Our trip will begin this evening with a welcome talk followed by dinner at our hotel near the Venice airport. We will meet our fellow travelers and learn more about our journey and the logistics for our upcoming tour days. Overnight near Venice airport.

Today we will embark on a picturesque river cruise up to Padua on the Brenta River. Historically a tributary of the Po River; natural and human intervention have since redirected its course. We will learn more of the history of the river and the people that built estates along its banks. We will then explore the enchanting Botanical Gardens of Padua and immerse in the vibrant food market of the city then enjoy a leisurely stroll in the city center. We will transfer to our accommodation in Ferrara before enjoying a group dinner in Ferrara this evening. Overnight in Ferrara.

We will discover the charms of Ferrara with a morning city tour. Ferrara is a lovely city in the Emilia Romagna region and is designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site due to its beauty and cultural significance. Our city tour will be followed by an introduction of the Po River wetlands with a scenic walk. We will enjoy a delightful group lunch together today with the evening free for individual exploration and dinner on your own back in Ferrara.

(Hiking distance approximately 4 miles, 100-foot elevation gain.Depending on the ability and interest of the group, the leader may provide an option to extend the hike to 7 miles) | Overnight in Ferrara.

Today we will journey to Ravenna for a hike within the Po Delta Regional Park to explore the area’s pine forest and learn about the rich biodiversity of the forest and its surrounding waterways, including a variety of bird life, such as flamingos, herons, spoonbills, and swans that shelter in this protected area.

After our hike, we then delve into Ravenna’s rich history with a visit to its most magnificent mosaics which date back to the Byzantine era. Lunch on your own in Ravenna provides the opportunity to further explore this beautiful city. On our return to Ferrara, we will begin our exploration of Italy’s Slow Food culture with a “hands on” cooking class where we will learn about and prepare regional specialties which we will share together in a group dinner.

(Hiking distance approximately 4-5 miles, 100 feet elevation gain) | Overnight in Ferrara.

The Comacchio valley is a vast wetland within the Po Delta Regional Park and, as one of the most important lagoon networks in Italy and Europe, is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, including wild horses. Formed because of sinking terrain, and the consequent seepage of seawater from the Adriatic, local inhabitants over the centuries relied on fishing in the brackish waters for their livelihood. We will explore the area with a boat ride on the delta and a visit to the charming village of Comacchio and a traditional eel marinating/ processing factory. We will also explore on foot with short walks on the paths above the many canals.

After our exploration of the delta, we will return to Ferrara where participants can enjoy dinner on their own. Overnight in Ferrara.

Today we will depart Ferrara and head to the serene Garda Lake region, home to Italy’s largest lake. We stop enroute in Modena to savor its renowned balsamic vinegar and learn about the cultural traditions associated with the production of Italy’s “black gold”. The Lake Garda region is famous for its scenic beauty and mild year-round climate which is ideal for cultivation of local products such as olives, lemons, oranges, and grapes. There are many beautiful villages lining the shore of this lake, which borders on the Italian Alps. We will take a ferry to the picturesque town of Sirmione, dramatically set on a peninsula jutting into the lake. We’ll explore the town’s historic scenic center by foot and gain an appreciation for why tourists have been attracted to this area for centuries. After our exploration of Sirmione, we will head to our countryside resort near Lake Garda. Overnight near Lake Garda.

This morning, we will embark on a scenic hike in the mountains in the Valpolicella area east of Lake Garda. Our hike will explore the area’s vineyards and hills and we will learn about the traditions associated with wine production in this region. Our exploration of Slow Food traditions in this region will continue in the afternoon as we engage in a cheese-making experience including a delicious lunch, followed by a hands-on polenta making session with wine tasting.

(Hiking distance approximately 5 miles with 500 feet elevation gain) | Overnight near Lake Garda.

Today we will depart the Lake Garda area and head towards the Piedmont region, stopping in the small town of Piacenza, situated on the banks of the Po River. A former Roman military colony, its location on the fertile banks of the Po River supported Piacenza’s growth into an agricultural center while its strategic location made it an industrial center key to economic and political development of the region. We’ll visit a beekeeping and honey production facility and hike in the vicinity. During our group lunch we will delve further into the discussion of the slow food movement and how climate change is affecting the Po valley and thus Italy overall. We will then check-in to our hotel in the Piedmont countryside before enjoying a group dinner this evening

(Hiking distance 3 miles, 100 feet elevation gain) | Overnight in Piedmont countryside.

On day 1, we began our journey where the Po meets the Adriatic Sea. Today, we will embark on a scenic hike in the mountains to the origin of the Po River, past the small town of Paesana in the foothills of the Alps. After our visit to the Po headwaters, we will explore the town of Saluzzo and its majestic Castle. We will then discover more about the regional wine culture with a visit to the Banca Regionale del Vino. Lunch and dinner included today.

(Hiking distance: 6 miles, 900 foot elevation gain). Overnight in Piedmont countryside.

Today we will visit the city of Alba, which is world renowned for its white truffle and wine production. We will explore the bustling Alba market and learn about the richness of agricultural production in the region. Today’s highlights will be attendance at the world-famous International White Truffle fair with cooking and cultural demonstrations, and the opportunity to immerse in the excitement of this annual event with attendees from every corner of the globe. White truffles from this region are considered a prime delicacy worldwide, with the best truffles fetching up to $3,000 per pound! This afternoon, we will engage in a thrilling truffle hunt and learn the process for finding and collecting these delicacies, followed by a delicious truffle-infused meal and wine tasting.

Hiking distance 3-4 miles, 400 foot elevation gain | Overnight in Piedmont countryside.

This area is world-famous for the production of Barolo and Barbaresco wines. Today we will embark on a vineyard walk and delve into the traditions of viticulture in the region during a visit to a small family-owned winery. We will continue to engage in discussions of the Slow Food movement and deepen our understanding of the wines grown in these areas. Lunch and dinner included today.

Hiking distance 3 miles, 400 foot elevation gain | Overnight in Piedmont countryside.

Today we explore the beauty of the Piedmont countryside beginning with a visit to the Sacra di San Michele, a mountaintop abbey dating from the 10th century. We hike up a scenic path to enjoy the views of the Piedmont valley and the Alps from the abbey’s towers. After our visit to the abbey, we visit a local beer producer to learn about their production traditions and to sample some of their offerings. Our final stop will be at a viewpoint at Monte dei Cappuccini, towering 1,000 feet above the city of Turin. We will conclude our dinner with a relaxing night at an airport hotel in Turin including a farewell dinner.

(Hiking distance: 3 miles, 800 feet elevation gain) | Overnight near Turin airport.

After breakfast, we will say our goodbyes as we head to the Turin airport.