BRAND NEW FOR 2027: Expedition Cruises!

Experience beauty, heritage, and bounty with this tantalizing tour of Italy’s distinctive villages, cities, and country charm. Your travels begin in Florence, heart of romantic Tuscany. We’ll gather at our hotel for a luscious meal and lively conversation. On our first full day, a local guide will give us the highlights of Florence as well as the hidden gems. Then, we head to medieval Lucca, home of Puccini. After walking the cobblestone streets, you’ll understand why he was inspired to create beauty!

You’ve dreamed about pastel-colored villages clinging to the bluffs above the dazzling Mediterranean; this is your chance to immerse yourself in the wonder of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Afterward, we return to Lucca before heading to the classic, and quirky, Leaning Tower of Pisa. We’ll have plenty of time to explore the mysteries of this medieval center.

San Gimignano is a brilliant town with a legendary piazza, architecture, and winding lanes. We’ll meet a gelato maker and then indulge in Tuscan wine tasting. Glorious Siena is a secret tucked in the hills, and from there we journey to Pienza. This is an enchanted village, and we’re privy to handcrafted cheese, world-class wines, and stunning views of Tuscany. In Chianti, delight in an authentic regional cooking class. We end the day together, dining, and recalling the favorite parts of this exceptional tour. This is the tour that will renew your spirits!

PLAN AND BOOK

Included Unique Activities

  • Walking Tour in Florence with a Local Guide
  • Regional Cooking Class in Chianti
  • Taste Delectable Cheeses & Wines at a Local Farm

Accommodations

1 Night

City Center 18th Century Hotel

2 Nights

Historic Lucca Hotel

1 Night

Quiet Tuscany Retreat

2 Nights

Exquisite Tuscany Hotel

1 Night

Countryside Resort

Transportation and Guides

  • Premium Mini-Coach Transportation with Professional Driver/Guide

Meals Included

  • Delectable Full Breakfast Each Morning
  • 1x Lunch & 3x Evening Meals
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Available Dates

20 - 27 August 2026

From $3,575 per person
Single Supplement $894

31 - 07 August 2026

From $3,281 per person
Single Supplement $812

14 - 21 September 2026

Sold Out!

24 September - 01 October 2026

Sold Out!

01 - 08 October 2026

From $3,222 per person
Single Supplement $800

08 - 15 October 2026

Sold Out!

22 - 29 October 2026

From $3,011 per person
Single Supplement $753

18 - 25 March 2027

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15 - 22 April 2027

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22 - 29 April 2027

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29 April - 06 May 2027

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06 - 13 May 2027

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13 - 20 May 2027

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20 - 27 May 2027

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27 May - 03 June 2027

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17 - 24 June 2027

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01 - 08 July 2027

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29 July - 05 August 2027

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19 - 26 August 2027

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30 August - 06 September 2027

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02 - 09 September 2027

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09 - 16 September 2027

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23 - 30 September 2027

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04 - 11 October 2027

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14 - 21 October 2027

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28 October - 04 November 2027

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Prices are per person based on 2 people traveling together and sharing a room. For solo travelers, a Single Supplement will be added to the price per person.

"Family Vacation"

Alison Evenson

KY

My client's loved their trip to England and Scotland. They were pleased with everything we planned for them and everything went perfectly. Ellie and Authentic Vacations made me look like a rock star. Thank you!

"Revisit to hike the 5 villages"

Brent Shick

Cinque Terre, Italy

What a wonderful visit we had in Cinque Terre. The driver was waiting for us at Florence airport and got us to Cinque Terre quickly and safely. Driver was very nice and spoke English well. He had cold water bottles for us to drink and the Mercedes van was very comfortable transportation.


The Hotel was very nice and the people there took very good care of us. We brought more than one suitcase each, because we had 19 days of travel planned, and found that to be a mistake. We would do that differently if we do it again, we would store most of it and take only one to the hotel or ship the rest ahead to the cruise line. The villages have a lot of steps, but the hotel manager had help for us so we didn't have to do much. Very good to us.


The all-day hiking with Andrea was absolutely fantastic. He was very accommodating and a wonderful guide and a wonderful person. He talked us through what we wanted to hike and when we want to use a shuttle or the train so that we could do all 5 villages. He recommended a couple of places for lunch and the restaurant we ate at was fantastic.


The food, especially the seafood, was so delicious and fresh, we really enjoyed everything we ate. The anchovies were so fresh and tasty we had the sampler twice, which is 3 or 4 pieces of anchovies, cooked 4 or 5 different ways. I also got a focaccia sandwich with mozzarella and anchovies and sundried tomatoes. I couldn't believe how good that was to eat.


The driver was picked us up after check-out and drove us to the port in Ravenna. This was a 4 hour trip and he got us there on time and safe. Driver was very nice and spoke English well for us. He also had cold water bottles for us to drink and the Mercedes van was very comfortable transportation.


So except for the fact that we probably over did it, hiking 8 or 9 miles up and down hills, it was exceptional.


Thank you for calling me a few days before and talking me through all the things we needed to know and helping with the train tickets. ItalyBeyond also was very responsive, any time I asked them questions.


Thank you very much for putting this together for us, so that we could experience this wonderful vacation with such wonderful memories. We always enjoy the itineraries you prepare for us. Look forward to the next one.

"Italy anniversary trip"

Jan Pepe

GA

Ellie did a fabulous job helping me put together the perfect trip for my clients. She paid such great attention to the details I sent her, and my clients said the trip was AMAZING! Thank you Ellie!!!

"mom and daughter trip"

Tracy Layton

Ireland

What an amazing trip! I chose Authentic because the itinerary sounded exactly what we wanted to see. But what made this the trip of a lifetime was our driver/guide, Colm Dunlea. He was absolutely incredible. The stories he told, the little side trips he took us on, the tips he gave us as we arrived in each of the towns/cities, the pictures he took and all of the extras he gave us were just so very much appreciated. I am forever grateful to Colm Dunlea for all he did. He was BRILLIANT!!!

"85th birthday gift celebration"

Patricia Slota

Montague Michigan

Our trip to Ireland was beyond amazing. Each day brought new vistas filling us all with the heart of this beautiful land, The accomadations were just magical and each one had a lovely history of its own. The tour itinerary was well designed to teach us about Irelands different areas and history. Special praise to our ProCar chauffer / guide, Mr. Declan Cummins for going way above to care for each traveler . ( We were a varied group.) He is a huge asset to your company, We all grew very fond of him by weeks end. Thank you all for creating this wonderful adventure. I'd do it over again in a heartbeat!

"Denmark Vacation"

Eric Jensen

Minneapolis, MN

My clients' 'Denmark in the Spring' trip exceeded expectations — from the seamless logistics to the curated experiences in both Copenhagen and Aarhus, every detail was thoughtfully arranged. Their drivers and guides were exceptional, bringing the destinations to life in ways they couldn't have discovered on their own. They returned home already dreaming of their next trip.

"Mom and daughter trip"

Jill Loveless

Wisconsin

My client and her mother contacted me about travel to Ireland. They wanted something private and special. I met my Authentic Vacations' sales rep the night before and decided to send in a request. Best decision ever! Lauren L. received my request and immediately sent me an email with a few ideas, we talked on the phone and within 2 days I had a winning itinerary.

Fast forward. My client emailed me on arrival day and was very pleased with the service. She emailed me again on the last day and raved about their driver Colm Dunlea.

Working with Authentic Vacations was effortless. I highly recommend them and plan to use their service again.

"Family Vacation"

Denise Ferraro

New York

As a travel advisor, this was the first Ireland trip I entrusted to Authentic Vacations, and they knocked it out of the park. The clients loved having a private driver, thought the hotels were ideal, and a castle stay was the perfect ending to the trip.

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Complete our inquiry form by selecting your departure date, and all other relevant fields. Be sure to let us know if you're traveling for a special occasion! We can adjust most of our vacation packages to suit your needs, based on the details you provide.

2. Online Account & Quote Created

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Questions?

If you would prefer to discuss your perfect vacation on the phone, we would be delighted to hear from you! Our Destination Experts are standing-by and looking forward to speaking with you at any time during our business hours listed below. We also operate a very responsive and efficient Live Chat service on our website…instant gratification awaits!

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With offices in Scottsdale, San Francisco, London, Dublin, Copenhagen and Edinburgh, we can offer you unrivaled support while you are abroad. We truly believe all our clients deserve an extraordinary, authentic experience!