RCGS: Rome, Assisi & Magical Umbria - Premium Adventure with Robin Esrock

Discover Rome, Assisi and Umbria with the Royal Canadian Geographical Society accompanied by explorer Robin Esrock

Explore historic landmarks and classical ruins in Rome and Assisi. Walk through Italy's unspoiled countryside staying in a picturesque four-star resort in the hills of Umbria, led by an expert local guide and hosted by bestselling author, TV host, public speaker and RCGS fellow Robin Esrock. Whether it’s your first time in Italy or your 100^th, this guided walking trip will live long in your heart.

Did you know you can travel by train to this trip? Find out more here

People, places and planet

We work hard to create trips that have a positive impact on the people and places we visit and look after the planet we explore. Learn more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.

Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:

People

How this trip helps improve life for local communities.

• Local guides keep you well informed about local traditions and cultural-social sensitivities.
• This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally owned hotels, restaurants, and other enterprises, and by championing locally produced food wherever possible.
• Read more about our other initiatives here.

Places

How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.

• By travelling in a small group we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
• We work with our partners on the ground to proactively reduce waste; this includes eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles by providing refills for re-usable bottles.
• The payment of entrance fees to natural reserves and archaeological sites generates income which is used for upkeep and development of these important sites.
• We rewild 100 square metres per passenger to compensate for all trip and flight emissions.
• Read about our commitment to nature protection and restoration here, including our rewilding commitment for every customer who travels with us.

Planet

How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.

• Accommodation and restaurants in the itinerary use locally sourced food which has not been transported long distances.
• Read about our climate action here, including our carbon reduction and compensation commitments.

Tips for sustainable travel on this trip

• Leave no trace: we do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
• Plastic waste reduction: please bring a re-usable water bottle on this trip, also consider avoiding single-use hotel toiletries, which generate a large amount of plastic waste.

Visa

Italy

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Italy. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/italy
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/italy
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/italy/entry-requirements
• USA:  www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Italy.html

Please note: it is compulsory to carry ID with you at all times in Italy.

Vaccination

Italy

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, rabies and tick-borne encephalitis. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Eating and Drinking

All breakfasts, three lunches, five dinners and one aperitivo are included.

The food and drink on this Premium Trip showcase the best of Lazio and Umbria, among the top gastronomic regions in Italy.

It begins with your first dinner, which takes place in a traditional trattoria in Rome. The culinary journey continues with an aperitivo upon arrival at Abbazia Collemedio, with sparkling wine and appetisers.

Here, every morning begins with a hearty continental breakfast, including croissants, cereals, eggs, bacon, sausages, hot drinks and more.

There are also two packed lunches provided on the tour, which will include tasty sandwiches and healthy platters of fruit and snacks to fuel your walking.

Dinners will be served at the hotel restaurant: shared starters, two main courses with a side and desserts – all exhibiting the best of Umbrian cooking.

During the week, you will also enjoy wine, beer, olive oil and chocolate tastings.

Several dietary restrictions, including vegetarian, vegan, lactose-free and gluten-free, can be catered for. Please advise us of any dietary requirements upon booking.

Weather

We typically run this tour from May to October to take advantage of the best weather.

April and October have the lowest average temperature and highest chances of rain, although warm sunny days are not unusual. In the mornings and evenings, the temperature may drop considerably, so keep an extra layer and warm clothes with you.

From June to September, the temperatures will be much higher, rising to 35C-40C (95F-104F) in July and August, with a much lower chance of rain. We try to start our walks earlier to avoid the hottest hours of the day but please be aware that temperatures and humidity may be high. You should feel comfortable and be used to walking in the heat. The presence of mosquitos may also increase during this time, so we recommend you take repellent with you. Please note, the weather is always variable so this should be used as a guide only.

Is this trip for you?

This trip is rated Activity Level 2 (Leisurely/Moderate).

It offers a balanced mix of city and countryside walks. The terrain and paths we walk on include paved tracks, roads, forest trails and gravel. The walks are not technically difficult, but there are some ascents and descents, so reasonable fitness levels are required.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.