Amalfi Coast
Footloose - 7 Nights/8 Days
The fame of the Amalfi Coast is due to its outstanding beauty.
From picturesque Ravello, high above the sea to the elegant resort of Positano, follow a walking route along ancient paths and stairways linking isolated villages, across hills with lemon and chestnut groves, vineyards and meadows. Descend to the coast each day to enjoy the lively hospitality and Campania cuisine. The area is renowned for its pasta, mozzarella and pizza as well as the frutti di mare - specialities from the sea. Read More...
Apulia and Basilicata
Guided - 6 Nights/7 Days
Rock Churches & the ‘Trulli’ Country
Gentle walks between Southern Italy’s two UNESCO World Heritage towns of Alberobello in Apulia, and Matera in Basilicata. See the unique Trulli architecture of Alberobello, and the rock cave dwellings and stone houses of the ‘Sassi’ of Matera. Read More...
Cinque Terre
Footloose - 7 Nights/8 Days
Walk between the skies and the sea along the spectacular Liguerian Coast in Northern Italy.
Follow panoramic footpaths and quiet mule tracks through olive groves, chestnut woods and vineyards to the centuries old villages of the Cinque Terre. Clinging precariously to buttresses of rock or on the side of steep ravines, the “Five Lands” are a perfect mixture of landscape and culture. Read More...
Coastal Cinque Terre
Guided - 7 Nights/8 Days
Levanto to Santa Margherita
Follow panoramic footpaths and quiet mule tracks through olive groves, chestnut woods and vineyards to the centuries old villages of the Cinque Terre. Clinging precariously to buttresses of rock or on the side of steep ravines, the “Five Lands” are a perfect mixture of landscape and culture. Read More...
Cooking and Walking in Tuscany
Footloose - 7 Nights/8 Days
You’ll stay in two Medieval walled towns and taste the famous vintages of the area - Chianti and the rich red, world-renowned Brunello wines.
The fine cuisine and wine will be equalised by pleasant walks in the countryside that is a patchwork of vineyards, olive groves, ancient forests and fields of wheat and barley – the wellspring of ingredients for delicious Tuscan meals. TOUR INCLUDES: • 4 nights at 3 star hotel in San Gimignano • 3 nights at 3 star hotel in Montalcino – a bed and breakfast basis • Transfers by private car/minivan with driver as per programme • Visit and lunch at a wine estate in San Gimignano • Cooking class with lunch in a local villa San Gimignano • Cooking class in Montalcino including lunch and drinks • Wine tasting in Montepulciano • Half day walking tour in Siena & optional visit to Volterra Read More...
Cooking and Walking in Umbria
Footloose - 8 Nights/9 Days
This three centre holiday takes you to the heart of the Umbrian countryside staying in a beautiful villa, a typical farmhouse and a country house with glorious views to Assisi.
The landscape falls away from the Apennines in forested hills where truffles grow and wild boar roam to open verdant plains. Umbria is no less famous for its superb wines - reds from Montefalco and the Vino Nobile of Montepulciano. “Umbria and Tuscany offer an authentic Italian cooking experience with fresh local seasonal produce, game, herbs and great wines to boot. The unhurried pace of life ,‘La Dolce Vita’ allows you to enjoy the pretty landscapes, rustic villages, history and architecture at your own pace”. - Annabelle White Read More...
Emilia Romagna Language Course
Footloose - 7 Nights/8 Days
Learn Italian language and discover the region of Emilia Romagna while staying in a pretty rustic village in the hills that border Tuscany.
Portico de Romagna (translates as ‘door to Rome’) is an undiscovered gem with Roman origins. You stay in the village amongst the locals where only Italian is spoken. Attend the Language School daily between 9am and 1pm. The afternoon is free to take excursions into the region and immerse yourself in the Italian way of life. Read More...
Florence, Siena and The Tuscan Hills
Guided - 7 Nights/8 Days
This walk not only includes the quintessential Tuscan countryside of rolling hills, vineyards and hilltop villages but also the two great ‘art’ cities of Florence and Siena.
You stay in the heart of this landscape for two nights in an ‘agriturismo’ (working farm). You’ll explore on foot the area around stunning San Gimignano with its’ landmark four towers; less known, ancient Volterra; plus smaller gems like Colle Val d’Elsa and Monteriggioni. Picnic lunches, wine tastings and dinners featuring local specialities complete this whole Tuscan experience. Read More...
Italian Lakes
Guided - 7 Nights/8 Days
Lakes Como and Garda sit like sparkling jewels in the shadows of the Swiss and Italian Alps.
Stunning villas, magnificent gardens and a profusion of hydrangeas, camellias and azaleas grace the Como lake area, whilst Lake Garda is bordered by rocky peaks and snow-capped mountains. Our walk leads through quaint villages and rolling hills always within sight of the distant snowy peaks. Vineyards and olive groves line the way and we stop to visit monuments of the area’s history. Read More...
Lake Garda
Footloose - 7 Nights/8 Days
Lake Garda is Italy’s largest lake and the pretty lakeside town of Riva del Garda, in the north, is the gateway to almost 800kms of walking and biking trails.
Enjoy 4 days of walking, 2 guided and 2 unguided, to mountain refuges, along the lakeside promenade and pathways, through olive groves to villages and crag top castles. A highlight is the in tact Medieval village of Canale, one of Italy’s finest, perched high in the mountains with spell-binding vistas. End the week with a scenic drive along the stunning lake shore to the Roman city of Verona. Attend opera in the ancient open air Teatro Romano or just explore the attractions of the Old Town. Read More...
Spirit of Amalfi
Guided - 7 Nights/8 Days
The fame of the Amalfi Coast is due to its outstanding beauty.
You walk from picturesque Ravello, high above the sea to the elegant resort of Positano. Follow panoramic footpaths, quiet mule tracks and ancient stairways that link isolated villages, across hills with lemon, olive and chestnut groves, vineyards and meadows on the Sorrentine Peninsular. Descend to the coast and enjoy the lively hospitality and Campania cuisine. The area is renowned for its’ pasta, mozzarella and pizza as well as ‘frutti di mare’ – specialities from the sea. Read More...
The Best of Southern Tuscany
Footloose - 6 Nights/7 Days
The Southern Tuscan countryside is a patchwork of vineyards and olive groves, ancient forests, and fields of wheat and barley.
There are long views over rolling hills, many crowned with medieval towns and villages. A wealth of art and architecture awaits. You will be walking through some of Italy’s best wine-producing areas with opportunities to taste at the friendly ‘enoticas’ - Brunello from Montalcino, Vino Nobile from Montepulciano and Chianti from Chianti of course! Guided option available - “Southern Tuscan Trail” - 7 nights/8 days. Please enquire for trip notes. Read More...
The Unknown Apennines
Footloose - 6 Nights/7 Days
The land between Tuscany and Emilia Romagna is the protected area of the Corno alle Scale Regional Park in the Apennines.
This is an area of small villages and abundant nature, where hospitality is a time honoured tradition. Deer, boar, fox, marmots and other wildlife may be encountered on your walks, plus enjoy colourful wildflowers in early summer. Emilia Romagna is a gourmet region famed for its Parmesan cheese and Balsamic vinegar. Of special interest is the Truffle and Porcini (mushroom) Festival in Lizzano the first Sunday in October. You stay in three locations at charming rustic country hotels. Read More...
The Unknown La Tuscia
Footloose - 5 Nights/6 Days
Viterbo to Orvieto. La Tuscia’, is an area that was once the heartland of the ancient Etruscan civilization.
The walk starts from the papal city of Viterbo and follows on to Tusciana, a largely unknown Etruscan settlement. Travelling towards Lake Bolsena, you’ll walk along stretches of the ancient Via Francigena, the pilgrim’s road which once connected Canterbury to Rome. Stay in the historical town of Montefiascone – known for its good wine. Once in Umbria, stop in Civita di Bagnoregio, one of Italy’s most intriguing medieval villages, set in a landscape of eroded hills. The grand climax of this walk is reaching crag top Orvieto with its magnificent frescoed cathedral and legacy from ancient civilisations. The Old Town is accessed by lifts and elevators. There are a series of Etruscan caves in the town’s foundations and oddly enough it is the world centre of the ‘Slow Food’ movement. This tour is a great extension to our SPOLETO TO MONTI SIBILLINI walk. Read More...
Tuscan Mini Stay - San Gimignano
Footloose - 3 Nights/4 Days
between Italy’s great “art cities” of Florence and Siena, lies the historic medieval walled town of San Gimignano.
A three night/ four day stay in the heart of the Tuscan countryside, in the quintessential Tuscan town of San Gimignano. Time for exploring the medieval town and for walks through the rolling hillsides, vineyards and forests surrounding it. The great 'art' cities of Florence and Siena are within easy reach for a day trip. Ramble through the gentle landscape of rolling hillsides and vineyards to explore the timeless beauty of these unspoilt hilltop towns. Read More...
Umbria - Italy's Green Heart
Footloose - 6 Nights/7 Days
Known as Italy’s ‘Green Heart’, the south east area of Umbria is rugged, wild, incredibly varied and beautiful. Where pretty valleys flow down from high mountain pastures and the rounded peaks of the Sibillini mountains.
Unlike the famous centres of Assisi and Perugia, this relatively inaccessible area is yet to be discovered by tourists. There are isolated hill towns, lone monasteries and castle ruins, great plains that stretch between mountains that create the startling views that draw walkers to this region. The walk starts from the historic town of Spoleto (approx 50 kms to the south of Assisi) that has remnants from Roman and Etruscan times. It follows the verdant valley of the Val di Nera to woodland plains and grassy moorland hemmed by mountains, to the awe-inspiring Sibillini Mountains and the ‘Piano Grande’, a vast valley floor enclosed by mountains. Read More...
Via Francigena - the Path to Rome
Footloose - 7 Nights/8 Days
From the 4th century AD a great number of people wishing to visit the holy places started moving round Europe.
As the number of pilgrims increased, Europe became covered by a wide network of roads which headed towards three destinations: Jerusalem, Santiago de Compostela and Rome. To cater for the pilgrims a great many abbeys, monasteries, hospitals and shelters were built. At the end of the 10th century the Archbishop of Canterbury, Sigeric, travelled to Rome and on his return journey he kept a record of the route and his stops. The 80 stages covering some 1700 km has become the basis for re-identifying the route today. Read More...