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!
Haven’t posted your review yet? Here’s how to do it…
Once you return from your Exodus adventure holiday, you will be emailed a link to add your review. Any feedback collected is posted onto our website, totally unedited.
Alternatively you can navigate to the relevant trip page and add your review via the Reviews tab.
Select a trip specific review:
36 Reviews
4.5 out of
5
Reviews
Mike Giles
Reviewed June 2018
Been to Italy? Now visit Puglia
Like many people we meet we did not know Puglia existed until we saw this trip. A gem of a region, very different and so suited to a short leisurely summer trip when time is a constraint to a full-on distant adventure tour for which Exodus is otherwise renowned. Distances travelled are comparatively short so it easy to fit in many of the historic, architectural and geological sights with ease.
Most Inspirational Moment
The caves at Castellana are pretty impressive and the largest complex we have ever visited. However, a ‘Wow’ moment, after arriving at a fairly grotty end of Matera, was stepping onto the main square viewing platform to overlook the entire “Sassi” in which we were to later stay and explore.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Barbara Schito was our tour leader and guide in all aspects of the trip. As a native of Puglia she was so enthusiastic in her wish to impart her knowledge and love of the region. Her delivery is passionate and charming and so much part of the whole experience
Advice for Potential Travellers
The food (and wine) of the region is first class and we found it to be reasonably priced having spent only 60% of our budget. As meat-eaters we were very pleased to find ristorante Carnivori in Lecce with choice cuts in the chill cabinet, cooked and served in traditional style before embarking on a week dominated by (very nice) pizzas, pastas and breads.
Linda Williams
Reviewed June 2018
Highlights of puglia
Excellent trip
Most Inspirational Moment
Visiting e olive oil farm
Thoughts on Group Leader
Excellent could have been more helpful
Colin Southward
Reviewed June 2018
Very enjoyable
A great week of cycling in a mix of road, old tracks, villages and town. An opportunity to swim in the Ionian Sea and Adriatic.
Great real local food.
Usual high standard of the guide and his knowledge of the area
Most Inspirational Moment
Cycling with a diverse group in an exceptionalarea.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Very knowledgeable and good at organizing stops to see the different ares of interest.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Do some training before you go.
Try the local dishes.
Penelope Ralph
Reviewed May 2018
ADE Puglia Discover the Heel of Italy
A fascinating holiday very interesting area of Italy.”Full on” busy busy busy
Most Inspirational Moment
The White City. Ostuni.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Agata was a great guide and we all regarded her as a friend, very kind to me and a lovely sense of humour.
Advice for Potential Travellers
This really is a full on holiday, full of interest and each of the four places we visited were so interesting May is a good month to visit this area the wild flowers were really lovely.
YIM FUN Mamie XHAN
Reviewed May 2018
Puglia: Discover Heel of Italy
excellent itinerary in covering Puglia in terms of scenery, landscapes, seascapes, distinctive landmarks in towns as covered, participating in or sharing local experience e.g. visit to olive tree groves; olive oil and wine tasting. accommodation in Trulli and formerly cave dwellings in Matera….
Most Inspirational Moment
Castellana limestone cave; stay on Trulli in Alberobello
Thoughts on Group Leader
very efficient, responsible, comprehensive as well as detailed in taking care of needs, requests, meeting expectations, providing and obtaining information for all participants, very knowledgeable on all areas and aspects covered by the tour, full of energy and initiatives in guiding, offering help to and motivating participants.. recommending very good restaurants and regional food
Advice for Potential Travellers
will base on or along my above comments
Michele Bell
Reviewed May 2018
Great holiday
Really well organised with an excellent guide and fascinating excursions.
Most Inspirational Moment
Caves at Castellana
Thoughts on Group Leader
Really knowledgeable and well organised. Took everyone's wishes into account.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Just go!
Chandra Kant Sharma
Reviewed September 2017
Trullis, Olive trees and Negative Architecture
Very good exposure to the cave dwellings, trullis and olive groves in the Puglia region. Marinella was an excellent guide who provided us with the background and context in a clear and simple manner. She also took care to introduce us to the variety of foods available in the region – which we may have missed out on if this care was not taken.
Most Inspirational Moment
"Inspirational" is a difficult word! I greatly enjoyed seeing the trullis in Alberobella, the ancient olive groves and the very nice towns and villages we passed through.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Excellent knowledge and communication ability. Very patient and accommodating.
She arranged for us to eat excellent dinners though some of these were more expensive than I would have planned for. I suggest that she should advise participants about the options available for dinner before proceeding to make bookings on her own.
Advice for Potential Travellers
a) August is very hot! and the tour in this month should be avoided, if possible.
b) The distance from Matera station to the hotel is significant and your suitcase will need to be carried most of the way - so travel light!
c) Fresh orange juice is widely available and can be an inexpensive and refreshing pick-me-up.
Derek Mitchell
Reviewed September 2017
Discover the Heel of Italy
A pleasant and rewarding few days in one of the lesser-visited parts of Italy. Gentle visits to picturesque towns and villages taking in the cuisine and culture were ideal for a group of 11 ranging in age from about 40 into the mid 70s. Travelling in May avoided the blistering heat which followed throughout the summer. There was plenty of free time in which the group could do their own thing. Accommodation was excellent throughout, particularly the Trulli of Alberobello, and caves of Matera.
Most Inspirational Moment
I'm unable to pinpoint a "moment". I thought the whole week was inspirational. But if I'm forced on pain of death, then sitting by the roadside in Alberobello licking ice-cream made me appreciate life after serious health issues.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Marcella was lovely. Very knowledgeable, chatty and welcoming. Excellent command of English. Catered to people's individual tastes. On the free day in Alberobello everyone went elsewhere. But I wanted to savour this Unesco World Heritage town, so I stayed put. I have an urge to swim everywhere I visit and Marcella pointed me in the direction of a hotel where I could use their pool for 5 Euros. The staff were lovely and didn't ask for anything.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Although a solo traveller I thought this trip and the region of Puglia and Basilicata would be ideal for young families. There is the usual tacky souvenir stuff but I found locals friendly and helpful, particular in local restaurants. No pestering anywhere from touts. The Peroni beer is outstanding, particularly the Tradizione (red label) and the Gran Riserva (quite strong at 6.6%) which is difficult to find in this country (Scotland).
Roslyn Pyrke
Reviewed July 2017
Pleasure in Pulglia
Exceptional. This is the first time that we have used this company and we found the experience wonderful. The group size was perfect, great itinerary, activities better than expected, all enhanced by the enthusiastic group leader as well as the local guides.
Most Inspirational Moment
Matera is an exceptional place. The story behind the sassi with their troglodyte dwellings and the subsequent displacement of the inhabitants was fascinating. We were lucky also to experience the Festa della Bruna.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our group leader was fantastic. As an experienced small group traveler I have had many different leaders. I can say without doubt our leader was better than of all previous ones.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Puglia was hot. I would advise travelers planning to go there in July to be prepared for this possibility.
Darryl Pyrke
Reviewed July 2017
Puglia: Discover the Heel of Italy - ADE (20)
We had a wonderful week in a part of Italy that was new to us.
Most Inspirational Moment
We have done eleven previous group trips with companies like Intrepid and Explore and Marinella was way better than any previous leader. Whether it's through local knowledge or willingness to do lots of preparation I don't know, but we were inspired by the way Marinella was able to make places come alive when she introduced us to them.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Marinella was a wonderful leader - full of enthusiasm, patience, good humour and energy. Her goal was to ensure that every guest had the best possible time. She mixed easily and confidently with all guests and always helped out if there was a problem.
Advice for Potential Travellers
If you find extreme heat difficult, travel before June.
