Pretty Puglia and magnificent Matera A lovely gentle hiking trip in southern Italy. Walking through olive groves and along an aqueduct. Visiting the Unesco heritage town of Matera with its interesting history and hopefully positive future as a European city of culture. Also the stunningly pretty old town of Alberolbello with its trulli houses. Not to mention the delicious local food and friendly people. Marinella our leader was so enthusiastic and knowledgable about her home region. She also booked some great evening meals and a wine tasting that was also a cheese tasting, so much so that we didn't need any dinner! The visit to the local farm and cheese factory was fun and the dinner that followed there was so big we had to cancel the pasta course!
Just one piece of advice would be to avoid the rooms in Matera near to reception as they can be quite noisy with fellow guests in reception and moving between reception and the lift.
I really enjoyed this tour! Csaba was our driver who was great and made the journey so smooth and safe. The coach was very comfy. Rachelle was our tour leader who did an exceptional job of all the timings (we didn't miss anything!), who is friendly, confident and has a wealth of knowledge in the history & culture of each place. She taught us basics in all the languages for this tour and about the currencies. She was there to answer any questions and did a perfect job of it all. Rachelle had plenty of recommendations of things to see and do and (what I enjoyed the most)- things to eat and drink! Poland was definitely the country of the best food during this adventure. If you go, you gotta try the Pierogis (dumplings) I'm obsessed with them haha. The vodka in Poland is also something amazing. In each country, i did my best to embrace the culture and the food and it honestly made my trip all the more fun and worthwhile. I chose this tour because of the free days. As a solo traveller I like the freedom and as a returnee to Expat I know from experience in the last trip I took, that sometimes a 'taste' of something is just not enough! I wanted to spend at least a day or more in a couple of places and this tour ticked the boxes for me. Optional excursions- I highly recommend the Slovenian and Prague folk evenings! Both were a lot of fun and the food was delicious! The optionals are a great chance to bond with the group. I met some really beautiful people on the tour. We were a bit like family at the end! Having local guides take us around, hear their accent & about the history etc was good.The comfort stops were also good. Ranging from 20 min rest stops or 2 hours for exploring. I felt like I had to keep an eye on the time though as it tended to fly. Few snippets of advice- wear a watch, make sure you have change for toilets, eating at restaurants can really eat up time (pun intended), be open minded. We saw so many countries & walked a lot. Loved it!
I recently had the pleasure of embarking on the ESX - 15 Days Tour, and I must say it was an absolutely fantastic experience from start to finish. This tour provided exceptional value for the money and was impressively well organized. One of the highlights of this tour was the incredible team of professionals who made it all possible. Our tour leader, Diarmaid, was simply outstanding. His extensive knowledge of the history, culture, and local attractions enriched our journey in so many ways. Diarmaid's enthusiasm and passion for the destinations we visited were contagious, and his attention to detail ensured that every aspect of the tour ran smoothly. I must also commend the exceptional driving skills of Luis and Santana, our dedicated drivers. They navigated through bustling city streets and winding countryside roads with ease, always making us feel safe and comfortable. Their friendly personalities and willingness to go the extra mile added a special touch to our journey. The itinerary was thoughtfully planned, allowing us to experience the best of Spain and Portugal. We visited iconic cities such as Madrid, Barcelona, Lisbon, and Porto, and each destination offered its unique charm and beauty. The local guides provided insightful commentary, giving us a deeper understanding of the history and culture of each place. Overall, my experience on the ESX - 15 Days Tour exceeded all my expectations. The value for money, the well-organized itinerary, and the incredible team of professionals made this journey truly unforgettable. I am thrilled to have had this opportunity and can't wait to book another tour soon.