8 DAYS | 7 NIGHTS
OCTOBER 15-22, 2026 · MAX 14 WOMEN
8 DAYS | 7 NIGHTS
OCTOBER 15-22, 2026
MAX 14 WOMEN
There's a certain kind of trip you start craving at some point - one where you don't have to rush, keep up, or figure everything out. Where the days feel full but never overwhelming. Where the conversations are just as memorable as the places.
This is that trip.
We spend five nights in Bologna, using it as our home base to explore some of the most iconic food regions in Italy, the markets of Padova and the balsamic countryside of Modena. Then we head south to Siena, arriving just in time for its Wednesday market set against the backdrop of a 15th-century fortress.
This isn't checklist travel. It's slow mornings, local markets, long lunches, and the kind of moments you can't plan but somehow always remember. Hand-rolling pasta in a Bologna kitchen. Wandering market stalls with no agenda. Drinking an Aperol Spritz in the city where it was invented.
Small group. Boutique hotels. Every detail handled so your only job is to show up.
Activity level: Leisurely and intentional. We walk to discover, not to cover ground.
Not ready to leave when it ends? Add the optional 4-night Rome extension and trade the quiet hills for the Eternal City: October 22–26
How it works
Why you'll love this trip
If you’ve ever done a large group tour, you already know the feeling. Early mornings, tight schedules, always moving, and somehow still feeling like you missed the place entirely. This is the opposite of that.
From the moment we meet in Bologna to our final espresso in Rome, everything is thoughtfully handled so you can settle in and actually enjoy where you are. No rushing, no overpacked days, no pressure to keep up.Just space to experience it properly.
A seat at the local table: Learning to hand-roll pasta in Bologna, tasting the “black gold” of Modena, and sitting down to unhurried meals. These are the moments that stay with you.
The soul of the market: We wander through the vintage corners of Bologna, the iconic stalls of Padova, and Siena’s Fortezza Medicea. It’s less about shopping and more about discovering what draws you in.
The art of the aperitivo: There’s a rhythm to late afternoons in Italy. We experience it where it all began, with an Aperol Spritz in hand, learning the ritual rather than just ordering it.
The freedom to slow down: Every day has something beautiful planned, but nothing is forced. If you want to wander, sit in a piazza, or take a quiet morning for yourself, you can. That balance is what makes the whole experience feel easy. Everything is an invitation, never an obligation.
Who is this trip for?
This trip is for the woman who feels ready for something different.
- You love the idea of Italy, but not the version that’s rushed, crowded, and built around checking off landmarks. You want to experience it properly, through the food, the markets, the small moments that most people miss.
- You’re comfortable on your own, but you also know how much better travel can feel when you’re sharing it with the right group of women.
- You don’t need everything scheduled, but you appreciate when the details are taken care of so you can relax into the experience.
- You value good food, meaningful conversation, beautiful surroundings, and a pace that actually lets you enjoy it all.
If that sounds like you, you’ll feel very at home on this trip.
"These trips allow me to travel alone to amazing places and meet amazing like-minded people from all over the world. Being around Richelle on her retreats makes me feel safe and like I am wrapped in a warm blanket. The trips are extremely organized right down to the minor details. Nothing is missed and you won't be disappointed. All you have to do is get there and the rest is taken care of for you with lots of time to explore on your own if you wish. You won't regret a minute of it! "
Debbie A
ITALY, MEXICO AND TURKEY GROUP TRIPS
"Where do I begin... Richelle is a wonderful host for the group trips I have gone on. She’s got a zest for travel, detail and care to make sure each of her guests are well taken care of and get the best experience ever! I’ve gone on 5 retreats with Richelle, not only is she a great trip host but she’s become a friend."
Jen A
ITALY, MEXICO AND JAPAN GROUP TRIPS
"Loved traveling with Richelle! She is the girl that walks the walk. She does the research, takes notes and then takes you to experience what she did! Brilliant! We had fun and adventures when she lead us. Would absolutely do a trip with her again."
Terry B
JAPAN GROUP TRIP
"I’ve been on group yoga retreats multiple times to various destinations over the past 20 years with Richelle. Very well organized, with awesome accommodations, customized yoga and superb meals. I think what I enjoy the most is all of the above combined with feeling safe! Richelle provides attention to detail and fosters relationships for a true cultural experience. 5 stars from me!"
Janet N
MEXICO AND JAPAN GROUP TRIPS
"A chance encounter with Richelle led me to participate in a wonderful yoga retreat in the magical town of San Miguel de Allende. In addition to daily yoga sessions, we got to learn about the history, culture, food and drink of this charming little town in the heart of Mexico. While I didn't know anyone going into the retreat, I ended up meeting some amazing women and forging what I hope will be lifelong friendships."
Pooja
MEXICO RETREAT
Trip Overview
We begin in Bologna, widely considered Italy’s food capital, yet still refreshingly under the radar. This is where we settle in for five nights.
Our days unfold with time spent at neighborhood markets, and a hands-on cooking class where you’ll learn to roll fresh pasta. Meals are unhurried, and the rhythm of the city starts to feel familiar in the best way.
From Bologna, we take a few well-chosen day trips. To Padova for its vibrant markets and a proper intro to the original Aperol Spritz. And to Modena, where we visit a family-run acetaia for a private balsamic tasting and farm-to-table lunch after a relaxed morning exploring the town.
Midweek, we make our way to Siena, a hilltop town that feels like stepping into another time. You'll have the chance to wander, browse, and take it all in without rushing.
For those who aren’t quite ready to leave, the optional extension in Rome offers four more nights to experience the cinematic energy of the Eternal City.
Where you'll stay
We choose our hotels the same way we choose restaurants - walkability, character, and the feeling that you actually belong there rather than passing through. Every property on this trip is boutique, independently owned, and within easy walking distance of the markets, piazzas, and neighbourhoods that make each city worth coming to. No chain hotels. No lobbies that could be anywhere. Nothing that makes you forget which city you're in.
Specific hotel names, photos, and room details will be sent one month out from trip dates. All properties are selected for quality, location, and character and will be shared with registered guests well in advance of departure.
Daily intinerary
These trips are built around the belief that the best travel happens when you feel held but not herded. Every activity is an invitation, not an obligation. Join the group for a market morning or spend it solo at a café with a cornetto and no agenda.
To help you fill your free time with the good stuff, every traveller gets a curated Google Maps list for each city: Richelle's personal recommendations for where to eat, drink, shop, and wander.
The Rome Extension
OCTOBER 22 - 26, 2026
For those not ready to head home, our Rome extension offers four nights to fall in love with one of my favourite cities in the world. We trade the Tuscan hills for the golden energy of the Eternal City, focusing on the neighbourhoods of Monti, Trastevere and the legendary Sunday markets.
Pricing and What's Included
This is an all-inclusive, small-group experience designed so you can arrive in Italy and simply settle in. No over-planning, no guesswork, no trying to piece it all together on your own.
Non-refundable deposit due at time of booking: $600.00 per person. Balance due on of before 45 days before departure (September 1, 2026). Monthly payment plan available between deposit and balance due date.
SHARED ROOM
$3099 USD AFTER AUGUST 1
*Double occupancy: for friends travelling together or solo travellers paired with a new friend
SINGLE ROOM
$3799 USD AFTER AUGUST 1
*Single occupancy: for the traveler who wants their own sanctuary at the end of the day
ROME EXTENSION
$1499 USD AFTER AUGUST 1
*Double occupancy. For single room, please add $400usd to the rate as listed above
What's Included
What's not Included
Meet your host
Hey, I'm Richelle of @richelletakesyou
I've been to Italy six times and I still think about the first trip, the first time I tried gelato in Venice, the first market I discovered, and the first lunch I had in Bologna.
There is a specific kind of magic that happens when you stop rushing and start noticing. After a decade of living abroad and years of hosting retreats, I’ve learned that the true luxury of travel is feeling completely at ease in a new place.
My guests often tell me that traveling with me feels like being "wrapped in a warm blanket." That is the highest compliment I can receive. I host these curated group trips because I love sharing the soul of a place from the local markets I frequent to the family-run restaurants that don’t make the "must-try" lists.
A bit about me: I’m currently navigating my own next chapter. Former yoga studio owner in Tulum (Mexico), currently figuring out my permanent move from Canada to Europe with my rescue dog and cat in tow.
You book the flight. I'll take it from there.
Questions? We have answers...
Your seat at the table is waiting
This isn’t just a trip; it’s the "exhale" you’ve been looking for. If you’re ready to trade the rush for the ritual, to find treasures in the markets, and to see Italy through a slower, more intentional lens, I would love to have you with us.
Your space on this group trip is confirmed with your deposit. Accepted payments: PayPal, CC, wise, bank transfers. Flexible payment plans also available.
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