We had a glorious week.

Janet Boneham Walking Northern Tuscany

I feel a little guilty about the three stars when others have scored this five but my level of expectation was really quite high after reading the reviews. In particular I was looking forward to wonderful scenery but instead we encountered uninspiring vistas and roads strewn with litter.
The trip notes promised mainly traffic free roads, but that certainly was not case, in particular the last ride was mostly along busy ones and the final approach into Syracuse was definitely not for the faint hearted.
The towns we visited were interesting and pretty and were the highlights of most of the days. The cyclings was the easiest I’ve experienced on an Exodus holiday (this was the twelfth ) and with, the exception of the ride up to the Cassibile Canyon, some of the dullest.
I’m probably being too negative but I did feel short changed. We actually did enjoy ourselves – the hotels were good, the weather was hot and most days we were in the pool by mid afternoon; there was a lot more down time compared with other Exodus excursions. Also loved the Sicilian food and wine and our leader was exemplary.
In general terms I’m not sure the fifty fifty split of e-bikes and ordinary ones works; we were very spread out, the e-bikes and stronger or competitive riders way out ahead and the stragglers a long way back. Saddle Skedaddle stipulate the following on one of their trips “Please note, if opting for an e-bike, the pace of riding will be set by the hybrid riders”. Perhaps Exodus should have a similar policy?

Steven Elliot Cycling in Sicily

We had a great trip with a fantastic knowledgable and patient Filippo guiding us and were incredibly lucky to spend two unforgettable hours watching a bear.

Janet Ivimey-Cook Italian Apennines: Walks & Wildlife