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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.

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Reviews

Walking in Puglia and Matera Private Departure

We had very good service from the Exodus sales team in planning the trip for our Nordic walking group. The itinerary was very well planned and gave us the chance to experience walking and cultural visits in this fascinating area of Italy. Overall the holiday exceeded my expectations.

Most Inspirational Moment

Our first view of the Sassi in Matera

Thoughts on Group Leader

Marion was an excellent leader who ensured all members of our group had the best time.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Unless you have an early departure you will not have time to do the activities described on Day 1. Check what type of adapter is needed for Italy.

Only 3 walks throughout the week

The trip was well organised and each of the three places we stayed were fascinating

Most Inspirational Moment

Wandering the little alleys of Matera and enjoying the wonderful food of the region

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ioana was wonderful in all aspects

Advice for Potential Travellers

The walks are leisurely but interesting.

Fabulous first walking holiday!

This trip exceeded my expectations in both the excellent organisation and expert talks by Ioana and the wide range of activities around walking, sightseeing, free time and gastronomy! 💚

Most Inspirational Moment

First view of Matera town across the ravine

Thoughts on Group Leader

Perfect! Ioana has the ideal mix of careful attention to detail, awareness of different individual needs and preferences, ability to bring the history and culture of the region to life, lovely sense of humour and complete unflappability. 10/10.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bring layers you can peel off as you walk if it is a hot day; bring a serious sunhat with brim and UV protection; something to cover shoulders; strong boots or trail shoes for support on any uneven ground; large water bottle.

A glorious week

A hugely enjoyable immersion in the countryside and towns of Puglia and Basilicata.The itinerary is well-designed, as the highlight for us was undoubtedly Matera, and I was pleasantly surprised at how little down time we had. The walking is undemanding, but the scenery is beautiful, and I can imagine in high summer the heat could become a problem. A great introduction to an area I knew very little about, other than enjoying the excellent wines it produces.

Most Inspirational Moment

Matera. Seeing it from across the ravine and then up close was breathtaking .

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ioana was outstanding. She was professional, deeply knowledgeable, and great company. She anticipated the needs of a disparate (but very agreeable) group of walkers and made an excellent trip into an unforgettable experience. Exodus seem to have a knack of engaging outstanding tour leaders for their Italian holidays - she is the third we have met, and all have been outstanding.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Although the walks are not excessive, and the ascent/descent is moderate, it's well worth packing your walking boots. I found the combination of hard services and occasional rocky sections were surprisingly tough on the feet, and I was glad of the thicker soles on the days I wore my boots. Poles are definitely an optional extra, unless you are an habitual user.

Walking in Puglia and Matera (April 2024)

A very interesting range of regions, from the picturesque trulli houses of Puglia to the peace and quiet of the Masseria Morrone and finally the amazing cave dwellings of the Sassi district of Matera. The walks ranged from paths through fields dotted with ancient olive trees to shady forests and finally to wide open vistas in the Basilicata region

Most Inspirational Moment

The walk along the Murgia plateau with horned cows complete with cowbells, Spring flowers everywhere and beautiful views across to the Sassi district of Matera.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Tancredi was a very knowledgeable and helpful guide who always kept us informed of the programme for each day. The hike across the suspension bridge was not possible due to weather conditions, but Tancredi handled the change in programme very smoothly and also went out of his way to assist with suggestions for our free time, including an unscheduled visit to a beautiful rock church and a Benedictine Abbey on our last morning which was really special.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I used cash rather than credit card more than I had anticipated but this was not a major problem as ATMs were easily accessible.

It works

A well balanced choice of 3 exceptional places.
Day 2 was probably the best walk along the Itria Valley.
Not using the Matera suspension bridge limited the walk route. For interest we did cross it on our own.

Most Inspirational Moment

Waking up to look out over Matera from The Sassi Hotel. The view across to the sea from the beautifully adapted Masseria Morrone. Ancient Olive trees as living history.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Knowledgeable in his own field. More information would have been helpfully shared with clearer language.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Pack all the usual requirements for day walks at home.

Wonderful week

We had a marvellous time walking in Puglia and Basilicata, an area completely unknown to us before now. Such beautiful towns and villages to explore in Alberobello, Ostuni, Lecce and the fascinating Matera and gentle day walks in surrounding countryside.

Most Inspirational Moment

Matera has to be a highlight. We stayed in a charming cave hotel in the heart of the old Sassi area, ideal for investigating the many enchanting alleyways and nearby ravines. It would have been easy to spend a whole week there.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Tancredi proved to be an exceptional leader with a thorough knowledge of the area, having been acquainted with it for much of his life. Nothing seemed to be too much trouble for him. He was engaging, helpful and knowledgeable and got on with every member of our 12-strong group.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The walking is pleasant rather than spectacular for much of the time but thoroughly enjoyable. The weather for our trip in March was ideal. I can imagine it might become extremely hot in midsummer, when of course crowds will also descend on beautiful places such as Matera and Ostuni.

Really enjoyed it but the walks the least good bit!

We visited lovely towns and stayed in nice hotels and ate good food! Having been to this area before it was as expected and lovely to see again. I’d never been on a walking holidays and last time in Puglia I toured by bike. Whilst some of the walks were lovely, past aged olive trees etc, others were pretty ordinary. The guide was great and passionate about his local area. The group was ok and as usual you just avoid the naysayers. Being a cycle tourist an evening walk is usually a nice change. It only struck me on the holiday that on a walking holiday you walk during the day and then in the evening………….go for a walk!! Certainly recommend Puglia but not sure about the walking?

Trulli houses and cave dwellings

This trip is a good mix of walking and sightseeing; it was great to be able to visit both the trulli houses and also the cave dwellings of Matera.

Most Inspirational Moment

On a walk meeting up with someone who was renovating some trulli houses, who invited us in to have a look at what he was doing. One member of the group was feeling unwell so he and his wife also kindly drove her to meet us at the next town.

Thoughts on Group Leader

His knowledge of flora and fauna was very good. There were various issues on the trip which he did his best to rectify.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If one of the reasons you want to come is to cross the suspension bridge, it was closed to groups on our trip

Excellent trip

The Walking in Puglia and Matera guided tour gives an excellent introduction to the heel of Italy. This trip stayed at three hotels, all very good. Comfortable and clean rooms, great breakfast choices plus swimming pools at two of the three. The walking was varied from strolling through olive groves in Puglia to scrambling around the rocky gorge at Matera. The towns with trulli houses and the incredible rock city of Matera were memorable.

Most Inspirational Moment

So many highlights! The best day we walked down through olive groves of ancient characterful trees to the coast, where we swam in the Adriatic and had a delicious sea-food lunch.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Gabriele was the best leader you could wish for: kind, knowledgeable and unfailingly enthusiastic, he went above and beyond to deal with unexpected problems and ensure we all had a wonderful time. The good comradeship of the group was in large part down to his efforts. Brilliant!

Advice for Potential Travellers

It was unexpectedly hot in late September at over 30 degrees. Bring water flasks/bladders - we were drinking 2 to 3 litres each on the longer walks (8 miles). In most places the tap water is safe, but not at the rural masseria hotel. Proper walking boots and poles were a huge help in the walking around the Matera gorge, and sturdy walking shoes or sandals with good grips are essential for the slippery limestone steps and paving of the city's steep streets.