From the hallowed Basilica of St. Francis to the glorious Sistine Chapel, discover why Italy is a bastion of Catholicism. Spend time at the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, the beloved saint’s hometown. Stay two nights in San Giovanni Rotondo. Reflect at the Grotto of Michael the Archangel. Discover the cathedral of Salerno and the abbey of Montecassino. Explore the burial sites of the Catacombs where the early Christians hid and venerated their dead. Attend the weekly Papal audience and receive the blessing given by the Holy Father. Discover Michelangelo’s Last Judgment mural and explore St. Peter’s Basilica. See the world’s most inspirational sites and relics on a journey through the rolling hills and lively cities of Italy.
Art and architecture
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
1-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Rome
Rome
9% OFF TODAY
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Embark on a captivating journey that takes you from the piazzas of Rome to the canals of Venice. Discover the rolling hills of the scenic Tuscan and Umbrian countryside. Explore medieval hill towns and visit Assisi, the birthplace of St. Francis. Spend time at a historic winery in the heart of the Chianti region and enjoy a chef-led cooking class with lunch. Discover the masterpieces of the Renaissance in Florence. See glass transformed into exquisite art on Murano Island. Linger in iconic Venice for 2 nights. Journey to the shores of glamorous Lake Como. Encounter a land rich in history, culture, art, and romance.
Wonderful trip. It was amazing to be able to travel from one hill town to another, each one so different from the others.
Highlights of our trip included an art exhibit in Perugia on how medieval artists perceived nature - absolutely beautiful and we had the place to ourselves, quite a contrast to the crowds at the Uffizi; staying in a 14th century pilgrim guest house in Assisi; walking out to the aqueduct bridge in Spoleto; hearing all the bells in Narni suddenly start ringing when the new Pope was elected and running outside along with everyone else to find out what had happened; and, my husband would say, the wild boar stew he ate that evening at a restaurant in the square.
Logistics were well organized and the routes well planned. It was a challenging route, however, with many steep climbs. We were glad we reserved e-bikes. There were also a number of places with poorly maintained roads, quite a bit of springtime road construction, and some areas where the route took roads with heavy traffic. Italian drivers were quite considerate, though.
We had a great time and were sad to go home. We could have stayed in each town longer, and will hopefully return to Italy soon.
Bicycle tours
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Rome, Florence, Trasimeno Lake
Rome, Florence, Trasimeno Lake, Perugia, Assisi, Clitunno, Narni
On this self-guided, hotel-to-hotel walking holiday, you'll explore the beautifully tranquil Langhe region of Piedmont, a gastronomic gem quietly tucked into Italy's north-western corner. Recently recognised by UNESCO, the countryside is a glorious mix of gently rippling, wave-shaped hills cloaked by layers of vines, sunflowers and oak forests, crowned with honey-hued hamlets and majestic Savoy castles.
Your route starts and ends in Benevello, nestling in the hazelnut-clad Alta Langa hills, from where you follow the limpid Tanaro River before climbing through a string of hamlets to your hotel in Fontanafredda, a renowned wine estate that was once owned by the first king of Italy! It's then on to La Morra, an atmospheric wine village known as the balcony of the Langhe for its stunning panorama over the surrounding rolling landscape. As you approach beautiful Monforte d'Alba, whose ochre-coloured houses seem to cling enchantingly to the hillside, you visit Barolo, home of the revered eponymous wine. This rich and fertile land produces some of Italy's finest food and wine, from robust Barolo and sweet Moscato to aromatic white truffles (exclusive to Alba), crunchy hazelnuts and tangy cheeses.
On a journey through the less-traveled country roads of Umbria and Tuscany, discover another side to the Italy you love. Stroll Assisi’s old city, and explore the Umbrian hill town of Spoleto, where the gilded façade of the cathedral rivals with the silvery sheen of the olive trees. Visit Florence, the “Cradle of the Renaissance.” In Siena, stand inside one of Tuscany’s most ancient piazzas. Admire the famous towers of San Gimignano and hunt for truffles in the Umbrian countryside. Delight in regional specialties and Italian wine with every dinner. Feel like a local as you discover the marvels of wine, cuisine, culture, and history.
Countryside and village visits
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Villa
Age Range
1-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Rome, Tuscany, Chianti, Umbria
Rome, Tuscany, Chianti, Umbria, Pienza
7% OFF TODAY
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'Walking Lake Como' was an amazing trip - booking and the pre-trip organisation was efficient and seamless, information about the trip was detailed and accurate (although it does help to read it properly so you don't end up waiting at the wrong terminal at Malpensa Airport wondering where everyone is!), our tour leader, Peppe, was brilliant - kind, considerate, super well-organised, funny and we felt very safe with him in charge. The Hotel Regina was comfortable and the staff without exception very friendly and helpful, and the views of the lake are fantastic. Sitting on the terrace with a prosecco or Aperol spritz after a challenging day's walking, as the sun slips behind the mountains, was a real treat. I found the walks maybe a bit more challenging than I expected (some of the descents were quite steep, but nothing that a good pair of boots and poles couldn't handle), so you do need a decent level of fitness and walking experience, I think. Overall, a great experience and we'll definitely be looking at other, similar trips.
Active and outdoor
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Rome’s history and the Amalfi Coast’s beauty? A perfect combo! From the Colosseum to Positano’s breathtaking cliffs, this trip was straight out of a postcard
City sightseeing
Tour Type
Independent TourTypically a private tour undertaken by one or two travelers
This was my fifth Explore holiday - the fourth cycling tour I’ve done - and they’ve all been so good I’ve had no hesitation in booking with you again. I think the stand-out feature of each tour has been the guides we’ve had on each trip - they’ve all been excellent without exception and have dedicated every waking moment of each tour to making sure each has run perfectly and participants are happy. Our guide in Puglia - Massimo - was great. He was always cheerful, encouraging, kept us well informed of plans and was very knowledgeable about the region. He also took excellent photos and videos of our trip which he was happy to share. Great memories of an excellent holiday!
Bicycle tours
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Discover the rolling hills of Tuscany, home to sprawling vineyards, charming medieval hill towns, and enchanting cities. Savor a 7-night stay in Montecatini Terme, the famous resort and spa town. Visit Pisa, Florence, and San Gimignano, nestled in the Italian countryside. Discover the charming town of Lucca, Italy’s best-kept secret. Enjoy free time in Montecatini or see the Gothic Line of WWII and visit the Museum of Liberation. Explore the cultural treasures of Florence. Partake in a Tuscan cooking class. Sample cheese at the farm where it is made. Enjoy fabulous local wines and the region’s famous cuisine. Steeped in history, culture and legend, this is Tuscany as you always imagined it.
Art and architecture
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Resort, Hotel
Age Range
1-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Montecatini Terme
Montecatini Terme
11% OFF TODAY
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This tour was a welcome change from the fast paced touring of the big cities. We became familiar with the topography and vegetation as we hiked daily, also visiting towns known for wines and cheeses. The town of Chianciano provided a magnificent backdrop to our accomodation of Agriturismo La Pietriccia. We were awakened every morning to the rooster crowing. Stefano was an attentive and knowledgeable host. Plenty of food was served at the 4 course suppers. I feel this tour was necessary to complete my knowledge of the culture of Italy!
The trip was fabulous -beautiful places , lovely hotel and friendly warm staff , excellent food wine and our leader Veriano was so kind engaging fun and made the trip even more enjoyable and our group was fabulous. Would go back tomorrow! Highly recommend it!
Trekking and HikingBeach
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Hut, Villa
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Amalfi Coast & Campania, Bomeran
Amalfi Coast & Campania, Bomerano, Atrani, Sorrento, Mount Vesuvius, Conca Dei Marini, Naples, Amalfi
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