A Rome highlight every time is our four hour vespa tour with scooteromatours
Travel is so accessible now that sometimes the hardest decision is where to next. Extensive research on the internet can become overwhelming and doesn’t always prepare you for tourist pitfalls that can spoil a holiday. With limited time, not a day is to be wasted and we want it all! Immersive experiences, places away from crowds, delicious food, authentic accommodation, fitting in as much as possible without being rushed, meaningful connections with locals, falling into the rhythm of a different culture . . . and so much more.
Of course you know that for me Italy has it all. No surprises there. Here’s the interesting thing. People travel to a different country, place, culture and then tick it off their list. Not Italy. Over the last fifteen years, so many of my travellers have returned to Italy on another Ciao Italy tour, and for that I am eternally grateful.
It would take a lifetime to experience all that Italy has to offer because, as you’ve heard me say before, every one of its twenty regions is extraordinarily diverse. From north to south, east too west, the landscape changes dramatically. Food, wine, culture, history, celebrations and traditions all differ from region to region.
The five very different itineraries in 2026 are designed and created to offer the best of many different regions seen through the eyes of a local.
There are six reasons why the initial concept of Ciao Italy has never changed
We travel in small groups of no more than twelve so that we can visit small towns and villages; sleep in family owned, beautiful B&Bs/Boutique Hotels in the heart of town; eat in the hidden trattoria where nonna is cooking; visit local artisans in their tiny shops.
Three night stays promise local immersion and time to explore.
Choice of activities every day cater to the adventurous or those who are happy to explore at their own pace.
A focus on being active and discovering paths less travelled.
Private transfers to most destinations to maximise time and include experiences in places difficult to reach.
Back to back tours to make it easy to experience more of Italy without wasted days in between.
We are so ready!
I’m always excited at the beginning of the year, simply because I know what’s coming up. Although detailed on the website, here’s a recap of the tours for 2026:
Tuscany/Italian Riviera/Lake Como: 17th April to 1st May
It’s spring with sunny, mild days and all the places on everybody’s wish list that are not so crowded this early in the season. These two weeks are a feast for the eyes and a seduction of the soul, from the rolling hills of Tuscany to the gorgeous cliff hanging villages of the Cinque Terre and the most beautiful lakeside villages of Lake Como.
Spots available.
Matera/Amalfi Coast: 1st to 16th May
What a contrast of regions and places this tour offers. To stay in one of the oldest cities on the planet and succumb to the history of Matera, a place that man never left, is truly remarkable. To then travel three hours across the instep of the boot to the Amalfi coast highlights how extraordinary this country is. This is a carefully planned itinerary that allows you to experience Positano, Amalfi, Ravello and Capri without being overcome by tourists.
Spots available.
Sicily/Aeolian Islands: 18th May to 1st June
A melting pot of culture and food over the centuries, five islands and three active volcanoes make this tour irresistible. From the pulsating energy of Naples to the beauty of mountaintop Taormina, beautiful baroque towns once destroyed in the earthquake of 1693 and the feeling that time has stood still in an archipelago of seven islands, this is a tour of many surprises.
Spots available.
Lake Garda/Dolomites: 1st to 15th June
Beginning in Rome, we have three glorious days in romantic Verona before arriving in stunning Riva del Garda, nestled in the northern tip of Lake Garda and surrounded by majestic mountains. The ferries crisscross the lake allowing us to visit other beautiful UNESCO listed villages. Within two hours via private transfer we arrive at our small village in a picture perfect valley in the heart of the Dolomites. Over the next five days we explore a breathtaking landscape of green valleys and jagged mountains via a network of cablecars, gondolas and easy walking trails. It is remarkable.
Spots available.
Tuscany/Italian Riviera/Lake Como: 16th to 30th September
As above. Four spots left.
Matera/Puglia: 1st to 15th October
Matera sits just inside the border of Basilica and Puglia, so an ideal opportunity to experience the oldest city in Italy before exploring the land of 50 million olive trees. I’ve come to know many of Puglia’s whitewashed villages well in 2025 and can’t wait to be back. A different land with wonderful food, incredibly friendly people and a lot of new experiences waiting in wonderful places that roll off the tongue - Locorotondo, Alberobello, Ostuni, Cisternino, Polignano a Mare, Monopoli, Lecce, Otranto, Gallipoli and more.
Two spots left.
Sicily/Aeolian Islands: 16th to 30th October
As above. Consider this a perfect time as the season draws to a close. The weather is good, everything is still open, but the tourists have started leaving. Almost a surreal feeling on the Aeolian Islands.
Two spots left.
There are so many reasons to love Italy! Get excited and plan a remarkable travel adventure this year. I am back in Noosa on 12th January, so please get in touch if you would like to know more or have questions about any of the tours.
Ci vediamo la prossima settimana.
Deb