Active Destination Spotlight: Italy

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAItaly is on a roll, touristically speaking.  More and more Canadians are discovering its charms (not to mention food and wine) and learning that one trip to Italy just isn’t enough!

And a trip to Italy is way more than gliding along in a gondola in Venice or marvelling at the Sistine Chapel in Rome.  There’s a great array of stuff for the active traveller too.  And these trips cover the bases of sustainability too:  use of local guides;  stays in smaller, non-chain hotels; dining in smaller, often family-owned restaurants and use of public transport when practicable.

Vacations, such as those offered by tour companies Exodus, Backroads, Peregrine,  may be themed on walking or hiking; cycling; or kayaking .  Plus there’s  a very cool new category called bike-and-barge,   offered by World Expeditions.  These are all awesome active vacations, and you’ll always have a good excuse to tuck into that pasta and cheese at night.  Oh, and rumour has it Italy has some pretty good wines too!

FRESCO DINING ITALYSpeaking of which, one tour which is a great suggestion for a first timer to Italy is Exodus’ Walking and Wine in Chianti. You are based in a villa which has been converted to an inn in Tuscany and from their do day trips to Florence, Sienna, and into local towns and vineyards.  Walking is for the vast part gentle (non-technical). There are three wine tastings included – including one from the vineyard owned by your hosts at the inn – as well as countless insights into daily life in Tuscany (what’s with all those boars?)

Your Vision Travel advisor can help with all sorts of active holidays to Bella Italia.  We bet your first trip won’t be your last!

Ready to go?

Veneto Bike and Boat

Slovenia & Italy Cycling

Chianti Walking and Wine