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.
Simply use the selector below to search our trip reviews and start reading real feedback from real Exodus travellers who have ‘been there and done that’!
Lots of our clients also like to post handy tips and advice about their travels. It’s great to know what to expect on an Exodus adventure before you go, so make the most of their experience and you’ll make the most of yours!
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67 Reviews
4.7
out of
5
Reviews
Michael Littleton
Reviewed May 2018
Great Experience
This was a wonderful trip through the countryside of Tuscany. The Villa Casalta owner and her staff member was friendly and caring.
Most Inspirational Moment
I really enjoyed the hiking. The countryside was beautiful! It reminds me of the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in NC.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Liz Proctor was a great group leader. She is a very good organizer and "den mother" for the members of the group.
Advice for Potential Travellers
We boarded the wrong train going to Pisa before the start of the tour. It was on the same track and approximate departure time for our train. We had tickets for a regional train and it was a express train. The conductor charged us the cost of the ticket and 50 euros penalty for each person. It appears to be a money generator from the unwary!
James Kearney
Reviewed May 2018
Tdc
From sign up to last day this trip was fabulous. Our guide worked tirelessly to insure that our group of 16 was always taken care of on the hike and at the villa. Liz Procter was a completely professional guide who made everyone feel comfortable!! The scenery in Tuscany was gorgeous, and Villa Casalta was a treat to have as a base for the entire week! Hope to use Exodus Travel again and soon!
Most Inspirational Moment
Just viewing the wonderful Tuscan hill and valleys.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Incomparable! Liz was the BEST!!
Advice for Potential Travellers
Come and enjoy!!
Alex Henderson
Reviewed October 2017
Best decision ever
Exodus tours were recommended to me, and as someone who knows little about wine but loves to drink it I was keen on this trip. I also fancied some exercise and activities thrown in. I was slightly dubious about going alone but soon realised when I got there that exodus caters for people like me. I would say the trip is scaled correctly in terms of activity level, I particularly enjoyed the panzano and San gimignano walks. There’s also loads to do on your free day, I rented a vintage fiat from castellina, some of the group went riding and others cooking so plenty of options. Couldn’t recommend this trip enough.
Most Inspirational Moment
All wine tastings are inspirational.
Thoughts on Group Leader
He was amazing. There was (which I'm told is quite common on Exodus tours) a very diverse group of people of different ages and interests. Mark made sure everyone was looked after and entertained, he was also great at pointing out particular spots of interest (museums, gelato shops, enotecas, city tours) that made sure everyone got the most out of the time we had. He was also great with the walks, found the group pace early on so no one felt left behind.
Advice for Potential Travellers
If you're going in mid sept as I did, dress like an onion. It's boiling in the direct sun and goes down about 10 in the shade and in the evenings sometimes. Still pleasant though, light jumpers are your best friends.
Diane Leaver
Reviewed September 2017
Chilled week in beautiful Tuscany
Just returned from a really enjoyable trip. Stunning scenery, picturesque hillside towns, delicious food and wine and a great group of travelling companions. Mark our group leader was a lovely guy, whose ‘can do’ approach, knowledge and personality added to the overall enjoyment.
Most Inspirational Moment
The vista over Florence from the arrival point was stunning.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Mark was a really efficient and knowledgeable leader with a great personality. I felt that he'd handle difficult situations well, although thankfully there weren't any!
Advice for Potential Travellers
The accommodation is in the hills and it can be a bit chilly up there in the mornings and evenings. Although the pace of the trip was chilled, we still packed a lot in, so you will probably welcome the free day.
Maggie Burghuber
Reviewed September 2017
Chianti walking and wine
The setting in the converted farmhouse is absolutely idyllic – but remember that September is the beginning of autumn and the altitude is high, so you really need to pack something warm for the evenings. The staff are really friendly and very helpful and the accommodation is clean.
I did find the twin beds narrow and the shower a little cramped : but then you get used to it.
The meals at Castella were excellent, especially the antipastas, and the buffet on the first night was to die for – but overall I was disappointed at the vast amount of meat and the lack of fresh salads/vegetables. We found the same trend even when eating out ….. meat, meat , meat.
Perhaps the wine compensated for it? I’m sure I got my 5 -a-day from the wine alone!! it flowed! Oh, and don’t forget the gelatos!
I must say we had a fantastic guide- nothing was too much for him. We’d slog away at the “undulations” (the in-word on our tour)and spent 2-3 hours relaxing in the town, while he’d WALK back again to pick up the minibus.
And the wine-tastings were brilliant: we’ve all learnt about chianti classico. Fantastic cheeses and delicious olive oils were provided. No tasting was the same! Honestly, we all got on so well. Thanks Mark for making our tour so enjoyable and such fun.
Most Inspirational Moment
The scenery was so beautiful. Vineyards and olive groves lining the hillsides. Tall, slender Cyprus trees pointing their way up to the sky - hilltop villages, many of them walled.
While walking the vistas would open up, one after the other and I never grew tired of taking them all in
Thoughts on Group Leader
Mark was fantastic. He had so much energy : was up early, kept the timings so that the full itinerary was completed and more; his sense of humour was encouraging. We all know the Italian for "undulating" now - some of them were "cheeky undulations" - or a "little bit of an undulation". What I really found good was the way Mark would drop back and walk with the slower people to encourage them on.
After we had walked 9 or 12 km he'd leave us at a town, so we could get a bite to eat, while he'd walk back to fetch the minibus up. Or he's run on ahead to bring the bus down to a meeting point. Incredible- he must be so fit. And whilst out on the walks he carried extra supplies of snacks for the group, so we could up the sugar intake and find our energy for the next etappe.
I couldn't believe the extra mile he went to deliver pizzas on his day off. We were sitting in the town and saw him bent on a mission - staggering out with a pile of pizzas for those who chose not to leave the villa
His planning was meticulous and he was so knowledgeable about the area.
I would say he helped to make the tour so enjoyable
Advice for Potential Travellers
Pack rainwear -
Pack a torch
Take something warm to wear in the evenings
Julian Gale
Reviewed July 2017
Julian Gale
Great combination of walking, sightseeing and sampling the local food and wine.
Most Inspirational Moment
Walking through the Tuscan countryside, and in particular the walk to San Gimignano, which ensured some beautiful views. The days in Siena and Florence.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Liz was an excellent leader. Definitely one who goes above and beyond the call of duty. Very hard working and keen to make sure everyone has an enjoyable holiday. Good at communicating the options and making any necessary arrangements (such as restaurant bookings etc). She even fitted in a quick photo stop at the leaning tower of Piza on our way back to the airport.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Worth making sure you also pack a long pair of walking trousers as one of the walks is through long grass areas where ticks might be lurking!
Colin Read
Reviewed June 2017
Chianti walking and wine
Another excellent Exodus trip. Some good walking through Tuscany combined with other activities such as a guided tour of Siena, visit to Florence, visited to wineries and much more. Accommodation in Villa Casalta was good on the above scale.
Most Inspirational Moment
Difficult to pick out one, but probably the excellent locally guided visit to Siena.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Liz was everything one might wish from a really good group leader: friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. She was also an excellent driver of our Exodus minibus; felt much safer that on some previous trips with Italian drivers.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Try to avoid flying with British Airways; we only narrowly escaped the 27th May IT debacle and were grateful to return the Gatwick only 4 hours late. BA short-haul is just another budget airline and not a particularly good one at that.
Gail Oleszkowicz
Reviewed May 2017
Chianti Walking and Wine
A great mix of walking, wine tasting and touring Tuscany towns. Scenery just as advertised.
Most Inspirational Moment
I liked San Gimignano the best of all the towns we visited.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Liz Proctor was an exceptional leader: she really went out of her way to do everything possible to help everyone who needed it. Safety was a top priority and she was genuinely concerned for everyone's wellbeing.
Advice for Potential Travellers
I am not used to walking on rough paths and was unable to train properly ahead of time. I managed but struggled. If you have health issues, do the training beforehand as suggested on the website to get in proper shape.
Louise Hill
Reviewed October 2016
Autumnal delight
A fantastic week of walking in golden hued countryside, sampling local wines and enjoying local food. The group was great, the guide (Mark) top notch, the hotel and staff lovely, the organisation seamless – who could ask for more.
Most Inspirational Moment
Sitting with the whole group outside a restaurant in Siena overlooking the city as the sun went down - throwing the most beautiful golden colours onto the red brick and ochre paintwork of the buildings. Idyllic.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Mark organised us without making us feel at all "organised" and clearly knew the area well.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take a extra fleece if travelling in October!
Suzanne Pollard
Reviewed September 2016
Chianti walking & wine
A great holiday, Liz was fab. Be prepared for some serious walking if your not a regular walker up & down hills on rough ground. All in all a great time with a great group of people & lovely accommodation. Would definitely recommend.
Most Inspirational Moment
I loved Siena & Sarah our guide was great.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Very organised & ever attentive to everyone's needs
Advice for Potential Travellers
Practice walking on rough ground with ascents & descents
