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!

Haven’t posted your review yet? Here’s how to do it…

Once you return from your Exodus adventure holiday, you will be emailed a link to add your review. Any feedback collected is posted onto our website, totally unedited.

Alternatively you can navigate to the relevant trip page and add your review via the Reviews tab.

Select a trip specific review:

Select

170 Reviews

4.8 out of 5

Reviewed August 2011

THE INCA TRAIL

Due to never having been on anything like this kind of holiday before we were looking forward to it and the different experience this would offer. The holiday went beyond our expectations and we had a fantastic experience with all elements of the trip running smoothly.

Most Inspirational Moment

The best part of the trip was after 4 days of hiking at the end of the Inca Trail, going through the Sun Gate and the view of Machu Picchu beyond, surrounded by the fantastic scenery.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Juan was a wonterful tour rep/guide/medical advisor that you could have wished for, a resident of Cuzco, his insight into the history of the Incas, his knowledge of the wildlife on the trek and where to find the best places to eat in Cuzco were excellent. He helped a number of individuals get over a bit of travel tummy with some guidance of where to obtain the best remedies and ensure they continued to join the trek and enjoy the experience to the full.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Please, please, please .... can't say this enough .... Do take up some stamina and hiking training a few months before the trek commences, we both started our training in Feb and we travelled in July ! 2 of our group did very little training and it showed. Juan our guide spent considerable time with them to ensure they were ok, but it did mean the group (only 5 of us) split into the 3 who were fit and able to hike ok and those 2 that were having regular (too regular) rest breaks which split the group and led to us sometimes missing out on the interesting commentary our guide was able to give. However the excellent itierary planned by Exodus and our guide was set so even these slower individuals were able to make it back to camp every night before it went dark ... just about !

Reviewed July 2011

THE INCA TRAIL

Hiking the Inca Trail at the end of June was a very special experience. We had glorious sunny weather, no rain at all and the nights were not too cold. Our group was a great bunch of people. As one of a group of slow walkers I got great support from the group leader and assistant guide. It was a great privilige to hike this trail with an experienced company and an extremely competent group leader. Everything was well-planned and organised without spoiling anybody’s fun. (Finally, I hope the porters are paid really well because they work very hard.)

Most Inspirational Moment

Of course Machu Picchu was the star of the show, but there were many wonderful surprises around every bend in the road. I got up a couple of times in the early morning hours and saw the moon and a skyful of stars - all enveloped in a peaceful silence. I enjoyed the diversity of beautiful flowering plants and saw a perennial lupine for the first time. I was also impressed by all the other sites we saw on the way and intrigued by the speculation that they are connected. As an agricultural journalist, the farming and experimental sites were another source of interest.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Disnarda Aragon is a real gem. She's knowledgeable, calm and a good manager with a great sense of humour. She's also very proud of her country, its people and produce. As someone who comes from a developing country, I appreciated the fact that she encouraged us to support the local economy by buying hand-made local items.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't forget to bring: a headlight, a sunhat (they sell nice broad-rimmed ones in Cusco), sunscreen, insect repellant, coffee or black tea and powdered milk, if you absolutely need your caffeine fix. If you are not a very strong walker, bring a walking stick. I've never walked with a stick, and I bought one for 10 Sol at the beginning of the walk and came to rely on it right through the hike. Bring a couple of hundred Sol to buy water during the early parts of the hike and for tips for the cook, his assistant and the porters. You don't need to bring any food: the cook and his assistant feed hikers really well. Also, prepare for a lot of nice surprises at mealtime. (If you have any food preferences or intolerances let them know when you Do ask your group leader to arrange a specialist tour after the hike. Believe me, they can. I requested Disnarda to arrange a visit to the peasant farmers between Cusco and Urubamba and she, a driver, a friend and I ended up spending a wonderful morning with people who still live off the land and enjoy the satisfaction of growing their own food. I even tried my hand at cutting Lima beans with a sickle. It's hard work, though. (I can also think of other tours I would have loved to do, e.g. a visit to craftspeople or small local markets. We did visit the municipal market in Urubamba, but it would've been interesting to visit on a Sunday when all the farmers take their produce to their small local markets.)

Reviewed July 2011

THE INCA TRAIL

Truly the trip of a lifetime! The whole trek from start to finish was very carefully thought out… the guides, the team and the scenery could not be beaten!

Most Inspirational Moment

There are so many!Reaching Dead Womens Pass (with the help of the guides Disnardal and Wilson after my daughter had been sick ALL day!) On the third morning getting up to see the sunrise over the mountains.Getting my first glimpse of Machu Picchu.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Disnardal was absolutely amazing.....very knowledgable and passionate about her country and it's amazing history. Disnardal always made sure our group were happy, had everything we wanted/needed and she made sure we were clear on what was expected of us at each stage of the trek. The assistant guide Wilson was equally amazing, very patient, without him and Disnardal my daughter would not have conquered Dead Womans Pass!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Only take local currency (nuevo soles) we ended up having to visit the bank quite a lot (my daughter loves shopping!) We understood that the dollar was an accepted currency, but you never know what the rate of exchange is!Take walking poles, I was really grateful for mine!

Reviewed June 2011

Inca Trail - June 2011

This holiday far exceeded my expectations! I had wanted to do the Inca trail for a long time and finally got around to doing so in June this year. I was not disappointed and would definately recommend this trip to people that want to experience the Inca trail.

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching Maccu Piccu. After 4 days trekking seeing these ruins was a deserving reward. The second day of the trip was the hardest but was not as hard as I had feared. This was when we reached the highest altitude of the trip and the walking on this day was all up hill, trekking up steps and quite rough terrain. Throughout the trek there were so many highlights and it was amazing walking along and then suddenly you would turn a corner and there would be some Inca ruins! The fourth days trek was very relaxing with the surroundings being more like a rainforest.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader, Holgar, was amazing and we could not have asked for a better leader for our trek. From the beginning he was very knowledgable and wanted to share as much information as he could and show us as much Peruvian culture as we could fit in. On the trek he set the pace to make sure that we would all finish the trek. The first day there were points were we thought that we could walk quicker but walking slowly was a good way to ensure that no-body suffered from altitude sickness. Our leader told us that anybody could complete the trek regardless of age as long as they took it slowly. All of our group completed the trek but we did see other people coming down as they could not complete it. Our leader stopped to show us points of interest along the trek and gave us a very detailed and thorough tour of Maccu Piccu the day after we arrived there.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The toilet facilities whilst trekking are very basis and I would advise to bring toilet paper. A strong torch is also needed as it got very dark at night and if you needed the toilet in the middle of the night then you definately needed a torch to find the way and make sure that you did not fall off the mountain!The trip notes say that you need water purification tablets and I bought these but you do not need them. Whilst trekking the chefs purify all of the water and when not trekking bottled water is available to buy. I took walking poles as recommended and was glad that I had them as going uphill I found they took some of the pressure off and going downhill they helped to steady where you were walking. The weather was normally cold in the morning and at night but hot in the day so you needed clothes to cope with this i.e t-shirts, fleeces, waterproofs etc.

Reviewed June 2011

THE INCA TRAIL

This was my first trip with Exodus and certainly it will not be my last !!!. This really was a well organised holiday with good communication from initial booking confirmation, pre-departure information through to the actual trek itself. I truly feel so privileged to have done this and i am more than chuffed i decided to book with exodus 🙂

Most Inspirational Moment

So many actually !. For me the journey was just as amazing as the destination - all the sights, sounds, yummy food and laughter along the way made for a superb trek. Obviously seeing Machu Picchu for the first time just made me gasp with pleasant surprise ! as i had not expected to see it when i did :D. The porters lugging all those random bits and pieces as well as our kitbags over the passes just did not cease to amaze me - they worked so hard bless !!!. It was a brilliant sense of achievement conquering dead women`s pass ! all 1,323 steps !!! yep i counted and am now the proud owner of buttocks of steel ! :) .I think all those seemingly little moments of discovery contributed greatly to the experience during the trek. Also i certainly have to mention Tracy - a fellow trekker whom lost her luggage we suspect in Heathrow - the grace and good humour that she dealt with the situation was pretty amazing !. Gee i am never good in naming just one thing am i ?! haha :)

Thoughts on Group Leader

Holger was as wise as he was conscientious and patient !. We all felt very lucky in our appointed guide and always felt safe in his care and never second guessed any suggestions or advice he had. Holger was incredibly knowledgable and had time to answer our many questions and had a brilliant sense of humour !. We could have not asked for more :)

Advice for Potential Travellers

Yep ! :) A steady methodical pace is key for this trek !, we saw another group with another company set a fast pace - and sure enough the next day saw some of them having to come back down due to altitude sickness (a combination of overexertion and ascending too quickly), the guides really do know what they are saying so resist the urge to try and push on faster !. It is probably stating the obvious but this is a marathon (of sorts !) NOT a sprint !. Coca tea REALLY does help !. A decent level of fitness will help you make the most of your time here, in truth i did not find most of the days trekking hard at all with the exception of day 2 - dead women`s pass, this had everyone glad to reach the summit !, but i think having a decent fitness level did really help - so i had extra energy for taking lots of photo`s !. Oh yeah - pack extra undies just incase - i know what i mean and you know what i mean !, yep afew of my fellow trekkers had `travellers tummy` and additional clothing options take away some pressure !. I was certainly glad i went for the thermarest sleeping mat option, yes it weighs 1kg BUT you cannot put a price on any small thing which helps you get a better nights sleep as in June it was cold of a night and therefore the ground can be very cold, i found the thermarest to be both much more comfortable and warmer. If it helps i didn`t take walking poles as i never use them ( too busy taking pic`s !) and i was just fine, instead i took knee supports for some preemptive help and was tickety-boo :). Don`t skimp on good quality make-up ( as our guide refered to it as !) - as in suncream and repellent, even at the start of June the sun was intense and you really would not want to be dealing with altitude AND dehydrating sunburn !, a hat and/or bandana really does help too. Have a practice weigh-in before the morning of the trek and really try to rationalise your kitbag and daypack - it saves for alot of messing around on the day then having to panic as to which bit of kit to either leave or squish in your daypack !. I don`t know if this will help as the research is debatable but i took 120 mg of ginkgo biloba twice a day 5 days before and during my time at altitude ( as in short it helps off-set the harmful effects ) and i didn`t get any related altitude side-effects ( apart from an elevated metabolism ) - not even a headache happily :). If anyone is like me and suffers from a tendency to be prone to low blood sugars ( nope not diabetic, i blame it on being a fidget :) do keep some space in your daypack for snacks !, but i must say the snack pack given everyday was pretty good !. Hmm anything else ?, oh yeah ! bring the metal sort of drinks containers - i observed that they double up as cunning water bottle for the more sensitive out there AND they provide a nifty way of drying your damp travel towel overnight too !. Oh yeah one more !, don`t forget your swimsuit for the thermal baths at the end - delicious treat for the sweaty and unkempt !!!, oh i found renting a towel ( don`t worry they are nice and spotlessly clean !) for 3 sol much better than dealing with a soggy travel towel after !. I really can`t stop when i`ve started can i ?!!!. Oh i cannot believe i nearly forgot !, Jack`s cafe was a really delicious place to eat or to partake in a refreshing afternoon beverage ( they had the NICEST cup of tea here !!!) - do google them :) super happy discovery :D

Reviewed June 2011

THE INCA TRAIL

A fabulous holiday – more than I expected. I experienced and learned a lot plus the organisation was superb.

Most Inspirational Moment

Coming up through the sun gate to see Macchu Picchu laid out before you in the sunshine.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Carlos made this trip for me. His knowledge and enthusiasm, whether Inca history, local flora and fauna or football was amazing.All our questions and problems were dealt with good grace and good humour. He is obviously very proud of his country and culture and he is a wonderful ambassador for it.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do it! The altitude problem did not affect our group, the trail is an experince and is a slight physical challenge but the arrival at the end and the sense of achievement makes it all worthwhile.

Reviewed May 2011

THE INCA TRAIL

Great experience the local people, porters and guide were outstanding. First two days only saw my boots and the rocks next two days were fabulous the orchids, flora, views and ruins.

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching Dead woman's pass and seeing Machu pichuu from the sun gate

Thoughts on Group Leader

Flawless, well informed and paced the walk for all abilities

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take alchol based cleanser for washing hands and a long sleeved shirt. Manage the lack of oxygen by having frequent stops.

Reviewed April 2011

THE INCA TRAIL

I had my doubts about doing an organised trip, but my recent Exodus experience really did change my view! Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Most Inspirational Moment

Nothing could have prepared me for that moment when when we arrived at the Sun Gate and had the first glimpse of Machu Picchu. A truly memorable and unforgettable experience.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Packet of dynamite - could not have asked for a more competent, inspirational and knowledgeable person - Flam was brilliant and her co-leader too was just incredible. Always ready to assist and to deal with the most challenging of situations, such as the night that we were due to leave for our return to Cuzco and the trains got delayed. Flam made sure that we all arrived back safely and amidst the chaos of the 100's of travellers at the station she stayed cool, in control and was ready with a contingency plan. I cannot praise her enough for her leadership and guidance throughout our trip. Always friendly and approachable she lead with great confidence and knowledge about the places and its people that exceeded my expectations.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take your time - nobody is doing this trip to compete. If you make your own travel arrangements and join the group in Cuzco, try and arrive a few days in advance as this may help you to adjust to the climate and altitude. Opinion on the use of walking poles varies, but I for one found them incredibly useful (because of old knee problems) and would not have been able to complete the trip without them. I chose to walk with high quality hiking sandals (and was the only person in the group to do so) and was really pleased that I did just that - dried quickly and kept my feet cool whilst some of my fellow group members complained of wet boots and feet that were on fire. Take a good insect repellant, you will need it at some point. A good supply of wet wipes will come in handy too. As for clothing, I wished I had taken an extra set of thermals and a fleece - was slightly underprepared for how cold it got on the mountain at night. An inflatable pillow too would have been rather nice. Make sure that your gear is genuinely waterproof!! It rain quite a bit on this trip, but that did not dampen the spirits or enthusiasm of the group.

Reviewed March 2011

THE INCA TRAIL

Generally a very enjoyable trip. Plenty of great memories and photos!

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking through the sun gate on the last day of the trek to suddenly see Machu Picchu in all its glory.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Very helpful and friendly. Dealt with all pitfalls including being stranded at the train station at Machu picchu after a landslide. Still somehow managed to get us on the last train back to our hotel in Cusco!

Advice for Potential Travellers

The trek is suitable for anyone with any degree of basic fitness. Don't forget to bring a headtorch for the evenings as it gets dark early and a spare battery for your camera. When it rains it pours so a waterproof cover for your backpack is must.

Reviewed January 2011