Cruise Holidays Select

Ride through the UNESCO Val di Noto and Montalbano's filming locations on the biggest island in the Mediterranean. Explore an incredibly diverse heritage of civilizations including the Phoenecians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans and Spanish who have all left their mark on two wheels. On this exciting cycling tour we explore the south-eastern part of the island, pedalling through the Baroque gems and well known sites from the long running television series Inspector Montalbano, before ending in Syracuse, the ancient Greek capital. Along the route we enjoy landscapes of farmlands, deep gorges and dramatic coastal scenery. No trip to Sicily is complete without sampling some of the finest regional delights considered amongst the best examples of Italian cuisine.

The traditional village of Villabassa in South Tyrol lies close to the Austrian border, surrounded by the unmistakably jagged peaks of the Dolomites. Here, spectacular scenery meets the fiercely proud Tyrolean heritage. Our home for the week, the Hotel Adler, epitomizes this, housing a wonderful spa and renowned restaurant within 400-year-old walls. The walking is diverse and memorable as we venture into the Fanes-Sennes and Dolomiti di Sesto National Parks for great views of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo and the open-air museums that dot the landscape reflect the area’s history as the frontline between Italy and the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the first world war. Fascinating, imposing, unforgettable, the Dolomites are waiting.

With its Renaissance cities, mediaeval villages and cypress-lined avenues snaking through vineyards, southern Tuscany is the perfect place for a relaxing guided walking holiday. Based at the tranquil Villa Casalta, on our tour we visit beautiful San Gimignano, the market town of Greve in Chianti, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Siena and the magnificent city of Florence. During the week we sample several varieties of the world-renowned local Chianti and have the opportunity to learn more about Italian wine at the Wine School of Siena.

Puglia, known for its whitewashed hill towns, traditional farmland, fine cuisine, and the sweeping Mediterranean coastline is the southern heel of Italy, and until recently, its best-kept secret. With a focus on art, architecture, traditions, and local cuisine, this trip explores the region’s highlights. From Matera, a UNESCO listed town carved into bare limestone rock, where centuries-old caves are still inhabited, we travel to the elegant white city of Ostuni and on to the medieval coastal town of Otranto and Baroque Lecce, known as the ‘Florence of the South'.