Here is what some our recent fellow Journey travelers had to say about their experience with Journey to Enlightenment Tours:

"Tania was the perfect tour guide for me.  As a fine art photographer, I wanted to try to get the most of my short stay there -- only 3 days!  Tania worked closely with me and took the time to get a sense for what I was wanting to photograph in advance -- in fact, she already had a plan in place when she met me at the airport. She's a great driver and navigated us through the wonderful scenic backroads with ease.  She was flexible and adapted the itinerary as needed when I discovered areas I wanted to explore in more depth.  The accommodation Tania arranged in Cortona was in a perfect location for exploring the town in the mornings.  And, the places she took me to savor the local wine and cuisine were spectacular.  I brought home some great images, wonderful memories and a strong desire to return to Tuscany again.  I'd recommend Tania's tour services to anyone wanting to explore the area around Cortona."

Cheers, Carol Watson

 

"I'm a frequent traveler to Italy and love Cortona as well. I have used many driver guides in many cities. I met Tania and her husband Keith during my visit to Cortona and asked them to take us for a day long tour of the Tuscan countryside. It was a blast!  My fondest memories of Tuscany was that daytrip. Beautiful countryside, wonderful small medievel villages, out of the way restaurants (ever had pasta with wild asparagus sauce?), lots of history. They were courteous, gracious and great company. They even took us to a local sagra (festival) after the tour was over."

Paulette Lewis 

 

"Barb and I want to thank you for what we consider to be the trip of a lifetime, "the perfect trip." We wanted lots scenery, small-town experiences, and a chance to sample well-made local products. The routes you planned with us took us along seemingly little-traveled roads offering marvelous views. Your suggestions of vendors and trattorie provided us with ample portions of tasty, reasonably-priced food and wines, many things we wouldn't have thought to try on our own. And thank you for thoughtful touches like carrying cool water and tasty picnic snacks, and for being willing to make unlimited stops for photos. The pacing was very comfortable, too; you were generous with your time, and we never felt rushed. We know that you are knowledgeable about Tuscany, but you avoided excessive commentary, letting nature and food speak more eloquently for themselves."

"If Italy is the garden of Europe, Tuscany is the garden of Italy” (Carlo Goldoni) The breathtaking scenery – large vistas of gray and brown hill towns surrounded hillsides of golden wheat, cypress and olive trees, and grape vines with chartreuse leaves – never ends. Driving along the back roads of Tuscany / Val d’Orcia we were never bored by the scenery unfolding before us. Picture after picture was taken and all of them show the variety and beauty of this part of Italy. The best part of this private tour was being able to share it with good friends and a tour leader who quickly became a friend. Tania – we appreciated your attention to what we wanted from the trip. You were gracious about stopping for photo ops and you were thoughtful in your choice of destinations. The lunch location was a delight. As we walked up the stone lined street and passed doorways filled with colorful geraniums, hydrangeas, and other flowers, we knew this was going to be another wonderful part of the trip. I tried dishes I hadn’t even known about and delighted in the most pillowy gnocchi I have ever had. Our stop at the Abbey where we were privileged to hear monks singing Gregorian chants for nones was another magical moment. This Romanesque church was worth every moment we spent there. Traveling along Tuscan back roads we arrived in Pienza – a lovely hill town planned by Pope Pius II during the Renaissance. We walked from our car into the town and were charmed by doorways filled with flowers of every color. Here we got a chance to be typical tourists and shop! And what lovely things to look at and choose from…. We had Tania as our interpreter as we purchased the famous pecorino cheese and other delights we found. Later we returned to the piazza and admired the church façade and wound our way to an overlook that showed the valley below. What a view! Returning to Cortona our tour ended with a visit to the sights Cortona is proud of… La Cele, S. Margerita, and la Fortessa. After a long day of beautiful sights and enjoyable company, I was glad to return to our apartment and just reflect on this treasured experience. Thank you again, Tania, for a wonderful experience."

"We decided to take a second excursion with you because we had so very much enjoyed our first one. As before, you worked closely with all of us, meeting each of our requests yet including many surprises of your own. Although we traveled some of the same roads we had earlier, we marveled at the scenery even on the second visit. Moreover, new vistas, spectacularly beautiful, opened for us on the other roads you found. Thank you, too, for sharing some of your favorite small places, like the little hill town and the picnic spot overlooking Montepulciano. Finally, thank you for sharing your personal experience of Tuscany, the gentler side of people and places, which we feel we have come to love almost as much as you do."