A MUST DO HOLIDAY - BOOK NOW!!!!! I am 61 and have done a fair bit of travelling and hiking. I had seen friend's DVDs of a similar holiday around the Canyons and this inspired me to book with Exodus (we had used various other tour operators previously but were 'Exodus Virgins'.) This holiday far exceeded my expectations in terms of scenery (so different to anything I had previously seen), varied walking (loved Angels Landing), quality of leaders (they were very knowledgeable, informative, great communicators, patient, motivational, inspiring, fun to be around and well organised), accommodation (great accommodation with all facilities a girl could need), transport (new and very comfortable; should be the norm!) and finally a well put together itinerary which enabled us to get the most out of the holiday. I thoroughly enjoyed this holiday - to such an extent that I would say it was my best holiday for years and years - ignore any negative comments!!
A wonderful trip across five states that immerses you in the music, cuisine and culture of America’s Deep South. This trip promised a lot on paper, and delivered so much more in reality, exceeding my expectations. Our group leader managed to cram so much in, while at the same time allowing a nice degree of freedom for us to do our own exploration and choose our own optional activities. The tour began with a deeply moving and affecting look at the civil rights movement, covering the life of Martin Luther King Jr (where he was born, the church at which he preached, his memorial garden and tomb; later on we would visit the place where he was assassinated); the slave trade and its role in creating wealth for the plantation owners and the country as a whole; and the continued oppression of the freed slaves after the Civil War and their struggle for basic human rights. As we went on, the focus shifted toward the music that was created on the plantations, the way it developed and seeped into mainstream culture in America before spreading across the world. While this was very informative and educational, there were plenty of lighter moments too and we were a great group who had a lot of laughs along the way. As well as visiting sites that were significant to the music history, there were opportunities to hear live music - jazz, blues and country - at many locations from New Orleans to Nashville. A wonderful experience that we will continue to savour for a very long time.
Ever changing scenery even made the travelling seem to pass by quicker than on other trips. A real variety of landscapes and colours with options for walking depending on individual wishes. All the scenery from the 'Westerns' and more. Wherever we went the views were fantastic. Hotels good and the outdoor lunches (and the evening barbecue) inspired by our tour guide were just right for the settings.