Activity Levels and Special Dietary Guidelines
Is This The Trip For You?
Our trips are best suited for those who are excited to explore, enjoy trying new things, and interested in learning and fully engaging with the local community and the traditions of rural Italy. If this piques your interest, we invite you to request an itinerary to learn more.
In the meantime, read on for details about activity levels and our guidelines regarding special dietary needs.
Activity Levels
We will be walking and standing for a minimum of several hours in all our trips. So to fully enjoy our programs, it’s also important that you feel confident in your mobility. Frequently the ground is uneven and hilly, with cobblestone streets, and stairs sometimes lack railings. Please review the activity level ratings below for each trip and confirm that you can move comfortably at the pace of the group without assistance before booking.
Level 1 - Easy
You know what moves me? Exercising my mind. Let’s keep walking to a minimum and avoid too many stairs when we can. Level 1 trips are accessible to those with limited mobility. (Please note that we are unable to offer Level 1 trips at this time.)
Level 2 - Easy to Moderate
I’m comfortable with some walking throughout the day, along with breaks for rest. I expect to get on and off of a coach, and I’m ready to stroll through cities and to stand for a few hours when we’re learning in museums. I can handle some stairs and getting on and off a coach but I prefer a more predictable terrain, and stairways with railings. These trips involve walking up to two and a half miles at a time and standing for at least an hour and a half at a time. Level 2 trips are not accessible to those with mobility restrictions, such as wheelchair users, or those who use a walker.
Outdoor-Oriented Trips: I exercise gently. I like to explore at an easy pace, stopping frequently to snap photos and smell the roses. Nothing too strenuous.
Level 3 - Moderate
I like to spend much of the day exploring, whether walking through historic neighborhoods at a moderate pace or out and about on a coach. Cobblestones, stairs and steep hills don’t bother me, even without railings, and I love to keep up with the group.
Outdoor-Oriented Trips: I am willing to challenge myself, but not too vigorously. I can keep going when needed and don’t need to stop frequently, but I don’t have the stamina for long distances or being on my feet all day. Varied terrain doesn’t scare me, but let’s not do anything too crazy. My fitness level is comfortable with 3-6 miles per day at a 30-minute mile pace and minimal (less than 500 feet) elevation gain.
Level 4 - Moderate to Challenging
Walking is the best way to get to know a new place, so I’m always ready to spend the day on the move. I’m energetic and enjoy a good physical challenge. Whether it’s public transit, city streets or village cobblestones, I’m game.
Outdoor-Oriented Trips: I enjoy getting my heart going on trails. Nothing beats the thrill of taking on a rewarding climb on varied terrain with inclines. My current fitness level is comfortable with 7-12 miles per day at a 25-minute mile pace and 500-1000 feet of elevation gain.
Level 5 - Challenging
Outdoor-Oriented Trips Only: Let’s keep moving. I love pushing myself, and I can keep a steady pace on rugged and steep terrain. At the end of the day, I want to feel like I’ve accomplished something.
My current fitness level is comfortable with up to 15 miles per day at a 20-minute mile pace and 1500-3500 feet of elevation gain. If I’m not quite prepared yet, I’m willing to train so I’ll be ready to take on the challenge.
guidelines for Special Dietary Needs
Experiencing Italy’s food culture is a big part of all our trips, and the local cuisine includes foods commonly linked to intolerances and allergies such as gluten, dairy, eggs, seafood, fish, etc. If you have significant dietary restrictions, or are a particularly selective eater, our tours may not be the right fit. While we do our best to accommodate these special dietary restrictions when possible, in some cases, it may be necessary to skip courses entirely. Flexibility is key.
In several of the coastal towns we visit, seafood and fish are a primary food source, and we cannot guarantee our ability to accommodate severe allergies to fish and shellfish. Therefore, if you have life-threatening food allergies to seafood or fish, our culinary trips and Sicily coastal trip are not recommended.
