Inside a Lento Group Tour: Slow, Personal, Unforgettable

What if a group tour didn’t feel like a group tour?

No flagged umbrellas. No racing to the next stop. No shouting guides or awkward bus chatter. Just a small circle of like-minded travelers, exploring slowly, eating well, and sharing the kind of experiences that change how you see the world — and maybe even yourself.

At Lento Studio, our group tours are carefully curated, quietly luxurious, and deeply personal. You won’t be herded. You’ll be held — by thoughtful planning, local knowledge, and a pace that makes space for joy, rest, and connection.

Here’s what it’s like to travel with us.

Small Groups, Big Connection

A Lento tour is not about being one face in a crowd. We keep our groups small to create a relaxed, intimate feel. It’s enough people to feel lively over dinner, and few enough that you never feel lost in the mix.

You might come solo, with a partner, or with a friend - but by the end of the trip, the group will feel like a little travel family. No pressure, no name tags. Just shared stories, slow days, and the kind of companionship that forms naturally when people are truly present.

Rooted in Place

Each tour is based in one region, with just one or two accommodation bases throughout. That means no daily suitcase repacking, no constant hotel check-ins, no rushed mornings trying to catch the next train.

Instead, you’ll settle in. You’ll get to know the rhythm of a town, the local café with the best cornetti, the golden light in the evening. You’ll see more - not by moving constantly, but by sinking deeper into place.

A Gentle Rhythm

Forget alarms and strict schedules. Lento days begin slowly, with breakfast and time to ease into the morning. Most days include one or two lightly guided experiences - a vineyard walk, a cooking class, a local artisan visit - but everything is optional, and there’s always space in the day for wandering, resting, or doing your own thing.

We usually follow a rhythm like:

• Explore

• Linger

• Rest

• Repeat

There’s a quiet luxury in having time to pause, sip your coffee, and decide what you feel like doing that day - not what the itinerary demands.

Local, Honest, Delicious

Food and wine are woven into every Lento journey - not as touristy add-ons, but as expressions of place. Expect long lunches at family-run trattorie, countryside dinners under the stars, and generous pours of wine from people who made it themselves.

You might knead pasta dough with a local cook, visit a small-scale cheesemaker, or sip aperitivi in a piazza with your group as the church bells ring. No bland buffets. No big group menus. Just real food, shared well.

Thoughtfully Guided

I travel with you - not as a traditional “tour guide,” but as your host, translator, and logistical fairy godmother. I’m there to smooth the edges, answer your questions, and make sure the experience feels personal and easy.

For specific experiences, I bring in local experts who know their craft deeply - whether that’s a fourth-generation winemaker, an art historian, or a truffle hunter and their dog. We don’t do megaphones or lectures. We do stories, connection, and curiosity.

Who It’s For (And Not For)

Lento tours are for people who want to travel deeply, not quickly. If you’re craving beauty, meaning, connection, and a bit of ease — this is for you.

Most of our guests are:

• Curious but cautious - maybe it’s your first time in Italy, and you want something beautiful but not overwhelming.

• Italy returners - you’ve seen the big sights and now want to go slower, deeper, and beyond the tourist track.

• Thoughtful travelers - you’re not interested in rushing through cities, and you’d rather have a real moment than a packed itinerary.

• Tired of generic tours - group travel has never appealed, but this feels different: more personal, more human.

• Time-poor planners - you want a trip that feels seamless and special, but don’t have the hours (or insider knowledge) to plan it yourself.

It’s probably not for you if:

• You want nightlife, shopping malls, or lots of “free drink” wristbands

• You’d rather tick off 6 cities in 10 days

• You don’t enjoy a bit of spontaneity and slowness

• You prefer fast-paced, big-city hopping with minimal downtime

• You’re looking for luxury in the form of five-star hotels or private chauffeurs

• You want everything pre-scheduled and decided ahead of time

What’s Included (and What’s Not)

We take care of almost everything, so you can just show up and sink in.

Included:

• Accommodation

• In-country transport during the tour

• Carefully selected shared meals

• All curated group experiences

• On-the-ground support + hosting throughout

Not included:

• Flights to/from Italy

• Travel insurance (required)

Upcoming Tours & How to Join

We run just a handful of group journeys each year, each one crafted with care, never rushed or mass-produced. To see what’s coming up, check the Group Tours page and join the waitlist to be the first to know when new dates open.