Northern Italy Food Tour with Sophie
Back by popular demand, this beautiful 8-day journey through Northern Italy is one of our most loved Pink Pelican Tours.
Join food writer and cookbook author Sophie Hansen as she takes you through the vineyard-covered hills of Piedmont, the colourful coastal villages of Cinque Terre and the timeless beauty of Tuscany. Along the way, you'll experience exceptional food and wine, authentic local experiences and the warmth and hospitality that make this part of Italy so unforgettable.
The Details
Dates: 7th-14th October 2026 Fully booked. Join Waiting List.
Route: Turin to Tuscany
Duration: 8 Days
From the vineyard-covered hills of Piedmont to the pastel-coloured villages of Cinque Terre and the timeless beauty of Tuscany, this tour is a celebration of everything we love about Italy - its food, wine, landscapes, culture and way of life.
Piedmont is one of Italy's best-kept secrets. Home to some of the world's finest wines and recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage-listed landscape, it is a region of rolling green hills, medieval villages, romantic castles and charming towns, all framed by the snow-capped Italian Alps. It's a place to slow down, savour exceptional food and wine, and discover a side of Italy many travellers have yet to experience.
Along the spectacular Italian Riviera, we'll explore the five enchanting villages of Cinque Terre, where colourful houses tumble down to tiny harbours and fishing boats bob gently in the sea. It's easy to see why this breathtaking coastline has captured the hearts of travellers from around the world.
Then there's Tuscany – a region that needs little introduction. Think winding country roads, olive groves, vineyards stretching across rolling hills and medieval hilltop towns that seem untouched by time.
Travelling with Sophie means experiencing Italy through the eyes of a passionate food lover and seasoned traveller. You'll taste regional specialties, discover hidden local gems and immerse yourself in Italy's rich food culture while learning new skills and creating wonderful memories along the way.
Expect cooking classes, bustling local markets, wine tastings, long lunches, beautiful shopping, cultural experiences and unforgettable moments shared with a wonderful group of women.
This is Italy at its most delicious, inspiring and beautiful.
The Itinerary
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7 nights in Boutique and Premium accommodation
7 breakfasts, most lunches and 7 dinners including a Welcome and Farewell Reception & Dinner
Specialised Tour Guide from Australia
Tour Leader/Coordinator from Australia
Local Guides when required
Private minibus transport + Driver
Entrance and fees to all local attractions and activities on the tour
Daily complimentary bottled water
Baggage handling (hotel porters)
All gratuities included for local services
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Welcome to Turin!
At the foot of the Alps, Turin was once the capital of the House of Savoy and birthplace of the Italian resurgence. Today, it is an innovation hub rich in art and culture. Dynamic and baroque, Turin wows with its museums, architectural and monumental wonders, and delicious traditional food – it’s a chocoholic's paradise!
After checking in at your elegant 5 star hotel and having time to unwind, you will meet your friendly Tour Guide Sophie Hansen for an evening tour of Piazza Castello (Turin’s main square) which boasts two major Baroque structures designed by architect Filippo Juvarra – Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace) and Palazzo Madama.
Enjoy a Welcome Reception & Dinner with a traditional Italian Turinese meal.
Dinner included
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Enjoy an optional early morning visit to Porta Palazzo food market, Europe’s largest open air food market, led by your tour guide Sophie. From vegetables, oils, cold cuts, cheeses, breads, local delicacies and flowers to clothing, shoes, homewares and jewellery. One of the best ways to discover the Italian culture is to roam inside a local market!
Immerse yourself in the grandeur of Italy's royal history visiting Turin’s famous Venaria Reale. Explore its majestic palace, gardens, and captivating art exhibitions.
Travel down to the Alba/Bra countryside via private minibus. The scenery is breathtaking: rolling hills of vineyards and tiny villages; this area is known as The Langhe and is Italy's premier wine region.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
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Experience an e-bike wine tour through the rolling hills and picturesque villages of the Langhe region to sample the world-famous award-winning Barolo wine - a privileged wine founded in the early 1800’s known as “the wine of kings and the king of wine”.
Enjoy an authentic Italian Piedmontese dinner in a former wine bar overlooking a charming courtyard. Tuck into tagliatelle (Italian pasta) tossed with Alpine butter and regional white truffles.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
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Peruse the local markets in Alba. The Alba mercato is held every Saturday and is where you can sample local cheeses, wine, hazelnuts and traditional foods. Also, the perfect spot to stock up on local crafts and souvenirs.
Enjoy lunch in a nearby local vineyard enjoying delicious local produce and wine.
Continue your journey onto the Cinque Terre - a rugged coastline on the Italian Riviera with five pastel coloured fishing villages. Stay in a beautiful seaside hotel with the enchanting atmosphere of the Cinque Terre.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
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Discover the beauty of Cinque Terre, one of Italy’s most enchanting coastal regions. Explore the colourful fishing villages at a relaxed pace, travelling between the villages by train and taking time to wander the charming laneways, browse local shops and enjoy the spectacular coastal views.
The five picturesque villages are captivating, with their colourful Ligurian houses, historic harbours and fishing boats bobbing on the crystal-clear waters.
Breakfast and dinner included
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Travel down the coastline by private minibus into Tuscany. Tuscany’s world-famous landscape boasts soft rolling hills covered by picturesque vineyards and olive groves with medieval stone houses perched on top.
Highly regarded cookbook author Emiko Davies, an acquaintance of your Tour Guide Sophie, will provide an Italian cooking demo class using fresh seasonal ingredients from the local village market and local butcher. Enjoy learning new skills from Emiko before sitting down to a long Italian lunch paired with natural wines by local Tuscan sommelier Marco Lami.
Stay in a charming 18th-century Tuscan villa farmhouse where you’ll immerse yourself in the beauty of the Tuscan hills near a medieval village not far from Florence.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
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Explore the beautiful medieval villages of Tuscany including charming Lucca - full of pretty white and yellow houses and surrounded by fortified walls built in the 16th century and provide a fourteen-kilometre circuit around the historic centre.
Enjoy a private cooking demo class with your Tour Guide Sophie Hansen. Learn new and traditional culinary approaches using fresh, local ingredients.
Breakfast and dinner included
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After breakfast, it is time to say farewell to your fellow travellers and take home wonderful memories of beautiful Italy.
Our mini-bus will depart the hotel at 9:00am and transfer guests to Florence Airport, arriving at approximately 10:00am. From the airport, guests may continue their journey by taxi, train or flight to their next destination.
Breakfast included today.
If you would like to spend more time in your accommodation at the beginning or end of the tour, speak to us about hotel details.
This itinerary may alter slightly.
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Click the ‘Book Now’ button to complete our Booking Form.
We will contact you with further information and confirmation regarding your place on the tour.
Your place on the tour will be only guaranteed when the deposit of $1500 is received by us along with a photo of the front page of your passport. We will then send you a receipt.
Please refer to our Terms & Conditions.
NOT READY TO BOOK BUT WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION? Would like to join the waiting list? Or join our mailing list? Contact us and we’ll answer all your questions.
Your Tour Guide:
Food Writer & Cookbook Author
Sophie Hansen
When it comes to food, Sophie Hansen is the expert. Sophie is one of Australia's most highly regarded contemporary country cooks. She attracts a huge community of followers to her ‘Local is Lovely’ blog and Instagram page, weekly ‘5 Things to Be Cheerful About’ newsletter, as well as hosting countless pop-up dinners (consistently booked out!) and cooking events throughout regional Australia.
Sophie is trained in print journalism and has over 25 years’ experience as a food writer. Before settling down with her family on a farm near Orange in NSW, she traveled the world to explore the food culture in many countries.
Sophie has written five cookbooks including Local is Lovely, A Basket by the Door, In Good Company, Around the Kitchen Table and What Can I Bring?
Sophie’s calming presence and friendly nature makes her the perfect Tour Guide for Pink Pelican Tours.