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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14339 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Jessica Harris

Reviewed June 2025

Challenging but Rewarding

My recent trekking adventure with Exodus was truly exceptional. The hospitality at Chalet Chalupa with Caro & Sebastian was outstanding, and the support from our guide was incredible. Caro and Sebastian, the chalet managers, created a warm, home-like atmosphere with consistently delicious food, including perfect buffet to pack our lunches. The hikes offered a brilliant mix of terrains and elevation, leading to breathtaking views, which were wonderful to share with fellow trekkers.

Most Inspirational Moment

One of the most inspiring moments was undoubtedly reaching those breathtaking views at every turn after conquering challenging terrains and elevation gains. It was a true joy to share these stunning vistas with fellow trekkers who truly appreciated the beauty of the outdoors.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our guide was an absolute gem. Their knowledge of the area, local history, and geology was endless, brought to life through captivating stories and insights. Beyond their expertise, they demonstrated a remarkable ability to tune into everyone's needs, expertly tailoring the path and pace to suit the group, ensuring everyone felt comfortable and engaged. Their guidance made each day on the trail not just a physical journey, but also a deeply enriching experience.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I went in mid June and I packed for a colder climate than we encountered. The hikes were hot and I hardly touched the hat, gloves, and long sleeves I brought. Bring a hat, half the hikes are not under tree cover. I was very glad I brought electrolytes and a separate water bladder with me along with additional snacks and protein as breakfasts were mostly carbs and dairy.

Peter Jones

Reviewed June 2025

A different perspective on the Algarve

This was our sixth Exodus trip (and overall one of the best). The walks were interesting with spectacular scenery and varied wildlife (both flora and fauna), and we learnt a new definition of the term ‘more or less flat’. The hotels were all good, the first two full of character and the final one in a great location with magnificent views over Sagres harbour and with extraordinarily helpful staff. The hotel breakfasts offered great variety and were excellent fuel for the mornings’ walking. The non-walking activities were well-chosen and interesting. There were visits to a ceramics workshop and an artisan olive oil presser which were fascinating and the tasting at the high tech Vicentino winery very near the Alentejo coast offered a different dimension. The wines were very good, with a noticeable salty tang.
The walks were on paths that were generally good or very good, other than about 1km on day 6 which is over broken rock, but trail shoes or boots should have good treads as some short sections were quite loose and eroded (and could have been slippery if the ground had been wet). We were a little late for the best of the wild flowers on the dunes but they were still very varied and attractive. We saw storks nesting on rock pinnacles just offshore (apparently the only place in the world where they nest on sea stacks) and were lucky enough to see three peregrine falcons on one of the coastal walks.
Overall, this was a great week with friendly and amusing companions from Canada, Scotland and England and superlative guides. If we did it again, we would probably go in the late Spring rather than the early Summer, both to have slightly more varied wild flowers and (perhaps!) to avoid walking in 34 degrees in the hills, but we would thoroughly recommend the trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

The first view of the spectacular coastline from the clifftop.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leaders were Francisco and his life-long friend Rafael. They made frequent stops on the walks to tell us about the flora and fauna, and the geology on day 6, where there are sites that are world-renowned. They both had a great sense of humour and were thoughtful, anticipating the needs of all the group members, even providing flip-flops for a stream crossing. They recommended, and organised, restaurants for group dinners on every night except two, giving us insights into the cuisine both of the hills and the coast (and lessons in the Portuguese way of eating sardines and deep-fried fish with your fingers!). Overall, they couldn’t have done more to make the holiday a memorable one.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take sturdy boots/walking shoes with a good tread. Some of the walks have stretches on sand dunes and it is worth wearing long trousers on those days if you don’t want boots full of sand! Walking poles are useful for some sections.

Tony Glaser

Reviewed June 2025

Very enjoyable

This is my 7th or 8th Exodus cycling trip. I think it is the most low-key one I have done – it is not stunning, amazing, Instagram-worthy, or dramatic, but if you want a very enjoyable experience in rural Romania, with scarcely another tourist in site, with a great group leader and a great group, learning about the history and culture of Romania, this is a trip for you. If you want to excite envy in your friends with dramatic photos and tales, then choose another one.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Absolutely superb. Could not be better - friendly, helpful, informative, knowledgeable, personable

Advice for Potential Travellers

As above - highly recommended if you know what you are getting

Rosana Keleher

Reviewed June 2025

The title is very clear and it is exactly what the bike tour was about

I enjoyed the trip tremendously, even though the weather did not cooperate all the time. The biking was exactly as described, not too strenuous, but long enough each day to feel like one got a workout. In addition, the cycling route gave us a good sense of how each country viewed cycling. I also enjoyed the walking tour of Tallinn before the start of the bike trip, and the extra days in Riga and Vilnius.

Most Inspirational Moment

There is not one but many moments. For Estonia, the most inspiring would be biking along the Gulf of Finland and stopping to have fish soup in Kasmu. It was a perfect combination of biking+history+food. For Latvia, exploring Riga with our guide and walking the old town was amazing. For Lithuania, the entire day spent on the Curonian Spit: biking through pines and dunes; the smoked fish lunch, and the sunset walk on Witches Hill were stunning moments.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Andrius (Andrew) is an excellent guide for the Baltics. He obviously knows the countries well. He treated us as adults and unless we needed help, tended to be hands off and I appreciate that directness. If one needed additional information for the day's ride, he was happy to provide it. I got the feeling that others may have felt there wasn't enough information given for each day, but that is easily remedied with more info on the WhatApp. All one needed to do was ask. Personally, I felt cared for without being smothered. In addition to leading the rides, he chose very interesting places for lunches and dinners. Aside from the historical insights he shared, we were treated to local foods that included Fish Soup in Kasmu, the smoked fish shack in the Curonian Spit, and the Georgian dinner in Vilnius. Andrius also shared (with humor) the difficulty of life under various occupations. I came away with a very clear sense of why independence matters so much for each of the Baltic countries.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The level of riding described is spot on. It is not a strenous ride, and the distances are not very long each day. Our last two days of riding in Lithuania was hampered by rain and wind, so the original itinerary to bike in Trakai did not happen, instead, our guide led us through a short biking tour of the old city which was fascinating, and we drove to Trakai and explored the castle. Be prepared for rain and cold in June. You are as comfortable as your gear. For biking combined with culture and history of this area, this tour checked all the boxes for me. If you are interested in history and architecture, and extra day in Tallinn and an extra day in Vilnius would be worthwhile. I did elect to ride an e-bike, and the equipment was more than adequate for this ride. Exodus provided waterproof panniers.

Susan Watson

Reviewed June 2025

Scenic Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan with cultural Uzbekistan

A lot to see on this whirlwind tour,stunning scenery in Kyrgyzstan, busy Almaty in Kazakhstan and a lot of mosques,minarets and mausoleums.
The included lunches and dinners were very good apart from the dinner and breakfast at the yurt which was very basic and tasteless,room for improvement.
The eagle hunting demonstration is excellent something I won’t forget. The yurt stay was basic but acceptable,a bit chilly at night in June,the next morning there’s a 6km walk down to the red rocks,a very easy walk and very beautiful.
The border crossing on foot into Kazakhstan was straightforward as it’s so quiet unlike the border crossing into Uzbekistan which was pretty chaotic.
The Charyn Canyon was amazing,easy walk down to the picnic spot,you can either walk back or buy a ticket for a ride back up in a soviet truck.
Both sleeper trains were 4 berth quite tight on space for luggage,first sleeper does have food and drink available.
Uzbekistan was stunning but overwhelming with the amount of mosques,minarets and mausoleum’s visited in 4 regions,personally I wouldn’t have been bothered if Khiva had been missed off the itinerary a bit of a tourist trap.

Most Inspirational Moment

The rides on the metro in Tashkent not to be missed, the people were so polite offering up their seats as soon as we got on. Again the walk in Djety Oguz and the canyon walk were great.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Both leaders were very good and looked out for us as a group.Both Vitaly in Kyrgyzstan and Dilshod in Uzbekistan were outstanding in the amount of information that they imparted,at times it was rather overwhelming and just too much to take in especially after a lack of sleep and the heat of the day.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take dollars, cards were accepted in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan a few in the group had cards blocked in Uzbekistan which was time consuming and a hassle to get unblocked. You can exchange your local currency from Kyrgyzstan in Kazakhstan, you have to rely on the guide for exchanges in Uzbekistan we were taken to a money exchange in a very nice hotel,I ran low on currency and the guide phoned a friend who then came out to the local market to do an exchange,very clandestine but fair exchange rate. The food in Uzbekistan does get very repetitive each restaurant has a very similar menu,lots of meat kebabs and salads,the lamb was excellent. Also don’t expect dishes to arrive at the same time is very random and they run out of dishes unexpectedly after you ordered 30 minutes ago.

Yves Hoekman

Reviewed June 2025

Amazing tour of 3 of the Stans!

This trip exceeded my expectations in many ways! There is so much to see and enjoy on this tour. It is a tale of two halves: the first half, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, focus more on the stunning scenery and nature. The beauty of Kyrgyzstan was a revelation to me. And the Eagle-hunting workshop was an absolute highlight for everyone in the group. I did also enjoy the ‘brutalist beauty’ of Bishkek (expect your first day to be a long day, as you land in the morning and do a city tour in the afternoon – I basically skipped a night’s sleep, but it was worth it!). A personal highlight for me was the walk from the yurt camp (most of the group cited the overnight stay in a yurt as their highlight) to the red rocks – absolutely stunning. The Grand Canyon in Kazakhstan was also a great experience. The second half of the trip, Uzbekistan, is more cultural: you will see many impressive mausoleums, madrasas and mosques. Samarkand especially blew me away! Khiva is also very beautiful but seems a bit more geared towards tourists – it was definitely more expensive than other parts of Uzbekistan, although still cheap. In Tashkent we also visited a market and some metro stations, which was a little different and a very interesting interlude. There is just so much to see and do. Some might find the many mausoleums a bit repetitive towards the end, but I found they all had something different to offer and it truly is a unique opportunity to visit these beautiful places before it gets to overcrowded with tourists (especially Uzbekistan is geared towards receiving more tourists and is getting more coverage in the international press as an up and coming tourist destination!).

Most Inspirational Moment

The hike in Djety Oguz - it's an easy walk and the scenery was stunning. And Samarkand... it made me feel very small and humble to walk around these massive mausoleums.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Both group leaders were terrific!! Vitaley in Kyrgyzstan and Kazachstan, and Dilshod in Uzbekistan. They have different levels of experience, but was they have in common is their extensive knowledge and enthusiasm. The both have a good sense of humour, kept good control of the group when needed, we were in very safe hands with them and they both were so obviously dedicated to give us the best possible experiences. Be prepared for them to talk in great depth and detail about the places you visit!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure you have sun protection: sunscreen, sunglasses and hat are pretty essential, it got up to 43 degrees in Uzbekistan (middle of June). We did have some rain in Kyrgyzstan, so a light rain jacket is advisable as well. Food and drink are very cheap. You'll typically pay less than £2 for a beer and a meal with drinks and starter and main will be under £15 for sure, and portions are generous! Food is ok, very meat based (beef and lamb especially). Veggies should be ok... eggplant dishes are staple of every menu... and tend to be delicious! There are some long days and the pace can be a bit intense, especially towards the end of the trip. You don't get a lot of free time, but you always have the option to bow out of certain activities if feeling too tired. The guides definitely keep an eye on everyone's welfare, so unless you have more serious mobility restrictions, you should be fine. Just enjoy it, this is a great trip!

Lauren Daniels

Reviewed June 2025

An Unforgettable Amalfi Coast Adventure!

Wow, what an absolutely incredible trip to the Amalfi Coast! From start to finish, for a first time traveller it was truly amazing and has left me with so many fantastic memories.

Most Inspirational Moment

I can't recommend this trip enough to anyone who's intrigued by the fascinating history of the Amalfi Coast – I even got to see skeletal remains from such an important piece of its past! As someone who enjoys spending time in nature, it was a dream to be surrounded by so many beautiful views, from stunning ocean vistas to lush green plants and vibrant, colourful flowers. The cuisine perfectly complements the vibrant scenery outside, bursting with flavour and truly tasting authentic.

Thoughts on Group Leader

the real star of the show was Veriano, our guide. He was simply phenomenal! His passion for the Amalfi Coast and its rich history genuinely shone through as he guided us through the various towns. He brought everything to life, sharing captivating stories and insights. What made it even more special was when he spontaneously took us to Atrani, going off-itinerary just to share another hidden gem – that's dedication for you! His knowledge and enthusiasm made every moment truly memorable.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Comfy shoes are a must – there's lots of walking, especially stairs, but it's worth it! Pack light and layer up. Use Multibanco ATMs to save on fees. Carry cash for tips and those lovely barbecue evenings (often paid separately).

Laura Weltman

Reviewed June 2025

Cycling beautiful Albania

This was a wonderful trip with a great group and the leaders were fantastic. Demitri managed the tour in a way that all participants were able to navigae within their personal athletic abilities without being deterred by others. He provided great instructions, organization and historical background. Visi was wonderful in his supportive role. What a special country that is still unspoiled by over development and excess tourism. The people and the land were special and I feel so fortunate to have explored this country and to do it by bike.

Most Inspirational Moment

For me the Working Farm and looking out the window to see sheep, goats and horses froliking was the highlight.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Could not have been better!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Visit this country - now!

Teresa Lou-hing

Reviewed June 2025

Teresa and terry lou-hing

Overall is not up to prior trip with Exodus. This trip of tour leader and hotel were just very minimum level. The food is very basic breakfast, lunch – sandwiches were awful and the dinner was very plain and simple no special surprise at all.

Most Inspirational Moment

Hiking is hard we were all tried all our energy to reach finished line.

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was not that experienced yet. Hr tried very hard to.

Advice for Potential Travellers

They all fueled the same things.

ANGELA HORTON

Reviewed June 2025

Great way to visit 4 countries & their capitals.

A great way to visit 4 countries and their capitals in a short time. We were fortunate to be travelling with a lovely group of interesting people who were all well travelled and fairly laid back. Thus quite accepting of changes.
Most of the hotels were adequate according to the specified grade but Hotel Staadioni in Kussaare was more like a youth hostel with a very poor breakfast.

Most Inspirational Moment

I enjoyed all of the cities and the short walks.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Artus was a pleasant human being but not a great guide. He'd not done the trip before and I wonder if he was called in at short notice to cover sickness. He got us from A to B with a little help from group members and their Google maps. It would be 4* with a more knowledgeable guide.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't be mislead by the title Walks of the Baltic and Finland. It's more a cultural tour of cities with a few short add on walks. Helsinki public buildings are shut during mid summer weekend.

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