Exodus Travels (formerly International Expeditions)

Exodus Travels (formerly International Expeditions) ranks among the top adventure travel companies and is known for its creative itineraries and highly qualified staff who accompany its small group land and sea tours.

Exodus is part of Travelopia, a holding company that oversees a variety of well-regarded travel brands, such as Quark Expeditions and Le Boat, both covered on QuirkyCruise.com.

While Exodus offers mostly adventure land travel, the company also offers excellent small expedition ship itineraries.

As of 2021, Exodus is also the brand for U.S. travelers who are familiar with Zegrahm Expeditions, which now operates under the name Exodus Travels, consolidated within the Adventure Division of Travelopia.

Exodus Travels sails numerous expeditions in the Galapagos and also offers select voyages on the Nile River in Egypt, the Amazon River in the Peru, the Kimberley Coast in Australia, as well as journeys in Tasmania and China.

Exodus Travels Fleet

Galapagos Cruises

Cachalote Explorer (built 1988 & 16 passengers)

Archipel I (b. 2005 & 16 p.)

MV Evolution (b. 2005 & 32 p.)

Amazon Rainforest Cruises

Zafiro (b. 2015 & 38 p.)

Tasmania Cruises

Coral Expeditions’ Coral Discoverer (b. 2005 & 72 p.)

Australia Kimberley Coast Cruises

Coral Expeditions’ Coral Discoverer

Coral Adventurer (b. 2019 & 99 p.) or

Coral Geographer (b. 2019 & 99 p.)

Nile River Cruises

Movenpick’s Royal Lily (b. 2007 & p. 112) or

Royal Lotus (b. 2005 & p. 120)

Yangtze River Cruises

Chartered boats accommodating 5 to 16 passengers for two days of river cruising as part of cruise/land packages in China.

The Royal Lotus with cabin shades drawn. * Photo: Exodus Travels

Passenger Profile

Cruisers who book with Exodus Travels tend to be adventurous, well-traveled, successful and curious. These are people who enjoy engaging with like-minded people on small-group adventures. You might see some families with kids (during school holidays or in summertime), but you typically will be among cruisers 50 and older and mostly from North America.

Price

$$ to $$$.

These trips are expensive, and even more expensive for the company’s Premium Adventures.

Included Features

These will vary greatly from tour to tour, as the boats are chartered and not owned by Exodus. Inclusions generally are:

All meals
Water, juices, coffee, tea
Transfers
Excursion activities
Hotel stays

Itineraries

Exodus Travels offers a number of small-ship cruise expeditions in the Galapagos and also select voyages on the Nile River in Egypt, the Amazon River in the Peru, the Kimberley Coast in Australia, as well as journeys in Tasmania and China.

Exodus Travels Sample Itineraries

Galapagos Islands Cruises

More than half of the small-ship cruises offered by Exodus are Galapagos voyages. For example, 10-day itineraries have year-round departures, beginning with a flight from Quito, Ecuador, to the islands and a week aboard the cruise ship, which sails roundtrip from Santa Cruz. The journey makes stops at Isabela, Fernandina, Santiago, Rabida and Genovesa Islands, as well as visiting select beaches, bays and inlets for various activities,

The islands are noted for highly diverse landscapes from desert dry to well-watered forests, and some of the wildlife is unique to these islands. Enjoy walking among penguins, sea lions, marine iguanas, tortoises and blue-footed boobies. Talks aboard from the Darwin Station staff and small groups ashore.

Amazon River Cruises

Exodus offers an Amazon Rainforest Cruise “Premium Adventure”, and the 10-day itinerary starts in Lima before a flight to Iquitos, where you board the 38-passenger Zafiro riverboat. This cruise tour with two nights in Iquitos emphasizes the Amazon River and its tributaries with seven nights aboard the boat, while visiting villages to see the way of life for residents and indigenous people.

The key feature of the journey is the opportunities to spot sloths, monkeys, pink and gray dolphins and a wide variety of tropical birds (the rainforest features more than 1,300 species of birds). Be on the lookout for the exotic ones like the Amazonian umbrellabird and long-billed woodcreeper.

Upper Amazon, Peru. * Photo: Ted Scull

Why Go?

Adventurers get to marvel at the exotic scenery and immerse themselves into regional cultures, all done in small-group settings through the well-programmed itineraries on comfortable to luxurious small ships.

When to Go?

Exodus Travels offers its small-ship expeditions during the best seasons, which is nearly year-round in these destinations.

The weather conditions are warm and inviting throughout all seasons in the Galapagos.

Exodus Travels Ships

MV Evolution

This boat carries up to 32 passengers in double, queen and twin-bedded cabins that range in size from 140 to 263 sq. ft. Meals offer both Ecuadoran and continental choices at one sitting. The observation deck is covered and has a bar for relaxing at the end of the day’s activities ashore or in the water. Two kayaks are available for passenger use, and the bridge has an open policy most of the time. A doctor is carried and may accompany passengers on excursions.

Archipel I

This 27-meter catamaran carries up to 16 cruisers in 8 air-conditioned, en-suite cabins. Six of the rooms offer twin side-by-side beds; the other two cabins have a double bed. Each features sea views, reading lights and closets.

The vessel has a dining room for group meals, served buffet style, with all dietary styles being met by the crew. The boat also offers a lounge/bar area, which is a good spot to gather for cocktails, beer and wine or soft drinks. Crew and passengers meet here to chat about trip highlights and review plans for the next stops. The top deck of the vessel is the spot to hang out in the sun loungers and enjoy the views, breezes and sunshine.

Cachalote Explorer

Converted to a passenger ship in the early 2000s (it was originally built in 1988), Cachalote Explorer can accommodate up to 16 people for Galapagos journeys. The boat features eight cabins, each with a bathroom with a shower and air conditioning.

The boat offers a large lounge and dining area. It also has plenty of large deck spaces for relaxing, eating and socializing.

Zafiro

This ship offers premier accommodations for an Amazon adventures, carrying up to 38 passengers in 19 suites (17 at 226 sq. ft., a master suite at 248 sq. ft., and the Zafiro suite at 480 sq. ft.) on two decks with floor-to-ceiling windows. (Upper Deck suites have balconies.)

The vessel also features an indoor lounge with bar, an outdoor deck with bar and Jacuzzi and a dining room, massage room and gym.

Royal Lily

This Nile River boat offers four passenger decks carrying up to 112 people. The vessel features panoramic windows in each of the 56 cabins, internet, bathrooms with showers, hair dryers and TVs. The boat also offers a spa for massage treatments, a top sun deck swimming pool and a fitness center. A doctor travels on the vessel.

Royal Lotus

Sister ship to Royal Lily, this Nile River-based vessel carries up to 120 passengers in its 60 staterooms. Cabins come with twin beds or one king bed that measures 236 sq. ft. Amenities include en suite showers, air conditioning, mini bar and TV.

The vessel’s Lotus restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The buffet-style meals feature a different cuisine each day. You also may choose from an a la carte menu.

Royal Lily’s large lounge/bar on the Salon Deck offers a dance area and panoramic windows. This is the venue for a galabeya party and theme nights.

The Observation Bar is the spot for coffee and cookies, afternoon tea and sunset cocktails. The vessel also has a computer station. A fully equipped gym is located on the third deck.

On the sun deck an informal bar serves hot and cold beverages and a variety of snacks. Up here, you can find tables and chairs that are shaded by a canopy. The pool area features sun loungers.

The open-air top deck of Royal Lotus * Photo: Exodus Travel

Coral Discoverer, Coral Adventurer & Coral Geographer

Full line review and ship details, HERE: