Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Tuscan Wine School - great experience and learnt a lot Florence - stunning city with so much to see. I love the Galileo Museum which I'd missed on previous trips to Florence. Siena - another stunning city with a great art exhibition. Enjoyed visiting Santa Maria della Scala, the hospital museum as I hadn't done that before San Gimignano - wonderful frescoes in the cathedral and lots of towers to climb plus great gelato Walking in the local area with a local guide Sarah, so passionate about her locality and informative about its history. Organising our own walk (after a visit to the tourist office) to Radda in Chianti a 25 km round trip via Castellina in Chianti or just do 13 km and get the bus back. Visiting the Etruscan Tomb at Monte Calvario, Castellina In Chianti

Thoughts on Group Leader

Simon was a great leader, very friendly and well organised. He recommended some great restaurants and activities and he was very sociable during and after evening meals. Great to have him collecting us and taking us to the airport and generally driving us around in the mini-bus. It meant that we didn't waste time travelling.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I would highly recommend this holiday but would think twice before going the last week of October as it seems Roberta is ready to close for the season. We returned to an empty, dark house at the end of a day out which felt very unwelcoming. My husband also had to put the cat out at night as it mewed loudly outside our room. If you go in October be prepared for cool to cold evenings and dress appropriately. The bedrooms are on the cool side and there is only one extra blanket. Also take a torch as the walk into town along a gravel road takes about 20 minutes and is not lit up. Roberta does provide vegetarian food but it is mostly carbs so good to take your own fruit. We didn't see a salad for the whole week. Finally on the days we ate in restaurants in which Exodus were meant to provide the meal our guide gave us 25 euros which was did not buy a three course meal with wine so be prepared that your meals out are only subsidised.

Most Inspirational Moment

The local tour guide on the day of walking around Castellina. Sarah was a gem - very knowledgeable, passionate about Chianti and the Etruscans, she brought the history to life as she shared the experiences of her own family in the locale - and she was delightful.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Liz was excellent - very organised, managed the accident of one of the team members calmly and professionally, worked hard to organize special requests, rearranged some activities to better utilise time and energy

Most Inspirational Moment

Wine festival in the local town and the leader changed the itinerary so that we could attend.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Knowledgeable and Charismatic. Went out of his way to make all the group feel included.

Most Inspirational Moment

I loved the beautiful tiny villages & hamlets that we walked through, one even had an unscheduled stop for a taste of the local wine & a chance to buy jams & olive oil. Siena & the Tuscan Wine School were superb, as was Florence & San Gimingnano.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Liz was a great guide. I was also impressed with the English representative of the San Gimingnano winery, she was lovely & really explained a lot about the wine making processes.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Roberta at Villa Casalta is a great lady & nothing is too much trouble. We were actually a party of 3 & really wanted to room together, when we booked we were told it wasn't possible but after a day or so Roberta moved us all into a family room, so it's always worth asking her if you need anything arranging. The food at the Villa was fairly basic but there was often enough if you wanted seconds, I was a bit disappointed with the breakfasts, especially the bread - not much of it (1 roll each is a bit stingy) and tough stuff too! There's an 'honesty bar' fridge with bottles beers, wine & water (though we had plenty of wine included with the meal). The village is a good 20/25 minute walk away down (and up!) a little old road/track, so we tended to stay at the Villa all evening when we ate there. We also took handy little Graze Boxes with us for nibbles out on the walking trips too.

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking through the Tuscan countryside.  Absolutely beautiful.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ale is just the most fantastic guide.  We had met him before on our trip to Spain two years ago and it was a delight to be on holiday with him again.  He makes his job look so easy but manages to combine being great company with a being a professional guide who is both informative and 'in control'.  

Advice for Potential Travellers

Yes.  Book tickets for the Uffizi BEFORE going on the holiday.  This didn't occur to us so we essentially missed the chance of visiting the Uffizi on our day trip to Florence.  Although we found the walking very easy and pleasurable - there were still one or two people who found the going tough.  In the grading of your walking, I think you need to be explicit about the type of walking on each holiday.

Most Inspirational Moment

The Tuscan coutryside, views and of course Sienna, I would love to return to see the horse race on the square.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ali was great, any minor concerns were solved without  fuss, he coudn t have been more helpful.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Read the description it is exactly what it says on the tin!!

Most Inspirational Moment

The trip to Sienna was a fabulous day.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Nothing was too much trouble, he interacted wonderfully with the whole group.

Advice for Potential Travellers

It is what it says it is, follow the guidance notes before you go and you will have a fabulous time.

Most Inspirational Moment

Some of the views across the Tuscany hills and valleys are amazing. A patchwork of vineyards, hill top towns and a spattering of red poppies. In the background a cuckoo. In Siena we had The Baptistry chapel to ourselves and could see Donatello's font panels at close hand. Amazing after learning about them years ago in A level Art.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ale pitched the level very well. He was always happy to chat with anyone and everyone at breakfast, on the walks or at dinner. He had excellent local knowledge and guided us towards some hidden bars and restaurants. He managed to keep the trip seeming fresh and new which is a rare skill. Any problems were solved quickly and amicably.

Advice for Potential Travellers

This is a great starter trip if you unsure whether Exodus is for you. The group got on well right from the pick up at the airport. No one minded who they sat with on the minibus or at meals. Singles and couples were all happy to get on without feeling space or privacy had been invaded. There was always a good atmosphere when we were out together. The walks were a good distance for a casual walker 10-12k without too many steep hills. The guide made sure we took sensible breaks and waited for stragglers.

Most Inspirational Moment

having breakfast as the mist cleared revealing the tuscan view - beautiful.

Thoughts on Group Leader

took great care of us, very clear in her directions, made sure we had nothong to worry about, and went the extra mile.

Advice for Potential Travellers

be prepared for it to be wamer than the UK, possibly humid too.

Most Inspirational Moment

The wealth of knowledge of our leader was apparent from day one and hearing of all of his experiences both in Italy and around the rest of the globe was fantastic. The food was incredible - all of it - the meals at the Fattoria were delicious and varied, the ice cream was superb as you would expect, and the meals out were superb too.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Very knoweldgeable and charismatic. He knew at least a little bit about everything, even the wild flowers, fauna and of course the luscious fruits. Ale always made sure we had the right footwear for the type of day we would be having and checked weather forecasts for us too.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go and enjoy! The food is superb and your guide may offer you the option for a picnic lunch on one of the days. Take it - it was great! We lounged under olive trees eating bread, meat, cheese, olives, sundried tomatoes and fruit. The walks are not hard at all, of course lots of up and down but Ale let us take things at whatever pace we wanted to so that didn't hinder things at all.