Wild Sage guides have decades of experience and a passion for travel that they love sharing with our small groups
About Us
Our Story
Welcome to Wild Sage!
Wild Sage was created by two experienced guides whose careers were derailed by Covid. After 20+ years of working for someone else, Manu & Claire decided to take it to the next level and start their own company. We design active and cultural tours for small groups that offer a perfect blend of nature, culture and cuisine. Go active with a walking or cycling tour, or just explore with a more relaxed pace. We’re a refreshing alternative to the many corporate agencies out there, with new ideas and women at the helm with a lifelong passion for travel.
Contact us to set up your dream trip!
What’s in a Name?
After a long search for a company name (it’s hard to find something that captures your vibe and isn’t already taken!) we turned to nature for inspiration. On a lovely hike through a forest in Puglia we started listing off plant names and eventually hit on sage. It’s simple and evokes cooking aromas from warm kitchens and herbal brews, but it also means “wise,” so we’re the Wild Wise Ones, tapping into decades of experience while reveling in every adventure as if for the first time. We’re so proud of our new venture and hope you’ll join us!
Meet the Team
Founder & Tour Leader
Manu was born in Genoa but has also lived in Sardinia and Tuscany before settling permanently in Rome. She’s passionate about travel and has taken grand voyages to the Galapagos Islands and Australia as well as many smaller trips around Europe; she even lived in California for a time! Originally a student of biology, she worked in wildlife management in Tuscany before becoming a full-time guide over 20 years ago. Since then she has developed and guided tours throughout Italy, and she is a licensed tour leader. She won the “Top Guide” award from the U.S. outdoor outfitter REI, for whom she led tours in Italy. Her interests include art, nature, wildlife, good food and wine, and making new friends. You can find her out on the trail nuzzling all the wild donkeys.
Founder & Tour Leader
Claire was raised in Pennsylvania but wanderlust eventually drove her out into the wider world. Her travels have taken her almost everywhere, from Albania to Zanzibar, and she lived in China, France, and Belgium before finally settling in Florence after becoming a guide in Tuscany in 1997. She has a PhD in French Literature and Philosophy but happily abandoned academia for a career on the road. Her guiding experience includes walking, cycling and cultureal tours, and she especially loves the ones that allow her a post-hike swim (and she won REI’s “Top Guide” award a year after Manu did!). She’s also a serious history nerd, so when she’s not on the trail you can find her reading every single sign at the Archaeological Museum.
Tour Manager & Guide
Melissa is originally from Michigan but has been living in Florence for over 20 years. She has guided tours throughout Italy and France and is fluent in both languages. A passionate cyclist and hiker, her real calling is in the Visual Arts. She has taught drawing and painting in Tuscany for years and recently completed her MFA. Melissa can often be found at contemporary art shows that raise interesting questions about life, beauty, and the human condition.