untold italy small group tours

exclusive tour – maximum 10 guests

Liguria Tour Overview

Inspired by the pretty pastel colored houses of the Cinque Terre, but not a fan of crowds? Then come tour Liguria with us. We discover less traversed yet equally impressive people, places, and food of this beautiful northern Italian region. 

Join us on our five night tour of Liguria and prepare to understand what makes this land stretched between the sea and the mountains tick. We tantalize all your senses as we feast on fried anchovies paired with local wine and zingy green pesto mixed into freshly made trofie pasta, all the while gazing out upon stunning Medieval villages that hang over the sea. 

Our Liguria tour begins in Genoa, the once powerful maritime Republic. Together we delve deep into the culture of this vibrant port city with an incredible street food scene, historical alimentari and trattorie and gorgeous palazzi. We learn about the important crafts in the region like beautifully decorated ceramics and have the opportunity to get to know some locals in town.

wine tour liguria

Then it’s onwards to a charming fishing village full of picture perfect colored houses along a dramatic coastline. You have time to relax and enjoy a gelato, plus, visit a modern olive oil mill to understand just why it’s such a prized ingredient here, dine at a Michelin starred restaurant and relax at a gorgeous winery. 

Food and wine is central to our tour, not least because Liguria is a region with a very special terrain and climate where unique produce thrives. We’ll roll up our sleeves and learn how to make the real Ligurian pesto at a basil farm and some traditional dishes from Genoese home cook and Untold Italy podcast guest Enrica Monzani. 

This exclusive tour is well off the trodden tourist path and will leave you forever entranced by beautiful Liguria.

Upcoming Liguria Tours

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Tour of Liguria Highlights

Pesto Making • Picturesque coastal and hilltop villages • Local ceramics • Olive Oil Grove Visit • Food and Art Tour • Pasta making • Private palazzi

fritti genoa tour of liguria
liguria olive oil

What our guests say about Untold Italy Tours

Magical! Beautiful! I’m a bit of a dreamer and I just got lost there last night. Lost in this beauty.. Magnificent! I just loved it – view video

Vicki / Australia

We have been to Italy several times, but never like this. It has been a wonderful experience – view video

Pati / USA

Aside from every little surprise around every corner, I’ll remember Cosimo and the genuine excitement and pride that come out of him and his storytellingview video

Steve / USA

Food and Wine of Liguria Tour Itinerary

Day One

Arrive in GENOa

Welcome to the vibrant, bustling capital of Liguria – Genoa! Once an impressive maritime power, the city still drips in riches from bygone times, evident in its impressive and historic buildings and UNESCO World Heritage palazzi.

We meet in the afternoon for a sightseeing tour around the city. We stop at a “balcony” suspended over the rooftops with spectacular 360° views and visit a private palazzo to marvel at its resplendent rooms and 19th century decorations.

This evening, we’re off to enjoy the real cucina Ligure, at a fantastic local restaurant. Sit back and relax as we feast on typical extra virgin olive oil fried starters, a bowl of steaming minestrone or classic pesto pasta, traditional salted cod, and so much more.

With bellies full and new friendships blossoming, we wander back to our city centre hotel, with appetites whet for more adventures in Liguria.

  • ACTIVITIES: Guided sightseeing tour, Private palazzo visit 
  • MEALS: Dinner with wine
  • ACCOMMODATION: Luxury 4 Star hotel
food tour liguria

Day Two

GENOA: FOODIE CIty

Prepare for a feast for both the eyes and our taste buds! We are off on a fascinating deep dive into the alleys and streets of Genova that will more than satisfy your curiosity and palate. Local Enrica Monzani leads us through her hometown with a walk in the historical centre where we taste the city’s most characteristic local dishes.

Accompanied by an expert guide, we learn about the artistic beauties of the city as we stumble across them. Our walk includes several stops to enjoy local specialties and concludes with a traditional Genovese lunch in a typical trattoria.

This afternoon, we visit a magnificent Palazzo dating back to the 1600s, conspicuous thanks to its completely red facade. Prepare to be wowed by rooms full of stunning frescoes and ornate paintings. Afterwards, you have some free time to explore or shop in one of Genoa’s many beautiful historical boutiques. We’ll give you our secret list of must-visit places!

We meet again this evening for a mouthwatering dinner of Ligurian dishes. Will you try the coniglio (rabbit) or be tempted by delicate cappon magro seafood salad? We enjoy perfectly paired local wines with our meal and reflect on all that we’ve seen with new friends over a relaxing dinner.

  • ACTIVITIES: Food and art walking tour, Palazzo visit
  • MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch with wine, Dinner with wine
  • ACCOMMODATION: Luxury 4 Star hotel
pesto class liguria

Day Three

THE MAGIC OF PESTO

Start the day with a delicious breakfast before packing your bags. We’re spending the next two evenings in the gorgeous seaside town of Alassio.

If there’s one iconic food product that comes to mind when you think of Liguria, we’re betting that it’s pesto. You’ve likely tried this internationally famous sauce at least once, but let us tell you that it’s another thing entirely here. The garlic and basil that grow in this coastal fertile land, are remarkably different to anywhere else in the world. Today, we’re going to discover just what makes these ingredients so special and why Genovese Pesto is like no other.

We journey to a nearby farm to discover the famous basil and its typical sea view greenhouses. Here we meet a local family who have cultivated the fragrant herb for decades, before rolling up our sleeves and learning to make pesto the traditional way, with mortar and pestle. Afterwards, we dine at the beautiful farm and enjoy the fruits of our labour- a home made traditional peasant menu made entirely with organic food and of course freshly made pesto!

In the afternoon we venture to a pretty seaside town famed for ceramic traditions. We learn how the ceramics are created with a guided visit at an ancient ceramic factory and have the chance to meet local artisans (plus of course some time to shop). Enjoy some free time with gelato in hand before we check-in at our five star hotel overlooking Alassio.

Tonight, prepare to be truly wowed as we dine at a gorgeous local restaurant with the most spectacular view over the sea. This is off the beaten track dining at its absolute finest. Enjoy the freshest of fish washed down with local wines as the sun sets over the crystal blue waters of the Ligurian Sea and lights up the sky in brilliant shades of pink and orange.

  • ACTIVITIES: Pesto making class, Basil farm visit, Ceramic workshop visit.
  • MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch with wine, Dinner with wine
  • ACCOMMODATION: Luxury 5 star country hotel

Day Four

LIGURIAN OLIVE OIL

We continue our gastronomic adventure today with a focus on Extra Virgin Olive Oil. This liquid gold is one of the most important products in Ligurian cuisine. In fact, it’s not uncommon for many local families to go through a bottle a week. Ligurian oil is very fruity yet mild, making it perfect for cooking in everything from savoury to sweet dishes and is always used as seasoning.

This morning, we venture to the so-called ‘village of oil’ to discover the finest example of EVO oil in the region. Make sure to admire the famous Ligurian olive groves and their stone wall terraces, created centuries ago specifically to cultivate the trees. We have the opportunity to visit some small villages before touring an olive oil farm where we meet the makers at the modern olive mill and of course taste some EVO oil.

With stomachs grumbling, we sit down for a private lunch at the olive oil maker’s farm and enjoy a delicious spread of Ligurian dishes that each celebrate EVO oil.

Afterwards, we’re off to visit one of the most beautiful villages in Italy! It is a stunning Medieval village that literally hangs over the sea. Enjoy wandering the streets and explore the impressive Baroque church with a marvellous view.

In the afternoon, Alassio beckons and we have time to explore and go shopping in between gelato and a traditional cookie tasting.

Tonight, we have another wonderful dinner in-store at a Michelin starred restaurant, also noted for its focus on sustainable cooking. Enjoy the atmosphere surrounded by vineyards, olive groves and umbrella pine trees with stunning sea views as we indulge in a seasonal tasting menu with paired wines.

  • ACTIVITIES: Olive oil farm visit, Cervo visit, gelato and cookie tasting
  • MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch with wine, Dinner with wine
  • ACCOMMODATION: Luxury 5 star country hotel
cooking class liguria

Day Five

PASTA MAKING & SEaside APERITIVO

Our final full day together aims to help round out our knowledge of Ligurian cuisine and culture. We begin the day at an organic family-run winery nestled in the hills. Our local expert home cook Enrica, guides us in making traditional fresh pasta and other local dishes, and we hear stories from her about the origins and traditions of each dish.

Immersed in the vines and surrounded by aromatic herbs, we sit down together after our class to enjoy lunch and taste four different local wines from the winery.

Then, it’s time to stretch our legs with a walk through the Medieval centre of pretty Albenga. We discover the remains of the Ancient Romans as we wander past the ruins of an amphitheater, a theater, an aqueduct, and more.

In the afternoon, we head back for a final night in Genova. Enjoy some free time in town before meeting for our farewell seaside apericena and the opportunity to reflect on the wonderful time we’ve shared exploring beautiful Liguria.

  • ACTIVITIES: Winery visit, Wine tasting, Cooking class and Albenga visit
  • MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch with wine, Dinner with wine
  • ACCOMMODATION: Luxury 4 Star city hotel
trofie pesto dish of liguria italy

Day Six

FAREWELL LIGURIA

We enjoy a final breakfast together at our luxury hotel in Genova before bidding “arriverderci” to new friends and venture onwards. On leaving Liguria, we have a newfound appreciation for the time honoured food and wine traditions of this magical region of Italy and dreams of trofie with pesto!

  • MEALS: Breakfast
ligurian ceramics
palazzo in genoa liguria
wine tasting tour liguria
cervo liguria

Liguria Tour Inclusions

We have strived to make our Liguria tour as all inclusive as possible with no hidden surprises. Included in your tour are:

  • 5 nights in luxury 4 star accommodation – 3 nights at a city hotel in Genoa and 2 nights at a lovely resort overlooking the sea in Alassio
  • Unique experiences: Pesto making, olive oil tasting, wine tasting, cooking class, food tour, ceramics workshop visit, guided walking tours, food tour
  • Meals: 5 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 1 aperitivo and 5 dinners as specified in the itinerary, wine and bottled water is included with meals other than breakfast
  • Luxury air-conditioned mini-bus
  • Tips and gratuities for drivers and guides

Liguria Tour FAQ

Accommodation on Tour

We have two wonderful accommodation stops on this our Liguria tour. Our home base in Genoa is an elegant luxury 4 star hotel in the heart of the city with period charm. In the countryside we stay in a charming country house resort surrounded by vineyards and olive groves.

Meet Your Host – Olivia Windsor

Olivia is an Australian woman living in Rome, with a passion for the land of la dolce vita, cooking and wine. Her super powers include finding the most charming villages and delectable cheeses.

Olivia is your local host that ensures your trip is memorable for all the right reasons.

Arrivals and Departures

Our tour begins in Genoa at 2pm. Our activities conclude on the morning of our final day in Genoa when we check out of our hotel. Inquire if you would like to add additional nights to your stay or need assistance planning transfers.

Upcoming Tour Dates

  • FALL 2024 – September 23 -28 – book now – 2 spots left]
  • SPRING 2025 – April 14 – 19 – book now
  • FALL 2025 – September 8 – 13 – book now
  • Exclusive tours available on request for groups of 6-10 – inquire

Booking Information

  • Price from $US 5,990 per person based on double or twin share accommodation
  • A supplement applies for solo travelers wanting a private room
  • 30% deposit required to reserve your spot
  • Cancel for a full refund up to 120 days before departure
  • Read complete terms and conditions
GENERAL TOUR FAQ

Discover Liguria

The home of the Italian Riviera, Liguria is a narrow strip of land that hugs the Mediterranean Coast in the uppermost North West corner of Italy. It is a region of relaxed fishing villages, glitzy resort towns, untouched mountain towns, and the impressive capital city of Genoa. 

Whilst Portofino and the Cinque Terre are firmly entrenched on many a tourist’s travel radar, the region remains largely undiscovered, offering visitors a real chance to discover ‘authentic’ Italy. Discover black pebbled beaches, historical boutiques, and UNESCO world heritage palazzi, with a cone of basilico gelato in hand!

Liguria Travel Guide

Uncover the highlights of the region

READ THE GUIDE

Beyond the Cinque Terre

Favorite places to visit in Liguria

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