LazyGo
Days 1-2: Rome
Rome is the gastronomic gateway to Italian cuisine, one of the world's most celebrated food cultures.
Start my first day with a coffee, the most important drink in Rome. Next, head to a bakery owned by Rome’s “"Michaelangelo of pizza" Gabriela Bonci for a degustation of foccacia and other specialty Italian breads. And we check out one of the city’s famous food markets, where traditional culinary crafts on display.
Activities: food tour
Accommodation: Hotel Stella or similar
Italy
Theme: Food adventure
Style: The trip theme is food adventure. With a mix of free time, they offer plenty of opportunities to explore at my own pace and make a plan. Accommodation is as likely to find myself as a guest of a local family as staying in a hotel or camping. Depending on the destination and the itinerary I could find myself travelling on anything.
Days 3-4: Bologna
Transportation: Travel to Bologna by train (approx. 3.5hrs)
Bologna's culinary claim to fame is far from limited to the 'ragu alla bolognese'. Home of tagliatelle, mortadella and a range or other cured meats and salamis, Bologna, along with the surrounding Emilia Romagna region, is a bonafide food mecca.
Discover the 'real food' of Bologna in hands on cooking class. Feast on your creations over dinner. Check out the bustling and friendly local markets with their selection of mouth-watering fresh produce, such as meats, cheese and balsamic vinegar (real and fake!) and fresh flowers. It also has an excellent local speciality panini shop in the market, which is great for lunch.
Activities: Cooking class, Acetaia visit
Accommodation: Hotel Cavour Bologna or similar (2 nts)
Days 5-6: Venice
Transportation: Take the train up to Venice (approx 1hr 30mins)
Venice's distinctive culinary heritage goes back to ancient times and stars redolent risottos, saline baccala (salted cod) and creamy polenta. Don't forget to try a 'spritz'. This mix of white wine, Campari and soda water is a popular accompaniment to wash down the delicious cicchetti. Wander the streets of Venice on an orientation walking tour of some of the city’s artisanal food shops and providores. You’ll have the opportunity to meet some of the local shop owners – a number have been part of the Venetian food scene for decades.
Activities: City orientation walking tour, Doge's Palace and Bridge of Sighs
Accommodation: Alloggi Gerotto Calderan or similar (1 nt)
Japan
Theme: winter Festival
Style: The trip theme is Winter Festival. With a mix of included activities and free time, they offer plenty of opportunities to explore at your own pace and take part in activities that really get beneath the skin of a destination. Experience the sensational Sapporo Snow Festival, be awestruck by the size of snow sculptures and watch the soft lantern light cast its magic over festival-goers in Otaru.
Days 1-2: Sapporo
Sapporo is the capital of Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island that has only 5% of the population living on. It is a very great time of shows snow festival as incredible display of lights and ice sculptures. We can join the dancing, eating, and drinking activities with various both domestic and international visitors.
Activities: Snow Festival Sights and Performances, Sapporo brewery, Nijo fish market.
Accommodation: Sapporo Clark Hotel or similar
Days 3: Sapporo - Otaru – Sapporo
Transportation: Otaru is a small, picturesque harbor city, about half an hour northwest of Sapporo by train.
When we visit, Otaru holds it’s magical Snow Light Path Festival. The whole city gets decorated with lanterns and snow statues, which creates fantastic fairytale-like scenery when it gets dark.
Activities: Snow light path festival
Accommodation: Sapporo Clark Hotel or similar
Days 4-5: Asahikawa - Sounkyo Gorge - Asahikawa
Transportation: take the express train into the northern wilderness from Sapporo to Asahikawa.
Asahikawa and surrounding areas host a number of smaller and more local snow and ice festivals. Visit the Asahikawa Snow Museum. We will travel further into the snow-covered Hokkaido region, first by train to the small town of Kamikawa, followed by bus to Sounkyo Gorge, where the Sounkyo Ice Waterfall Festival takes place.
Activities: Sounkyo ice waterfall festival, Folk arts and craft village, Asahikawa’s snow crystal museum.
Accommodation: Asahikawa Dormy Inn or simila
Day 6: Furano
Furano is located in the geographical center of Hokkaido and is known as Heso no Machi (the Belly Button Town) due to its central location. The small village is famous for it’s uniquely dry snow and beautiful hills, where a lot of activities are possible. Everything from skiing on dry powder snow, icehole fishing to hiking over snow covered bamboo forests.
Activities: Furano Kan Kan Mura (Snow night fantasy festival), Snowshoe trekking, ice-hole fishing
Accommodation: Asahikawa Dormy Inn or simila
Thailand
Theme: Family adventure
Style: Family Adventures are designed specifically for the spirited family. We understand that travelling with kids sometimes requires a slightly different perspective. Keeping this in mind, we travel at a slower speed - recognizing that showing your family around our exotic destinations can take time.
Day 1: Bangkok
Visit the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha; wander down the tourist mecca of Khao San Road or indlge in a Thai massage.
Activities: Grand palace, Thai massage, Urban Adventures - Bangkok Chinatown Food Discovery
Accommodation: Viengtai Hotel or similar
Days 2-3: Chiang Mai
The most vibrant city in northern Thailand, Chiang Mai has many famous temples and an interesting old city area. This 'Rose of the North' is also known for its beauty and the friendliness of the local people. Explore the famous temple complex of Doi Suthep. Drive along a scenic, winding mountain road that ends at an impressive 300-step naga-guarded stairway (approx 45 mins). The rewards justify the climb with one of the most beautiful temples in Thailand on display, not to mention fantastic panoramic views of the city and the opportunity to listen to hypnotic evening chanting by resident Buddhist monks.
Activities: Doi Suthep temple, Traditional Umbrella Factory, Thai message
Accommodation: Wangburapa Grand Hotel or similar (1 nt)
Day 4: Village Homestay
Mae Taeng Valley to Elephant Nature Park (approx 60 km), a unique project providing a sanctuary and rescue centre for elephants. Greeted by an expert guide we learn about the story of rescued elephants and elephant’s problem in South-East Asia. After that you will have a chance to feed the elephant from the viewing platform.
Accommodation: Baan Hua Thung Homestay (1 nt)
