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Small Group Tours

Small Group Tours

Italy's broadest small group touring program, led by specialist guides.

Small group touring is the travel format that sits between going it alone and joining a large coach tour — and for Italy, it's the format that consistently delivers the best results. Our small group tours covers every style of Italy travel: cultural, scenic, walking, food and wine, luxury, solo travel, and more.

Our collection of small group tours of Italy brings together carefully selected itineraries from trusted specialist operators who know their regions intimately. Travelling in smaller groups means more personalised experiences, greater flexibility, and access to local guides, family-run wineries, artisan producers and historic places that are often missed on larger coach tours. Whether you’re travelling for culture, food, history, landscapes or simply to experience Italy at a more relaxed pace, we can help you find the right journey.

Discover small group tours across every corner of Italy, from the alpine scenery and lakes of Northern Italy to the Renaissance cities of Central Italy, the dramatic coastlines and villages of Southern Italy, and the unique cultures of Sicily and Sardinia. Choose from food and wine journeys, walking holidays, art and cultural tours, scenic itineraries, UNESCO-focused experiences and regional explorations, all designed for travellers who want to experience Italy beyond the highlights.

As Melbourne-based Italy travel specialists, we do more than simply list tours. We help you compare itineraries, understand what makes each journey different, and recommend the small group tour that best matches your interests, travel style and pace. If you’re looking for something more tailored, we can also assist with private tours, luxury travel, personalised itineraries and pre or post-tour arrangements to create a seamless Italian holiday.

Browse our latest Italy tours for 2026 and Italy tours for 2027, or contact our team for expert advice on choosing the best small group tour of Italy for your next adventure.

A Sicilian Odyssey tour

A Sicilian Odyssey

10 Days 6 Locations

A myriad of cultures intertwined by Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Muslim, and of course, Italian influences.

A Week In Venice, Florence & Rome tour

A Week In Venice, Florence & Rome

8 Days 4 Locations

Travel from Florence through the Chianti hills, in the heart of the Chianti Classico region, on a day trip to Badia di Passignano; the hilly landscape, basking in golds and greens, is filled with

City Break Tropea 2026 tour

City Break Tropea 2026

3 Days 1 Locations

A relaxed 3-day coastal escape in Tropea featuring a small-group boat cruise along the Costa degli Dei, swimming stops, and time to explore Calabria’s cliffside gem.

Local Tour of Puglia 2027 tour

Local Tour of Puglia 2027

7 Days 8 Locations

UNESCO-listed Alberobello and Matera, baroque Lecce, and Adriatic coastal gems. Enjoy a locally hosted small group week in Puglia with guided day tours, hidden villages, and authentic regional experiences.

Gastronomic Piedmont Tour tour

Gastronomic Piedmont Tour

7 Days 7 Locations

Immerse yourself in Piedmont’s culinary heart with truffle hunts, Barolo tastings, Michelin meals, local producers and stunning Langhe landscapes on this 7-day gourmet tour.

Emilia Romagna Tour tour

Emilia Romagna Tour

13 Days 14 Locations

An intimate small-group journey through Emilia-Romagna, from Parma and Bologna to Romagna vineyards and Ravenna mosaics, with tastings, artisans and lagoon cruising.

Puglia & Matera 5 Days Tour tour

Puglia & Matera 5 Days Tour

5 Days 6 Locations

A compact 5-day Puglia and Matera small-group route combining Bari, Trani, Castel del Monte, Alberobello and the Sassi with regional tastings.

Best of Sicily & Malta 2026 tour

Best of Sicily & Malta 2026

12 Days 21 Locations

12-day journey combining an escorted small group tour of Sicily’s UNESCO-rich highlights with a relaxed stay in Malta, including food and wine experiences from street food in Siracusa to cellar visits in Marsala

Jewels of the South 2026 tour

Jewels of the South 2026

7 Days 6 Locations

A premium week from Rome to Naples via Sorrento, Pompeii, Capri and Positano—handpicked 4-star stays, seamless transfers, and iconic experiences done properly.

Fantastic Sardinia Tour 2026 tour

Fantastic Sardinia Tour 2026

7 Days 12 Locations

Discover Sardinia from Cagliari to Olbia with a small group, coastal scenery, ancient Nuragic sites, mural villages, and three authentic local food experiences.

Fantastic Siciliana Tour 2026 tour

Fantastic Siciliana Tour 2026

7 Days 9 Locations

A small group journey across Sicily from Palermo to Taormina, featuring Norman Monreale, baroque towns, wine tasting in Marsala, Etna and UNESCO Agrigento.

Florence & Venice Escapade 2026 tour

Florence & Venice Escapade 2026

5 Days 3 Locations

A polished 5-day Florence-to-Venice mini journey pairing Renaissance Florence, a guided Pisa excursion, high-speed rail, and a classic gondola experience in Venice.

Amalfi Coast Tour 2027 tour

Amalfi Coast Tour 2027

5 Days 9 Locations

Experience the Amalfi Coast and Naples through iconic towns, coastal landscapes and rich history, from ancient ruins to cliffside villages.

Fantastic Puglia Tour 2026 tour

Fantastic Puglia Tour 2026

8 Days 11 Locations

Explore Puglia and Matera on a relaxed small-group journey from Bari, with UNESCO sites, white towns, baroque Lecce, coastal Otranto and masseria dining.

Sicily Carousel Tour 2026 tour

Sicily Carousel Tour 2026

8 Days 11 Locations

Discover Sicily’s UNESCO treasures, vibrant food culture, historic towns and dramatic coastlines on an eight-day small group journey through the island’s most iconic destinations.

Sicily Small Group Tour 2026 tour

Sicily Small Group Tour 2026

7 Days 5 Locations

Sicily is an absolutely fascinating place to visit, being a crossroads of civilisations with a range of diverse influences. Our Sicily tours provide a well rounded experience covering the diverse

Best of Puglia Tour 2026 tour

Best of Puglia Tour 2026

7 Days 8 Locations

Experience Puglia through guided visits, iconic sights and a delicious journey into local cuisine, designed for curious and seasoned travellers alike.

Special Christmas Puglia & Matera tour

Special Christmas Puglia & Matera

7 Days 9 Locations

A festive small-group Christmas journey through Puglia and Matera, featuring UNESCO icons, baroque Lecce, white towns, street food, markets, and seasonal traditions.

Amalfi Coast Tour 2026 tour

Amalfi Coast Tour 2026

6 Days 9 Locations

An immersive journey along the Amalfi Coast, blending iconic destinations with authentic local experiences, regional cuisine and the rhythm of everyday coastal life

Local Tour of Puglia 2026 tour

Local Tour of Puglia 2026

7 Days 8 Locations

UNESCO-listed Alberobello and Matera, baroque Lecce, and Adriatic coastal gems. Enjoy a locally hosted small group week in Puglia with guided day tours, hidden villages, and authentic regional experiences.

What “Small Group” Actually Means

Small group tours in Italy typically travel with fewer than 20 people. Some specialist programs — walking tours, luxury departures, specialist subject tours — cap groups even lower. This cap is what makes the experience different: you have a guide’s genuine attention, not a commentary delivered over a headset. You move through markets and historic sites as a small group rather than a procession. You eat at restaurants that don’t need to seat 40 at once. The group size is a feature, not a footnote.

How Small Group Compares to Other Ways of Travelling Italy

Compared to independent travel, small group touring provides specialist knowledge, handled logistics, and a ready-made social context — particularly valuable for solo travellers or those visiting Italy for the first time. Compared to a large escorted coach tour, small group touring is more flexible, more intimate, and more likely to deliver the kind of local experiences that make a trip genuinely memorable. Compared to fully private touring, it’s more cost-effective and provides the energy of shared experience. For most travellers making a considered trip to Italy, small group touring represents the best balance of these factors.

Choosing the Right Tour Style

With a wide range of small group departures in our program, the best starting point is your travel style, not a specific destination. Use the tour type filters — walking, food and wine, art and culture, scenic, luxury, solo travel, and more — to narrow the range to tours built around how you want to experience Italy, then compare destinations and dates within that category. Not sure where to start? Our team is easy to reach and happy to help you narrow it down.

What to Expect When You Book

Most of our small group tours include accommodation, the majority of meals, specialist guiding throughout, transport within the itinerary, and entry fees to included sites. Flights, travel insurance, and personal expenses are not included. Inclusions vary by itinerary — every tour page gives you the full breakdown. Popular spring and autumn departures tend to fill well ahead of time, so it’s worth booking early if you have set dates in mind.

FAQs

How many people are on a small group Italy tour?

Our small group tours typically travel with fewer than 20 people, depending on the itinerary. Walking tours, luxury departures, and some specialist programs cap groups lower than that. The maximum group size is noted on every tour page.

Is a small group tour right for me if I've never done a guided tour before?

Yes. Small group touring is often the format that converts people who’ve previously only travelled independently. The group size means it doesn’t feel regimented the way a large coach tour can, and the balance of guided time to free time is generally well-judged. If you’re uncertain, give us a call — we’d rather help you find the right format than sell you the wrong one.

Are small group tours suitable for solo travellers?

Yes, and solo travellers make up a good portion of most departures. The social dynamic of a well-run small group tour is one of its strongest features for solo travellers. Single supplements apply on most tours, though some departures waive or reduce these.

What's the difference between a small group tour and an escorted coach tour?

The primary differences are group size and guiding style. Small group tours typically travel with under 20 people and use specialist guides with specific regional or subject knowledge. Escorted coach tours usually carry more people with a tour director managing the full program. Both have genuine strengths — the right choice depends on whether you prioritise depth and access, or breadth and complete logistics management.

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