Italy Food Tours

Italian Escape was an amazing fast paced trip with free time add ons which immersed you in the culture of the locals. We also had an incredible tour guide who was very calm, attentive and did his best to get to know everyone and ensured each person got to make the most out of their trip. Along with the social aspect of contiki, we got to see and do a lot which was worth the investment into the trip.

This tour was an amazing way to experience the heart of Tuscany. The itinerary was perfectly balanced with cultural visits, delicious food and wine experiences, and plenty of free time to explore or relax. Some highlights for me were the guided tour of Siena, where we tasted incredible pastries made from unique local recipes, the pasta-making class in Chianti with a warm and welcoming family, and the wine tastings at beautiful family-run estates where we learned so much about what we were enjoying. Our day in Florence was equally wonderful. The hotel in Pancole was cozy and inviting and all the family and staff were so welcoming, and our tour leader made everything smooth and enjoyable. A fantastic trip filled with unforgettable memories!

Fantastic walking holiday. The leader Matteo Giordan was lovely. Very knowledgeable, helpful, well organised & conscientious , & made everyone feel included-he made the holiday. He set up the group info app first thing so we all had information, meeting times etc easily available. -It also provided an easy platform for sharing photos! He included some lovely local activities like visiting a farm to understand more about their annual schedule & arranged a local homecooked traditional meal at his parents farm which was delicious!

Awesome weather, views and walking routes, stops and time to explore. Excellent tour guide, local knowledge, able to answer all questions, great briefings. Made the whole group welcome. Perfect accommodation, and food. Great base and easy bus or boat trips to start / end. Low season is a wonderful time to explore Amalfi coast, valleys, history and agriculture. No crowds. Great suprises of food and local people to introduce aspects of the local food, farming and music culture. Walking the paths and lots of steps is rewarding in this beautiful natural environment with a feast of architecture and views.

A fantastic trip with Explore on the Amalfi Coast. It is so much more than just a walking holiday. Our guide, Matteo, shared so much information about the history and background of everything we saw. He was engaging, had a great sense of humour, looked out for everyone and was very kind. He worked hard to make sure everyone had a great time. Our itinerary was varied, and each day was interesting with some good surprises. The hotel was very good, run by a lovely team who were very welcoming and helpful. Our dinners in the hotel were delicious.

The host family was lovely, accommodating and friendly. Each meal was delicious and served with warmth and smiles. Our guide, Pete Meyers, was knowledgeable confident and very conscientious. All of our 16 tour members had his attention and focus throughout the week. The areas of the hikes and visits were all stunning and filled with beautiful views, experiences and food!