Experience Italy like never before with Matt and Nat from Adventures of Matt and Nat on their Highlights of Italy tour, October 4-11, 2025! Over 8 days and 7 nights, this journey takes you through Italy’s most enchanting landscapes, timeless art, and unforgettable flavors, perfectly curated for explorers and culture lovers alike.

Start in Venice, where gondolas drift through shimmering canals, and every sunset paints the city in a golden glow. From there, we’ll journey to La Spezia, the gateway to Cinque Terre, where brightly colored villages cling to cliffs above the sparkling Ligurian Sea—a photographer's dream come true. In Florence, dive into the Renaissance heart of Italy, where cobblestone streets lead to grand cathedrals, art masterpieces, and the perfect gelato spot around every corner. Finally, we’ll end in Rome, the Eternal City, where ancient ruins stand proudly among modern streets, and each piazza invites you to relax, sip espresso, and watch the world go by.

Every day will be filled with adventure and cultural delights—from sipping local wine on a catamaran tour in Venice to learning to make pasta and gelato in Florence. Join a like-minded group of travelers and experience Italy’s magic with Matt and Nat as your hosts. Embrace the journey, savor the flavors, and capture memories that will stir your wanderlust for years to come.

In addition to having Matt and Nat as your hosts for the trip, you will be accompanied by a tour leader whose aim is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Your leader will provide information on the places you are traveling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues, and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. In addition to your tour leader, for certain inclusions, you will be accompanied by a local guide. A local guide has specialized knowledge of a site or location you are visiting. If there is a local guide provided for a particular activity, this will be listed in your day by day itinerary.

Reserve your spot with a deposit of $1,000 USD and choose how to pay your total balance (surcharges vary: 0% for ACH,  2.9% for Credit Cards, and 3.9% for AMEX).

After paying your deposit, you can immediately pay your remaining balance in full, or take advantage of the no-interest (0%) installments. If you choose to pay via interest-free installments, payments will be processed automatically in six installments, due monthly up to 90 days before departure using the following payment schedule:

• February 1, 2024

• March 1, 2024

• April 1, 2024

• May 1, 2024

• June 1, 2024

• July 1, 2025

Note: If the deposit is initially paid after one of these dates, all installments due prior must be paid at the time of booking.

Payment Methods:

We accept payment via ACH (electronic payments from a USA bank account) or Credit Card. There is no surcharge for ACH electronic payments, while Credit Cards will add 2.9% to each transaction/automatic payment (3.9% for AMEX). All payments must be made through the WeTravel platform. We do not accept checks or alternative methods of payment.

Note: Surcharges for payments are not included in the trip package price. Additionally, WeTravel charges a service fee starting at 1% of the transaction amount plus 30 cents per transaction on all payment methods.

Cancellations and Refunds:

Our cancellation policy is based on the days until the trip starts.

Once your spot is confirmed (the trip has 8 or more bookings), your initial trip deposit is non-refundable but can be used for any future trip with Adventures of Matt and Nat. However, if you have made any additional payments above and beyond the deposit, those are fully refundable until 120 days prior to the trip start date. 

We highly recommend purchasing trip insurance that provides "cancel for any reason" or other coverage for non-refundable trip costs. 

• Cancellation made from the time of booking to 120 days prior to departure: we will hold the deposit amount as a credit towards future trips with Adventures of Matt and Nat

• Cancellation between 119 - 61 days prior to the trip start date will incur 50% cancellation fees

• Cancellation 60 days or inside prior to the trip start date will incur 100% cancellation fees

• No-shows will be treated as a cancellations and will incur 100% cancellation fees.

Securing "cancel for any reason" travel insurance at the time of booking is strongly recommended for protection against unforeseen cancellations or accidents. If paying for your trip with a credit card (see payments section), check for coverage benefits that may apply for international travel through your credit card.

For travel insurance, we recommend TravelInsurance.com

For travelers who reside within the European Union, Switzerland, or the USA, the requirement to purchase travel insurance cannot be compulsory due to local regulations.

However, the purchase of travel insurance is still highly recommended, and travelers from these regions who decline travel insurance when traveling outside of their home region must sign a Travel Insurance Waiver Form at the Group Meeting (on day 1 of the trip), recognizing personal responsibility for emergency medical and repatriation costs should they arise.

To make the trip more affordable and as flexible as possible, there are no official "optional activities", but here are some that we recommend for each destination:

Note: Travelers are responsible for arranging their own bookings for these activities.

Venice:

• Vivaldi's Four Seasons Concert & Music Museum Visit

• Street Food Tour Cicchetti & Spritz with Local Guide

• Private Gondola Ride with Professional Photographer

La Spezia & Cinque Terre:

• Sunset Boat Tour with Aperitivo and Snacks

• Dining Experience at a Local's Home

• Guided Cinque Terre Kayak Tour

Florence:

• Official Florence Duomo Climb, Catherdal Visit, & MORE

• Skip-The-Line Uffizi Gallery Timed Entry Ticket

• Balloon Flight Over Tuscany

Rome:

• Priority Access Colosseum, Roman Forum, & Palatine Tour

• Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Entrance Ticket

• Trastevere Campo de Fiori & Jewish Ghetto Food Tour

Passport

You’ll need a valid passport to travel internationally and most countries require your passport to have a minimum of 6 months validity, so remember to check the expiry date. 

We need your passport information to prepare everything for your trip so the information on your booking must match your passport exactly. Please take care to provide the correct details. 

Visas & Entry Requirements

Many countries require a visa and obtaining the correct visa for your trip and any countries you may transit through is your responsibility. We recommend you check your visa requirements as soon as you have booked your trip. This will ensure you have time to prepare your documents and process your visa application.

You can check the entry requirements for your nationality on your government's foreign travel advisories, consular websites, or on the Intrepid Travel page here: http://www.intrepidtravel.com/visa-entry-requirements

Welcome to Venice! This watery wonderland of bridges, towers, piazzas, canals, churches, and gondolas – practically unchanged for 600 years – is literally sinking under the weight of its iconic sights. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 PM, followed by a welcome dinner at 7:30 PM. If you arrive early and with time to spare, the Grand Canal is a great place to start, as you can stroll over the Rialto Bridge and browse the endless number of boutique shops that sell Venetian masks and handmade Murano glassware.

Included Activities:

• Welcome meeting with Tour Leader

• Welcome Dinner (location TBD)

Accommodation: Hotel Do Pozzi

This morning, meet your local guide and head out for an orientation walk of the city and marvel at the Classical, Gothic, and Baroque styles of architecture surrounding San Marco Square. Your leader will show you where to get the best cicchetti today, a tasty local snack that Venice is famous for. For lunch, maybe get involved in the lively social scene at a local bácaro or simply watch the world go by at a restaurant perched on the edge of the canals. Then you’re free to explore Venice at your own pace. There are only two ways to get around this city – on foot or by boat. Maybe take the Vaporetto (water bus) over to the island of San Giorgio to climb the bell tower for views over the city. Or fulfill a bucket list favorite and take a journey down the Grand Canal in a Venetian gondola if you haven’t already. At 5:45 PM, meet your group at Riva dei Sette Martiri (near the beginning of Via Garibaldi, opposite La Nuova Perla Restaurant - Via Giuseppe Garibaldi, 1645, 30122 Venezia VE, Italy) for a 90-minute sunset catamaran cruise! We'll marvel at the magical Venetian sunset from the water as we listen to live jazz music and enjoy a glass of spritz or prosecco with a selection of cicchetti snacks. The meeting point is just a 15-minute walk from Piazza San Marco along the embankment, or five minutes from vaporetto station "Arsenale". Look out for our large red sails! After a relaxing time on the water, you have the evening to explore Venice on your own. Maybe grab dinner with fellow travelers or take a stroll along the iconic canals of the city.

Included Activities:

• Guided walking tour with a local guide

• 90-minute Catamaran Sunset Jazz Cruise with Aperitivo (one drink included)

Recommended Optional Activities:

• Vivaldi's Four Seasons Concert & Music Museum Visit

• Street Food Tour Cicchetti & Spritz with Local Guide

• Private Gondola Ride with Professional Photographer

Accommodation: Hotel Do Pozzi

Board a morning train through the scenic north of Italy to the once important naval base of La Spezia (approximately 6–7 hours). La Spezia is known mainly as the gateway to the gorgeous Cinque Terre (Five Lands). The name comes from the five tiny villages – Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore – positioned on a series of coves between sheer cliffs. On arrival in La Spezia, there won't be too much time to explore (that’s what tomorrow is for), but after checking into your hotel perhaps get your bearings with a short walk around the pedestrian zone on Via del Prione or head out for dinner with your group (dinner not included).

Accommodation: Hotel Corallo

Spend today exploring winding footpaths and pastel-coloured villages with your included Cinque Terre Pass. The pass gives you access to the paths and trains of the area for 24 hours. Please consult your leader on which walking section is right for you, as some have challenging uphill stretches, narrow paths, steep cliffs, and footbridges. Alternatively, take the train between any of the villages, or back to the group's base in La Spezia whenever you want. After working up an appetite, maybe indulge in some of the area's specialties like Pesto and Focaccia!

Included Activities:

• Cinque Terre Day Trip, including Cinque Terre Pass

Recommended Optional Activities:

• Sunset Boat Tour with Aperitivo and Snacks

• Dining Experience at a Local's Home

• Guided Cinque Terre Kayak Tour

Accommodation: Hotel Corallo

Depart La Spezia today and catch a train to Florence (approximately 2.5 hours). On arrival, check into the hotel and meet your local guide, who will take you on a guided walk around the city. Florence is one of the most culturally rich and beautiful cities in Italy, known to many as the beating heart of Tuscany. The Medicis, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Brunelleschi, Machiavelli, Donatello, and Michelangelo all lived in Florence at the height of their creative reign. Food is a major part of the city's identity, and the optional activities on offer reflect this. Maybe explore the city’s culinary history (and taste some local treats) on a Florence Foodies Walk with Urban Adventures. Carnivores might be drawn to try the Bistecca alla Fiorentina, the Florentine Beef Steak, essentially a huge T-bone steak that comes with classic sides.

Included Activities:

• Guided walking tour with a local guide

Accommodation: Hotel De Lanzi

Enjoy another day in beautiful Florence. It's impossible to see everything in this Renaissance wonderland, so the best idea is to relax and pick a few things you really want to do. Maybe start with a visit to the Galleria dell'Accademia, where you can see Michelangelo's famous statue of David, or perhaps stop by the Uffizi, one of the world's oldest art galleries. Active types might want to walk up to Piazzale Michelangelo, which is set on a hill on the south bank of the Arno River, to take in beautiful views of the city – a lovely way to while away the day. After a day exploring the city, meet your group at 6:15 PM for a Cooking Class at the Towns of Italy Cooking School (Via Panicale, 43/r, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy) where you’ll learn to make Fresh Pasta and Gelato! After the work is done, you’ll get to savor your delicious creations along with unlimited wine!

Included Activities:

• 3-hour Fresh Pasta and Gelato Cooking Class with Dinner and unlimited wine

Recommended Optional Activities:

• Official Florence Duomo Climb, Catherdal Visit, & MORE

• Skip-The-Line Uffizi Gallery Timed Entry Ticket

• Balloon Flight Over Tuscany

Accommodation: Hotel De Lanzi

Take the morning train to Rome (approximately 2 hours). Upon arrival, meet a local guide and head out on a guided walk around the city to see icons such as the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain the Pantheon, and Piazza Navona. Phew. After all that walking, it’s probably time for lunch. Maybe grab a slice of the good stuff and a strong espresso at the Piazza Navona. You can spend your afternoon how you wis,h and there are plenty of heavy hitters to choose from. Maybe enter the Vatican and check out St Peter's Basilica. Within the Vatican, art lovers could visit the Sistine Chapel to admire the timeless work of Michelangelo, while history buffs may enjoy a jaunt through the ancient halls of the Pantheon. After an adventure-packed day, you’ll meet your group at 7:30 PM for a farewell dinner (location TBD).

Included Activities:

• Guided walking tour with a local guide

• Group Dinner (location TBD)

Recommended Optional Activities:

• Priority Access Colosseum, Roman Forum, & Palatine Tour

• Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Entrance Ticket

• Trastevere Campo de Fiori & Jewish Ghetto Food Tour

Accommodation: The Cross Hotel

Your Italian adventure comes to an end today. There are no activities planned for the final day, but if you’ve decided to add some time to the end of the trip, be sure to ask your tour leader for recommendations! And if this is, in fact, the end of your Italian adventure, we hope that you are leaving with new memories and friends to last a lifetime!

Airport Transfers (not included):

Transfer to Ciampino or Fiumicino Airport

Private 1-Way Small-Group Transfer to Fiumicino Airport