Calabria All Inclusive: Italy’s Hidden Gem

You meet your dedicated Tour Manager and the rest of your group at London Stansted this morning, ready for the flight to Lamezia Terme in Calabria. On arrival in the unspoilt 'toe' of Italy, your group transfers by coach to your hotel in Tropea.

Calabria is a fertile land of olive groves and citrus trees, which you can see on your journey to Tropea, along with glimpses of the azure Tyrrhenian Sea, as you are driven down the coast to your hotel. Your 4-Star accommodation has views across Tropea and the blue sea from its hillside location. With an outdoor swimming pool and sun terrace, it is a great place to relax.

All-inclusive drinks are available between 10am and 10pm each day and, this evening, your group and Tour Manager gathers for your first dinner in Italy.

• Dinner

After a leisurely breakfast, you can familiarise yourself with the local area on a guided tour of Tropea. Named "Italy's most beautiful village" in 2021, the historic centre is perched on a rugged cliffside overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea. Tropea epitomises Calabrian beauty and, with dazzling white beaches, dramatic rock formations and a history bathed in myth and legend, it is a perfect introduction to the undiscovered delights of Calabria.

From the centre, there are great views of the monastery Santa Maria dell'Isola, which sits in gardens on top of a steep, rocky outcrop. Formerly an island, the rock now juts out to sea between the town's gorgeous sandy beaches.

You return to your hotel for lunch and have a free afternoon to explore on your own. You could return to the winding narrow streets of the village centre or unwind by the pool at the hotel. Dinner is included tonight while drinks are available from 10am to 10pm.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

With a free morning in Tropea, you could make use of the free shuttle service to the hotel's private beach, returning in time for lunch.

This afternoon, your group transfers to Tropea's port to embark on a cruise across Tyrrhenian Sea to Stromboli. Ruggedly rising to a conical summit, this captivating Aeolian Island corresponds perfectly with what you might expect from a volcano island. If it wasn't for the dappling of white-washed houses on the shore, you could begin to believe you were the first people to set sight on this primeval view. With free time to explore Stromboli village, nestled beside dramatic black-sand beaches, you could stop at a trattoria to try the local seafood pasta for dinner. The remarkable Church of San Vincenzo Ferreri - with its white marble interior - stands on the Piazzo San Vincenzo, which provides great panoramic views of the sea and the island.

At sunset, your group returns to the sea as the boat sails round to the 'Sciara del Fuoco' (Stream of Fire). This is the ideal time to admire the volcano's epic natural light show, as fountains of glowing lava bursts from its core against the night sky, spectacularly revealing why the island is nicknamed 'the lighthouse of the Mediterranean'. You anchor nearby to experience the eruptions before returning to your hotel in Tropea.

• In certain circumstances, the cruise to Stromboli will be unable to run. If this is the case, you will enjoy a trip round the Aeolian Islands. On a tour of these beautiful volcanic islands, you will view Stromboli, Lipari and Vulcano - each with their own charm and attractions.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

You have a day free to relax or explore Tropea further. You could head out into Tropea, where there is much to explore in the historic centre. Among the winding lanes of historic, pastel-coloured houses you'll find small piazzas where you can enjoy a coffee or gelato at an outdoor café. Or maybe discover one of Tropea's white-sand beaches that lie on the 'Costa degli Dei' or Coast of the Gods.

The charismatic timelessness of Tropea and Calabria's laid-back charm are captured in the village's narrow lanes and the faded glamour of its once-grand palazzos that gather round tranquil piazzas. Many of the piazzas and lanes open out on to spectacular views of the coastline. On one of the finest squares, you will find the impressive Norman cathedral with arched cloisters. Inside the church there is a Byzantine icon of the Madonna of Romania, who is said to have protected the town from earthquakes.

If you would prefer a day of relaxing, you could spend time sitting by the pool at the hotel with a refreshing drink from the all-inclusive selection.

Lunch and dinner are available at your hotel, but if you would like to sample some local delicacies, you are free to visit a restaurant to try Calabrian favourites. You might fancy 'nduja sausage with fileja pasta, or swordfish with Tropea red onions - and the chocolate lovers' heaven of tartufo for dessert.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning, your group transfers by coach to Rosarno railway station where you catch the train to Reggio Calabria. Despite its size and importance as the region's main city, it retains a rural ambience. It is also known as 'Bergamot City' because the valued citrus fruit flourishes in the surrounding area - there is even a Bergamot museum here. Although bitter and inedible, the fruit benefits from a floral fragrance that has long been added to products as wide-ranging as Eau de Cologne and Earl Grey tea.

Reggio Calabria's other claim to fame is that the 'most beautiful kilometre in Italy' is here. Lined by Art Nouveau buildings and adorned with attractive palm trees, the leafy seafront esplanade of Lungomare Falcomatà provides views across the Strait of Messina to Sicily and is a great place to enjoy your picnic lunch.

You have time to explore Reggio at your leisure before the group travels by train to Scilla. Named after the Greek mythological sea monster Scylla, the town cascades down a headland to a picturesque bay backdropped by steep, verdant hillsides. This delightful fishing village is packed with history. On top of the promontory high above the bay is the Castello Ruffo, with a history reportedly stretching back to the pre-Roman Etruscans.

In the early evening, you return by rail and coach to your Tropea hotel for dinner and drinks.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

On a full-day excursion, you step back in time on a visit to the historic towns and villages of the Calabrian hills. Your route winds up towards the highlands of the Calabrian Serre to your first destination, Serra San Bruno. This enchanting village is nestled in the mountains, surrounded by woodland and crowned by a serene monastery.

The Certosa, or Charterhouse, is a Carthusian monastery connected with Grande Chartreuse abbey near Grenoble in France. Founded by St Bruno around 1100 AD, the hermitage and grounds provide insights into the spiritual lives of monks. The town of Serra San Bruno itself was originally where builders and artisans involved in the construction of the monastery lived. Today, its quaint town centre is seemingly untouched by time, filled with age-old stone buildings and a warren of quiet, winding lanes.

After a picnic lunch, your next destination is one of Italy's most beautiful villages. Set on the mountain slopes, the utterly gorgeous village of Stilo overlooks an endless green sea of olive groves and shrub-dotted countryside down to the brilliant blue Ionian Sea. This unspoilt delight has many attractive sights, and you have entry to the Cattolica di Stilo, a charming 9th-century Byzantine church containing ancient frescoes. With a jumble of narrow lanes, staircases and archways leading on to small piazzas, peaceful Stilo enchants, and you are never far from fantastic views.

You return to your hotel by coach across the hills in time for dinner and drinks this evening.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After a leisurely morning, you take the train to Pizzo, a characteristic coastal town where pastel-coloured houses cling to the cliffside, leading to a sandy beach with crystalline waters. Arriving at the station, you transfer into the town centre by Piaggio Ape Calessino, an iconic Italian three-wheeled motorcycle similar to a tuktuk that became popular in the 1960s and is still loved for its retro appeal.

Pizzo perfectly fuses laid-back resort with historic town and boasts a number of attractions, including the Church of Piedigrotta. You visit this seaside church that was carved into a cave under the limestone cliff. Inside, spectacular religious sculptures are illuminated by shafts of light cascading from above. Afterwards, your group heads to a local café to sample the town's speciality - Tartufo di Pizzo, a delicious chocolate and hazelnut gelato dessert.

You are then free to explore at your own pace. Perhaps enjoy your picnic lunch on the promenade overlooking the small marina and sparkling waters or savour the views of the coast from beside the 15th-century Castello Murat. The sheltered maze-like lanes of Pizzo's old town are a great place to wander before you are conveyed back to the train station by Ape Calessino, arriving back in Tropea in early evening.

Tonight, your group gathers for your final dinner and drinks in Calabria.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

You bid a fond farewell to Tropea this morning as a coach transfers your group to the airport at Lamezia Terme. As you drive through the sun-backed terrain, glimpsing the azure sea, you can look back on the delights of undiscovered Calabria. With its idyllic coastal towns and sleepy mountain villages; spectacular and mysterious volcanic islands; and the scents and flavours of its trattorias and gelaterias - the unspoilt 'toe' of Italy bursts with typical Italian beauty, but without the crowds of other regions.

On arrival back at Stansted, you say goodbye to your fellow travellers and Tour Manager with whom you have shared these unforgettable experiences.

• Breakfast