Taste Of Italy New Year
Taste Of Italy New Year
Taste Of Italy New Year
8 Days Starting and ending in Rome
Visiting: Italy, Rome, Orvieto, Venice, Lake Garda, Florence, Tuscany, Cinque Terre, Pisa, Tuscany, San Gimignano, Siena
Tour operator:
Tour code:
ITTNY
Recommended For:
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
10 - 51
Age range:
10-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Looking for an unforgettable new year holiday celebration? This Taste of Italy New Year tour is it! Start in Rome and walk in the footsteps of emperors and gladiators! Explore the canals of Venice and absorb the beauty of Florence. Ring in the new year in Tuscany and celebrate Italian style! Visit Cinque Terre, Siena, San Gimignano and more. Admire the Italian countryside, sip Italian wine and savour the flavours of local cuisine. Over eight fun-filled days, you’ll experience the best that Italy has to offer at this magical time of year!
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Start Of Tour In Rome
Location: Italy, Rome
Meals Included: Dinner
Welcome to Rome and the start of the Taste of Italy New Year tour! Meet your tour leader and the rest of the group at the hotel this morning. Then, it’s time to head into the city centre and enjoy free time to explore. There’s nothing quite like walking the historic streets of the “Eternal City”! This evening, enjoy a welcome dinner and get to know your fellow travellers over delicious Italian food! After, enjoy a guided walking tour of the city. Join a local guide and see highlights of Rome including the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon and the Piazza Navona.
Walking tour of Rome: Embark on a walking tour of Rome with a professional local guide. The tour gives you a great start for further exploration in your free time. You will see the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Arch of Septimus Severus, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, Piazza Navona (Fountain of the Quattro Fiumi) and the Spanish steps.
Welcome dinner in Rome: It’s the start of the tour so that calls for celebrations! Tonight you will enjoy a welcome dinner where you can enjoy delicious Italian food and get to know your tour leader and the rest of your group at a local Roman restaurant.
Day 2: Rome - Orvieto - Venice
Location: Rome, Orvieto, Venice
Meals Included: Breakfast
It’s time to hit the road and see more of Italy! Travel through the scenic Umbria region which is famous for its produce and beautiful mountain landscapes. Arrive at Orvieto and take a funicular to the historic centre of this city dramatically perched atop a sheer volcanic rock cliff! Enjoy free time to explore and see the sites including the facade of the Cathedral of Orvieto and the Albornoz Fortress. Next, travel onwards to Venice, Italy’s famous floating city! This evening is free to spend as you wish. Stroll through Venice and enjoy the festive atmosphere or choose to see Venice under the stars and join your tour leader on an optional Venice by night excursion.
Orientation tour of Orvieto: Explore some of the sights of this city perched on top of a rock cliff. Take a trip to the top using the funicular. Enjoy free time to find something to eat, see the streets, and visit the top sights including the Cathedral of Orvieto, the papal residence and the Albornoz Fortress.
Day 3: Venice: Free Day
Location: Venice
Meals Included: Breakfast
Begin today with an orientation tour of Venice which will help you become familiar with your surroundings. Afterwards, the rest of the day is free to spend as you wish! A gondola ride is a must when visiting Venice; cruise the canals and enjoy sightseeing from the water! The optional Venice Lagoon Tour offers a great way to discover the islands of Murano and Burano which are famous for the arts of glass-blowing and lacemaking. Alternatively, explore at your own pace. St. Mark’s Square, the Bridge of Sighs and the Doge’s Palace are some of Venice’s top attractions! Sampling the local cuisine is another must-do when in Venice which you can do on the Venice Food Tour optional.
Orientation tour of Venice: Join your tour leader who will take you into the heart of this unique floating city. See St. Mark’s Square, St. Mark’s Basilica, St. Mark’s Museum, Campanile, Doge’s Palace, Rialto Market and Scuola Grande di San Rocco.
Day 4: Venice - Lake Garda - Florence - Tuscany
Location: Venice, Lake Garda, Florence, Tuscany
Meals Included: Breakfast
There is no slowing down on this Taste of Italy New Year tour! Today, the tour travels to Florence in Tuscany. On the way, enjoy a stop at Lake Garda and admire the beautiful scenery. Arrive in Florence and join a local guide for a walking tour. Florence is famous for its Renaissance architecture, art and culture! Enjoy free time afterwards to visit famous sights such as the Florence Cathedral, the Ponte Vecchio and the Basilica of Sante Croce. Tonight, why not join the Taste of Tuscany optional dinner to experience authentic Tuscan cuisine?
Guided tour of Florence: Embark on a walking tour of Florence with a local guide who will introduce you to the main sights, including the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Ponte Vecchio, Piazza Della Signoria and the replica statue of David.
Leather-making demonstration: Visit Leonardo Leather and Gold, a well-loved local shop and learn all about the world of Italian leather crafting. See why Italy has been famous for leather production for centuries.
Day 5: Cinque Terre - Pisa - Tuscany (New Year’S Eve)
Location: Cinque Terre, Pisa, Tuscany
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Say goodbye to the old year and hello to brand new travel adventures! This morning, Cinque Terre is calling! Travel to La Spezia which is the gateway to Cinque Terre. Journey by train to Cinque Terre which is made up of five picturesque see-side towns, Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. Cars and motorcycles are banned and the towns are connected by rail and footpaths, making it a wonderful destination to explore! In the afternoon, return to Tuscany. On the way, make a stop at one of Italy’s most iconic landmarks - the Leaning Tower of Pisa! Be sure to grab your opportunity to get a photo with the famous tower. Tonight, enjoy a New Year’s Eve dinner with the group.
Explore Cinque Terre: Recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, you'll have plenty of free time to experience this picturesque region, which also offers some of the best seafood in Italy!
See the Leaning Tower of Pisa: Visit Pisa to see one of Italy’s most iconic monuments; the world-famous Leaning Tower of Pisa! Make the most of photographic opportunities during the visit. A photo of you ‘holding up’ the tower is a classic!
Day 6: San Gimignano - Siena - Rome (New Year’S Day)
Location: San Gimignano, Siena, Rome
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Start this New Year off on an exciting note and hop back aboard the coach. Marvel at the breathtaking Italian countryside landscapes en route to today’s first stop. Arrive in San Gimignano, a small hilltop town famous for its 12 striking medieval towers! Enjoy an orientation tour and some free time in this historic city filled with stunning Romanesque and Gothic architecture. Then, indulge in an included Tuscan wine tasting along with some antipasto! Next, take a short drive to Siena. The historic centre of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Siena is famous for the Palio horse race which is hosted in the city’s main piazza twice a year. Dinner is included at the hotel tonight.
Comfort stop in San Gimignano: Famous for its medieval towers, it is a real gem of the region. San Gimignano is known as the “Town of Fine Towers” and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. About a dozen of the original 70+ towers remain, providing an iconic and unforgettable skyline that sets it apart from the many other hill towns in Tuscany.
Visit Siena: Visit the UNESCO World Heritage town of Siena, famous for the Palio horse race, held each year on 2 July and 16 August. This bareback horse race has taken place since the 14th Century in the main town square of Siena, and the 17 participants represent local families, or contrade.
Italian wine tasting: Enjoy a local Italian wine tasting accompanied by authentic antipasto.
Day 7: Rome: Free Day
Location: Rome
Meals Included: Breakfast
Live la dolce vita on a free day in Rome! This city dates back thousands of years and has witnessed the rise and fall of empires… so there is no shortage of fascinating historic monuments and landmarks to explore today! Why not use this free day to visit the Vatican City to see its famous Christmas displays? Another great way to spend your day is to discover one of the things Italy is most famous for - food! Taste a range of authentic local treats just by wandering the city and stopping at a café or two. Alternatively, simply explore and absorb the unique atmosphere of this beautiful city.
Day 8: End Of Tour In Rome
Location: Rome
Meals Included: Breakfast
Buongiorno, it’s the final morning of this tour of Italy! After 8 fun-filled days and celebrating the new year, Italian style, the tour comes to an end after breakfast. Be sure to swap contact details with your new travel friends before departing. Arrivederci, Italia!
What's Included
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Accommodation
7 nights in 2, 3 & 4* hotel accommodation in twin rooms with private bathrooms
Single travellers have the option to pay a single supplement to ensure a private room (subject to availability) -
Transport
Modern air-conditioned coach with reclining seats and toilet onboard
Any public transport used as part of the tour (excludes free days) -
Meals
7 Breakfasts, 3 Dinners *Vegetarian options available for all meals on request
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Experiences
Explore Rome with a local guide
Enjoy a welcome dinner in Rome
Visit Orvieto; a historic city perched on a rocky cliff
Explore Venice; Italy’s famous floating city
Explore Florence with a local guide
Watch a leather-making demonstration
Explore Cinque Terre’s villages
See the iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa
Visit San Gimignano and see the famous skyline
Experience Siena; famous for the Palio horse race
Taste local Italian wine and antipasto
What's Not Included
International flights
Travel to the start point and from the endpoint is not included. We recommend using Skyscanner to find the best deals on international flights.
Travel insurance
For a relatively small price, travel insurance provides you with the peace of mind so that you can enjoy your tour without any worries.
All passengers travelling on an Expat Explore tour are required to have valid travel insurance cover and you are responsible for arranging your own insurance. Click here for more information.
Mode of Transport
- Modern air-conditioned coach with reclining seats and toilet onboard
- Any public transport used as part of the tour (excludes free days)
Accommodation
- 7 nights in 2, 3 & 4* hotel accommodation in twin rooms with private bathrooms
- Single travellers have the option to pay a single supplement to ensure a private room (subject to availability)
Traveller Comfort - *COACH* tours
We welcome all travellers on our tours but we would like to ensure that you are as comfortable as possible. In light of this, please ensure that you are happy with the below information and level of fitness required.
Expat Explore tries to be as accommodating as possible, however, our tours are unfortunately not designed for people travelling with wheelchairs or severe mobility issues.
Our tours are fast paced because they are designed for you to see the most a destination has to offer. We also want to ensure that you explore as much as possible, which may require long periods without stops on the coach as we drive to a new destination.
We offer walking tours in most cities (up to 3 hours), and a wheelchair is not always a practical option as there are often cobbled streets and stairs on these tours.
For travellers in wheelchairs, you will only be able to store your wheelchair under the coach with the other luggage. Thus, on the long drives between cities you will not necessarily have access to your wheelchair if we make a quick bathroom stop along the way. Please note that travelling with a wheelchair could prove difficult as our coaches don't have wheelchair lifts, as such you will need to be able to board and alight the coach on your own.
With regards to our accommodation, not all hotels have lifts and this means potentially having to carry bags up and down stairs.
For more information regarding traveller fitness please see our Terms and Conditions.
Check out our Q&As
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
If you are travelling alone there is no compulsory charge - you will share a twin room with another passenger of the same gender. There is an optional single supplement/private room upgrade available for single travellers who wish to have a private room. This can be added at the time of booking or by contacting our team.
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Children on tour?
Our tours are not suitable for young children which is why we have a minimum age limit of 10 years old. However, at the discretion of Expat Explore we may consider younger children on certain tours if they meet certain criteria and a request is received in writing via email. Minors (between 10 and 18 years of age) must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who accepts full responsibility for them. Unaccompanied minors will not be accepted on tour. Expat Explore reserves the right to decline any booking at our discretion. Any minor (between 10 and 18 years of age) is priced the same as an adult.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
The health and safety of our travellers and employees are our top priority. Which means, when you travel with us, our enhanced hygiene protocols will ensure you do so in a safe and responsible way - ask for details of current policies.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 2005
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
At Expat Explore we value responsible travel and are committed to exploring the world consciously and kindly. We are proud to make responsible travel possible with a number of our sustainable travel practices!
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Am I contributing to any charity by booking the tour?
Relate is a South African based not-for-profit organisation that Expat Explore supports. The group aims to help those less fortunate create better lives for themselves through a variety of fundraising initiatives. On our South Africa tours, each passenger will receive an Expat Explore branded Relate bracelet. We donate the cost of these bracelets to our chosen Relate charity: the Nelson Mandela Sc
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Friday - Friday
Dec 27, 2024 - Jan 03, 2025Book with Confidence
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Free Date Changes
CTS demo white label allows you to make 20 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 0 days before the start of the tour.
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Low Deposit
CTS demo white label requires a minimum deposit of 55% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 30 days before departure.
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Terms and Conditions