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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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13 Reviews

4.6 out of 5

Reviews

Discover Puglia: Italy's Ancient Heel

Perfect itinerary for us. Helpful advice pre-booking. Help organising alternative to group flight . All transfers between different sites/hotels went smoothly. Beautiful , and unusual accommodation. A wonderful, engaging guide.

Most Inspirational Moment

Experiencing sense of "local"..wonderful food wine tasting, olive oil sampling at family run Masseria, tour of Matera on Day 2 with local guide, Lucia, Staying in some beautiful and unusual accommodation. Our amazing guide for the week... Ioanna was wonderful..her explanations of the history of each place brought it alive for me, and she was kind, caring, looked after us all, and was great fun to be with..her contribution to my enjoyment of the holiday overall was massive, so a big thank you

Discover Puglia: Italy's Ancient Heel

Tour leader excellent: made adjustments to published itinerary with agreement from all guests to give a superior experience. Adjustments included organising a separate guided tour of Alberobello and swapping guided tour of Lecce from afternoon to morning. Also shared many useful hints and tips via group WhatsApp. Organised group meals in interesting local restaurants.

Most Inspirational Moment

The masseria visit (olive oil tasting, pasta making and lunch) and different masseria for overnight stop. The guided tours of Matera, Alberobello and Lecce.

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was excellent in every way and was pivotal to the success of the tour. I particularly liked how he made suggestions to improve the itinerary and gained agreement from the group. Also particularly liked his use of a WhatsApp group for sharing information - all of which was super useful.

Discover Puglia: Italy's Ancient Heel

I was very happy with the group size, the local tour guide that we had for the week, and almost all of the hotel choices were fabulous. I also liked the fact that the hotels were near our destinations so that we didn’t have to spend a lot of time driving around. I have been on many of these types of tours and the tour guide can make her break the trip. Johana was fabulous. She was personable knowledgeable of the area and went above and beyond to make sure we all had a great trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

The masserias were amazing, staying in the trulli at that awesome hotel and staying at the Masseria. The wine tasting and olive oil tasting were also great.

Thoughts on Group Leader

She was excellent! She was friendly, helpful and very knowledgeable of the area since she was from that area. She went above and beyond to make sure that we all had a great time.

A revelation

This was our first ‘cultural’ Exodus holiday although we’ve done lots of Exodus cycling holidays. We went not knowing much about the area so it was wonderful to find it so enjoyable. There was a good mix of learning about the region, relaxing, and tours of caves, olive groves and some of the more important towns in the area. Transfers weren’t too long (usually under an hour) and accommodation was excellent for the most part. The nature of the accommodation meant that we all had different style rooms in most locations, which was good fun comparing.

Most Inspirational Moment

The Trulli village. I loved every minute and would have loved to stay longer

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ioana was amazing. So patient and always available to help if needed. Very knowledgeable about the area too. I have a food intolerance and she made it so easy for me to get what I needed. Also thanks to Leo who was assisting.

Advice for Potential Travellers

This was a great time of year to go - not too hot. Take every opportunity to go on any optional excursions offered. Shoes with a good grip are essential because of the slippy steps in Matera and other areas.

A Must See Part of Italy!

This trip was a wonderful surprise! I have been to a couple of places in Italy before (Rome, Venice, Florence) but Puglia is so different… in a great way! The coastline, the food, the culture and the history were all wonderful.

Most Inspirational Moment

Staring off in a world heritage site that is Matera was amazing! It is like walking around a movie set, every street and corner was breathtakingly beautiful.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ioana was a ray of sunshine! She was so knowledge and passionate about where we were visiting, it made such a difference having someone like Ioana there to guide us the whole way. She also gave us some amazing food recommendations which (as a foodie) was very welcomed!

Advice for Potential Travellers

It was very hot in June when i visited so i would recommend visiting in cooler months.

An Excellent introduction to the region of Puglia

This was an excellent way to explore Puglia, the towns of Matera, Alberobello, Ostuni and Lecce all were fascinating and atmospheric yet different. The hotel accommodation was in the town centers in the first three locations and was very good. The cave house and the trullo being a real experience. Accommodation in Lecce was a real disappointment. It was located on a ring road about a 25-minute walk from the center and was a basic business class hotel very few facilities. Our room was bright orange (think Easy Jet) and small, breakfast was limited compared to the previous hotels. Altogether a poor finish to a good experience.

Most Inspirational Moment

A difficult choice as we had many. You do need to explore by yourself once the guide has left and be prepared for a lot of walking on uneven steep surfaces. The Museo Archeologico Faggiano in Lecce was fascinating and maybe should be added onto the itinerary.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Unfortunately, our original group leader was not available due to being ill. We were met in Matera and walked up to our hotel by a very helpful lady (I cannot remember her name) who recommended some restaurants for the evening. Our group leader would join us the next day and would be available from 1.30pm. Unfortunately, he did not arrange a briefing session and spoke to the group members individually, who received slightly different information. This continued throughout the trip and while being very pleasant, approachable and put in a lot of effort , resorted to Wikipedia for information and generally did not have the in-depth knowledge of the area that we have been accustomed to from Exodus guides.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Try to avoid the Italian holidays Lecce in particular was very busy. Ensure that you have sturdy comfortable footwear, there is a lot of walking required to get the best out of the trip

Review Centre
Reply from Exodus

Thank you for your thoughtful review and for highlighting the many positives of your trip through Puglia. We’re so pleased to hear that you found Matera, Alberobello, Ostuni, and Lecce to be fascinating and atmospheric—each with its own unique charm. It’s great to know that the centrally located accommodations in the first three towns, especially the cave house and trullo, added to the experience and made your stay memorable.

We’re sorry to hear that the accommodation in Lecce didn’t meet expectations. Your feedback about the hotel’s location, facilities, and overall atmosphere is very important to us. We understand how a final stop can shape the overall impression of a trip, and we regret that this part didn’t reflect the high standards set earlier in the itinerary.

We’re currently reviewing our accommodation choices in Lecce and will take your comments into account as we work with our local operator to improve the experience for future travellers.

We hope to welcome you on another Exodus adventure soon.

The Exodus Team

Mostly Fabulous

I have given this tour a 4* rating because the basic structure of the tour was so good.
Matera, Alberobello and Ostuni were all outstanding. The towns have been restored and are fascinating and atmospheric as well as beautiful (especially at night). The hotel accommodation, which was in the centre of town in all three locations, was quirky, interesting, and well-appointed. We were disappointed with the Eos hotel in Lecce, however. It was a let-down and a rather sad end after what until then had been a fabulous trip with amazing accommodation elsewhere. It’s situated on a ring road, a 20 minute walk from the gate into the old town with little in the way of bars, restaurants or atmosphere nearby. It was a budget hotel with pared-down facilities and a disappointing and very basic breakfast. For example, by 8.00 am on the first morning there was limited choice because once foods had been consumed they were not always replaced. The staff were less helpful than in the other hotels. Lecce itself was very impressive with some amazing architecture. However, we were there over a bank holiday and it was consequently very busy. It would be nice to go back when it was quieter. The local guide in Lecce was not as good as the one in Matera, not least because her English was limited.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were so many it's difficult to choose! But an unexpected highlight was a visit to the Museo Archeologico Faggiano in Lecce. Not on the itinerary, but a fascinating introduction to the history of Lecce - a chance discovery of Roman ruins under a house when undertaking sewerage works.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Unfortunately our original group leader became suddenly unavailable just as the trip was about to start. This was managed reasonably well by the tour company on the ground. However, we were not given an adequate explanation of what happened, though it was inferred that the tour leader had suddenly decided against doing the tour. The stand-in leader arrived on the afternoon of the second day. Unfortunately he had not taken an Exodus tour before and his knowledge of the itinerary was limited and he sometimes had to resort to reading from Wikipedia to relay information about places and events. His English was poor and this lead to a number of misunderstandings between him and the group, for example regarding costs and timings. The combination of these factors meant that we had a less than optimal experience and certainly were not as well-informed about the history and locality as we have been on other Exodus trips. On the plus side he worked very hard on our behalf and was approachable and accommodating.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Avoid Italian Bank Holidays! And take note of what so many reviewers have said about the need for sturdy footwear, particularly in Matera where the steps can be slippery as well as steep and numerous. The recent change in status from 'Easy' to 'Easy to Moderate' accurately now reflects the level of fitness required to comfortably manage and get the most out of the trip.

Review Centre
Reply from Exodus

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your feedback and for awarding the tour a 4-star rating. We’re delighted to hear that you found the overall structure of the trip so enjoyable and that Matera, Alberobello, and Ostuni left such a strong impression. These towns truly are gems, and we’re glad the central, characterful accommodations added to your experience.

We’re sorry to hear that the Eos Hotel in Lecce didn’t meet expectations. Your comments about its location, atmosphere, and breakfast offerings are noted and appreciated. We understand how important the final stop of a trip can be, and it’s disappointing to hear that this part didn’t reflect the high standards set earlier in the tour. We’ll be reviewing this feedback with our local partners to explore alternative options that better align with the rest of the itinerary.

It’s also helpful to hear your thoughts on the local guide in Lecce. We aim to provide consistently excellent guiding throughout our trips, and we’ll take this on board as we continue to improve.

Thank you again for your thoughtful review. We hope to welcome you back on another adventure soon!

The Exodus Team

A fabulous trip made better by an outstanding leader!

I joined this itinerary as the part of the Exodus Safety team, in April 2025 and was utterly blown away by the locations visited. Matera was stunning, Lecce’s winding streets were beautiful with gems hidden round every corner, We stayed in a traditional Trulli house which was a personal highlight for me!

Most Inspirational Moment

Climbing the winding steps and visiting the cave houses in Matera, looking out over the edge of the hillside to see lush green and a beautiful river, flowing with the back drop of a rugged Matera behind it.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ioana was amazing. Caring, showed compassion for group members when they were finding anything confusing or stressful. She was obviously very passionate about the places visited and shared that with us. She made recommendations for meals really easy, and helped other clients book tables if needed. Above and beyond!

Advice for Potential Travellers

A good pair of boots/shoes to climb the steep and sometimes slippery Matera Staircases! Bring a light fleece, its sometimes very windy even in the sun!

The Guide made the difference

Excellent trip, beautiful scenery, and an absolutely fabulous guide, Fabrizio!! His enthusiasm, in-depth knowledge and overall care for our group made the experience exceptional. Ask for him by name!

Most Inspirational Moment

Matera, Monopoli, Otranto

Thoughts on Group Leader

5 stars+!!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Highly recommend

Great trip to explore the region of Puglia

I loved the itinerary! Saw so much in a week and at the same time did not feel rushed. I felt there was enough time to explore the highlights of the region. I enjoyed exploring Matera and Polignano a Mare. The lunch on day 5 was delicious – one of the best meals I have had in Italy. The coastal walk was lovely as well in Otranto. The places we stayed were so unique. I loved the Trulli house in Alberobello. I also loved the group and sharing the experience with like-minded people.

Most Inspirational Moment

Learning the history in Matera on the guided tour! Our guide was so knowledgeable and had a personal connection to the city.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Gabrielle was amazing! He was very personable, patient, and I enjoyed getting to know him throughout the week.

Advice for Potential Travellers

There was only a place to exchange dollars to euros in Lecce. I recommend exchanging money at the airport when you land or having a card to use ATM.