Everybody loves Italy. Such a variety of landscapes, cities, food, fashion, music, wine and gelati. Most people also love the Italians who are generally perceived to be a sophisticated, good living and good natured people. They are friendly, exuberant and humorous, with more than a passing interest in sex, scandal and show rather than in boring petit things such as politics. Hence the 'passeggiata' in many an Italian town, a ritual where people go for their evening stroll dressed to the nines, or take the Ferrari for instance: a triumph perhaps of form over function (a beautiful car, but have you ever tried driving one over a speed hump)?

In terms of walking there are a huge range of possibilities from high Alpine treks in the Dolomites, to a gentle - paced walk in a Tuscan forest. Or you could decide to trace the cliff top paths threading together the coastal villages of the Amalfi Coast or the popular Cinque Terra.

Sherpa offers great walking opportunities in the north of the country. The chiselled limestone peaks of the Dolomites, with the valleys of Cortina, Corvara and the Marmolada glacier have been a draw on mountain walkers who want a change from the Alpine landscape norm. While on the Alpine theme The Apuan Alps in Northern Tuscany consist of less itimmidating limestone massifs rising up to 2000m, smothered with chestnut forests and speckled with small villages sitting on terraced vineyard and orchard aprons. You can cycle on the southern fringes of the Alps on the Lakes of Lombardy trip that combines the beautiful Italian lakes, mountains, rivers and sophisticated towns and cities. Alternatively enjoy the delights of the lakeland scenery on a walking trip to Lake Como. 

Less strenuous walks and cycle rides are possible in Tuscany, covering the beautifully well preserved city "states" of Volterra, San Gimignano, Siena and Florence. A more strenuous tour South of Siena takes you to Roman baths and the famous wine towns of Montepulciano and Montalcino. Or trek in the rolling hills of Umbria, where our walk connects Assisi with Orvieto. Many of these towns have stuck closely to their mediaeval plans, having origins in Etruscan or Roman antiquity. On an inn to inn tour there is plenty of time to visit museums and galleries before or after your day's walk. Armed with the right guide books, your walking tour will end up as a great architectural and historic immersion as well.

If you prefer the sea, the Cinque Terre region offers gorgeous coastal walking between the stacked villages of Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore, that is if you can tear yourself away from the gelati or the beach! Further South beyond Naples you can do similar walks along the Amalfi Coast, or if you really wanted to get away from the tourists, then visit the Cilento National Park, an area whose footpaths have recently been wrested from the undergrowth, to create a new walking destination.

If you really wanted something different head for the Islands to the west. You could walk or don your cycling shorts in Sardinia for a great pedaling vacation along the coast and into the mountains of this unique destination, with its long white sandy beaches and even a flock or two of flamingos at certain times of the year. For the walker the volcanic cones of Sicily and the Aeolian Islands add a little steam and fire to some glorious walks across these jewels of the Mediterranean.  

Our Italian tours are some of our most popular and most talked about: We have customers who seem to systematically work through the lot, and with the success of many of the low cost airlines to destinations such as Pisa, Naples, Genoa, Alghero, Catania and Rome, there has perhaps never been a better time to go!