Umbria Tuscany
Guided By David Tordi
A harvest season journey through the green heart of Italy.
Cortona, Bevagna, Sovana, and Orvieto.
Umbria and Tuscany is where I was born—it’s my honor to bring you to my favorite places, where the volcanic tufa rock gives incredible richness to the soil. And fall is my favorite time to be here. —David
Umbria Tuscany
12 Days / 11 Nights
10—15 Travelers Max
$1000 deposit
Full balance 90 days before
Oct 26 — Nov 6, 2025
$6495 per person
+$1000 single supplement
Oct 25 — Nov 5, 2026
$6695 per person
+$1200 single supplement
“Marvelous food, great company, and place settings for a queen.”
—Cynthia C., Ohio
Highlights
Cortona
“There were so many favorites—truffle hunting, the sulpher hot springs, the meals, the beautiful walled villages, our private concert from David's band!”
—Chris L., Central Italy 2024
Signorelli frescoes, Orvieto Cathedral
Truffle hunt
“David is the pro of all pros for guiding! Knowledgable, spirited, great at pacing for the group.”
—Cindy Umbria Tuscany ‘23
Signorelli frescoes, Orvieto Cathedral
Bomarzo, Monster Park
“The whole trip was a WOW, but especially the Duomo in Orvieto.”
—Pauline, Umbria Tuscany ‘22
Olive Harvest Experience
Itinerary
Bevagna
Tour begins at 3pm in Cortona, staying at Hotel San Michele.
Day 1. Let’s all meet at our Cortona hotel for a welcome drink and tour introduction meeting, followed by a short orientation walk in the town of “Under the Tuscan Sun” and a visit to the Archaeological Museum. Afterwards, we will enjoy our welcome dinner all together at a local favorite restaurant.
Day 2. Morning walking tour of Cortona with our local guide followed by a group aperitivo. Free afternoon and evening in town to explore more of Cortona on your own. Lunch and dinner are on your own.
Day 3. Day trip to Arezzo by bus to visit the town and to enjoy its charming architecture. Lunch is on your own in Arezzo. Evening return to Cortona, dinner on your own.
Bus transfer towards Central Umbria, staying at a local Agriturismo country house.
Day 4. We continue into the region of Umbria to explore beautiful Assisi, the town of Saint Frances. Lunch on your own in Assisi. After some free time, we arrive at our “agriturismo” for a wonderful cooking class followed by our group dinner.
Day 5. Today we will enjoy an Umbrian truffle hunt, and learn all about this ancient food, including a truffle group lunch. In the afternoon, we will explore one of the many beautiful towns in Umbria, and return to our country hotel for dinner on your own.
Bus transfer towards Sovana & Pitigliano, staying at Sovana Hotel & Resort.
Day 6. Scenic drive through Tuscany’s UNESCO area of Val d'Orcia with visits to Monticchiello and Pienza (here lunch on our own). After lunch, we will continue towards Sovana, where, after our hotel check-in, we will enjoy a group dinner at a local restaurant in the Medieval village.
Day 7. Today we will explore Sovana, and the surrounding areas, with a walking tour of its Archaeological Park, an ancient “Via Cava” (sacred carved road) and a tour of Pitigliano (also nicknamed "Little Jerusalem"). Lunch on your own in Pitigliano. After returning to our charming village Sovana and some down time, we will enjoy a group dinner.
Day 8. Day trip to the Mediterranean Sea! Visit to the Orbetello Lagoon and the seaside town of Porto Santo Stefano, where we will experience a group seafood lunch together. On the way back to our hotel, we will take a stop at the ancient hot spring waterfalls of Saturnia (water shoes are strongly recommended here). Free evening for dinner in Sovana.
Bus transfer to Orvieto, staying at Hotel Palazzo Piccolomini.
Day 9. Depart Sovana and drive South to Tarquinia, one of the major Etruscan cities of Southern Etruria. Today we will explore its fantastic frescoed tombs and the local archaeological museum. Lunch is on your own in Tarquina. Later, we will arrive in Orvieto, our next home for four nights, followed by check-in and a group dinner at a local favorite.
Day 10. Day trip to Bomarzo, a 16th century park built in a sacred Etruscan area. We will continue to a working olive oil mill & winery to taste some fantastic extra-virgin olive oil, some excellent local wines and have a light group lunch, with a digestive stroll and free time in Lake Bolsena afterwards. Evening and dinner are on your own in Orvieto.
Day 11. This morning we will have a walking tour of ancient Orvieto, a visit to one of its many underground archaeological sites, and the Duomo, including Master Luca Signorelli’s frescoes. After lunch on your own and a free afternoon in Orvieto, we will regroup to enjoy our farewell group dinner.
Day 12. Tour is over after breakfast. Assistance for post-tour arrangements is available.
*Itinerary details subject to change
What’s Included
Sovana
Included:
A small group experience of 10-15 people
Twelve nights accommodation, including breakfasts
Six group dinners & two group lunches, drinks included (reasonable limits)
All group sightseeing activity entrances and local guides
Transport by private bus between cities; train tickets to & from group stops
All tips for guides, hotels, restaurants, and drivers.
Pre-tour travel consultation with Margaret
Flexible reservation and cancellation policy
Not Included:
Airfare & airport transportation
Activities not included with the tour
Hotel extras and room service
Extra wine at group meals
Travel insurance
Conditions:
Tour itinerary and What’s Included details subject to change. Future substitutions will be approximately equal or better in value.
FAQ
Saturnia Day Trip
Where will this tour stay?
No generic high-rise business hotels on this tour--we stay in small, charming three- and four-star hotels right in the heart of the towns we visit. They’re all in historic structures, so each room may be different (and you may have to climb stairs!).
How much walking will there be on this tour?
There is some kind of walking tour each day, and you’ll certainly be walking more in your free time. Figure several miles a day, often on uneven cobblestones or on dirt paths around archaeological sites. Lots of standing on city sidewalks and marble floors can sometimes be equally tiring—make sure your back and knees can handle this. We’ll definitely work off our pasta and gelati!
What’s the balance between group time and free time?
This tour is designed to strike a balance between group time and your own free time to explore or just relax. I will be on hand to help you plan your activities during free time.
When should I plan to arrive in Rome for this tour?
Some travelers like to arrive a day or more early and book a hotel on their own, to start adjusting to the time change and to explore Rome sights we won’t be visiting as a group. You can also fly directly into Rome from all European hubs. If you arrive the day the tour starts, plan to get there before lunch to get settled before our start time.
What will we eat?
Of course we all know pasta and gelato—and we’ll certainly have our share!--but many Americans don’t realize how much variety Italian food has between regions. There are cream-stuffed buns and cheese-stuffed rice balls in Rome…truffles and wild boar in the Tuscany/Lazio countryside…the original “bologna” in Bologna (it’s 100% better than your elementary-school sandwich meat!)…and risotto in Venice. We will definitely taste our way through Italy on this tour!
