Reviews

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

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323 Reviews

4.8 out of 5

Reviewed April 2012

CYCLING VIETNAM

Vietnam is an inspirational place to visit, the people are welcoming and open, the kids great you like brothers and sisters,the cities are a total culture shock and the landscape and coast is stunning. As cyclists dressed in our get up we must have looked like people from another planet dropped into a society which in some areas looks like it has not changed in hundreds of years. I felt by cycling, you touch, feel, smell and experience all aspects of life, it’s traveling on a human scale enabling you to immerse yourself in another culture.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were so many; us all collectively lighting a tribute to those who suffered in the war, at the sight of a village whose population was all killed one dreadful morning 45 years ago, was moving. It was like it happened yesterday because the landscape had not changed around the village and there were children cycling back from school looking and sounding like the children who were killed leaving for school that fateful day. Reaching some personal goals in terms of the cycling, getting to the top of hill top passes, cycling to the coast for the first time and jumping in the sea, the overnight train ride and seeing Hanoi for the first time after getting off the train. Halong bay was stunning and I got up at dawn to sea the sun rise over the limestone peaks. But the real inspiration is seeing the strength and energy of the Vietnamise people, after the war you think they would turn their back on people from the west, but they were happy to share their time with us and let us see how they live.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Lam, was caring, effective, knowledgeable and his fitness was inspirational on the bike rides. Every single arrangement he made for us worked and his recommendations around places to go and see we're always spot on.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Only go on this trip if you are a fit cyclist. I was on the margin of not strong enough and it was a tough challenge. It says it's mostly flat, somewhere, it's mostly hilly. We had a wide range of ability levels and e erroneous was supported to finish. But my advise is if you have not cycled over 70km in a day in the uk, you are going to find 100km in the heat very very tough. And oh yes train and train before leaving. You will enjoy it more if it's not painful

Reviewed March 2012

CYCLING VIETNAM

All too soon, the two weeks had come to an end. Yet whilst we were busy with the trip, time seemed to expand. Full on, always busy, but what a wonderful way to see such an incredible country.

Most Inspirational Moment

Experiencing the crazy world of Vietnamese travel - the scooters, mopeds and motorcycles, mixed in with the buses and trucks!; Seeing the beautiful scenery, the outlines of the hills of the central highlands on the skyline whilst cycling amongst the rice paddies; swimming in the warm Pacific ocean from a paradise sandy bay; tasting such fantastic and varied food; being made so welcome by all the people we met - especially the children and their calls of hello as we cycled past, "high-fiving" as we went!; 30km of downhill cycling, from hill top to river-side restaurant

Thoughts on Group Leader

Danh was simply the best! This was our sixth Exodus adventure, and all of our leaders have been superb, but Danh is a cut above in a field of excellence. His attentive dedication to his job and those in his care meant that we wanted for nothing, and with his wonderful support team of drivers and cycle mechanics backing him up, the whole trip went as smoothly as a well-oiled bike chain! His passion for, and love of his country shone through, and his encylopeadic knowledge of Vietnamese history and culture combined with his fantastic sense of humour and fun, meant there was never a dull moment!

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you only ever cycle to the shops, prepare yourself for a shock! Don't let this put you off, you should still do it, but you might want to put in some practice on some inclines (or undulating terrain, as we educated Danh to refer to it!). What is difficult to prepare for is the heat - which for most of our trip was in the high 20s and more often than not into the 30s. Cycling in the sauna should do it, but your sports centre might object!

Reviewed March 2012

CYCLING VIETNAM

A wonderful holiday with a great group of people in a fascinating country. We had the chance to see local life close to and were warmly greeted wherever we went.

Most Inspirational Moment

The long descent (35km) from the top of a very wet and misty mountain beyond Dalat down to the warm and sunny valley below, freewheeling most of the way.The 10k long uphill climb to the top of the Hai Van Pass, a big challenge and a real sense of achievement to make it to the top.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Long Le was superb; he had a wonderful sense of humour, and a great grasp of English idiom. Nothing was too much trouble for him, everything went very smoothly and he was able to change plans if necessary with no problems. He was a great ambassador for both the Company and the Country and was always delighted to share information and to "educate us"

Advice for Potential Travellers

A gel saddle cover or your own saddle is vital to the enjoyment of the holiday, padded shorts are pretty useful too. Some of the rides are quite long, get a bit fit before you go and you will enjoy it more. Having said that, anyone who couldn't manage some of the longer climbing sections was welcome to ride up in the bus: there was no pressure to carry on if you couldn't manage it. Take Immodium instants!!!!

Reviewed March 2012

CYCLING VIETNAM

Thoroughly enjoyable. Still thinking about it now after a week back. I am a committed cyclist and others on the trip probably were not enthusiasts but it didn’t matter. We all mixed well and the mixture of swimming, site-seeing and kayaking was great.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the people and just a different way of life. How hard they seemed to work in the cities and for not very much

Thoughts on Group Leader

Long Le is a real gem and such an enthusiast

Advice for Potential Travellers

Just soak it all up and you will manage the cycling so long as you are reasonably fit

Reviewed March 2012

CYCLING VIETNAM

It was a wonderful experience. Great cycling and a varied itinerary gave us a good feel for the place and its people. Vietnam is a luscious country, moving forward from the horrors of war to the magic of peace.

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching the top of Hai Van Pass was exhilarating, as was cycling downhill from Dalat. Views were stunning, and every effort worthwhile. Swimming in the warm China Sea, kayaking in Halong Bay, watching peanut farmers harvesting their crop, crawling through the Chu Chi tunnels, were but a few of the interesting times we enjoyed.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Long, our leader, was first class. He was well informed, cheerful, easy going and had a great sense of humour. He seamlessly took us from Saigon to Hanoi, ensuring we were well fed and watered, and responding to our individual requests.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go with an open mind and enjoy the experience!

Reviewed March 2012

CYCLING VIETNAM

This is a great way to experience Vietnam, cycling added an extra dimension to the trip allowing us to get closer to the people, the beautiful scenery and off the beaten track. The planning was faultless, the guides could not do enough for us and I came away with some fantastic memories (and friendships).

Most Inspirational Moment

Despite the breathtaking scenery for me everything about the was encapsulated in a brief moment whilst we were riding through a village. I was 100 metres behind one of our group and could see clearly children running and skipping out of their homes to shout 'hello' and give him and then myself high fives as we went past. This was par for the course everywhere we went - as I was riding up the Hai Van Pass motor cyclists pulled up alongside to say hello and chatting to me as I was fighting for air! Vietnam is a beautiful country with wonderful genuinely friendly people.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Lynn was excellent. Planning and execution of the trip was faultless but the extra dimension was brought to the trip by his personal stories of his experiences growing up in a war torn Vietnam. It was not only interesting but allowed us to understand on a personal level the challenges the Vietnamese have faced in relatively recent times.

Advice for Potential Travellers

My only concern about the trip was me travelling on my own - there was the unknown element what the other of the other people on the trip were like. Do not let this put you off! Of a group of 10, 5 of us were solo travellers but we soon realised we all had the similar ideas, values and reasons for going on the trip and this made the basis of making some really good friends - in fact they made a good trip great.

Reviewed February 2012

CYCLING VIETNAM

a busy trip that allows you to see many of the highlights the country has to offer. The people of Vietnam are truly inspirational.

Most Inspirational Moment

there were many - local kids enthusiastically greeting us on an island off Nha Trang; dinner in a busy local restaurant; people on scooters pulling up next to us while cycling to say hello; seeing the excitement of people in small villages at the sight of those crazy Westerners cycling through their country in the heat

Thoughts on Group Leader

Danh: Always smiling and happy, very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about his country. Really helpful and always willing to go the extra mile - literally! He told us at times we'd be cycling another 15km which turned into almost twice that distance.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for the heat in the South. We cycled in the mid-day sun (temperatures around 35 degrees C) with very little shade. Don't expect to be able to take lots of pictures while cycling - most people in our group wanted to cycle from A to B without stopping. Not really what I was expecting. Also, don't expect to have much time to yourself, even the free days are packed with activities. A typical day usually starts at 8am on the bus (or bikes) and you don't get to the hotels until about half 6 or 7pm. You'll just about have enough time for a quick shower before meeting up with the group for dinner. The trip notes also mention about "predominatly flat" roads, but on most days there were a few long, steep hills to climb, so be prepared for that.

Reviewed February 2012

CYCLING VIETNAM

A brilliant trip which was well planned, Dahn was an excellent guide who knew the best places to eat, drink and shop.The trip was hectic and none stop but we crammed so much into two weeks I would not have changed anything.

Most Inspirational Moment

The whole trip was inspirational, each day was as good as the next, bathing in the sea before lunch on the beach at Dai Lanh was brilliant as were the tunnels at Cui Chi, the Victoria Spa resort was like paradise after a hard day cycling and managing to cycle the whole of the Hai Van Pass was a blast.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Brilliant he made the trip, he was funny and friendly with a great deal of knowledge, he had contacts in every city and we ate at some brilliant restaurants which he had arranged.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take warm clothes for Hanoi, dont overpack as you never get to unpack your case make sure you have plenty of clean cycling clothes, there are laundry days but you get very dirty from the roads.

Reviewed February 2012

CYCLING VIETNAM

a great time with a fun group of people and an inspirational team leader Danh and his support group – thanks!

Most Inspirational Moment

too many to mention! perhaps the train journey from Hue to Hanoi on the overnight express train! the drinks, the singsong, the pizza! the toilets haha.. anyone one reading this from our group will know exactly what i mean!cycling down from Dalat in the fog!! the descent from 1500m to 200ft, fog, landslides, pot holes, incredible scenery..A WOW! Hoi An was fabulous, could have spent longer there.. we did the Cambodia extension to this cycling vietnam trip -well worth doing, Siam Reap is amazing - the temples at Angkor breathtaking, Phomn Penh was disturbing, exciting, so very sad, the history of the kymer rouge still so very raw, we owe it to the millions that died to know more about what happened there..So, for me the most memorable moments were in Cambodia

Thoughts on Group Leader

Danh was fantastic!!! how it is possible for someone to be SO happy, super organised, freindly, knowledgeable, such an amazing guide with a fabulous team for support, i dont know, but he did it, commendable! no request was ever too much

Advice for Potential Travellers

check the weather carefully before you go. Saigon was so hot which i was prepared for..Hanoi was so cold, from Dalat onwards the weather changed - Halong bay, damp, misty, cold, (nearly spooky) - was not prepared for the cold, i only brought a light rain jacket which was inadequate! had to buy jacket, trousers etc, which given the full on schedule, was not easy to find the time once you realised how cold it was going to be!you find your level of cycling easily and for those that find it more challenging, the bus and support team are great! you can do as much or as little of the cycling as you wishbring imodium and rehyration drinks. (thats normal advice thou) bring a silk liner for the train, althou you can buy in Hoi An, they tend to be a bit short if you are tall!

Reviewed January 2012

CYCLING VIETNAM

Overall it was a great holiday and good to travel with like minded people from all over the world. A great way to see the sights of Vietnam with a mixture of cycling and touring.

Most Inspirational Moment

Where to start...? How do you cross the road? with the help of a friendly local...Cycling over 100km before lunch; Hoi An; Halong Bay - fantastic scenery; the people and the food.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Lam and crew were fantastic and nothing was too much trouble. The support truck was a welcome sight at various points giving out much needed water as it was hot, hot, hot! and kept us going with snacks, fruit etc. Lam has an excellent knowledge of all parts of Vietnam and was happy to share.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Lots of sun screen as it was hot in July

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