We offer fully guided multi-day tours of different activity types. Choose one of our scheduled departures or ask us to start a new or private departure for your group!
What We Do
Walking & Hiking
We can design tours for almost any walking level (depending on the terrain, of course!), and have tours that go from easy outings to the challenging Alpine hiking of the Dolomites mountains. The activity level on our scheduled tours is clearly defined so you know what awaits you, and it’s also possible to opt out of an activity if it’s too strenuous for someone in the group (we can easily set them up at a cafe with a glass of wine ).
Cycling & E-Biking
Some of our guides are also cyclists, and they’d be happy to show you around on two wheels. We can usually find road bikes for rent in most destinations, or try an e-bike, which allows all of the fun with a fraction of the effort (though don’t be fooled… you still have to pedal!), or you can get a simple upright “hybrid” style bicycle.
“Light Active” Tours
You don’t have to go on a “hike” to get your steps in, and sometimes a full day out in a city or exploring an archaeological site can be just as “active” as an organized walk. We’re also aware that we’re not as young as we once were, so we’re happy to offer tours that are softer on our aging bodies. So you may climb 100 meters (300 ft) to visit a Spanish castle, or wander for two hours over Ancient Greek ruins, or climb to the roof of a Medieval Cathedral to see the view. That’s still “active” in our book!
Thematic Tours
You can choose from a variety of thematic elements to design your tour around, like:
* food and wine
* art and architecture
* history and archaeological sites
* local traditions and artisans
* or… you tell us!
How it works:
* Choose one of our scheduled tours or ask us to set up a tour for you (ideally min. 6 people but we can get started with fewer). Let us know your preferred activity level and cultural interests and we’ll try to set up the perfect tour for you. From challenging hikes to city strolls, and from road biking to a day on a catamaran, in sea kayaks, at the museum, or just a classic “road trip,” we’re open to all kinds of tours (as well as mix ‘n match).
DESTINATIONS:
ITALY
Our guides have traveled throughout Italy for work and for play, so they know all the best places to go explore. Here are some of the regions we can take you:
* Tuscany: Land of cypress trees and rolling hills, verdant vineyards and hilltop towns, Tuscany has so many beautiful things to see that we’ve developed a variety of itineraries. See classic Chianti or get off-the-beaten-track in the southeast or along the coast. Claire has lived in Florence for over 20 years and Manu lived in Siena for almost as long, so we know our Tuscany well!
* Puglia: The tourists have finally found Puglia and some destinations are already well-trodden, but we just spent a few weeks exploring some of the more remote destinations and we can’t wait to show it to you! Start and end in Bari, central hub of “the heel of the boot” of Italy, then explore a handful of UNESCO World Heritage sites as you indulge in the food and wine
Spring and Fall departures possible! See the tour page for more details.
* Piedmont: This region in northern Italy has so much delicious food and wine that we could do a tour based solely on that (see Stanley Tucci’s episode on “Searching for Italy” and you’ll see what we mean!), but Manu and Melissa just put together a fabulous new walking tour. See the tour page for details!
* Dolomites: Nothing can prepare you for the awesome spectacle of the Dolomites mountains in northern Italy, whose soaring limestone peaks jut out high above you as you walk on narrow paths or in wide green valleys. Pair the sights with rich South Tyrolean food and the local German-speaking culture and you’ll feel a world away from the rest of Italy! We have two different itineraries. See our classic Val di Gardena & Ampezzo trip or the new (and slightly easier) Val di Funes & Rendena! We have two departures in our summer calendar for 2026.
* Liguria/Cinque Terre: We’ve guided hiking tours in the famed Cinque Terre for 25 years but know there’s a lot more to see in Liguria. And we know how to show you the best while avoiding the crowds!
* Naples/Amalfi Coast: Southern Italy beckons with its bright sunshine and terraced lemon groves, and Naples is one of Italy’s most vibrant cities. Add a trip to Pompeii or Herculaneum, a few days on the islands (Ischia, Procida, Capri) and a limoncello in Amalfi and you’ve got a winning holiday!
* Sardinia: This wild and rugged island has a fascinating history that goes back to Neolithic times, and if the history doesn’t get you the miles of white-sand beaches will. Manu lived here as a child and it will always hold a special place in her heart. We have a guaranteed departure for May 2026 that only has a few spots left!
* Sicily: The biggest island in the Mediterranean, Sicily is a rich treasure trove of natural beauty and historical sites. Come for the Greek temples and Baroque hilltop towns, stay for the fabulous food and wine. Try our classic itinerary or our new version which skips the Ragusa area in favor of Mt. Etna and Taormina!
* Sicily WALKING TOUR! We have a marvelous round-the-island 10-day tour planned for April 10-19, 2026. Contact us for more information!
* Lazio/Rome and outskirts: Manu lives in Rome and has been exploring all of the wonderful sites that can be reached from Italy’s capital as day-trips (or as a multi-day tour through Lazio).
* Venice and surroundings: We took a big research trip to Venice in 2021 and found all sorts of fabulous things to see and do that were not gondola rides (not that there’s anything wrong with it 
). Explore the local traditions, see the surrounding islands, and take a day-trip into the rolling vine-clad hills that give us the bubbly Prosecco.
* Umbria: This central region of Italy has so many beautiful towns that it’s hard to pick only a few! From the ancient hilltop town of Perugia to the former Etruscan stronghold of Orvieto, you’ll find a rich history as well as some of Italy’s best food and wine.
* and still to come: Abruzzo, Le Marche, Molise, and lots more!
OTHER DESTINATIONS:
We’ve traveled throughout Europe and around the Mediterranean, so we also have tours in:
* Portugal: We have a new Algarve multi-sport tour that offers beautiful hikes and a day on sea kayaks. Start in Lisbon and spend a week on Portugal’s southern coast! We’re also working on a hiking tour in the Azores Islands (also part of Portugal) for June 2027, so stay tuned for that!!
* Cuba: we now have both cultural and walking tours to Cuba that are open for U.S. citizens! Claire & Manu accompanied our first ever Cuba tour in March and LOVED it. We have room on our February 8-18 departure in 2026, plus a new WALKING TOUR.
* Mexico: we’ve just added a Mexico trip to our roster and can’t wait to see it in person! Start in Mexico City and see “magical towns,” try delicious food and wine, and see a Monarch Butterfy nature preserve.
* Greece: We love Greece so much we’ve been there on vacation and vowed to never leave. From the islands to the mountains to the historical sites (and the FOOD!) it’s a vacation paradise. NEW DEPARTURE for May 25 (or May 23) 2026. Contact us if you’re interested!.
* Morocco: Claire did our first Morocco in October 2024 and Manu joined her on our 2025 departure and loved it! We’re already starting a group for 2026 (Oct 8 – 21) but are going to change the itinerary a bit, so contact us for details!
* France: We just put together a brand-new walking tour in Provence, southern France, that Melissa is going to run next May 2026. It’s part Classic (Avignon, Les Alpilles, St. Remy) and part WOW (the Pont du Gard Roman aqueduct, and the flamingoes and cowboys of the Camargue). Claire and Melissa started their careers doing tours in Provence so we’re always happy to get back to la douce France!
* Croatia: A short hop across the Adriatic, Croatia still feels quite different from neighboring Italy — even though it was under Venetian control for centuries! Come explore the islands, mountains, waterfalls, and charming port towns of this rich nation. We have a private departure for a lovely group next May.
* Jordan: We’re dreaming of adding a tour to the ruins of Petra and the desert of Wadi Rum in Jordan, so watch this space!
* Turkey: we had a request for a private trip to Turkey in 2023 and were delighted to return to the glittering blue waters of “the Turquoise Coast.” Start with 3 marvelous days in Istanbul and then spend a week exploring the southern coast on your own private wooden yacht!
* Spain: There is so much to see in Spain, we feel we’ve only just scratched the surface — but give us time and we’ll add more to our roster!