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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68 Reviews
4.7 out of
5
Reviews
Martin Dennis
Reviewed July 2019
One of the best...
For me, there are three criteria that make a great Exodus trip: the members of the group, the leader, and the location/activities. The members of the group on this trip were wonderful: great company, entertaining, and considerate. Mark was the perfect leader (see below). The location was stunning with beautiful Tuscan villages, towns and cities. How can the combination of wine and walking be beaten? (OK, maybe cycling and wine at a push…)
Most Inspirational Moment
So many: approaches to archetypal Tuscan villages; stunning views of Florence, San Gimignano and Siena. Hearing scops owls and nightingales (why are both so difficult to spot?!). Wonderful food and wine.
Thoughts on Group Leader
The perfect guide: helpful, knowledgeable, considerate, funny, flexible and an exemplary driver (reversing with trailer into a space at Pisa airport, first time and in front of an audience!).
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take a bigger case to accommodate the chianti, cheese, olive oil you'll want to bring back. I didn't buy dresses or handbags but some did!
Suggestions
Book now!
Carole Grimwood
Reviewed June 2019
Excellent trip - But a bit more than gentle walking
We had a great of walking and wine tasting in the Chianti region with our excellent guide Alejandro. Our accommodation at Villa Castela was probably the best we have enjoyed with Exodus – great location, tranquil, lovely pool, big room, comfy bed and simple but delicious food.
Most Inspirational Moment
Sienna was fabulous.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Alejandro was an excellent hard working guide who went the extra mile
Advice for Potential Travellers
We were 'blessed' with very hot weather in early June (high 30s and 37 deg on our last day) which made some of the very undulating walking hard work for us and definitely not 'gentle'.
Gill & Don Yuile
Reviewed June 2019
Our first Exodus trip
This trip met all our expectations and requirements and was a really good holiday for us. The daily organisation and all the experiences were excellent, we cannot praise Liz enough for her competence at making the week so good. The walks were amazing, just at the right level for us and we felt spot on with the leisurely/moderate rating.
The hotel was beautifully situated, traditionally furnished, clean and homely, the staff were very nice, helpful and pleasant. Just a few quibbles that have prevented us awarding the top rating: the hotel breakfast was good, although a bit more variety would have been nice, but the evening meals taken in the hotel were fairly basic. The meals taken outside in local restaurants were fantastic. Our pre trip information supplied from Exodus gave us the wrong departure terminal at Heathrow, which we realised just two days before departure, however, this was dealt with efficiently and we appreciated how well it was handled.
All in all an excellent week, we enjoyed it immensely and are looking at our next adventure!
Most Inspirational Moment
Probably the best thing about this trip was the ratio of walking, city visits and wine tasting. A perfect amount of each meant that it was all most enjoyable.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Liz was a fantastic guide in all ways: leader experience, local knowledge, language skills, driving, organisation, and making sure every member of the group was comfortable and any special requirements taken care of. She was nice with it!
Advice for Potential Travellers
We recomend taking walking boots rather than trainers for the walk days as many of the tracks have loose stones and rocks. Flat shoes recomended for the rest of the time, especially in towns and cities.
Debbie Henderson
Reviewed June 2019
Fantastic Holiday
I’d wanted to go to Tuscany for years and this exactly fitted the bill. Wonderful walks, hilltop towns, visiting Siena, Florence and San Gimignano. Wine tastings were informative. Lovely group too. I can definitely recommend!
Most Inspirational Moment
Seeing the fabulous scenery at every turn!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Mark was a great leader: fun, courteous, always ready to help out and a very safe driver.
Advice for Potential Travellers
The walks can be a bit more of a challenge in the heat...but don't let that put you off.
Jan Strasser
Reviewed May 2019
A Great trip to celebrate a milestone birthday!
We had a fantastic time with a great group of people walking along the beautiful hills of Tuscany – visiting quaint hilltop villages – viewing spectacular scenery and partaking in wonderful food and wine
Most Inspirational Moment
Hard to name just one! I loved the hilltop villages but I also love Florence - something incredible to see around every corner!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Liz Proctor was our group leader and she is amazing! She knew so much about every single place we visited.
Advice for Potential Travellers
If you enjoy walking and great food and wine I highly recommend this trip
Jane Jewell
Reviewed May 2019
First trip with Exodus
We had a thoroughly enjoyable varied trip though the walking was more challenging than we anticipated. The uphill and down dale rocky walking was harder for us as we are both in our 70s and these days we have not done so much of this type of walking. Nevertheless, we had an excellent guide in Liz Proctor who made sure that we paced our walking and with her knowledge of the countryside and terrain through woodland, olive groves and vineyards combined with a good humoured small group of 6 persons made our walking very enjoyable. The wine tasting and classes were very informative and fun. On the city days in Sienna and Florence we had excellent guided walks and an in-depth insight into the culture and history ofthese 2 beautiful cities both of which we have visited twice before.
The weather was more chilly than expected and the farmhouse although welcoming was not warm enough in the morning or when we came home each evening.th
Most Inspirational Moment
The beautiful Tuscan countryside and the Agritourism which has enriched the Tuscan landscape and allowed the families to develop their hardworking but enriching way of life. The natural ecological way of living which is a model of living to aspire to.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Excellent, very personable, calm and extremely knowledgeable.
As well as acting as a extremely competent driver as well as the guiding. We really appreciated the good planning and timing that went into everyday and we trust that Liz is remunerated fully for this double role and responsibility.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Read fully the excellent guidance notes sent by Exodus
Suggestions
A truly varied and enjoyable trip in a beautiful country with lovely warm people.
We also thoroughly enjoyed the Cooking day we booked on our day off.
Helen Stevenson
Reviewed April 2019
Wonderful trip!
The countryside walks were paced perfectly, with time at the end of each to visit beautiful hilltop towns for leisurely lunches and sightseeing . Visits to Siena and Florence provided a taster for these beautiful cities. The wine tasting, particularly the Siena Wine School, was enjoyable, as was the Chianti imbibing throughout the week. Everything at Villa Casalta was very relaxed, owner and her staff friendly and helpful. I appreciated the tea and coffee making facilities set up in the sitting room for Exodus customers. I loved having day off mid week when I spent a leisurely day in Castellina.
Most Inspirational Moment
No single moment as I enjoyed it all.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Liz Proctor is brilliant in every way - friendly, enthusiastic, knowledgeable, helpful, and more...
Advice for Potential Travellers
To book a time slot for Uffizi Gallery the trip notes suggest between 11.45 and 16.00. Liz has discovered a very good free walking tour of Florence 10.30 to 13.00, which I had to leave at noon. Also 4pm is too late as it's a minimum half hour walk back to the bus for 5pm. I suggest around 2pm would be ideal time slot.
I was pleased I took walking poles and used them on all the country walks.
Louise Sampson
Reviewed April 2019
Excellent well balanced trip
This trip is a good mix of walking, city culture, great wine tasting and good food.
The walks are leisurely – undulating – through lovely county side and vineyards. Not too long but long enough to know you have done something.
Local guided tours had been arranged in Siena and Florence which made it more focused since there is really only time for a taster! – definitely go back for a longer trip to see all they both have to offer.
The arranged wine tastings were very informative especially the one at the Tuscany wine school in Siena – we will be on the look out for the wines we tasted.
The local restaurants used all served excellent food as did the Vila Casalta where we stayed.
We also took part in an italian cooking lesson run by Edith on our free day. Well worth going to – but she only takes cash.
Our guide Liz – was very experienced, very informative and knowledgeable.
All in all an excellent holiday.
Most Inspirational Moment
Really enjoyed it all.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Liz - Elizabeth Proctor was excellent
Janice Eastman
Reviewed October 2018
Wine and walking
A well balanced holiday betwern sight seeing and walking. Excellent accommodation.
Most Inspirational Moment
The organisation and diversity
Thoughts on Group Leader
Knowledgable and professional
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take walking boots not trainers
Suggestions
Didnt think the cookery lesson (which was an additional extra) was worth 85 euros. Taking turns between 4 of us to knead dough was like being treated as a child. Still waiting for the receipes!
Michelle Nogier
Reviewed October 2018
Italy October 2018
The Chianti Walking and Wine Tour was truly incredible. It was a vacation for my personal sensory system….to touch the ground that leads to…….the smell of the crisp Italian forest air, the taste of the locally sourced wine and fresh cheese, to see the vineyards, the cypress trees and the villas and to hear the sound of silence and peace, that can only be found walking the Tuscany Country. The tour was about being aware and in the moment, then taking those memories and sharing them with friends.
Most Inspirational Moment
The whole trip was inspirational. For me to comprehend we walked where only the local people walked. The only other tourists were the nine people within the group and our group leader. That's it....no crowds, no noise....how much more inspirational can that be...
Thoughts on Group Leader
Mark Middleton....super, great and loved his job. This made us enjoy the tour even more.
Advice for Potential Travellers
From personal experience....proper hikers or really supportive runners. The walks can be more adventurous than expected.
Suggestions
Villa Casalta is amazing - built in 1749!! Pictures and words cannot explain. Roberta and Margarita always made it feel like coming home. Absolutely loved it...