Tuscany Retreat May 25 – June 1.
Amalfi Retreat Sept. 21 – Sept. 28.
We’re Anita & Dario of
O’Live Your Life.
If you’ve spent any time on our website or Youtube channel, or you follow us anywhere on social media, you know we believe that healthy food and a slower-paced, more intentional daily routine are all part of the Mediterranean Lifestyle. Maybe you’ve experienced one of our challenges or you’re a part of our International Dinner Club and have already started incorporating our training and tools for living a more inspired, healthy, happy life.
We’ve incorporated that passion and understanding into our own tours, making them completely unique and truly one-of-a-kind. When you travel with us, you’ll be as immersed in the local culture as we can get you. We truly believe that the most meaningful travel experience allows you to live as a local for a short time. When you do that, you can allow the culture to take hold of you, and that changes you on a very deep and personal level. It’s a rare type of travel that most people never have the privilege of experiencing.
Here’s how we accomplish this:
No more than 20 participants.
Our retreats are conducted in intimate groups of no more than 20 participants. You’ll get to know us and each other on a very deep level and the connections you’ll make during our retreats often last a lifetime.
Unique Experience
We cultivate off-the-beaten-path, unique experiences designed to challenge and inspire you in ways ordinary “tourist activities” can’t
We partner with locals.
Who are we?
Internationally renowned, multi-lingual, Italian-born and raised Chef Dario Tomaselli is an entrepreneur, restaurateur, professor for Chef Post Diploma International Program Italian Cuisine, and TV personality. North American born and raised Rich Life Strategy Guru Anita Heidema is an entrepreneur, best-selling author, health advocate, podcast host, and TV personality with extensive travel industry experience. Together, we will guide you on a one-in-a-lifetime tour of Amalfi.
Imagine having your own personal tour guides creating a well planned and researched tour while having such intimate knowledge of the country, region, food, and wine that it allows us to also create spontaneous, spur-of-the-moment experiences usually reserved for locals.
Not only will you see and taste our Italy, but you’ll also come to intimately understand, over the course of the 7 days, exactly what we mean by “living a Mediterranean lifestyle” as you connect with us, with locals, and with the others on the tour. You’ll not only learn to cook and eat the delicious food of the region, you’ll also truly live the Tuscan culture in a way that may just transform you in ways you can’t even imagine.
This Tuscany retreat is truly a personal,
“insider” 7-Day Culinary Retreat.
Included with your Tuscany retreat
7 Breakfasts
5 Lunches
7 Dinners
7-night Accommodations. You’ll stay in a private room with a private bathroom and your own kitchens in each villa. (Double occupancy)
Imagine Your Dream Italian Vacation….
If you’ve always wanted to experience Italy, not as an average tourist but as a local with special privileges, you’ll want to plan to join us for this unique and life-changing experience.
Clients Say…
OUR TUSCAN ITINERARY
* Details are approximate and subject to change
Thursday, May 25 – Arrive - Welcome to Italy!
- Transfer from Rome International Airport FCO
- Start your tour with our first winery tour and tasting
- Downtime to settle into our beautiful Tuscan Villa & unpack
- Group Welcome Dinner – Come meet us and your other travel companions and enjoy our first delicious meal together with wine pairing.
Day 1 – Friday, May 26
- Olive Oil Tour – Olive oil is a staple of Italian cooking (and life) and today you’ll learn all about how it’s made and how the Italians use it as we take an
- Return to the Villa and take the afternoon relax by the pool or rest from your travel day yesterday
- Dinner – Ready to prepare your first Tuscan meal? Join us in the world-class Villa kitchen as we learn and cook our dinner together
Day 2 – Saturday, May 27
- Siena – Today we’ll travel together to Siena and give you the day to explore one of Italy’s loveliest medieval cities
- Dinner at the Villa – We’ll return to the Villa and come together over a delicious dinner prepared for you by incredible local chefs and share the details of our day’s adventures
Day 3 – Sunday, May 28
- Time to Relax by the Pool and take in the sites
- Dinner Cooking Class – We’ll come together for our second cooking class of the tour and enjoy the fruits of our labor as we dine together
- Locals Party in the Tuscan Hills – This is truly one of the highlights of this tour. You’ll join us and our local friends for a family-style BBQ, with local people, food, wine, and entertainment. This evening truly embodies the “family” feel of this tour and you’ll be moved and inspired by the connections you’ll make
Day 4 – Monday, May 29
- Florence – Today we’ll travel to Florence, the “Cradle of the Renaissance” and you’ll have the day to explore the many museums and sights in this incredible city
- Dinner – Ready to learn to make pasta? Tonight’s cooking class will teach you everything you need to know and our delicious dinner will remind you of why Italy is famous for its pasta
Day 5 – Tuesday, May 30
- Parma Parmigiano Reggiano Tour – Go behind the scenes to find out how one of Italy’s most famous cheeses is made
- Modena – After the tour, we’ll head to Modena and spend some time with a Michelin Chef, learn about balsamic vinegar, and we’ll cap off the day with a pizza making class and dinner of one of the world’s most popular foods (but trust us, you’ve never had pizza this good before)!
Day 6 – Wednesday, May 31
- Monte San Savino – Today we’ll head to the hills as we visit this quaint village rich in medieval and Renaissance history
- Dinner – Tonight we’ll dine at the exquisite Gargonza Castle. Chianti valley, is the best place to admire enchanting Tuscan sunsets
Day 7 – Thursday, June 1
- Cooking Class – As our time together comes to an end, we’ll come together for one more cooking class where we’ll prepare a traditional breakfast together. This will be our final meal together
- Return To Rome transfer
Ready to go to Tuscany?
Now accepting applications for
Tuscany 2024
Tour Cost
$5500 USD p/p
Deposit Required to Hold Your Accommodations
$1040.00 USD p/p
Tour Group of 20 Only
Additional Expenses
- Airfare to Rome ROM
- 2 Lunches
- Personal Expenses
- Cancellation and Medical Insurance (must-have proof of)
This Amalfi retreat is truly a personal,
“insider” 7-Day Culinary Retreat.
Included with your Tuscany retreat
7 Breakfasts
5 Lunches
7 Dinners
Wine & drinks (exception: personal spirits)
Transportation to and from Naples
2 Workshops RLM (one upon arrival & one prior to departure)
2 Morning Rich Life Mediterranean Stretch & Relax RLM
Butler Service in your Villa
Chef Service at Villa
Transportation to excurstions
OUR AMALFI ITINERARY
* Details are approximate and subject to change
Thursday, Sept 21 – Arrive - Welcome to Italy!
- Arrival & Pick Up in Naples
- Relaxation time by the pool
- RLM Relax Workshop (sign up ahead)
- Welcome to Amalfi Dinner
Day 1 – Friday, Sept 22
- Amalfi Breakfast
- RML Rejuvenate stretch
- Visit to the town of Amalfi
Day 2 – Saturday, Sept 23
- Breakfast
- Private boat to Capri (Open Lunch)
- Dinner at Villa
Day 3 – Sunday, Sept 24
- Breakfast
- Cooking class with Michelin Chef at lunch
- Dinner at Villa
Day 4 – Monday, Sept 25
- Breakfast
- Trip to Pompeii
- Sorrento (Open Lunch)
- Dinner at Villa
Day 5 – Tuesday, Sept 26
- Breakfast
- Lunch with Chef Franco Pepe – Pizza class and Buffalo Mozzarella
- Dinner at Villa
Day 6 – Wednesday, Sept 27
- Breakfast
- Relaxation day at the Villa by the pool being catered to
- RLM Workshop (Sign up ahead)
- Lunch at the Villa
- Dinner at the Villa
Day 7 – Thursday, Sept 28
- Breakfast
- Transportation back to Naples
Ready to go to Tuscany?
Now accepting applications for
Amalfi 2024
Tour Cost
$7000 USD p/p
Deposit Required to Hold Your Accommodations
$1040.00 USD p/p
Tour Group of 20 Only
(12 person minimum)
Additional Expenses
- Airfare to Naples
- 2 Lunches
- Personal Expenses
- Cancellation and Medical Insurance (must-have proof of)
Frequently asked questions
Q: What makes this travel experience different from other Italian tours?
A: The tours are with trained and experienced tour guides Dario & Anita, who know the country and people, thus providing a totally unique experience.
Q: Will I have free time to explore on my own?
A: Yes you have 2 afternoons in Florence and Siena, plus pool time to relax.
Q: What if I want a more bespoke experience? Is that possible?
A: All of our tours are bespoke for each small group, but if you’re looking for something more individual in particular, we’re always happy to add to the beginning or end of the trip
Q: I have questions that aren’t answered here. How do I get those answered?
*All prices and itineraries are per person, based on double occupancy, in USD dollars unless otherwise indicated and are subject to change without prior notice until final payment is paid. All prices apply to new bookings only, based on availability at the time of booking. This tour requires a minimum of 14 participants to operate. In the event of an increase in any of the cost factors, Passion Is Cooking reserves the right to increase the price whereby the provisions of the Travel Industry Act shall prevail.
Packages are 100% non-refundable and accommodations transferable to a future date if Passion Is Cooking creates. Travel Group strongly recommends the purchase of cancellation and emergency travel and medical insurance including COVID-19.
Please note: Participants must be able to embark and disembark coaches without assistance as well as have a good level of mobility for walking tours in destinations where stairs and traditional cobblestone streets can be challenging.
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