Active tours to Italy

Adventurous and sporty tours of Italy, from bike tours and countryside walks to mountain treks and horseback trips

Whether its a bike tour of Sicily or a walk along the Cinque Terre, a horseback ride through Tuscany or a hike through the Italian Alps or Dolomites, there are plenty of opportunities to have an active vacation in Italy.

Active tour operators in Italy

iExplore Italy trips 2011
Bike tours:
• Cycle Through Siena & Chianti (8 days; Florence, Impruneta, Greve in Chianti, Castellina in Chianti, San Gimignano, Monteriggioni, Brolio, Siena, Le Crete Senesi, San Quirico, Val d'Orcia, Montepulciano, Pienza, Bagno Vignoni, Pisa)
• Cycle: Hills of Tuscany (9 days; Chiusi, Montepulciano, Monticchiello, Pienza, Bagno Vignoni, San Quirico d'Orcia, Siena, Creti Senesi, Montefollonico, Val di Chiana, Lake Trasimeno, Perugia, Aquaviva)
• Cycling Venice And Veneto (8 days; Mestre, Sottomarina, Lido, Chioggia, Rovigo, Adige River, Vicenza, Euganese Hills, Abano Terme, Padua, Venice)
• Dolomites To Venice Ride (8 days; Dobbiaco, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Boite valley, Belluno, Brenta, Bassano del Grappa, Asolo, Treviso, Venice)
• Puglia: Cycle The Heel Of Italy (8 days; Alberobello, Valle d'Itria, Ostuni, Torre Guaceto nature reserve, Gallipoli, Santa Maria di Leuca, Otranto, Lecce)
• Tuscany Singletrack (8 days; Biking in the Garfagnana north of Lucca)
• Cycle Cliento & Amalfi (8 days; Cliento National Park, Paestum, Amalfi, Ravello)
• Cycling in Sardinia (8 days; San Salvatore Sinis, Is Arutas, Tharros, Costa Verde, mines, Carloforte, Sant'Antioco, Costa del Sud, Pula)

Walking tours:
• Walking in Tuscany (hikes in the Garfagnana and Apuan Alps near Lucca/Pisa; 8 days)
• Walking the Italian Lakes (8 days; Lake Orta, Val Grande, Lake Maggiore, Lake Como)
• Mont Blanc Highlights (walks and hikes from Courmayeur and Chamonix; 8 days)
• Chianti: Walking & Wine (8 days; Chianti, San Gimignano, Siena, Monteriggioni, Florence, Volterra, Pisa)
• Colors of Tuscany (8 days; Florence, Siena, agriturismo, San Gimignano, Colle di Val d'Elsa, Volterra, Calanchi, Montecatini, Monte Voltraio, several country walks)
• Tuscan Trails (self guided) (8 days; following the Via Francigena, staying in agriturismi; Colle Val d'Elsa, Bibbiano, San Gimignano, Monteriggioni, Siena, Asciano, Monte Oliveto Maggiore, Chiusure, Buonconvento, Montalcino, San Quirico d'Orcia, Montepulciano, Monticchiello, Pienza)
• Walking Sun-drenched Umbria (9 days; Foligno, Assisi, Monte Subasio Natural Park, Spello, Perugia)
• Introduction To Via Ferrata (8 days; Milan; Lake Como: Como, Menaggio, Bellagio, Villa Carlotta, Varenna; St. Moritz; Bernina Express train; Lake Garda: Riva del Garda, Limone, Singol Valley, San Vigilio; Verona)
• Jewels of Liguria, Cinque Terre & Portovenere (7 days; Levanto, Monterosso al Mare, Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, Campiglia, Portovenere, Palmaria)
• Pathways of the Amalfi Coast (8 days; Self-guided walks around Ravello, Atrani, Amalfi, Scala, Positano, and Capri)
• The Amalfi Coast (8 days; Amalfi, Positano, Pompeii, Valle del Ferriero park, Bomerano, various hikes, optionals: Mt. Vesuvius, Capri, Naples, Ravello, Herculaneum; 8 days)
• Spirit Of Amalfi (11 days; Naples, Pompeii, Conca dei Marini, hike to Positano, Amalfi, Atrani, hike to Ravello, Capri, Valle dei Mulini)
• Umbria Unveiled (self guided) (8 days; Spoleto, walk on Monteluco, walk the Alberina, Abbey of San Pietro in Valle, Marmore waterfalls, Poreta, walk the "Olive Trail," Clitunno River, Trevi, Spello, Assisi)
• Walking In Sardinia (8 days; Dorgali, Monte Tului, Serra Orrios, Gorroppu Gorse, Tiscali, Gulf of Orosei, Cala Luna)

Hiking/Trekking tours:
• Alta Via Trek (8 days; Dolomite trek/Via Ferrata in the Alta Pusteria)
• Classic Dolomites (8 days; Villabassa, Fanes-Sennes and Dolomiti di Sesto National Parks)
• Tour Du Mont Blanc (8 days; A clockwise route around Monte Bianco from Col de Forclaz to Chamonix, staying in family-run accommodations)
• Mont Blanc Hotel Trek (15 days; classic inn-to-inn treks from Chamonix to Courmayeur and back around)
• Mont Blanc Circuit (15 days; Crossing 7 valleys and three countries from Chamonix all the way around)
• Sicilian Volcanoes (8 days; Aeolian Islands: Lipari, Vulcano, Stromboli, Catania, trek to Mt. Etna crater)
• Walking In The Western Dolomites (8 days; Val di Fassa between Marmolada and Catinaccio)
• Via Ferrata In The Dolomites (8 days; Trekking in the Val di Comelico from Santo Stefano di Cadore)
• Via Ferrata Tour (8 days; The Brenta range of the Southern Dolomites)
• Winter Walking Dobbiaco (8 days; Dobbiaco, Verscaico, Villabassa)

Ski / winter tours:
• Dolomites Winter Activity Week (8 days; Villabassa, Snowmobiling Lake di Misurina, cross-country skiing, curling on Lake Dobbiano, downhill skiing in Cortina d'Ampezzo, showshoeing Lago di Braise, ski or snowshoe, Brunico or Lienz Castle, tobogganing at Croda Rossa)
• Cross-country Skiing: Cogne (8 days)
• Cross-country Skiing: Dobbiaco (8 days)
• Cross-country Skiing: Dobbiaco - Independent (8 days)
• Cross-country Skiing: Valle Aurina (8 days)
• Cross-country Skiing: Versciaco Skating Course (8 days)
• Mont Blanc Winter Activity Week (8 days; Snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, dogsledding, glacier walks, cable car rides, and snowmobiling all around Monte Bianco)
• Snowshoeing In The Dolomites (8 days; around Villabassa just north of Cortina d'Ampezzo)
• Winter Walking Dobbiaco (8 days; Dobbiaco, Verscaico, Villabassa)
iExplore (www.iExplore.com) - The number one–ranked website for adventure and experiential travel—and it provides the adventure tour booking engine for everyone from Expedia to the Travel Channel to Frommer's and Lonely Planet's websites. (Given its excellent catalog, it's also a ReidsItaly.com partner.)

It's been around for more than a decade now and was recently acquired by TUI, which owns more than 30 major travel brands. That means iExplore incorporates all the tours from sister company Adventure Center, a major player able to maintain low prices on hundreds of adventures on all seven continents by contracting with expert local outfitters and other specialist operators.

Usually around 40 Italy trips each year, with a nice spread of styles (see sidebar).

Interestingly, unlike most tour companies, which stick to cookie-cutter chain hotels, iExplore's city trips tend to use trendy boutique hotels. Not included: Airfare, meals in cities.

REI Adventures (www.reiadventures.comREI) - America's greatest co-op chain of outdoors gear stores also offers active vacations all around the world. Though their real strong suit is domestic adventures, their catalog does hit all seven continents—including several classic Italy hikes (Cinque Terre, Tuscan Hilltowns, Mt. Vesuvius to Mt. Etna).

REI tours do tend to be pricier than most, but come with impeccable credentials and glowing reviews. They can be ideal for those for whom being active on their trip is as important as the destination itself.

Intrepid Travel 2011 Italy trips
• Best of ItalyPartner (15 days; Rome, Florence, Pisa, Lucca, biking Tuscany, Cinque Terre, Portofino/Italian Riviera, wines of Piemonte, Milan, Lake Como, Venice)
• Italy UncoveredPartner (15 days; Venice, Gubbio, Assisi, Spello, Rome, Naples, Pompeii, Sorrento, Amalfi Coast)
• Italy ExperiencePartner (15 days; Venice, Modena, Cinque Terre, Pisa, Florence, Perugia, Spello, Naples, Pompeii, Sorrento, Rome)
• Classic ItalyPartner (21 days; Rome, Florence, Lucca, Pisa, Cinque Terre, Portofino/Italian Riviera, wines of Piemonte, Milan, Lake Como, Venice, Gubbio, Assisi, Spello)
• Italy Family AdventurePartner (14 days; Rome, Lucca, Pisa, Florence, Levanto, Cinque Terre, Lake Maggiore, Venice)
• Umbrian DiscoveryPartner (8 days; Venice, Gubbio, Assisi, Spello, Rome)
• Highlights of ItalyPartner (8 days; Venice, Cinque Terre, Florence, Rome)
• Rome to AmalfiPartner (8 days; Rome, Naples, Pompeii, Sorrento, Amalfi Coast)
• Tuscan ExpressPartner (7 days; Pisa, Siena, San Gimignano, Chianti, Florence)
• Southern Italy FamilyPartner (8 days; Sorrento, Pompeii, Paestum, Capri)

Self-guided walks:
• Amalfi Coast-5 daysPartner
• Amalfi Coast-8 daysPartner
• Cinque Terre-5 daysPartner
• Cinque Terre-8 daysPartner
Intrepid Travel (www.intrepidtravel.comGap) - This fantastic Australian company marries an independent travel style (staying in cheap guesthouses, traveling by public transport) with the expertise of truly knowledgeable guides.

Intrepid has a larger than usual commitment to sustainable tourism, and travels in tiny groups, often limited to 8-12.

Intrepid is a bit less about the physical activities and more about the cultural experiences. There are usually around 30–35 Italy trips on tap each year—though half of those will be longer overland treks across Europe and/or the Middle East (with Italy making up just a slice of the two– or three-week trip), and a handful are self-guided walks (no group to follow, just you, your itinerary, and your pre-booked accommodations).

Intrepid really does run a different breed of group tour. Let me put it this way: When my parents—who travel widely and on their own and normally would never have even considered taking a group tour—suddenly found themselves with airfare to Japan but no time to plan a trip, I suggested they try booking with Intrepid. They did—and they have raved about it every since. Nearly seven years later, they still keep in touch with their guide via email.

One drawback: no airfare.

G Adventures 2011 Italy trips
• Ultimate ItalyPartner (13 days; Rome, Siena, Florence, Pisa, Lucca, Cinque Terre, Asti, Lake Como, Venice)
• Italy Culture and History Explored (9 days; Rome, Siena, Florence, Venice)
• Cinque Terre Coastal WalkPartner (5 days)
• The Taste of TuscanyPartner (8 days; Florence, Chianti, Lucca, Pisa, Siena)
• Amalfi CoastPartner (8 days; Sorrento, Pompeii, Amalfi, Ravello, Positano, Capri)
• Venice to Rome AdventurePartner (8 days; Venice, Cinque Terre, Florence, Rome)
• Northern Italy EscapePartner (8 days; Lake Garda, Laghel, Verona)
• Sicilian Volcano TrailPartner (8 days; Aeolian Islands [Lipari, Vulcano, Stromboli], Catania, Mt. Etna)
• Italy Family AdventurePartner (10 days; Rome, Perugia, Florence, Modena, Verona, Venice)
• Trekking Mont BlancPartner (10 days)
G Adventures (www.gadventures.comPartner) - G Adventures boasts 1,000 trips in 100 countries, from the more tour-like Comfort and Original trips to the gnarlier Active and Overland ones. G Adventures also believes in smaller group sizes.

Drawbacks: no airfare (yet), and quoted prices are not as inclusive as some others (read the fine print to find out about lots of on-the-ground costs, often including most meals).

They offer between 15 and 20 Italy trips each year (see box on the right)—some focused more on sightseeing; others more physical and active (lots of hiking and biking), and a few include Italy as part of grander overland treks across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa.

InfoHub (www.infohub.com) - Not a tour company, rather a kind of aggregator of trips offered by tour companies. It casts one of the largest nets over the industry, listing some 14,000 tours offered by 4,000 operators in more than 100 categories—everything from artists' workshop to llama trekking, nudist resorts to biblical tours, language schools to personal guide services.

InfoHub's search engine returns results listed by trip rather than by company (for example, it lists nearly 100 bike tours in Italy, but those are offered by just 15 companies). Still, I guess if you could care less the name of the outfitter and are just looking for a selection of 10-day bike tours across Tuscany and Umbria, this is the best way to do it. You don't book trips directly. You are essentially sending away for a brochure (or a contact) from the actual tour companies.

Djoser (www.djoserusa.com) - Perhaps since they're Dutch (and Europeans get longer vacations), Djoser offers longer trips and looser schedules, admirably not trying to pack too much into too short a time. You get to pick your group style: travel with other North Americans or with an international group (some conducted in English, others in Dutch and English). Always two or three Italy trips on tap—mostly walking tours, and mostly in Southern Italy and Sicily.

Ciclismo Classico (www.ciclismoclassico.com) - The best and biggest bike tour outfits serving Italy, started by a Cornell anthropology grad (which has nothing to do with anything other than I am one, too—but I would recommend this outfit regardless). Though they now offer rides in other parts of the world, Ciclismo Classico started in Italy and it is still their hallmark product, with more than 30 tours ranging all across the peninsula from 6 days in Tuscany to 11 days biking across Italy, and a follow the Giro d'Italia race to Easy Pedaling in Puglia.
Full story on Bike Tours

Active Gourmet Holidays (www.activegourmetholidays.com) - Mixing active pursuits—walking and biking, mostly, with some golf and yoga—with one-day cooking classes, longer cooking courses, wine tasting, and other culinary adventures. Nifty idea.

When you want just a day of adventure, not a whole tour

Sometimes you just want a one-day bike tour of the Tuscan countryside, or a simple half-day walking tour through Ancient Rome. Any tourist office in Italy will be happy to share with you the local outfits who can provide this service. Here are some active adventures from our partner Viator that last only a few hours or one day.

  • Rome
  • Florence
  • Venice
  • Pisa
  • Milan
  • Bologna

» More tours in Rome

» More tours in Florence

» More tours in Venice

» More tours in Pisa

» More tours in Milan

» More tours in Bologna

 

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This material was last updated February 2011. All information was accurate at the time.

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