Reviews

Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers

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81 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Trevor Breedon

Reviewed March 2024

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.

Suggestions

It took two flights to reach Bari, via Rome from Heathrow, with a similar reverse schedule on return. It made for long days going out on coming back. I think I would have been tempted to seek out a direct flight from the UK had I known.

Trevor Acreman

Reviewed November 2023

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?

Janet Donbavand

Reviewed October 2023

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

Suggestions

There were issues such as the walk on the last day when we were stopped by someone who said we were walking on private land. This needs to be checked before future trips

Frances Rushworth

Reviewed September 2023

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.

Jo James

Reviewed July 2023

All about the sightseeing

This trip is about the sightseeing and exploring the towns in the region, Matera and the trulli were fascinating. The walks are as described in the notes and with the exception of the Matera ravine walk pleasant but nothing special. The paths are flat and easy to navigate, not one for serious hikers. The accommodation was good , the food was typically Italian, lots of pasta, pane pomodoro (tomato bread) and mozzarella. I suspect coeliacs may find it a challenge unless they like tomato and Mozarella salad!

Most Inspirational Moment

The ravine walk in Matera

Thoughts on Group Leader

Tancredi was excellent and took great care to see everyone could cope in the heat

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take plenty of cash, restaurants will not take multiple card payments.

M B

Reviewed July 2023

Great Trip

I really enjoyed this trip. The hikes were a great way to explore the landscape. Tancredi our group leader was very knowledgeable about the culture and history of the places we visited and also helped us make the most of our free time. I found all the places we visited unique and interesting. The week was packed with a lot to see and do but was planned well.

Most Inspirational Moment

Matera and learning about the Sassi districts.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Tancredi was a great leader and made the week what it was. He was attentive throughout and made sure everyone was ok given the high temperatures in July.

Advice for Potential Travellers

In July be prepared for the heat and early starts for the hikes.

Debbie Wilkes

Reviewed July 2023

Appropriate

We thoroughly enjoyed the trip with its variety of locations and walks.

Most Inspirational Moment

Matera

Thoughts on Group Leader

Tancredi was one of the best Exodus leaders that we have met. He was knowledgeable, looked after everyone (especially in the extreme heat) and went out of his way to make sure that any request was assisted.

Donna S

Reviewed May 2023

This region is well worth a visit

A lovely area of Italy to visit, with good characterful hotels utilised for the trip, great food and great customer service experienced throughout. I was concerned, as it was my first walking holiday, that I may not be able to keep up with the group, but I was fine as the pace was good and we had breaks to rest and break up the walks, which weren’t too difficult and reasonably flat on most occasions.

Most Inspirational Moment

I enjoyed staying in and experiencing Alberobello with its trulli, unfortunately the weather wasn't great (wet), but a lovely interesting place to visit. Matera is another highlight of this trip with its cave dwellings, numerous places to visit and lovely walks.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader Joana couldn't do enough for the group, she researched train times for the 'free day' for everyone, even though we were all going to different locations. She was well organised and did her utmost to help if we had any questions. The ruck sack she carried on the walks was huge, what with carrying bottles of wine and snacks for everyone. A knowledgeable and interesting person to have as our leader on this trip.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take warm clothes for the evenings and waterproofs just in case, boots may not be needed just good walking shoes. However if the weather is wet, the pavements become slippy so a good grip sole is needed. Unfortunately the weather was very changeable during the stay, so the waterproofs and warmer clothes were needed. Visit Polignano a Mare and Monopoli on your free day, both are pretty little seaside places and easily reachable on the train from Ostuni. Great gelato also, always tastes better by the sea.

Suggestions

Enjoy this beautiful region of Italy.

Wendy Garman

Reviewed May 2023

Excellent Puglia and Matera holiday

Excellent holiday and guide . Despite the rain we had a wonderful time . Good itinerary especially Matera

Most Inspirational Moment

Matera , and learning about the “ shame of Italy “

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent . I was not able to do a couple of the walks due to knee pain , but Joanna was so helpful arranging alternatives and taxis A very caring leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

Not really that’s easy walking . Take walking boots and sticks . Some difficult paths on the ridge of Matera

Suggestions

Brilliant holiday . Loved the food and accommodation at the farmhouse near Ostuna

Jackey Phillips

Reviewed May 2023

More sightseeing that walking

Everyone had told me how wonderful Puglia was, so my expectations were high, but I have to admit I was a bit disappointed in the scenery. This trip is more about visiting the trulli houses in Alberobello and the ancient city of Matera, which were both fascinating and it was interesting to learn about the history of both. But the walks were not the most interesting, apart from the beautiful spring flowers and the second from last one, across the ravine from Matera. It was a shame the suspension bridge was out of action. Matera was wonderful. We had a 2 hour guided tour, but it was a shame it was done after we had been on a walk in the morning, followed by a lengthy lunch at the pasta laboratory – not to be recommended due to the surly manager! The trip was slightly marred by a few days of rain. The accommodation was all very good and we were lucky that the group all gelled well, with positive good humour. The food was very good

Most Inspirational Moment

Matera. Fascinating to wander the streets. You enter down steps from the larger, new city but once in the old city, the views are incredible.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Joana was an excellent guide. Very helpful and worked hard to ensure everyone was ok

Advice for Potential Travellers

On our free day we went to Polignano and Monopoli and were very pleased that we had. Both are by the sea and wonderful scenery and small, quiet streets to wander around. If you are expecting this trip to be one of excellent walks, this may not be the right one. It is an expensive trip, with the single supplement and I didn’t feel it was good value. The food is expensive, but generally very good. We only had short time on the beach after the walk from the farmhouse. Not really enough time for a swim and the sea was quite rough. Hardly worth taking a costume, although the farmhouse had a pool, so in summer, you could swim there.

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