Slow Travel Tours is an informal affiliation of small-group tour operators who offer personalized trips in Italy, France and other European countries.

  • We share a passion for special places in Europe, places that have stirred something deep inside ourselves, places we enjoy sharing with people who are seeking a different kind of tour.
  • We share a common philosophy about travel. We believe in traveling more slowly and seeing what's around you, immersing yourself in the local landscape, the history and culture, the food and the wine, and the people.
  • We believe a small group enhances the quality of that experience, and we enjoy the camaraderie with like-minded travelers. The people who join our groups become our friends.
  • We love what we do and where we do it. We're small business owners who manage and lead our trips ourselves. We base in places we know well, involving local friends with our groups.

Some of us live in Europe; others visit several times a year. We're not just in the travel business - we're travelers too. Learn about our tours here. Then visit our websites for more detailed information. Read our Slow Travel Tours blog for the latest information.

Read more about each tour group below.

Tours in France

The Luberon Experience, Kathy and Charley Wood

Caves & Castles, Steve and Judie Burman

Tours in Italy

Adventures in Italy, Kristi and Bill Steiner

Arts Sojourn, Matthew Daub

Italian Excursion, Cheryl Alexander

Panorama Italy, Bryan and Valerie Schneider

Tours in Europe

Music and Markets Tours, Anne and Kirk Woodyard

European Experiences, Kathy and Charley Wood

Small Group Tours of France

Personalized tours in Provence, southern France.

Luberon Experience

The Luberon Experience - Kathy and Charley Wood

www.luberonexperience.com

Immerse yourself in the beauty of the Luberon, the most scenic part of Provence. Experience the good life in the medieval perched village of Bonnieux. Savor the countryside, history, food and wine, markets, and local culture. Enjoy a relaxed week with a group of compatible travelers.

We're passionate about Provence. We spend several months a year here, and we love sharing the special places we've discovered with others. Our groups are small, never more than 12 people. We host groups five weeks a year, in May and September, including one all-women week. Other people visit the Luberon. With us you will experience it.

Caves & Castles

Caves & Castles - Steve and Judie Burman

www.cavesandcastles.com

How can you see 30,000 year old cave art, medieval castles and find out about the 100 Years War in 7 days AND enjoy great food in great company? Take a Caves & Castles Guided Archaeology Tour in the Vezere Valley, Dordogne, France! Travel slowly: fly into Paris, stay a while and then take a train to Brive. It's easy.

Steve and Judie Burman live 10 minutes from the world famous Lascaux II painted caves and close to the "capital of prehistory," Les Eyzies. With them you can get close to your ancestors. Professional archaeologist Steve will guide and interpret for you, take you to places you've dreamed about and others you've not even heard of.

Small Group Tours of Italy

Personalized tours of Italy in Tuscany, Umbria, Lazio and Le Marche.

Adventures in Italy

Adventures in Italy - Kristi and Bill Steiner

www.adventuresinitaly.net

Rediscover the joy of learning through our cultural and art based trips. We engage all your senses in adventures of cultural understanding, self discovery, personal enrichment, and travel. Spend a week in enchanted Orvieto and its environs falling into local rhythms, residing at a homey convent B&B, and exploring food, culture, wine, and artful living. Live at an Italian pace. Melt into, feel, and absorb the culture. An array of local activities yields cultural insights. Immersion in the Italian way instructs us about our own.

Our trips pair Kristi's creative teaching background with Bill's international, cultural past for trips of a lifetime. Uncover that inner child alive with the joy of life. Travel to learn, learn to travel.

Arts Sojourn

Arts Sojourn - Matthew Daub

www.artssojourn.com

Arts Sojourn is more than a traditional art workshop or guided tour. It is for those who enjoy the camaraderie and advantages of group travel, but without the rush and regimentation. Our Sojourns are impeccably planned, but we intentionally keep the dynamics of the painting workshop and group relaxed. Our philosophy is simple - to create the most enjoyable cultural travel experience possible, featuring the best accommodations at the most reasonable cost. We are expert in the areas that we visit.

Director, Matthew Daub is a nationally known artist who has been leading groups to Italy for well over a decade.

Italian Excursion

Italian Excursion - Cheryl Alexander

www.italianexcursion.com

Your week long adventure in the Italian countryside will give you a taste of Italian life that most travelers never experience. This part of the country touches the best of the Tuscan, Umbrian and Lazio regions. Visit newly discovered ancient Etruscan sites; see magnificent art; learn about the local cultures, past and present; taste the best food and wines this area has to offer.

Your trip can be designed to fit your travel dreams. We also offer such cooking classes; Italian lessons; yoga/fitness instruction; family event planning; hiking/biking; shopping; wine tasting. Groups limited to 15 for maximum comfort and enjoyment.

Panorama Italy

Panorama Italy - Bryan and Valerie Schneider

www.panoramaitaly.com

Tucked away in southern Le Marche the fascinating province of Ascoli Piceno boasts architectural gems, breathtaking scenery, delicious regional foods and wines, and verdant hills topped with timeless towns. Bryan and Valerie live here full-time and can immerse you into the richness of the region with fully customized specialty activities. We will tailor your tour to your interests. Some of our offers include walking tours of Ascoli Piceno's centro storico; visits to small, family-run vineyards; scenic drives to historic castles; trip planning, and much more. We invite you to explore the hidden treasures and rich culture of the place we call home.

Specialized Small Group Tours in Europe

Personalized tours of Europe.

Music and Market Tours

Music and Markets Tours - Anne and Kirk Woodyard

www.musicetc.us

From Tuscany to Prague, from Amsterdam to Provence, we enjoy marvelous music while discovering historically significant or out of the way places. With our guests, we share delightful times over delicious cuisine, insider shopping tips and trips, and thrill to the artistry of music at exceptional concert venues.

Discover alluring destinations across Europe with remarkable cultural happenings that you might not otherwise have experienced on your own. On our small group tours, featured in Gourmet magazine, engage all your senses at a little known village market, a specialty spa, a visit to a private home, or listening to memorable music.

European Experiences

European Experiences – Kathy and Charley Wood

www.european-experiences.com

Are you dreaming of a different kind of European vacation? A beautiful setting in the countryside? A leisurely pace? An immersion in a different way of life? If this type of vacation appeals to you, you'll enjoy a European Experiences week in one of Europe's most beautiful places. Our groups base for one week in one location, in areas rich with beauty, history and culture.

Our schedule varies each year. In addition to our Luberon Experience trips to Provence, in 2010 we're offering trips to the Salzkammergut in Austria and the Cotswolds in England. Watch for information about our 2011 trips to Tuscany.

Slow Travel Tours is an informal affiliation of small-group tour operators who offer personalized trips in Italy, France and other European countries.