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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.
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13936 Reviews
4.7 out of
5
Reviews
John Ratcliffe
Reviewed September 2024
Partners in Wine
Title taken from our Group Whatsapp – which was just part of the story. Had high hopes for this holiday and they were fully met. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and would recommend this holiday to those seeking a real Tuscan experience.
Most Inspirational Moment
Hard to pick out one when we visited many inspiring places. However, our 2 favourites were:
1. After a very interesting wine tour with Cesar, we then had a guided tour of the family mansion before we sat down to enjoy his wines and an ample spread in the Olive Press room. It was a fabulous experience despite getting bitten in the Vineyard. Please take insect repellent and after bite cream.
2. Gill my partner, particularly enjoyed sitting outside and surveying the Tuscan landscape whilst the sun set and we were eating the pasta which we had made.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Alejandro is a very experienced guide who is able to take everything in his stride. He was conscientious, knowledgeable and sociable. Always helpful and was there for us. Liked him a lot!
Advice for Potential Travellers
Already stressed above, please pack your insect repellent and after bite cream. The mozzies, flies etc are viscous. May have just been the time of year.
You do get value for your money but your holiday can be pretty full on with tours and social events. On the day off, we did appreciate relaxing around the pool before we went to San G. later on in the afternoon.
Do it and go!
Dezlin Vergotine
Reviewed September 2024
ADY: Sicily Food Adventure
An insightful view of the food influences, inspired by the Arabs and Normans. The island itself is incredibly fertile, enjoying an ideal climate for the cultivation of produce, such as olives, oranges, lemons, aubergines, tomatoes, pistachios and almonds, not to mention the fresh seafood caught right off the coast. A visit to the renowned wine cellar on Mount Etna, to enjoy a wine tasting and lunch, followed by a walk around the most active volcano in Europe.
Most Inspirational Moment
Learning from the accredited Tour Guide, which was allocated for the day, how the Temples of Agrigento was built.
Thoughts on Group Leader
He was very engaging and informative.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Bring a warm jacket for your Mount Etna hike.
Bethany McNally
Reviewed September 2024
fascinating Madagascar :)
Wow where do I start?! I have dreamed of visiting Madagascar for many years now and it didn’t disappoint. There were a few unfortunate moments along the way, but I’m so chuffed I got to experience this truly unique destination. I wanted to visit Madagascar due to how biodiverse the country is, animals found nowhere else and bizarre trees and plants, but not only did these astonish me but the people too are also very unique. 18 different ethnic groups listening to different music, living in different houses and dressing really brightly and uniquely. Just watching them as we travelled was captivating. The children were so sweet, not having much but making the most out of playing with stones and making little boats out of wood and plastic, laughing with their friends was heartwarming to see. I’m not going to lie though the poverty was really hard to witness, I have never seen poverty like it, just wishing there was something I could do to help. Witnessing the devastation of slash and burn, loss of wonderful rainforests and with that many of the unique wildlife disappearing too, is utterly devastating. Only 30 years ago was Madagascar called the green Island, its now named the red island due to such a huge area of forest disappearing. No wildlife outside of the national parks, once it would have been abundant with many wonderful species.
The trip itself was amazing, however I do think you have to be a hardened traveller. There are some really long days in the van (which I did know about) but it can be quite difficult, due to the fact our van was inadequate, it wasn’t made for those roads and had NO air-con which was unbearable on some of the hotter days! I would suggest reading the trip notes and day to day itinerary THOUROUGLY to make sure you can handle it, not just for yourself but also your fellow travellers. Some of the days i.e the day in Ranomafana was tough, looking for lemurs in thick bushes and on steep ledges, if you’re not fit it would be quite dangerous. Early starts and long days travelling can affect anyone no matter how fit you are. Make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into. Not only were the long drives tough, all of us on our trip got bad sickness bugs, I think your bound to get one, prepare for it with the correct medication etc. Thankfully I was bedbound on one of the beach days, as not sure what I would have done if it was a ten-hour drive, stopping every ten minutes ha-ha! Please also bare in mind you don’t get told what time your internal flight is until the day before, we got told at dinner time we had to get up and ready for our speed boat transfer at 4am. Not ideal and it put a dampener on our final meal together! I mean funny looking back, on a speed boat with no lights, whilst feeling sick! I can laugh now as I’m all comfy and well! ha-ha :).
Also, I would like to add on day 8 where is says: Full-day trek in Isalo National Park visiting Monkey Canyon and natural swimming pools. Was very misleading, our guide Claudia got me and my partner aside as she knew we had originally booked the trekking trip (which got cancelled) and said she thinks it would be better if we got a private guide which could take us on a longer hike and visit the swimming pools etc, we went ahead with this chuffed at the time. Had a fabulous day, in fact the best on the trip! But we technically paid for what should have been included anyway, so we were a little annoyed. Upon speaking to the rest of the group, we find out all they did was walked in the park for a few hours and didn’t visit the swimming pools then went back to the hotel before 12pm. We felt like they have been robbed of a fabulous day, I know one of the couples could have managed this hike and they were definitely disappointed. I don’t understand why this happened and I feel like Exodus should provide two guides, one guide for the longer hike and one guide for the people who can’t manage it.
All in all, this was a truly amazing adventure of a lifetime. I will never forget it! It was a dream come true. I mean how lucky am I to see sifaka in the wild and spend time with some truly amazing people. Thanks to my group who also made this trip amazing! Great couples and laugher made this trip even better 😊.
If you’re up for an adventure of a lifetime with some mad moments thrown in there, Madagascar is waiting for you to explore it!
Most Inspirational Moment
Hearing the call of the INDRI INDRI for the first time was wonderful, and having them jump over my head was something I’ll never forget. Seeing a family of Verreaux's sifaka looking after their baby was a privilege. Trekking in Isalo National Park and having the natural swimming pools to ourselves was unbelievable, I mean if you could dream paradise this would be it! Visiting a local’s house, walking into the bedroom/kitchen and having a cow in the lounge is something I’ll not forget ha-ha! Watching life go by on the long drives was truly fascinating, keep your eyes open you never know what you will see. Visiting the paradise beaches at the end, I mean there are literally no other tourists, that wouldn’t happen anywhere else. Just take it all in, its not called the 8th continent for no reason, there is NOWHERE like it honestly! Its worth all the sickness 😊.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Claudia our guide was extremely knowledgable and could answer all our questions about the destination. We just felt there was something missing, she didn’t seem to gel with the group as other guides have on previous trips.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Again, read the trip notes and itinerary thoroughly!!! Pack toilet roll and have it with you at all times, some of the toilets are quite hard to handle. Pack plenty of snacks and sweet for the journeys and the children along the way. Pack some layers for the highlands as it can get quite cold there. Pack sickness tablets and hand sanitiser etc. Go with an open mind and make the most as the destinations at the end of the long drives are worth it. Read about Madagascar before you go so you have an understanding of the destination, as some people can be quite shocked.
Stanley Fine
Reviewed September 2024
Like Nowhere Else
Bolivia can be challenging with poor infrastructure, unpaved roads and high altitudes, but it is so worth the effort. From the lowlands to the highlands, the scenery shifts, yet it is always impressive and can be like nowhere else. From the historical district in Sucre, the mines in Potosi, the chaos of La Paz and the serenity in Lake Titicaca and especially Salar de Uyuni, it’s just one day of discovery and insight after the other.
Most Inspirational Moment
Experiencing miners hustling outside of their mine in Potosi, and listening to the stories from our guide, was enough to paint a bleak picture of hardship that I knew nothing about. In contrast, the emptiness and vastness of the salt flats was a thing of beauty and wonder and more astonishing than I expected.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Julia was terrific. She knows her stuff, loves showing off her country and clearly cares about the well-being of her group. Everything ran smoothly. The hotels were excellent to adequate, the drivers were careful and her choice of restaurants sometimes surprised with some fabulous meals.
Advice for Potential Travellers
This trip was in early September and although there could be near freezing temperatures in the very early morning at some locations, by the time we were on the road and outdoors, it had warmed up to springlike temperatures. The hotels provide plenty of blankets. Thermal underwear, gloves and bed socks were never needed. It also never rained except for the last morning before departure in Santa Cruz. Pack lighter. The trip notes also need to be updated. Some parts are repetitive and inaccurate.
You're much better off having $100 notes and exchanging them for Bolivianos rather than using an ATM or credit card. The official exchange rate was around 6.87 for $1, but unofficially, you can get 10 Bolivianos for $1.
Angela Wallace
Reviewed September 2024
Myths, legends, and thousands of years of history
Good, full-on trip covering lots of ground and amazing scenery and history.
Most Inspirational Moment
Meteora, Olympia and Delphi were particular highlights for me - Acropolis in Athens was of course amazing but way busier even than expected. Navarino bay at Pylos was also unexpectedly spectacular.
Thoughts on Group Leader
George was a consummate professional with encyclopedic knowledge of all the sites and museums visited, as well as being superbly organised and amenable to questions in general, and IMO went above and beyond to ensure everyone had a good trip. A conscientious tour guide, he made sure he had all the information anyone on a trip like this could ever need, and spent much of his own time making sure everything was in place for the day's events.
He and our diver Gregoris were very good at getting us in to places before they got too busy with the many big cruise ship and coach trip tours that seemed to be everywhere, and were always helpful and friendly.
Advice for Potential Travellers
It's a full-on itinerary which can be quite tiring, especially in the heat, and IMO was a bit museum-heavy. Some sites don't have much shade so for anyone pale and Irish like me, sunscreen, insect repellant and hats are essential! So are good walking shoes and plenty of water - I find an insulated water bottle essential, and there are often public fountains where you can fill up (top tip, use the Refill app to discover where these are).
Sue Beesley
Reviewed September 2024
A gem of a trip.
A truly wonderful trip. A chance to travel into Zimbabwe – an African country I hadn’t visited before – and to revisit Botswana staying in comfortable lodges, plus the highlight of wild camping for 2 nights in the Okavango Delta. Very comfortable transport which was appreciated on the couple of long drives on bumpy roads. A great group of travel companions (including our guide) who enjoyed the shared experiences and lots of laughter and banter during evening meals and a memorable sunset cruise.
Most Inspirational Moment
Innumerable inspiring moments. Close encounters with lions, elephants, rhinos and hippos. Sitting round camp fire and being entertained by the wonderful polers after delicious food cooked by Adonia. Numerous bird sighting. Given the opportunity to walk in the Delta and Matopos. Optional plane ride over the Delta emphasised its beauty and vastness. The immense knowledge of all our guides in national parks about the animals and birds we encountered. The lovely tented accommodation at Nata with an outdoor shower. Starry moonlit night skies. Beauty of Matopos hills.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Adonia is definitely a 5 * guide. Reading previous reviews, it seems that it is usual to have a guide and driver. Adonia performed both of these roles efficiently and with great good humour, ensuring everyone in the group was included, any problem dealt with swiftly, giving clear instructions and generally being one step ahead of any likely difficulties. His knowledge of wild life is great. His English is perfect. He is a fantastic cook. We learnt so much from him about Zimbabwe (his country) and Botswana. Any future group are lucky to have him as their guide.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Just enjoy and immerse yourself in every experience. Don’t expect to see everything on your wish list - so much depends on time of year etc. - and the luck of being in the right place at the right time. As said in previous reviews - put any footwear in top of luggage ready for disinfecting going into Botswana. There are a couple of days of long drives over bumpy “roads” but plenty of opportunities for snack and comfort breaks. The majority of our group felt we had too long at Vic Falls at the end of the trip and would have preferred more time in Hwange, perhaps because no one was interested in the optional activities there. However the Falls themselves are awe inspiring. Take some US $ in small denominations for tips and souvenirs in Zimbabwe. WiFi available in all lodges and ATMs in major towns.
Judith Hart
Reviewed September 2024
Truly beautiful trip
This trip has it all- mountain views, amazing food and wonderful service.
Most Inspirational Moment
Walking beside the 100m drop that is the Cares Gorge.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Laura was supportive and helpful to all the group members.
Advice for Potential Travellers
This trip makes mountain walking accessible!
Nia Harland
Reviewed September 2024
Cycling in the Baltics but allocated a poor guide
We were looking forward to discovering more about the Baltic states whilst cycling, however we were let down by being allocated a new guide with very poor English who was unfamiliar with the trip. Fortunately we had a lonely planets guide book and were able to make up for what should have been offered. The group was very good fun and we were able to make the best of a difficult situation, however we felt that this trip was well below what we would expect from Exodus.
Most Inspirational Moment
The Baltics are great countries to see by bike, with great scenery. Estonia was so clean and full of history. We found an Old believers Museum (from the guide book) and Tartu was so modern. Latvia was pleasant, but hunger overtook us by 3pm with no lunch stop and Riga was fabulous. It would have been helpful to have been told ahead of time that Midsummers day is the Biggest festival of the year in these countries and we found somewhere to celebrate- eventually! And on to Lithuania. We almost missed the Hill of Crosses (iconic place in Lithuania) as it is not on the itinerary. But we made a forced stop! Klaipeda and the Curonian Spit are stunning, but there was so much more we could have been told about it.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Valdas was a nice chap but had been placed in a difficult situation and was not a suitable guide for this trip.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Check who the guide is to be. Reviews since have been more favourable.
Larry Meyers
Reviewed September 2024
Combination of Hiking and Culture
I have followed Albania’s history from WWII forward and being able to experiencing in person was most satisfying. The hiking portion was the challenge I was looking for. The culture portion not so much so.
Most Inspirational Moment
Without a doubt hiking in the mountains.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Dorien was an excellent guide, always available and engaging. His insight while growing up and witnessing the changes brought the trip together.
Advice for Potential Travellers
The hiking is hard--think 4+. Come prepared--good hiking boots (not trainers) with good tread. Hiking poles are a must. Trails are rock filled and shale in parts. You will find "commando" camps on some of the hikes where they sell cold (chilled by natural springs) beer and other beverages. Sometimes coffee and limited food. Be prepared for long drives but the van is comfortable. Exchange hard currency for Lek but keep most of your money in Euros. One can always pay in euros and may get euros in change. You can spend cash fast as credit cards are hard to use anywhere on this trip. The Sept heat was more than I had planned on--always looking for shade. Keep that in mind if traveling during the summer months.
Zoe Gordon
Reviewed September 2024
A real adventure for the whole family
This was a jam-packed trip, taking in city life in Cape Town and experiencing the wide variety of wildlife on the coast and in the reserves. Our tour guides were friendly and informative and happily shared all of their stories and knowledge with us on the journey. There were so many highlights and our family enjoyed the changing scenery from the coast to the Karoo and everything in between. Thanks to Petro we sampled a real variety of food and drink and enjoyed trying lots of new things. We were very sad to leave and will return to explore more!
Most Inspirational Moment
There are too many to choose from! We loved seeing all of the amazing wildlife from penguins and meerkats to elephants and rhinos and everything in between. Buffelsdrift was a lovely reserve and felt less commercial than Aquila. Watching whales in Hermanus as we walked along the coast path and walking along the cliff edge at the Cape of Good Hope were amazing experiences too. Despite the chilly weather, the hot tub at the glamping site was a real treat!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Petro was amazing. She has an amazing local knowledge and seems to know everyone in and around Cape Town. She was warm, friendly and nothing was ever too much trouble, even when she was feeling under the weather. She knew all the best spots for coffee stops, lunch and dinner and her cooking was great too. Sthandiwe was fantastic too. She brought a real energy to the group and worked hard to bring the teenagers into conversations and activities. She shared lots of local knowledge with us and even organised a township tour for our family at the end of our trip. She made a real impression on my daughter - Sthandiwe is a great role model for kids!
Advice for Potential Travellers
Throw yourself into every activity - kayaking to see the penguins was hard work but unforgettable! It can get cold if you come in the UK summer, so pack a hat, gloves and warm socks for the early morning safari drive and for some of the evening activities. Bring binoculars too, so you don't miss any animals. Also, the cable car on Table Mountain shuts during the winter, so that was a bit disappointing.
