My wife and I are lucky to have traveled widely. Aventura Travel takes you to our favorite places in our favorite destinations. Aventura trips focus on food, wine, and culture, and how they intermingle. Plus a sampling of art and history, without going overboard. Restaurants are carefully chosen and range from casual hidden gems to those awarded Michelin stars. Expert local guides in each town or region add their expertise and open doors only a local can access. We build in lots of freedom for your choices and limit groups to between six and twelve people for an intimate experience. Bring your family and friends to form your own group or sign up on your own and meet new friends. Either way, I think you will find it to be an extraordinary adventure.
Robert Patterson
Founder
Many tour operators take large groups to all the typical sites. Check the box. Nothing wrong with that, but it's not what we do. We don't go sightseeing but rather seek out experiences. We arrange picnics and bike rides through the vineyards. At restaurants we make reservations instead of pre-ordering your meal. The same freedom applies to activities. In addition to generous free time, you can always opt out of a scheduled activity and go explore on your own - or just watch the world go by at a sidewalk cafe. All in all, it's the freedom of independent travel with the benefit of someone else finding all the best places.
A Discerning Collection of Beautiful Experiences
Barcelona, Rioja & Madrid
We start with a brief visit in Barcelona, or come early if you want to see more. The food and wine of Catalonia will be a key feature, plus Gaudi's world-famous Sagrada Família cathedral. We then take the train to the beautiful region of Rioja. This is the heart of the trip featuring great food, world-class wine, show-stopping scenery, a medieval hill-top village, bike rides through the vineyards, a hike on the Camino de Santiago, and more, all with a Basque accent. Then it's off by train for a brief visit in Madrid, Spain's sophisticated capital (or stay longer on your own to experience more).
2027
May 10-19
May 17-26
May 24 - Jun 2
Sep 13-22
Sep 20-29
Oct 4-13
Nice, Lyon, Burgundy, & Paris
We start with a brief visit in Nice (but come early if you want to see more) followed by two days at a country estate in Provence. You will depart knowing more about Provencal food and Rosé wine. The TGV high-speed train then takes us to Lyon, which will be the heart of the trip. We will see the beautiful legacy of Lyon's importance in Roman times and the Renaissance. We will experience what makes Lyon the culinary capital of France including the casual "Bouchon" tradition, famous food markets, Michelin Star dining, and the amazing ingredients from Lyon's extraordinary surrounding regions. We will make delicious and invigorating day trips from Lyon to the beautiful town of Annecy in the Alps and the charming town of Beaune in Burgundy. Finally, we are off by TGV for a brief visit in Paris (or, again, stay longer on your own to experience more).
2027
Apr 26 - May 7*
May 3-14
May 10-21
Oct 18-29
Oct 25 - Nov 5
*Susan and Robert will accompany this trip
Rome, Tuscany, & Bologna
Dig into the wonderful and very different cuisines of Rome, Tuscany, and Bologna. Plus enjoy a delightful sampling of Italy's art, history, and culture. We start in Rome, enjoying the hearty pleasures of the Roman table. Then it's off to Tuscany by train, where we linger for several days amidst the region's fantastic scenery, rustic food, and yummy wines. From Tuscany, a train delivers us to Bologna to indulge in the food of Italy's culinary capital and to see how Parmesan and other fine foods of the region are made. Throughout, we will have in-the-kitchen experiences learning how the classic dishes of each region are made. You then have a choice of several days in either the exquisite lake country of northern Italy or the captivating area west of Venice featuring many of Palladio's finest works. Then it's on to Milan for the Farewell Dinner and to access an international airport (or consider staying longer on your own to experience more).
2027
Oct 11-22*
*Susan and Robert will accompany this trip
Tokyo, Kanazawa, Kyoto, & Koyasan
Join Susan and Robert as we explore the gardens and beauty of Japan, along with enjoying Japan's exquisite cuisine. We will post the itinerary soon.
2027
Mar 25 - Apr 12*
*Susan and Robert will accompany this trip
Snow-capped Volcanos, Galápagos Islands, Cloud Forest
We are just back from Ecuador and were blown away. Located at the equator, you can visit snow-capped volcanoes approaching 20,000 feet, cloud forests teeming with orchids and tropical bids, and the world famous Galápagos Islands. The trips are timed for when all three ecosystems are at their peak. We are fine-tuning the itinerary and will post it soon.
2027
Jul 26 - Aug TBD*
Aug 2-TBD
Aug 9-TBD
*Susan and Robert will accompany this trip
and earn discounts on your own travel!
What better way to travel than with friends and family? We encourage you to form your own group, based on a minimum of three rooms (6 people) and a maximum of six rooms (12 people). By doing so, you earn discounts on your trip cost, with benefits increasing as the number of guests increases.
The trip price varies by itinerary and by trip date. Generally, the price includes accommodations, a few selected meals (Welcome Dinner, winery meals with food and wine pairings, and Farewell Dinner), scheduled activities, train and minibus transport, guides, and guide gratuities.
The trip price does not include the cost of airfare, airport transfers, taxis, most meals, or optional activities.
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