Walking In Tuscany, Italy

Our Clients’ Reviews

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. Any feedback collected (Good or bad) from Exodus clients is posted straight onto our website - totally unedited. Read more...

Average Review Rating: from 87 reviews.

Sian Ellis

WALKING IN TUSCANY

Written May 2009
Picture post-card scenery, food to die for and great walking
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Sarah saved the best for the last day....The forest trail up to the ridge walk - fantastic
What did you think of your group leader?
Oustanding, the best guide I've come across. Professional, extremely knowledgeable, caring, adaptive and approachable all wrapped up in a genuinely warm personality. Sarah keep on doing what you do!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take a camelback or similar hydration system. Not many refils in the mountains although Sarah did find quite a few....
Is there anything else you would like to add?
The tuscan scenery is wonderful and the walks where very well thought out, through forest to give shade in the hot sun, up high to magnificent view points, diverse with strenuous and also slow ups - Sarah knows her stuff and adapts to the group/levels of walkers. Accommodation at Braccicorti is very comforable and they do try to please with guests requests where they can - modern bathrooms with loads of hot water, tonnes of hangers ladies and good sturdy furniture. Food is wonderful as most reviews mention, mama is an artist but will also please the veggies/diabetics amongst you.
Alice Brown

WALKING IN TUSCANY

Written April 2009
A fantastic week. Good company, great scenery, an inspirational guide, too much lovely food ... and a real Italian family welcome. What's not to like?
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
For me, one of the highlights was using the free day to walk on the beautiful Cinque Terrre - just about manageable to make it from Riomaggiore to Monterooso, eat icecream, have a quick dip in the sea, and still make the last train home! Adding in a coastal walk added to the variety of the week and comes highly recommended.
However, I also really enjoyed the gentle walk through some beautiful beach forest, then out on the more exposed mountain top to Monte Sumbra. The stunning views from other peaks. The village-village walk. The time to relax in/by the pool at the end of each walk. The tea and biscuits upon return from a day walking. Pottering around in Lucca, soaking up the atmosphere (and sampling the coffee and ice-cream!) before the late evening flight home (we had 2 free days really). And Mamma: a real gem.
What did you think of your group leader?
Sara was really well organised, communicated information really efficently and was encouraging every step of the way. She went out of her way to assist with options on the free day, and thus enabled me to manage both the walk on the Cinque Terra and visit Lucca later in the week - without missing out any of the scheduled walks. Always sociable and helpful - what more could anyone ask for? (She's also a dab hand at animal rescue, should any be needed!)
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Consider the Cinque Terre on your free day, and visit Lucca on the Saturday if your flight allows. Sara picked us up on the way to the airport, having collected out bags for us. You have to check out at 10am, so it's a productive way to spend the day if your flight is at 9pm!
Sabina joined the group everyday for walks. The fact that the dogs are at the house is mentionned in the trip notes, but don't worry: ear-plugs not required and they are both very well-behaved!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
For me, this is one of the more successful walking holidays I have done with Exodus - to the point I would consider returning for a "challenging week" in the future. I've already recommended it to 2 friends who are now keen to go... so book your trip now!
Jayne Edwards

WALKING IN TUSCANY

Written October 2008
Another wondeful Exodus holiday,it did just what it said on the tin.A real family Italian experience.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Enjoying the views in the glorious sunshine whislt eating our picnic before going to the top.
What did you think of your group leader?
Sarah our group leader really new her stuff and was full of ideas for our next trips,she has been to most places that Exodus go!!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Mama thinks we all needed feeding up,her food is wonderful as is that at the refuge so you will need clothes with room to grow.
Possibly travel tablets for the journeys in the mini-bus on the very winding lanes.
Kay Smart

WALKING IN TUSCANY

Written September 2008
A fantastic trip. The accommodation and Mamma's cooking (and tea and biscuits at the end of a day's walking) made this trip stand out from others - a real home from home. The only walking holiday where I have ever gained weight!
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CATHERINE MACMICHAEL

WALKING IN TUSCANY

Written September 2008
Walking in Tuscany was a great holiday. Villa was lovely and so relaxing to have the pool for a refreshing (but cold!) swim after walking. Sitting outside every night for dinner was perfect and location just beautiful with stunning scenery plus the group were great. Only downside was I didn't feel like our group got the full walking as advertised. This was due to our guide (Sara Bull) being unavailable due to an accident and the first three walking days we had Rupert as our leader who was brillant. However Rupert was not available on the Friday when we should have been doing a high level ridge walk, but due to weather conditions, could not do the advertised walk and unfortunately, Pierluigi our guide from the villa who filled in as leader on the Thursday and Friday did not know the other high level ridge walks that our group could have done in the area.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Getting to the top and being rewarded with stunning scenery all around you. Lying back on the marble mountains on the top of the ridge in the sun listening to the silence.
What did you think of your group leader?
Rupert was fantastic and very enthusiastic. He was so patient with us all especially when we all liked our stops at the bars for coffee so often! I'm sure Rupert could have run up the hills but he was excellent at setting the pace and letting us enjoy the scenery. I wish we could have had Rupert for the Friday high level ridge walk as we missed out on this due to lack of guides.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Good boots, walking pole makes a huge difference. Take your swim stuff for the pool. Enjoy mamma's cooking!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Sabina the dog also made this holiday. I fell in love with her! She came out on every walk with us and on the minibus and was just lovely - miss her! Also Pitch the dog was great!
Douglas Ettridge

WALKING IN TUSCANY

Written July 2008
Excellent holiday. Stretched us in terms of terrain. Fellow guests were friendly and looking for a good testing time in glorious surroundings as we were, so we all got on.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Michaelangelo's quarry.
What did you think of your group leader?
Excellent. Nothing too much trouble. We also enjoyed the presence of Steve learning the routes.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Be prepared. Boots are necessary.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Disappointed in Exodus that you didn't provide one evening meal because you said the first night (when we arrived at 1am after the late flight that you arranged) was included as one of the meals. Very petty and lowered the tone. Poor customer relations.
Countered by the willingness of Steve and Sarah to be flexible on the last day dropping some of us in Pisa early.
Exodus Response
It is unfortunate that Exodus could not offer the meal on the first night for this particular group. When the group arrives late on the first day, it is regrettably too late to offer an evening meal. Please be assured that 5 evening meals are still offered during the week.
- Exodus Staff
Philip Dixon

WALKING IN TUSCANY

Written July 2008
A most enjoyable holiday. Great walking, great food, great company.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Beating the wind to make it to the top of the high peaks of Tuscany and making it back to the mountain refuge before the storm blew up.
What did you think of your group leader?
Excellent chap, very sociable. He looked after us very well and laid on some additional entertainments in the evenings!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Surprisingly, walking in the big hills of Tuscany in mid-July might not be as overly hot as you might think. Often needed a jumper in the evenings.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
A great holiday will be going with Exodus again, soon I hope.

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Walking In Tuscany

Our Clients’ Reviews

WALKING IN TUSCANY

WALKING IN TUSCANY

WALKING IN TUSCANY

WALKING IN TUSCANY

WALKING IN TUSCANY

WALKING IN TUSCANY

Exodus Response

WALKING IN TUSCANY