2009: May 24-30, Oct. 4-10

Experience AMALFI as an insider with our small group (4-12) culinary tour to this legendary lush and breathtakingly lovely region of Italy where you'll experience cooking classes, artisan food producers, cultural tours (Pompei), musical events, fabulous wine/food pairing meals, and exciting cultural excursions (Capri). A week of fun, friends, food, wine and laughter - the perfect recipe for success.

Over 15 years ago I fell in love with Italy and its food and decided to share my passion with others through Gourmet Travel - the name almost says it all, while we focus on food and wine, we also include cultural activities of each specific region: in Amalfi we visit Capri, pasta producers, mozzarella makers, limoncello producers, cameo carvers, Positano, and experience a musical performance in Ravello (city of Music).

Because I am a trained chef, my contacts throughout Italy are with fellow food professionals who are eager to share their insider knowledge about the area and its artisan food products, insider views that are simply not available to the average visitor.

To maximize your experience we have professional guides for museum & city tours, Pompeii, and various other points of interest.

After so many years of visiting Italy, my contacts have become friends, not simply business associates. You will share this warm friendship so that you will truly experience an insider's view of Italy. Our small group size enable us to move about freely and go to places larger groups can't experience. All of these factors combine to make this a truly memorable experience.

Included in tour:

• Transfer from Naples airport or train station to our Ravello Hotel (w/panoramic view)
• 6 nights accommodation in our seaview hotel
• All breakfasts
• Five (5) lunches
• Five (5) dinners, w/house wine
• Cooking classes as listed in itinerary
• Culinary & cultural excursions listed in itinerary
• Professional guides as listed in itinerary
• Gourmetravel Personal guide for ALL listed activities
• Ground transportation for listed excursions

NOT included in tour

• Airfare
• Gratuities
• Personal expenses

Sample Itinerary

Travel Day (Sat)

• Travel day to Italy

Day 1 (Sun)

• Arrive Naples airport or train station, van transfer to Ravello

• Hotel Check in

• Welcome Dinner & orientation

Day 2 (Mon)

• Cooking Class w/Mamma
• Lunch on Mamma's magnificent veranda overelooking the seacoast

• Afternoon professional guided tour of Ravello
• limoncello producer
  
• cameo maker
• ceramic artisan
  

• Dinner - in famous local trattoria

Day 3 (Tues)

• Day trip to Pompeii & Naples
• Professional guided tour of Pompeii

• Neapolitan Pizza lunch in city where pizza was invented

(w/local guide demonstrating Neapolitan pizza-eating technique)

Brief walking tour of historic Naples center

• Return to Ravello

• Dinner

Day 4 (Wed)

• Ferry to CAPRI

• Lunch w/panoramic view in fabulous local trattoria (w/personable staff)
• Free time in Capri

• Ferry to Amalfi
• Free time in Amalfi
  

• Dinner in Ravello

Day 5 (Thurs)

• Cooking Class with delightful chef in his intimate and excellent restaurant
• Lunch - dine on our creations
• Van to Positano
• Free time in Positano
  

• Dinner on our own on the Positano Beach

Day 5 (Fri)

• Culinary Tour Day w/Professional local guide
• Cheesemaker visit - tour & tasting
• Pasta Producer - see dried pasta shaping & production
• Bakery - visit and demonstration of unusual local bread
  

• Wine Tasting & Food Pairing Lunch w/magnificent view

• Gala Farewell Evening
• Dinner
• Musical performance at Villa Rufulo
  
• Farewell toast at local watering hole
  

Day 7 (Sat)

• End of Tour
• Van departure to Naples airport or train station
• 
  

Click here to view slide show of recent tour:

http://picasaweb.google.com/gourmetravel/Amalfi93007