ITALY SMALL GROUP TOUR 2019 INFORMATION:
OUR MAJOR TOURING LOCATIONS-
Our Exclusive and intimate tour (14 travelers max), offers the chance to fully immerse yourself in the local culture. We'll stay in unique & boutique accommodations, reflecting the style of the region and savor local cuisine. We'll discover hidden gems and participate in once-in-a-lifetime, memorable activities.
We'll visit: Milan, Cinque Terre NP, Pisa, Florence, Tuscany (San Gimignano/ Lucca/ Siena/ Monteriggioni), then we continue to Cortuna, Assisi....and finally on to Rome.
For this tour, we're planning 8 nights, moving at a slower pace, so we'll have more time to shop, plan spontaneous stops, browse and have fun!
DATES-
September 14th, 2019- September 22, 2019
PRICING-
$2,200 per person (based upon double occupancy).
Final Payment is due 60 days prior to travel.
(*$300 Single Supplement additional cost- if you're rooming solo)
OUR TOUR INCLUDES-
Personal driver/and guides for 9 days (Markus German & Jenifer Campbell). Transportation in an a/c van including gas, parking, road fees. Beautiful selected accommodations (small type, authentic Tuscan hotels) for 8 nights. Each hotel includes your Breakfast. Your driver/guides will show you the highlights along the route, and will ensure we don´t miss any of the wonderful “hidden gems”. We will travel in one or two 9 person luxury vans (depending upon the final size of our group). This will allow us to have access to city centers and areas where a large bus/coach would not be allowed to enter. This will also allow us to have a bit more room then a single 12 person van would allow. Please be mindful of the space restrictions for luggage and use a small or medium size suitcase and a backpack or day bag. Our guide/drivers will gladly be available to help with communication and interaction with all of the hotel staff, restaurant staff and shop people! (Although please keep in mind, both guides are not fluent in Italian).
NOT included in your tour price: Airfare, lunch & dinner; entrance fees and other personal expenses. The Small Group Tour will begin on September 14, 2019. Additional costs on available tours that you can pre-pay and skip the lines on, are NOT included. You are NOT obligated to purchase ANY of these additional tours, you may opt to do independent exploring (on your own) as long as you do not disrupt the group transportation from one site to another.
Entrance fees vary depending on what you like to see/visit:
The Big Ones like the Uffici and Galleria Accademia at Florence are around Euros 30 each; Vatican museum, Sistine chapel & St Peter is about Euros 60 Total.
Boat ride Chinque Terre NP is about Euros 25.
NOTE- These prices will vary, depending on the final selected ticket provider. (Italy runs a bit more complicated on pricing. Many different 3rd party providers selling the same tour for different prices. It’s hard to get an actual price, so we're offering you an approximate price listed above).
PLEASE NOTE-
Should you choose to arrive earlier than our official tour begins, we have 2 nights availability at a hotel pre-reserved for our group. If you choose to arrive early, those first 2 days/nights in Milan are NOT part of the cost of this tour (you may want to arrive early and visit Milan on your own, at your own pace, prior to when our Group Tour Begins). Please let us know ASAP if you don't have your hotel rooms booked so that we can arrange for this for you.
OUR TOUR'S ITINERARY-
Sept 14, 2019
Meet our driver guide at Milan airport/ down town. Ride to the Cinque Terre National Park.
Drive through La Spezia to Portovenere, and catch a relaxing boat ride there to cruise along the coast to see the beautiful colorful villages.
Night in San Gimignano
Sept 15, 2019
Today we´ll visit Pisa and the city´s highlights at cathedral square. See the Duomo, Baptistery and Campo Santo.
We'll make our way to the famous leaning tower – if you wish you may climb the 294 spiraling steps to admire the panoramic views or simple stroll the local area.
In the afternoon our tour will take us to Lucca, a typical Tuscan village, surrounded by a town wall. (renting bikes and ride on top of the town wall all around the old town center, might be a fun, additional option)
Back to San Gimignano for the night
Sept 16, 2019
After breakfast we explore Florence –
Visit the Accademia Gallery to see Michaelangelo’s David, the Uffizi Gallery, Ponte Vecchio and Piazzale Michelangelo.
Night in San Gimignano
Sept 17, 2019
Today the tour will lead us to Siena; one of the most famous towns at Tuscany. Visit the Piazza del Campo, the Duomo de Siena, the Palazzo Publico and the Basilica di San Domenico.
Our driver/guide will lead us and offer wonderful highlights of this beautiful small town. Guided tour by a local Siena guide can be arranged (upon request).
On the way back to San Gimignano we will stop at Monteriggioni. This small and walled hamlet on top of a hill provides great panoramic views of the typical Tuscan landscape. This afternoon might leave us some time to enjoy a wine tasting in a Tuscan winery.
Night in San Gimignano
Sept 18, 2019
Now we will head towards Cortona and Perugia. Stroll charming Cortona (setting of the movie – “Under the Tuscan Sun”) for lunch and explore Palzzo Comunale and Santa Margherita Sanctuary. Possibly more wine tasting….
We will continue to Perugia in the afternoon. Visit the Palazzo dei Priori, the Duomo, Fontana Maggiore and enjoy your time at this Umbrian village.
Night in Perugia/ Assisi area
Sept 19, 2019
Today we will visit the town of Assisi. Tour the Convent of Santa Chiara, The Basilica of San Francesco and learn about the life of St. Francis of Assisi; then head towards Rome area. Possibly more wine tasting…
Night in Rome area
Sept 20, 2019
Today we will visit the Vatican. We will arrange a tour by a local city guide to show us the Vatican museum, Sistine chapel and St. Peter´s Basilica.
Night in Rome area
Sept 21, 2019
This day we may use the hop on hop off bus (additional cost), or just walk the highlights of Rome´s ancient town center, since we can´t use the van to get around, due to the local restrictions.
Night in Rome area/ airport close hotel
Sept 22, 2019
Depart Rome for home. Time to plan our Next Small Group Tour....Destination Unknown!
ONLY 2 SPACES LEFT- To Book this Independent Group Tour to Italy, contact Jen Campbell of Escape Destinations Travel at: 910.379.4033 or fill out the contact form below for a return email, within 1 business day.
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