Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

There is always a great sense of satisfaction and pride in completing a walk. It can seem a challenge, but the prizes both on the walk, and particularly and the inevitable spectacular conclusion is always worth the effort. Just soaking up the village life, a well earned 'cold beer', or a dip in the green/blue sea is always a treat and worthy reward. Shady spots under the canopy of trees and beautiful, magnificent churches provided rest bite from the heat and inspiration and awe in equal measure. We fell in love with the 'base camp' small town of Mongolia and the Hotel Piccolo. The Hotel, family run and personal, only a few steps away from the beach, making a early morning swim before breakfast a real treat.

Thoughts on Group Leader

In Michaela we were so blessed. She was the perfect guide and companion. Let's start with the basics, she was efficient, organised, knowledgable, informative, patient, hard working. So, in terms of meeting the job specification, absolutely first class. Now the real Michaela, lovely, friendly, witty, personable, enthusiastic, encouraging, fascinating. We had a lovely group of people on the trip, but the absolute star was Michaela. Fantastic spoken English, she took great delight in expanding our rudimentary Italian with daily lessons and tests at the end of the day. She loved our sense of humour and gentle teasing. She gave so much more than was expected and brought great joy. Please pass on my thanks and fond wishes to Micky.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Come with good walking shoes, plenty of water, your camera, your swimming costumes, and open mind and a good appetite.

Most Inspirational Moment

Lots of highlights - Portofino, walking along the terraces towards Riomaggiore, seeing the Giro D’Italia including Geraint Thomas whizz past on our ‘day off’! It’s lovely to return home feeling relaxed and very fit.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Michela is a superb leader, the best I have come across. She was fun, organised, knowledgeable and constantly looking after the group and each individual.

Advice for Potential Travellers

A certain level of fitness is required for ascending and descending hundreds of steps each day. The Cinque Terre National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and as a result is a popular place to visit. One of our walks was particularly busy with lots of stopping and starting on a narrow path in order to allow walkers coming the other way through. The scenery was spectacular but dealing with such crowds may not be everyone’s ‘cup of tea’.

Most Inspirational Moment

The view of Portofino as you come over the headland, walking across the terraces that stretch for miles across the mountains, with a village ahead of you and another behind...the sense of achievement when you reach each one!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Michela is a fantastic guide; great company, kind and thoughtful, informative and she worked really hard to ensure we got the best from our trip, including being flexible to dodge potential / actual bad weather. She put our safety and enjoyment at the forefront; the paths were very steep and the stones very slippery so I agree, it's not suitable in bad weather. But we got to explore towns we wouldn't have seen, and all her recommendations - for our free time and the final rainy day - were spot on. Every day Michela gave us options; ways you could skip a section, shorten a walk or do something a little different if either an injury or just by choice, you wanted a change from the group walk. This made the whole trip very accessible to everyone.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do bring trekking poles and hiking boots, it's very uneven terrain. It was great to be based in one place - no packing & unpacking - but most of us brought more than we needed! A camelbak or bladder are very handy, to sip water constantly rather than use a bottle. Take note when there are beaches available that day - the water is stunning, so wear or take swimmers ...I was always keen to get my boots off and feet in the water, and would have swum if i'd had my cossie! Some days it's worth grabbing food in Moneglia where we stayed, so you have more time to chill out in the lunch stop...obv some people just wanted to head to a restaurant / bar, but it's nice to chill, head to the water etc as well...Ice cream is good everywhere but obv Michela knows the best spots! Tag days on before / after or both...Pisa has so much more to offer than the tower, and Lucca is stunning, very different and just 30 mins from Pisa by bus or train. Local transport is excellent and cheap, so you can see and do a lot in this region.

Most Inspirational Moment

Impossible to identify a single moment.

Thoughts on Group Leader

We were blessed to have Miki as our guide. She was incredibly attentive throughout the week, and was always 2 or 3 steps ahead in anticipating our needs. Hugely knowledgeable about her home region, she also has a great sense of humour, and always seemed to be genuinely happy to be with us. She is a jewel, and turned a great experience into an unforgettable one.

Most Inspirational Moment

Completing the steepest walk up and down to Riomaggiore

Thoughts on Group Leader

Michela was an excellent leader, nothing was too much trouble for her and her organisational skills were exemplary. She was also very knowledgeable about the area we were in and happily fielded a multitude of questions. It's fair to say that she was responsible for making the holiday as enjoyable as it was.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Try and get some hill walking in at home before you arrive in Italy.

Most Inspirational Moment

Making great friends and sharing the amazing views and experiences.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Mikaela was a superb leader and had a very friendly and accommodating manner. She had great sense of humour, was fun and made everything seem possible and enjoyable.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Walking boots not shoes are advisable and walking poles as some sections are steep or slippery.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the villages from the paths. They are just stunning. Wine tasting in Moneglia with Lucca who was so knowledgeable and inspirational. We also had a fantastic meal at the restaurant.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Michela our group leader was lovely. So understated. Very efficient, knowledgeable about the area and managing the group in a gentle manner. A pleasure to walk with her.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Fitness does help with this walk as lots of ascents and descents. So get some training in before you go. However there are alternatives to some of the climbs. We had a room with a balcony over looking the sea. There is a supplement however it was worth it as these rooms are larger. The sandy beach at Moneglia is lovely and the swimming was excellent I am told.

Thoughts on Group Leader

I would highly recommend Michela, she was an excellent guide.

Most Inspirational Moment

Couldn’t pick one moment they were all really great

Thoughts on Group Leader

Michela was very very good. The best group leader of any trip so far and I’ve done quite a few.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Learn some Italian (with Dave)

Most Inspirational Moment

All of the walks were so beautiful and different. My favourite walks were between the Cinque Terre villages, particularly looking down at Vernazza from the "Blue Path" and the stunning walk between Cornelia and Manarola, walking through the terraced vineyards and beautiful wild flowers. Each village had its own character, but my favourite was Corniglia, smaller and quieter than the others. The wine tasting was also an amazing experience. Luca was so passionate and knowledgeable and the restaurant was small and atmospheric. We went back the following night for an amazing meal.

Thoughts on Group Leader

We have travelled many times with Exodus and have to say Michela was an absolutely, brilliant guide. She was so well organised and everything ran so efficiently. We appreciated the hard work that goes on behind the scenes to achieve this. Her expert knowledge and love of the area was obvious. She was gentle and caring, constantly checking that all members of the group were okay. She gave us various options of boat or train at points in the walk, if we felt the walking was too much at any point. This was greatly appreciated by some members of the group. At the end of our week with her, she felt like a good friend.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Read the trip notes carefully, as they tell you exactly what the walks are like, then you will enjoy your trip and be rewarded by spectacular walks and scenery. Good footwear and poles help navigate the steep ascents and descents.