8 Days / 7 Nights 

Private Package

*Possibility to extend the stay 

DAY 1: Benvenuti in Italia: Arrival at Milan Malpensa international airport and private transfer to a fabulous country resort in the Langhe area, check in and accommodation. Free time to freshen up and relax, then get ready for a special “Welcome Dinner” accurately prepared by the resort’s master chef. Overnight. Meals Included: Dinner.

DAY 2: Turin – Crown Of Delights Of The House Of Savoy: Breakfast at the resort. Today we’ll discover what weaves together two thousand years of history with the architecture, people and events that marked it. Todays itinerary explores the main attractions of the historic city center such as Palazzo Reale, regal home to the kings of Italy, San Giovanni’s Cathedral, where the Holy Shroud of Turin is kept, and Piazza San Carlo, the cherished baroque piazza so elegant that locals call it their “formal living room”. Along the way will stop in one of the many historical cafes to savor cappuccino or renowned “bicerin” (hot chocolate, coffee and cream) and sample local pastries. No pressure will be our motto. Do not forget to ask your private guide for advice on selected eateries and shops.
Turin is home to a number of Castles and Royal Palaces of remarkable historical and artistic value, which are part of an architectural and urban design plan intended to create an ideal frame around the city, collectively known as the Crown of Delights of the House of Savoy.
This afternoon, your local guide will lead you through some of these majestic palaces, part of the UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites; the most grandiose and famous is the La Venaria Reale (the “Versailles” of Turin), a monumental complex dating back to the mid-17th century. The estate consists of an 80,000 sq.m. Palace, 60 hectares of gardens, 3,000 hectares of fenced and protected parkland (Parco Naturale La Mandria) and the adjoining Old Town. Together they make up a single architectural and environmental continuum that offers a shiny example of European Baroque.
The next stop of the “royal tour” will be the Stupinigi Hunting Lodge (Palazzina di Caccia di Stupinigi), a sumptuous building dating 1729; place of leisure and hunting, it was the favorite spot of the Savoy family for spectacular parties and solemn marriages, as well as being the residence of Napoleon in the early 19th century. Return to the resort, tonight’s dinner will be in a typical restaurant in the surroundings. Overnight at the resort. Meals included: Breakfast, dinner.

DAY 3: The Langhe: After breakfast at the resort, leave for a full day excursion of the Langhe and Roero district: ancient towers and castles, dating back to various ages, that dominate the succession of vineyard covered hills. In this area, the grape farmers’ wine cellars produce and age some of the world’s most unique wines such as Barolo, Barbaresco, Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto, Arneis and Moscato, just to mention those among the most important. The excursion will take you on the Barolo trails to Monforte d’Alba through the vines that give life to the most precious “cru”. Arrival in Monforte d’Alba and have a walking tour of the old part of the village, “Saracca”, historical center that gave hospitality during the Middle-Ages to the “Catari” community (followers of the Catharism movement, remembered for a prolonged period of persecution by the Catholic Church, which did not recognize their belief as being Christian).
Lunch will be independent, at a local restaurant, where you can taste the typical local cuisine. The tour continues to the small villages of Novello and Barolo, to visit their historical center. At the end of the tour you must be quite thirsty and anxious to taste some of these wonderful wines, so we planned a Barolo wine tasting at a family-owned winery. With more than 80 wineries, each with its own unique wine style, setting and history, Barolo offers special adventures for everyone. The flavor of this unforgettable wine along with stunning landscape views and behind the scenes tours of wine cellars and caves, will let you live a unique experience. Return to the resort, dinner and overnight. Meals included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 4: Alba – Truffle Hunting: Breakfast at the resort. This morning you will visit the annual International White Truffle Fair of Alba, the town’s centro storico fills with the world’s greatest chefs and food enthusiasts; the event includes a truffle auction (by invitation only), a truffle market and a truffle fair. The market, with white truffles and a whole host of truffle-related produce, takes place at weekends, the fair, on the other hand, serves as a showcase for Piedmontese specialty foods.
If the International Truffle Fair is not running during your trip, we’ve planned an alternate morning itinerary. After breakfast at the resort, board your minivan and go for a half day guided tour of one of the oldest of the Savoy residences, the Castle of Moncalieri, located just a short way from Torino, it rises in all its restrained monumentality to guard the River Po. Built in the medieval period for defense purposes, it was transformed by the Savoy into a “place of delight” by extensive enlarging and embellishing. Much loved by the women in the House of Savoy, such as Queen Marie Adelaïde and the princesses Clotilde and Laetitia, the castle was a place for holidays, where the education of the young princes was imparted and also the setting for ludic events: fragments of history and reminders of the family still linger in the royal apartments, connected to the huge park that extends over the hill.
Independent lunch, and in the afternoon, you will go for a truffle hunting experience: To the uninitiated, truffles may just be foul tubers.  But to the gourmand, it represents the ultimate in culinary delights, with some epicureans declaring that they have the fragrance of the gods.  Although found in France, northern Spain, and other parts of Italy, the region around Alba is considered the quintessential truffle capital. Your half-day truffle hunt with your local expert truffle guide begins at the doorway of one of the region’s finest wineries.  After a brief walk through the vineyards to enjoy the scenic views, you’ll be off in the woods exploring with your truffle expert and his trained dog. You will learn how to analyze truffles from a technical and sensory point of view, as professional truffle tasters do. Then, you’re full-immersion into the world of truffles will continue with a terrific truffle dinner, accompanied by the best wines from the Langhe. Return to the resort, overnight. Meals included: Breakfast, dinner.

DAY 5: Cinque Terre: After breakfast at the resort, you will leave Piedmont heading to Liguria, the last region in North Western Italy, before entering France. This region features impressive mountains and lovely rolling hills, colored by the green Mediterranean turf and overlooking the Ligurian Sea. The two are divided by a high, indented coastline. 
Arriving Liguria, the first thing this morning, will be a tour of the Cinque Terre: a string of five fishing villages perched high on the Italian Riviera, which until recently were linked only by mule tracks and accessible only by rail or water. You will board the ferry and make stops in the five villages: Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. An ancient system of footpaths is still the best way to visit these beautiful villages. The Cinque Terre is noted for its beauty. Over centuries, people have carefully built terraces to cultivate grapes and olives on the rugged, steep landscape right up to the cliffs that overlook the Mediterranean Sea. Each town has a distinct character, but all share a similar aesthetic: narrow, tower-like pastel-colored houses cluster atop one another in an appealingly hodge-podge pattern, and steep streets are interrupted by staircases cutting through the towns’ historic centers. The scenery in Cinque Terre is simply breathtaking. This beautiful area was recognized in 1997 by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, and today it is a National Park and Protected Marine Area with the aim of preserve this great cultural heritage and natural environment.
Independent lunch in a typical “osteria”, and in the afternoon you will visit a family-owned farm and winery in Riomaggiore; during the tour you will walk through the sea-view steep slopes  and explore the dynamic vineyards, continue then to the cellar and enjoy some quality wine tasting, from the known Schiacchetrà to the classic local white wines, but also surprising reds and rosés. Listen to a local wine expert, owner of the farm, proudly explaining the production of his wines, safeguarding local products that do not have famous name. Apart from the vineyards, the farm is also involved in beekeeping and the production of integral honey; also, they have a small plantation of lemon trees used for limoncello and jams.
At the end of the day, come back to the mainland and reach your small luxury boutique hotel/resort, where you will spend the remaining nights of the tour. Relax some time after checking in, and have dinner at the property’s restaurant. Overnight. Meals included: Breakfast, dinner

DAY 6: Portofino – San Fruttuoso – Santa Margherita Ligure: Breakfast in hotel, today will be dedicated to an excursion in the Riviera Ligure, you will visit some of the most beautiful Breakfast at the resort, today will be dedicated to the Riviera Ligure, you will visit some of the most beautiful cities of the area, among which: Portofino, San Fruttuoso e Santa Margherita Ligure. Portofino is a famous tourist resort located in the province of Genova; the city is considered as the hub of tourism always visited by celebrities. It welcomes the tourist with its beautiful shops and a natural park; the beach with its clear water and the charming beauty of nature surroundings have helped the enormous growth of this lovely place. You cannot miss San Fruttuoso, stucked away in a tiny, pristine bay between Camogli and Portofino surrounded by lush vegetation. To add to its exclusiveness, you can only reach it by sea or on foot. Visit the charming Abbey which has an interesting and rich history from being a monastery to a pirate’s den to a humble fishermen home and then the residence of Princess of Doria. Another reason San Fruttuoso is often visited is for the famous Christ of the Abyss dive. The dive is not difficult as it takes place in relatively shallow waters but is an experience to remember earning this diving spot worldwide fame. The sea waters here are incredibly clear and pristine so do not forget to take your swimming gear when you plan your trip.
Next stop will be Santa Margherita Ligure, a fair-sized town, large enough to receive the huge number of tourists that come there, visit the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rose (already St. Margaret of Antioch’s Basilica) and Villa Durazzo Centurione, which is a monument to the faded glory of the Riviera. The garden terraces are a public park and a pleasant place to sit. Dinner tonight will be at a charming restaurant in Santa Margherita/Portofino area. Back to the resort, overnight. Meals included: Breakfast, dinner.

DAY 7: Cooking Class In Genova: Breakfast at the resort. Today you will visit Genova, the capital of Liguria, where you will have a fun, creative, cultural, and interesting 360-degree cooking class! You will cook an entire Italian Riviera menu! The class, in a cozy elegant kitchen in the historic center of the city, is 100% hands-on, your private chef will guide you through all the ingredients and the cooking techniques and you will learn how to cook like an Italian (or better like a Genoese)! During the course you will chat on Genoese and Italian cuisine and you will be told stories behind each local product you will use and each traditional dish you will prepare. It will be a full immersion in the Italian Riviera food culture! You will learn how to make pesto sauce in the mortar as tradition rules, prepare handmade traditional pasta, and finally a savory pie, learning how to stretch dough thin like a bride veil to make a tasty Italian dessert. During the class you will enjoy an aperitivo, tasting local wines and samples of local cheese and charcuterie. The class will end you will eat all together what you prepared, completing this typical Italian lunch, you will have a digestive as the locals do. It will be as a lunch with friends.
In the afternoon you will have a walking tour of the old Maritime Republic. Genova, on the northwest coast of Italy, is Italy’s principal seaport. Genoa was 2004 European Culture Capital; money flowed into the port city made famous by Columbus and now it is a better place than ever to visit. It has a fascinating aquarium, an interesting port area, and a historic center said to be the largest medieval quarter in Europe, with a wealth of churches, palaces, and museums. Your local guide will show you the most beautiful spots of the city: Via Garibaldi, heart of the UNESCO World Heritage sites with the richness of its “Palazzi”, their frescoes and gilded decorations, Piazza De Ferrari, elegant architecture of the 20th C.; Columbus’s house, the imposing Palazzo Ducale, and the stories of the ancient republic; the Cathedral and its treasures, Palazzo San Giorgio, the story and Glory of the ancient Marine Republic, creating the bases of our modern economy. 
At the end of the tour, free time at your disposal, to discover more of Genova, before enjoying a delicious seafood dinner in an elegant restaurant on the seaside. Return to your accommodation for overnight. Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

DAY 8: Arrivederci Italia: Breakfast at the resort and then transfer by private minivan to Milan Malpensa international airport to take your flight back home. End of our services. Meals included: Breakfast.

Rate includes: 

• 2 nights in HB (dinners, drinks NOT included) at boutique hotel/resort in the Langhe area, occupying standard rooms
• 2 nights in BB at a boutique hotel/resort in the Langhe area, occupying standard rooms
• 2 nights in BB at a boutique hotel/resort in Cinque Terre/Riviera di Ponente area occupying standard rooms
• 1 night in HB (dinner, drinks NOT included) at a boutique hotel/resort in Cinque Terre/Riviera di Ponente area occupying standard rooms
• 1 dinner at local restaurant in Langhe area 
• 1 dinner at local restaurant in Alba area (based on truffle) 
• 2 dinners at local restaurant in Cinque Terre area 
• 1 dinner at local restaurant in Santa Margherita Ligure/Portofino area
• 1 dinner at local seafood restaurant in Genoa
• 1 Barolo wine tasting in the Langhe area
• 1 Schiacchetrà wine tasting in Cinque Terre area
• 1 cooking class in Genoa followed by lunch
• 1 truffle hunting experience in Alba area
• 5 Terre card (allows access to the 5 Terre villages) by ferry or train (depending on the weather and maritime conditions)
• Entrance fee and ferry to San Fruttuoso Abbey
• Private English-speaking driver and car (1-2 pax), minivan (3-6 pax), minibus (7-12 pax) or coach (13-24 pax) at disposal as per the above-mentioned itinerary
• Driver’s meals and accommodation if necessary
• Compulsory parking
• Professional English-speaking tour escort at disposal as per indicated program
• Tour escort’s meals and accommodation if necessary
• Compulsory English-speaking local guides for visit to the following:
• Turin (max 05 hours) – Genoa (max 03 hours) 
• Vat

Rate doesn’t include: 

• City taxes (to be paid on the spot)
• Entrance fees
• Other local guides 
• Tips and personal extras
• Anything which is not clearly specified in “rate includes”

PLEASE ASK FOR ALL OUR ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATIONS OR EXPERIENCES

*Package descriptions and pricing are subject to change without notice.