Reviews

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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73 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

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

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

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.

Lynn Roulstone

Reviewed October 2018

A leisurely week in beautiful Tuscany

This holiday is ideal if you are not sure if you want a walking or a sight-seeing holiday. There are three walks, all of which are well within the capabilities of a reasonably fit person. These walks take in the vineyards, olive groves and woods of this part of Italy and also go via small towns with plenty of opportunity for good lunches or shopping. There are also visits to Sienna, Florence and San Gimignano. In the first there is a guided walk included, the second also has the choice to do a guided walk and the third is a lovely small town for wandering or looking at the frescos in the Duomo. The three wine-tastings are all very good, and there is plenty of opportunity to do more either local to the farmhouse where the trip is based or on the visits to the small towns along the way. For food lovers the meals were all very good and vegetarians are well catered for.

Most Inspirational Moment

Looking at the frescos in the Duomo at San Gimignano. I was blown away by the clarity of the story-telling and the beauty of the painting. The guided tour of Sienna was excellent. There was so much packed into the three hours, included an excellent stop for coffee and cake. Castelina where the trip was based had some interesting Etruscan tombs that, despite having no artefacts remaining, are well worth a visit.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Liz was the best driver I have come cross, ferrying us about with great efficiency. She knows the local area well so was able to fit in a quick visit to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa on the way to the airport, an unforeseen bonus. This local knowledge came in useful when suggesting things to do on our day off and during the walks, where she ensured that we were able to see lots of interesting things along the way. All together one of the best tour guides I have met.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The walking is a little hilly, but someone with a reasonable level of fitness will not find it a problem. There are a lot of mosquitos about (and we were there late in the season) so come prepared with repellent etc. Castelina, where the trip is based, is a town well worth exploring, the Etruscan tombs are more interesting than you might think. The archaeological museum is small, but worth a visit, as the entrance fee includes being able to go to the top of the tower, where there are some excellent views. If you like ice-cream be sure to visit the gelateria in town, it is very good.

Philippa Kurys

Reviewed September 2018

1st time Exodus experience

This was our first holiday with Exodus. Usually we are independent travellers so we were both a bit nervous about a group ‘organised ‘ trip but we needn’t have worried. We had a great group of people; different backgrounds and nationalities which made for an interesting week of getting to know each other. Our fabulous guide Mark was absolutely brilliant, patient, helpful and very accommodating, keeping us out of too much sun, well watered and well informed about the various places we visited. Roberta, our host at the villa was absolutely lovely and looked after us wonderfully with the help of Margarita. We really had a great week and as well as being very impressed with our trip we’ve also been inspired by the experiences of Exodus from our fellow travelers; definitely food for thought for future trips.

Most Inspirational Moment

We loved Siena, such a beautiful city, full of history, culture and of course wine. We really enjoyed the walking tour with Alicia, she was so passionate about her home and the history of the districts. We had a great wine school experience and just thoroughly enjoyed our day there.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Mark was just brilliant, we really can't praise him highly enough. He really looked after us all, making various arrangements for individuals, giving us lots of local history and information and taking the time to check information and relay info after we'd returned from the trip.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take insect repellent as there were definitely more biting bugs than we'd anticipated. Have room in your case for wine and olive oil, managed to get 10 bottles home in total between 2 of us but there were so many lovely wines to try, you don't want to miss out.

Denise Stafford

Reviewed September 2018

Beautiful Tuscany

Wonderful week – three lovely walks through the Italian countryside and some delicious wine tasting! The wonderful Hill top towns we walked to and through were beautiful and, Siena and Florence were amazing. However, the latter was very busy, but that I suspect is due to the place.

Most Inspirational Moment

Arriving at the airport in Pisa to a welcome and then meeting others in the group. I knew it would be a good week. Looking down on Florence from the car park enjoying good food, wine and company

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our tour leader Mark was well organised, knowledgeable and made everything interesting and great fun. his attention to detail was second to none and he knew where to find the best coffee, cakes, wine, ice cream everywhere we went!

Advice for Potential Travellers

The walking is not flat so be prepared to walk up and down hills! Mosquitos and insects abound, so some insect repellant and bit cream is a must! A liking for red wine and good food certainly helps, as does enjoying breakfast outside looking over the beautiful Tuscan hills.

Beth Laker

Reviewed September 2018

Totally Tuscany ...

One week of great walks , great hospitality and great food .. superb leader in Mark and combined with the warmth of the late summer sun we couldn’t ask for a better way to spend a holiday than to walk the vineyards and taste the grape 🍇

Most Inspirational Moment

After a wonderful walk through working vineyards we spent an afternoon in the company of new friends in a small wine merchants shop , just us , eating Tuscan bread and cold meats drizzled with truffle oil and tasting truly glorious Turscan Chianti’s ... blissful

Thoughts on Group Leader

Mark was a really excellent guide - just as we have come to expect with Exodus . His attention to detail and his generous spirit of care with regard to differing walking paces made him a great guide - his knowledge of the area and his quiet manner working behind the scenes to make everything run like clockwork is a credit to the Company

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take insect repellent - the mosquitos are vicious and will find you !!!

Barry Cox

Reviewed September 2018

Too much Chianti in Chianti . . hic!

This trip is a superb blend of walking, culture and fun. The villa is wonderful and in a great location a short walk from Castellina in Chianti; I especially liked the outdoors breakfast area but everything about it is so quintessentially Tuscan. The scenery is stunning and visits to Siena and Florence gave the balance of walking and culture with the bonus of the wine tastings which added the fun. The walks were well graded and much as I expected in terms of length, but there was also plenty of free time to enjoy the area. The Chianti flowed at dinner time and made for great evenings for the lovely group I was in even if some nights there was just a tad too much Chianti in Chianti!

Most Inspirational Moment

Without doubt the Uffizi gallery in Florence; the gallery itself, the location with views over the city, and the art was quite breath-taking. I had to pinch myself to believe that I was standing next to a Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli, Caravaggio or Michelangelo original. Florence itself is quite breath-taking too.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Clearly Mark comes with much experience and he hugely enhanced the trip with his variety of much appreciated snacks on the walks, finding cheap and good coffee with clean toilets in Florence, and giving us free time in the afternoons whilst he collected the minibus to take us back to the villa. His advice on where to eat or drink was always spot on. The icing on the cake for me was Mark finding a way for me to spend the last afternoon in Pisa and visit the Leaning Tower, whilst he took my luggage to the airport. Full marks Mark!

Advice for Potential Travellers

My calf muscles did ache on a few days so get some exercise in before you go - Tuscany is hilly! Pre-book the Uffizi to avoid the queues - I did and it worked perfectly.

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