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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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!
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73 Reviews
4.7 out of
5
Reviews
Vicky Reffin
Reviewed June 2023
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!!
Jerry Dawson
Reviewed September 2020
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!
Michele Wilson
Reviewed September 2019
Lovely group
I had a wonderful holiday with a fun group of people. Our leader Teresa & Mike the driver ( who also walked with us) organised everything brilliantly and were very patient walking at the perfect pace.
The Tuscan countryside is breathtaking, as are the beautiful hilltop villages and towns.
The only downside was the food at our accommodation, which was poor.
On the plus side the food in the local restaurants chosen by Exodus was delicious.
The wine tasting was great and very informative.
Most Inspirational Moment
The last day walking through the beautiful undulating hills and vineyards to San Gimignano.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Teresa was excellent and came up with very good suggestions for restaurants & where to get the best gelatos!
Ronda Fogel
Reviewed September 2019
It promised so much ...
Unfortunately Exodus dropped the ball on this particular tour. A combination of a new inexperienced tour leader, dirty poorly maintained accommodation (Agriturismo is not an excuse for dirty or poorly maintained accommodation!) and inedible food. My expectation of the actual tour itself was different from the reality. No transport to and from town on days off.
Most Inspirational Moment
There was nothing inspirational about this trip.
Thoughts on Group Leader
It was our group leader's second tour in the area. He was inexperienced and lacked local knowledge, at times he seemed overwhelmed.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Don't go! There are far better tours on offer than this one.
Chris Nixon
Reviewed July 2019
Fabulous
A fabulous combination of walking the Tuscan countryside, combined with wine tastings and city visits. Alejandro was a brilliant leader. Villa Castalta is a perfectly adequate base for a walking holiday. The meals at the Villa are basic but wholesome. The restaurant used in the village were all different and very good. The best being Il Re Gallo. The 3 main walks are all interesting, each finishing in an interesting town for lunch and gelato! Despite the high temperatures during our week (highs of upper 30s) all the walks were at a a relaxed pace with plenty of stops along the route.
Most Inspirational Moment
The trip to Siena was excellent, with a very good guide in Sara. It was great to find out about the history of the city and the different districts. During our visit, they were preparing for the Palio, which added to our interest. The visit to the Tuscan Wine School in the afternoon was very informative. This did not take anything away from the other city visit to Florence, where we had another excellent , but different type of guide, Elizabetta, who told us about the history of Florence with great charm and wit.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Alejandro was fantastic. The walks were well paced and we had sensible early starts, considering the heat. He was very informative about the flowers and trees along the route. And feed us cherries and white mulberries. His choice of restaurants in Castellina was excellent.
Advice for Potential Travellers
As others have remarked, good walking boots or shoes are advised for the hill walks. Plus you will need long trousers on the first part of the walk to Radda. (Read the trip notes!) A torch is useful for walking back from Castellina at night.
Martin Dennis
Reviewed July 2019
One of the best...
For me, there are three criteria that make a great Exodus trip: the members of the group, the leader, and the location/activities. The members of the group on this trip were wonderful: great company, entertaining, and considerate. Mark was the perfect leader (see below). The location was stunning with beautiful Tuscan villages, towns and cities. How can the combination of wine and walking be beaten? (OK, maybe cycling and wine at a push…)
Most Inspirational Moment
So many: approaches to archetypal Tuscan villages; stunning views of Florence, San Gimignano and Siena. Hearing scops owls and nightingales (why are both so difficult to spot?!). Wonderful food and wine.
Thoughts on Group Leader
The perfect guide: helpful, knowledgeable, considerate, funny, flexible and an exemplary driver (reversing with trailer into a space at Pisa airport, first time and in front of an audience!).
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take a bigger case to accommodate the chianti, cheese, olive oil you'll want to bring back. I didn't buy dresses or handbags but some did!
Carole Grimwood
Reviewed June 2019
Excellent trip - But a bit more than gentle walking
We had a great of walking and wine tasting in the Chianti region with our excellent guide Alejandro. Our accommodation at Villa Castela was probably the best we have enjoyed with Exodus – great location, tranquil, lovely pool, big room, comfy bed and simple but delicious food.
Most Inspirational Moment
Sienna was fabulous.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Alejandro was an excellent hard working guide who went the extra mile
Advice for Potential Travellers
We were 'blessed' with very hot weather in early June (high 30s and 37 deg on our last day) which made some of the very undulating walking hard work for us and definitely not 'gentle'.
Gill & Don Yuile
Reviewed June 2019
Our first Exodus trip
This trip met all our expectations and requirements and was a really good holiday for us. The daily organisation and all the experiences were excellent, we cannot praise Liz enough for her competence at making the week so good. The walks were amazing, just at the right level for us and we felt spot on with the leisurely/moderate rating.
The hotel was beautifully situated, traditionally furnished, clean and homely, the staff were very nice, helpful and pleasant. Just a few quibbles that have prevented us awarding the top rating: the hotel breakfast was good, although a bit more variety would have been nice, but the evening meals taken in the hotel were fairly basic. The meals taken outside in local restaurants were fantastic. Our pre trip information supplied from Exodus gave us the wrong departure terminal at Heathrow, which we realised just two days before departure, however, this was dealt with efficiently and we appreciated how well it was handled.
All in all an excellent week, we enjoyed it immensely and are looking at our next adventure!
Most Inspirational Moment
Probably the best thing about this trip was the ratio of walking, city visits and wine tasting. A perfect amount of each meant that it was all most enjoyable.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Liz was a fantastic guide in all ways: leader experience, local knowledge, language skills, driving, organisation, and making sure every member of the group was comfortable and any special requirements taken care of. She was nice with it!
Advice for Potential Travellers
We recomend taking walking boots rather than trainers for the walk days as many of the tracks have loose stones and rocks. Flat shoes recomended for the rest of the time, especially in towns and cities.
Debbie Henderson
Reviewed June 2019
Fantastic Holiday
I’d wanted to go to Tuscany for years and this exactly fitted the bill. Wonderful walks, hilltop towns, visiting Siena, Florence and San Gimignano. Wine tastings were informative. Lovely group too. I can definitely recommend!
Most Inspirational Moment
Seeing the fabulous scenery at every turn!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Mark was a great leader: fun, courteous, always ready to help out and a very safe driver.
Advice for Potential Travellers
The walks can be a bit more of a challenge in the heat...but don't let that put you off.
Jan Strasser
Reviewed May 2019
A Great trip to celebrate a milestone birthday!
We had a fantastic time with a great group of people walking along the beautiful hills of Tuscany – visiting quaint hilltop villages – viewing spectacular scenery and partaking in wonderful food and wine
Most Inspirational Moment
Hard to name just one! I loved the hilltop villages but I also love Florence - something incredible to see around every corner!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Liz Proctor was our group leader and she is amazing! She knew so much about every single place we visited.
Advice for Potential Travellers
If you enjoy walking and great food and wine I highly recommend this trip
