Taste Of Italy Christmas
8 Days Starting and ending in Rome
Visiting: Rome, Italy, Orvieto, Venice, Lake Garda, Florence, Tuscany, Cinque Terre, Pisa, Tuscany, San Gimignano, Siena
Tour operator:
Tour code:
ITTXMAS
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
10 - 51
Physical rating:
Low
Age range:
10-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Celebrate Christmas in bella Italia! This festive 8-day Italy vacation begins with ancient sights and architectural wonders in Rome! Explore magical Venice aboard a traditional gondola and marvel at Renaissance masterpieces in Florence. Experience the spectacular Italian countryside in Tuscany and Lake Garda. Spend Christmas Eve in colourful Cinque Terre and see the Leaning Tower of Pisa! Indulge in delectable Italian cuisine and discover unique Christmas dishes and regional festive traditions. From medieval hilltop towns and bustling cities to historic landmarks and cultural must-sees, this is an Italy tour you will never forget!
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Start Of Tour In Rome
Location: Rome
Meals Included: Dinner
Welcome to Rome and the first day of your festive Italy tour! Arrive at your hotel in the morning and meet up with your tour leader and the rest of the group. The tour leader will give the group a brief overview of the upcoming tour itinerary. Then, set out on a guided walking tour of the city! See some of the best places to visit in Rome like the Spanish Steps, the Pantheon, the Roman Forum and more. Enjoy free time to spend as you wish before joining the rest of the group for an included welcome dinner.
Walking tour of Rome: Embark on a walking tour of Rome, Italy’s iconic capital city, with a professional local guide. The tour gives you a great introduction to Rome’s top sights which you can further explore in your free time. See the 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: The start of the tour calls for a celebration! Tonight, 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: Italy, Rome, Orvieto, Venice
Meals Included: Breakfast
Wave arrivederci to Rome and travel towards Venice today! En route, travel through the mountainous Umbria region which is famous for its local produce and cuisine. Stop over in the small city of Orvieto which is perched on volcanic rock and boasts breathtaking views. Take the funicular up to the city centre and enjoy some time to explore Corso Cavour, the town’s main street. Be sure to check out the exquisite 14th century Orvieto Cathedral and the impressive Albornoz Fortress. Later, arrive in Venice - Italy’s magical floating city! Enjoy a free evening to relax or join your tour leader on the Venice by Night optional excursion which features a twilight water taxi cruise along Venice’s iconic canals.
Orientation tour of Orvieto: Explore this historic city perched on top of a rocky cliff. Take a trip to the city centre using the funicular. Enjoy free time to find something to eat, wander the streets and visit top sights including the Cathedral of Orvieto, the papal residence and the Albornoz Fortress.
Day 3: Venice: Free Day
Location: Venice
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast, enjoy an orientation tour of Venice with your tour leader. The rest of the day is free to explore at your leisure. Of course, one of the best things to do in Venice is to take a traditional gondola ride! This optional activity can be organised with your tour leader as well as an optional lagoon tour which visits Murano and Burano. These colourful islands are famous for their glass-blowing and lace-making crafts respectively. Alternatively, spend the day visiting top Venice attractions such as the Bridge of Sighs and Doge’s Palace or just wander around and admire the Christmas decorations. Later, why not try some local Venetian food during a Venice Food Tour?
Orientation tour of Venice: In the morning, your tour leader will take you into the heart of this unique floating city for an orientation tour. This will give you some ideas of what you can explore on your free day! 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
Depart Venice this morning and head towards Italy’s Tuscany region! Along the way, get your cameras ready for a stop in the resort town of Sirmione on the banks of Lake Garda. Later, arrive in Florence and embark on an orientation tour with your tour leader. Florence is known as the “Jewel of the Renaissance” and is home to both Renaissance masterpieces and Roman ruins. After the tour, enjoy some free time to see top sights like the Florence Cathedral, Ponte Vecchio, Palazzo Vecchio and the Basilica of Santa Croce. Florence is teeming with architectural and artistic wonders just waiting to be explored! Why not enjoy an optional dinner in Florence and get an authentic taste of Tuscany?
Orientation tour of Florence: Join your tour leader on a walking tour of Florence. This beautiful city is among the most photographed in the world due to its incredible Renaissance architecture and art. This tour will offer some great suggestions for sights to explore during your free time later.
Day 5: Cinque Terre - Pisa - Tuscany
Location: Cinque Terre, Pisa, Tuscany
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Experience Christmas Eve in Italy and venture to one of the country’s most beautiful regions. This morning, head to La Spezia, the gateway to Cinque Terre. Five picturesque seaside villages along the rugged Italian Riviera coastline. These towns, Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore, have banned motorcycles and cars making it very pleasant to explore them by foot or train. In the afternoon, drive back to the Tuscan region and enjoy a stop in Pisa. See the legendary, 800-year-old Leaning Tower of Pisa and be sure to snap a fun picture with this classic Italy travel highlight! This evening, enjoy an included dinner.
Explore Cinque Terre: The colourful villages of Cinque Terre are recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Enjoy free time to explore this picturesque region, which also offers some of the best seafood in Italy!
See the Leaning Tower of Pisa: Stopover in Pisa to see one of Italy’s most iconic monuments; the world-famous Leaning Tower of Pisa! Be sure to snap a photo of you ‘holding up’ the tower!
Day 6: San Gimignano - Siena - Rome (Christmas Day)
Location: San Gimignano, Siena, Rome
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Buon Natale! This Christmas morning, travel through Tuscany and admire some of the most stunning countryside landscapes in the world! Marvel at quaint Tuscan farmhouses, sweeping vineyards and olive groves while along the way. Stop in San Gimignano, a charming medieval Tuscan hilltop town. Discover its exceptional Romanesque and Gothic architecture and skyline of well-preserved medieval tower houses. Then, enjoy a wine tasting accompanied with antipasto! Next, head to the Tuscan city of Siena. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Siena is famous for the biannual Palio horse race held in the Piazza del Campo and its striking medieval brick buildings. Then, head back to Rome for a Christmas dinner with the group.
Comfort stop in San Gimignano: Famous for its medieval towers, San Gimignano is a real gem of the Tuscan region. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, 14 of the original 70+ towers remain, providing an iconic and unforgettable skyline that sets it apart from the many other hill towns of Tuscany.
Explore 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 Piazza del Campo, the main town square of Siena. The 17 participants represent local families, or contrade.
Enjoy a wine tasting accompanied by antipasto: Round off your visit to Siena with a tasting of local Tuscan wines accompanied by delicious antipasto.
Day 7: Rome: Free Day
Location: Rome
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today is free to spend as you wish in Rome! Hit the streets and see more of the Italian capital. There is so much to see, from ancient Roman ruins and medieval buildings to designer stores and trendy restaurants! Today could also be a great time to visit the Vatican City. Home to the Pope, the Vatican is especially beautiful during the Christmas season and is famous for its Christmas tree and Nativity scenes. Alternatively, do some last minute souvenir shopping or sit at a café and watch the world go by.
Day 8: End Of Tour In Rome
Location: Rome
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast, this festive 8-day Italy travel adventure comes to an end. Say arrivederci to your fellow travellers and bella Italia! Expat Explore hopes your Christmas in Italy was full of unforgettable experiences!
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
Discover Rome on a walking tour
Welcome dinner in Rome
Visit Orvieto, a historic city perched on a rocky cliff
Explore Venice on an orientation tour
Discover Florence on an orientation tour
Enjoy Christmas Eve dinner in Florence
Explore the colourful villages of Cinque Terre
See the Leaning Tower of Pisa
Visit San Gimignano, a medieval hilltop town
Explore the Tuscan city of Siena
Enjoy a Tuscan wine tasting
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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What is the standard of the hotels on this tour?
We have searched and invested in excellent accommodation options, either located in cities or well placed with public transport connections. Clean linen, towels is always included. Toiletries (shampoo, shower gel etc) and hair dryers are not always included, so you may wish to bring these with you. Accommodation is provided in twin share en-suite rooms. We use a mix of mostly 2, 3 & 4-star hotels.
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Is there a supplement for solo travellers?
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 customer services team. Please note that the room provided may be a single room with a single bed.
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Is there any free time to explore places during the tour?
Yes, As detailed in the itinerary
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
All our tours are conducted in English.
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
Our tours are not suitable for young children, so we set a minimum age limit of 10 years old.
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Are vaccinations required for this tour?
We are committed to curating excellent travel experiences and to do so we need all of our travelers to feel safe.
In order to ensure the peace of mind and safety of our travelers and staff on board the coach, we are still requesting that all travellers, regardless of their vaccination status, produce a negative Covid test. This test can be a PCR test -
Are all entrance fees included in the price?
No, entrance fees are not included.
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Is there a limit to luggage that can be brought on the tour?
Due to weight and space limitations, you are allowed to bring one main piece of luggage weighing no more than 20kg, and one small soft bag for hand luggage weighing a maximum of 7kg. On all tours, you will have to carry your own luggage (e.g. into hotels and up to your room if hotels don’t have elevators). Please bear this in mind when you are deciding what to pack
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Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?
No, visas are each traveler’s personal responsibility, and we recommend that plenty of time is allowed for visas to be applied for. When applying for your visa, please ensure that the proper research is carried out before you apply, and that you deal directly with the embassies or certified agents with regard to acquiring correct and timely information. We cannot take responsibility for customers
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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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Dates & Availability
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Friday - Friday
Dec 20, 2024 - Dec 27, 2024Book with Confidence
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Free Date Changes
Expat Explore Travel allows you to make 5 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 76 days before the start of the tour.
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Low Deposit
Expat Explore Travel requires a minimum deposit of 10% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 45 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of expat explore travel charges.
Up to 45 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 44 days before tour starts: Forfeit 40% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 70% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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