The countryside walks were paced perfectly, with time at the end of each to visit beautiful hilltop towns for leisurely lunches and sightseeing . Visits to Siena and Florence provided a taster for these beautiful cities. The wine tasting, particularly the Siena Wine School, was enjoyable, as was the Chianti imbibing throughout the week. Everything at Villa Casalta was very relaxed, owner and her staff friendly and helpful. I appreciated the tea and coffee making facilities set up in the sitting room for Exodus customers. I loved having day off mid week when I spent a leisurely day in Castellina.
A really enjoyable and varied week in Tuscany. Three lovely walks through forests and vineyards. Stunning hilltop villages and market towns. Excellent wine tastings and winery visits, each a little different, and we certainly drank a lot of local Chianti. Liz, our guide, was efficient, knowledgeable, capable and so friendly. We had plenty of time to explore the cities of Siena and Florence at our own pace, and on our free day most of us opted for a cookery class at a local restaurant. Enormous fun and the lunch we helped produce, was amazing. The family run farmhouse where we stayed was full of character, and they made us so welcome. The evening meals were generous and based on local produce and served with their own estate wines.
From sign up to last day this trip was fabulous. Our guide worked tirelessly to insure that our group of 16 was always taken care of on the hike and at the villa. Liz Procter was a completely professional guide who made everyone feel comfortable!! The scenery in Tuscany was gorgeous, and Villa Casalta was a treat to have as a base for the entire week! Hope to use Exodus Travel again and soon!
