Welcome to Wild Sage!
Buongiorno and welcome to the Wild Sage travel and news blog!
This new blog will feature updates, news, and tips for global travel, plus fun stories from around the world. For our first post, we’re celebrating THREE YEARS in business! 🎊🎈💃
Happy Third Birthday to Us!
We just celebrated our 3rd Birthday and can’t believe how much we’ve done since signing the papers in a Notary’s office in Viterbo. Here are some of the key moments in our history so far:
- December 2022: we came up with the name Wild Sage while hiking in a primeval forest in Puglia. It was hard to find something that wasn’t already taken, and we were given the advice to choose something that had nothing to do with the travel business. So we tried to find something that evoked nature, cuisine, and some feminine charm. 😍
- January 2023: the website needed a landing page, so we took inspiration from Tuscany’s vibrant spring green
- March 2023: our first tour was in Sicily! What a beautiful way to start!
- By May we were with a group in Sardinia and Corsica, and our tours continued into the Fall
- February 2024 we went to our first trade show, the BIT in Milan
- In the past 3 years we’ve taken almost 300 people on tours throughout Europe — and beyond!
- We’ve run tours throughout Italy: from Puglia to the Dolomites, Venice, Tuscany, the Cinque Terre, Sicily, Sardinia, Umbria, Lake Como, Piedmont and more!
- Our roster began with tours in Greece, Croatia and Corsica and then we added Turkey, Portugal, Morocco, Cuba, France, and Slovenia… where are we going next??
Frequently Asked Questions about Wild Sage Tours
What Kind of Tours do we Do:
We offer both active and cultural (non-active) tours, so you can choose a tour that suits your style. Our active tours go from easy walks to challenging hikes, and can included cycling, e-biking, some kayaking or water sports, and even paragliding (see our Turkey tour). If you like an easier pace, choose a tour without an “active” component but still with lots of walking around cities, archaeological sites, or strolls by the beach.
Can I Design My Own Tour:
We specialize in custom tours for small groups, so you can choose your destination, your date, and your travel style and we do the rest! You see more about What we Do here.
Or Contact Us to set up something special for you and your friends or family!
Can I Join an Open Tour with Other People on It:
Although we specialize in custom tours, we do have some “open” tours where anyone can sign up. We put them on the OPEN TOURS page on our website (though sometimes it’s not up-to-date if things change a lot, so it’s always best to contact us directly.
What’s the Minimum and Maximum Number of People for your Tours:
Ideally our groups would have a minimum of six people since smaller groups are more expensive, but we have run tours for four and even two people. The maximum is usually 14 though we can stretch it to 16 if circumstances require it.
How Do I Sign Up and What’s Your Cancellation Policy:
We don’t have an online booking system so you can email us when you’re ready to sign up. We’ll send you a contract to sign and then we require a deposit (usually around €500). It’s non-refundable since we have up-front costs and non-refundable expenses ourselves, so that covers any initial outlay and office work on our side. Final payment is due 90 or 100 days before the tour start date, and you can pay by credit card or bank transfer. The cancellation policy from that point goes from 33% to 50%, 75% to 100% as you get closer to the start date.
🌞🍋💙🍷😋🎈😎
Want more? You can peruse Claire’s TRAVEL BLOG that she did for a few years, including packing tips, the churches of Florence, highlights of Pompeii, as well as our favorite tour photos!
Article by Claire Duiker, Wild Sage co-founder and tour leader