Escorted & Package Tours

Escorted General-Interest Tours

Escorted tours are structured group tours, with a group leader. The price usually includes everything from airfare to hotels, meals, tours, admission costs, and local transportation.

Despite the fact that escorted tours require big deposits and predetermine hotels, restaurants, and itineraries, many people derive security and peace of mind from the structure they offer. Escorted tours -- whether they're navigated by bus, motorcoach, train, or boat -- let travelers sit back and enjoy the trip without having to drive or worry about details. They take you to the maximum number of sights in the minimum amount of time with the least amount of hassle. They're particularly convenient for people with limited mobility and they can be a great way to make new friends. On the downside, you'll have little opportunity for serendipitous interactions with locals. Look for tours that offer a relaxed but educational sampling of activities throughout your stay. Many operators now offer mixed-bag tours of cooking-classes, art tours, and walking excursions. A good example of these is Boston-based Go Ahead Tours (tel. 800-590-1170; www.goaheadtours.com), which bills itself as the world's largest private educational organization.

Special-Interest Trips

Bike Tours -- The Italian countryside has always been legendary for its beauty and architectural richness, and bicycle tours are a particularly memorable way to experience it.

Bike-it-yourselfers should arm themselves with a good map and make use of the resources of the Club Alpino Italiano, 7 Via E. Fonseca Pimental, Milan 20127 (tel. 02-2614-1378; fax 02-2614-1395; www.cai.it). You can rent a bike by the week or longer at outlets in most cities.

The best tour resource is the annual Tourfinder issue of Bicycle USA. A copy costs $15 from the League of American Bicyclists, 1612 K St. NW, Suite 401, Washington, DC 20006 (tel. 202-822-1333; www.bikeleague.org). Membership is $30 per year and includes the Tourfinder and the annual almanac with information on European bicycling organizations.

Several companies specialize in bicycle tours, including Ciclismo Classico, 30 Marathon St., Arlington, MA 02174 (tel. 800-866-7314 in the U.S.; www.ciclismoclassico.com). A sampling of their tours that cover parts of northern Italy includes: Bike Across Italy, Land of Barolo & Truffles (Piedmont), Villas & Gardens of Veneto, Venice to Bologna, Sud Tirol Roll, Verona to Salzburg, Tour del Monte Bianco, and several tours that get you in among racers in major events (the Giro d'Italia -- like the Tour de France -- and the World Cup in the Veneto) where you get to sample the same stages the racers bike -- though not at the same time, obviously.

Experience Plus, 415 Mason Court, Suite 1, Fort Collins, CO 80524 (tel. 800-685-4565; www.xplus.com), runs bike tours across Europe, including tours around Venice and the Dolomites as well as marathon rides from Venice to Pisa (or vice versa) and to Florence. Seasoned cyclists with an appetite for challenge (and for top-of-the-line bikes) should check out Trek Travel (4617 Dovetail Dr., Suite 3, Madison, WI 53704; tel. 866-464-8735; www.trektravel.com). Their latest calendar currently includes one northern Italy ride called "Classic Climbs of the Dolomites," which requires a high level of energy and about $3,000 for a 7-day trip through the mountains.

Walking Tours -- If you don't feel the need to cover so much territory, you can appreciate even more of the countryside by walking or hiking (called trekking in Italian). Italy's resource for everything from countryside ambles to serious mountain trekking is the Club Alpino Italiano. Many outfits run walking tours in Italy. Besides Ciclismo Classico , you might want to try Butterfield & Robinson, 70 Bond St., Suite 300, Toronto, ON M5B 1X3 (tel. 800-678-1147 or 416-864-1354; fax 416-864-0541; www.butterfield.com); or Country Walkers (tel. 800-464-9255 in the U.S., or 800-244-1387; www.countrywalkers.com), which has a rather refined, romantic outlook on Italy.

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Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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