WoW Sun Tours, a family-run tour company in the heart of Tuscany, provides uniquely curated travel experiences for small groups of solo women. Leia Russell, Managing Director, explains how the region’s charming beauty and culture, combined with her hand-picked itineraries and deep-rooted local knowledge, make for an Italian adventure with a difference.
UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN
Having made Tuscany their home in 2004, the Russell family, originally hailing from Drymen, Scotland, have fully integrated into Italian life.
Driven by a desire to share this beautiful region with the world, the family recently devised WoW Sun Tours to offer groups of solo women travellers a true taste of ‘la dolce vita’.
With vast experience in the tourism sector as founders of ski company, WoW Ski Tours, the family is well-versed in curating unique, one-of-a-kind experiences for guests.
Dedicated to showcasing the real Tuscany, the tours are designed to provide small groups of solo women travellers an experience of shared adventure and discovery from the comfort of a group environment.
Hosted in the luxurious local foothills of historical Cortona, guests can expect to gain true, authentic insights into the region’s food, wine, history, and culture from a family who have made Tuscany their home over the past 20 years.
Managing Director, Leia Russell, who leads the tours, shares her deep passion for the region and explains how Tuscany’s unmatched beauty continues to provide her with inspiration and intrigue.
Q&A WITH LEIA RUSSELL, MANAGING DIRECTOR, WOW SUN TOURS
Firstly, can you introduce us to WoW Sun Tours and explain how the concept came about?
Leia Russell, Managing Director (LR): WoW Sun Tours is the second iteration of WoW’s solo women tours. The idea was originally born from my family’s ski company, WoW Ski Tours, where we run women-only ski weekends to provide a safe environment for females to travel alone and do something they love without feeling judged or unsafe.
To give context, in 2004, we moved from our family home in Drymen, Scotland, to Tuscany, Italy, in pursuit of ‘la dolce vita’. Our proximity to the Dolomites enabled us, as a young family, to embrace our love of skiing without having to use so many planes, trains, and automobiles.
Building on the success of WoW Ski Tours and having lived in Cortona, Tuscany for over 17 years, we officially launched WoW Sun Tours in 2021. Who better to share in a Tuscan adventure than an expat family who moved to the area years prior and haven’t left since?
At WoW Sun Tours, we aim to show the highlights of our hard-earned, local knowledge and grant exclusive access to the real Tuscany.
What makes Tuscany an inspiring place to discover?
LR: For me, Tuscany is the region of sun, fun, food, wine, and afternoon strolls.
Just recently, the sun was shining, and a friend and I hiked up to Cortona’s main fortress. We sat munching on fresh, local fruit whilst gazing down at the breathtaking views of the Valdichiana valley.
We then strolled back to the main town where we relaxed in the piazza with a beer in hand – people-watching, chatting, and basking in the sun’s warm rays. For lunch, we ordered a charcuterie board from the local trattoria, a glass of wine, and watched the world go by.
I don’t know what it is about Tuscany, but life here is magical. It has something to do with the tranquillity of life; nobody is in a rush, nobody is in a bad mood, and nobody complains.
Tuscany is personified by the quick morning coffee; the daily pausa pranzo (lunch break) from 1pm to 4pm where people simply eat and doze before going back to work; the sudden buzz of bars as the sun goes down; the evening aperitivo; the Sunday passeggiata (stroll) through towns that look like movie sets; the walk to your friend’s garden to pick some vegetables for your evening meal – and oh, so much more!
I could go on for hours. I don’t think anyone realises how incredible this region is until they come here. My only advice to travellers is, if you’re going to visit Tuscany, do it the Italian way. Live like a local and embrace the true Tuscan lifestyle!
What are some key locations and exclusive experiences that your guests can participate in?
LR: At WoW Sun Tours, our varied daily itineraries are designed to have guests acting and thinking like an Italian in no time, so you get the very best out of your experience.
Tuscany is a region revered for its breathtaking landscapes of cypress trees and sunflowers, outstanding preserved history, endless hilltop towns, and world-famous art in its capital, Florence.
Unlike other tour companies, our aim is not to take you to the places you could potentially visit on your own – it is precisely the opposite.
We want to show you the hidden gems that make Tuscany our home – the olive picking in October, the midday coffee, the lettuce picking from nonno’s garden just before dinner, the wine tasting in the non-traditional cantine (wine cellars), and the unmissable cooking classes by the poolside with our smiley chef, Cecilia.
We do, of course, take you to some more well-known places, such as Lake Trasimeno, to visit the tiny islands for a spot of lunch, a tan, and a spritz or two.
We also go for a light lunch in nearby Pienza and picnics in the countryside, accompanied by a quick trip to the hot springs in the Val D’Orcia area – an unmissable day out.
Think wine tasting, cheese tasting, and food galore. Whether cooked by a typical Italian nonna, or something slightly more sophisticated, expect to be wowed!
What unique culinary encounters are guests able to experience with WoW Sun Tours?
LR: No land is more devoted to the products of its rich earth than Tuscany, a destination for the ‘bon vivants’ whose residents spend an unnecessary amount of time thinking about, discussing, and consuming food, wine, and coffee.
La cucina contadina (homemade traditional cooking) is a source of pride for many local ‘contadini’ as everything they consume, from tomatoes and eggs to wine and meat, is produced or raised in their own homes.
And, as any Italian knows, the weekend is sacred and therefore dedicated to eating, drinking, and to be honest, not much else!
We try to vary our culinary itinerary when it comes to our tours, as we want our clients to be able to experience as many different dishes and flavours as possible. Everything is included in the price, except for additional drinks and snacks, so we plan where and when we’re eating with care.
There will be a variety of evenings where Cecilia will be your personal chef and will come and cook for you whilst you relax – equally, please feel free to join in and get your hands dirty!
At lunch time, and during some evenings, we’ll take you out to our favourite restaurants. We might have a pizza or perhaps something more luxurious, such as a scrumptious plate of fresh truffle pasta or a delicious local steak in home-produced olive oil.
My personal highlight of our culinary escapades is our cooking classes with Cecilia. We put music on, have a boogie and a drink or two, and start cooking. We may even be graced by the presence of our delightful cocktail connoisseur, Marco, who usually starts the evening with a Hugo spritz before showing you how to make some Italian cocktails, so you can go home and show off your new drink-making skills!
Cecilia normally starts with more traditional dishes, like the uncomplicated but delicious panzanella – a mix of bread and fresh vegetables soaked in olive oil, salt, and lemon juice.
Alternatively, try your hand at a fresh focaccia. Ask away, and we’ll do our best to provide you with all the cooking knowledge and expertise possible.
On Thursday, we’ll take you to the local market to pick up fresh fruit and vegetables for our goodbye dinner the following day, where we cook, eat, sit, chat, and have a couple of vinos together before bidding our adieus.
How does your classic and well-established ‘Live Like a Local’ tour offer guests the quintessential Italian experience?
LR: You’ll be staying in my friend Emanuele’s delightful Agriturismo Il Borgo, situated in the foothills of Cortona’s old town.
Emanuele’s family-owned villa is one-of-a-kind. You’ll have your own double bedroom with an ensuite, a communal kitchen, and a patio where you can spend time getting to know your fellow guests.
If you seek tranquillity, perhaps you’ll spend time by the pool for a solo tan or take refuge beneath one of the ground’s weeping willows for some shade.
Luciana, Emanuele’s mum, will often pop over with freshly made jam or a couple of bottles of home-produced Syrah wine to make you feel even more at home.
Agriturismo Il Borgo is surrounded by sunflower and lavender fields and is seemingly its own secluded oasis, but it’s only a mere two-minute walk from the town of Camucia with access to shops, markets, supermarkets, a fantastic pizza place, and a cocktail bar!
It’s also situated close to the rail station, so on your day off you can hop on the train to Arezzo, Florence, Rome, or wherever takes your fancy!
With the best part of 20 years living full-time as a young family in a local village near the beautiful medieval town of Cortona, we’ve gotten to know what it takes to live like a local and the dos and don’ts of true Italian life.
We won’t have you traipsing around Florence in the midday heat, trailing behind a tour guide, or filling your head with dates that have no context. Instead, we’ll take you to the Piazza Michelangelo or arrange for a picnic on the banks of the Arno.
We won’t fob you off with mass-produced, poor-quality ‘tourist food’, but will take you to local cheese producers or nonno’s allotments. We’ll go out of our way to teach you the tricks of real Italian cookery, from fresh pasta to real panna cotta.
We’ll introduce you to local sagre (village festivals), where if your ballo liscio (traditional ballroom dancing) is up to scratch, you may be requested a dance from one of the local gentlemen!
If you are a wine lover, you’ll be blown away by secret vineyards and cantine known only to the locals, and the Il Vino Nobile wines of Montepulciano, Brunello di Montalcino, Chianti, and Bolgheri, which are a credit to the region.
We’ll teach you those tricky and notorious hand gestures and enough Italian to help you fit in, and go for a languorous bathe in the local river spa baths where the only foreigners will be you.
In short, our aim is to bridge the gap between cultures, acting as a conduit into true Tuscan life, diving far beneath the surface of what traditional tour companies might offer.
Could you tell us more about WoW Sun Tours’ new Tuscan Book Club?
LR: Recently, during the calmer months of October and November, I’d been helping a friend at his boutique shop in Cortona. Being the chatterbox I am, I tend to strike up conversations with clients, especially those speaking English.
As our family discovered Cortona quite randomly before moving here, I’m always curious to find out what brings international visitors to the area. When asked, most answer in the same way – “Oh, I saw the movie! You know, the one based on the book by Frances Mayes?”.
It’s incredible how influenced people can be by something they’ve seen, heard about, or read – but what’s not to love about a small, quaint Tuscan town surrounded by vineyards and sunflower fields?
So, as I was reading my book and having a morning coffee in the garden one day, the idea for a new kind of tour sprung to mind.
Imagine discussing A Room with a View by E.M. Forster while gazing out at the rolling Tuscan hills, or sharing your thoughts on Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes as you dine in an authentic Italian trattoria.
From the peace of a charming, private accommodation, each week WoW Sun Tours will bring together a group of up to eight women and focus on a novel that has, at its core, the classic backdrop of the Tuscan countryside.
You will be part of a ladies-only book club in the heart of Tuscany, where you can visit some of the very sites described in the hallowed pages of your favourite Tuscan novels. At some point in the day, depending on a planned daily itinerary which will be devised from the novel you’ll be reading, there’ll be a light-hearted discussion of the latest developments in the text.
Then, picture yourself sipping a glass of local wine under the same golden sun, strolling through the very piazza where the characters once roamed, and savouring dishes made from local sun-ripened tomatoes and freshly pressed olive oil.
We even make sure that Cecilia includes some of the recipes from your chosen books in your cooking classes, so you can go home and test them out on your friends!
This is more than just a trip; it’s a journey into the heart of Italian life. This is a chance to connect with fellow Italophiles and book lovers, relive the best of Tuscan literature, and bring life to those pages by immersing yourself in the culture and thereby experiencing first-hand the magic that has inspired generations of writers.
What sets WoW Sun Tours apart from the competition?
LR: That’s a story in itself. I think the beauty of WoW Sun Tours, just as with WoW Ski Tours, is that we aren’t run by a typical expat family.
Something I’ll always be grateful for, and I have my parents to thank for this, is that we’ve genuinely tried to make Cortona and its surroundings our own. Unlike most families that move abroad, we’ve fully integrated into the Italian lifestyle and made Tuscan life ours.
We’ve been to school here, made friends, and become regulars at the tennis clubs, gyms, and bars. We do not find ourselves greeted as transient foreigners, but as the crazy Scots who made Cortona their home – we’re simply part of the furniture.
The fact that we are able to show it off, as it should be, to others is such an immense pleasure.
For our clients to be able to meet the people we’ve grown up with, visit the local bars, eat the pizza we’ve been eating for the past 20 years, and wander the streets we’ve walked on our way to school – that is what makes it special!
Finally, are there any other projects on the horizon?
LR: Oh yes! Lots more in fact. Our primary aim is to establish WoW Ski Tours and WoW Sun Tours and get them properly off the ground.
We’d also love to bring the Dolomites into the equation in the summer, and our dream is that, in the future, our lovely home in Drymen, Scotland will be introduced as a base for lots of new adventures.
Personally, I feel that many companies don’t do their research properly. They set up holidays based on a generic blueprint, yet they don’t know the places they are touring well enough to provide a quality product for their clients – they only provide the same, worn tourist routes.
Our clients understandably expect us to be experts at what we do. We speak the language, we’ve lived in these places, and we understand the culture. We want people to fully perceive the originality of our product; we only do what we know – if we didn’t know about it, we wouldn’t do it!
As such, it has become my philosophy to only tour what I know well, as only then can I vouch for the real ethos and vibe of a place.
All I can say is we’re excited about the future of WoW Sun Tours and what we can offer. Our women-only weeks are constantly growing, and we want our clients to know how much effort and love we put into each minute detail.
It’s always a work in progress, but seeing the joy we bring to people and the smiles we put on our clients’ faces makes it all worthwhile. Watch this space, there is much more to come!
CONNECT WITH WOW SUN TOURS
Tel: +44 141 404 6493
