Follow old trails through ancient hamlets and past impressive castles on the Francigena Way, the Italian Camino, between Ivrea and Pavia. From Canterbury in England to Rome in Italy, the 1900km "Francigena Way" dates back to the 11th century when pilgrims travelled across Europe on foot to visit the site of Martyrdom of St Peter and St Paul in Rome. With the modernisation of Europe and the shifting of borders the route became obsolete, until a recent revival of the pilgrimage making it one of the most exciting pilgrimage trails in Europe today. This section travels through the plains of Piedmont. From March to May the rice fields are flooded and treat you to a wonderful view of the "chequered sea". At other times of the year you will spot herons and egrets. The trail continues into the Lombardy region before ending in Pavia. Here you can enjoy the artistic wealth of Pavia's old town, while reveling in the vivacity of the student quarters.
Walking tours
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Lombardy & the Lakes, Pavia, Ivr
Lombardy & the Lakes, Pavia, Ivrea, Viverone, Santhia, Vercelli, Mortara
Captain Zoran and his responsible crew gave our group of 12 the most amazing trip of a lifetime! We had to reschedule due to Covid and Zoran honored everything from the original trip and went above and beyond to make this anticipated experience a high-end luxury vacation on Korcula Island in June 2022...from the Soul Sisters Villa, the daily island excursions on the yachts, the buggy tour of Korcula, along with the awesome food and transportation...it was all seamless due to the coordination of Captain Zoran and all of his local contacts in the community! Roko, along with the rest of the crew members, became a part of our extended family. We had high expectations going into the trip and they were pleasantly exceeded in all aspects...including personal communication from Captain Zoran each day about our unforgettable daily adventures.
Croatia is a beautiful country and this local travel specialist is the only way to experience it if you want to come home with memories that make you want to go back there tomorrow! We wish them only the best as they prosper in the future tour seasons!
Dok se open ne vidimo, Hrvatska! (Until we see you again, Croatia!)
Adventure
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Villa
Age Range
18-90 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Dubrovnik, Split, Hvar, Korcula
Dubrovnik, Split, Hvar, Korcula Island, Korčula, Mljet, Hvar Island, Lastovo Island, Blue Cave
We loved how quiet and well marked the trails were, along with the detailed trail descriptions provided. The small towns we visited were an unexpected treat as well. For a coastal walk, there was an amazing amount of variety from cliffs, to beach, and through fields. The ability to easily take a bus or tram from place to place if desired, was an added benefit. The accommodations were nice (especially those rooms with a sea side view!) and the people friendly.
Trekking and Hiking
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Resort
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Isle Of Man, Douglas, Castletown
Isle Of Man, Douglas, Castletown , Port Erin, Peel , Jurby , Ramsey , Laxey
The Ring of Kerry is one of the most beautiful parts of Ireland and doing a walking trip is one of the best ways to see it. This trip gets you well away from the tour coaches that take over the roads of this area and you will see a different side of the country you might not experience even if driving it yourself. The 6 days of walking takes in most of the Kerry Way and the tracks take you through national parks, farmland and along coastal paths. Staying at B&Bs in little towns, this trip gives you a taste of true Irish hospitality.
Very good tour. The places visited were very interesting and the scenery was magnificent. The hotels were good and the group of people we travelled with were lovely. would have to be the best tour guide we have ever had. Her passion for her job is infectious. Our driver was also amazing.
Cultural, religious and historic sites
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Lodge
Age Range
5-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Dublin, Killarney, Ring Of Kerry
Dublin, Killarney, Ring Of Kerry, Galway, Connemara, Cong
The story of Anne Frank is known around the world thanks to her diary describing the period that she, her family and 4 others spent in a secret and hiding from Amsterdam’s German occupiers. This tour goes beyond that and will tell you about her time before and after; as a complete story of her life.
Because of many movies, theatre plays and books, the part of her life in hiding in the hidden Annex is very well known. Less known is her life as a young girl that moved from Frankfurt am Main. This happened because of the upcoming anti-Semitism. Her father, Otto Frank, moved his family to the (what he believed to be) safe Amsterdam. They arrived in 1933 and settled on the square Merwedeplein. Anne Frank spent her happiest moments at this square and its surroundings.
During this walking tour we will take you back to the places that were important to Anne Frank in her childhood. We show you where she went to school and the bookshop where she bought her famous diary. Explore the area where she played outside and discover the house where Otto Frank’s secretary and most important helper; Miep Gies lived for many years. Miep Gies handed the diary over to Otto Frank after the war. She also saved a number of the family’s personal belongings after the Germans raided the house.
Otto Frank was reluctant to publish the diary a first, but when he read in the diary that it was his daughter’s wish to publish it, he allowed to publish the diary in June 1947.
The tour takes place in the south of Amsterdam, where you will have the opportunity to become acquainted with an area of the city that you would otherwise not see as a tourist. This area was constructed in the 1920-30ties and was based on revolutionary ideas of city planning, architecture and social housing.
THIS TOUR DOES NOT VISIT THE ANNE FRANK HOUSE IN THE CENTER OF THE CITY
Walking tours
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
We really enjoyed the cycling in Istria. The roads were in great shape for road bikes and had very little traffic except getting in and out of Pula which is to be expected. There were lots of places to stop for cappuccino, snacks and lunch, bikes were a perfect way to visit so many villages in the hills and on the coast. The hotels were great with variety from resort style hotels to boutique hotels in the old towns. The luggage transfer was smooth. We were given maps, an app and gpx files so we were never in danger of getting lost.
Scotland's natural beauty and its historical legacy were the highlight of the trip. Many photos of the countryside were taken and will be used in creating original paintings. I appreciated as well the many occasions we had to hear history from the point of view of the Scots. An excellent balance between nature and human knowledge.
Journey by foot through the little-known region of Tuscany between Pontremoli and the walled town of Lucca along the Via Francigena, the Italian Camino. The Via Francigena has experienced a recent revival and is now one of the most exciting pilgrimage trails in Europe. This section of the trail takes you through a little-known region of Tuscany. Starting in Pontremoli, in the heart of the Lunigiana region where the green hills are dotted with fine castles, you will descend to the sea in Versilia. Enjoy the coastal scenery as you walk along the sandy beaches and during the warmer months you can happily stop for a swim en route. Leaving the coast behind, you will head back toward the Tuscan hills. You can visit the fascinating artists' workshops in Pietrasanta, known as the Italian Athens, which rests at the foot of the Apuan Alps. The highlights continue as you reach the walled town of Lucca, one of the most captivating old town centres of Tuscany.
This walking holiday is based in the wonderfully unspoilt Euganean Hills, tucked in a quiet corner below the beautiful medieval city of Padua, west across the plain from Venice. Once volcanic islands, these hills have a striking conical appearance; they are cloaked in an astonishing variety of plant life including holm oak, maple, orchids, heather and poppies and have been recognised as a National Park. The lower slopes give way to colourful meadows and immaculately groomed vineyards so it's little wonder the region produces such a fine variety of wines!
Starting in the tiny hamlet of Cortela, nestled amongst vines, you head across poppy fields and through forests to Valnogaredo. You discover the jumbled cobbled streets of medieval Arqua Petrarca, where the famous 14th century Italian poet, Petrarch, made his home, before continuing through fertile fruit orchards to Galzignano. A convenient stone's throw from the Italian Baroque gardens of Valsanzibio, there's time to explore its magnificent maze before a series of outstanding views leads you to panoramically perched Teolo.
Santorini and Naxos are two of the most beautiful islands in the Cyclades but here is where the similarity ends. Santorini feels like no other place on earth: an ancient island that endured one of the largest volcanic eruptions in history. Here everything is bright like the whitewashed cube-shaped houses, the lapis lazuli sea and the sunsets that light up the caldera. Whilst the towns and beaches are understandably popular, the walking opportunities on the island are numerous, through volcanic landscapes and along spectacular cliffs along a series of mule tracks. Naxos on the other hand is the largest of the Cyclade islands with some of Greece's best white sand beaches, a smattering of ancient ruins and a lively town. Away from the coast, life has changed little in the last century. Traditional farming practices abound in a landscape of fertile valleys home to 1000 year old olive groves and impressive mountains beckoning to be climbed. One day is spent ascending the highest mountain of the area: Mt Zas. From its summit enjoy breathtaking views of olive-orchards set in sharp contrast with the deep blue Aegean Sea. The pace of the holiday is dictated by you, with plenty of opportunity after the walks to swim in the sea or hotel pool, wander through markets in the small towns and relax at a taverna to watch the sunset.