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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

Italian Excursion: www.italianexcursion.com
Small group tours to Italy, in the country in NorthernLazio near Tuscany and Umbria (see the classified)

Benvenuto Limos: www.benvenutolimos.com
Specialized in transfers & tours of Sorrento, Amalfi Coast, Naples, Rome & Florence (see the classified)

Italian Journeys with Isabella and Luigi Dusi: www.montalcino-tuscany.com
Small group tours throughout Italy personally escorted by Isabella and Luigi Dusi. (see the classified)

Ciao Darcy: www.ciaodarcy.com
Small intimate group tours to Italy (see the classified)

Well Arranged Travel, Inc.: wellarrangedtravel.com
ITALY - Small Group Tours, Women'sTours, Custom Vacations and Resources for Independent Travelers (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)

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

Italy Cultural Travel: www.italyculturaltravel.com
Small Groups Deluxe Regional Tours of Italy within a context of Cultural and Substainable Tourism. (see the classified)

In Italy Tours: www.initalytours.com
In Italy Tours is proud to present group tours with a wonderful itinerary for Calabria (see the classified)

Once in a Lifetime Travel: onceinalifetimetravels.com
Dreaming of Italy? Come join me on an exciting adventure with an intimate small group tour (see the classified)

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

Panorama Italy: www.panoramaitaly.com
Discover the Colors and Flavors of the Piceno. (see the classified)

Esperia Travels: www.esperiatravels.com
**5 Day Tour This May** Specializing in intimate, group tours through the heart of Emilia Romagna. (see the classified)

Slow Travel Classifieds - Bicycle Tours

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)

Slow Travel Classifieds - Walking Tours

Venice Guide and Boat: www.veniceguideandboat.it
Official Tourist Guides and Licensed Water Taxis in Venice (see the classified)

Venice Events: tours-venice-italy.com
A local company offering the best small group personalized tours in Venice & the Veneto (see the classified)

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

Walks inside Venice: www.walksinsidevenice.com
Walks Inside Venice provides totally customized tours of Venice, its Lagoon and country Villas (see the classified)

The Venice Experience: www.TheVeniceExperience.com
Private Tours of Venice (see the classified)

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

Walks inside Venice: www.walksinsidevenice.com
Walks Inside Venice provides totally customized tours of Venice, its Lagoon and country Villas (see the classified)

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

Slow Travel Classifieds - Wine Tours

Travels In Tuscany: www.travelsintuscany.com/
Enjoy Wine Tours in Tuscany with a professional sommelier and a passionate wine-lover (see the classified)

In Italy Tours: www.initalytours.com
In Italy Tours is proud to present wine tours as part of their itinerary in Calabria (see the classified)

La Cornucopia Italia: www.lacornucopiaitalia.com
Specializing in Personalized Itineraries, Travel Arrangements and Wine Tours throughout Italy (see the classified)

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

Slow Travel Classifieds - Learning Tours

Tuscan Photography Digital Masterclass: www.walkingintuscany.com
Photography Workshops in Tuscany: Professional Teaching and Exotic Photo Opps (see the classified)

Italian Excursion: www.italianexcursion.com
Small group tours to Italy, in the countryside in Northern Lazio near Tuscany and Umbria (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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