Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Travelling with a great bunch of people who were fun to be with, supportive and encouraging. Completing the ‘big’ climbs!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Michele is an inspirational group leader who goes out of his way to make sure that everyone has a memorable experience, nothing is too much for him. Martino likewise was very supportive especially on the ‘big’ climbs. They made an excellent team

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you get the opportunity to miss out the last day of cycling and spend a full day in Venice take it!

Most Inspirational Moment

Lunch and tour of a winery - just like out of a film set! With the most delicious home-made/home-grown food, and wine, was a definite highlight. That, after swimming in a mountain lake in the early part of the trip. And the icing on the cake was being taken on a tour of Venice by our guide who was able to take us away from the crowds to discover parts of the city only locals would know, including nosing out restaurants where the locals eat!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent. Michele is hugely experienced in looking after cycling groups. His enthusiasm for his work and love of his country is infectious and makes the whole thing so much fun. There is no substitute for local knowledge... Martino provided very helpful back-up and worked hard to make sure everyone in the group was looked after.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared with an additional picnic for your journey from the airport to the hotel on the first night if you want to avoid having to eat dubious motorway services food. With so much good food available in Italy, it is not the most attractive introduction to the week but probably unavoidable in view of arrival times and the local tradition in that part of the country to eat early.

Suggestions

Our ride from Padova to Venice on the last cycling day was curtailed because of heavy rain. This turned out to be a huge bonus as that leg would not have been through particularly attractive countryside and would have taken up all of the morning and probably more. Going by train straight into Venice first thing gave us a full day there, with our guide, which made it a memorable day and a brilliant finale to a most enjoyable trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

The ride down to Lake Garda and the clean cities.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Good with great local knowledge

Advice for Potential Travellers

Disappointed that there are no tea or coffee making facilities in any of the hotels,should be a standard commodity!!

Most Inspirational Moment

Probably the most dramatic part of the trip, despite not being actual cycling (though that was good overall), was taking a catamaran ferry from the top of Lake Garda at Riva del Garda southbound to Desenzano. Being on the water is always wonderful, and this 3-hour trip calling at gorgeous lakeside towns I had never heard of, let alone visited, was captivating. One could tell at a glance that these were all and each extraordinary places of beauty and resonance that have crafted lovely summer memories for thousands of visitors over at least a few centuries.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Michele was a terrific leader and host for the week. Being a native of Vicenza, he knows the entire Veneto region very well and his high energy levels, good cheer and ready smile kept us all motivated and made for a wonderful trip. Martino's friendliness and support from the van was much appreciated. We enjoyed time with both guys during stops for delicious Italian food at lunchtime.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make yourself go and do at least a few cycling days of 30miles/50km in the several weeks before you go! I thought, "No problem, I'm in reasonable shape and this just a #3/moderate rated trip" and didn't do much pre-trip training. While the trip was still pleasant overall, as per Exodus' advice, one will appreciate it much more having been "in the saddle" for at least a moderate period, and significant daily duration, before travelling.

Suggestions

This was such a wonderful week, and great experience. I loved it. So much packed in a marvellously distilled week. I will never forgot the intoxicating blasts of jasmine scent from the blossoming hedges everywhere we cycled during this first week in June! Like many more experienced fellow travellers on this trip, I am certain that I will be booking many more Exodus cycling trips over the coming years!

Most Inspirational Moment

I will never forget turning the corner and seeing beautiful Lake Garda - truly magical, and I thought it could not be topped - that was until Michele took us to look at the roof tops of Venice. Breathtaking!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Michele and Martino were a great team, and I think Michele's local knowledge shone through in terms of his recommendations for restaurants every evening. He's a passionate Italian Ambassador, and for sure the trip was greatly enhanced by his local knowledge and passion for this beautiful part of the world.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bring a sense of humour if it rains!

Suggestions

I was really pleased the weather was poor on the Friday as it meant we did not cycle and were able to get into Venice earlier than planned. I think the trip would benefit from a full day in Venice on the Friday rather than cycling!

Most Inspirational Moment

Completing the challenge day that gave me a sense of achievement

Thoughts on Group Leader

Michaele has great organisational skills, is humorous, knowledgeable and always prepared to go the extra mile (quite literally)

Advice for Potential Travellers

Great itinerary if you look to see several historical towns and cities in the Northern Italy while dusting off the cycling cobwebs after the cold season.

Most Inspirational Moment

The « challenging » day four. Great sense of achievement!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Knowledgeable Reliable He made the trip

Advice for Potential Travellers

Book now

Most Inspirational Moment

Lunch at the vineyard was excellent. Great to see such wonderful historic towns and cities.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Michele was a brilliant guide, very calm, knowledgeable and always willing to do anything extra for the group.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Pick a trip where Michele is a guide, he is great.

Most Inspirational Moment

It’s hard to pick just one!!! Picturesque villages? Passionate and knowledgeable tour guide? Food? All brilliant! But lunch in the vineyard on the penultimate day was truly wonderful!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader, Michele, was our tour guide in Puglia and we were delighted that he led this tour as well. As a local to the area, Michele knew so much about the area and shared some gems that we simply wouldn’t have seen if we didn’t have his local knowledge. From our secret view of the Rialto Bridge in Venice with all the students to our personal tour of Vincenzo, Michele made every effort to make our tor special. His professionalism and knowledge was impressive as was his care and attention to make our holiday so enjoyable. Thank you!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Diet before you go! The food is amazing!!!

Most Inspirational Moment

Venice, as expected, was amazing - even in the heat, the bustle of the crowds Venice felt very special and worth a very lengthy visit.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Michele was exceptional. Always supporting you and encouraging. Incredibly well organised whilst being very flexible with plans always shaped in favour of the group. He works very hard, has a mischievous sense of humour, was fun and a steered us through with a light but firm sense of leadership. He was inspirational and i can't imagine a better group leader.

Advice for Potential Travellers

a very enjoyable ride not too difficult.