shared great knowledge about the wall, what it was used for (way more than just a defense like I thought), history and life in China in general.
Advice for Potential Travellers
If you don't want to be surrounded by too many people, don't go in golden week as all Chinese people are on holiday then and even the parts of the wall that are usually quiet were quite busy. But at the same time, the weather is perfect at that time of the year as it's not too hot and it's doesn't rain much. I can imagine walking on some of the slopes being quite dangerous if it's very wet.
Una Dixon
Reviewed October 2015
Walking the Picos de Europa
The picos de Europa are really beautiful. We had a fabulous week of weather at the end of September and got to enjoy them at their best! The scenery was magical – I kept thinking I must be on a Hollywood set, it just seemed surreal! We saw lots of animals – many birds of prey; chamois; a wallcreeper; lizards; goats; rats! Some people saw a salamander one day although sadly I missed that! Each walk was in a different place – we did one in each of the central, eastern and western massifs as well as the cares gorge and Juan Robre. Our guide for the week, Alvaro, was excellent. The hotel was very relaxed and it was handy to be in a little village.
Most Inspirational Moment
Really all the walks were fabulous! The twin summits of Mancondiu were something really different for me and I greatly enjoyed that. It was a good bonus seeing the chamois in the distance one day. We had a really nice free day at the seaside - walking along the cliffs into the seaside town of Ilanes.
Thoughts on Group Leader
It is difficult to praise Alvaro, our local guide for the week, enough! He was excellent!
Advice for Potential Travellers
This is a lovely place, I can only recommend it! A few people seemed to have issues with their hiking boots. A suggestion: maybe do a few trial hikes at home with your hiking boots before you go to make sure they are fine.
Arthur Gidlow
Reviewed October 2015
Walking in Mallorca
We chose the week designated as Challenging, and thoroughly enjoyed 6 full days of walking through beautiful coastal and mountainous scenery. The weather was dry and mostly warm, and our group was able to complete all of the anticipated itinerary.
Highly recommended!
Most Inspirational Moment
There were many highlights for me, including the route and marvellous views on days 3 and 4, walking high above the sea on the route to Cala Tuent on day 5, and scrambling up the steeper rocky slopes on days 6 and 7.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our friendly leader Eduard was excellent. He is passionate and knowledgeable about all things Mallorcan - history, culture, flora and fauna, and the Tramuntana mountain area. We were able to learn so many things. Sometimes we would stop for a few minutes rest (chocolate provided!), and he would tell us all about something in more depth. He looked after the safety and well-being of everyone in the group.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Do consider the distances, duration, ascent/descent given in the trip notes for each day, and compare with the walking that you are used to. This will help you to decide whether you can expect to fully enjoy the trip.