Jeff and Claudia arranged to perfection our visit to the Lake Garda region. Our hotel, Villa Arcadio, was a 15th century monastery restored into a hotel. The setting was spectacular. We toured the lake region experiencing some of the finest Italian culture and dining one could have imagined. We could never have arranged this tour without Jeff and Claudia’s expertise. Thanks Jeff and Claudia for taking care of every detail. Looking forward to our next visit!
This trip was the perfect balance of cooking, education, markets, fun and downtime. I could tell an extreme amount of thought went into every detail of the trip. Every place we visited felt like a private connection. We travelled with Chef Jeff Michaud and Colin Lynch. I learned a great deal from cooking with them. They were both down to earth and I really got to enjoy their company and learn their stories. I have been to Italy several times but this was truly special. I will be back!
Traveling with La Via Gaia is a very intimate way to experience Italy, and lets the traveler to see and meet the actual people behind the scenes who run the small shops and businesses. I can't imagine a better way to immerse oneself into the culture. Chef Michaud is a wonderful guide and made us feel immediately welcome. If you want to see the real Italy, travel with La Via Gaia!
La Via Gaia curates once in a lifetime trips focused on exploring Italy’s rich culinary history. Anyone can plan a trip to Italy filled with pasta and wine - La Via Gaia trips are so much more.
We explored the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy through food. We toured aging caves, learned about the art of making balsamic vinegar and participated in three cooking classes. We dined in Michelin starred restaurants, family homes and local markets. Along the way we learned so much about food and made lifelong friends.
Jeff truly knows how to create incredible experiences. He kept us laughing the entire time. We’ve been home one week and are already planning our next trip with La Via Gaia!
If you’re on the fence about booking a trip - just do it. You absolutely will not regret it.
Traveling through Italy with La Via Gaia was nothing short of magical. It wasn’t just a trip—it was a deeply personal, beautifully curated experience that felt like stepping into a dream designed just for me.
What sets La Via Gaia apart is the unparalleled access to experiences you simply cannot find anywhere else. These aren't your typical tour group activities—they're the kind of moments that can only happen through Jeff’s close friendships and deep-rooted connections across the region.
If you’re dreaming of Italy and want to experience it in a way that’s truly off-the-beaten-path and profoundly special, La Via Gaia is the only way to go. I’m already dreaming of my next trip back.
While over the top gastronomic experiences were expected and delivered what was most surprising was the laughter and friendships that flowed in even greater quantities that the exceptional wines and will last far longer.
Anyone can plan a trip to Italy filled with pasta and wine - La Via Gaia trips are so much more!
We explored the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy through food. We toured aging caves, learned about the art of making balsamic vinegar and participated in three cooking classes. We dined in Michelin starred restaurants, family homes and local markets. Along the way we learned so much about food and made lifelong friends.
Jeff truly knows how to create incredible experiences. He kept us laughing the entire time. We’ve been home one week and are already planning our next trip with La Via Gaia!
If you’re on the fence about booking a trip - just do it. You absolutely will not regret it.
Jeff and Claudia have created an experience like no other for folks who are truly passionate about food and wine. Jeff is the consummate host and, for one week, you are part of his family which includes not only your fellow travelers, but all of the amazing artisan producers and talented chefs that go to great lengths to make your time with them very special and memorable.
Jeff's passion for everything culinary, along with his well established relationships, are what make this trip unique.
This is more than a culinary tour - this is an immersion into the very best of what Italy has to offer.
I had high expectations for this trip to Italy with two of Philadelphia's best chefs. And my expectations were exceeded. The trip was well organized and full of one-of-a-kind culinary experiences. Highly recommend.
You feel like a true family member everywhere you go. Winemakers, cheesemakers, prosciutto makers, chefs, farmers, agriturismo proprietors, musicians all welcome you with very generous open arms like you've known them forever to share their talents, secrets. Their passion for what they do is contagious as is Jeff's love of Italy and his infectious smile and ability to connect everyone in the group to each other and bring out the adventurous spirit in all of us.
Already booked another trip for next year!
The trip we took to Piemonte exceeded my expectations. It was clear from the start that at every place we went, the chef, owner, guide had a deep relationship with Jeff and they all went out of their way to make the trip one of the most memorable I have ever taken. La Via Gaia carefully put together the right blend and flow of activities to make every day perfect. I wouldn't change a thing
LA VIA GAIA highly curated experience in Piemonte was executed flawlessly with Jeff whisking us from cheese caves to wineries to unique dining experiences that would typically only be available to those in-the-know. His knowledge combined with command of the language and culture enables a plunge into Italian culture that cannot be obtained elsewhere. Bring your appetite, sense of adventure, and passion for luxury meets farm to table. Highly recommended...!
A private trip with La Via Gaia in Piemonte was an adventure I didn't even know I was missing! I was hesitant to go on an expensive trip with my colleagues but after the amazing comradery, wineries with views, a cheese tour/tasting, beautiful balloon ride, truffle hunting, vespa and convertible fiat driving, three Michelin restaurants, chef led cooking classes, shopping in Milan, Turin and Alba, incredible local restaurants, three amazing guides, and lots of fun I deem this trip priceless.
The warmth exuded by Jeff and Claudia Michaud, and their guest Sommelier Matteo Donadoni added to a jam-packed itinerary (with some relax time included). Anyone can go to Northern Italy but these three shared their love of Italy with all of us.
La Via Gaia's culinary tour is not to be missed. Chef Jeff Michaud and his beautiful wife sparkle as they share their love of all things Italian. Days are filled with private tours of wineries and a Parmigiano-Reggiano aging cave, a hot air balloon ride, a drive through the gorgeous Piemontese countryside, and a tour of Turin. The meals include simple regional dishes shared by local cooks, dinner made by the group participants during a cooking lesson at a winery, and spectacular dinners prepared by Michelin starred chefs. Truly fantastico- grazie!
La Via Gaia has taken us on 2 unique and unforgettable trips filled with amazing food, wine and experiences. The key is Jeff Michaud’s infectious love of Italy, its people, its culinary traditions, and Italian life in general. The warm relationships he has built over the years with chefs, wine makers and shop owners flow onto the group and make us feel we are cared for in a way we have never experienced with any other trip.
For a food centric, behind the scenes tour of Italy, La Via Gaia is unsurpassed. Meet the chefs, the wine makers, the cheese purveyors that only the locals know. Jeff and Claudia combine to create one of a kind weeks based on their relationships and knowledge of Italy.
A trip designed with attention to detail and a true passion for Italy. The experiences would be impossible to re-create as individuals. The quality of the food and the immersion into Italian life made it difficult to leave. Molto bene!! A presto!
Touring Piemonte Italy with chef Jeff Michaud and guest chef Michael Scelfo (and his delightful wife, Ellen!) rates as one of the most fulfilling vacations my wife and I have ever taken. Jeff and Claudia curated the perfect week, and their attention to detail from the moment we all met up on Sunday morning until we said goodbye the following Saturday was flawless. We simply can't recommend La Via Gaia highly enough!!
Easily our most interesting and fun trip in recent memory. LA VIA GAIA's itinerary in Friuli and Slovenia provided the perfect balance of history, culture and food. Both the group of people on our trip and the chefs were outstanding. We weren't sure what this trip was going to be like but in the end it easily exceeded all of our expectations. All of our friends ask about the trip and when we tell them they are all instantly jealous! Can't wait to try another location in Italy with Jeff - so much fun!
Jeff and Claudia have thoughtfully created a traveling and eating experience that opens the window into the world of Northern Italy. It builds on their personal relationships and experiences, accumulated over many years of living in there. It is not a sterile tour, one lived out of a bus. Rather it is meeting the people that make Italy come to life on a daily basis.
A good friend invited me to join her on a trip with LA VIA GAIA. I’m so glad I said yes! Our enthusiastic and tireless host, Jeffrey Michaud, curated a very special exploration of some of the cultural and culinary delights of northern Italy and infused the tour with his own passion and expertise in Italian cuisine and fine wines. We were joined by guest chef Nicholas Elmi. Both Jeff and Nick were relaxed and fun. The tour included delicious meals at fine restaurants as well as more informal local trattoria, and even at local's homes. These home meals gave us access to a side of Italian life rarely accessible to visitors. I arrived home stuffed and happy, with plans to join Jeff on a future tour, maybe this time with my husband, if he’s lucky!
Our trip to Italy with LA VIA GAIA was perfect. We thoroughly enjoyed every aspect. All the details were well planned and included a variety of activities all fit for foodies. We most loved all the personal attention that we received everywhere we went, from the restaurants, wineries, cooking classes and of course Jeff's mother-in-law's house. We can't wait for the private trip Jeff and Claudia curated for us and our friends to Bergamo & Friuli next Summer!
THIS IS A NUMBER ONE BUCKET LIST EXPERIENCE! I can't rave enough about Jeff, LA VIA GAIA and everyone who serviced us! Our days were filled with adventures, wine tasting, cheese festival, our evening with private dining spots only Jeff could find. Private homes, private room. Just stunning!
This trip was an amazing experience with delightful surprises everyday. I could not wait to see what the next meal, day, and experience had to offer. It was such a perfect way to experience the best that Piemonte has to offer in a genuine and authentic way. We learned so much and have treasured memories that we will never forget. We look forward to continuing to experience life in Italy and are so thankful for LA VIA GAIA for introducing us to this beautiful country, people, and culture!
