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.

Simply use the selector below to search our trip reviews and start reading real feedback from real Exodus travellers who have ‘been there and done that’!

Lots of our clients also like to post handy tips and advice about their travels. It’s great to know what to expect on an Exodus adventure before you go, so make the most of their experience and you’ll make the most of yours!

Haven’t posted your review yet? Here’s how to do it…

Once you return from your Exodus adventure holiday, you will be emailed a link to add your review. Any feedback collected is posted onto our website, totally unedited.

Alternatively you can navigate to the relevant trip page and add your review via the Reviews tab.

Select a trip specific review:

Select

Walking in Tuscany

197 Reviews

4.8 out of 5

Evelyn Roberts

Reviewed October 2016

Walking in Tuscany

Easy walking on good trails and paths in forested, sparsely populated mountains. However, pay attention to the phrase in the trip notes ‘mountainous terrain’, there are plenty of ups and downs. Warm hospitality with simple but adequate farmhouse accommodation . Good home cooked food and plenty of it. I would have given 5* if the weather had been better and we had the views!

Most Inspirational Moment

A week of enjoyable walking with a good cohesive group in pleasant surroundings.

Thoughts on Group Leader

I have been on many group trips and Sara is an exceptional leader, way above the norm. Constantly working unobtrusively to provide support for individuals and the group, to make the week more enjoyable for everyone. Whether its first aid, extra clothing, advising on alternative options or providing maps, taxis and train tickets for the day off, Sara can handle anything required.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do not look at Pisa temps for guidance. This is a 'mountain' walking trip and our group seemed to have not noticed this critical word. It was a lot colder and also wetter than the UK. Whereas the previous group had unseasonal warm sunny weather, we were raiding Sara's clothing store. As has been previously mentioned, this is an extremely high single supplement for a small room with a double bed and little else, plus shared facilities. The walled town of Lucca is well worth a visit on your day off. Maps, taxis and train tickets were organised by Sara and it was easy to explore. Pisa can be done on your final day.

Lisa Wright

Reviewed October 2016

Just brilliant!!

A wondrful trip in a beautiful place with a fantastic group of people

Most Inspirational Moment

The stunning views from the mountains, the energy & enthusiasm of our leader - and just being away with the best group of people. The laughs over the week, the coke mentos rockets and crisp tasting challenge made this such a brilliant trip.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sara is awesome! Nothing is too much trouble, she goes above and beyond to make sure everyone in the group is having a good time. She has some great stories and her knowledge and love of the area is evident.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Definitely do this trip! Eat the gelato wherever you can, go to Lucca (hire a bike!!), enjoy the walking, look out for wildlife. Have fun!!

Roger Furze

Reviewed October 2016

Hill climbing in Tuscany

No matter what the title says, this is not, in my opinion, a walking holiday. With a walking holiday you envisage rolling hills, pretty villages. In reality the first day of walking was an ascent of several hundred metres up a steep unending hill, and in the main, it continued that way throughout the trip. If you want a walking holiday, don’t do what I did. I didn’t read the notes in detail !! I didn’t !! I saw the word walking and looked at the notes without actually reading the notes. Two or three of my fellow travellers made the same mistake. I am told that Walking in Prosecco might be more your style if you want a more comfortable walk and that’s what I will try next (thanks Sara)

Most Inspirational Moment

The views from all of the high points were so so beautiful and there is so much nature to see. I'm no bird watcher but to see the eagles flying over the valleys was quite something. All this in a very deep natural silence.

Thoughts on Group Leader

I felt somewhat out of place on a walk that I thought would be rolling hills etc. Yes it was my own fault for not reading the notes, but Sara simply took it in her stride and coaxed and encouraged at every opportunity. She was at the front, she was at the back, she was in the middle, she was everywhere, if you had a problem she had an answer. A piece of kit short? She solved it, need to know about the wildlife? She had the answer, often finding insects etc along the trail and explaining them in detail and all with a smile. This is my fifth trip with Exodus, all the guides have been excellent but Sara really is out there all on her own. She has a natural talent, and is a benchmark for all other guides to rise to.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Once again read the trip notes in detail, then read them again, I didn't ! You will be pushed on this trip and if your not in shape well it's your own fault.

Ian Wilkinson

Reviewed September 2016

Fantastic all round

Lovely area, great food, warm hospitality, good weather. What more could you ask for.

Most Inspirational Moment

No stand out moments for me, it was fantastic from the moment I arrived to the moment I left.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sara was inspirational, hard working, had lots of funny stories, a font of knowledge. I've done a few Exodus holidays now and I've generally found Exodus leaders to be really good. However, Sara raised the bar to a whole new level. I particularly liked the way she guided the walks from the back where possibly which allowed everyone to go at their own pace.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go for it.

Andrew Pilkington

Reviewed September 2016

Walking in Tuscany

This was one of the very best walking group holidays that I have been on. I could not fault any part of the trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking in the beautiful mountains of Garfagnana and returning each afternoon to swim in the pool of idyllic Braccicorti.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sara is the most competant group leader I have ever travelled with. She goes far beyond the call of duty to see that everyone is safe in the mountains and having the best holiday possible.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Book this trip NOW

Clare Roberts

Reviewed September 2016

Walking in Tuscany (trip code TDT)

Amazing trip I couldn’t recommend it highly enough

Most Inspirational Moment

Successfully completing quite a challenging walk across a narrow ridge near to 2000m altitude

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sara was fantastic, very organised & experienced with good local knowledge!

Advice for Potential Travellers

It is more of a hiking trip than simply walking!

Joseph Winkler

Reviewed July 2016

Walking in Tuscany (challenging departure)

An excellent week of walking in a spectacular region. Superb accommodation in a lovely setting, great meals and a top leader made this a memorable trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

No one stand- out inspirational moment. Highlights included...... Seeing fireflies in the grounds at Braccicorti Visiting Lucca Reaching the top of Monte Cusna..just a 4 1/2 hour round trip according to Sara

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sara (helped by Elvis & Dora) is an excellent leader. We had some pretty challenging weather during the week. She managed the group well to avoid the worst of it, whilst enabling us to make the most of each day. A brilliant organiser as well - train tickets, taxis, restaurants and driving the van...a master of all trades. Extra touches included snacks during the day, a cake waiting for our return one day and the occasional bottle of Prosecco, or two....

Advice for Potential Travellers

Lucca is a good place to go on the free day. No need to bring a travel kettle, as hot drinks are available all the time in the lounge. The rooms have an adaptor for UK 3 pin plugs.

Neil Cartwright

Reviewed June 2016

Walking in Tuscany (challenging)

A well planned weeks holiday taking in the high peaks of Garfagnana Tuscany.

Most Inspirational Moment

Havng walked in the area for a week finally recognising the Dead Mans Belly.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sara goes the extra mile to ensure a great holiday is experienced.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Iif you need to catch the train from Pisa to Braccicorti it is easy to do. Pisa train station is a 5 minute walk from the airport. The trains are frequent and modern. On arrival at the local station the taxi driver , who you would contact, lived in Glasgow for 25 years.

Alec Morrow

Reviewed June 2016

Walking in Tuscany

This was our fifth Exodus trip and certainly one of the best. It is a beautiful area, off the beaten track with fabulous walking. The accommodation at Braccicorti is simple but the food and wine were great and the family incredibly hospitable.

Most Inspirational Moment

The whole week was wonderful but probably walking to the top of Monte Prado, the highest point in Tuscany, was the highlight. We were even joined by friendly local Labrador who accompanied us for the entire walk! We also loved the valley walk, which took us to a beautiful, walled village and other lovely places.. with several coffee stops!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sara Bull really set the gold standard! The organisation was peerless and everything ran like clockwork. The walks were well led and where necessary, fitted around the weather. Our day off had plenty of options and Sara arranged taxis and train tickets to the beautiful walled town of Lucca, well worth a visit. She also booked tables at local restaurants for our non inclusive evenings, she really looked after us. Her knowledge of the local area was outstanding and her dogs Dora and Elvis were very friendly and welcoming.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Just go! It is a fabulous location and a great place to walk. It may not always be sunny so take your waterproofs and brolly alongside your sunscreen but most of our days were fine.

Peter Smart

Reviewed June 2016

Tuscany Tour of the Garragfanana

Excellent holiday, despite the weather!

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching the summit of Monte Prado.

Thoughts on Group Leader

They don't come much better than Sara Bull. Nothing was too much trouble and she was very well-organised and knowledgeable. I have been on a lot of Exodus holidays and she was certainly in the Hall of Fame.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Just enjoy a lovely holiday in a lovely part of the world.

Prev 1 … 6 7 8 9 10 … 20 Next