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Group Tours (Small group tours, large group tours)

Pauline Kenny

On Slow Travelers we promote independent travel, but it is not for everyone and it involves a lot of work on your part to organize the trip. Taking a tour means someone else figures out all the trip logistics, picks the hotels, plans the itinerary, looks after transportation. But, you will be traveling with a group, and all that that entails (both good and bad). You might consider taking a tour, but then staying a bit longer after for some independent travel.

Many companies provide tours in Italy. We have some listed on this page. We do not collect reviews of touring companies, but you can go on our message board and search on the company name to see if people have been posting about them. There are many types of guided tours for Italy:

  • A large group tour, where everything is planned for you but you will get a good overview of Italy. These are usually less expensive than small group tours, but less personal. You are taken around in a large bus instead of a smaller van. You see more of the "highlights" and fewer of the details.
  • A small group tour where it is more personal and tailored to your desires. Take a food tour if you are a foodie; an art tour if that is your interest. If you are going to take a tour, I recommend a small group tour.
  • A walking or hiking tour where your days revolve around hiking and you see the sites that way. If you really want a walking / hiking trip in Tuscany, I recommend taking a walking tour because it is difficult to figure out the hikes on your own (we have tried and had some successes, many failures).
  • A biking tour where your days revolve around biking. We see bike tours all the time going through Tuscany.

Slow Travel Classifieds - Group Tours

Benvenuto Limos & Tours: www.benvenutolimos.com
Amalfi Coast Excursions starting from Sorrento, Amalfi Coast, Naples and Rome (see the classified)

Avventure Bellissime: Tours of Italy
Offering the best value in group & private tours throughout Italy (see the classified)

When in Rome Tours: www.wheninrometours.com
When in Rome, Do As The Smart Travelers Do. (see the classified)

Lombardy Delights: www.lombardydelights.com.au
Intimate Small Group Tours of a Hidden Wonderland in Southern Lombardy! (see the classified)

BonVoyage: www.bonvoyage.net.au
Small group tours to Italy, France & UK. Just 6/7 people + your personal guide to show you the way. (see the classified)

Italy With Friends Tours: www.italywithfriends.com
DREAMING OF ITALY? Affordable, small group tours of ITALY. Experience ART, FOOD, WINE, & MORE! (see the classified)

La Contadina Travels and Tours: www.lacontadina.com
Feel Your Italian Spirit! ® Small, intimate tours of the Bel Paese (see the classified)

Gail's Great Escapes: www.GailsGreatEscapes.com
Escape with us to Medieval Montisi in Tuscany (see the classified)

Italian Indulgence: www.italianindulgence.com
Italian Indulgence caters for the discerning traveller wanting a personal small group experience. (see the classified)

Slow Travel Classifieds - Bicycle Tours

Italy Segway Tours: www.italycruiserbiketours.com
We are proud to be the first and only TOUR using a CRUISER BIKE in Florence, Pisa and Rome. (see the classified)

I Bike Tuscany: www.ibiketuscany.com
Private, personalized, guided 1-day and more days bike tours in Florence and Tuscany (see the classified)

Piccolina Adventures: piccolinaadventures.com
Small bike trips that explore Italy's culture, cooking and landscape (see the classified)

I Bike Florence: www.ibikeflorence.com
The Original Bike tour of Florence city center (see the classified)

Slow Travel Classifieds - Walking Tours

Unabellavista: www.unabellavista.com
Radio Show, walking tours, guidebooks, audio guide, & podcasts, (see the classified)

ICON Tours, Rome: www.icontours.com
Art & History Walking Adventures for Hungry Minds! (see the classified)

Laurintours: www.laurintours.it/
Dolomites - Italian Alps: hiking tours, Tyrolean inns & castles & culture (see the classified)

Walks inside Venice: www.walksinsidevenice.com
Classic and unusual tours of Venice and its Lagoon conducted by professional guides. (see the classified)

Walks inside Italy: www.walksinsideitaly.com
Private guided tours of Venice, Florence & Rome with professional native guides (see the classified)

Presto Tours: www.prestotours.com/
Vatican Tours & More... Instant Booking Process... Presto! (see the classified)

Hedonistic Hiking: www.hedonistichiking.com.au/
Fully inclusive, high quality small group guided walking holidays in Italy. (see the classified)

Explore Italy: exploreitaly.luciareardon.com/
Yoga, Walking, and Exploring off the beaten trail for the active traveler! (see the classified)

Romaround: www.romaround.it
Private tours of Rome and surroundings with friendly and knowledgeable guides (see the classified)

Slow Travel Classifieds - Wine Tours

Guido's Tours: www.guidos-tours.it
Enjoy Wine Tours in Tuscany with a professional sommelier and passionate win-guide (see the classified)

WINE AND FOOD TOURS IN TUSCANY: www.ariannandfriends.com
Accommodation in country houses and Wine Tours in Tuscany (see the classified)

Experience Umbria: www.experienceumbria.com
Experience the Food and Wine of Umbria with Experience Umbria (see the classified)

Custom Wine Tours: www.customwinetours.com
Tours designed for small groups on the wine routes of Italy (see the classified)

PATH, walks,talks & beyond: www.experience-path.com
WINE & FOOD TOURS in Puglia, Cooking holidays, walking & biking tours (see the classified)

Slow Travel Classifieds - Learning Tours

La Granseola: La Granseola
Boat Trips in the Bay of Naples and Amalfi Coast (see the classified)

Villa Vita International: www.villavita.net
Lessons of Tuscany : Live - Love - Learn (see the classified)

Go to our Classified Listings to find vacation rentals, hotels, travel consultants, tours, tour guides, car services, and more.

Alternatives to Guided Tours

  • To save yourself work, hire a Travel Consultant to help you plan and book your independent trip. This saves you lots of time doing hotel and itinerary research, but you can still have exactly the vacation you want.
  • Arrange some days with Private Tour Guides on your independent trip. This way you will benefit from the knowledge of someone who knows the area very well.
  • Arrange some days of Cooking Classes  or other workshops on your independent trip. This is a great way to learn more about Italy.

Read More

Slow Travel Trip Reports: Trip reports for Italy where they went on a group tour (small group or large group tour).

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