Reviews

Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers

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14216 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Reviewed May 2012

PETRA & WADI RUM BY BIKE

Great trip to Jordan which included cycling, camping, camel riding, jeep trip in the desert, bathing in the Dead Sea, snorkelling, horse-back riding, amongst other things – you name it we did it!!

Most Inspirational Moment

Too many to single out, however trip to the Dead Sea was amazing, seeing Petra by Night was fabulous too! Meeting all those other like-minded people was good too!

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was good, however did not cycle with us which was a shame. Also think at other times he had his own agenda. He had been out 12/13 weeks on the trot and I basically think he was too tired for all of us!

Advice for Potential Travellers

It is very hot, just be aware of that. However you will see all of Jordan and it is a fantastic place. A camelback is a good thing to have too.

Reviewed May 2012

WALKING ON THE GREEK ISLANDS

Fantastically well organised trip with a great variety of walking, sightseeing, travel and cuisine. Good group size, interesting itinerary and clever use of local transport. Our guide was entertaining, informed and helpful throughout. Highly recommended (Be aware the walking is not challenging if that's what you're after)

Most Inspirational Moment

Sharing a public bus with 30 Greek school children and various locals on the way up to one of the mountain villages for lunch, with all sorts of public arguements and discussions going on around us!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent - highly knowledgable, entertaining, and tireless. Helped out with dinner every night (including serving and clearing!), dealt with all the various needs of the group well and went beyond the call of duty in showing us the local nightlife!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take plenty of camera batteries and memory cards, be ready for several hours on ferries (weather was very calm for us). I'd recommend booking an extra few days to see Athens at the beginning or end (if you haven't already) as there is no time on the trip for this (beyond the first evening).

Reviewed May 2012

CYCLE KERALA & TROPICAL INDIA

An amazing trip which exposed me to the local people, culture, flora, fauna, towns and countryside. To experience all these things in 2 weeks was fantastic!

Most Inspirational Moment

To echo my friends review. It had to be the ascent and decent of Ooty. The cycle ride up the 36 hairpins was the most challenging thing I've ever done. I was very emotional when I got to the summit. You can also see why the British decided to live up Ooty. It has very much a European climate and in places you would be hard pushed not to think you were cycling through UK countryside, with only eucalyptus trees giving the game away. There are also traces of European architecture which was interesting to see in exotic surroundings. If I thought the ascent was challenging and emotional, the descent from Ooty was truely amazing! Vishnu wasn't wrong when he said we would be cycling through different climate zones. I tended to think of it as starting in a UK climate, then Southern European and through the tropics. I struggled to decide whether to keep stopping and taking pictures or enjoy the ride down. After a few pictures I decided to concentrate on the ride - it seemed to go on forever! Fantastic! I must also mention to cultural differences and the general friendliness of the people and if you've ever wondered what it's like to be famous, you're certain to get a glimpse of it in India. On occasion, mutual fascination developed into posing in pictures taken by ourselves and the local people alike. I also enjoyed the boat trip through the backwaters and the Safaris. As well as the previous evening bus Safari, I went on the early morning Safari. I would reccommend this for the sunrise, the would through the bush and the fact that we saw ant hills up close and a lone elephant in the distance. More importantly, we saw a stick insect, which looked out of this world!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Vishnu, Joseph and Abbie where brilliant!The trip ran like clockwork. It was very well organsied and I felt completly at ease with everything and total confidence in our guides.We couldn't have asked for a better group leader in Vishnu, lead cyclist in Joseph and support vehicle driver in Abbie. You could rely on them all.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Just be careful regarding eating food and never drink the local water. Firsty I'd like to say the food was brilliant, but I was aware that the pre-trip advice was not to eat un-cooked food or drink the local water. For the first week, I stuck to this advice. For the second week, I relaxed my rule after watching the other trip members eating salad and fruit and not getting ill. Its possible that this caused me to fall ill with a bad tummy! I should have known better as I am susceptible to this sort of thing, whether it be in India or Southern Europe. I was the only one though!Always make sure you apply DEET or other insect repellant to exposed areas of skin!

Reviewed May 2012

THE AMALFI COAST

A thoroughly enjoyable week in fantastic surroundings. Plenty of picture postcard views on the varied walks.The weather was great all week and even when one walk started with low cloud drifting through the trees it soon cleared to reveal the views.I went on my own and the group were a great bunch to spend the week with.Very nice family run hotel serving some top food. Overall a great mix of walks and sightseeing

Most Inspirational Moment

For me it was visiting Pompeii & Herculaneum with walking round the rim of Versuvius a close second.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Albert did a great job of making sure everyone got the most out of the week. Even though a couple of the trips had to be swapped to different days it actually worked out really well.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be ready for sore calves after all the steps down to Amalfi and Positano :)

Reviewed May 2012

EVEREST BASE CAMP

A fantastic trek in a great part of the world. Exodus make it so easy as you are well looked after by the staff from start to finish.

Most Inspirational Moment

The summit of Kala Phatar ( View over to Everest) and the 2 night stay at Base Camp Everest. Seeing the climber on the Khumbu icefall.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Lapka was great, paassing on all his knowledge of the area all the way throughout the trek. A mention also for Dawa, Harri and Mingmar for their happy go lucky attitude and the wake up cup of T every morning.Thanks you guy's n hope to see you all again

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't think about doing it!!! Go and book it as you won't regret it. Best holiday Ive had

Reviewed May 2012

What a week!

This is a great trip where 8 days felt easily like two weeks, giving you total immersion in another way of life, forgetting all about whatever you’ve left behind to get there. There’s a bit of everything – plenty of fresh air and hot sun (plus a bit of snow if you’re lucky); freshly squeezed orange on the trail and mint tea at every turn; the camaraderie of campsites and the celebration of reaching the summit; followed by the sheer craziness of Marrakech.

Most Inspirational Moment

The summit of Toubkal definitely gives you a top of the world feeling (we were very lucky and had about an hour and a half there). Once up there it's worth making some time for yourself to pause for a while, after all the excitement of the photo-taking and whiskey-sipping (see below), and just sitting quietly and taking it all in, watching the birds drifting around and feeling the majesty of the mountains. I was inspired by the hard work and dedication I saw around me from the people who made sure we had a great time. Especially our chef (Lassan) who was always joking around and still managed to make us some fab food, popping his head in the tent for a quick "bon appetit" at every meal. Just the sight of him had us all grinning and wondering what was going to happen next!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Both guides Mohammed and Yehye looked after us very well throughout the trip, really bringing Morocco to life wih their stories and personal insights into Moroccan traditions (especially at the hammam in Aroumd - thanks Mohammed!). I had some very honest and fascinating chats with both of them about the political and social realities of their country. They were patient, kind and genuinely interested in everyone in the group, and keen for us to have the best time.They were also very generous with their nuts!! (and dates and figs - easily beating our Tracker and Go bars for some quality en route snacking)

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take a hip flask for a welcome celebration at the summit (it's a "dry" week!).Take a camelback or similar for at least 2 litres - if you have to keep stopping to open water bottles you might not drink enough of the stuff. You can buy bottled water everywhere so don't worry about taking purification tablets. I also took another bottle so I could have 3 litres every day.You don't need a mattress for camping - these were provided and very comfy (a bit like those foam covered sun lounger ones). Just bring your sleeping bag. Remember a head torch for those late night comfort breaks.Walking poles are helpful on the descent but not essential if you've got strong knees. I was fine with one.Stay an extra night in Marrakech at the end - it's all a bit of a culture shock when you get back there from the mountains but after a day you are ready to enjoy it!

Reviewed May 2012

MARRAKECH & THE SAHARA

An excellent trip. Well organised with an experienced, friendly (and patient!) guide. We loved the variety, camels in the desert one day and a walk in the mountains the next. Accomodation was more than satisfactory and the food was plentiful and delicious!

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking in the Atlas mountains. The visit to a local household in the village and the kids we passed who never failed to make us smile. Scenery was incredible.

Thoughts on Group Leader

10 out of 10. He was knowledgeable, experienced and always worked hard to make sure everyone was okay and getting the most out of their trip. Helped members of the group out in countless ways. The minibus driver also needs to be commended, he drove confidently and as safely as he could on roads that were difficult and coped well with other road users.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Read the Exodus equipment list and try to follow it as best as you can. Don't moan about lack of creature comforts. Appreciate where you are, who you are with, what you do have, and what you are doing.

Reply from Exodus

It is very unfortunate to hear these comments regarding our Responsible Tourism project in Morocco, especially when I have worked with the village for many years. Please note first and foremost that although Exodus project work started at the school 10 years ago, our focus is now with the Tjihza Village Association and not the school.

This misunderstanding started when the schoolteachers changed a few years ago – they did not turn up regularly for school to teach the children and were upset that Exodus were providing money for a water tower in the village (so all villagers could have running water) rather than buying laptops for the teachers. We have completed a lot of work at the school but it is not well maintained by the teachers so this would explain why it looks so out of place with the other buildings. Over the years, we have installed new windows, painted classrooms, paid for goalposts, built a sanitary block and provided a computer for the school amongst other things. However we always work alongside the villagers on all requested work so the doors and windows we have bought for the school are waiting to be installed, yet the teachers need to first complete their duties (clearing rubbish from outside, keeping classrooms clean etc).

When Exodus get involved in Responsible Tourism, by no means do we consider ourselves a charity. We simply choose to give something back to the communities we visit. It is extremely regrettable that the teachers cannot support our efforts in the same way the rest of the village has and we are trying to resolve this relationship to help the children of Tijhza (rather than the teachers who are not from this village).

Reviewed May 2012

TREASURES OF SICILY

Enjoyable trip of the old towns and villages of Sicily with nice walks, especially around Etna.

Most Inspirational Moment

Highlight I would say is Monreale Cathedral, simply awesome inside. We also enjoyed 2 walks around Etna, included in the trip, at different points of South Etna while it puffed away above us. In the old towns it was great to have enough free time to wander around and soak up the atmosphere whilst enjoying the views. The hilltop towns of Ragusa and Erica were particular favourites.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Fabio, was a very personable and knowledgable local guide. If you like food he's the man to guide you on local treats and good eateries. Fabios timings can be a little out. Its best to ask specifically "What time will we arrive at....." rather than how long it takes.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I know it says it in the itinerary, but you do need closed shoes for the Etna walk due to the fine lava granuals, and snow whilst we were there. I wore trainers which were fine. If you walk up around one of the cones, a walking pole is useful, but it will be the only time you use it.In most of the towns you aren't guided, but have free time to explore, normally 2 hours, so may be worth reading up on the towns before you go. If not, they are easily navigable and Fabio provided maps for each one anyway.If you are not on the group flight transfer from Taormina there is a good bus service (ETNA Buses) costing 7.50 Euros and takes 90 minutes to Catania airport. The hotel is below Taormina so you'll either have to drag your cases and use cable car or catch a taxi to the bus station which costs 15 Euros. At Monreale the local guide will offer you a 6 euro, 10 minute tour, of the cloisters. We decided to go to the public loo instead (50 cents). However next to the loos is a grill with an open view of the cloisters. So you maybe happy with this option instead!

Reviewed May 2012

SIERRA NEVADA & GRANADA

A superb trip which exceeded my expectations.

Most Inspirational Moment

For me, just being surrounded by the sublime landscape of the region.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jeremy Rabjohns is an excellent group leader who is considerate of all the needs of all individuals and the group alike.At no time did I feel like just another group member,Jeremy really took time to get to know each of us on a one to one level,which enabled us as individuals to get the most from our trip. Personally I was interested in photographing the landscape and so at times needed to be apart from the group,either in front or behind,I was never inhibited or made to feel a burden.Jeremy has a very good knowledge of the local flora and fauna alike and thus is able to answer most questions in this regard.He is also very knowledgeable of the local history regarding the Moorish peoples who once inhabited these lands,he has even written a book on walks in the area and so is more than qualified to lead.He is also able to speak Spanish and is very helpful to those who wish to shop and order food etc.In general I found Jeremy to be an exceptional leader,and a decent, down to earth,good to honest bloke which these days seems to be the exception rather than the rule.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I personally did not feel that poles are necessary.Ankle length (short) walking boots were fine for me.I used a hydration pack as opposed to bottles which I think is better.

Reviewed May 2012

A WEEK IN JORDAN

A fascinating trip, packed with plenty of history and culture, blended well with some beautiful scenery and a healthy dose of exercise and relaxation. Being able to see ancient settlements, Roman ruins and crusader forts alongside mountains, vast desert and coral reefs in such a short time ensures there’s something for everyone and plenty of surprises.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the Treasury at Petra (even for the tenth time), rounding the corner to the Monastery at Petra after the hike up, and watching the sun set and stars emerge round the camp fire in the awe-inspiring Wadi Rum.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Khaled was fantastic - his knowledge of the history and cultures of Jordan seemed endless and his enthusiasm to share his country was infectious.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I was worried about how my relatively low fitness levels would impact my ability to enjoy Petra, but the more strenuous walks/hikes (hundreds of steps or steep uneven paths) aren't too bad and are either taken at the pace most suitable for the group or are optional with plenty of time to do them at your own pace (or not at all if you choose). Hotter temperatures could make the walks more challenging (it was mid-high 20's Celsius when I went), but many are sheltered by canyon walls in parts at least. In short, as long as you are reasonably active, there's no need to worry or go on a big fitness drive before going on this trip.

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