Holiday with a blogger is my recent idea. It is pretty simple: through a website of the project ‘I love Ferrara’ you can book a week stay in Ferrara with me. I traveled a lot in last 10 years and I think this is the perfect time to share my experience with others. Twice a year – in September and in May – you can enjoy Italy at its best. Interested in details? Click here for the full story.
The idea of such holiday offered by a blogger was so enthusiastically received that I’m sharing here a great news! It’s not only Ferrara you can visit this way. Jessica – editor of Epicure and Culture – invites you to join her on a journey to Amalfi Coast. Read her story and visit her website!
Amalfi Coast
You know those tours where you ride around on giant tourist buses, snapping photos of guidebook-listed sights and viewing your destination as if it were an animal at the zoo? This is not one of those tours. In partnership with G Adventures, a leader in the experiential and sustainable tourism industry, Epicure & Culture Magazine has launched Epicure & Culture Tours, with their first excursion being to Italy’s Amalfi Coast.
Amalfi Coast, Travel with a blogger
Epicure & Culture editor Jessica Festa understands that not all travelers like to journey on their own or without support — and might not feel qualified to make arrangements for a trip to a foreign country — but may still want an immersive cultural experience that can’t be found in a guidebook. After working with G Adventures and going on one of their tours herself, she fell in love with their sustainable philosophy, dedication to changing the lives of local communities and focus on authentic adventures. It was this that inspired her to partner with the company to combine their 24+ years of experience with her desire to provide Epicure & Culture readers and travelers the opportunity to experience their destination from a new point of view.
Moreover, she wanted to provide experiences like having a private guide and driver, traveling in a small group (average of 12) and renting a private Tuscan farmhouse at an affordable rate. “I want people to see there is more to travel than just checking off attractions in a guidebook or hopping on a tour bus to cram seeing an entire city into a few hours,” Festa explains. “I want to make it easy for people to book a tour that allows them to live like a local and truly immerse themselves in a new culture for a transformative travel experience.”
Tailor made
For the Amalfi Coast tour — taking place from September 26 to October 3, 2015 — travelers stay with a family in a 16th century former monastery agriturismo (farm stay) just outside of Furore, Italy. Immersed in a lush world of lemon trees, olive groves and vineyards you’ll experience local culinary culture by picking your own produce from the garden and helping your hosts prepare the meals. You’ll probably notice how healthy the locals of the Amalfi Coast look, and while much of this is due to the diet and wine (a superfood!) it’s also thanks for the beautiful landscapes and hiking opportunities. Trekking is a major component of the tour, with some highlights being the Valle dei Mulini complete with waterfall views and scenic picnic, Mount Tre Calli where you’ll see the Mediterranean from above and the Walk of the Gods, just as visually indulgent as the name suggests. You’ll also eat pizza in the very city it was invented (Naples), explore the ruins of Pompeii, enjoy water scenery as you sail from Positano to Amalfi by boat, roam around beautiful coastal towns littered with historic churches, beaches, markets, weathered stucco architecture and colorful hillsides stacked with houses.
Amalfi Coast, Travel with a blogger
For those wanting to travel in a sustainable manner, the Local Living On Italy’s Amalfi Coast Tour operates with responsible tourism in mind. Along with working with Planeterra to reduce any negative impact from tourism and have a positive affect on the local economy, the tour employs local guides and operators, uses responsible family-run accommodations, works with small local entrepreneurs and offers advice to travelers on how to travel more responsibly, for example, using refillable water bottles and cotton tote bags.
Book now for their 2015 departure, as spots are filling up fast. You won’t want to miss this culturally-immersive experience like no other!
Tour must be booked by February 2, 2015. You can ask questions or book by emailing Jessica Festa at editorial (at) epicureandculture (dot) com and telling her the number of people you’ll be traveling with.
Disclosure: all pictures were provided by Jessica and are used on a license Creative Commons. I was not offered any compensation for this blog post; we are friends with Jessica and fully support each other to make the idea of ‘Holiday with a blogger’ widely known.
Pictures source:
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I love Ferrara – alternative way to spend your holiday
Have you ever thought about visiting Italy? Here is an alternative way on how to visit Italy and get really close to the Italian way of life. I created a project ‘I love Ferrara‘ so you could join me and experience how beautiful and tasty Ferrara is. If you wish to immerse in Italy book your holiday now!
