I have always tried to live an extraordinary, adventurous life, one that I can wake up each morning and feel excited about. It started at age 19 and hasn’t stopped. The result has been a life that has taken off on many tangents and a diverse range of careers. The idea that was born fifteen years ago has become one of my greatest passions.

Italy captured my heart and soul from day one and has never let go. It’s much more than the beauty, history, culture and food. It is the life changing experiences and deep connections with people and places that have me yearning to return the minute I leave. I need to move to Italy!

The plan from the first tour in 2009 was to create a travel adventure that allowed complete immersion into the Italian way of life. The only way to achieve this was to travel in small groups; stay in family owned, authentic accommodation; buy local products in artisan owned shops; eat where the locals eat and travel to lesser known villages and towns. In places that attract a lot of tourists, but simply cannot be missed, experience has taught me that you can always escape the crowds.

The plan has never changed, except that it’s better now.

And what amazing friendships have formed over the years as so many people have chosen to return time after time to experience different parts of Italy and revisit favourite places with another Ciao Italy tour. Grazie mille!!

This year has been fantastic so far with four tours in May and June and two coming up soon in September and October. The only thing I have struggled with is saying no to people because the tours have been fully booked.

The reason for taking a different direction with this newsletter is twofold. Firstly, to share with you all of the tours that are scheduled in 2025 because many are close to being booked out. Travel has changed in the last two years with people booking much further in advance. This factor combined with a maximum of twelve people per tour; a lot of my accommodation places having only 6-8 rooms and many return travellers booking again as soon as they return from Italy means the tours fill quickly.

Secondly, I am so excited that my son, Sam will join me in the business as a Tour Leader. Sam has been living in Italy for a year now, during which time he has worked as a Tour Leader throughout Europe, but especially Italy. This means more tours, beginning with two tours of Tuscany/Italian Riviera/Lake Como in May 2025. Sam’s knowledge and experience with this particular tour is extensive and he speaks Italian!

If you’re yearning for an Italian adventure in 2025, there are 9 tours in 5 months.

APRIL

Sicily - Aeolian Islands: 18th April to 2nd May 2025

Imagine . . . Easter in Taormina, less tourists, three days on the gorgeous island of Ortigia, the best of the east coast and three days on the timeless Aeolian Islands.

MAY

Tuscany - Italian Riviera - Lake Como: 2nd to 16th May 2025

Tuscany - Italian Riviera - Lake Como: 14th to 28th May 2025

I love this tour for anyone experiencing Italy for the first time as it’s quite diverse, travelling through five regions and including the places one dreams about when thinking of Italy. It’s everything you imagine!

Matera - Amalfi Coast: 17th to 31st May 2025

Since first discovering Matera in 2014, I still can’t get enough of this ancient town in Basilicata. Only a three hour drive across the instep of the boot is the Amalfi Coast with its picture perfect postcard destinations.

JUNE

Lake Garda - Dolomites: 1st to 15th June 2025

There are so many places in Italy I believe everyone needs to experience at least once in their lifetime. The Dolomites will take your breath away! Majestic mountains, verdant green valleys and sensational walking trails, all reached by a network of gondolas soaring to 2000+ metres.

Matera - Puglia: 16th 30th June 2025

To stay in the Sassi, the magical historic centre of Matera, is an experience like no other. Only an hour away is the coast of Puglia, the land of 50 million olive trees and glorious, whitewashed medieval towns you won’t want to miss.

SEPTEMBER

Tuscany - Italian Riviera - Lake Como: 18th September to 2nd October 2025

OCTOBER

Matera - Puglia: 3rd to 17th October 2025

Sicily - Aeolian Islands: 17th to 31st October 2025

Itineraries for all of next year’s tours are finalised and can be emailed upon request.

5 most frequently asked questions

1. Where do the tours start?

   They all start in Rome with the exception of Sicily - Aeolian Islands in October, which begins in Naples. If possible, I recommend arriving the day before the tour starts and am happy to organise your accommodation at our hotel in Rome.

2. What if I want to stay longer?

   The tours are designed with only one day in between one finishing and the next starting to make it easy to combine two or more tours. Or choose one tour and extend your holiday either before or after to visit other destinations.

3. Can you book my flights?

   I don’t do it personally, but can recommend a great Travel Consultant that I used to work with.

4. How fit do I need to be?

   Love this one! Whether it’s Rome, a medieval hilltop town, the Cinque Terre or The Path of the Gods on the Amalfi Coast, we walk. We walk to get away from tourists; to seek quiet hidden streets and neighbourhoods; to find paths not frequented by tourists and to have local experiences. A moderate level of fitness walking at a moderate pace means you can walk 4 - 5.6 kilometres an hour. It’s always a choice as to how much walking you want to do, but no individual walk is more than three hours. Remember, Italy is hilly and there are lots of steps. I can promise you that you will be able to do more if you include hills and steps in some pre-holiday training!

5. What should I pack?

   The newsletter on Clever Packing will help. Believe me, no-one ever says “I wish I had packed more”. It’s the exact opposite. Everyone needs to be able to manage their own luggage, as you may have to walk 10-15 minutes along cobblestoned streets because our driver is not permitted to drive inside the historic centre of a small town.

FALL IN LOVE WITH ITALY IN 2025!!

Ci vediamo la prossima settimana.

Deb