🧀🍝🍷 New Tuscany 2026 tour is LIVE! + 5 Alternative European destinations

Hi Reader,

It's already summertime in the northern hemisphere 😍 and I am so happy!

I am the summer in my pretty seaside hometown and I cannot wait for sunshine, beach time, lazy meals, daily gym and routine.

In this week's email 📩:

Our 2026 Tuscany tours are live and updated with the most charming, recently renovated country hotel and some extra spa pampering. We are also returning in June, my favorite month of the year in Tuscany. Landscapes are lunch and nature in bloom 🌹
Temporary restrictions ban any food or dairy from being brought into the UK from the European Union
For an "original" European summer destination, head to these 5 places

Come to Tuscany in 2026 - New & improved tour

After 4 sold out years and 12 tours, we are returning to this beautiful part of Italy recreating our own version of Under the Tuscan Sun AND Eat, Pray, Love.

Keen to join us?

Our Tuscany tours sell out really fast every year so I recommend you don't wait up.

=> See tour details.

WHEN

13 to 20 June -> Long sunny days, greener landscapes, flowers in bloom, happy people and lots of festivals
5 to 12 September -> Wine harvest season, beginning of the fall season and likely cooler temperatures

Highlights of the trip

🇮🇹 Walking food and culture tour of Florence: The capital of Tuscany is an open air museum we will discover by the hand of local gastronomy and culture experts on our first morning in the region. A food and art tour that will take us through the history of the city and the region with various food stops and visits to artisan shops.

🍷 Wine! We will visit 2 female owned wineries and taste organic and premium Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino wines. One of the wineries is entirely female staffed and will take us on a sensorial tour that pairs music with wine.

🍕 Fabulous Italian food: We will eat home cooked recipes and enjoy lazy meals in great company, the Italian way.

🧀 Cheese: We will learn how pecorino cheese is made, met the goats who produce it and savor it with the most incredible views of the World Heritage listed Val d'Orcia.

🐕 Truffle hunting in the forest with the sweetest dogs. We will go on an exciting adventure in the forests, looking for these precious fungus and then enjoy a truffle themed lunch at a local restaurant. Learn all about this wonderful ingredient and what makes it so precious.

🫒 Olive oil: How do we obtain the liquid gold (olive oil) that is the key to the Mediterranean diet? We'll join a private olive oil appreciation workshop, taste it and learn how it is made.

🍦 Visit 6 medieval villages many of which are UNESCO World Heritage listed from Florence to Siena, Pienza, San Gimignano, Greve and Montefioralle. Cobblestone pedestrian streets, watch towers and fortified walls, artisan shops and lots of gelato stores!

👙 A free day of "Dolce far niente" (the sweetness of doing nothing) to relax by the pool, read a book, find a peaceful corner, explore the local gardens, soak in the outdoor jacuzzi or simply take it all in at our amazing Tuscan country hotel. Bonus: There will also be an excursion to the nearby spa and wellness center for me-time and pampering.

💆‍♀️ A morning at a thermal spa to enjoy the natural hot springs of Tuscany revered by the Romans and a massage. Take care of yourself inside and out and chill in the most beautiful surroundings plus enjoy a massage at their expert spa.

🍝 Cooking classes and workshops to learn how to make fresh pasta and typical Tuscan recipes that you can take home for the perfect Italian party.

What to expect

Live like a Tuscan: We will be staying a boutique, rustic-chic medieval country hotel housed in an old stone farmhouse in the middle of the rolling hills. Enjoy the views, a sunny pool, expansive gardens, and outdoor jacuzzi & sauna.
Shared accommodation with another solo traveler so you don't pay single supplements. Or upgrade to have your own room.
All inclusive, with all the entrance tickets, walking tours, spa treatments, local visits, workshops, classes, meals, and wine during all meals.
Exclusive experiences not available to the general public. Connect with local producers and artisans; No scripts, no umbrellas, no bus tours.
Slow Travel: Long meals under shaded trees, leisurely strolls on cobblestoned streets, local & seasonal food.

UK food ban

A temporary ban has been placed into anyone traveling into the UK from the European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the Faroe Islands or Greenland which prevents some meat or dairy products from being brought back because of the risk of foot and mouth disease. Details of the reason for the ban here.

This means you cannot bring any sandwich you buy at the airport or a local supermarket that is made with pork (like Spanish ham), sausage or cheese.

You cannot bring the following products for human consumption:

pork
beef
lamb
mutton
goat
venison
other products made from these meats, for example sausages
milk and dairy products like butter, cheese and yoghurt

You cannot bring the following animal products not for human consumption: pig, cow, sheep, goat and deer products (for example, pet food made with pig meat).

Read the full details of the restriction in the Official UK Foreign Office website here.

5 Alternative European summer destinations

The popular places to visit in Europe in the summer are popular for a reason but if you are looking for something a bit of out the usual, here are 5 ideas that I have been considering for this summer:

Faroe Islands - Like Iceland, but far less popular and known. I visited for NYE a few years ago and loved it, even in the winter when it was covered in snow. Think grass-covered roofs, breathtaking views from zigzagging roads, insane hiking that sometimes plays with you and makes you feel you are seeing a mirage...and puffins! Because of how far north they are, they also enjoy the Midnight sun.
The Azores - Always wet and extremely lush, this is a fantastic destination if you are looking for hiking, natural sea pools and thermal waters. Check out my tips for visiting that I shared in a previous newsletter here.
Cabo Verde - Soon to be the next all-inclusive destination from the UK now that there are direct flights, but still largely undiscovered. Avoid the island of Sal to stay away from all inclusive and package holiday makers and instead visit all the other low-key islands, especially Fogo. Check out my travel tips shared in a previous newsletter here.
Menorca - Everyone knows Mallorca and Ibiza, but the Balearic Islands are also home to Menorca, where I plan to spend a few days this July. While the island is far from undiscovered, it's still a place for those in the know. For Spanish people, it is a destination for families and for those looking for beautiful coves, hidden beaches and the most beautiful Mediterranean waters. I am looking to take a short solo trip in July and prices are still reasonable. Rent a car, you'll need it to explore the island.
Stockholm - A city that is made of hundreds of islands best explored during the summer months when the weather is warm and you can be outdoors, enjoying the many terraces, days at sea, and the general happiness in the air. It will be warm, but not hot like in the rest of the Southern Europe.

Last availability for 2025

Here are the last few spots left on this year's tours:

1 SPOT left on our Barcelona & beyond 28 June to 4 July => BOOK BARCELONA
🔔 2 SINGLE SPOTS opened up on our previously sold out Tuscany trip 7 to 14 September => BOOK TUSCANY
2 SPOTS left on our Amalfi Coast tour 15 to 19 September => BOOK AMALFI
2 SPOTS left on our Tanzania Value tour 26 September to 6 October => BOOK TANZANIA
🔔 1 SPOT opened up on our previously sold out Bali tour 11 to 19 October => BOOK BALI
1 SPOTS left on our Australia tour 12 to 23 October => BOOK AUSTRALIA
🔔 1 SPOT left on our Madagascar tour 6 to 17 October => BOOK MADAGASCAR

=> You can also see the FULL CALENDAR of tours.