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Abruzzo: Cooking, Wine & Walking – 7 days small group escorted tour

7 Days

Join this small group on a 7-day Italian cookery tour in Abruzzo. You will be part of a small group of people (max 12 !) and will be able to develop your cooking skills, expand your wine knowledge and discover the region’s off-the-beaten-track secrets. The highlight of this tour is the chance to have light and easy walks along the amazing Abruzzo mountains, ancient hermitages and coastline between national parks and unique trabocchi fishing houses

Highlights

  • Light walk along the amazing Abruzzo mountains
  • Light walk along the fascinating trabocchi coast
  • Hands on cooking classes: pasta and pizza
  • Award winning winery tour, wine tasting
  • Olive oil tasting, cheese making, cheese tasting
  • Fishing demonstration, visiting artisans, farm, castle, abbey
  • Small groups up to 12 people
  • Solo welcomed - very small single supplement

Itinerary

Day 1 :
Rome

Rome Fiumicino airport pick up at 2:30 pm and transfer to the ancient Roman town of Vasto on the Adriatic Coast after crossing beautiful Abruzzo mountains looking at amazing landscapes. After checking at charming and family run Hotel San Marco (or a similar accommodation) in the historical downtown, get to know your guide and learn more about the 7-day Italian cookery holiday and enjoy a welcome dinner in a traditional restaurant in the heart of Vasto.

After a visit to Vasto’s colourful market to get seasonal products, we’ll have an exclusive cooking class with a homemaker in her house. We’ll learn how easy fresh pasta is to make and be introduced to her favourite seasonal sauces. An example menu includes Bread with meat sauce, Pasta alla chitarra with meat sauce and polite (meatballs), Cavatelli with vegetables and Tarallucci (typical biscuits from Abruzzo). Naturally, this depends on seasonal availability.  Lunch will consist of the delicious dishes that have been prepared in the morning. In the afternoon, we’ll explore Loggia Amblingh, a promenade overlooking the fascinating crescent-shaped coastline, the old town with its medieval Castle, charming lanes, a tower, the Cathedral and Piazza Rossetti, dedicated to Gabriele Rossetti, a poet from the town and father of Dante Gabriel Rossetti, who founded the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. Before free time, we’ll meet some local artisans.  Tonight you may experience dinner or on your own in one of the many restaurants of Vasto

Breakfast, Lunch
3* Hotel or B&B

After breakfast, we’ll drive to the marvellous Abruzzo mountains and national parks to have a light and scenic walk* to discover solitary and remote hermitages in the rocky mountainside and admire unique landscapes. We’ll enjoy a traditional picnic with local products. Dinner in a traditional restaurant in the heart of Vasto

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
3* Hotel or B&B

After breakfast, we’ll drive to the fascinating Abruzzo coastline to have a light and picturesque walk in a marine reserve to discover the landmark symbols of the area, the trabocchi.  We’ll have a particular fish lunch on a trabocco. Rinaldo, our host, will show us how to fish from it and the secrets and history behind Abruzzo’s unique fishing platforms. Free afternoon for your own activities, such as going to one of the many beaches, biking, taking part in some extra activities/excursions or whatever you prefer. Dinner at your leisure

Breakfast, Lunch
3* Hotel or B&B

After breakfast, we’ll make our way to the farm, where Pina and Berardino will reveal the secrets of sheep and cow farming to us and guide those that would like to learn how to milk a sheep or a cow. After a cheese snack, we’ll learn how to prepare ricotta cheese in their creamery. A delicious traditional lunch will be prepared and served. This will be the time to savour just made warm ricotta cheese. We’ll explore the enchanting Abruzzo’s castle in the sky in Roccascalegna.  Tonight you may experience dinner or on your own in one of the many restaurants of Vasto.

Breakfast, Lunch
3* Hotel or B&B

Following breakfast, we’ll visit the La Selvotta Olive Grove Giovanni’s family has farmed for 3 generations to produce DOP olive oils. He will unveil the secrets of what Homer described as “liquid gold”, and we will finish with an olive oil tasting. Next, we’ll visit Fontefico, an award-winning winery between a marine park and the mountains. We’ll have a wine tasting with pairings from local cheeses and salami and a tour of the vineyard and cellars by owners Emanuele and Nicola. After lunch, we’ll have a homemade pizza cooking class that includes the teaching of traditional bruschetta and tiramisù

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
3* Hotel or B&B
Day 7 :
Goodbye

After breakfast, departure (generally at 09:00 am) for Rome Fiumicino airport or your next destination (3,5 hours driving from hotel to Rome Fiumicino airport)

NOTE: Your itinerary is a guide to your activities during the week. However, sometimes we modify the final itinerary to take advantage of the season and the weather. Our goal is to ensure that everyone has a fabulous time, which sometimes means tweaking the schedule even after your arrival. Your guide will give suggestions during the week, and the group will decide if any changes are needed. I want you to know that only enhanced experiences are ever considered.

Breakfast

Date and Costing

TRIP DATES AVAILABILITY PRICE SPACE LEFT
26 May, 2024 - 1 June, 2024 Guaranteed $3,500
Available
1 September, 2024 - 7 September, 2024 Guaranteed $3,500
Available

The Cost Includes

  • 6 nights accommodation at Hotel dei 7 in the historical centre of Vasto or similar accommodation
  • Breakfast Buffet Daily
  • 8 meals (food, water, house wine) in selected restaurants, farmhouses, private homes, and wineries based on traditional regional dishes
  • 2 x hands-on cooking classes and associated food costs
  • Guided walks along the trabocchi coast and the Abruzzo mountains
  • Daily trips and excursions
  • Pick up and drop off at Rome Fiumicino airport in an air-conditioned minibus or car.
  • Personalised cooking booklet and apron
  • All transport for daily trips and excursions in an air-conditioned minibus or car
  • All entry fees for excursions, tours and wine, olive oil and cheese tastings
  • English-speaking tour manager throughout the duration

The Cost Excludes

  • Flights
  • Arrival and Departure transfers
  • Other meals and drinks
  • Hotel tourist taxes (where required)
  • Insurance and everything not listed as “Included.”

Tours in English guaranteed with a minimum of 2 people to a maximum of 12 people

Tour is confirmed with the COVID-19 requirements and social distances

Accommodation:

Hotels & B&Bs in the Historical Centre, by the Sea, by the mountains or a simple farmhouse
A select choice of Vasto hotels, B&Bs and agriturismo (farmhouses) are offered to our guests whilst on vacation in this unique part of central Italy. They all have in common: they are family-run, provide a high standard of service, are meticulously clean, and are equipped with modern conveniences and free wi-fi.

Hotel San Marco***recently renovated, is the perfect setting for your stay in Vasto. In their practical and elegant ambience, you can relax with all the modern comforts and in absolute tranquillity.

Upgraded charming boutique accommodations: With an extra price, you could sleep in boutique residences located in the heart of Vasto (each has beautiful en-suite rooms,  free WiFi, TV, minibar, safe, hairdryer, air conditioning, and more):

Residenza Amblinghan 18th-century mansion with 4 bedrooms, located on the Amblingh promenade overlooking the Adriatic Sea, 2 minutes walking from Vasto main square

La Dimora di Histona fascinating and small B&B (with just 2 bedrooms) set in the 15th century Castello Caldoresco in the main square of Vasto

C’è posto per te, a charming and beautiful B&B with 4 bedrooms, 2 minutes walking from Vasto main square

Payment and Cancellation

Payment: deposit of 25% per person within 7 days of confirmation and balance 60 days before departing from Australia

Cancellation:

  • cancellation received 45 working days or more before departure: deposits will not be refundable.
  • cancellations made from 44 to 30 working days before departure: 40% of the payments will be not refundable.
  • cancellations made from 29 to 15 working days before departure: 70% of the payments will be not refundable.
  • cancellations made from 14 to departure: 100% of the payments will be not refundable.

Map

You can send your enquiry via the form below.

Abruzzo: Cooking, Wine & Walking – 7 days small group escorted tour