10-Day Adventure

Rome, Tuscany and Venice

Ancient Ruins, Amazing Scenery and Art

Visit Italy’s Most Iconic Cities on This Multi-Day Vegan Tour

Get a taste of Italy on this 10 day tour that takes us to three of Europe’s most extraordinary cities! In Rome, we will wander the Eternal City, teeming with ancient ruins of the Roman Empire amidst a thriving modern city. Over in Florence enchantments await us among the gorgeous scenery, with day trips to nearby Siena and San Gimignano. Finally, Venice floats like magic as we explore its islands and canals.

Each city we’ll visit is very vegan-friendly, and to ensure we savor every delicious bite, Wendy Werneth, the Nomadic Vegan, will be our guide. Wendy speaks fluent Italian and loves to share her second home with visitors, especially the Italian vegan delights, such as where to find the best vegan gelato. To top it off, our culinary exploration will get hands-on with a vegan pizza-making class!

Why You’ll Love This Tour!

Visit the center of the Roman Empire and immerse yourself in the awe-inspiring architecture and historic sites like the Colosseum, which is still the largest amphitheater in the world today and Palatine Hill, where the city of Rome was founded

Hop on a train ride to Florence, the capital city of Tuscany, birthplace of the Italian Renaissance and home to Michelangelo’s “David” and Boticelli’s “The Birth of Venus”

Enjoy a gondola ride through the canals of Venice, “Queen of the Adriatic” (among many nicknames the city has), and a water bus trip to the islands of Murano and Burano, famous for their traditions of glassblowing and lace making respectively

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Essential Info

Essential Info

Price

$4823 USD/per person

*A non-refundable deposit of 25% of the tour cost, along with a registration form, are required in order to join the tour. Your space is not guaranteed until both of these are received.


Dates

October 19-28, 2024


Tour duration

9 nights/10 days


Group size

7-10 people


Included

  • 9 nights hotel accommodations
  • Based on having your own room
  • 9 breakfasts
  • 8 lunches
  • 9 dinners (one is a pizza making class and one is a picnic)
  • Sightseeing and activity admissions (except free time)
  • Transit passes in Rome and Venice
  • All logistics are taken care of for you

Not included

  • Airfare
  • Wine, beer and drinks
  • Travel insurance

What to bring

We recommend bringing as little as possible! You will need to manage your luggage for up to a distance of a half mile, or a 10-12 minute walk to and from our hotels. If you need any packing tips, please contact us.

Travel insurance is highly recommended for any unexpected emergency expenses.


About your guide

Wendy Wernerth, the Nomadic Vegan

Trip Overview

This tour starts with a shared transfer from the Rome airport to our hotel before the group gets acquainted with each other at a welcome dinner. Our first full day includes a walking tour followed by some free time to explore the city on your own and an optional group dinner. Day three takes us to a quaint and less tourist-y neighborhood of Rome, lunch at a traditional spot and a pizza-making class for dinner!

The next day, we make our way to Florence by train and get to know the city with a lunch, walking tour and optional group dinner in the evening. Our second day in Tuscany, we will take a trip to Siena to see the sites and have lunch at a vineyard, then we’ll visit the beautiful town of San Gimignano before we head back to Florence.

On Day 6 back in Florence, you’ll have the day to explore and there’s plenty to see! We’ll meet up in the evening for a vegan picnic as we watch the sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo. The next morning, we will head to Venice by train for the last leg of our trip.

Our time in Venice includes a gondola ride through the canals, a visit to St Mark’s Basilica, trips to the islands of Burano and Murano and plenty of free time to explore the spots that excite you most!

Interspersed with all the sightseeing and activities will be all the most well-loved vegan restaurants in your destination. You will never have to worry about what you’re going to eat on a Veg Jaunts and Journeys tour. All the restaurant research will be done for you, so you can have an interesting and exciting vacation, with some time to relax too.

The three hotels we’ll be staying at will provide a vegan breakfast for our group, and in Rome, the hotel is less than a 10 minute walk from Rifugio Romano, a favorite trattoria with an amazing vegan menu. And a tiramisu that can’t be missed!

Leonardo Boutique Hotel Rome Termini
Hotel Perseo
Leonardo Royal Hotel Venice Mestre

Itinerary


Our Italian adventure begins with a shared transfer to the hotel from the Rome airport. Check-in begins at 2 pm, but if you arrive earlier, feel free to store your bags at the hotel and go for a wander. Perhaps check out the vegan menu and tiramisu at Rifugio Romano for lunch! Then, we’ll officially begin our tour with a welcome dinner so we can all get acquainted.

Our first full day in Italy together is filled with Rome’s greatest hits! We’ll start with a three-hour walking tour that will take us to the embodiment of the Roman Empire today – the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. As you look at these mighty monuments, feel the history and the awesomeness, as this may be the perfect time for that word! Take plenty of pics, and don’t worry, you’ll have free time to explore more later. In fact, after lunch, you’ll have a few hours to explore, shop, or just relax. You may want to use this time to plan your free afternoon the following day. In the evening, there will be a group dinner, and then Wendy will take anyone interested on a stroll around the illuminated fountains and buildings.

The next morning, Wendy will take us to her favorite neighborhood in Rome, Trastevere. Explore where there once was a Jewish ghetto, and discover a quaint, colorful residential area still mostly undiscovered by the crowds. After lunch at a traditional local spot, the afternoon is yours. There’s enough time to visit a few museums or take a tour of Vatican City or Villa Borghese, with its gorgeous gardens. We can help you purchase tickets, including skip-the-line ones so you make the most of your time. You may want to work up an appetite – this is the night we learn how to make pizza, and then feast on our hand-crafted work!

Meals Included
Day 1: Dinner
Day 2: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 3: Breakfast, lunch and dinner (pizza-making class)

After breakfast, on day 4 of our trip, we’ll depart Rome by train for Florence, the capital of Italy’s Tuscany region, arriving in time for lunch. After lunch, we dive right in with a walking tour of this captivating city, visiting its many highlights, including its lively piazzas and lovely bridges as well as Florence Cathedral with its iconic dome structure and Michelangelo’s marble masterpiece, the statue of David. After our walking tour we’ll settle in at the hotel, and you can then join our group dinner.

The following day features the medieval charms surrounding Florence. First, we will head by private van to Siena, which sits gracefully over three hills overlooking the famous Piazza del Campo. Known for its medieval art and architecture, legend has it that Siena was founded by Senius, the son of Remus, one of Rome’s founders. We’ll be on the lookout for statues of the she-wolf that allegedly suckled the founder’s father and his twin. Then we’re off to a beautifully scenic Tuscan vineyard for lunch before we head to San Gimignano, with its magnificent towers and panoramic vistas stretching across the valley. Your time is your own back in Florence, or you’re welcome to join our group dinner planned.

Meals Included
Day 4: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 5: Breakfast, winery lunch and dinner

On the sixth day of our trip, after breakfast, the daytime is yours for exploring the various treasures of Florence. Wonder at the spectacular works of art, such as Boticelli’s “The Birth of Venus” and da Vinci’s “Annunciation” at the Uffizi Galleries. Stroll past the sculptures and landscaping at the 250-year-old Boboli Gardens or perhaps wander across the historic Ponte Vecchio, brimming with small shops over the Arno river. We will meet up in the early evening to head over to Piazzale Michelangelo for a vegan picnic as local musicians gather to serenade visitors enjoying the most glorious of sunsets. Past tour guests have praised this as a highlight of the tour.

Meals Included
Day 6: Breakfast and dinner

After breakfast, on Day 7 of our trip, we will depart by train to Venice, “The Floating City”.

We’ll spend the morning on our train ride to Venice. After dropping off our bags at the hotel, we’ll have a tasty lunch and then get familiar with the city on a walking tour through Venice. We’ll top off our afternoon with a 30-minute gondola ride through the city’s iconic canals. Take note of where you might want to explore more during your free time tomorrow afternoon! We will have dinner before we all head back to the hotel on Venice’s mainland.

The next day, we head back to Venice’s islands and start the morning with a visit to St. Mark’s Basilica, the city’s most famous church. This stunning example of Italian, Gothic, and Byzantine architecture is also a revered Catholic site. It overlooks the lively St. Mark’s Square, with cafés, street performers, and waterfront views. After lunch together, discover your Venice! Explore the romantic canals, or visit the Bridge of Sighs, where convicts would cross over the canal to prison to serve their sentence. Enjoy the arts, culture and antiquities at the Museo Correr or Teatro La Fenice (Venice Opera House). Our dinner this evening will be near our hotel on the mainland.

Meals Included
Day 7: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 8: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Our last full day in Italy begins with a free morning. Pack, relax, or explore the area around the hotel. We will head back to Venice Island for lunch and then we’re off on a water bus trip to the islands of Murano and Burano. Murano Island is famous for its glassmakers and their sparkling creations, and we’ll have the chance to visit some exceptional galleries. Burano is famous for its colorful houses and tradition of intricately designed lace-making. When we return to Venice Island, please join our last group dinner to swap stories and experiences before we head back to the hotel.

On the last day of our tour, we’ll end our trip with one final breakfast together before parting ways.

Meals Included
Day 9: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 10: Breakfast

Good to Know

Amount of walking: 8-10 miles per day (approximate)

Your tour cost includes hotel (based on single occupancy; no need to share a room unless you are traveling with a partner, family member, or friend); meals indicated in the itinerary; all sightseeing and activities mentioned above; all bus and train transportation between cities; city bus and/or subway transportation; all logistics taken care of for you.

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