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Food & Wine: Piedmont & Tuscany with America's Test Kitchen

Duration: 11 days
Group size: 14-28

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In Italy, food is an art form.

Learn about northern Italy’s rich culinary history by visiting local shops, secluded vineyards, and bustling markets. You’ll witness the passion behind the creation of famous meats, cheeses, oils, and wines by interacting with the producers who keep the traditions alive. Attend the Alba White Truffle Fair and try your hand at making some of the region’s specialty dishes during cooking lessons led by locals.

Your tour package includes

9 nights in handpicked hotels
9 breakfasts
3 lunches
5 dinners with beer or wine
3 wine tastings

Included highlights

Chocolate-making lesson
Alba White Truffle Fair
Balsamic vinegar villa tour
Cooking classes
San Gimignano

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Day-by-day itinerary

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Overnight flight1 night

Day 1: Travel day

Board your overnight flight to Turin today.

Turin4 nights

Day 2: Arrival in Turin

Included meal: Welcome dinner

Welcome to Italy! Gather with your fellow group members at a welcome dinner featuring dishes that are typical of the Piedmont region.

Day 3: Sightseeing tour of Turin

Included meal: Breakfast

This morning, set out on a guided tour to discover Turin, home to Italy’s Royal Family, the House of Savoy.

Make a photo stop at Santa Maria del Monte, which overlooks the Po river and the city center
Pass through Piazza Castello to make your way inside Palazzo Madama
Enter the Royal Church of San Lorenzo
Walk through the Palazzo Reale courtyard to visit Caffè al Bicerin and try the famous bicerin coffee

Head to one of Turin's famed chocolatiers for a tasting and chocolate-making lesson this afternoon. Then, enjoy free time to explore Eataly.

Day 4: Truffle hunt & Alba White Truffle Fair

Included meal: Breakfast

Set off for Alba to learn all about one of Italy’s most prized foods: the truffle.

Try your hand at finding truffles with the help of an experienced hunter and dog
Discover some of the key characteristics of the fungi, including how it looks and smells, during a guided lesson
Head to the White Truffle Fair, where you’ll have plenty of free time to enjoy the festival, browse the markets, and sample local dishes

This evening, savor expertly prepared traditional specialties at an included dinner in Turin.

Day 5: Barolo

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Wine tasting

Enjoy a full day of delicious foods, regional wines, and beautiful sights in and around Barolo.

Stop at the village of La Morra and soak in panoramic views of the Langhe region
Step inside the UNESCO-listed Castle of Grinzane Cavour
Visit a winery in Barolo, where you’ll walk through the vineyard and enjoy a light lunch followed by a wine tasting

Bologna2 nights

Day 6: Parmigiano Reggiano producer & balsamic vinegar villa

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

As you head to Bologna, Italy’s culinary capital, stop to try some culinary delights.

Visit a local Parmigiano Reggiano producer and enjoy a cheese tasting
Tour a family-run balsamic vinegar villa and discover how they produce their high-end, aged balsamic known as Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena
Try the balsamic vinegar during a lunch featuring a variety of appetizers, a risotto dish, and a buffet of desserts

Day 7: Sightseeing tour of Bologna & cooking class

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

This morning, venture out on a walking tour with an expert local guide.

Visit the University of Bologna, the world’s oldest operating university
Peruse the local fish and vegetable market district and visit Piazza Maggiore

Learn how to make tortellini, tortelloni, and tagliatelle during a cooking class this evening. Then, enjoy eating the meal you’ve prepared for dinner.

Tuscan agriturismo3 nights

Day 8: Tuscan agriturismo via San Gimignano & Chianti

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner, Wine tasting

Make several stops en route to your agriturismo, or farm stay, located in the beautiful Tuscan countryside today.

Explore the small medieval town of San Gimignano on your own
Sample some of the city's renowned gelato
Continue on to Chianti to tour a vineyard and sample some of the region’s fine wines during a tasting

Later, arrive at your agriturismo and tour the grounds before gathering with your group for a wine tasting and dinner.

Day 9: Culinary walking tour of Florence

Included meal: Breakfast

Head into the nearby city of Florence and visit a traditional market, where you’ll be able to purchase fresh, locally sourced foods for a picnic dinner this evening. Enjoy free time in the city before returning to the agriturismo this afternoon.

Day 10: Free day at Tuscan agriturismo

Included meals: Breakfast, Farewell dinner

Spend a free morning at the agriturismo and enjoy the activities that they offer, including walks through the grounds, wine and oil tastings, , bicycle tours, and farm tours.

Learn to craft Tuscan cuisine during an included cooking class this afternoon.

Later this evening, gather with your fellow group members to celebrate your trip during a farewell dinner.

Arrive home

Day 11: Departure

Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)

Transfer to the airport for your flight home.

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Hotels, flights & FAQ

Here's the nitty-gritty—where you’ll stay, how you’ll get there, and what to know about your destination before you go.

Hotels

We handpick every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm. Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date, but these are frequently used hotels for this tour and we're confident you'll be satisfied.

Flights

Round-trip flights are one more thing we handle to make your journey as smooth as possible. Our team of travel experts will find the best flight itinerary for you at a competitive rate, thanks to our partnerships with top airlines.

Add our airfare package and you'll get:

Round-trip flight for your tour
Airport transfers at your destination
A great price locked in today
24/7 support from our dedicated service team
Options for arriving early, staying longer, or requesting an upgrade
Flexible rebooking options if your tour itinerary changes

Find out more about flights

FAQ

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Passport & visa requirements

In order to enter Italy, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
We recommend having at least one blank passport page for entry stamps.
There is no visa required for U.S. or Canadian citizens.
If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact your destination country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.

Tour pace

You will walk for at least 3.5 hours daily across moderately uneven terrain, including paved roads and cobblestone streets, with some hills and stairs.
Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance.
You should feel comfortable managing your own baggage at times.
Go Ahead Tours and the Tour Director who accompanies your group are unable to provide special, individual mobility assistance to travelers on tour. The responsibility of the Tour Director is to ensure the group as a whole enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing, individualized assistance to any one traveler.
If you have any mobility concerns or physical restrictions, please contact our Customer Experience Team.

Transportation & arrival information

Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in Turin and depart from Florence. A representative from Go Ahead Tours will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Please remain in the arrival lounge, as the representative might be escorting one of your fellow travelers to the bus at the time of your arrival.
Transfers to and from the airport at your destination are included for travelers who have purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who purchase their own flights may request airport transfers with Go Ahead Tours for an additional cost.
All other included transportation on this tour is by private motor coach.

Baggage allowance

Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag and one carry-on bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and other transfers, which may include train connections or flights.
Contact your airline(s) for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flights, which may include on-tour flights in addition to your round-trip flights to and from tour. Please note that your included on-tour flights may have more restrictive baggage limits.
Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage or exceed baggage size and weight restrictions. Be advised that you are responsible for any baggage fees incurred on all flights.
Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.

Clothing & packing tips

We recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered to accommodate varying temperatures, as well as a light jacket or rainwear.
A sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers is recommended for sightseeing.
You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance.
It is preferable not to visit churches or other religious sites with bare legs and shoulders (and entrance may be denied on this basis).

Health

There are no major health risks associated with traveling to Italy.
At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov.
If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour as well as any possible delays encountered.
If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please call our Customer Experience Team.

Cuisine

Northern Italy is known for flavorful meats and pastries.
Tuscany is world-famous for its wine, oil, sauces, and pasta. Menus favor subtle, lighter pastas and desserts made with nuts, fruit, and honey. Try a dish featuring the region’s Chianina beef, perhaps the most prized breed of cattle in all of Italy. For wine, popular Tuscan reds include Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, which are primarily made from the Sangiovese grape. Well-known white wines are also made around the San Gimignano region.
For more authentic meals, try local trattorias, small restaurants set away from the main piazzas. A typical Italian meal includes wines and the occasional beer, followed by a few sips of after-dinner drinks like grappa or limoncello.

Electricity & air conditioning

Italy operates on the European standard 220-240 volts and uses Types C, F, or L plugs with two or three small, round pins.
We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other device without a built-in converter.
The strength of the air conditioning in European hotels is often not as strong or as cool as what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada. When air conditioning is available, it is usually regulated seasonally and controlled centrally by the hotel.
Your hotels may provide hairdryers, irons, and other small appliances. However, these amenities cannot be guaranteed.

Connectivity

Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, though some charges may apply.
There is no Wi-Fi on any of the motor coaches.
Please contact your mobile service provider for information on roaming charges.

Time zones

Italy is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and six hours ahead of Eastern Time (ET).
When it’s noon in New York, it’s 6pm on tour.

Currency

You will use the euro on tour.
Better rates of exchange are usually available overseas, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive.
We strongly advise that you take debit/bank cards and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks as needed.
You can use most debit/credit cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
Inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans so that they won’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges.
International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.

Tipping

At the conclusion of your tour, it’s customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
We recommend tipping the equivalent of $7USD to $10USD per person per day for your Tour Director and the equivalent of $3USD per person per day for your driver.
If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD per local guide.
Tips can only be paid in cash.

Dates & prices

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2020