New escorted tour operator and AITO member Magari Tours is offering immersive travel experiences in Lombardy, Puglia, Umbria, Sicily and Tuscany. (www.magaritours.com)
Magari’s 2025 programme features locations in Italy often overlooked by more mainstream itineraries. Each break includes stays at handpicked hotels where food, authenticity, and sustainability are central to their offer. Tours run mainly in the spring and autumn shoulder season months when the destinations are at their most appealing in terms of temperature and produce. Travellers will be offered an immersive and fully escorted small group experience, with a maximum of 19 participants.
Prices lead-in from £1995 per person for the six-night Essence of Lombardy break departing 23rd March. The price for departure on 1st June and 28th September 2025 is from £2295, it includes return flights from London Heathrow to Milan, Italy, six nights at the four-star Miramonti Resort Hotel and Spa, selected meals, and a range of experiences. These include visits to rustic villages, a local pasta making class, wine, and food tastings at hand-picked agritourism farms and wineries plus, trips to the historic Bergamo and Brescia.
The operator, which has been selling through the travel trade since the start of the year, is a brand of Success Tours Ltd and owned by The Albatross Group, a collection of travel companies founded in 1985, with unparalleled experience in group travel. It is also ATOL licenced and ABTOT bonded, which means its holidays are financially protected.
Ideal for foodies is the six or seven-night Puglia Unwrapped tour. Based near Alberobello, it takes in key highlights of the region like Lecce and Matera as well as offering a taste of the real Puglia. The itinerary includes the chance to dine in a gorgeously humble osteria in seaside Monopoli, see first-hand mozzarella and focaccia making and enjoy wine tasting on family run estates. There’s also visits to hidden gems like the villages of Locorotondo and Ostuni, deep in the Tuscan-like Valle D’Itria. Prices from £2499 per person (seven nights), departing on 14th June 2025, including return flights from London Gatwick to Bari, accommodation at the four-star Grand Hotel La Chiusa Chietri and select meals and experiences. The six-night option departing on 18th October 2025 starts from £2385 per person.
The base for the Secluded Tuscany tour in Italy is the four-star Grand Hotel Impero in the authentic small town of Castel de Piano in south Tuscany. Fabulous food is key part of this break with wine and cheese tastings at artisanal local farms and exclusive truffle, olive oil and honey tastings at the hotel plus, meals at traditional trattorias and at the superb Grand Hotel Impero restaurant. Prices from £1995 per person (six nights), departing on 19th October 2025 and from £2085 per person departing on 22nd June 2025, including return flights from London Heathrow to Pisa, six nights at the four-star Grand Hotel Impero and select meals and experiences.
Experience unadulterated Umbria with tours of smaller villages that embody the region’s authentic lifestyle on the The Heart of Umbria break. Visit UNESCO-protected Assisi adorned with magnificent frescoes by Giotto and discover the medieval treasures of Gubbio, famous for its “madmen” fountain. Fresh local fare at two of Spoleto’s intimate trattorias and culinary tastings deepen the experience. Prices from £2465 per person (seven nights), departing on 6th November 2025, including return flights from London Heathrow to Rome, seven nights at the four-star Hotel dei Duchi and select meals and experiences.
The 9-night ‘shoulder–season’ Heart and Soul of Sicily gets under the skin of this delightful island when it is wonderfully uncrowded and comfortably warm. Choose from April and October departures. Avoid the tourist magnets in Italy and discover off-the-radar towns like Naro, Ragusa Ibla and Castellammare.
Enjoy generous helpings of gastronomy on this tour with meals at local trattorias, home produced wines and a meal at a private “Baglio” farm, there’s even the chance to discover the art of Sicilian chocolate-making. Prices from £3295 per person (nine nights), departing 1st April 2025 and from £3599 per person for the 6th October departure. including return flights from London Heathrow to Palermo, nine nights in four hand-picked hotels and select meals and experiences. (www.magaritours.com 01732 879199)
Images supplied
