+ What is an archaeo-culinary^SM tour?

It’s a cultural tour with a double focus on ancient remains and traditional Italian food. To the extent possible, we choose sites and artifacts that have some connection with cooking, eating, food production, or food supply in the ancient world. It also means that our curated meals are as much a part of the tour as the sites—not only for the food and conviviality but also as expressions of the local culture. Every tour includes some food-related activities, such as olive-oil or wine tastings or visits to producers.

+ What does a typical tour include?

Every tour consists of intellectually stimulating visits to archaeological sites and museums interspersed with top-quality local meals and food-related activities. Liz talks about each archaeological destination on-site, and Maureen introduces each meal. On some evenings, over wine and nibbles, we offer casual illustrated talks to dig deeper into topics of special interest. Occasionally a local guide or invited expert joins us.

+ I’ve already been to all the important sites. Can you still amaze me?

Yes! Many of our travelers have already seen the wonders of the ancient world and great capitals of the Mediterranean, though it doesn’t matter if they haven’t. We’re sure you’ll look at even familiar places a fresh way and discover much that is new and delightful (and delicious).

+ I’ve been everywhere in Italy. Don’t you go anywhere else?

Everywhere? Really? Have you been to Viterbo? Ascoli Piceno? Lecce? Amiternum? Peltuinum? Benevento? Morgantina? Trapani? Marsala? San Giovenale? Portus? Treviso? Alghero? Seriously, no, until we’ve exhausted Italy, we don’t intend to expand. Plus, we speak Italian and know Italy better than anywhere else, and we do all the planning ourselves, so that matters. We don’t use travel agents and tour operators.

+ I’m sociable enough, but I’m single. Will everyone else be paired off?

We certainly hope not. These small-group tours are perfect for solo travelers, sociable or shy. Couples and pairs of friends are encouraged to mingle, and we find they do. Nobody need ever feel lonely or left out.

+ What is included in the price?

The tour price includes seven (sometimes eight) nights bed and breakfast, at least one full-scale Italian meal with wine per day and others as indicated in the itinerary for each tour, transport and admission to all activities described in the itinerary, airport or train station transfers at the start and end of each tour, and tips. It does not include your travel to the starting point of the tour (and from the end point), your personal travel insurance (recommended), or your personal extras.

+ How small is your small group?

Usually 12 participants.

+ Are all Elifant tours both archaeo and culinary?

Yes. That’s who we are. We think every tour should offer both culture and good food. The exact mix varies.

+ Is this going to be over my head?

No—as long as you’re interested in archaeology. It’s true we start at a higher level than most tours, but that just means we skip the condescending baby talk and get right to the point. Everything you need to know will be explained, and if you have any questions, you can ask without apology and without judgment. No homework is required or needed. Liz is great at bringing the ancient world alive even for people who studied the stuff for years. And Maureen assumes the local food culture is new for everybody.

+ When I hear “archaeology,” I think rocks. What’s the comfort level?

Generally high. We aim for luxury without glitz and usually choose four-star boutique hotels, but sometimes can’t resist a five-star. In more remote destinations, some accommodations may tend toward three-star rustic, but never without a private bath, Wi-Fi, a great location, and plenty of charm. Group travel is by private small bus. Restaurants range from unreconstructed tradition to cutting-edge gourmet.

+ Can somebody pick me up at the airport?

Of course. Once you reach the tour’s gateway city, you’ll be met at your plane or train and whisked to the hotel or meeting place, and you’re entitled to your transfers even if you come early or stay later.

+ Do we have cooking lessons?

Most tours include one more or less intense encounter with a kitchen. Sometimes it’s a demo, sometimes hands-on. In general, we prefer to concentrate on food culture rather than skills. If you’d like a market-based cooking class in Rome, look at what Maureen does.

+ I’m not as spry as I once was ...

Who is? But we do walk quite a bit. Everyone will need a degree of stamina and a pair of sturdy walking shoes for the stretches of uneven terrain typical of archaeological sites. There may be several walks per day of at least half a mile at a time. Also, in Italy there will always be stairs of various levels of difficulty. Many able- bodied participants bring walking sticks or trekking poles. We can’t, however, accommodate wheelchairs or walkers. If you have any doubts about possible mobility issues, have your inner snail write or call so we can discuss your situation. Some itineraries are more strenuous than others.

+ Is all food included?

Breakfast in the hotel dining room and one full-dress meal with wine per day are always included, and often a second (smaller) meal as well as snacks served in the course of our food activities, and we often throw in an extra treat between meals. You probably won’t need more.

+ Is there a choice of food? I have issues.

Our meals usually have set menus, carefully planned well in advance in consultation with the chefs. We expect our participants to be curious and enthusiastic eaters without major restrictions. There’s a space on the booking form for you to tell us your needs and preferences, and you can always write or call to discuss them. If your problem is with certain foods, you can usually just skip them; there will be plenty of other things to eat. With sufficient warning, we can accommodate some issues, but not highly restrictive regimens.

And if you just aren’t that into food, you won’t enjoy these tours.

+ I eat like a bird.

A hummingbird eats 100 percent of its body weight per day. That kind of bird? Our menus, in contrast, usually consist of three or four moderate courses and nobody will make you clean your plate. Two such meals a day would be too much. One, possibly with something light in the evening, is just right. But a good appetite does help.

+ Are there additional or hidden costs?

No. You need to reach the gateway city on your own but then everything is included—meals, transport, admissions, tips. The only items not included are your personal extras, such as laundry, personal services (such as spa treatments), bar, snacks (should you have room for them!), and the like. Your travel to/from the gateway city is not included, and we ask participants to have their own medical and travel insurance. Plenty of wine is included with every scheduled meal.

+ How much euro cash will I need?

You can usually pay for most things, including taxis, by credit card, but some euro cash is handy for unscheduled stops at cafés and other small purchases. We suggest not walking around with more than about €100 at a time. Some people have been known to develop a serious gelato habit, and for that you will need cash. How much is between you and your conscience. And your secret will be safe with us.

+ Should I bring my iPad? my smartphone?

Yes. Just because we like old ruins and traditional food doesn’t mean we’re not wired. By all means bring tablets and smartphones. We can usually provide pdfs of the printed handouts, and the devices are great for sharing pictures during the tour. If your provider doesn’t offer a short-term mobile plan, Italian pay-as-you-go SIM cards are available at airports or major train stations and are good throughout the European Union. Or look into e-sims.

+ Does Elifant provide additional travel services?

Up to a point. While we are not a travel agency, as long as you don’t wait till the last minute, we will be happy to help you with extra nights at our start or end point as well as meals, local guides, and some general advice. For more complicated prequels and sequels, we’ll put you in touch with one or more of our trusted partners.

+ Why should I travel with a boutique company instead of an established giant?

So glad you asked! Mainly it’s that Elifant is anything but elephantine. We are nimble, flexible, and answerable only to our clients and our own very high standards. Tour participants have all the individual attention they need before, during, and after the tour—personally from the company principals.

+ Why don’t you name the hotels and restaurants on your tours?

We don’t publish the names on our website because we might change our minds and choose someplace else. But they’re not state secrets. If you need to know where we’re staying or eating before you sign up, give us a call and we’ll fill you in. Names and addresses of hotels and other important contacts are always distributed to participants before each tour.

+ Are your tours suitable for families with young children?

No. We aren’t able to make the special arrangements (meals, babysitters, etc.) they would need. Mature teen-agers are welcome as long as they can sit still for long meals and are willing to try new foods—but that applies to adults too.

+ Who takes your tours?

Mostly mature seasoned travelers from the United States, though we’ve had plenty of other nationalities too. (The tours are in English.) While some participants love high- end organized tours, for many others Elifant is their first experience of group travel.

+ How does the waiting list work?

If a tour is sold out and you would like to be notified of a cancellation, you must fill out a booking form—click the link on the tour page. If a space opens up, we’ll get in touch.

+ And what about early notice?

We schedule tours long before we are ready to take bookings. If you’d like to be among the first to hear when bookings open up, click on the email link on the tour page.