Island Hopping in the Tuscan Archipelago

Elba is a beautiful place to visit with few international tourists. The visit to the vineyard was a highlight. However, I do think that the trip is overpriced.

Unfortunately due to the weather we didn't get to visit Pianosa and other elements of our trip were changed. Given this, it would have been nice to have more input into the changes as a group. We were only offered a choice of what to do once at the very end of the trip and it was essentially a choice of what town to eat lunch in.

The airport pickup at the start of the trip was 45 minutes late. Communication around this was poor and in fact non-existent until we as a group had called and messaged several different contact numbers. (I'm comparing this to a previous MBA trip where the driver contacted us before the agreed pick up time to let us know he would be late).

The lunches consisted of a pasta or rice based salad, an apple or an orange and a bottle of water every day. The salad was always fresh and tasty but I do feel that this is the absolute minimum you can provide and call it a packed lunch which was disappointing considering this is not a budget trip.

As mentioned in other reviews the hotel is old fashioned and basic but it's clean, has everything you need, the staff are all friendly and helpful and the location is great.

Overall, although I would recommend visiting Elba, I found this trip to be very expensive for what it was. It's difficult to see how the cost is justified by what's provided.

Elba is a stunning island with loads to see and do both on land and off. There was a variety of activities as part of this trip at a slow, relaxed pace and when the weather was bad the itinerary was amended swiftly and appropriately. Seemed a lot of money for what it was though. Single use plastics were used each day for lunch. Loved the island and the location of the hotel but overall the tour itself is a lot of money for what is offered.

We booked this trip as a family holiday and it didn’t disappoint . Elba is a beautiful island and we were made to feel very welcome. We did some amazing activities and Monica our very knowledgeable guide ensured everything ran smoothly.

This is a beautiful location, not full of English tourists with enough activity to manage in the hot weather! (Slightly less distances than listed.)

Had a fantastic time where it was just the right blend of activity vs relax time. Loved the location where we stayed since there were so little tourists so you really get the beauty without the crowds.

Just back from a great 5 days in Elba. Overall I was very impressed by the trip. On the positive, the itinerary was full and the events like mountain biking, Kayaking, Wine Tasting and snorkelling were well run. Monica who was our host and guide was amazing and nothing was too much trouble. The group of fellow adventurers were very different but we gelled as a group and by the end were good friends. The hotel was clean and functional, and the bed was OK, but It was very much a 3 star hotel. It's worth noting these are activity holidays and as such, with a full program, there is little down time to take advantage of the pool or explore the local area. If you want to do this it would be worth adding a day or two to the trip.

Some miscommunication in areas..make sure u booked flights and read itinerary..don’t get caught out..nice guides and met great people

Wonderful holiday. Monica was an amazing guide - so friendly and hard working, very knowledgeable. Nothing was too much trouble for her. Such a beautiful island and a great variety of activities. Brilliant accommodation on the beach too!

The day trip to Pianosa was my favourite day, it's a really special and unique place. A pretty active itinerary but I knew that was what I was signing up for. Elba is stunning and I felt like I got a good sense of it

This trip was packed to the brim with adventure. We finished each day happy but exhausted. The island is beautiful and our guide, Monica, was fantastic: organised, knowledgeable, fun. The hotel was fine and did exactly what we needed although a little dated in places - if it kept the cost down I think it was the right thing. I personally would have liked a little more free time but we did manage to do a lot in just a few days!

Where has Elba been hiding all my life :) I was very pleasantly surprised by the island and I feel having that inside info and a wonderful guide (Monica) to take us on the journey was just perfect! Pianosa was such a treat and most likely my highlight! Everything was perfectly organised and timed and it was definitely an easy trip. Long days meant we got tired in a good way! Accommodation was basic and clean and fit for purpose. I’d love to go back and this time take all my friends and family.

Fantastic trip - smoothly organised so we could all just relax and enjoy the trip. Local guides were charming and helpful, clear about when and where we were going but unhurried so never felt rushed. Activities were varied and hugely enjoyable. And the group of fellow travellers were were great fun. Will definitely travel with Much Better Adventures again. Thank you!

Nice mix of activities and an amazing group of people. My only complaint is it all went by far too quickly.

A great trip with relaxing adventures in a beautiful corner of the Mediterranean. The water was so clear and the weather incredible for October.

It is a perfect trip to relax and take in all of the history Elba and the surrounding islands offer. All the activities were curated so it felt like you were doing something, but never felt like you had pushed too far by the end of the day. The lunches from the hotel were amazing, and the hotel is perfectly located, with some great restaurants and bars nearby for the evenings.

Monica and the team were great - I would definitely recommend this trip for a nice balance between culture and light adventure.

Really great trip. Elba is a beautiful island and the atmosphere is enhanced by the preponderance of Italian holidaymakers. We are a family group (20 year olds and older parents) and enjoyed the variety of activities (without the stress of organisation!). Nothing was too taxing - although it was quite hot when we were there. So surprised by the beautiful clean sea swims and the variety of fish when snorkelling. Helpful, knowledgeable local guides. The island of Pianosa was a highlight. Highly recommended.

I was really looking forward to visiting Elba and it more than met my expectations. The island is truly beautiful and the people are all v friendly and welcoming with tourists. The itinerary was a perfect mix of activities and visits in stunning surroundings. Alex and Monica our guides were great - really accommodating and informative. From the pick up at Pisa airport everything went smoothly. All the people we met for the different visits / activities were really keen to share their passion with us. The group gelled well with a lovely group of ladies - lots of laughs. I personally loved the vibe of the 3* family-run Italian hotel which was right on the beach and the resort where multi generational Italian families were holidaying. The breakfast had absolutely everything you needed from delicious cake to fruit. In the evening you could choose from loads of bars and restaurants in the pretty church square or all along the seafront and people watch before trying out the delicious ice-cream. It was my first holiday of this type and I am definitely keen to do another.

I really enjoyed my first trip with MBA.

The trip was incredibly well-organised and it felt like we experienced a lot in a very short space of time. I liked that the trip combined daily physical activities with learning something about the nature and history of the location. The Elba team, especially Monica and Marika, were excellent - it felt like touring with local friends.

Although it is hard to pick one activity that I enjoyed the most, the day trip to Pianosa was definitely a highlight. Before we caught the boat to Pianosa, Monica showed me a new turtle's nest, which was an unexpected treat. On Pianosa, we first cycled around the island and were rewarded with some magnificent views. We were then treated to a snorkelling experience and swam with the fish. Gelato on the way home. What a wonderful way to spend a day.

Great location, activities and guides! Highly recommended if you like outdoor activities combined with cultural travel and deep dive to the local history and natural life!

Beautiful location lovely guides. Some off road biking and hiking experience would help make the most of the trip

As two nearly 70 year olds this was a chance for us to try activities we enjoyed pre - Covid. The group - for the most part much younger than us were welcoming. It was also a chance for us to get know an interesting area of Italy that for us was not well known but which has much to offer.

Great local host and unique experiences

Elba is a hidden gem, with lovely beaches and views. Hotel was basic but clean. Activities were (mostly!) easy, but with two a day you have a relatively busy schedule and less down time in the afternoons/evenings than I expected, with most evenings not arriving back at the hotel until after 5 (although over lunch while out and about there was often a chance to relax for a bit) so days were quite tiring although fun, but could be exhausting if you dont have a moderate fitness level before you go. Lovely guide who was willing to adapt things to how the group was feeling.

A great 4 nights in Elba, wonderfully organised by our hosts. Everywhere we visited was beautiful, we had a great group, great weather and were kept very busy with a variety of different activities, with something for everyone! Would recommend this trip to others!

Great trip, beautiful islands and very relaxing. Interesting mix of activity and historic sites. Awesome group and knowledgeable local guides to share the food, laughter and wine with. 😃

Great trip and awesome to explore the Tuscan archipelago which I'd never heard of. Fantastic mix of urban exploration (more of this likely due to poor weather), delicious seafood and adventurous activities.