Here in the northern hemisphere, after a long hot summer, harvest time has arrived for our crops of home-grown tomatoes. Delicious as they are straight from the vine, another way to enjoy them, and preserve them a little longer, is to ferment them.
We have recently added to our website short videos of all our hiking tours. They give an insight into the terrain of the tour, and a look at the other group activities you will enjoy on the itinerary. They may help to whet your appetite for your next adventure!
Jackie’s most recent article for US online magazine Sixty & Me looks at the best ways of avoiding some of the tourist pitfalls in Italy. We’ve all fallen prey to being ripped off in restaurants, disappointed by long museum queues or frustrated when tracking down a favourite shop only to find it closed.
Julia Champion de Crespigny completed her fifth tour with Hedonistic Hiking this year. We are always impressed by Julia’s strength and stamina on the trails, so we asked her how she keeps fit for every step of the holiday.
Winemaking in Basilicata is shaped by steep mountain slopes, volcanic soils and a long agricultural tradition. The area is at the foot of the Italian boot, with a coastline on two sides and some rugged mountains at its heart. The region is especially known for robust red wines made from the Aglianico grape, but small amounts of white and rosé wines are also produced.
Kombucha is a fermented tea drink which people often take to support gut health. Believed to have originated in China, it is made by combining sweetened tea with a culture of bacteria and yeast. It has a distinctive slightly tangy, and almost fizzy taste. We show you here how to make your own Kombucha at home!
Wine-growing in the southern region of Campania has a history stretching back more than two millennia, earning it a reputation as one of Italy’s oldest and most distinctive wine-producing areas. Benefitting from a Mediterranean climate, varied elevations and volcanic soils, Campania produces red and white wines with notable freshness, minerality and complexity.
In May 2026, Italy and the rest of the world mourned the passing of an inspirational icon. Carlo Petrini, an Italian writer and food activist, was the founder of the global Slow Food movement. His achievements earned him international recognition as one of the leading voices in the movement for sustainable and responsible food systems. He was a truly visionary character.
Wine growing and production in Lazio are deeply rooted in history, dating back to the time of the Etruscans. Today, Lazio’s vineyards stretch across volcanic hills and coastal plains, benefitting from mineral-rich soils and a Mediterranean climate. The terroir supports both white and red grape varieties but the region is perhaps best-known for fresh, aromatic white wines.
In Jackie’s most recent article for US online magazine Sixty & Me, she takes a look at alternatives to visiting Italy’s crowded hot spots. Over-tourism is increasingly becoming a global problem but there are many ways to enjoy Italy and skip the crowds.
If you’re in training for a Hedonistic Hike this year, you might be looking for the perfect trail bar to sustain you during your practice hikes. These delicious and nutritious bites will give you just the burst of energy you need!
We have asked James MacNay, a great friend of Hedonistic Hiking and a qualified Italian Wine Ambassador, to decode some of the information found on an Italian wine label. His article is a great read and full of interesting details. Why not pull the cork on a favourite bottle, settle in and quench your thirst for knowledge!
Caring for your hiking boots is essential if you want them to last a long time, stay comfortable and perform well on the trail. After wet and muddy hikes they should be cleaned thoroughly and dried in the right way. Applying waterproofing treatments and storing your boots correctly will also ensure they have a long life.
You can now walk all the way around the coast of England on what is the longest managed coastal walking route in the world. The King Charles lll path stretches almost 2,700 miles and you can now start anywhere on the English coast, turn left or right, and walk as far as you would like to go. The path was officially opened by King Charles on 19th March 2026.
Wine production in Abruzzo is shaped by a striking landscape of Adriatic coastline and Apennine mountains. This creates warm days, cool nights and diverse soils ideal for viticulture. The region is best known for Montepulciano, a deeply coloured red grape, and for a growing range of indigenous white varieties such as Trebbiano d’Abruzzo, Pecorino and Passerina.
In Jackie’s most recent article for US online magazine Sixty & Me, she takes a look at how a walking holiday can bring history to life. Crossing the Italian landscape on foot brings you up close and personal with centuries old castles and monasteries, through medieval villages and across well-trodden trading routes and pilgrim trails.
L’Aquila may be a city of medieval streets and Renaissance fountains, but its beauty lies precisely in the fact that this is not the Italy of postcards. Although only 120kms from Rome, L’Aquila has remained happily absent from Italy’s tourist map. But in 2026 it is the designated Capital of Culture, so make sure L’Aquila is on your radar this year!
Umbria, often called the “green heart of Italy,” is a landlocked region whose wine identity is shaped by rolling hills, ancient towns and a strong tradition of farming. Though smaller and less internationally famous than its neighbour Tuscany, Umbria produces distinctive wines that combine authenticity with increasing quality.
Our great friend and Hedonistic Hiking tour manager Marta Bonaventura has been teaching on-line Italian classes for over four years. Her classes can be tailored to suit any level, from absolute beginner to those with more confidence. Marta makes the classes fun, relaxed and friendly. All you need is a computer and the enthusiasm to learn!
We work on our fitness all year round in preparation for our seasons of hiking and we cannot overstate to our guests how important it is to start getting fit well before the tours start. There are 3 things to think about: Strength-Cardio-Balance. Even for a Level 2 or...