A Taste of Tuscany and the Italian Riviera

Days: 11

Explore the simple and locally grown flavours of Tuscany. Stay in a beautiful farm house or villa, visit wineries in the region, explore quaint little villages and towns, experience the cuisine through local restaurants, farm-to-table experiences and a cooking class.

Tour Package

Pricing from $5,974

Tour Package Includes

  • Superior Tourist class motor-coach and hotels
  • 9 nights accommodation including agritourismo experiences
  • 4 Vineyard Experiences including Tastings
  • 1 Olive oil tasting and Tour
  • 1 Italian Cooking Class
  • 17 meals: 9 breakfast, 7 lunch, 6 dinner
  • Tour Escort
  • Professional local tour guides
  • Sightseeing tours and entrance fees
  • Luggage handling at hotels
  • Gratuities
  • City tax/day

Day to Day

Our journey begins with an overnight flight to Florence, where we’ll meet the rest of our group and prepare ourselves for a wonderful experience. D

After meeting our tour escort at the airport, we’ll enjoy lunch in Florence before heading to Castello Di Verrazzano and the castle gardens.  We will view the historic aging cellars followed by dinner in the Osteria including organic wines and delicious meal created by Tuscan raw products.  Afterwards, we will settle into our agritourismo accommodations in Tuscany for the evening.

After breakfast, we’ll head out for our first vineyard experience, followed by a light lunch in Montefioralle – one of the most ancient villages of the Chianti area. You will be able to relax for the afternoon by the pool, exploring the agritourismo or even a nap before dinner offered by our host.

This morning, after breakfast we will head to Castello di Tornano where we will learn the secrets of Tuscan Cuisine, such as making pasta, tantalizing sauces and a dessert which we will enjoy for lunch! In the afternoon you will be free to explore the beautiful little town of Cortona.  We will meet up for dinner before enjoying the beautiful sunset as we return to our agritourismo for the evening.

Today after breakfast we will have an olive oil tasting and learn all about it!  We will then tour through Tuscany where we will stop for lunch before arriving in Orvieto.  Our English speaking guide will show us the sights including entry to the Cathedral and funicular from coach park to city centre.  You will have time to explore and find a hidden gem for dinner on your own.  Enjoy another sunset in Tuscany as we return to the agritourismo to retire for the evening.

After breakfast, we will check out of the agritourismo and drive through the cultivated hills of Val d’Orcia where we will arrive to Col d’Orcia Brunello di Montalcino the largest organic wine producing farms in Tuscany. We will enjoy wine tasting and a light lunch, a tour of the cellars and walk around the stunning estate before we head off to Siena. We will spend the afternoon in Siena where we’ll enjoy a guided tour, including the Piazza del Campo and its majestic duomo (cathedral). Dinner will be a traditional Italian meal in Siena before we check into our hotel there.

This morning,  after breakfast we will check out of the hotel and travel to one of the most picturesque of all the Tuscan hill towns; we will arrive in San Gimignano where you will marvel at the 14 medieval tower that pop up throughout the town.  You’ll have time to do some exploring and shopping for some unique treasures, find a quaint little lunch spot on your own, or with some new friends!  Later in the afternoon we will venture to Fattoria Poggio Alloro for a farm visit wehre we will hear about the history of  the family, the farm, visit the winery and learn about chianina cattle.  We will end the day with a true farm to table meal experience.  Bon appetite! Our accommodations this evening will be in Viareggio.

Today we’ll spend the day with an english speaking guide sightseeing in La Spezia.  This colorful region of Cinque Terre is a whole new feel of the Mediterranean!  We will be travelling by train as we explore the coast or offer another perspective to your experience.  Lunch and dinner will be on your own as you find that culinary experience you’ve been craving!  We will return to our hotel at Viareggio for the a good night’s sleep.

Today will be another outstanding experience!  After breakfast we will take a boat from Santa Margherita to Portofino where you will explore this fishing village.  When you’re ready, you will take the boat back to Santa Margherita where you can spend the rest of the afternoon/evening exploring the charming streets, amazing restaurants and boutiques.  We will retire back to the hotel in Viareggio for a much needed rest.

After breakfast we will check out of the hotel and work our way to Pisa where you will see the famous leaning tower and cathedral.  if you wish to enter either, you can do this as part of your free time as they cannot accommodate the entire group at once.  Your task today is to find the best place for lunch so you can rave to all your tour mates later!  As we say goodbye to Pisa we will return to Florence where we will have our farewell dinner with musical entertainment at La Certosa.  Be sure to share your email addresses or contact information with all your new friends. Check into hotel in Florence.

Check out after breakfast and we will shuttle you to the airport, or off to your next adventure!