- Walk the classic rolling hills of Tuscany
- Stay in a family run 3* hotel
- Enjoy fabulous chianti wines
- Visit Siena and Florence

Chianti Walking & Wine
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Reviews
Add your own reviewFantastico!
Wow! Exodus … thank you …we had a fantastic week. The trip was truly amazing. It was a great combination of leisurely (but hot!) walking in the Tuscan countryside, cultural days in Siena and Florence and superb wine tastings. We were fortunate to share our experience with a wonderful group of people and enjoy a few evenings (and bottles!) dining on the lovely terrace of Hotel Le Renaie. The weather was superb and scenery absolutely spectacular.
Most Inspirational Moment
It was all memorable. Each day was different!
Thoughts on Group Leader
A big shout out to Ale Moreiras! Ale was a fantastic group leader. He was so knowledgeable, enthusiastic and good humoured (even when some of the group missed the train in Siena!) Ale made sure we all had a great time and looked after us! Thank you Ale!
Advice for Potential Travellers
Do this trip if you enjoy leisurely walking, some good wines and a little culture thrown in! Sadly, there were some negative reviews because the previous accommodation/meals were not so good. This has now been rectified and we loved Hotel Le Renaie and the chilled vibe. A great find Exodus!
Suggestions
Thanks to the hotel and the wonderful staff. The four course evening meals were a highlight on the terrace watching the sun go down. The Agriturismo Cesani wine tasting was the best wine tasting and the views incredible! We spent three days in Lucca at the end of our trip and would recommend a visit to this enchanting city.
Wine not....hehe
This was my first solo trip, exodus came highly recommended and so I thought I’d try it! The agent Barry rang me at times I was free and was so so helpful, booking and organising different flight was made far easier with his help. Landed in pisa and was greeted by Rosanna- our tour guide for the holiday. Honestly, I was a tad nervous and she was just lovely, very calming, like sunshine in human form!! Rosanna was very helpful, chatty, bubbly, informative and amusing throughout the whole trip. It was such a happy time!! I’m still laughing at some of the moments we had one week on !
Most Inspirational Moment
Apart from the hills, steps, steps and hills - because there were a few!! And i loved them....I'd say it's making the friends I did and the trust I found in them and the laughs we shared.....
Thoughts on Group Leader
LOVE Rosanna, the trip wouldn't of been what it was without her!! She is amazing, made sure we were all happy, fixed the glitches straight away- there's always one or two, kept smiling, tried so hard to give us information and treats!! She kept us up to date with times , trips, things to do on days off so we werent lost, rosanna put so much into making it the best -I just think she is brilliant, don't think there's anyone who could top her!!! Lovely soul!
Advice for Potential Travellers
Just book it and go do it!! Italy is amazing , the wine is so delicious and if you are lucky enough to have Rosanna you will have the best time ever!!
Great holiday but with some issues
We really enjoyed the week and the group we were with. The tour leader Rosanna was fantastic, so helpful, enthusiastic and good humoured. Villa Casalta, our accommodation, was really nice in many ways, but was let down in a few areas. 3 of the 5 provided evening meals,2 at Villa Casalta and 1 at the owner, Giovanni’s restaurant, were very poor quality, with no choice and not catering at all well for individual pre-advised requirements. We learned as the week went on, that we were to be the last Exodus tour based at this property, and we felt we were suffering poor quality as a result. The other 2 evening meals provided for us were changed by Exodus to eating out instead of at the accommodation, with Exodus paying €30 per person towards each meal. The breakfasts at the Villa were fine, although our tour leader had to provide more fruit options herself as the villa only offered apples. We found the Villa to be a bit remote from the town, about 1.5 miles from the centre of town with half of that distance on a hilly track that got muddy when it rained. There was no communal area provided for us to sit in and relax in the evenings. We were locked out of the downstairs restaurant area, and ended up using our initiative with the help of our tour leader to get access to an external fridge in the outside unmanned bar area and to get access to glasses for drinks. The swimming pool could have been better maintained/cleaned for the one day the weather and our availability coincided for some of us to make use of it.
Most Inspirational Moment
We loved the walks, and visiting Siena and San Gimignano. The walking tour of Siena was very interesting thanks to the wonderful guide Alessia. We also had a lovely walk to Fonterutoli on our day off, where we had very very nice tapas and wine.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Rosanna was fantastic, she couldn't do enough for us and was always cheerful and enthusiastic.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Bring good walking shoes, insect repellant, sun cream and waterproofs (I got several bites and we had some thunder showers in June)
Suggestions
I feel Exodus let us down sending us to this accommodation while they were obviously winding down as we were their last Exodus booking. It would put me off booking another Exodus holiday in case the same thing were to happen again.
Honest feedback
Walks well paced and enjoyable. Guide ensured excellent teamwork. However, due to unseasonal heavy rains the accommodation was unsatisfactory. Despite several requests the owner of the farmhouse refused to turn on any heating. This not only made our nights uncomfortably cold, but gave no opportunity for our wet clothing, bath towels, etc., to dry. In addition we were unable to sit outside and there was no communal area inside to gather. The swimming pool was not ready for our use. I contacted Candice who though sympathetic, was unable to resolve the situation.
Muddy Boots. Nice scenery viewed through rain; Exodus should not book into Villa Casalta
We hiked with a fabulous, congenial and like-minded group. We all got on so well. Our comradery made the trip fun and stimulating. The Villa Casalta is an odd place. Exodus needs to do a site visit or just scrap this villa and look elsewhere.
Most Inspirational Moment
Seeing members of my group who were struggling with the terrain conditions, steadily make it up steep muddy slippery dangerous embankments and over rocky paths in the pouring rain. It gave me the courage to press on to reach our destination.
Thoughts on Group Leader
She was a good driver in the rain along twisting roads with frequent racing cyclists sharing it. I felt safe in the van when road conditions were poor. I do not want to go on a trip again where the guide is also the driver and is required to run all the way back to fetch the van while we wait in a town for her return. Our driver was quite the athlete. After lunch and a look around the town, some days we had an hour or more to kill waiting for the van, as we hit the hours in Italy where shops and museums are closed. We could have made much better use of our time and the guide's time if she hadn't also been our driver. Had I known this was the arrangement, I would have chosen a different trip. I chose a guided trip expecting the guide to arrange for little extras besides wine tastings in the afternoons.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Think long and hard about signing on for this particular itinerary. READ ALL THE REVIEWS of recent travelers before you book. The Villa Casalta is not up to Exodus standards for the kind of trip you think this is: walking and wineries attracting those who want hiking plus culture. The Villa is a cold drafty place, rather dungeon-like place, not deserving of the word Villa. We all thought it would have been better if we could have sat on the terraces. But rain and cold didn't allow and it was mid May. Also, the pool was freezing and filthy. No matter, unheated so couldn't be used as advertised. The breakfast buffet was not replenished daily so by week's end, there was three-day old cake were still offered. The espresso machine didn't function properly most days and we were in a rush to start our hikes. The dinner meal varied in quality. Pasta uniformly filling, meat course ranged from OK to overcooked to downright inedible brochettes. Fortunately, we had a terrific group of high-spirited good humored people who kept things lively cracking jokes about the Villa. The owner showed up when we arrived and never appeared again. He was miserly and absent, like when it came to our day off, allowing us to use the glassware for our wine and cheese party but no plates or cutlery. Odd. He was completely stingy. The staff are trying their hardest but without the owner onsite or dropping in, the staff have their hands tied and can't do anything to help. Some people froze in their rooms at night even with extra blankets. No heat. The owner couldn't manage but one heater for one person. It was ridiculous that we were paying to stay at this haunted house outside of the village. Too dark at night to walk into town or a little too far to wander in in the late afternoon. So you're basically stuck at the Villa between excursions. If you fancy that, this is the trip for you. Best of luck!
Suggestions
Buyer beware. Ask Exodus more questions after reading the reviews. Perhaps I'm an outlier with my concerns about the Villa Casalta and with how Exodus tasked our guide to be our driver, but I don't think so, having talked all week with others in the group.
We would like to thank you for your review and are so pleased to hear that you gelled with your fellow travellers, as we always wish for harmonious groups on our trips. On the other hand, we were sorry that you were disappointed with some other aspects of the tour. We should emphasise that the trip has been designed and planned specifically to be led by a driving guide and has been running in this way for many years. This has been done in compliance with all safety regulations, including proper resting time both in terms of driving and working hours without impacting on the itinerary itself and clients’ overall experience. General previous feedback on this aspect has been positive. However, our product team will certainly bare your comments in mind during future discussions about this tour. We also realise that comfortable accommodation is a major factor in our customers’ overall enjoyment of a trip, so we are sorry that the Villa Casalta fell below your expectations. The heating issue you brought to our attention strictly relates to the uncharacteristically inclement weather that affected several areas of the region this Spring. This coincided with the legal regional requirement to turn off central heating systems from 15th April. The average temperatures for this time usually mean that guests enjoy sitting outdoors and do not require heating during the night and whilst we are confident that your experience was a one-off, we are looking into contingency plans with the management team should this type of weather become more common. There are, in fact, indoor seating areas but we were not aware that these were temporarily not accessible to our clients as had always been the case before. Once the issue was raised, we immediately asked the owner to unlock the communal spaces. The food at the villa had historically been good and to guarantee the expected high standards after the first post-pandemic season under new management, our product team asked the local team to commit to significant improvements, which was agreed to. One of the strategies involved sourcing a new chef and upgrades to meals and we were confident that this would have resolved any issues; we, therefore, regret that you were still unimpressed. Please be assured we are actively investigating and considering further measures to address any outstanding issues that may impact on our future guests. We sincerely hope that your experience on this trip has not discouraged you from booking with Exodus again as we would like the chance to regain your trust on a future tour.
Tourist
Well planned tour with a very professional guide
Most Inspirational Moment
Visiting Sienna
Thoughts on Group Leader
Very Professional
Amazing Walking & Wine Tasting in Tuscany
This holiday was everything it promised & more. The accommodation was fabulous & in a beautiful setting. 15 minutes walk from beautiful village of Castinella with a selection of shops & restaurants. The walks were well organised, taking in some amazing sights. We also really enjoyed the walking tours in Siena & Florence. Our leader, Jordan, was amazing. Informative, helpful & made everything fun. He brought the group together and we all came back having made new friends. Tuscany is stunning, the wine tastings were interesting & I would thoroughly recommend this trip.
Most Inspirational Moment
Walking the beautiful hills of Tuscany.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Jordan was absolutely fantastic. Nothing was too much trouble. He kept us informed about where & when etc & his knowledge of the area made it fun & interesting. We had a great group & Jordan brought us all together. It was a fun trip.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Just enjoy, it is such a beautiful place.
Chianti and Walking
An amazing holiday. Great scenery. Lovely walks. Great accommodation and lovely people. Jordan was a fantastic Tour Leader and went above and beyond. All in all, a wonderful week. Only down side was that I got bitten by mosquitoes.
Most Inspirational Moment
The whole week was lovely.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Jordan was fantastic! He went above and beyond on several occasions. He was good fun, helpful and joined us at several meals. Brilliant!
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take mosquito repellent that contains Deet. Take Piriton tablets too in case you get attacked like I did. Eat lots of ice cream! It’s fabulous!
Tuscany hills
An amazing trip with a variety of things to do. Walking over the Tuscany hills and vineywards, tasted delicious wine, visited beautiful Florence and Sienna, so many lovely restaurants to visit. The Villa was lovely and views stunning. Spent my free day swimming and lovely lunch in the village. Dinners and breakfasts at the Villa was delicious and the wines. It was an outsanding trip.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Liz is amazing, so helpful and full of knowledge. Really looked after us all.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Bring your towel for swimming at the Villa and insect spray whilst out on walks in the summer.
Fantastic trip - even more appreciated in these times of COVID restrictions!
I travelled solo on this trip departing on 12 Sept 2020, having booked it quite late as Italy was one of the few venues Brits could travel to without any COVID-related quarantine requirements either end. I was not disappointed. It is a perfect blend of walking (3 days – with fantastic views) and city tours (2 days with a guided tour of each available). Villa Casalta is a quality hotel with rooms with a view and a fabulous terrace overlooking the vineyards and skyline where all meals are eaten. The pool is also very relaxing.
Most Inspirational Moment
The walk to San Gimignano on the last day; the guided walking tours of Siena and Florence; and the session at the Tuscan Wine School in Siena. I also loved my pre-breakfast swims in the pool and the sense of peace at Villa Casalta.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Teresa did a great job and was very personable.
Advice for Potential Travellers
There is a kettle in the room - and teabags - but bring some instant coffee if you are a coffee drinker!
Suggestions
I was very impressed how this trip ran so well despite the COVID restrictions.... but don't forget to bring a face mask.
Start
Finish
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Saturday Saturday
30 Sep 2023 30 Sep 2023
Saturday Saturday
07 Oct 2023 07 Oct 2023
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View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
14 Oct 2023 14 Oct 2023
Saturday Saturday
21 Oct 2023 21 Oct 2023
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06 Apr 2024 06 Apr 2024
Saturday Saturday
13 Apr 2024 13 Apr 2024
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View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
13 Apr 2024 13 Apr 2024
Saturday Saturday
20 Apr 2024 20 Apr 2024
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20 Apr 2024 20 Apr 2024
Saturday Saturday
27 Apr 2024 27 Apr 2024
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View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
27 Apr 2024 27 Apr 2024
Saturday Saturday
04 May 2024 04 May 2024
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04 May 2024 04 May 2024
Saturday Saturday
11 May 2024 11 May 2024
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View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
11 May 2024 11 May 2024
Saturday Saturday
18 May 2024 18 May 2024
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25 May 2024 25 May 2024
Saturday Saturday
01 Jun 2024 01 Jun 2024
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01 Jun 2024 01 Jun 2024
Saturday Saturday
08 Jun 2024 08 Jun 2024
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View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
08 Jun 2024 08 Jun 2024
Saturday Saturday
15 Jun 2024 15 Jun 2024
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View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
15 Jun 2024 15 Jun 2024
Saturday Saturday
22 Jun 2024 22 Jun 2024
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View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
17 Aug 2024 17 Aug 2024
Saturday Saturday
24 Aug 2024 24 Aug 2024
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View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
24 Aug 2024 24 Aug 2024
Saturday Saturday
31 Aug 2024 31 Aug 2024
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View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
31 Aug 2024 31 Aug 2024
Saturday Saturday
07 Sep 2024 07 Sep 2024
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View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
07 Sep 2024 07 Sep 2024
Saturday Saturday
14 Sep 2024 14 Sep 2024
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Optional Single Supplement +USD 518
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View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
14 Sep 2024 14 Sep 2024
Saturday Saturday
21 Sep 2024 21 Sep 2024
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Optional Single Supplement +USD 518
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This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
21 Sep 2024 21 Sep 2024
Saturday Saturday
28 Sep 2024 28 Sep 2024
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View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
28 Sep 2024 28 Sep 2024
Saturday Saturday
05 Oct 2024 05 Oct 2024
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Optional Single Supplement +USD 518
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View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
05 Oct 2024 05 Oct 2024
Saturday Saturday
12 Oct 2024 12 Oct 2024
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Optional Single Supplement +USD 518
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This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
12 Oct 2024 12 Oct 2024
Saturday Saturday
19 Oct 2024 19 Oct 2024
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Adult Price From USD 2,449
Optional Single Supplement +USD 518
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesWould you like to include flights with your booking?
- ATOL protected
- Competitive flight prices
- Full refunds in the event of FCDO cancellations or major disruption at your UK departure airport
- Specialist support to rearrange flights and transfers
- Regional flights available from many UK airports
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