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Active tours to Italy
www.intrepidtravel.com
www.gadventures.com
www.infohub.com
www.reiadventures.com
www.djoserusa.com
www.activegourmetholidays.com
www.ciclismoclassico.com
Adventurous and sporty tours of Italy, from bike tours and countryside walks to mountain treks and horseback trips
Whether its a bike tour of Sicily or a walk along the Cinque Terre, a horseback ride through Tuscany or a hike through the Italian Alps or Dolomites, there are plenty of opportunities to have an active vacation in Italy.
Active tours in Italy from trusted partners
- Walking & trekking tours
- Bike tours
- Sailing tours
Walking and trekking tours in Italy
Cost: from $949
Book:
CINQUE TERRE COASTAL WALK
Destinations: Cinque Terre
Isolated from the rest of Italy by the impressive landscape, you're here to hike. The rugged villages of Cinque Terre still remain a world away from the bustle of Rome. Follow coastal trails and discover villages clustered on windswept cliffs and perched above beautiful coastlines. Hike and swim by day and sample the fresh seafood and local delicacies by night. For the active traveller who wants to experience a real slice of Italian life, this compact adventure tops the menu. ...
- Included activities: Cinque Terre National Park 3-day pass, Riomaggiore - Monterosso coastal trail hike, higher-level full day walk in the National Park
- Accommodation: all locally owned simple pension (4 nts)
- Meals: None included; budget €190-250
- Transport: Train, walking
- Group size: Max 12, Avg 10
Cost: from $1,400
Book:
Chianti Walking & Wine
Destinations: Florence, Siena, San Donato - Tuscan farmstay, Greve in Chianti, Volterra, Colle di Val d'Elsa
Get to know Tuscany, one of Italy's finest wine regions, by walking through vineyards, quaint towns and impressive gothic architecture. Stay at a working farm that produces premium Tuscan wines and olive oil. Visit the medieval town of San Gimignano, peruse the museums of Siena, get a personal lesson in Tuscan wine making, check out the ancient ruins of Castelvecchio and shop at the markets of Greve. Take the time to get under the skin of this gorgeous landscape and use your own two feet to explore....
- Included activities: Guided walks each day (countryside or small town), Palazzo Comunale, Tuscan Wine School - 2 hour private lesson, Wine tasting
- Accommodation: Agriturismo/farmstay (7 nts)
- Meals: 7 breakfasts, 5 dinners
- Transport: Bus, Minibus, Train
- Group size: Max. 15
Cost: from $1,199
Book:
TREKKING IN TUSCANY'S GARFAGNANA
Destinations: Garfagana Valley, Tuscany
Pnce you’ve seen, smelled, felt and tasted northern Tuscany, you’ll want to devour as much of it as possible. This journey into Garfagnana—one of Italy’s top trekking regions—offers plenty of exercise for mind, body and soul alike. Over eight days, you’ll hike the unspoiled mountains by day, learn to prepare delicious local cuisine in the evening and put your well-used feet up at the end of it all to soak in the simple pleasures of country life....
- Included activities: Four local hikes, visit to traditional produce suppliers, home cooking experience, 6 home cooked local dinners.
- Accommodation: Small locally owned farmhouse/agriturismo (7 nts)
- Meals: 7 Breakfasts, 6 dinners; budget €120–150 for other meals
- Transport: Walking, minivan/car
- Group size: Max 12, Avg 8
Cost: from $1,400
Book:
Walking in Tuscany
Destinations: Garfagnana Valley, Tuscany
Embark on walks through the Garfagnana Valley, an area of Tuscany that is well away from tourist crowds. Enjoy forest walks, captivating views over mountain terrain, exploring hilltop villages and traipses through the woodlands of the Orecciella Natural Park. Get a different taste of Italy on this Tuscan walking tour....
- Included activities: A series of day walks from a lodge base nestled serenely among the mountain wilderness
- Accommodation: Lodge (7 nts)
- Meals: 7 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 5 dinners
- Transport: Minibus
- Group size: Maax 14
Cost: from $1,317
Book:
MONT BLANC EXPLORER
Destinations:In Italy: Courmayeur, Planpincieux; In France: Chamonix, Lac du Miage, Le Buet, Les Houches, Les Contamines
Description...
- Included activities: Four escorted mountain walks.
- Accommodation: Hotels (7 nts)
- Meals: 3 Breakfasts; budget €240–315 for other meals
- Transport: Train, bus, minivan
- Group size: Max 12, Avg 10
Cost: from $1,499
Book:
LOCAL LIVING ITALY: AMALFI COAST
Destinations: Amalfi, Furore, Positano, Ravello, Valle delle Ferriere, Pompeii, Naples
Charming hilltop towns, acres of lemon groves and vineyards, mile after mile of stunning cliffs kissed by cobalt-blue waters… its official name is the Amalfi Coast, but this magical land answers to ‘heaven’. On this trip, you’ll live like one of the region’s (incredibly lucky) locals, discovering the small towns, mountain trails and local customs of this uniquely beautiful place. Explore the ruins of Pompeii in the morning, hike the coastline of the Med by afternoon, and tuck into bed at your converted 17th-century monastery homebase at sundown...
- Included activities: Guided tour of Pompeii, Three days of organized hikes, Visit to Amalfi and Ravello, Scenic boat ride from Positano to Amalfi, 6 home-cooked dinners using local organic produce, pre-dinner cooking experience at the Agriturismo every night, group transfer to Amalfi on Day 8
- Accommodation: Hotel (1 nt), small, locally owned guesthouse/agriturismo (6 nts)
- Meals: 7 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch, 6 Dinners
- Transport: Local bus, minibus, boat, walking
- Group size: Max 16, Avg 12
Cost: from $2,110
Book:
Mont Blanc Circuit
Destinations: Italy: Courmayeur, Planpincieux; France: Chamonix, Le Bossons, Les Frasserands, Val Montjoie, Les Chapieux; Switzerland: Trient, Champex, La Fouly
Undertake one of the most dramatic walks in Europe. No amount of training can prepare you for the staggering beauty and degree of diversity that is contained within the Mont Blanc Circuit. Postcard perfect villages, cerulean glaciers, striking alpine vistas, challenging passes and rewarding days await on this walking adventure through France, Italy and Switzerland...
- Included activities: Guided trek
- Accommodation: Camping (with basic facilities) (13 nts), Camping (with facilities) (1 nt)
- Meals: 14 Breakfasts, 10 Lunches, 13 Dinners; budget €150 for other meals
- Transport: Cable car, Walking
- Group size: Max 16
Cost: from $1,317
Book:
TREKKING MONT BLANC
Destinations: Italy (Coeurmayeur), France (Chamonix, Les Contamines, Les Chapiuex), Switzerland (Val ferret, Champex, Trient)
Experience the rarified air of Europe as you trek the Alps from France to Italy and Switzerland on this active 10-day adventure. This challenging hiking circuit will reward you with mesmerizing views of glaciers, steep valleys and, of course, Mont Blanc itself. Travel across high passes and through Alpine meadows and recharge at night with delicious mountain cuisine in simple refuges. Challenge yourself to conquer one of the world's premier hiking circuits and uncover the alpine heart of Europe on this incredible journey...
- Included activities: Seven days of escorted mountain hikes (demanding)
- Accommodation: Hotels (2 nts), basic hotels (2 nts, possibly multi-share), mountain refuges (5 nts, multi-share)
- Meals: 7 Breakfasts, 5 dinners; budget €240–315 for other meals
- Transport: Local bus, walking, cable car
- Group size: Max 12, Avg 10
Cost: from $1,399
Book:
TREKKING IN THE DOLOMITES
Destinations: Calalzo, Cortona d'Ampezzo, Canazei, Bolzano
Beloved by mountaineers and nature lovers alike, the Dolomites sit perched atop northern Italy like a rocky crown. This exhilarating trip through the mountains features day treks through some of Italy’s most unbelievable scenery, with plenty of visits to small villages along the way to soak up the unique local Ladin culture and cuisine. Nights are spent in mountain refuges, where your hosts will ply you with hearty home-cooked meals. Eat up; you won’t find tastier mountain-trekking food anywhere else...
- Included activities: 7 escorted day hikes in the Dolomites, 6 hearty home-cooked dinners of local produce, transfer between Calalzo to Cortina and to Bolzano
- Accommodation: Mountain huts/refuges (6 nts), hotels (3 nts)
- Meals: 9 breakfasts, 6 dinners; budget €160-200 for other meals
- Transport: Train, bus, walking, minivan
- Group size: Max 12, Avg 8
One-week cycling tours of Italy
Cost: from $1,020
Book:
CYCLING IN TUSCANY
Destinations: Siena, Chianciano Terme, Pienza, Montepulciano
In a country famed for its extensive (not to mention delicious) culinary traditions, Tuscany is top dog. And what better way to work up an appetite for all those gastronomic delights than by taking a leisurely ride through some of the most gorgeous countryside you’ll find anywhere? On this trip, you’ll explore the gently rolling hills and tiny villages of this idyllic patch of Europe from the seat of a bike, then dig in to expertly prepared meals and flavourful wines drawn from the land you’ve spent all day traversing. If you really are what you eat, expect to become exquisite....
- Included activities: Cooking class of local organic produce, winetasting with local meats and cheeses, cycling in Tuscan countryside including visit to Pienza, Montepulciano and Siena.
- Accommodation: Small locally owned farmhouse/agriturismo (6 nts)
- Meals: 6 Breakfasts, 6 Dinners; budget €120–170 for other meals
- Transport: Local bus, train, walking, cycling
- Group size: Max 12, Avg 8
Cost: from $1,580
Book:
Cycle Siena & Chianti
Destinations: San Quirico, Pienza, Montepulciano, Bagno Vignoni, Siena, Castellina in Chianti, San Gimignano, Greve in Chianti, Florence
Cycle through Tuscany and explore some of Italy's most endearing countryside. Ride through Italian vineyards, quaint hamlets and small villages full of culture and a friendly local atmosphere. Admire classic gothic architecture lining lively market squares. Try traditional Italian cuisine, full of flavour and unmistakeably different form the copycats around the world. Finish in the stunningly beautiful city of Florence, full of classic artwork from the likes of Raphael, Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci...
- Included activities: Guided bike ride through Tuscany
- Accommodation: Hotel (7 nts)
- Meals: 7 breakfasts; budget €300 for other meals
- Transport: Bicycle, Support vehicle
- Group size: Max 16
Cost: from $1,670
Book:
Cycling in Sardinia
Destinations: San Salvatore Sinis, San Giovanni Sinis, Tharros, Piscinas/Costa Verde, Nebida, Sant'Antioco, Isola di San Pietro, Sant'Anna Arresi, Pula
Cycle over some of the most untouched, breathtaking coastal roads in Europe. Witness flocks of flamingos preening in the lagoons of the beautiful Sinis wetlands. Visit the ancient city ruins of Tharros. Spend a night in a charming agriturismo. Be wowed by the 400-foot-high seat stacks of Pan di Zucchero...
- Included activities: Guide bike ride the length of Sardegna
- Accommodation: Hotel (6 nts), Guesthouse (1 nt)
- Meals: 7 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches; budget €150 for other meals
- Transport: Bicycle, Ferry, Support vehicle
- Group size: Max 16
One-week sailboat tours in Italy
Cost: from $791
Book:
Sail Italy - Procida to Amalfi
Destinations: Amalfi, Pompeii, Torre Annunziata, Naples, Ischia, Procida
Set sail across the sparkling waters of the Mediterranean on an Amalfi Coast Sailing adventure. Cast off from the oldest island in the Bay of Naples, Procida, which has featured in a number of films thanks to its pastel-coloured houses and quaint, atmospheric streets. Explore the medieval fortress Castello Aragonese near the vibrant island of Ischia and bathe in ocean hot springs. View original artefacts from Pompeii at the Archeological Museum in Naples before roaming through the 2,000-year-old city itself, and end the adventure on a high – on a cliff top in Amalfi, gazing out across the azure seas and bright blue skies...
- Included activities: Sailing!
- Accommodation: Overnight boat (3 nts)
- Meals: 3 breakfasts, 2 lunches; budget €90 for other meals
- Transport: Sailboat
- Group size: Max 8
Cost: from $791
Book:
Sail Italy - Amalfi to Procida
Destinations: Amalfi, Capri, Pozzuoli, Procida
Cast adrift along the breathtaking Amalfi Coast and travel to the glittering jewels of the region - Capri, Pozzuoli and Procida. Visit the home of mythical sirens, the ancient holiday homes of great Roman emperors and the spectacular Blue Grotto. Hike along historic trails past olive groves, vineyards, lemon orchards and charming villages; dive into the deep blue waters of the Mediterranean; and sample mouthwatering Italian regional cuisine on this remarkable Amalfi sailing adventure...
- Included activities: Sailing!
- Accommodation: Overnight boat (3 nts)
- Meals: 3 breakfasts, 2 lunches; budget €90 for other meals
- Transport: Sailboat
- Group size: Max 8
Cost: from $1,402
Book:
Sail Italy - Amalfi Coast
Destinations: Amalfi, Capri, Pozzuoli, Procida, Pompeii, Torre Annunziata, Naples, Ischia
Imagine carefree days sailing from one stunning island to the next through the glistening Mediterranean. This awesome voyage along the spectacular Amalfi coast gives you the lot - gorgeous beaches, ancient ruins, beautiful landscapes, picturesque villages, sumptuous fresh seafood and chilled out waterfronts. The perfect escape to taste some of the best this region has to offer...
- Included activities: Sailing!
- Accommodation: Overnight boat (6 nts)
- Meals: 6 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches; budget €180 for other meals
- Transport: Sailboat
- Group size: Max 8
Active tour operators in Italy
REI Adventures (www.reiadventures.com) - America's greatest co-op chain of outdoors gear stores also offers active vacations all around the world. Though their real strong suit is domestic adventures, their catalog does hit all seven continents—including several classic Italy hikes (Cinque Terre, Tuscan Hilltowns, Mt. Vesuvius to Mt. Etna).
REI tours do tend to be pricier than most, but come with impeccable credentials and glowing reviews. They can be ideal for those for whom being active on their trip is as important as the destination itself.
Intrepid Travel (www.intrepidtravel.com) - This fantastic Australian company marries an independent travel style (staying in cheap guesthouses, traveling by public transport) with the expertise of truly knowledgeable guides.
Intrepid has a larger than usual commitment to sustainable tourism, and travels in tiny groups, often limited to 8-12.
Intrepid is a bit less about the physical activities and more about the cultural experiences. There are usually around 30–35 Italy trips on tap each year—though half of those will be longer overland treks across Europe and/or the Middle East (with Italy making up just a slice of the two– or three-week trip), and a handful are self-guided walks (no group to follow, just you, your itinerary, and your pre-booked accommodations).
Intrepid really does run a different breed of group tour. Let me put it this way: When my parents—who travel widely and on their own and normally would never have even considered taking a group tour—suddenly found themselves with airfare to Japan but no time to plan a trip, I suggested they try booking with Intrepid. They did—and they have raved about it every since. Nearly seven years later, they still keep in touch with their guide via email.
G Adventures (www.gadventures.com) - G Adventures boasts 1,000 trips in 100 countries, from the more tour-like Comfort and Original trips to the gnarlier Active and Overland ones. G Adventures also believes in smaller group sizes.
Drawbacks: no airfare (yet), and quoted prices are not as inclusive as some others (read the fine print to find out about lots of on-the-ground costs, often including most meals).
They offer between 15 and 20 Italy trips each year (see box on the right)—some focused more on sightseeing; others more physical and active (lots of hiking and biking), and a few include Italy as part of grander overland treks across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa.
InfoHub (www.infohub.com) - Not a tour company, rather a kind of aggregator of trips offered by tour companies. It casts one of the largest nets over the industry, listing some 14,000 tours offered by 4,000 operators in more than 100 categories—everything from artists' workshop to llama trekking, nudist resorts to biblical tours, language schools to personal guide services.
InfoHub's search engine returns results listed by trip rather than by company (for example, it lists nearly 100 bike tours in Italy, but those are offered by just 15 companies). Still, I guess if you could care less the name of the outfitter and are just looking for a selection of 10-day bike tours across Tuscany and Umbria, this is the best way to do it. You don't book trips directly. You are essentially sending away for a brochure (or a contact) from the actual tour companies.
Djoser (www.djoserusa.com) - Perhaps since they're Dutch (and Europeans get longer vacations), Djoser offers longer trips and looser schedules, admirably not trying to pack too much into too short a time. You get to pick your group style: travel with other North Americans or with an international group (some conducted in English, others in Dutch and English). Always two or three Italy trips on tap—mostly walking tours, and mostly in Southern Italy and Sicily.
Ciclismo Classico (www.ciclismoclassico.com) - The best and biggest bike tour outfits serving Italy, started by a Cornell anthropology grad (which has nothing to do with anything other than I am one, too—but I would recommend this outfit regardless). Though they now offer rides in other parts of the world, Ciclismo Classico started in Italy and it is still their hallmark product, with more than 30 tours ranging all across the peninsula from 6 days in Tuscany to 11 days biking across Italy, and a follow the Giro d'Italia race to Easy Pedaling in Puglia.
» more on Bike Tours
Active Gourmet Holidays (www.activegourmetholidays.com) - Mixing active pursuits—walking and biking, mostly, with some golf and yoga—with one-day cooking classes, longer cooking courses, wine tasting, and other culinary adventures. Nifty idea.
When you want just a day of adventure, not a whole tour
Sometimes you just want a one-day bike tour of the Tuscan countryside, or a simple half-day walking tour through Ancient Rome. Any tourist office in Italy will be happy to share with you the local outfits who can provide this service. Here are some active adventures from our partner Viator that last only a few hours or one day.
- Rome
- Florence
- Venice
- Pisa
- Milan
- Bologna
Related pages
- Bike tours
- Walking/hiking tours
- Horseback vacations
- Tours FAQ (what questions to ask, are tours right for you, etc.)
- Educational tours (cooking, language, art/history/cultural, study)
- Special interest & niche tours (family, seniors, student, women, gay/lesbian, religious, handicapped, singles)
- Escorted group tours
- Design your own group tour
- Private guides
- Vacation packages (air-hotel, air-car, untours)
Search ReidsItaly.com
This material was last updated February 2011. All information was accurate at the time.
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