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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14208 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Reviewed April 2011

TRAILS OF VIETNAM

Loved Vietnam, beautiful food, stunning scenery, fascinating history. The trip was hectic, perhaps too hectic at times and does not allow enough time in each place to really soak in the local atmosphere or to explore on your own. Felt like we were on a strict schedule which could not be altered – too ‘organised’ and too much ‘tour guide chat’ for my liking.

Most Inspirational Moment

Despite appalling weather and the cold, Halong Bay was spectacular and the boat we were on was excellent as was the food provided. Trekking in the hills north of Hanoi was tough but brilliant – the flora was amazing and witnessing the incredible hard work needed to grow rice was quite humbling – I'll never complain at the price in the supermarket ever again!The mopeds. Sheer entertainment, you never knew what you were going to see next transported on one the thousands on the road – could be dozens of eggs, chickens or even someone with his leg in plaster and crutches! The food everywhere was terrific and I am definitely converted to this style of cooking – bring on the fish sauce! Cycling was fun but quite intensive in the Mekong Delta, especially if you're not so young or fit!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our guide was full of information and history which was good but it was a case of information overload at times. Added to this, being a local (which is good) however, his English was not always understandable which did not help. His instructions about the next day's schedule and arrangements was often lost in translation leaving some members of the group confused as to what was needed or happening. This all sounds a bit negative but he was a very nice person who was trying to please and show off his country. I feel the culture difference e.g. his and our expectations, was a bit of a barrier.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you don't like package holidays, don't do this trip, too much herding. In 14 days you only get 2 days in the same hotel so make sure you have an easy access suitcase! On the plus side, things are very cheap - food, clothing (get shoes, suits, shirts made to measure in a day or less in Hoi An). We stayed in some great homestays which I found the best accommodation. Some of the hotels were a bit characterless but to be fair you don't get much time in them as most days have a very early start. Fun night on the train to Hue – was like the scene out of Some Like it Hot!

Reviewed April 2011

GALAPAGOS WILDLIFE CRUISE + Napo

I'm glad I did the two week cruise to see the different terrain, flora and fauna. A great experience to get so close to wild animals. I can't swim, but with the help of a bouyancy aid and hired snorkel, mask and fins it was fantastic.

Most Inspirational Moment

It's difficult resisting the temptation to stroke the animals, but you are not allowed to. That does not stop the sea lions coming up to you both on land and when snorkelling.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader, Juan, was excellent. He spoke very good English and was enthusiastic and had encyclopaedic knowledge of the Galapagos. He even played his guitar and arranged a sing-song for when we crossed the equator.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Travel light and bring plenty of sunscreen.

Reviewed April 2011

PETRA & WADI RUM BY BIKE

This was a fantastic holiday. Gave a chance to exercise but also to rest. The hospitality was most courteous, the roads in Jordan excellent, the hotels very comfortable and the food was so typical. Just GREAT!

Most Inspirational Moment

Petra itself was outsanding and more than I could ever have expected. The rock formations and the (natural) colour schemes were out of this world. A stay in the Bedouin camp and the camel ride through the desert were true highlights. It was soul refreshing to be able to have a walk in the desert as the sun rose and take in the stillness of it all.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was most knowledgeable, always ready to help and making sure we lacked nothing.

Advice for Potential Travellers

For that time of year, take a few extra jumpers because it WAS cold due to icy winds from the North West (?)

Reviewed April 2011

CYCLING CUBA

An amazing country, full of interesting and extremely friendly people. A challenging and exhausting two weeks but all self-inflicted fun. You will not want the holiday to end and you will definately want to do it all again.

Most Inspirational Moment

Not being funny, but watching someone from your trip unknowingly pull 9 people in three taxi-bikes has got to inspire you! ;-)

Thoughts on Group Leader

Extremely well organised, very informative, took great care in making sure everyone was ok and enjoying themselves...most of all he was a lot of fun!Let's not forget the coach driver and support bus driver...they were also extremely amusing and very caring...jokes and banter were shared despite the obvious language barrier! It was the people who made the holiday just that much more special.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go on this trip, without a doubt!I didn't even cycle before going to Cuba so I was a bit concerned I wouldn't be able to keep up, but the group tended to split off into capabilty levels (depending on how many mojitos were drank the night before) and no one was really competitive and no one got left behind. You do need a good level of fitness before going and the cycling is sometimes quite challenging (against the wind), but it was all worth it and you can always reward yourself with a well deserved mojito or two..

Reviewed April 2011

CYCLING VIETNAM

I think the balance between memorable and exciting cycling, and visiting some wonderful historic places was just right. Great fun and recommended.

Most Inspirational Moment

Cycling full pelt downhill for 30km in about 50 minutes.......starting in the mist, rain and cold weather at the top of the mountain and ending up safe and sound at the bottom with the biggest smile on my face!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Chi was the leader - what a great chap....couldn't have wished for a better tour leader.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you go in March, the temperature difference between south and north is very noticeable. The mountains outside Dalat are colder than you will probably pack for.........and Halong Bay was a bit nippy too. Take a fleece and a light rain-proof jacket. Oh, and the coach will not have heating....just air con. No issues with mozzies, the hotels are great. Look out for the old propaganda posters to buy in Hanoi.

Reviewed April 2011

CYCLING VIETNAM

Vietnam is very populated country. There are people everywhere: children, weddings, and specially mopeds. It is loud. Anytime of the day, anywhere there is a moped next to you : wwwuuuuu, you hear. And everybody pushing the horn, biiiii …. in Europe it is a sign of danger, in Vietnam it means: look, I am coming. People are nice yet they speak limited English. Landscape is superb and very diverse. The trip was very well organised. The things I disliked – they took us to restaurants that rather offered wanna-be western food rather than local, some were real tourist traps- 3 of 4 leaders did not speak English – would have been nice to talk to them more, only Chi our main guide did (he was a very good guy though)

Most Inspirational Moment

- day5 the downhill section from Dalat mountain to sea level, 30km all downhill at a speed of over 40kmh, RIDE OF MY LIFE - day 10 the penninsula on the way to Hue City, this was most like in guide books, this is the vietnam they show on TV

Thoughts on Group Leader

Chi was very good, excellent guy, very fit biker

Advice for Potential Travellers

- suncare, long sleeve shirts for the ride

Reviewed April 2011

LAND OF THE TIGER

An amazing trip, with plenty of opportunity to see the wildlife of India in three National Parks, as well as getting a flavour of the country.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing a tiger mother with her cubs from the back of an elephant in Kanha National Park was something that I'll never forget - but just the atmosphere of being in the parks in the morning with the sounds of the jungle waking up around you was something quite magical.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Krishna was great - as an ornithologist, he had a great knowledge of the bird species that we saw on our drives through the parks (and could even identify them from blurry smudges in some of our photographs), and as a tour leader, he was passionate and enthusiastic about his country, and made sure we all had a great time.We were in India for the Holi festival, and he organised a party at the jungle lodge that we were staying at, with all natural dyes for us to throw at each other - which we tried to wash off in the neighbouring river afterwards.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't go with the expectation of seeing large mammals on every game drive! We were spectacularly lucky, seeing 13 tigers, 2 leopards, 5 jackals and 2 wild dogs in total. Obviously it's great to see some of these amazing animals in the wild - but it's just as amazing to be in the parks, and absorb the sounds and atmosphere of these wild spaces. There wasn't a single drive where we failed to see something new - a new bird species, or deer exhibiting different behaviour.

Reviewed April 2011

THE TROPICAL SOUTH

This is a great holiday to introduce you to the delights of Southern India. It was a magical experience and I’d recommend it to anyone interested in this part of the world.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were so many highlights that it's difficult to pick out just one so I'll put down a few. The scenery and wildlife are beautiful as the colours are so vibrant and the contrasts immense. The walk through the tea plantations with the views of the Western Ghats was stunning. The backwaters in Kerala are amazing too - it was a dream of mine to visit there and the experience lived up to expectations. The Meenakshi temple in Madurai is very interesting and the visit provides an insight to some of the spiritual side of India. Other great moments were visiting the local markets and meeting the very warm and friendly people. The food was a great highlight too. We ate in a lot of local restaurants and the food was always fantastic.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Avtar Singh is great! He was a fantastic leader and nothing was ever too much trouble for him to arrange. His humour and good nature helped an instant bonding across the group. The stories he told were always fascinating and I learnt so much about the culture and way of life in India. Always he tried to ensure we got a bit of extra 'spice' and this made the tour very special indeed. It was a real privilege to have him as a leader.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go with the pace of life there (it's much slower than London certainly) and open your eyes to new experiences. I enjoyed the early mornings when we were in the countryside as the wildlife was amazing at this time of day. The food in local restaurants was superb and while sensible precautions were taken most people did not suffer any ill effects. The people are very friendly and it was great to have the opportunity to speak to them in the markets and towns.

Reviewed April 2011

FINNISH WILDERNESS WEEK

A fantastic holiday. We had never been on an Exodus (or group) holiday before and its something I would heartily recommend. Base Camp Oulanka was a great place and the whole holiday was a wonderful experience, never a dull moment from snow shoe walking, cross country skiing, husky sleding to evenings chatting with the rest of our group.

Most Inspirational Moment

The main reason for booking the holiday was to see the Northern Nights and we did. The first night we arrived there they were in all their glory - well at least in glory enough not to be disappointed. Husky sleding was also amazing. Having your own team of 6 dogs pulling you through a winter wonderland is quite something.

Thoughts on Group Leader

As we were a party of 20 we were split into tow groups for the activities. Our group was led by Eki and the other by Teemu who also played host to the whole group. Both of them were great, cannot praise them highly enough. The same goes for all the staff at Base Camp.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Believe it when they say you do not need to bring any warm clothes. They really do provide everything. All you need are your clothes to travel in and a few changes for the evening.

Reviewed April 2011

FINNISH WILDERNESS WEEK

A wonderful week of new activities in a fantastic winter environment. I chose this holiday because I wanted to see the Northern Lights but not to be disappointed if I didn’t – it worked (sort of): we did see the aurora, and it was rubbish(!), but the week was so good that I didn’t return disappointed. I’d do it all again.

Most Inspirational Moment

Dog-sledding. Especially the sudden change from frenetic, howling excitement when stationary (the dogs, not me) to the calm serenity of silently sliding through unspoilt snow-covered wilderness. So good, most of us signed up for an extra whole day.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Olli was great (although so were all the other Basecamp staff). He must take so many groups through the same week's routine each season, and yet at no point did we not feel special.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Basecamp provides all of the gear you'll need, although your own set of inner thermals may be a useful addition. A bottle of scotch was good for the hot-tub and for flambeing pancakes outside on the last night.

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