After breakfast, we provide a drop-off at the Terontola-Cortona station for your onward morning train around 9.00am.
Meals: Breakfast
7 DAYS • 6 NIGHTS
MAX GROUP SIZE: 12
activity level: LEISURELY
FROM € 3,500
DATES & AVAILABILITY
25 – 31 Oct 2027
FOR PRIVATE GROUPS OR OTHER INFO
Our Tuscany Cooking Tour takes place in an enchanting villa situated in the rolling Tuscan hills, just minutes from the beautiful walled town of Cortona. This region is celebrated for its rustic, hearty cuisine, rich cultural heritage, and stunning landscapes, making it the perfect setting for a week of culinary adventure. Throughout the week, you will enjoy cookery lessons and demonstrations led by local cooks and professional chefs in an informal, comfortable atmosphere.
Complementing the kitchen time is a selection of delightful excursions led by experienced guides. At the end of each day, return to the villa to relax and enjoy dining al fresco under the Tuscan stars.
Explore Italy’s Renaissance heart through rolling vineyards and medieval hamlets. From the sculptural Val d’Orcia to the storied stone streets of Siena and Cortona, this journey celebrates a harmonious blend of heritage and scenery.
PICK UP: 14.00 – 16.00 Terontola Cortona train station (on the direct train line from Rome & Florence)
DROP OFF: 9.30 Terontola Cortona train station
Flexible pick up time depending on train arrival.
Before the tour starts, we recommend you spend a few days in the beautiful city of Florence.
Meet at Terontola-Cortona train station (14.00-16.00), easily reached from Rome or Florence.
Relax and settle into your farmhouse accommodation near Cortona – your home for the week. Our adventure begins with a welcoming cocktail party where we’ll brief you on the week’s activities. To settle in, our chef prepares a magnificent Tuscan Feast for our first dinner together.
Meals: Dinner
Our morning starts at a local “torrefazione”, our coffee roasters, to learn how the wonderful Italian coffee is prepared from an award-winning barista. You’ll learn the secrets of the perfect cappucino and the art of roasting and grinding coffee beans.
Next, we head up the slopes of Mount Sant’Egidio for a hike in search of truffles, followed by a rustic picnic in the forest. In the afternoon we step into historic Cortona through one of the ancient city gates to get our first look at what was originally an Etruscan town.
Back at the villa, we don our aprons for our first cooking lesson.
Cooking Lesson 1
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Our day begins exploring of Montepulciano with its magnificent palazzos and charming streets. This is a town dedicated to wine making and a centre for traditional handicrafts.
Our light lunch and wine tasting will be in one of the town’s most interesting historic cellars and in the afternoon, we will visit Pienza, once the subject of an ambitious building project by Renaissance pope, Pius the Second. Pienza is famous for its Pecorino cheese and some of the most breath-taking views in Tuscany.
On our return to our farmhouse, we will have our second cooking lesson.
Cooking Lesson 2
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today’s visit is to Montalcino, famous for Brunello, one of Italy’s finest wines. We will enjoy a tour of the cellars of a well-known Brunello winery followed by lunch and a tasing.
Our afternoon will feature a scenic drive with magnificent views of the Val D’Orcia and Monte Amiata, a dormant volcano and Tuscany’s highest peak.
Dinner tonight will be at a typical local restaurant.
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We spend the day in Siena, one of Italy’s most captivating medieval cities. We’ll stroll through its historic center and the famous shell-shaped Piazza del Campo, home of the Palio horse race.
After a stop at the tiny, walled medieval outpost of Monteriggioni for lunch, we head back to the villa for our third cooking lesson to perfect our Tuscan techniques.
Cooking Lesson 3
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
A day for relaxation and soaking up the local atmosphere. You have the morning free to explore the boutiques and galleries of Cortona or simply relax at the villa.
Lunch is at your leisure, giving you the chance to try one of the many local trattoria in the town center.
In the evening, we gather for a farewell dinner at a delightful local restaurant to celebrate our culinary journey.
MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner
7 DAYS • 6 NIGHTS
MAX GROUP SIZE: 12
activity level: LEISURELY
FROM € 3,500
DATES & AVAILABILITY
25 – 31 Oct 2027
FOR PRIVATE GROUPS OR OTHER INFO
This tour is a feast for the senses that balances expert-led culinary education with authentic local experiences. Unlike standard tours, we focus on the rustic, hearty cuisine of the Etruscan hills, with cookery lessons and demonstrations led by local cooks and professional chefs in an informal, comfortable atmosphere. You will experience the full journey of Italian ingredients, from hunting for precious truffles on Mount Sant’Egidio to learning the art of the perfect cappuccino from an award-winning coffee barman. You won’t just learn recipes; you will live the Tuscan lifestyle, dining al fresco under the stars at your enchanting country villa.
We meet at Terontola-Cortona train station between 14.00 and 16.00 on Day 1. This location is easily accessible as it sits on the direct train line connecting both Rome and Florence.
By Air: International travellers should fly into Florence (FLR) or Rome Fiumicino (FCO).
From these cities, you can take a direct train to the Terontola-Cortona station, making the transfer to our meeting point straightforward and easy. Use trenitalia.it if you want to book train tickets in advance.
We highly recommend spending some time in Florence before the tour begins, to adjust to the time zone and explore the “birthplace of the Renaissance”.
We rate the activity level for this cooking tour as Fairly Easy. While the focus is in the kitchen, our culinary adventures include a hike in search of truffles on the slopes of Mount Sant’Egidio and guided strolls through the ancient, storied streets of Siena, Pienza, and Montepulciano. You should be comfortable walking on a variety of surfaces, including forest tracks and medieval cobblestone streets.
Tuscany is a world-class gastronomic destination, and this tour celebrates its authentic local flavours.
Our home for the week is an enchanting country villa situated in the rolling Tuscan hills near Cortona. This traditional farmhouse accommodation allows you to relax and unpack just once, providing a private and peaceful sanctuary to enjoy experience under the Tuscan sun.
We schedule our tours during the most temperate seasons to ensure the best experience. In Spring, the hills are incredibly lush and green, while Autumn offers the harvest season with its crisp air, vibrant colours, and the ideal time to sample fresh olive oils and truffles.
Comfortable walking shoes are essential for the truffle hunt and walking on ancient stone tracks. We recommend a layering system (t-shirts, a warm fleece, and a waterproof jacket) to adapt to the changeable weather. While the atmosphere is generally relaxed, smart-casual attire is ideal for our evening dinners and the local passeggiata. Don’t forget a sun hat, high-factor sunscreen, and a refillable water bottle.
How do I book this tour with Caspin Journeys?
To book, click on the BOOK NOW button next to your preferred departure date on our website or contact us via inquiries@caspin.com
A deposit reserves your spot, and the balance is due ahead of the tour.
Is travel insurance required?
Yes. All participants must have comprehensive travel insurance that covers medical emergencies, trip cancellation, evacuation, and loss/damage of personal items.
Can I join as a solo traveller?
Yes — solo travellers are welcome. In the moment of booking, choose the single room option.
What about tips?
This question comes up a lot. Tips and gratuities for most services during the trip such as restaurant staff, porters etc. are included and handled by Caspin Journeys.
As for your tour leaders we at Caspin leave this gesture to your discretion.
If you have already booked to travel with us,
the link below will redirect you to your WeTravel account — our secure booking platform — where you can manage your booking, check your payment status, and much more.
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