top of page

SERVICES

Sweet Dog
Small Terrier
Dog Kennel.jpg
Dog Eating Dog Food
Eagle Flying

Travel with celebrity dog trainer and behavior expert Michael Wombacher!

Don't miss this incredible opportunity
September 17 - 24, 2021

Michael Wombacher travel with alivePets.com
Immagine 2021-02-19 113844.png

About Michael

Michael Wombacher has been involved with dogs for more than twenty five years. He has performed more than 30,000 in-home behavioral consultations covering the entire spectrum of dog behavior from the mundane to the bizarre.

​

He is also an author and lecturer. Mike teaches classes, runs a small boarding and training operation, and has occasionally trained other trainers. Mike’s training approach focuses on channeling a dog’s natural drives and instincts into behaviors acceptable in the human pack, primarily through the principles of positive reinforcement as well as through methods that appeal to the dog’s canine sensibilities.

​

Finally, Mike has trained dogs for high profile celebrities in the entertainment and financial worlds including Charles Schwab, Robin Williams, Barry Levinson, Joe Satriani, Bob Weir, Linda Ronstadt, Kirk Hammet (Metallica) and Michael Tilson Thomas who commented the following:

​

"Michael Wombacher is a maestro of dog trainers. His clarity of thinking, sense of humor and skills in communicating make dog training fun for both pet and pet lover."
www.doggonegood.org

​

TUSCANY & LAZIO

September 17 - 24, 2021

8 days - 7 nights 
Double Room $3,899 per person

Double Single Use $4,560 per person

CHAT WITH US

Day 1: Welcome to Italy!

Rome airport - Orvieto - Monteriggioni

Try the local Umbrian cuisine!

Overnight in Resort Borgo San Luigi (Monteriggioni)

Follow your guide through the charming town of Orvieto 

Arrival in Rome Fiumicino airport, meet your alivePets.com tour escort by 12 PM (Rome time)  and transfer by deluxe mini bus to the resort in Monteriggioni (Tuscany).

Upon arrival you will receive your portable dog kennel where your little one will be staying while travelling on the bus near you.
Water will be provided on the bus. A dog lunch box will be also provided.

Along the way we will stop in the charming town of Orvieto (Umbria) for lunch and a brief private guided tour of the magnificent city center.

​

  • Dog break! / Dog gourmet lunch!

Once in the city center, our little ones will be able to stretch their legs by walking to our restaurant. A brief stop to serve a gourmet lunch for your dogs prepared by a professional pet chef, before reaching the restaurant.

We will relax for lunch in a typical "trattoria" restaurant where you will discover some dishes, typical of this region. Umbrian cuisine is very rustic, often called “cucina povera”, or peasant cooking, which simply means it is built on traditional dishes created with minimal ingredients and preparation methods that rely heavily on local products such as grains, vegetables, fresh herbs, and of course olive oil, Umbria's liquid gold.

​

After lunch we will meet our private English speaking licensed guide and enjoy a walking tour of the historical center.
The Umbrian hill town of Orvieto, set on a natural pedestal, lives up to its elevated position: it is unspoiled, uncrowded and home to some of the most beautiful buildings in Italy.

Built over several generations, the Duomo is one of the seven wonders of Italy; and the dense, organic, medieval fabric of the town dictates the human scale of today's "centro storico", with its cafés and restaurants, its bookshops, artisans' workshops and antique emporia, its lack of traffic and general air of cultured, calm well-being.
Orvieto is a city with over 3000 years of history that never ceases to be discovered because its subsoil conceals another city half buried underground. A set of caves, wells, and tunnels that are open inside the tufa walls. Some underground places are still used as private cellars, others offer an unmissable attraction to visitors. From the depths of Saint Patrick’s Well to the complex of Pozzo della Cava, the suggestive Adriano’s Labyrinth, the underground of Santa Andrea’s Church and the original caves of the Orvieto Underground.

Following the city tour we will board the bus and travel to Tuscany where we will reach our final destination, the resort Borgo San Luigi located in the countryside of the charming town of Monteriggioni.

​

  • Dog break! / Dog gourmet dinner!

Once at the resort, in the late afternoon, you will have time to relax till dinner.
Dinner will be served in the garden under the pergola by the pool or inside.

For our dogs, the box gourmet dinner especially prepared by a professional pet chef, will be available in your room.

​

Included services of today:​

  • Transportation with deluxe minibus

  • Lunch in Orvieto - 3 course meal with wine

  • Gourmet dog lunch

  • Private English speaking guide in Orvieto - 2.5 hrs

  • Accommodation at the Borgo San Luigi resort

  • Dinner at the resort - 3 course meal with wine

  • Gourmet dog dinner

Day 2: Explore Tuscany

Val d'Orcia (Montepulciano & Pienza)

Enjoy a homemade Tuscan lunch

Overnight in Resort Borgo San Luigi (Monteriggioni)

Visit De Ricci wine cellars & Taste excellent wines in the Santa Giulia winery

After breakfast at the hotel, we will start our tour of Tuscany and visit its most beautiful area, the Val d’Orcia.

​

Our first stop will be in Montepulciano.

​

  • Dog break! 

Our best friends will stretch their little legs and walk with us into town!

​

Standing high atop a hill in southern Tuscany, not too far from Siena, Montepulciano is a medieval town of rare beauty, a must see while visiting Tuscany. The city, full of elegant Renaissance palaces, ancient churches, charming squares and hidden corners, boasts vast panoramas all over the wonderful Val d'Orcia and Val di Chiana valleys that surround it.

A walk through Montepulciano is the best way to view the town and its beautiful landmarks as well as enjoy stunning views of the surrounding countryside, covered by vineyards producing the famous red wine, called Nobile di Montepulciano!

​

A visit to the ancient De Ricci wine cellars located underground and accessible via a monumental equestrian staircase, with its impressive brick texture, is a voyage in time and history: here is the essence of the sweet Tuscan earth, the wine, worshipped and consumed in happiness and joy, with passion and tenacity by our distant ancestors, the Etruscans, some centuries earlier than the Christian era.

From the entrance you descend in sacred silence to the central part of the amazing cellar, characterized by a dense texture of terracotta. The cellar is subdivided into three longitudinal aisles where massive pillars (6.70 mts) support immense cross vaulted arches, which make it resemble to a Roman-Gothic Cathedral. The tufa soil in which the cellar was dug, combined with a precise ventilation system, allows the wine to be maintained at an ideal constant temperature and humidity all year.

​

Following the visit of Montepulciano, we will drive towards the charming village of Pienza, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Pienza is a tiny village located amidst gentle undulating hills and wonderful natural landscapes. Pienza enjoys a strategic position standing high atop a hill, dominating all the Orcia Valley with extraordinary views.

This charming village is widely known as the "ideal city of the Renaissance". 

 

After visiting Pienza your adventure will continue to a small boutique winery near Montalcino, where the Terzuoli family will welcome you to visit and taste their food and amazing wines. Welcome to the Santa Giulia winery!

​

  • Dog break! / Dog gourmet lunch!

The agricultural estate of Santa Giulia has been the property of the Terzuoli family since 1950. It extends over 18 hectares in the north-eastern part of Montalcino at 300 m. above sea level.
The proverbial characteristics of a generous, fertile soil which here are combined with a mild, slightly breezy climate, provide the ideal preconditions for the production of an excellent well-structured and balanced wines and olive oil.
Brunello, Rosso di Montalcino and Merlot are the result of a craft carried out with dedication, care and competence.

You will enjoy a delicious homemade Tuscan lunch with fresh pasta, cheese, cold cuts, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, all produced at the estate and a wine tasting like no others!

Our dogs will savour the optional gourmet lunch especially prepared by a professional pet chef.

​

After lunch, you will board the bus again to enjoy a relaxing drive back to your accommodation while admiring the wonderful views of the Tuscan countryside.

​

  • Dog break! / Dog gourmet dinner!

In the late afternoon back at the Borgo San Luigi resort, you will relax, enjoy the pool, the garden and another delicious dinner.

For our dogs, the gourmet dinner box especially prepared by a professional pet chef, will be available in your room.

​

Included services of today:

  • Breakfast at the hotel

  • Transportation with deluxe minibus

  • Visit of Montepulciano

  • Visit of De Ricci wine cellars

  • Visit of Pienza

  • Visit of the Santa Giulia winery

  • Lunch and wine tasting at the winery including the Brunello wine

  • Gourmet dog lunch

  • Accommodation at the Borgo San Luigi resort

  • Dinner at the resort - 3 course meal with wine

  • Gourmet dog dinner

Day 3: Experience local farmlife!

Local farm - Lucignano

Have a special dinner in an old Osteria in Monteriggioni

Overnight in Resort Borgo San Luigi (Monteriggioni)

Enjoy a special pet cooking class & the farm mill 

Enjoy your breakfast and board the mini bus for another extraordinary adventure in the heart of Tuscany to discover another side of its culture, its food and wines.

The best way to learn more about the gastronomy of this region is through a visit of a true Tuscan farm!

​

  • Dog break! Dog gourmet lunch!​

You will reach the wonderful Fattoria Santa Vittoria, founded in 1800 and taken by the Niccolai family at the beginning of the 80s. Set in a picturesque vineyard, the Fattoria Santa Vittoria is a tranquil old Tuscan “Podere” (old farmer’s building) with 5 apartments, an open garden and a swimming pool

Your little friend will enjoy a walk with you around the vineyard and the olive trees until you'll reach the Silvestri water stone mill where the Niccolai family mills its Ancient Wheat.  The old wheat has been selected hundreds year ago when farming was pesticide and chemical free. They grow high and fight against the wild weeds. They also need very low natural fertilizer quantity. For all those reason they are perfect for the organic farming.

After this refreshing walk, you will be welcomed inside the farm and you'll visit the winery. 

This farm produces wines by blending the best grapes varieties of their vineyards such as: Sangiovese, Pugnitello, Foglia tonda, Cabernet, Grechetto, Semillon, Malvasia, Traminer, Incrocio Manzoni and others.

You will learn all about the winemaking process and history, also enjoying a wine tasting  before starting your cooking class
During this experience you will use fresh ingredients, from wheat to pasta: all the ingredients you'll use are produced at the estate. Your little friend will also have a special experience during this cooking class at the farm as you will be cooking a meal for your dog as well, treating them with delicious and suitable Tuscan products so that your little friends will discover these specialties with you!
​
  • Dog break!

After your visit at the Fattoria Santa Vittoria, we will proceed with a stop in Lucignano, a small medieval town. its cobbled streets and its wonderful architecture will take you back in time as you admire the many masterpieces of this small Tuscan jewel.​

​​​

In the late afternoon, we will return the Borgo San Luigi resort where you will relax, enjoy the pool and the garden.

​

  • Dog break! / Dog gourmet dinner!

After some time for yourself, you'll board our minibus once again to go to the wonderful town of Monteriggioni to enjoy a dinner in the Osteria Antico Travaglio, located within the walls of the Castle in a pitcuresque and charming medieval setting.

Here you will have a 3 course dinner with home-made fresh pasta and other typical dishes. For our dogs, the gourmet dinner box especially prepared by a professional pet chef, will be available in your room. After your delicious dinner, we'll head back to the Borgo San Luigi resort.​

​

Included services of today:

  • Breakfast at the hotel

  • Transportation with deluxe minibus

  • Visit of Fattoria Santa Vittoria with wine tasting

  • Cooking class and lunch in the farm for you and your dog

  • Accommodation at the Borgo San Luigi resort

  • 3 course dinner at Osteria Antico Travaglio in Monteriggioni

  • Gourmet dog dinner

Day 4: Visit Florence!

Florence

Try the city's flavors!

Overnight in Resort Borgo San Luigi (Monteriggioni)

Pet photoshoot & a visit to the wonderful city of Florence

Breakfast at the resort and day at leisure

Today you can book your 30 minutes session with our professional pet photographer.

You will create a memorable portfolio. Every animal has his own personality and our photographer will immortalize that in a fun and creative style and provide you with a spectacular artwork that you will treasure for life!

​

When you’re not busy with the photoshoot, why not take advantage of the down time to explore the beautiful city of Florence? We will have ready for you the minibus for two departures to this wonderful city, one in the morning and the second in the afternoon ensuring that you have enough time to discover the city before or after your photoshoot experience!

​

  • Dog break!

You will board the minibus with your little friend to reach Florence.

You will arrive in the Sant'Ambrogio market, the perfect place to discover the fresh products of the city! You will meet with your Private English speaking guide in the market and wander through the busy streets of one the most important art capital in Europe.

Visit the heart of the city, the Piazza della Signoria, an open-air museum where the majestic Palazzo Vecchio stands and where the Loggia dei Lanzi houses an incredible collection of original statues by great artists, such as Cellini and Giambologna.

Walk through the colonnade of the Uffizi Gallery and continue to Ponte Vecchio, the oldest bridge of the city and also the most picturesque! Discover how this particular architecture hides one of the most sublime secrets of the city, the stunning Vasari Corridor connecting Palazzo Vecchio to Pitti Palace and snaking its way over rows of private houses as well as churches.

Then, discover the Medieval district of Florence where you can admire the House of Dante before reaching the breath-taking Duomo Square, where you’ll find masterpieces such as the Cathedral, the Baptistery, Giotto’s Bell Tower and the renowned Brunelleschi’s Cupola.

​

  • Dog gourmet lunch and dinner!

Whether you’re in Florence admiring the city or in the hotel getting ready for a photo, your dog will have his gourmet lunch and dinner box ready, prepared by a professional pet chef.

​​

Included services of today:

  • Breakfast at the hotel

  • 30 minutes photoshoot day with your dog

  • Transportation with deluxe minibus to Florence

  • Private English speaking guide for 3 hours

  • Gourmet dog lunch

  • Accommodation at the Borgo San Luigi resort

  • Farewell dinner at the resort - 3 course meal with wine

  • Gourmet dog dinner

Day 5: Welcome to the region of Lazio

Civita di Bagnoregio - Grottaferrata

Welcome dinner in the hotel's park with local Roman products

Overnight in Park Hotel Villa Grazioli (Grottaferrata)

Visit Civita di Bagnoregio ("The Dying Town") & the charming Grottaferrata

After breakfast, it is time to leave Tuscany and reach another spectacular destination...Rome and it's countryside!

On the way, we will stop at the dying city.... Civita di Bagnoregio was originally founded by Etruscans 2.500 years ago! 

It is a magical, surreal, fantastic place located on top of a tuff hill that can only be reached by crossing a narrow pedestrian bridge. From there you can enjoy one of the most stunning panoramic views of the whole Lazio region.

Nick-named "the dying town", due to the constant erosion of the tuff rocks where it is placed, this citadel half-way between Orvieto and Lake Bolsena has Etruscan and Medieval origins. Suspended in time and space, Civita di Bagnoregio is beyond doubt one of the most beautiful and characteristic Italian villages.

​

  • Dog break! / Dog gourmet lunch!

We will take our dogs and walk the long bridge that connects Civita to the rest of the world. A nice walk that will lead us to the city center. 

Once in the village we will take a rest and offer our little friends a nice gourmet food break made by a professional dog chef!

We will walk around the village and enjoy a nice lunch at leisure in this magical place before returning to the minibus.

​

In the mid-afternoon, we will pass near Rome and reach a little charming town located in the Castelli Romani area just outside the Eternal City, Grottaferrata.

Once lying amid vineyards, Grottaferrata is today one of the most elegant and popular residential areas and holiday locations in the Castelli Romani region. The small town is particularly known for the Abbazia di San Nilo (Abbey of Saint Nilus) around which the residential area developed throughout the centuries. Even nowadays, the Abbey is considered the town's landmark.

​

  • Dog break! / Dog gourmet dinner!

We will then arrive at our hotel, the beautiful Park Hotel Villa Grazioli. A spectacular villa overlooking the Roman countryside.

Once settled into our comfortable rooms, we will have a special welcome dinner in the park and taste the Roman cuisine! So many local specialties and wines. Are they going to be better than the Tuscans?!

For our dogs, the gourmet dinner box especially prepared by a professional pet chef, will be available in your room.

​

Included services of today:

  • Transportation with deluxe minibus

  • Visit of Civita di Bagnoregio

  • Gourmet dog lunch

  • Accommodation at the Park Hotel Villa Grazioli

  • Dinner at the resort - 3 course meal with wine

  • Gourmet dog dinner

​

Day 6: Visit Rome!

Rome

Enjoy a progressive street food tour of Rome

Overnight in Park Hotel Villa Grazioli (Grottaferrata)

Visit the Eternal City's highlights & Learn all there is to know about its gastronomy

Following breakfast, we will discover the Eternal City for a full day.

Our minibus will leave the hotel and take us to the city center of Rome for a visit of the Ancient City.

​

Start your experience right outside the famous Colosseum. Here your expert guide will give you an introduction to the Colosseum, its creation, the histories and tales of the Gladiators.

After the introduction, the guide will take us inside the Colosseum (we will avoid queues with a fast track priority access) and - since our little friends are not allowed inside - our dog escort will take care of them while you enjoy the visit.

Once inside we will explore the magnificent structure and have a special access to the Gladiator floor!
Roam the 80 arches and meander through the walkways where spectators would have gathered to watch the games.

Following the Colosseum visit, we will head off to the Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum, the social, political, and religious centre of the Roman Empire. Our expert guide on Roman History, will tell you all the about the myths of Remus and Romulus, the founders of Rome.

Next, head down to the Roman Forum, the center of Ancient Rome and public life. Take in the incredible ruins and enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the Colosseum.

​

You will end your tour of Rome on the Capitoline Hill, reaching the Terrazza Caffarelli a magnificent and exclusive location, situated just next to the Capitoline Museums. Here you will admire the Capital City, getting lost amid the timid rooftops of the houses located in the heart of the Eternal City, and enjoy an espresso like a true local. ​

​

  • Dog break! / Dog gourmet lunch!

Back in the city center, after the visit we will take some time to feed our pets and offer them a nice gourmet food break made by a professional dog chef!

We will then slowly continue our walk towards the Spanish Steps where we will take some time for shopping and relaxing.

​

In the late afternoon we will have a fun Street Food tour!

With behind-the-scenes visits to delis and cheese shops, and much much more, you’ll get a 360-degree experience of one of the greatest foodie cities in the world.

Your tour begins in a place that is surprising to many, but not to anyone who knows anything about the history of Roman Food: the old Jewish Ghetto. In the company of your expert foodie guide, you’ll pop into one of the neighborhood’s beloved trattorias and taste traditional, seasonal Roman starters as you learn how Jewish culture has influenced Roman food over the course of some 2,000 years. 

​

Leaving the Ghetto, you’ll continue your food tour to taste and learn the history of gastronomy in Rome. You’ll learn about the long history of local cheesemaking as you taste Pecorino Romano and other Italian cheeses over a bottle of local white wine. Pairing food and drink is very important to Romans so, why not try other iconic pairings, such as the deep-fried mozzarella and rice balls called supplì with a glass of Italian craft beer. Craft beer in Italy? That’s right, Italians are some of the most enthusiastic brewers in Europe and their beer is just one of the many unexpected highlights of this experience. 

Another is the encyclopaedic range of charcuterie, from salamis spiked with fennel, truffles or Barolo wine, to cured pork and a few surprises, you’ll enjoy a wide range of meats along with a nice glass of red wine. 

Be sure to save some room because we have saved the best for last.

After a quick tasting of olive oil and balsamic vinegar, you’ll taste the most famous Italian dish in the world: pizza! The dough, already risen and waiting, will be kneaded out into a (near) perfect circle; after spreading just the right amount of tangy tomato sauce, your pizza will be ready for you! Finally, you’ll do as the Italians do and stroll comfortably through the city, stopping for a cup or cone of gelato
This tour is wonderfully in-depth and hands-on. As you eat your way through the city and its history, your guide will also give you practical tips and suggestions on how to avoid tourist traps and eat well during your stay in Rome. You won’t just leave with a full belly; you’ll leave with a lot of new knowledge of Italian food. 

​

  • Dog break! / Dog gourmet dinner!

After this fun and interesting progressive dinner, we will board our minibus and return the hotel where you will have plenty of time to feed your best friend with another meal prepared by a professional dog chef.

The evening will be at leisure at the hotel.

​

Included services of today:

  • Breakfast at the hotel

  • Transportation with deluxe minibus

  • Private English speaking guide in Rome

  • Inside visit of the Colosseum

  • Entrance skip the line tickets

  • Dog escort

  • Gourmet dog lunch

  • Progressive Street Food Tour of Rome

  • Accommodation at the Park Hotel Villa Grazioli

  • Gourmet dog dinner

Day 7: Explore the Roman countryside!

Frascati - The Roman Castle area

Make your own pizza with a true local pizzaiolo

Overnight in Park Hotel Villa Grazioli (Grottaferrata)

Visit Frascati & Have an exclusive wine tasting tour in a local farmhouse

After having breakfast at the hotel, spend your morning at leisure in the hotel. Relax in the park with your little friend and enjoy the swimming pool. The gourmet dog lunch box will be available for you prepared by our professional pet chef.

In the afternoon you will board the minibus to explore the beautiful area of Castelli Romani, starting with Frascati

​

  • Dog break! 

​On our first stop the dogs will be able to stretch their little legs while we meet with your English speaking licensed guide to explore the town of Frascati in a private walking tour.

This town is the most famous of the area, renown for the elegance of the Ville Tuscolane and its gastronomic specialties.

The Ville Tuscolane are the Renaissance villas where the Roman nobility would reside, most of them can be found in the green area of Colli Albani, surrounded by charming gardens and parks. Frascati is also very famous for its excellent wines and delicious food! You will end your walking tour with in the Antico Forno Ceralli to taste their famous pizza and the porchetta.

The discovery of the Frascati gastronomic treasures can’t be complete without a wine experience! You’ll board your minibus again to reach a farmhouse in the middle of the Frascati countryside

​

  • Dog break! 

Once you’ll reach your destination, the Ceccarelli farmhouse you’ll be surrounded by the vineyards and welcomed by wine experts who will show you the secrets of the wine making process in a exclusive private tour of the farmhouse. Here, you will have the opportunity to have a complete wine tasting experience of local wines.

 

Following this unique wine experience, we will head towards Casal Montani, in the heart of Frascati.

​

  • Dog break! Dog gourmet dinner!

​Casal Montani is located on the Frascati hills, surrounded by vineyards and fruit trees. It is an unmissable destination for those who love tasting local products while surrounded by nature.

Here our little friends will be able to enjoy the garden of the farm while you cook your own pizza, followed step by step by a professional pizzaiolo.

You’ll have your dinner in the garden, playing with your dog while admiring the sunset and tasting your own creation! Your little one will have his gourmet dinner box prepared by a professional pet chef.

 

Later, we will return to the Park hotel Villa Grazioli where you can rest with your dog after your final night in the charming region of Lazio.

​

Included services of today:

  • Breakfast at the hotel

  • Gourmet dog lunch

  • Transportation with deluxe minibus

  • Private English speaking guide in Frascati

  • Pizza and porchetta tastings at Antico Forno Ceralli

  • Visit of a local farmhouse with wine tasting experience 

  • Pizza cooking class and dinner at Casal Montani

  • Gourmet dog dinner

  • Accommodation at the Park Hotel Villa Grazioli

​

Day 8: Goodbye!

Rome airport

Private transfer to the airport

Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the airport in Rome based on your flight schedule.

This memorable adventure has come to an end, however its memories will last forever!

Our assistance at the airport will make sure you clear to go home!

​

Included services of today:

  • Breakfast at the hotel

  • Transportation with deluxe minibus

  • Assistance at the airport

  • Gourmet dog lunch

​

No events at the moment
Sold%20Out_edited.png

CHAT WITH US

bottom of page