It was a lot of fun! Not only was everything taken care of so that I could just relax and enjoy, but it was a perfect balance of sightseeing (Taormina, Noto, Syracuse) and winery visits. Clare was a fine leader and, as she's fluent in Italian, a great translator. The small group was perfect for touring. Strongly recommended over a large cruise ship.

Our October 2026 Bold Fork Travels tour of eastern Sicily was truly the trip of a lifetime. Clare and Clementine put together an incredible itinerary - and then made it all happen flawlessly. Their in-depth knowledge of the region and the specific places they arranged for us to visit and stay were apparent throughout and made for a unique and deeply satisfying experience. A few highlights: - We were privileged to meet with winemakers that Bold Fork Travels had hand-selected for us. They have dedicated themselves to both carrying on regional traditions and introducing innovations. Walking their vineyards, we were exposed to aspects of viticulture such as sustainable planting and fertilization methods to maintain the quality of the soil and the grapes, and harvesting adaptations made in the face of dramatic climate change. And they shared with us some of their ongoing experiments in processing, blending, storing and aging wine. We got to taste young wines still in the vat or barrel (and in one case, literally right off a hand-press used on just-picked grapes), as well as a great sampling across their finished products. All of this exposure provided a much more intimate feel for the passion, artistry and science underlying the development of great wines than we got in any of our prior winery tours. - In two of the accommodations where we stayed for several days with wonderful hosts, we learned to make several signature Sicilian dishes from expert cooks. And we got our hands wet learning to make provola and ricotta from mere hours-old milk at a small dairy that is a neighbor to one of our hosts. - For the first half of the trip, Mt. Etna quietly watched over us. On one day, we had an expert guide who gave us a wonderful driving and hiking tour of the mountain’s lower slopes. The historic properties we stayed in, including a lovely farm villa, served as temporary homes and bases for our day trips. Our accommodations were charming and very comfortable, and our meals there were outstanding. Being able to unpack and stay several nights in a given location both deepened our experience of each and allowed us to see more and avoid spending too much time on the road. The itinerary included just the right amount of time to rest or explore on our own, with Clare and Clementine providing great suggestions for dining, shopping (including at a local flea market) or sight-seeing - complete with tailored online maps to help make sure we didn't get lost. Even when we were in touristy spots like Taormina, they found quiet, off-the-beaten-path spots for us to share relaxed, delicious meals. Our group was small, as we understand all of Bold Fork tours are. Not having done an organized tour before, and frankly wary of doing one, we weren't sure what to expect. But together with the ability to relax and not worry about logistics due to the expertly-planned and executed itinerary, the small group size made it easy for us to get to know each other and genuinely enjoy spending the time together. It also meant that Clementine and Clare felt like part of the group (as well as being clearly on top of things at all times), so we got to interact with and learn more about them, much more than would have been the case in a larger group. We also got to find out more about how they approach and plan their tours. We highly and unequivocally recommend Bold Fork Travels. - Richard Denison and Paula Bryan

Clare and Clem are lovely, very informed, and organized and are all around fantastic guides!