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 due at booking
Full balance due 90 days before
Oct 26 — Nov 6, 2025 Sold Out!
$6495 per person
+$1000 single supplement
Join Waitlist
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
Spontaneous music
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?
This tour stays in 4-star accommodations with historic charm, within the center of town, or within walking distance. I feel it’s important that the hotels reflect the culture of the places we visit, for this reason, they are often historical palaces and residences.
How much walking will there be on this tour?
There is some kind of walking tour each day. Nothing strenuous but sometimes we venture over uneven ground, trails or paths in the countryside, or around archaeological sites. Plan on bringing walking shoes (also water shoes!) and on walking about 3 miles each day. It’s good for the appetite and for your next gelato to taste!
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 chill out and relax. David will be on hand to help plan your activities during free time.
Will there be live music on this tour???
Hahaha! Well, I do love surprises…
When should I plan to arrive in Cortona for this tour?
The tour starts at 3pm. Some travelers like to arrive the day before and book a hotel on their own, just to get settled. Cortona is on the train line between Rome and Florence and easily reachable from either place. If you’re flying into Florence the day the tour starts, plan to arrive in the early morning to comfortably make your way to Cortona, about 1.5 hours drive from the Florence Airport, before our start time. And while it’s not necessary to arrive a few days early to adjust to the time change, many travelers do to start the tour feeling fresh. It’s up to you!
What will we eat?
I think it’s safe to say, the food on this tour is so good, it actually inspired Guided By’s wild boar logo! There will be many delicacies, including some spectacular charcuterie, local wines and pasta, and of course, wild boar, a specialty of Central Italy.
