Nobody does Tuscany better than we do.
That is a bold statement and we stand behind it. We have over 15 years of luxury, adventure travel in some of the world’s most beautiful places. Our niches it to show you what regular tourists don’t see. Have a peek at our Tuscany Retreat. Our next one is June 21-28, 2014.
What makes our Romantic adventure to Tuscany so special? All of the special details we include in your investment. No one offers as much value and richness as we do. Our history of living in Italy certainly helps. We know your time is valuable and you deserve the best!
*7 nights/8 days of accommodation
*Delicious Tuscan daily breakfast, lunch, dinner and all snacks and drinks for each day’s activities
*Aperitivo in Siena
*Social hours on select evenings
*Latin Dance Class led by Gail Hudson and Hal Abbott
*Tuscan Cooking Class
*Mini-Italian language & culture class with Jacob Young
*Pickup and Return Shuttle from Florence (value $150 per person)
*All private transportation during the trip
*Visits with transportation included to: Florence, Monteriggioni, Siena, Radda in Chianti, Castellina in Chianti, Volterra, Tignano, Petriolo Natural Hot Springs & Spa, The Mediterranean, Casole d’Elsa, Colle Val d’Elsa
*11 Yoga classes with Silvia Mordini
*Restorative Yoga
*Guided Meditation Practice
*Partner Yoga
*Writing and wellness coaching
*Private evening Dharma talks
*Entrance fees to all group events
*A special goodie bag with trip-specific comfort items
*Comprehensive trip literature
Why not purchase the most romantic gift of a Tuscany Yoga Retreat, just for couples? Give the gift now and have it be something to look forward to all the way until we pick you up in Florence June 21st! From there get ready for a romantic Tuscan adventure until June 28th.
Right now save $300 until Valentines Day, our gift to the two of you.
Join our 8 day Italy Couples Retreat led by Happiness Coach & VInyasa Flow Teacher Silvia Mordini, International Travel Guide Jacob Young along with Guest Facilitators Seattle Author and Life Coach Gail Hudson and Psychotherapist Hal Abbott who has been 
practicing marriage and family counseling in Seattle for over twenty years.
This week is all about recharging your courtship! We will be guests at Antico Borgo di Tignano, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Peacefully nestled into the hills with epic views of Casole d’Elsa and Volterra in the distance, this is the perfect entryway into the Tuscan countryside. We will travel to many famous Art Cities, including: Florence, Monteriggioni, Siena, Radda in Chianti, San Gimignano, Castellina in Chianti, Tignano, Petriolo Natural Hot Springs & Spa, The Mediterranean, Casole d’Elsa, and Colle Val d’Elsa.We wholeheartedly believe this holiday will be something you and your partner will never forget—and practicing yoga along with other exciting activities will only enhance your amorous potential! Be assured all levels of yoga are welcome, no experience is necessary.
The pace is relaxed; participation in any event is not mandatory and there will be plenty of time offered to explore on your own. You will certainly have time to re-learn the art of relaxation or as the Italians say “Il Bel Fai Niente”, set mindful goals, and renew your entire sense of well-being individually and together. For more information call 872-228-9642 (2AT-YOGA)
SPECIAL ROMANTIC TUSCAN ADVENTURES
Day 1: Arrivals Florence, Deplane Yoga, Afternoon Hike, Welcome dinner
Day 2: Monteriggioni in the morning, Siena in the afternoon
Day 3: Radda in Chianti Wine Tasting and private walking tour
Day 4: Visit Volterra afternoon walking tour
Day 5: San Gimignano Gelato tasting
Day 6: Morning drive to the Mediterranean relax on the beach, afternoon lunch and visit to Petriolo Natural Hot Springs, Tuscan Cooking Class evening dinner party
Day 7: Explore Casole d’elsa, sensual tasting for couples (cheese, wine, olive oil, balsamic). Hands-on Bruschetta Class
Day 8: Final Yoga, Brunch and Departures
RESERVATIONS:
$500 deposit to hold your spot.
Book now at http://www.alchemytours.com Please email hello@alchemytours.com or call 872-228-9642 (2AT-YOGA)RESERVATIONS:
INVESTMENT: $2500 and $300 OFF register by Valentine’s Day Feb 14, 2014!
INCLUDED IN THE TRIP PRICE:
*7 nights/8 days of accommodation
*Delicious Tuscan daily breakfast, lunch, dinner and all snacks and drinks for each day’s activities
*Aperitivo in Siena
*Social hours on select evenings
*Latin Dance Class led by Gail Hudson and Hal Abbott
*Tuscan Cooking Class
*Mini-Italian language & culture class with Jacob Young
*Pickup and Return Shuttle from Florence (value $150 per person)
*All private transportation during the trip
*Visits with transportation included to: Florence, Monteriggioni, Siena, Radda in Chianti, Castellina in Chianti, Volterra, Tignano, Petriolo Natural Hot Springs & Spa, The Mediterranean, Casole d’Elsa, Colle Val d’Elsa
*11 Yoga classes with Silvia Mordini
*Restorative Yoga
*Guided Meditation Practice
*Partner Yoga
*Writing and wellness coaching
*Private evening Dharma talks
*Entrance fees to all group events
*A special goodie bag with trip-specific comfort items
*Comprehensive trip literature
NOT INCLUDED IN TRIP PRICE:
Airfare to and from the trip and gratuities for your guides.
WHERE WE WILL STAY
We will be guests at Antico Borgo di Tignano–a classic Tuscan farmhouse which our friend, Gabriella has converted into a stylish yoga retreat center. Gabriella guided a team of architects and licensed contractors to renovate this medieval village and now you get to see the completion of her vision. With epic views of Casole d’Elsa and Volterra in the distance, this is the perfect entryway into the Tuscan countryside.
The actual Borgo was a 16th century rural residence. Its original name, Borgo di Tignano, has Roman origins. It is the probable birth-place, in the 4th century, of Saint Attinia, a venerated saint from the Volterra area. Amongst its illustrious guests in the 1800’s, during the time the Borgo was a summer retreat from the ‘Scolopi‘ fathers, was Pope Pius the ninth. This Borgo is overall a place to enjoy with your heart, surrounded by a soft landscape and a peculiar light which often brings back forgotten emotions.
In the local tradition, one says that the Berignone Forest, which faces the Borgo, is what inspired Dante Alighieri to write about the “Selva Oscura”–the location in which his Divine Comedy story starts.
The gardens of the Borgo, with lavendar-lined paths combine with aromatic herbs, juniper hedges, myrtle and evergreens to reproduce a Mediterranean environment. The characteristic ‘Osteria’, which used to be the old olive press, is the ideal place for a romantic candlelight dinner overlooking the amazing countryside, or a light lunch on the panoramic terrace.
A beautiful, large swimming pool and lounge area welcome you to get the most out of the sun. There is a reading room that also has a wireless internet point. There is a golf course within 30 minutes drive from the Borgo.
MEALS
Gabriella is not only a great architect, but she is also an amazing chef. She takes joy in delighting your palate with her favorite, local dishes–which is the best way to discover the authentic, Tuscan cuisine.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Accommodation is in one bedroom apartments with private baths and kitchens. All the apartments are independent, personalized and fully furnished, with ample garden and terrace areas for leisure.
We asked our Tuscany guests three questions:
1. What aspect of your life transformed the most (physically, mentally, emotionally)?
2. Why do you think a yoga retreat can inspire you?
3. How did your Yoga Retreat help you make positive changes in your life?
We are really humbled by the overwhelming response some of which we are sharing here. If you are considering going on an Italy Yoga Retreat, read this first and think about whether any of this resonates with where you are at in your life right now? We are dedicated to helping serve your journey to make that quantum leap to a happier, more focused life…a life of purpose, a life INSPIRED. Love yourself, love your day, love your life! Silvia
Yogi 1:
Going on retreat allows you to open your eyes to who you are other than what you do. Diving into the unknown, surrounded by and dependent on the kindness of strangers, means you have nothing to fall back on but who you are when you come to your mat. You can’t rest on your business card, your resume, your social circle, your partner, your history. And you aren’t framed by those facets either: meeting people and a place without the structure of 
pre-conceptions means that you come exactly as your own self. You may not know your own self particularly well; you may be unsure of who he or she is. But on retreat, that’s all you start with, what you build upon. Connections come from the space in between what we do and who we are on paper; retreat gives us time to explore and relish in those sometimes far too small spaces from where each breath arises.
Yogi 2: I went on a yoga retreat with Alchemy Tours in October of 2011. I was in a place where I was feeling like I needed to do something for myself to reconnect and gain clarity on my life. Do all this while practicing yoga and cycling in the hills of Tuscany? Sign me up! I didn’t know quite what I was searching for, but called it my “Eat, Pray, Love” trip. On the retreat I found myself laughing and feeling happier than I had in months; while also gaining the confidence through self reflection that I truly am in charge of how I want my life to unfold. Since returning, I have been making small changes that are the building blocks to creating a more satisfying/fulfilling professional and personal life. And most of all, I can’t wait to go on another retreat.
Yogi 3: How did your Yoga Retreat help you make positive changes in your life? I went to Tuscany by myself to explore everything that the Yoga Retreat through Alchemy Tours could and would offer. I discovered that I could travel alone, make great friends of all ages and backgrounds and could be my complete self. Silvia & Jake are more than friends, they are my inspirations to follow a life I love and make no excuses.
What aspect of your life transformed the most (physically, mentally, emotionally)? For me, the biggest changes were mentally. Waking up early to attend a morning yoga class, taking walks and choosing to participate in activities that were offered were all choices I made based on what I wanted to do. Doing yoga with Silvia is more like a life walk. She takes you through the beginning, building up your confidence, letting you shine in the peak poses and lets you feel okay with relaxing at the end.
Yogi 4: How did your Yoga Retreat help you make positive changes in your life? Before the yoga retreat, I was looking to reconnect with my wife and myself. The retreat helped in so many different ways with just those things, as well as opening up some amazing new friendships. I felt like a totally new person afterwards.
What aspect of your life transformed the most (physically, mentally, emotionally)? Before the trip, I was a bit run down from work life. While attending the retreat and afterwards, I became so much more aware of what I needed in order to deal with the mental and emotional stresses of work and gained a new level of respect for what laughter can do to enlighten my life and the lives of others.
Why do you think a yoga retreat can inspire you? If you are looking for a truly different type of vacation, a yoga retreat can open your eyes to not only the physical beauty surrounding you, but can fully awaken the soul within all of us through the love and laughter shared by the group. Put yourself out there and go!
Yogi 5: One of the best choices I ever made was going to Tuscany with Silvia and Jake. Not only is this part of Italy gorgeous, I learned so much about myself… not to mention the amazing food and yoga everyday. I highly suggest you go. It will be a trip you never forget.
Yogi 6: Silvia has asked us to share our thoughts on the Tuscany retreat, and I am happy to share some of my experiences with you. There are a few aspects that I would like to touch upon, first, the tour guides – Silvia and Jake are wonderful. I’m not sure if you are totally new to both of these people, but I believe you will really enjoy them. Silvia has been an inspiration in my life for about 6 years now and I consider myself very lucky to have stumbled upon her studio back then. She is an insightful and loving teacher who has lifted me up more times that I could ever keep track of. I met Jake on the retreat and found him to be a very fun and enjoyable person. He is really down to earth and kind as well.
The farm house – we stayed at was awesome. It was very charming and beautiful. The atmosphere is so relaxing and comfortable. Tuscany, Sienna and surrounding areas – all of the day trips that we did were wonderful. There are so many intersting and amazingly beautiful places. The culture is so enjoyable as well. In addition to the retreat trips, I was able to add a few days on both in front of the retreat and on the end of the retreat to enjoy even more of Italy. Everything was amazing, so depending upon your tastes and desires you may wish to add on a few days if possible and see more as well. Lastly, but definitely not least, the yoga two times a day was a wonderful way to begin and end each day. If only I could manage to do that at home! Someday…
Yogi 7: I wanted to be sure to tell you I had an absolutely marvelous time. You and Jacob did an excellent job planning and executing a wonderful experience for us all. You are one of the best and most inspiring yoga teachers that I have met and practiced with, and I have done workshops and retreats with many very good ones, some quite ‘famous’! I regret that I can’t practice with you at your studio on a regular basis. You have such a gift for teaching and such of depth of knowledge and training, in both the physical and spiritual aspects of yoga. And you clearly embody all that you teach, I admire your sense of peace, calm, and thoughtfulness – you are beautiful inside and out – I want to bring more of these attributes into my life.
It was a wonderful group of people, and a big part of the fun. I just loved the country and the Italian people. I love these types of vacations, it reinforced my preference to limit all the museums and cathedrals, etc. – they are good in small doses, but I would much rather explore the culture of an area by doing the types of things we did. I definitely want to go on another trip with Silvia and Jacob. Thank you again for a wonderful experience and I look forward to future trips.
Yogi 8:
How did your Yoga Retreat help you make positive changes in your life?
I went into the retreat with intentions to re-connect with myself and my husband, which I definitely accomplished, and as a bonus I built many new connections and developed lasting friendships.
What aspect of your life transformed the most (physically, mentally, emotionally)?
Physically, mentally and emotionally I felt transformed. The physical components were great, as was the extremely healthy diet, and although I ate like I was on vacation, I came back feeling healthier and few pounds lighter from all of the yoga and cycling. Mentally, I was in a state of bliss from the amazing surroundings, stress free environment, and wonderful people I was able to share the experience with. Emotionally, I felt like I gained a greater understanding about what is really important and a greater sense of my life’s purpose.
Why do you think a yoga retreat can inspire you?
Exploring a new environment through yoga and seeing the “yoga” in everything was very inspiring, as was all the love, laughter, and living life!
Yogi 9: I hope you are considering the Alchemy Tours trip to Tuscany! I went July 2010 and it was truly amazing. I travel quite a bit, so I tend to have high expectations. I can honestly say this trip was beyond my expectations! I’m not sure how anyone couldn’t enjoy staying on a Tuscan farm, touring Tuscan cities, village and vineyards, wine testing, eating amazing food, shopping, biking, yoga and swimming in the Mediterranean!
If you’re looking for an authentic Tuscan experience, you really can’t beat staying at an organic family farm in the heart of Tuscany. The food was out of this world – fresh, delicious and abundant! I still have dreams about the gnocchi.
I had never been on a group tour before, so I was a little nervous going in. I only knew a couple people from yoga class, and I just recently met them, so it was a big decision for me to go basically on my own. Everyone on the tour was friendly, easy-going and interesting. I realized that you really can’t go wrong traveling with people who do yoga, even if you don’t know them going in. We had an absolute blast together! By the end of the trip, I considered everyone a good friend.
I also liked that I had the freedom to do (or not do) anything the group was doing. If you wanted to do yoga, great. If you wanted to sleep in or take a walk around the farm, no one made you feel bad about doing whatever you needed/wanted to do at the moment.
Jake and Silvia took care of everything too, so it was never stressful. They had everything meticulously planned, but they weren’t rigid about it. They were flexible, accommodating and made adjustments so everyone was able to get the most out of the trip. I felt that they truly cared about us, were tuned into what we needed and did everything they could to make it an experience of a lifetime for everyone.
Alchemy Tours 