Northern Italy Food & Wine Tour
July Special $4500
$4700
Deposit: $1000
Why Travel with Chicas Abroad?
- Small, intimate groups (6-10 women)
- Perfect blend of adventure, culture, and relaxation
- Unique experiences best shared with a group of adventurous women
- Fun and experienced tour leaders who truly care about YOU
- A casual, judgment-free atmosphere
Who is Chicas Abroad?
We take women on small group adventures around the globe! We will take you out in nature to hike, kayak, bike, and do all the things with a fun group of adventure-seeking women! We also offer custom-curated adventures for you and your friends/family. Reach out to info@chicasabroad.com for more information. You can see all of our upcoming adventures and learn more about our company at chicasabroad.com
About this trip
Join Chicas Abroad for an unforgettable 9-day food and wine adventure through Northern Italy—a journey designed for women who crave authentic experiences, rich culture, and incredible cuisine. From the rolling hills of Parma to the charming seaside villages of Cinque Terre, and the culinary capitals of Modena, Bra, and Turin, this trip is a delicious deep dive into the heart of Italy’s gastronomic heritage. Along the way, you’ll enjoy hands-on cooking classes, truffle hunting, cheese and prosciutto tastings, and vineyard visits, all while connecting with local artisans and chefs who bring these traditions to life.
Beyond the meals and wine, this experience is about connection—both with the land and with an inspiring group of like-minded women. Stay in thoughtfully selected boutique accommodations and enjoy the ease of group transportation as you explore stunning countryside, historic towns, and breathtaking coastal views. Whether you’re sharing stories over a long Italian lunch or discovering the magic of a new region, this journey blends indulgence, adventure, and meaningful connection in the most delicious way.
Important Notes
Activity Level – Moderate
We will be walking through wineries and other uneven ground, so be sure that you have sturdy shoes and are able to walk several miles each day. The hiking, e-biking, and horseback riding are rated as easy to moderate. If you haven’t been on a bike in years, take some time to get used to riding again! Getting in shape before the trip will make the experience so much better.
Weather
In early September, Northern Italy typically enjoys warm, sunny weather with daytime temperatures ranging from the mid-70s to mid-80s °F (24–29°C). Evenings can be pleasantly cool, especially in the countryside and hill towns. While the summer heat begins to ease slightly, it’s still a great time for outdoor dining, vineyard visits, and coastal exploration. Occasional afternoon thunderstorms can occur, particularly in more mountainous areas.
Are you ready to embark on a journey of a lifetime?
Sneak Peek Trip Details
Day 1 - Arrive in Torino
Our adventure begins in Torino (Turin), Italy in the afternoon
Our local Italian guide, Monica, will meet us at the Porta Susa train station. We will be staying at La Luna e i Falo, a bed and breakfast in Torino. For those who arrive in time for lunch we can walk to Trattoria Cerere where we can enjoy a simple Piedmontese lunch together.
After everyone has arrived, we will do introductions and an orientation to learn about the Chicas you will be traveling with and how the trip will run. Then we will walk to Monica’s parents house where we will have an aperitivo (before dinner drinks, think Prosecco!) and then dinner.
Accommodation: Torino Bed and Breakfast
Meals Included: Aperitivo, Dinner
Day 2 - Torino Market
Torino market experience and hiking
After several cappuccinos or espressos and a delicious breakfast, we will drive into the city center and then walk to Porto Palazzo, the largest open-air market in Europe. Monica will lead us through the various parts of the market, where we will see produce, fruit, cheese, meats, seafood, breads, spices, in amazing quantities and varieties. After a few hours of the market, including tasting of interesting products, we will head to Pescheria Gallina, a famous fishmonger on the outskirts of the market. Here we will sit down to some of the best seafood in Torino, served up as fritto misto (mixed, fried fish, shrimp, calamari), followed by grilled fish.
After lunch we will walk back through Torino and go out on a hike to get a birdseye view of Torino and admire the beautiful countryside, as well as to work up an appetite for dinner.
Dinner will be outside of Torino where we will indulge in one of the most famous dishes from Piemonte: Bagna Cauda. This “warm bath” is a seemingly unlikely mixture of anchovies, garlic and olive oil, into which all manner of raw and cooked vegetables are dipped.
Hike: Moderate level
Accommodation: Torino Bed and Breakfast
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 - Hiking & Food
Hiking, Abbey, Italian Pizza & Gelato
After another morning with strong coffee and breakfast, we will be checking out of our bed and breakfast and going on a hike to La Sacra di San Michele, near Torino. After a good hike we will reach a beautiful 10th century abbey, the Abbey of San Michele, perched on Mount Pirchiriano.
For lunch we will go to a delicious Pizzeria to try the classic Italian Pizza, perhaps with truffles or porcini mushrooms. Then it’s off to a grass-fed dairy farm that makes amazing gelato. Here we will do a gelato workshop, where we will get hands-on experience making this “epitome of ice cream.” We will also try the cheeses, meet the cows, and have dinner that the farm prepares for us, with gelato for dessert. After a good meal and digestivo, we will drive about an hour south and east to check into our beautiful Villa nestled in the hills of the Roero territory where we will be staying for the next five nights.
Hike: 5.9-mile loop rated as moderate (exact distance TBD)
Accommodation: Villa in the Roero territory
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 - Relax & Wine
Relaxation day and Winery visit
Today is a slow start to give us some time to recharge. After a leisurely brunch, maybe on the patio, we can relax in the Villa’s garden, take a swim, or go for a hike.
In the early afternoon we will drive to a Biodynamic Winery where two brothers and their mother make fantastic wines that fully showcase the area. After a visit to the vines to learn about their unique approach to caring for the vineyard, we will head to the tasting room to try the fruits of their labor (Barbera, Arneis, Dolcetto, Moscato), along with salumi and cheese from nearby farms. After the wine tasting we will have a free evening, with dinner on your own in the village of Santa Stefano.
Accommodation: Villa in the Roero territory
Meals Included: Brunch, wine tasting with snacks
Day 5 - Slow Food
Exploring the Slow Food Movement
We will wake up to a fresh breakfast and coffee (or tea) before heading off to Pollenzo to visit Slow Food’s University of Gastronomic Sciences. Here we will learn about the Slow Food movement and the work they are doing all over the world.
Then we will drive into the city of Bra, to dine at the famous Boccon di Vino, where Carlo Petrini conceived the Slow Food movement in 1986. After a hearty, but refined, lunch of the local dishes, there will be some free time to explore Bra on your own . . .shopping, sightseeing, or just enjoying an espresso while you people-watch. After our long day we will return to the Villa to relax with a glass of wine or a Spritz and have a light dinner, cooked at home.
Accommodation: Villa in the Roero territory
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 - Hike & Truffles
Vineyard Hike and Truffle Hunting!
After breakfast at the Villa we will drive to La Morra, a beautiful village perched high in the hills of the Langhe region. A hike through the vineyards is a great way to see the area at a slower pace. At this time of year the harvest of the grapes will likely have begun. After our hike we will end in the village of Barolo where we will meet Vanda, a woman in her 70s who is an expert at making the traditional Agnolotti del Plin, a small Piedmontese pasta filled with three types of meat and “pinched” into a little packet. Following Vanda’s lead, we will learn to make the delicate Plin, and taste our handiwork for lunch. After lunch we will walk to a Grissini shop in Barolo, run by Vanda and her two siblings, where we can watch them make the long, crisp, light grissini (like a thin breadstick).
Our pace is busy and we next meet Carlo, a professional truffle hunter and his dog. Carlo will lead us into the forest where we will hunt the black summer truffle. Then we will drive a short way to back to La Morra for dinner at an excellent Osteria. At this Osteria you can expect a slight departure from the traditional Piedmontese dishes; their cuisine is infused with creativity while using the best ingredients and products from the area.
Hike rated as easy to moderate
Accommodation: Villa in the Roero territory
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 - E-bikes & Wine
E-bike to the Moscone Winery!
We will eat an early breakfast at the Villa and then off to Novello for an E-bike ride on the picturesque ancient roads among the vineyards Our guide will lead us up and down the hilly countryside, covered with vineyards and hazelnut groves. Don’t worry, the bikes have a pedal-assist, so you can tackle those big hills with ease! After a few hours ride, we will stop at Moscone Winery in La Morra for a visit to their cellars, ageing room, and to try their wines. Then we will jump on our E-bikes again and descend the winding road down from La Morra as we make our way to Monforte, where a picnic lunch will be laid out for us at the sight of the old Moscone Winery. After the lunch and some more wine, we will continue by E-bike to complete our 38-kilometer loop.
The day isn’t over yet, as we will head back to the Villa for relaxation and maybe a swim, before Monica leads us in a cooking class, featuring Tajarin (thin, egg noodle pasta from Piemonte), Sformatino, and Tiramisu. If we were lucky on the previous day’s truffle hunt, we can eat the Tajarin with butter and freshly shaved black truffles!
E-Bikes rated as moderate
Accommodation: Villa in the Roero territory
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8 - Horseback Riding
Horseback riding & Chocolate-making
Today after breakfast we will be checking out of the Villa but our adventures aren’t over. We will be back in the saddle again, this time riding horses in the forest of chestnuts, oaks, wild hazelnuts, beach, and poplar. After our riding session, we will stop at an Agritourismo on our way to Torino for a simple but delicious lunch.
No trip to Torino is complete without a visit to a chocolatier. Torino is the most famous city in Italy for chocolate and Guidi Croci is a chocolatier, who, with his brother, runs the family business started in 1930. They will show us how to hand make each type of their amazing chocolates, and of course we will get to try them! After our chocolate visit, we will check back into the same bed and breakfast in Torino.
For our farewell dinner we are headed into a hip part of Torino, San Salvario. We will enjoy a final dinner together that is a blend of traditional Piedmontese and some original dishes as well. If we haven’t tried a good grappa or Amaro, this is a great place to do it!
Horseback Riding rated as easy
Accommodations: Torino Bed and Breakfast
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9 - Departure
Depart from Torino
Sadly, it’s time to bid farewell to Torino. After breakfast, a private transfer from the bed and breakfast to the Porta Susa train station will be provided.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Let’s Make This Journey Yours
What’s included
Lodging
3 nights in a bed and breakfast, 5 nights in a villa; all rooms double-occupancy (single occupancy availability for an additional $1250)
Ground Transportation
Trip will begin and end in Torino (Turin), Italy; additional details for international airline booking recommendations will be provided after booking
Tips for Local Guides
Generous tips are provided for all LOCAL guides, drivers, and hosts. Tips for the Chicas Abroad tour leader are optional and at your discretion.
Meals
8 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners
Excursions
Chicas Abroad Swag
Lifelong Memories
What’s not included
International Flights
Arrive in Torino (Turin), Italy by September 4; Depart September 12 (specific times will be provided after booking)
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is highly recommend to cover any unforeseen events. Chicas Abroad will provide you with a link to our recommended carrier upon booking, but you may choose any carrier.
Alcoholic Beverages
Alcoholic drinks are at your own expense, with the exception of the included wine tasting
Chicas Abroad Leader Tip
If you’ve had an exceptional experience, a typical gratuity for this trip ranges from $450-900 to cover the local guides, plus the Chicas Abroad tour leader.