Most Inspirational Moment
The beach at Potami.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Thanos is an excellent leader. Keen, enthusiastic and a sense of humour.
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:
Reviews
Karystos is best.
Lovely island and not over developed.
Cortinho Rosario
Not a grade 2 walking holiday, more like 3/4. Cortinho Rosario is for sale at EUR 850,000. Day visits to Seville and Camanito del Rey were fine otherwise just walking in olive groves.
Most Inspirational Moment
Camanito del Rey
Thoughts on Group Leader
Michael was first class but needs to be reminded the group proceeds at the speed of the slowest. Otherwise there will be a fatality sooner or later.
An outstanding glimpse into the past
I last trekked in Nepal 35 years ago, when there were no roads in the mountains and everything was carried on the backs of humans or mules. In the intervening years I had become increasingly reluctant to return, watching the gradual encroachment of the car into these pristine areas, but the Exodus PR for this trip was too good to resist. I was not disappointed. Once we had left the “railhead” end of the road behind, we were back into a land of mule trains, farming and herding, in a chaotic wilderness of gorges, waterfalls, landslides and suspension bridges leading to the wild uplands at the snow line, a slow but remarkable change in geology, architecture, religion and culture as we climbed further and further away from the lowlands.
I can’t imagine a better insight than this trip into the differences in lived experience of those of us who live in the northern hemisphere (or even between those who live in Kathmandu and the mountains).
Most Inspirational Moment
For a one-off inspiration: seeing yak herders on the open mountainside collecting yak dung for fuel and realising that a way of life which has existed for hundreds of years is still practised. For the more gradual inspiration more appropriate to a long-distance walk, it was the slow change in colour and vegetation from late summer in the lowlands to autumn in the uplands. For the small things in life it was realising in Samdo at 3,860 m that the sun on the tin roof of the shower cabin outside the teahouse meant that a hot bucket shower was not only possible but actually desirable.
Thoughts on Group Leader
I have been on many Exodus trips, but for sheer unconfined, unabashed, joyful exuberance and enthusiasm Chandra takes the prize. The image of him singing and dancing in the local bus on the way back from the end of the trip, as we swayed and lurched millimeters away from a drop of hundreds of metres into the gorge below will stay with me for the rest of my life. In terms of practical competence, the three trekking guides we had were outstanding: Prasan (the head guide), Sagar and Mingma.
Advice for Potential Travellers
If your fitness is not permanently high, make sure you do (as a minimum of preparation) the Exodus training plan. Then you won't notice the long distances and hard ascents and will have plenty of time to take in what you are walking through. Don't arrive expecting to be able to buy the snow spikes from the guide as you can't: you will need to walk into Thamel to get some. If you want to save space on your packing for the flight, the down jackets and sleeping bags you can hire from the guides are really good quality.
Absolutely Amazing!!!
Our family of four (2 adults, 2 teens) had the most incredible adventure in Jordan, which was our first Exodus tour. This was a full-on week but the itinerary was carefully and thoughtfully planned out so no day was too much or too little of anything. Overall, it was a fantastic balance of sight-seeing, driving, walking, hiking, exploring, listening to history, free time, eating!!, visiting tourist spots, and going off the beaten trail. Our whole family highly recommends visiting Jordan and this tour!
Most Inspirational Moment
Every day was inspirational and 'the best day ever' but these rated the highest: 1.Eating at Ali Baba's 2.Petra 3.Wadi Rum (desert night) 4. Dead Sea 5. The food, I had no idea what an eating extravaganza this was going to be!
Thoughts on Group Leader
We lucked out having Ibrahim, who is a truly talented group leader. In addition to his past careers / 20+ years as a guide, he is also very well traveled himself and this combination gives him fantastic skills in being able to patiently and effectively deal with and understand all the different personalities / cultures you may have in your group. He has a unique skill of anticipating questions or situations and handles them in a very diplomatic and professional way. He has a great sense of humour too! Ibrahim communicates very clearly and gives enough info as needed. He constantly encourages questions and loves conversation. He also does not push anything on you but informs you and lets you make your own decisions (ex: buying extra excursions or buying anything in the markets). What we noticed and appreciated was that he called us travellers, not tourists. * I am GF so brought myself some crackers and snacks to have (just in case). I told Ibrahim I was GF to make sure there would be rice available and he went to a specialty shop and bought me GF pita bread so I could enjoy all the mezze (dips) we'd be having all week. So thoughtful of him!!
Advice for Potential Travellers
I read lots of the reviews / tips before we went and here are a few things I would like to pass along: 1. We were very fortunate with wonderful weather in Dec/Jan but it could be a gamble (bring layers for this time of year) 2. If you are wondering if you are 'fit enough' to walk to the monastery it is good to know that your group leader leaves you at this point and you do this part of the trek/hike independently so you can easily go at your own pace. Our group of 10 were of all ages and fitness abilities so we broke off into smaller groups and everyone reached the monastery 3. No need to pre-order a 'lunch box' during the day in Petra, the restaurant that provides it is right there before you go up to the monastery and you can order off their menu 4. Bring cat / dog treats (I am so glad we did!) 5. Bring a small gift for the host dinner family (we gave a bag of British chocolates to the kids. Wish I brought stickers and a few little trinkets for the kids) 6. We did not need the towels we brought but if you have space bring them just incase 7. Bring water shoes other than flip flops / we had tevas and they were fine (ones that stay on your feet) 8. Bring sunscreen, hat, sunglasses even in winter 9. We used a mix of local currency and credit card. We brought dollars but did not need them. We could not get money at LHR so got it upon arrival at the airport. You can also get money at the hotel or at a local bank. 10. We brought some snacks but you have plenty of opportunities to get snacks along the way
Southern India- full of colour and surprises
This was a really great trip. I had no specific expectations and so it was all a wonderful surprise. The trip is quite full on and covers a wide variety of places and activities, from mad hectic cities, tea plantations, temples, backwater cruising to beaches and everything in between. We had a great bunch of very friendly people in our group , which was full at 16. This wasn’t a problem as the bus was spacious and with AC .. a must… if sometimes a bit too ferocious! Our guide Sathish was an absolute star , very knowledgeable, very helpful and seemed genuinely happy to be with the group .He went out of his way to arrange alternatives when we couldn’t do the original plan… it was festival season so pretty busy in places. The only downside was some of the hotels were really a bit shabby and in some cases needed a good clean. I did not expect luxury but I think Exodus need to review their choice of hotels .
Most Inspirational Moment
The colours and the smells if Kerala and Tamil Nadu for me were the highlight. The vibrant colours of the ladies' beautiful clothes and the open friendliness of the locals left a lasting impression, as did the fantastic food. From an activity point of view the best bit of the trip for me was the tea plantation walk with spectacular views and the rikshaw ride ( which was a replacement for a temple visit we couldn't do because of the crowds). Although I did feel a bit guilty as I think I was younger and fitter than the cyclist.... I did get off to push on a hill! :-) The calm of the backwaters was also great, just what was needed after some pretty active days and long drives.
Thoughts on Group Leader
He was an absolute star! Knowledgeable, fun, helpful, attentive and very well organised... he was was a huge asset to this trip , gave lots of information and insight on the local culture, religion and day to day life in Southern India. Nothing was a bother and when some members of the group were interested in going to an India cinema he organised it, he listened to the group and was flexible to ensure we all had a great experience.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Smile, and people will instantaneously smile back. ..I found the locals to be incredibly warm and friendly. The level of service is very high, the food is delicious ( and doesn't have to be too spicy) Be prepared for a few long drives... its a big country. Mostly these are through beautiful winding countryside ( you may need travel pills) with views to be appreciated , but a couple are just long and dull... just because of the distance to cover. Leave enough space in your case to buy spices, beautiful scarves and clothes at reasonable prices. If you use hotel laundry service... make sure you have plenty of time as they don't always deliver as promised.... its a pretty laid back place. The south is a 'sanitised' India with little visible poverty , a bit like Sri Lanka, and few beggars, beautiful country side and coasts definitely worth a visit
Exceeded expectations
We loved our trip to Costa Rica. Organisation was great and saw everything on our list and more.
Most Inspirational Moment
Seeing sloths close up
Thoughts on Group Leader
Johnny was so knowledgeable and friendly
Advice for Potential Travellers
Just go there
Incredible Adventure
Incredible adventure through Madagascar. While there is a lot of travel, it allows you to see all the different cultures and landscapes of the country – from the highlands to the western coast, cities and rural villages, national parks etc. There were plenty of stops along the way for toilet breaks, and culture stops. We were never uncomfortable but you do have to go with an open mind and just go with the flow. We went for the wildlife and this didn’t disappoint – we saw so many different lemurs up close and all of the guides were fantastic to point out all the different animals Our tour guide, Claudia, was amazing and so helpful throughout the entire tour. Our group was very enjoyable and we all had a similar mindset.
Most Inspirational Moment
- Tsingy National Park: this was an amazing hike. It was very hot during the day (38C) but with plenty of breaks and water it was very memorable - Wildlife: So abundant and incredible to see, from all the lemurs (ring-tails, sifaka, indri, red-fronted brown, fork masked, mouse, bamboo) geckos, chameleons (lots of chameleons!), fossa, plenty of birds and owls - Isalo and ranomafana National Parks - Alley of the Baobabs
Thoughts on Group Leader
Claudia was amazing and very accommodating of our group. She was always laughing and had a smile on her face, despite all of our questions and different requests. She had plenty different tricks and tips to keep us all happy, including early starts to get ahead of other tours, where best to stop and pick up different souvenirs, and plenty of stories and advice about our travels.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Go with an open mind and take some time to slow down (Mura-Mura!) Madagascar goes on its own time, we never had to wait too long for anything but there was always something to watch or soak in the culture. I would definitely have packed more long sleeves and loose flowing clothing. While it was warm it was also very sunny and the longer clothing was better for the rainforest hikes, night walks and when there was no shade. Make sure to bring your regular travel medications (imodium, motilium, antihisamines, bite cream, electrolytes etc). I used a bit of everything at one point and you're better to have it than need it. Everyone's tummy was a little upset at some stage or another but nothing to cause too much concern. The food isn't too exciting but still tasty - most dishes come with boiled rice and vegetables. Make sure to bring a wide-brimmed hat, head torch and travel pillow. I used these 24/7 and were very appreciated. I also had a small fan to help keep me cool. I had a 70-200mm camera lens. The wildlife gets lovely and close so anything bigger isn't really needed. I stocked up on plenty of batteries and memory cards as power isn't always a given. We had short outages most nights (keep your headtorch handy!) I had a small power bank to keep my phone charged for videos during the days. Some of the hikes are a little tough with some high steps or climbing, so any preparation before with your fitness will help make it more enjoyable. There are plenty of stops for wildlife and water breaks so you never feel too pressured.
It was everything that I expected. And more!
On previous Exodus cycle trips other cyclists in the group would say: Mike, have you been to Vietnam with Exodus? When I replied: No they said: just go! So I did, and with a friend, and we loved it. There were many amazing experiences and the accomodations were all much better than I expected. The only downside is the many hours sitting in planes (two 7 hour flights) to get there. Our group leader (Lam) was excellent too, keeping us well informed and smiling, even when we got caught in torrential rain!
Most Inspirational Moment
Whale Island and Ha Lon Bay
Thoughts on Group Leader
Excellent
Great trip. Amazing views.
This walking trip was a great way to spend a week. There’s a great variety of walks which meant each walking day was different and interesting. Staying at four different hotels across the week, we covered a lot of the island. We went at New Year and the weather was really mild, t-shirt weather during the day. The views were fantastic and it’s a lovely island. Highly recommended. Local food was great. A good balance of walking and some time to relax.
Most Inspirational Moment
On our last walking day we saw a spectacular sunrise from the mountain, Pico Arieiro. We then did a walk to two other mountains - challenging but worth it. The ancient Funal Forest was also quite magical.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our guide, Bruno, was very good - enthusiastic and knowledgeable.
Advice for Potential Travellers
The weather is better than the UK but we did have some rain and it was quite cloudy at times. We did travel in January though! We were there for New Year and the fireworks in Funchal were brilliant.
A really beautiful adventure
My week in Oman was such a special experience. Having travelled there without much knowledge of the country, I was absolutely blown away with the beauty and adventure it has to offer. This was my first trip with Exodus and I was really impressed with the level of communication in the lead up to the trip. I felt secure and confident with the arrangements and had clarity with the itinerary and instructions throughout. The agenda for the week was jam-packed but it meant that we got to see SO much while we were there. It’s not a trip for someone looking to unwind and relax as there is very little time for that, but if you’re looking for amazing scenery, interesting experiences and fun memories, then this one is for you!
Most Inspirational Moment
My favourite part of the week was that we got to experience a different terrain/area every day. City, waterside, desert and mountains - there was literally always something new and amazing to see! The standout moments in particular for me were: - swimming in the wadi (I'll never forget that!) - watching the turtle lay eggs on the beach at night - watching the sunset in the desert - seeing the star filled sky from the beach and desert at night - standing on the edge of the canyon The views from lunch at Misfah Old House were also a delight.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Qais was a brilliant guide. So knowledgable, patient and friendly. I would recommend him as a guide to anyone travelling to Oman.
Advice for Potential Travellers
This isn't a relaxing holiday due to all of the travelling and scheduled sight seeing, but it also isn't majorly active either. There's adventure in the places you visit, but there isn't much in the way of physical activity (e.g. some walking and swimming but usually optional and nothing more exerting than that). This is a non-drinking country so alcohol is limited (you can only purchase in some hotels). This wasn't a problem for me and Exodus had made everyone aware before arriving, but some of the group were surprised/complained each day that alcohol wasn't an option with meals, etc. (which was quite disrespectful!) So it's worth bearing that in mind if alcohol consumption is something that would impact your trip significantly.