Italy Touring

31/05/2026

Fantastic Sardinia 2026 Small Group Tour.
3 Local Food Experiences.

Tour Type: Small Group Tour – 25 passengers and under

Duration: 7 Days / 6 Nights

From – To: Cagliari > Olbia

Experiences: 3 Local Food Experiences

Destinations: Cagliari > Nuoro > Orgosolo > Gastronomic Experience with shepherds > Alghero > Nuragic Complex of Palmavera > Capo Caccia > Castelsardo > Tempio Pausania > Olbia > Costa Smeralda > Olbia

Departure Dates 2026:
HIGH SEASON (HS)
May 10th, 24th
June 7th, 21st
September 13th, 27th
October 11th

night in alghero

Price per Person:
Rate per Person High Season
Double / Triple (DBL/TPL) $4199.00 AUD PP
Single Supplement $1299.00 AUD

Hotels & Accommodation:
City Hotels
Cagliari Una T Hotel Cagliari 4*
Alghero Smy Carlos V Wellness and Spa 5*
Olbia Delta Hotels by Marriott Olbia Sardinia 4*

Important Notes:
All prices are per person
City accommodation tax not included

Highlights:
Tour Leader during the entire journey
Transfer In from Cagliari airport to the hotel
Guided tour in Cagliari and Alghero
Traditional Sardinian lunch with shepherds in Barbagia, surrounded by nature
Sardinian gastronomic experience in Capo Caccia, featuring local specialties
Traditional Sardinian lunch in the Gallura region, with a focus on regional delicacies
Discover the Nuragic Complex of Palmavera, a prehistoric treasure
Explore the vibrant murals of Orgosolo and the medieval town of Castelsardo
Free time to explore Porto Rotondo and Porto Cervo in Costa Smeralda
Transfer Out from the hotel in Olbia to the airport

Please reach out for the full itinerary and with any questions.
[email protected] or 0398240898.

Savour Sardinia in 7 days with 3 authentic local food experiences, stunning landscapes and culture on this 2026 small group tour! Enquire now!

31/05/2026

𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧.

Most itineraries rush from one winery to the next, treating the region like a checklist. But the real beauty of Chianti reveals itself in the pauses: a quiet village square in Montefioralle, the long shadows over the vineyards in the afternoon, a cellar visit that turns into a two-hour conversation.
The same goes for San Gimignano. Most travelers arrive for the towers and leave before discovering the details that make the town feel alive, the small artisan shops, the scent of saffron in local dishes, the light just before sunset when the streets finally empty.
Being a local means understanding not only where to go, but when to experience each place at its best.
Because in Tuscany, timing changes everything.
Planning a journey ? Let’s design the right pace together with the help of our amazing local suppliers Beautiful Liguria

30/05/2026

In the Shadow of the Dolomites Tour 2027.

Explore northern Italy's mountain cultures on this 13-day small group journey through the Dolomites and beyond.

This thirteen-day journey through northern Italy explores the landscapes and cultures that sit at the meeting point of the Italian and Alpine worlds. Beginning in Trento and continuing through the Dolomites to Castelrotto, Merano and the northern shores of Lake Garda, the itinerary moves through a sequence of mountain valleys, historic towns and lakeside settings, each with its own distinct character.

As the journey unfolds, there is a gradual shift in both landscape and atmosphere—from vineyard-covered hills and Renaissance cities to high alpine meadows and quieter mountain communities. Along the way, time is spent not only visiting key sites, but also experiencing the region through its food, local traditions and the rhythms of daily life. The pace allows for a balance of guided visits and time at leisure, making it possible to take in the setting without feeling rushed.

Tour Dates and Prices
7 – 19 June 2027
6 – 18 September 2027 – limited availability
$10,450 AUD per person (twin or double share)
$11,850 AUD per person (solo traveller)

Accommodation
Trento – Hotel America
Castelrotto – Hotel Lamm
Merano – Hotel Meranerhof
Riva del Garda – Hotel Bellavista
Rooms may vary in size, layout and outlook, particularly in historic or alpine-style properties. Final hotel selections are confirmed prior to departure, and where necessary, similar properties of an equivalent standard may be used.

What’s Included
Twelve nights’ accommodation in well-located hotels
Daily breakfast
A selection of lunches and dinners featuring regional cuisine
Wine (or non-alcoholic alternative) with included meals
Private transport throughout the tour
Entry fees to all listed sites
Local guides at key locations
Group transfers at the start and end of the tour
Experienced tour leader
What’s Not Included
International flights
Travel insurance (mandatory)
Local city taxes
Meals not specified
Personal expenses
Optional activities
Additional Information
The tour requires a moderate level of fitness, including walking on uneven terrain and at a steady pace.

Travel insurance is compulsory for all travellers.

Please reach out for more information and the full itinerary:
[email protected] or call 0398240898.

This thirteen-day journey through northern Italy explores the landscapes and cultures that sit at the meeting point of the Italian and Alpine worlds. Beginning in Trento and continuing through the Dolomites to Castelrotto, Merano and the northern shores of Lake Garda, the itinerary moves through a s...

29/05/2026

On our web-site for 2026 and 2027 we have some great Cultural Tours of Italy
Experiences That Go Deeper.

Have a look:

Led by expert historians, art specialists and wine connoisseurs, our special interest cultural tours allow you to immerse yourself in Italy's finest. Book now.

29/05/2026

Lunch under the lemon trees of Capri 🇮🇹🍋

27/05/2026

Sicily Small Group Carousel Tour.

Tour Type: Small Group Tour up to 20 people
Language: Exclusively in English
Duration: 8 Days / 7 Nights
Departure Dates Summer 2026:
From Catania on Saturdays

LOW SEASON (LS) HIGH SEASON (HS)
Aug – 29th May – 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th
October – 3rd, 10th, 17th Jun – 13th, 20th
Sept – 5th 12th, 19th, 26th

Rates:
Rate per Person Low Season High Season
In Double Room $3699.00 AUD PP $3899.00 AUD PP
Supplement for a single room $960.00
3rd pax in triple room on Request
Catania Sicily, Italy

Hotels:
Catania – Katane hotel 4**** or similar
Ragusa – Poggio Del Sole Resort 4**** or similar
Marsala – Baglio Donna franca Wine resort or similar
Palermo – Grand Hotel Piazza Borsa 4**** or similar
Taormina Hotel Splendid 4****
Hotel Caparena 4**** or similar

Optional Supplements:
Accommodation (Taormina) Hotel Splendid 4* Sea View Room: On Request
Accommodation (Palermo) G. Hotel Piazza Borsa 4* Deluxe Room: On Request

Rate Includes:
6 nights accommodation in 4* hotels
1 night accommodation in a Wine Resort
Welcome drink on day 1
Board in hotels: 7 Breakfasts and 2 Dinners (Catania on day 1 and Ragusa on day 3)
Mineral water (1/2 per person) at meals in hotel
1 light lunch on the way to Monreale (Day 5)
1 Street food lunch experience in Syracuse including a glass of wine
Cheese & Sicilian products tasting/ light lunch in Ragusa including water and a glass of wine
Panoramic tour by Baroque train in Ragusa
Almond pastries tasting in Erice
Visit of a cellar and wine tasting/light dinner at Sunset
Visit of a cellar and Wine tasting on Mount Etna
Transportation de Luxe motor coach* with Wi-Fi
a minivan with English Speaking driver, not equipped with Wi-Fi, will be provided if the
number of participants is equal to or less than eight
English speaking Tour Es**rt*
Local Guides where necessary
Whispers Kit (for group with more than 10 passengers)
Porterage at hotels
Staff assistance
Entrance fees as an Italy Touring bonus
Rate Does Not Include:
Transfers in/out
City Tax: to be paid directly at the Hotel.
Beverages (excluded water at meals in the Hotels)
Everything which is not clearly specified under” rate includes”

For full details please contact us at 6/145 Canterbury Road Toorak or call 0398240898.

Experience the Sicilian Carousel Tour in 2026. Discover the island's rich history, stunning landscapes, and vibrant culture on this immersive journey with expert guides!

27/05/2026

Puglia & Matera 8 Days Small Group Tour.

Embark on an exclusive adventure in the heart of Southern Italy. Our small group tour with max 8 people will take you into the extraordinary beauty of Puglia and Matera between visits to Unesco sites and typical local experiences. An exciting journey to discover this wonderful land between culture, hidden treasures and flavors. Professional transfers, 4-star hotel, complete organization, professional tour guides.

Tour Type: Small Group Tour of a maximum of 8 people

From-To: Bari > Bari

Tour Destinations: Bari > Trani > Castel del Monte > Matera > Alberobello > Polignano a Mare > Ostuni > Lecce > Otranto > Gallipoli > Bari

Duration: 8 Days / 7 Nights

Departure Dates 2026:

High Season
Month Dates

June 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th
July 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th
August 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th
September 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th
October 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th


Puglia Italy

Price per Person:

Category Price (AUD)
Double Occupancy $5,999.00 per person
Single Room $7,599.00 per person
Hotels & Accommodation:

City Hotels
Trani 2 nights in Trani in a boutique hotel in the historic center, with breakfast
Bari 3 nights in Bari in a 4★ central hotel, with breakfast included
Lecce 2 nights in Lecce in a 4★ hotel in the heart of the baroque city, with breakfast
Important to Know:

The tours are guaranteed with a minimum of 2 participants. If this number is not reached, there are two options: guarantee the tour with a supplement or choose to change the date, modify the tour or receive a full refund. The tour is bilingual (English and Spanish). The group is composed of a maximum of 8 people. However, during high season, a second minivan may be added, bringing the maximum number of participants to 16. In any case, transfers will always be made in minivans with a maximum of 8 people each.
Included:

Premium Private Transfers
All the transfers foreseen in the program, on board Reserved minivan with dedicated driver
Guided tours with local expert guides
Trani – between the Cathedral on the sea and the Jewish quarter
Castel del Monte – mysteries and geometries of the Emperor
Matera – the Sassi and the millenary history
Alberobello – the magic of the UNESCO trulli
Polignano a Mare – poetry on cliff
Ostuni – the White City and its views
Lecce – capital of the baroque
Gallipoli – a seaside village between the sacred and the profane
Otranto – the castle, the cathedral and the sea
Unforgettable food and wine experiences
Cheese tour: mozzarella & burrata workshop and tasting
Confetti Museum: greedy visit and tasting of traditional sweets
Extra virgin olive oil tour with tasting in the mill
Street food tour in Bari Vecchia: between street flavours and local stories
Typical aperitif in Trani with sea view
Typical aperitif in Lecce in the heart of the historic center.

For more information please reach out to us and we can answer questions and provide the full itinerary.

Email [email protected] or call 0398240898.

Experience the charm of southern Italy on the Puglia & Matera 8-Day Tour. Visit iconic towns, taste regional flavours, and travel in relaxed comfort.

24/05/2026

2027 Local Tour of Puglia

You might be wondering what benefits there are by joining a small group tour over travelling independently. The answer is very simple: plenty.
During your week’s trip with us, you’ll be based in the beautiful, gleaming white town of Ostuni or Monopoli, giving you the chance to get truly acquainted with this typical southern Italian town.
Unlike some other tours on the market where guests switch hotels every couple of days, at the end of each day of your tour, you’ll get to relax in the same place and experience the true Puglian lifestyle, meeting the local people and possibly making friends.
Another great thing about joining a small group tour is that you’ll get to meet like-minded travellers like yourself. Travelling on your own can get lonely, but on one of our tours you’ll automatically have new friends to share your Puglian experience with. You’ll visit the sights together, explore together and then, if you like, head out in the evening to sample some of the area’s delicious wine.
Puglia is a fantastic area to visit but if you really want to get off the beaten track and see some of its delightful villages and rural areas, it can be quite difficult on public transport. By joining one of our small group tours, you’ll have your own private driver who can take you to all the hidden corners of Puglia that you may not get to see otherwise.

Best of all, our tour guides are highly experienced and have a vast amount of knowledge about the Puglian region. So not only will you get to see all the great places Puglia has to offer but you’ll also learn a lot about our history and culture.
Accommodation
We require to base yourselves in Ostuni or Monopoli (date dependent) for the whole trip.
As accommodation is booked separately, an additional benefit of this tour is that you choose your own accommodations, so you can select a budget B&B or a luxury hotel – completely up to you.
We can help with booking accommodation, or you can book your own, but we do suggest running the accommodation by us as we can advise if the accommodation is located in a good area and accessible to the tour pick up.
In order to let you enjoy a relaxing breakfast with no rush at your accommodation, pick-up times for almost every day tour is at 9:30am, and some days at 9am.
Inclusions
Transfers: Private transfers to/from the airport are included. In case you arrive earlier than the tour begins, or you depart later than the tour ends, you will still be able to utilise your private airport transfer service.
Transportation: Driver and English-speaking tour guide for the day tours mentioned in the itinerary.
Food: Olive oil tasting (day 1) and light lunch at the cheese farm (day 3).
Activities: Entry tickets for the cave house and rock church visits in Matera, and the Basilica and Cathedral in Lecce.
Group Size
These tours have a maximum of 11 participants – if we reach more than 6 participants we use 2 separate minivans.
Using minivans instead of a bus also helps us reaching historic centres more rapidly and easily, therefore maximising our time at each place we visit. Minivans are allowed to enter historic centres (buses are not). This allows us to plan drop-off and pick-up points in very central areas of each place we visit.

Price
$2,799 per person (tour only, accommodation in Ostuni/Monopoli is booked separately).
2027 Dates
Please note this tour books out quickly from year to year, so we recommend contacting us as soon as possible to reserve your spot on your preferred tour.
Please see current availability below:
March – 7th, 14th, 21st, 30th
April – 5th, 11th, 18th, 25th
May – 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th
June – 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th
July – 4th
August – 22nd, 29th
September – 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th
October – 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st
November – 7th, 14th, 21st
Notes
This tour runs for 7 days including arrival and departure days, which encompasses 5 full days of touring.
While it might seem that there is much going on during our week-long tour of Puglia, we would like to remind you that we are big advocates of slow travel. This means that during our visits to the different places on the itinerary, we take a slow pace; after all, we want to enjoy everything the region has to offer, so there is no need to rush. We are mindful of the fact that some of our clients may have health or mobility issues; if this is the case for you, please let us know and we can adapt the tour accordingly, such as choosing routes with flat terrain, taking shorter routes, or slowing the pace down further. As this is a small group tour, we can be extremely flexible and the tour can easily be adapted to suit everybody’s needs.
If you are arriving in Puglia in the days before the start of the tour, we can arrange other transfer services for you as well as advise you on accommodation options and how you can spend your time. If you are arriving from other regions within the country such as the Amalfi Coast or Naples, private transfers can be arranged through us as an additional service. If you need help arranging your transportation to Puglia from other destinations in Italy, please do not hesitate to contact us; we are more than happy to assist you with any transport queries you have.

For more details please reach out to us at [email protected] or call 0398240898.

Visit Ostuni, Alberobello, Matera, Lecce, Polignano and Bari, with guided walks, coastal views and regional food tastings included on this tour.

23/05/2026

REFLECTIONS FROM OUR 2026
GREAT GARDENS OF ITALY TOURS

Ciao tutti,

This April, we had two departures of our Great Gardens of Italy tour departing within a few days of each other. Operating the same tour twice in quick succession often reveals something interesting: despite different group dynamics, tour leaders and personalities, certain places and experiences consistently leave a lasting impression on guests.

And interestingly, it isn’t always the major gardens or headline names that people connect with most strongly. Often, it’s some of the smaller moments along the way that stay with them longest.

The gardens that consistently stand out
Every time we run the garden tour, there are usually one or two gardens that a group particularly connects with. But regardless of the group or the conditions, there is one garden that almost always becomes a favourite: Giardino di Ninfa, in the countryside south of Rome.

We’ve been running this tour for well over ten years now, and Ninfa consistently comes up as either people’s favourite garden or a very close second. It appeals equally to serious gardeners and to people who simply enjoy beautiful places.

It’s difficult to explain exactly what creates such a strong reaction. Many guests already know of Ninfa before arriving. It featured prominently in Monty Don’s "Italian Gardens" series, and photographs of it are quite well known. But being there in person feels completely different.

The garden was created within the ruins of an abandoned medieval village, and there’s something very striking about the combination of old stone buildings slowly disappearing into the planting. Although the garden feels wild and natural in places, it is in fact very carefully maintained, and that balance between structure and informality gives the whole place a very distinctive atmosphere.

Interestingly, some of the more formal or historically significant gardens don’t always create the same emotional response. Villa d’Este in Tivoli, for example, is unquestionably one of Italy’s great historic gardens — grand, architecturally important and enormously influential — yet guests often find themselves more emotionally drawn to Ninfa.
Another garden that left a particularly strong impression was the Giardino Torrigiani in Florence. Unlike many of the larger public gardens, Torrigiani still feels deeply personal. It remains privately owned by the family, and visits need to be arranged in advance. For many years, guests were shown around by the Marquis Torrigiani himself, who was an exceptionally charming host. Today, family members still often guide our visits, and that personal connection gives the experience a warmth that guests really respond to.

It’s not just about the gardens
Although the tour is built around visiting some of Italy’s most beautiful gardens, creating a sense of balance has always felt important to us. We’ve never wanted the itinerary to feel like a checklist of gardens, moving quickly from one major site to the next without time to properly experience the places in between.

For one of the groups this year, a lunch in the countryside near Modena became one of the unexpected highlights of the trip. There was nothing particularly elaborate about it, just excellent local food and a dining room full of Italians enjoying a long Sunday lunch. But those are often the experiences people remember most vividly afterwards.

For the other group, a long lunch in a family-run trattoria in the Tuscan hills was probably the meal that people spoke about most afterwards. There was something very special about looking out over the rolling countryside and taking a pause between visiting two of Tuscany’s iconic gardens.

Another thing both groups seemed to really appreciate this year was the visits to smaller local producers along the way. Outside Modena, we visit a traditional producer of balsamic vinegar, where guests can see the long ageing process that goes into producing authentic Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale. Later in the tour, on the way from Verona to Lake Como, we stopped at a family-run producer in Franciacorta to learn about the region’s sparkling wines. Meeting the people behind these small producers and seeing the pride and care that goes into what they create gives guests a deeper sense of the culture and traditions of the regions we travel through.

Ending on the Italian lakes
By the time the tour reaches the Italian lakes, it feels important that the final days live up to everything that has come before. Fortunately, the Italian lakes rarely disappoint.
When the timing of the season aligns, and we arrive while the azaleas are in full bloom, visiting gardens such as Villa Carlotta and Villa Melzi makes for a particularly memorable finale to the tour. The combination of the lakeside setting, the mountain backdrop and the extraordinary spring colour creates an atmosphere that is difficult to forget.

Our 2027 Great Gardens of Italy tour dates are now available and we’re already taking bookings for next year’s departures.

This journey has been designed to explore some of Italy’s most distinctive gardens, travelling through a series of regions where landscape, architecture and history are closely connected. Over the course of the tour, we move between historic villas, countryside estates and smaller private gardens,...