Walking in Tuscany

Just back from hiking in Northern Tuscany's little known Garfagnana region. Varied walks and terrain with incredible views and a great sense of satisfaction. Really enjoyed the company of our group, the lovely views, pool and family welcome from our comfortable argriturismo and trying lots of traditional Italian food.

Fantastic area of Italy. Unspoilt rural haven.

We have had many trips with Exodus over the years and I can honestly say this ranks as one of the best. The location at Agriturismo Braccicort was superb, with wonderful grounds, sustainable farming, good food provided by the lovely Italian family and rooms with views. The area is truly a best kept secret as we saw very few other walkers and yet we were amongst wonderful mountains with amazing views stretching for miles. Great bird life and loads of fabulous wild flowers.

Our first guided tour with Exodus, and first ever, was great. The setting, food, group dynamic and leader were all more than I for!

Fantastic trip with a good variety of walks. The Garfagnana area truly is one of Italy's best kept secrets - a lot of the time it felt like you had the whole place to yourself! The whole area is absolutely stunning.

Wonderful scenery, excellent Tuscan rustic accommodation, very friendly staff and an amazing tour guide. The walking caters for all within 'moderate' abilities, allowing for challenging yourself if you choose with experienced support.

The accommodation was in an agriturismo farm. It was a very nice place to be with all the beautiful scenery around to view on waking. Elvis the dog was a great accompaniment. The walking or hiking was tough in some places but on completion you felt a great sense of achievement.The food at the farm was delicious. Breakfast and lunch were self service but all was provided to make a hearty meal. Dinner was there courses of home made items.

This was our first exodus trip and exceeded our expectations in every way. From the first contact I had with Exodus over the phone, I was impressed by how efficient and helpful the travel advisor Robyn was, she answered all of my queries and was accommodating when we needed to change our travel dates after paying the deposit. The subsequent contacts with Exodus were helpful and informative and the trip notes answered all questions we had when preparing for our trip. Sara Bull our guide was amazing, she is so enthusiastic about the area and managed to perfectly balance being supportive of everyone's abilities and confidence levels, while still challenging the group. Our group gelled well and walks and meals together were enjoyable and fun. Sara never pressured any member of the group to walk faster than they were comfortable with, and paced the walks perfectly to keep energy levels up. The walking was hard at times, but was definitely worth it for some amazing views at the top. We loved having the company of Sara's dog Elvis, and the dogs and cats around Braccicorti added to the family style feel of the accommodation. We feel so lucky to have had a fantastic guide, and such an enjoyable first trip with Exodus. Our only concern is that our future trip expectations are now very high!

Having completed seven previous Exodus walking holidays, we had high hopes for our eighth. We were not disappointed as this trip was the best we have been on so far. The area we walked in was beautiful and quiet, full of views, forests, mountains and history. We stayed at Braccicorti, a characterful farmhouse where we were well looked after by the family. The food was local, fresh and really well cooked and presented and something of a highlight in itself. The walking is moderately hard, but very rewarding. Very quiet tracks and panoramic views from the mountains. As usual, the group were like minded individuals and on this trip everyone gelled and got on really well.

I had a great trip staying at Braccicorti and walking in the remote mountains.The accommodation is a family run hotel. The family are very friendly and the food wholesome and locally sourced. The trip was full on, we were busy most of the time. The walking was quite tough but very enjoyable, we reached lots of peaks and there were always options for the less able. Apart from our day off and one of the day's of walking we were very much off the beaten track and did not meet too many other people. The whole group gelled well together over a common love of walking.

The walking in Tuscany trip far exceeded my expectations. The whole trip was meticulously planned and it was so easy to relax right from the start and simply enjoy myself. The accommodation at Agriturismo Braccicorti was clean and comfortable and the family who run it are just the loveliest people and made everyone feel so welcome. The food was simple, locally sourced and we were very well fed. The walking (Level 3) was absolutely fantastic - made all the better by our simply wonderful guide Sara, and the lovely group of people on the trip. I was a bit apprehensive about the weather as there had been storms the week before we went. However our guide Sara is an absolute expert on the region and was able to plan each days walk to take full advantage of where the weather was the most glorious on each day's hike.

A fantastic week in Tuscany, the family who ran the Agriturismo were delightful and could not be more friendly, considerate and helpful. The accommodation is fairly basic,but clean and comfortable (as expected). We were worried prior to the trip about the weather, but it turned out to be sunny most of the week! The itinery was just amazing, varied and with some quite incredible walks; especially the last day hiking up Monte Sumbra - unforgetable! The walking group was a great cross section of people, and many laughs were had over the week.....all I can say is it is a 'must do' trip!

A wonderful experience walking and sightseeing in the Garfognana area, Tuscany. Staying at a picturesque, comfortable family run Agricultural Farmhouse. Very friendly, hardworking staff providing us with homemade food and wine. A friendly group of 12 and a very experienced and personable walk leader.

If you think of Tuscany you think of rolling hills. Stop. The Garfagnana Mountains are a relatively undiscovered part of Tuscany........and they are indeed Mountains !!!! In fact they are superb mountains with beautiful climbs through gorgeous forests, onto green plateaus with alpine flowers and finally onto the rocky craggy peaks with 360 degree views far and wide. Where better to sit with your new group of friends and have a tasty picnic lunch. This is one of the best walking trips I have been on with Exodus..........made even better by the unique accommodation and the splendid food provided. I cannot fault it in any way.

I can't summarise this trip any better than the excellent reviews already given on this page. A great combination of some varied and challenging walking, comfortable and relaxing accommodation and a 1st class group leader.

After having to change the departure date several times due to Covid, this walking week in the Stunning Hills of North West Tuscany was truly worth waiting for. The area is blessed with stunning scenery in every direction, and throughout the week you get a front row seat in experiencing it up close and personal. The trip notes accurately reflect the walks and the summit finishes will get the blood pumping and lungs working overtime, however the reward for this effort is plain to see. A good level of fitness is required, however our group leader, Sara Bull, looked after us all and made sure everyone felt comfortable. She is a truly amazing person, with such local knowledge and obvious passion for the history of the locality and family run business. She delivers the experience with such professionalism and attention to detail, which is to be applauded. From arranging evening outs at local restaurants, taxi's, train tickets & information to Lucca for the day off excursion, she has everything covered. The Agriturismo Braccicorti is charming, and is a typical restored Tuscan Farmhouse, complete with its own cast members strolling the grounds. Accommodation is simple but comfortable, the Italian homecooked food is lovely, as is the red wine, and dining alfresco each evening made for a great opportunity to mix in our small group of eight people, and re-live the experience of the days hiking. My tip to anyone thinking of going on this trip (or any trip to Italy) is try to learn a few words of Italian, as I had done during lockdown. Whilst I've a long way to go to call myself an able Italian speaker, my efforts in using my limited vocabulary were met with wonderful enthusiasm and delight on every occasion. I would therefore thoroughly recommend this trip to anyone considering it - just go for it and you wont be disappointed.

Excellent trip - had a really great time. The walking was varied and enjoyable with a mix of woods and mountain tops, rocks and even the odd patch of snow. I can't praise our guide Sarah enough. We were able to spread out and enjoy the walking at a different pace if we wanted but to come together easily for stops and directions. The landscape is stunning with magnificent views. She went out of her way to make the holiday special and to include everyone. Starting in the agristurismo made the holiday much more special. The sense that you are joining a family, the food is produced on site and cooked and prepare in a traditional style. The bedrooms are simple but functional and the site itself is a lovely place to stay with chickens wandering around and a golf course on site. The day we spent with the local guide was also really enjoyable - walking at a lower level and learning all about the area through different environments. We also had a lovely day in Lucca - we all decided to do the same day off, travelled together and although we split up to explore Lucca met up and travelled back and shared a meal out. The people on the trip are what make it and I couldn't have had a nicer group. I enjoyed every minute of this holiday.

This was not our first walking holiday in Italy but it was the first time that we had been with Exodus and our first experience of staying in an agiturismo. This type of accommodation adds to the experience in that there is more interaction with the local community and greater exposure to their way of life. Although not as popular as some other regions of Italy Garfagnana is well worth a visit and deserves to be better known.

This was a trip that will live long in my memory. My first journey abroad since the start of the COVID pandemic, the holiday was everything I hoped it would be and more. Stunning scenery, fantastic food, awesome accommodation, great people and a wonderful leader all combined to ensure that Italy will be the destination I will visit in my next holiday - and I would love to return to the Garfagnana region.

We did the challenging week in early September. Having done many 'challenging' holidays with Exodus in the past, for the first time a very challenging weeks walking was actually delivered. This was our first time in Tuscany and from the moment we got off the plane at Pisa we were taken with the area. The accommodation was idyllic and the surrounding scenery stunning. The day trip by train to Lucca was well worth it and very interesting.

This beautiful undiscovered corner of northern Tuscany was both a delight and a surprise, and especially gorgeous in all its autumn glory. If you love mountains and views come here. If you love trees, they make the walking even better. There are Medieval villages too and gorgeous local food and wine. Perhaps a little more strenuous than other grade 3 trips, but with a good pair of boots, walking poles, lovely Braccicorti cooking in your belly and the best guide ever, you will reach heights, literally, you hadn't imagined. With two exceptions, all of our group were 60+ and it was all achievable and a good challenging mixture of climbs and descents (with a fine hostelry at the end in most cases!) The walks were all interesting and varied in the amazing geography of Garfagnana with a brilliant day out to Lucca in the middle of the week. Don't hesitate - just go there!

We have walked many times on Exodus holidays and this rated at the top of our list of many great holidays. We chose a challenging week and were very pleased that we had. Braccacorti as a base was a delight - views across the valley to distant mountains, really comfortable and delicious food (and plenty of it!). The walking was as it had been described in the brochure - challenging but so rewarding and so varied.

This was my first holiday abroad for several years as well as my first booking with Exodus. My initial contact with the company was very positive and as soon as I booked my excitement began. The Agriturismo Braccicorti was idyllic and food was both plentiful and delicious (and washed down with Braccicorti wine). As for my fellow travellers, you couldn't have chosen a more like-minded group. I can't wait to start planning my next holiday.

This was my fourth Exodus holiday, all were excellent but this was probably the best overall in terms of consistently excellent accommodation, food and walking routes. Our Agriturismo was beautiful, delicious food and wine all locally produced, plus a lovely large pool. Rooms were very comfortable. This is a mountainous area with unpredictable weather, so come prepared for some heavy downpours/thunderstorms mixed with hot sunshine, even in July. Our guide Tony was very professional and knowledgeable, and provided a good mix of encouragement and flexibility to enable everyone in the group to get the most out of their trip. Thoroughly enjoyed the free day in Lucca, hired bikes and rode around the ancient city walls. Don't believe the trip notes which suggest Cinque Terra is do-able on the free day, it is too far away.

It was with some trepidation that we embarked on this walk. Not having participated in an organised holiday for many years and being rather "senior" in age we were unsure whether we had picked the right grade. However, from the time of booking to our return, the trip went without a hitch. The Tuscan scenery is stunning, and we loved the accommodation at Agriturismo Braccicorti - comfortable, homely accommodation with home produced Italian food. The walking was varied and challenging in places however never beyond our capabilities. This was mainly due to Sarah our excellent guide who had a wealth of knowledge and experience and in a short while was able to assess the groups abilities - and encourage when necessary. What a sense of achievement when we reached the summits! A balanced itinerary of four days mountain walking, an interesting walk around the local villages with Luigi and a visit to Lucca ensured a holiday to remember and one to be recommended.

We had a really brilliant week - Sara our guide was the best ever and went out of her way to make sure everyone enjoyed themselves and accommodated those who couldn't quite manage to do every walk all the way. She also managed to organise fantastic weather - not wet and not too hot and a great group! The accommodation was in a fantastic location with a lovely outdoor pool. The family were friendly and produced scrumptious home cooked food from local produce.

Despite poor weather conditions we did fabulous walks, with the leader taking the weather conditions into consideration, so we therefore had the best experiences.

I decided not to downgrade the holiday because of two days of bad weather. Our guide could not have done more in the selection of walks, and they were still good - if soggy - while the scenery was all you'd expect when the clouds lifted.

The walking in this area is spectacular, through beech or chestnut forests up to amazing peaks. We did not have the best weather but the walking was still a joy. The accommodation is homely but with all the facilities that you require from a hotel with special touches such as being able to make you own hot drinks at any time. The food was locally sourced and well cooked. The pool is a welcome addition although unfortunately we weren't able to make the most of it.

I would highly recommend this trip. It was my first trip to Italy. I enjoyed the opportunity to intimately experience the culture, food and people in a region that is off the normal tourist path, but extremely beautiful and historic. The Baccicorte agriturismo is lovely and comfortable. The entire Giavenetti family, especially our host Angela, was extremely warm and welcoming and did everything possible to be accommodating. If I travel to Italy again, I will definitely plan to stay at an agriturismo. I appreciate their use of local foods, personal attention and also concern for the environment.

Wonderful week walking in the quite mountains of Garfagnana gave a real sense of getting back to nature. Sara, our guide, was excellent and helped make the trip truly memorable.

Excellent trip with Exodus. This was my second adventure with Exodus and this one was all that the reviews say. Sara was excellent ! She was very patient, even taught some of us new hiking skills. She kept us all motivated throughout the days despite the weather. Sara was brilliant with her switching up the routes to accommodate the unusual weather keeping us all safe and comfortable as possible. It was fun , challenging, and I would like to do it again with sunny weather. The group was awesome and were fun as everyone kept each other motivated and laughing. The food was wonderful and plentiful. Sara does such a great job of handling all the details and making it a true holiday! I loved not having to plan "where and what to trek and what & where to eat"...a real treat not to be "in charge". My daughter a mother of two young children and I her mother really appreciated the true challenging "holiday" from our many responsibilities back at home.

Despite the weather, which could have put a real damper on the trip (pun intended!), the trip was made exceptional by our guide, Sara Bull, and the fabulous people we had in our group. I would recommend (and do) any tour that Sara is leading. The farmhouse and surrounds are stunning, too - quintessential Tuscany. And the food cooked by Angela and Flora, delicious.

Great week despite the weather! Sarah was an excellent guide. She knew the area extremely well and was able to make adaptations to the walks depending on the weather and confidence of the group. The farmhouse was comfortable with great food. The make you own packed lunches also worked well. Would definitely recommend this trip, but if I was going again, I would probably go a bit later in the year when the weather is more likely to be settled. A trip to Lucca on the free day would be my suggestion. A lovely little town, compact with plenty to see.

This was my first experience of an organised walking holiday and I can’t say I was disappointed. Stunning scenery, delicious food and marvelous company. The weather left a little to be desired but didn’t really spoil the week at all. When we weren’t walking we were looked after by Angela and her team at Braccicorti. Always a warm, welcoming smile and sometimes a chat over a cup of tea! The accommodation in the farmhouse is simple but comfortable and warm, with plenty of communal areas to discuss the day’s activities or find a quiet corner to just relax. I love my food and I loved the fare dished up during the week. Traditional, homely, delicious and plenty of it. I have got to give a special mention to our Tuesday guide, Pierluigi, whose enthusiasm, in the face of lashing rain, knew no bounds. And finally, our wonderful guide for the week, Sara, who had a wealth of knowledge about the area’s history and geography as well as its flora & fauna. Her leadership throughout the week made it for me.

I would recommend this trip to anyone. A level of fitness is a must - certainly more than a few brisk walks around the block - it's challenging but rewarding! Sara - our guide - was absolutely amazing - calm, knowledgeable, patient, kind, tough. She looked after us as a group and individually - nothing was too much trouble. The farmhouse is amazing and the family who prepared our meals were so welcoming, kind and fun! The meals by the way - beautiful simple, rustic, locally sourced food - every evening we ate at the farmhouse was a treat! The idea of being able to create your own lunch from the choices laid out was a brilliant idea and you were able to take as much or as little as you wanted. Breakfasts set you up for the day! The accommodation is lovely with real charm and plenty of warmth, heating, drying room, roasting fire in the lounge when cold and a swimming pool with amazing views.

An unknown region of Italy, mountainous and craggy, with peaks still covered in snow at the end of April. Although the weather was predominantly grey and wet, we made the most of it, and it was a wonderful week. In fact, the last walk was enhanced by the fog that gave the forest a mysterious and mystical atmosphere.

A holiday that very much delivered as per the trip notes, with the varied hikes only being enhanced by the great weather and autumnal colours in the forests. A well established trip with a very experienced group leader and a good bunch of fellow travellers. For me, staying in one location is a plus, with only short minibus journeys required to reach the start point for each hike. And that one location was a lovely, relaxing one. The hikes themselves were of the activity level expected and challenging enough for the group. The rewards were great - generally involving walking through colourful beech or chestnut forests before reaching ridges and peaks with stunning views. Few other hikers were seen throughout the week. The hikes on days 3 and 7 stood out for me. All of the group visited Lucca on the "free day", which was a good choice, with plenty to explore for a good few hours. The trip also introduced me to the life of those living in the area, including exploring towns and villages. As would be expected, there are plenty of churches and other religious features.

It was a fantastic trip with some relay amazing walks and views.

This was a fabulous trip from start to finish. Beautiful and diverse scenery, great walking, great weather, and a great guide (Sara Bull). The grounds and views from the farmhouse at Braccicorti are stunning and it really is a great escape from the normality of everyday life. It was lovely to be able to relax in the pool after a day's walking.

' 'Happiness from small things' is what we want to give our guests; peace and tranquillity from our countryside, and company with which to discover the secrets and beautiful areas of Garfagnana' so says the Agriturismo Braccicorti website - and this trip provided just that. I was a little apprehensive initially, never having done an Exodus trip before and because my own level of fitness wasn’t what it had been and should have been. Yet, those apprehensions dissipated when I met the group and discovered Tuscany. Great company in my trekking companions and leader, and kind hospitality from the family – an enjoyable and memorable break overall (despite the pain in my knees!).

A great holiday with excellent walks which were enjoyable as well as being physically quite demanding. Liz, our guide for the week, made the holiday extra special as she was a superb leader who always went the 'extra mile' to please everyone.

What a fantastic trip,the weather,the acomadation,the scenery,Trek Leader & her Dog ( Elvis ) only one word to describe it. BEAUTIFUL !!

A brilliant experience and can't wait to go on the next one.

A brilliant experience and can't wait to go on the next one.

A brilliant experience and can't wait to go on the next one.

This was one of the best trip I ever had! Beautiful scenery, friendly people, great home cooking, but most importantly - our incredible guide Sara. She was taking care of us like of her own family always paying attention to every small detail. Thank you!

Exodus holidays are only as good as their leaders and Sara is fantastic, super knowledgeable and full of enthusiasm. The area and accommodation ensure you feel fully relaxed and immersed in the beautiful countryside. The home cooked food is delicious and there is also a day out in Lucca or Pisa etc.. In short, a great holiday for people who enjoy Italy, walking and beautiful countryside.

For me, this holiday struck the perfect balance, encompassing Five varied walks, home cooking and a day of culture in Lucca. The walks themselves presented us with colourful memories around every corner, whether it be a spiritual shrine, an `out of the blue` stone monument of a world famous pop star ( I wont spoil your surprise!) or simply stunning views. Our World-class Guide, Sara, was always a step ahead of any request or challenge we met allowing us to fully absorb the splendours of this beautiful part of the world. Thank you!

Really enjoyed this trip, our guide, Liz, was excellent, the walks were well planned and we were able to explore this beautiful region, the Garfagnana area, which we had not visited before. The agriturismo experience was another first for us, our hosts were warm and welcoming and the food and home-produced wine was plentiful and tasty, it was a lovely environment. We were lucky to be with a very friendly group of fellow walkers which added to the experience and we have arrived home feeling very refreshed and keen to book another Exodus trip in the near future. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone who enjoys walking and beautiful countryside.

This was an excellent tour. The accommodation was delightful and all the people there were charming and so accommodating. The guide - Sara Bull - was superb and the walking was enjoyable and in places spectacular without being too arduous.

Agritourismo in Braccicorti is fantastic. Wonderful walks and great home cooking and Sara is the best guide in Italy. Sara looks after you and knows everything about the local area.

Lovely scenery. Good walks that were varied. They included rough mountain paths and atmospheric meanders through woodland.

Lovely scenery. Good walks that were varied. They included rough mountain paths and atmospheric meanders through woodland.

I have just got back from a fantastic week in Tuscany. This has been one of the best holidays I have ever had. The walks were fantastic and all achievable with a reasonable level of fitness. The accommodation was lovely, comfortable rooms with use of a lounge (where there was tea and coffee available any time) and quite room for relaxing and reading. The food was wonderful, home cooked with all the ingrediants sourced locally. The family and staff were very welcoming and made us all feel at home. The best part of the holiday for me was our guide Sara, who was brilliant. She had a fantastic in-depth knowledge of the area, made sure every person in our group was well looked after, even on our free day. This was my first exodus holiday and despite being nervous as I was going on my own, soon made friends and am now looking at booking my next trip already! An amazing holiday which I highly recommend.

This is the third Exodus holiday that we have been on and the best one by a long way. The walks in stunning scenery were varied and interesting and are do-able with a good level of basic fitness. The farmhouse was warm and cosy with excellent home cooked food, we are vegetarians and had no worries or disappointments with the food. What made this holiday exceptional and one we will never forget was the leader, Sara. Her enthusiasm and positivity for looking after "her clients" shone through in every thing she did; for example buying rail tickets and arranging taxis made all the difference. Out on the mountains, Sara's knowledge of the terrain and love for the area was infectious. To top it all, the company of Sara's wonderful dog Elvis, trotting alongside us, made this an unforgettable holiday. If you are thinking about booking this holiday, just do it!

An absolutely fantastic week staying in a lovely Tuscan farmhouse with delicious home-cooked food. The walks were all very different but each was superb in it's own way with breathtaking scenery. The local family who run the accommodation were all extremely friendly and welcoming people. Our guide Sara Bull was exceptional(see below) and we were lucky to experience almost an entire week of lovely warm/hot sunshine. Our group bonded straight away and this contributed greatly to the enjoyment of the holiday. The dog Elvis who accompanies the group on every walk is the fittest, friendliest & most loveable dog I've met.

This was my first trip with Exodus and I have to admit my experience during the booking wasn’t the best to start with. It was rather slow and inefficient, but I have sent Exodus some comments on this and I am sure they will take them on board. Also I spoke to other members of the group that have done many trips with Exodus and they have not experienced any problems, so I am inclined to think this was just a one off. But that’s all the ‘bad over’ and truly the only niggling point. Other than that, I can honestly say it was one of the best holidays I have ever had. I’ll try and break my feedback down but I’ll start with the guide in case you get tired of reading: 1. The guide - before I went I was surprised and bit intrigued by how many people mentioned this lady called ‘Sara’ and how lovely she was. I don’t think any of us can make justice in writing to who she really is. She is a phenomenal professional, a bundle of enthusiasm and energy and a tremendous human being. One of the most inspiring people I have ever met. And her dog ‘Elvis’ is a legend you have to meet! With all my respect to Exodus and whatever they do in the office, 90% of your trip experience is the guide. They have the ability to make or break a trip and I can only say, this lady made for all of us a memorable trip that I am sure we will remember for years to come. 2. Experience required - being new to this, I wasn’t sure if the information was exaggerated in terms of fitness or not. Reading back, I think it was spot on, so read carefully the description. Yes there are some climbs that get you a bit out of breath, but all in all it is a manageable pace and Sara was awesome at managing the pace and breaks. Also pay attention to the equipment you need, it was also spot on. For example don’t think trainers and jeans will do, because they will not. 3. Accommodation - not flashy or luxurious in the traditional sense, but really warm, cosy, welcoming. In all honestly, I wouldn’t change a thing. To me this place “is” luxury, not fancy hotels with useless toiletries but that’s personal opinion. The family is lovely, the setting is incredible and I’d rather stay here than anywhere else. The food was great and plentiful. So, perfect really. 4. The area and walking – a hidden gem of incredible beauty. Some of the views really take your breath away. Still not very developed in terms of tourism which makes it truly special. On the day off most of us went to Lucca and it really is worth a visit. The trip in general has a really good balance between seeing small villages/cities and different walks. All in all, if you have any doubts about this trip, book it. Go and I seriously doubt you’ll regret it. Sorry for the lengthy of the review, but hopefully it will help.

This trip exceeded my expectations on all levels. The walks were varied, the scenery was stunning and our guide Liz was fabulous. We were a group of 12 people (3 couples, 3 single women, a mother & daughter and a single man) and got on well, looked out for each other and laughed a lot. The accommodation was beautiful and the hospitality and food provided at the family run agriturismo, couldn't be faltered. It was an added bonus having the swimming pool on hand for a quick cool-down in the evening or to swim a few laps before breakfast.

We were surprised and really pleased to discover this trip also came in a grade 5 version (once per month?). Everything about this trip was great - the walking terrain, the views, the lovely group, the fantastic leader (who happens to be quite the blister-blasting nurse too), Pierre-Luigi, who was great when I got a little nervous (unnecessarily but it seemed justified at the time!) and of course, Elvis the dog. And the farmhouse was so much lovelier than I anticipated, having an evening dip in the pool after a long day of hiking was heaven to me. Everyone in the group except me was a fussy eater in one way or another (if you are reading this, I mean it in the nicest possible way!), but it did not faze Braccicorti, all the food was lovely, and the wine they make was rather nice too...

I highly recommend this walking holiday staying at the agrotouristic family-run home of Braccicorti in the beautiful Garfagnana valley. Each of the five walks are unique and the scenery magnificent though the view from Pania di Corfino was a little obscured due to the weather. However, this was more than compensated for by the stunning views from the walks in the Apuane National Park to Monte Sumbra, along part of the Appenine ridge to Monte Prado and the walk to Campocatino and San Viviano's Hermitage. The walk in the valley led by a local guide, Pierre Luigi, was great too as Pierre informed us of the history and farming of the area. But what made this trip truly fantastic and extraordinary was the sensitive and thoughtful leadership of our guide, Sara, accompanied by Elvis her dog. Sara is extremely knowledgable, informative, experienced, inspirational and has a way of communicating that is enthralling and humourous. She worked tirelessly to ensure all in the group were well catered for and throughly enjoyed their experience. Thanks to Sara I had a truly wonderful time with plenty of laughs and new friendships made. Thank you Sara and Elvis! and all the family at Braccicorti.

Wonderful trip. It was very well organised and planed. We are looked after by the leader and accommodation's team very well.Wonderful location and great walks.

What a fantastic week! Stunning scenery, a great variety of walks, a lovely place to stay, good food and tremendous company. Oh, and the weather put on a big smile for us too (apart from the last day) and possibly the best guide in the business. It really would be difficult to think of a way of beating it. Monte Prado and Monte Sumbra were good to 'bag' but walking some of the ridges and through the beautiful forests added a different dimension as did exploring some of the local settlements on the valley day. The Golden Eagles on the first day, Alpine Choughs on the second and the Fire Salamander later in the week were pretty good too. What brought it all together was the way the group gelled, good banter, a few 'wind ups', people looking out for each other and a very relaxed atmosphere, a perfect combination for a great trip.

I had never been on an organised holiday before and I really enjoyed myself. The other people on the trip were great fun and we really gelled as a group. I got to see some fabulous scenery and villages around Tuscany, which I would I have missed had I travelled under my own steam. The food and the accommodation were also first class. I thoroughly recommend this trip.

This is our 3rd walking & trekking trip with Exodus and what a fabulous trip it was. Staying in the beautiful family run Braccicorti Lodge, drinking their home made Grappa and chatting and laughing together as a group. We were 4 couples and 3 singles and everyone enjoyed each other's company. Some were faster than others but our guide ensured we operated as a group. My husband would have liked another week sitting by the swimming pool.

Fantastic trip, walking up Tuscan mountains in the foothills and higher of the Apennine and Apuane ranges that surround the Garfgnana Valley, north of Lucca. Staying in simple but attractive accommodation and going off in the van to the beginning of each day's splendid and demanding walk in great weather, then returning to shower/dinner/wine was the perfect combination of exercise/being outdoors and civilisation.

A wondrful trip in a beautiful place with a fantastic group of people

No matter what the title says, this is not, in my opinion, a walking holiday. With a walking holiday you envisage rolling hills, pretty villages. In reality the first day of walking was an ascent of several hundred metres up a steep unending hill, and in the main, it continued that way throughout the trip. If you want a walking holiday, don't do what I did. I didn't read the notes in detail !! I didn't !! I saw the word walking and looked at the notes without actually reading the notes. Two or three of my fellow travellers made the same mistake. I am told that Walking in Prosecco might be more your style if you want a more comfortable walk and that's what I will try next (thanks Sara)

Lovely area, great food, warm hospitality, good weather. What more could you ask for.

Amazing trip I couldn't recommend it highly enough

An excellent week of walking in a spectacular region. Superb accommodation in a lovely setting, great meals and a top leader made this a memorable trip.

A well planned weeks holiday taking in the high peaks of Garfagnana Tuscany.

Excellent holiday, despite the weather!

Lovely relaxed accommodation at a lush green small working farm. Really easy to relax - good walks on different mountain ranges & even if the weather is not fantastic there are other things to do within an hours travel if you decide to duck out of a day & take it a bit easy

I went to a lovely holiday in Tuscany this September. The farmhouse/ BB was lovely and the food was great. The weather on one of the walks was fierce one day: really strong storm ( Fhn)/ hail/ rain.. We had to return to base and explored the area closer to home.The superb knowledge of the local area of our guide Sara allowed us to have great walks on the right side of the mountains for the rest of the week! It is a beautiful place Our Italian taxi driver family spoke English with the broadest Glasgow accent! I went to Lucca on the day off and it is really amazing- the local city tour guide was really good! I will certainly come back to Garfagnana - and will try to learn a bit Italian first!

Based in a lovely valley with great views and a pool. The leader selected the order of the walks to take advantage of the day's weather and was very knowledgeable about the local area.

A great week in the Tuscan mountains, spent hiking, learning about the local region, meeting the locals, and enjoying the time in the converted farmhouse accommodation (Braccicorti). A fun week with a lovely group of people.

A wonderful experience of walking in a more remote, mountainous part of Tuscany with an excellent and experienced guide.

Our week in Tuscany offered challenge, adventure, good company and the opportunity to experience a hidden Tuscany, completely in contrast to the tourist hot spots of Florence, Pisa and Siena. The walking was fantastic, in great part due to the outstanding guide. The Garfagnana mountains are a walkers' dream; gorgeous trails, stunning scenery and the satisfaction of a 360 degree view on reaching the summit.

An inspiring week of walks in gorgeous, varied, unspoiled terrain.

This is a great trip. There is plenty of variety to delight both newcomers to walking and the more experienced. Excellent mountain ranges with stunning views, deep lush valleys, carpets of wild flowers and plenty of animal life. Throw in delightful villages with a long history and of course the excellent cuisine and coffee. There is plenty on offer, just go and enjoy it!

We had a fantastic time. Everything was well organised, so pick up from the airport, and transfer to the accommodation were easy. The brochure had described things well, so it had given us an accurate idea of the holiday. The family run accommodation was charming, with excellent meals provided. The walking was everything we hoped for, and more, with our guide making decisions about where to go each day based on weather conditions, and to show us a variety of terrain, so that we felt we got the best combination of walks possible. There was a short minibus ride each day to the start of the walk, and then back at the end of the day, and a packed lunch was provided each day. As it was one of the 'challenging weeks' we made maximum use of daytime hours to be out walking, so we didn't spend much time back at the farmhouse.

I went on a challenging grade week and it lived up to the bill. Long walks across constantly changing terrain with temperatures changing just as quick. Really enjoyed the challenge - forests, grasslands, rocky terrain, scrambling - it had it all and there was never a dull moment, all the while I felt completely safe in the hands of fantastic guides.

I attended a 'challenging week' this September, along with 13 other like-minded, energetic walkers! The walks, arguably the most important part of a walking trip, were very varied with some woodland, some high ridge ways, some scrambles etc, all of which were breath-taking. The days were fairly long - we were generally walking for 6-7 hours daily - but the variety and beauty of the scenery meant I was sad to end each day! The accommodation is fairly simple but the owners are extremely friendly (and very good cooks!). The company was also great; our group got on really well and I couldn't have asked for a more caring, knowledgeable, experienced guide.

Excellent Walks, Excellent Accommodation and Excellent Leader

I have not been on an organised walking holiday before, really loved it!

This was my first walking holiday and was a little apprehensive ,surpassed my exceptions , the walking was just as explained , looking forward to the get one

An excellent trip which I thoroughly enjoyed with first class accommodation and superb cooking by Mamma.

A really varied, exciting and spectacular trip.

The trip notes say that this is a challenging week, but if you are fit or walk regularly in the hills there is no reason not to enjoy this week. The accommodation is good and the family that run it ensured that we had the true Italian experience with good home cookingusing local produce.I would go again.