Reviews

Amazing Vietnam

We had not done an adventure family holiday before and were unsure as to what to expect. Any anxieties were very quickly dispelled and we had a memorable 14 days discovering Vietnam from north to south. The schedule was paced so that we had time to recover from flights and travelling. The heat took some getting used to. Our tour guide said that Vietnam has two types of weather, hot and hotter, so don’t pack a jumper! There were five other families on the tour and we all got along really well. Our tour guide Huyen Nguyen made sure everything went smoothly and imparted her in depth knowledge of Vietnam giving us context and descriptions of her beautiful country. The tour was a mix of activities from rickshaws in Hanoi, Cooking classes in Hoi An and relaxing at Whale island. We didn’t really get into the history of the “American War” until late into the tour which was good, because Vietnam is so much more than its history! The Vietnamese people were warm, welcoming and generous. It is also helpful that English is spoken widely and quite well, which is useful as the Vietnamese language is very difficult to understand. The food was really tasty and we enjoyed the Ban-mi in particular. One final note, the Hotels were really good, particularly the Sincerity Hotel in Hoi An which has a very good swimming pool.

Cycling trip

This was the best way to experience the country of Sri Lanka. The back roads on a bike gave access to the most amazing wildlife, natural beauty and glimpse into the culture and way of life. The cycling was challenging at times due to the heat, humidity and one day of tough climbing. The hotels and food were of a high standard and nothing was too much trouble for our support team.

Fun But Tiring

This was a jam-packed itinerary, with many walks and other activities, combined with a lot of driving. We moved on every two days, which was necessary to see everything, but it also meant there was no down time. Although this was a wildlife trip, at times the wildlife was rather shy. Some walks we saw very little. We probably saw more wildlife on the boat trips. Our expectations were probably not realistic, but we expected toucans and sloths to be hanging off every branch. It’s not like that (at least in the dry season). We didn’t see a sloth until halfway through the trip when there was one on a tree next to our hotel. Never saw a yellow-billed toucan, although we did see other toucans and toucanets (never knew there was such a thing!). Final count was around 150 different birds, as well as many other creatures (many of which we didn’t know existed). So the wildlife was amazing, but you need to know it doesn’t necessarily just pop out at you. On some walks, especially in Manuel Antonio, there were so many other groups looking at the same thing that it was quite difficult to get in to see things and was quite tiring at times. The walks throughout the trip were also very slow and we understand the pace was to suit looking for wildlife but walking so slowly was difficult and tiring in the heat.

Discover Costa Rica - My First Trip With Exodus

My perspective is that of a fit and active gent in his early 70’s. Also, this is my first trip with Exodus. As another reviewer has noted, “Discover Costa Rica” is almost exclusively a nature trip. The itinerary touches only slightly on the peoples, history and culture of Costa Rica. This is also an active trip! You’re on the move every second day: bags packed and ready for loading by 7:00 AM with 8:00 AM departure. There’s not much downtime throughout this two-week trip.

It struck me that on a nature trip like this, the wildlife needs to “get the memo” that we’re coming. The wildlife needs to show up! Seriously, the forces of climate/climate change, local weather, and seasonality can come together in a way that limits the opportunity for wildlife viewing. Such was my experience. Several of the nature walks yielded very little in terms of wildlife viewing. In no way do I fault our group leader. He was VERY knowledgeable. I can’t imagine anyone trying harder to find wildlife for our tour group to view. So . . . enjoy the walk in the tropics and any wildlife you see is a bonus might be a good mindset.

Most of the wildlife I saw was birds. It seems silly almost to state the obvious. Birds are actually quite small as compared with other wildlife, say, an elephant you might spot on a trip to Africa! A bird can come into view, alight on a branch, and then, within a few seconds, disappear into the lush vegetation. There’s limited opportunity to observe the creature and perhaps take a few photos. I wish I’d considered this more before embarkation!
Accommodation was perfectly serviceable, clean rooms and well maintained. This is not luxe accommodation but it’s not spartan either. It was perfectly in line with the amount I paid to take the tour. The food was varied and tasty. Lots of it!

In my opinion, Discover Costa Rica is a good trip that could be great if the itinerary was tweaked a bit. For openers, I would get rid of one two-night stop (suggest Monteverde as we saw almost nothing) and create two other three-night stops. This would allow for a little downtime. I would also add some trip experiences such as the farm visit on the final day. These added experiences might focus on the people, history, and culture of Costa Rica. This way, if the wildlife “doesn’t get the memo”, there are still some high-quality experiences that the traveler will cherish.

Most Inspirational Moment

I can’t say I had any “wow” moments. That said, I very much enjoyed the 3 river boat trips we took. These plus Manuel Antonio Park were the wildlife highlights. The farm visit on the final day was also great as it offered insight into the life of the owner of a small farm. A very hard-working, gracious, and welcoming host. My wife and I were the only Canadians on this trip; all others were from the U.K. I can’t overstate how pleasant these folks were to travel with! A real delight and they contributed hugely to our overall enjoyment of the trip.

Thoughts on Group Leader

As mentioned above, our group leader Jonathan was very knowledgeable; encyclopedic I guess you could say in all matters about the flora and fauna of Costa Rica. He went all out in his quest to show us all that was possible to see in terms of wildlife. Well organized.

Advice for Potential Travellers

10 of the 18 people (we were 2 of the 10!) became ill on this trip with abdominal upset, etc. Take some meds to deal with this in the event it happens to you. Having some antibiotic pills would be great if your doctor would provide the prescription before you go. Also, bring basic first aid supplies on the walks for scrapes, cuts, insect bites, etc. (The group leader has none.) Give your wildlife viewing expectations a reality check as implied above. In places, the heat and humidity can be brutal for someone like me who comes from a temperate climate (British Columbia). You may have to pass on a few activities if you’re overwhelmed. At 2200 meters elevation (7000 feet), a number of us struggled at Sevegre which is the final stop before returning to San Jose. I was probably the worst as I felt I was constantly struggling for air especially at night when trying to sleep.

Reply from Exodus

Thank you for taking the time to submit a review about your recent Exodus holiday, Douglas. We are delighted that you and your wife enjoyed the riverboat trips, Manuel Antonio Park, and the farm visit on the final day. It’s also wonderful to know that the group of travellers from the U.K. added to your overall enjoyment of the trip. We appreciate your detailed insights about the itinerary and the nature-focused aspects of the tour. We recognise how disappointing it must have been to not see as much wildlife as you had hoped. As with all our wildlife trips, there is never any guarantee that animals will be seen in the wild, however,  the high concentration of animals in this region means that they are usually spotted by our groups. Regarding your advice for potential travellers, we are deeply concerned to hear about the health issues that affected several group members. At Exodus, our customer’s health and safety are our top priorities, and we regret to learn that during an incident on the trip, the guide did not have a first aid kit readily available, which is standard practice for our leaders. While we regret that this was not the case during this incident, our local team has confirmed that the leader took immediate action to best assist the customer, utilising his three years of first aid training. Your suggestions for improving the itinerary by adjusting the duration of stops and incorporating more cultural and historical experiences are invaluable. We will certainly consider these for future trips to enhance the overall experience for our travellers. Thank you again for your constructive feedback. We are committed to improving our tours and providing memorable experiences. We hope to welcome you on another Exodus adventure in the future.

Sicily - an island of contrasts

The tour introduced us to Sicilian food and we experienced making pasta, drinking Marsala wine, tasting mozzarella and warm ricotta straight from the buffalo cows, and visited an organic olive farm. This was in addition to eating loads of delicious street food, and exploring fish and vegetable markets. And then we visited beautiful historical towns of Ragusta and Nota – and learned about the ancient history of Sicily in the Valley of Temples in Agrigento. I also walked around a crater on Mount Etna. What a week ! Full of fun and learning.

Ancient and Modern Japan

Overall positive, a good overview of Japan, covering a lot of ground from Kyoto to Tokyo. The group of 15 bonded well and guide was excellent. Transport on bullet train excellent
Areas for improvement – quality of accommodation fairly basic, around 3*. Strengthen context/tours of big cities to give more of an overview.

Most Inspirational Moment

Visit to Hiroshima, very moving.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Quinlan

Advice for Potential Travellers

Learn a little Japanese before you go, as helps to breakdown barriers.

Reply from Exodus

Thank you for your thoughtful review of the “Ancient and Modern Japan” tour! We’re delighted to hear that you found the group dynamic and our guide exceptional.

Regarding your feedback on the accommodation, while some properties may seem more basic, particularly the traditional ryokans, we do, however, strive to ensure they provide authentic and comfortable experiences. The 4-star properties on this trip offers a high standard of comfort. The 1 night in Matsumoto is indeed a 3-star hotel, but with its proximity to the station and the rooftop onsen, it offers a unique and enjoyable stay. We trust that they provide a level of service and amenities that you might expect from a 4-star hotel in other countries.

We appreciate your suggestion on enhancing the context and tours in the big cities, and we will certainly consider how we can provide an even more comprehensive overview in future trips.

Thank you again for your valuable feedback and for traveling with us. We hope to welcome you on another adventure soon!

Wildlife spotting in Costa Rica

Great way to see a lot of Costa Rica with the huge benefit of a private vehicle and guide. All accommodation was a high standard as well as good and ample food in all hotels.

Excellent Hiking Experience

This was a great trip, first and formost due to the very professional and experienced support team lead by Kumar.

Amalfi Coast with Scott Forsyth and Veriano Verde

A week long trip exploring and learning about the Amalfi Coast with the added addition of a RCGS photographer and a leader interested in photography. Our trips were punctuated with interesting pauses to take advantage of the scenery and the light. We learnt about the countryside, farming and food. We gelled as the week went on and shared our experiences.

Jordan

We spent a week travel around this beautiful country and learnt an incredible amount.