The Italian Alps with Chef Taylor Mason

Aosta & Courmayeur

+ optional post-tour extension to Torino October 13-16

SOLD OUT

October 5-13, 2027

Starting at: $5650/person*

*Early Bird Pricing through 4/30/26!

Introducing the newest in our chef-led tour series with James Beard-nominated Chef Taylor Mason! This new tour will take you through the stunning Valle d'Aosta region, where urban sophistication meets Alpine charm.

Aosta will give you a taste of hearty mountain cuisine, artisanal cheeses, and exceptional wines in the stunning backdrop of the Italian Alps, followed by the slice of paradise that is the ski and spa town of Courmayeur. This small-group experience offers an unforgettable blend of cosmopolitan flair and rustic culinary traditions.

As with all of our chef-led tours, you’ll travel alongside Chef Taylor to experience the amazing culinary specialities of these regions, visiting various food artisans, wineries, producers, and of course - enjoying some delicious meals together!

Keep scrolling for Trip Highlights and more important details! Contact us with any questions.

About Chef Taylor Mason

Chef Taylor is the chef and owner of Lancaster, PA restaurants, LUCA and Pizzeria LUCA. LUCA focuses on the traditions of Italy while being rooted in the heritage of Lancaster, as a farm-driven kitchen with locally sourced vegetables and meats, as well as handmade pasta. They are committed to acquiring fresh local ingredients and establishing relationships with farmers and artisans.

Join us and see for yourself why Chef Taylor was named as a semifinalists for the James Beard Foundation’s Best Chefs in America Award in 2020!

Itinerary

AOSTA (4 nights) – A charming Northern Italy town with dramatic mountain scenery, cozy alpine culture, and remarkably preserved Roman ruins woven right into everyday town life;

COURMAYEUR (3 nights) – a chic alpine resort town blending world-class mountain views and outdoor adventure with stylish cafés, cozy chalets, and classic Italian après-ski charm;

MILAN (1 nights) – we will finish the trip with a night outside Milan to enjoy a finale dinner before departure the next day.

Optional Extension:

Torino (3 nights)

Extend your journey with a sophisticated escape to Torino, Italy’s elegant northern capital in the Piemonte region, where grand boulevards, baroque cafés, and royal Savoy palaces set the stage for indulgent truffle tastings, vibrant aperitivo culture, and a rich culinary heritage that blends French finesse with Italian soul.

Tour Highlights

Take a gondola ride with stunning, high-altitude panoramic views of Mont Blanc, right on the border of France.

Explore a former WWII bunker dug into the mountainside, now used to age the famous wheels of Fontina cheese!

Take advantage of the luxurious alpine wellness experiences so popular in Courmayeur.

Enjoy tastings of the unique wines of this region while visiting producers and touring cellars and vineyards.

Enjoy the unique opportunity to travel alongside a professional chef and take advantage of his culinary knowledge and love of Italian cuisine.

Pricing and other details

EARLY BIRD PRICING through 4/30/26 - Best Price Guaranteed:

Deposit of $2500/person is due upon booking to reserve your spot, along with a signed & completed registration form. Booking is not considered confirmed until deposit has been received.

Final payment is due 60 days prior to departure, or installments can be made at any time up until that due date.

Extend your experience with 3 additional nights (October 13-16) in Torino in the nearby Piemonte region.

  • Double Occupancy: $2500/person
  • Single Supplement: $400

Pricing includes:

- Eight nights of hotel accommodations (4 nights in Aosta, 3 nights in Courmayeur, 1 night outside Milan)

- All planned excursions & classes, including visits to artisanal producers and a hands-on cooking class.

- Meals included: daily breakfasts at our accommodations and most lunches & dinners. We curate each menu to focus on traditional regional specialties, accompanied by local wines.

- Experienced tour leaders and local guides

- Private motorcoach transportation throughout the tour

- Airport transfers on specified arrival/departure days/times. We include one group transfer for your arrival and departure at specified times. Any additional transfer will be at your own cost.

- Pre-tour virtual meetings and planning materials.

Not included:
- Airfare

Travel Insurance

- Gratuity for driver and Curata Travel tour leaders, at your discretion

- Any spending during free time, personal purchases, extraneous hotel charges (minibar, laundry service, etc.) and any alcoholic beverages not included with meals.

Each member of the tour will be responsible for booking their own international flights. Flights are not included in the tour cost. One group transfer will be provided based on the times below. Any additional private transfers would be at your own cost.

You will be picked up at the Milan Malpensa (MXP) airport on October 5 at 1:00p.m., then dropped off at the Milan Malpensa airport on October 13 by 9:00a.m. *for those doing the Torino extension, you will be dropped at the MXP airport on October 16 by 9:30a.m.

We strongly recommend waiting to book non-refundable flights until your tour has been officially confirmed (at least 90 days prior to departure). While tour cancellations are uncommon, they can happen if minimum enrollment isn’t met.

If you prefer to book flights earlier, we recommend choosing refundable tickets or travel insurance that covers trip cancellation.

To ensure a high-quality, fully supported experience for all participants, our tours require a minimum number of confirmed guests before departure. Most of our tours operate with ~20 travelers; however, we must confirm a minimum of 12 guests before a tour is guaranteed to depart.

We typically make a final decision 90 days before departure. If the minimum number is not met by that date, we will notify all registrants and offer options including:

✔ transferring to a future departure date
✔ applying deposit toward another tour
✔ a full refund

Important: We strongly recommend that you do not purchase non-refundable flights until your tour departure is confirmed.

Our tours are designed for curious, engaged travelers who enjoy being out and about each day. While we don’t run “athletic” trips, our itineraries are active and require a good level of everyday mobility and stamina.

Most days include extended sightseeing, walking through historic centers, standing during guided visits, and getting on and off our touring vehicle multiple times.

You’ll likely enjoy this tour if the statements below feel comfortable and realistic for you:

✅ I can stand for up to an hour at a time

Guided visits at museums, historic sites, wineries, markets, and food producers often involve periods of standing. Seating is not always available.

✅ I can comfortably walk several miles over the course of a day

Daily sightseeing can add up to 8,000–12,000 steps. Walks are typically broken up throughout the day, but may include:

  • Uneven cobblestones
  • Hills or gradual inclines
  • Rural paths at farms, vineyards, or countryside estates

You don’t need to be fast — but you should feel comfortable walking at a relaxed, steady pace with the group.

✅ I can get on and off a motorcoach without assistance

Our tours use comfortable touring vehicles, but they do require stepping up and down multiple times per day. Step heights vary by vehicle and location, and lifts are not available.

✅ I can manage stairs

Many historic buildings, small hotels, wineries, and family-run establishments do not have elevators, or may have only a few steps here and there. Even in hotels with elevators, some areas may still require stairs.

✅ I can handle my own luggage when needed

While assistance is often available, porterage is not guaranteed at every property. Guests should be able to:

  • Roll or carry luggage short distances

We strongly recommend packing light and using manageable luggage.

✅ I have the stamina for a full, multi-day itinerary

Our tours are immersive and full of experiences from morning into the evening. Travel days, hotel changes, and full sightseeing schedules can be tiring — in a good way! Guests should feel comfortable keeping up with a busy but rewarding pace.

A few items of note for some of the destinations and the trip as a whole to help set expectations and better prepare you for the trip. Some of the expectations are outlined in our Traveler Guidebook and the Terms & Conditions form that you will use to register (see specifically the Traveler Code and Traveler Expectations sections), but to reiterate some as they specifically relate to the Due Coste itinerary.

Cusine - As hopefully most of you know, our tours focus heavily on the culinary specialities of each region and town we visit.  So when we arrange a lunch/dinner or culinary experience, we are working with those restaurants to plan menus in advance that highlight the seasonal produce, dishes that reflect the region we’re in. We will be collecting some of this information at a later date from you, but if there are food allergies we need to be aware of, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate them. If there are entire categories of food that you just don’t eat (and are not willing to try), this might not be the tour for you! 

Terrain: As you'll find throughout Italy, walkways are often made up of cobblestones and limestone paving.

Good walking shoes, being sure on your feet, and staying alert are all key to getting around! You should be able/comfortable walking at least 20 minutes at a time.

Excursions: With all of our excursions, you are not forced to participate if something like this is not your ’thing.’ You always have the option to stay behind and enjoy some free time on your own (please note, as mentioned in the Terms & Conditions, there is no compensation or refund for any portion of the tour or excursion you do not participate in). 

Gallery

Enjoy some highlights of our Italian Alps tour!