Come spend a food-filled week with us and a small group of fellow visitors in Eva’s hometown: Dasà! A small village in the mountains of Calabria, Dasà is an ideal place to experience rural Italy as a local. During this week we will learn about the regional food, cook together, interact with the locals, and experience southern Italian life in a truly unique way.

Dasà is far from a touristy place: be forewarned that there are no restaurants, shopping centers, or hotels. What there is, however, is an abundance of amazing food and culture that only the locals (and you!) can fully experience.

This week-long immersion is not for everyone, but if you’re adventurous and want to experience Italy as almost no outsider can ever hope to, consider joining us!

Important Trip Information

Please read the following information carefully before booking.

Who is this experience for?

This is for very adventurous travelers who don’t just want to visit a place, but to experience living in it. You won’t find this food and this experience unless you are part of a rural Italian family. If joining ours for a week sounds like fun, this is the “tour” for you!

Who is this experience NOT for?

Simply put, it’s not for someone who is looking for a regular tour! We love our own tour of southern Italy, but this is a different beast. If you’re not up for living in a humble village without luxury amenities for a week, this might not be for you.

I've never heard of Pasta Grammar, can I still enjoy the trip?

Often a guest will bring a friend or spouse who maybe isn't a fan or viewer of our YouTube channel, Pasta Grammar. While all are more than welcome, we do urge you to make sure that everyone in the party is familiar with what kind of trip this will be. As fans will know, we are interested in sharing very traditional Italian food and life, not postcard experiences. As long as everyone knows what we're all about, we'll have a great time!

What activity level should I be prepared for?

Daily life in a small, Italian town is much more active than you might think. While we try to make it as easy as possible for all guests, we can't help the fact that life here is spent on your feet. Be prepared for plenty of walking on cobblestone streets and a fair amount of stairs and hills. If you have mobility or fitness issues, we recommend reaching out to our travel agent partner, Angela Donato, at [email protected] to discuss and see if the Week in Dasà experience is right for you.

What should I be ready to eat?

A lot of carbs, a lot of fat, and a lot of food in general. If eating pasta, bread, pizza, pastries, etc. every day for a week makes your stomach groan (in a bad way), this is definitely not the trip for you. Calabrians are big eaters, even more so when they have guests (like you!) to host. Life here is based on food, so come prepared to eat.

How can I get to/from Dasà?

A private transfer between Dasà and Lamezia Terme airport/train station (or another nearby travel hub, if it's more convenient for you) will be provided. There are a lot of options for traveling to/from Lamezia, depending on your situation. A lot of people who book their own arrangements miss out on cheaper or more convenient options, which is why we highly recommend contacting our partner, Angela Donato ([email protected]), to help arrange everything. Traveling through Calabria is easy but not always intuitive, so having a travel agent to lend a hand will make everything smoother.

When should I arrive?

If you do plan on making your own travel arrangements, we urge you to try and arrive in Italy at least one day before the trip starts. Nothing is worse than being jet lagged during our first meal together! On the first evening we usually meet up shortly before dinner, so we recommend making travel plans that see you arriving in Dasà by the late afternoon so that you have time to check in and get settled before meeting the group.

Is the itinerary set in stone?

Even more than a "normal" tour, the itinerary for the Week in Dasà is subject to change. Most of our planned activities involve real people within the community, and events sometimes need to shuffle due to changing circumstances within the town. Not to worry, there will be no shortage of amazing stuff to do and try, but please be aware that any itinerary based on the real life of a town and its people needs to be flexible. Sometimes incredible and unexpected opportunities arise, and we like to be able to take advantage of them as they happen!

What will I eat outside of our meals together?

While there isn't much in the way of restaurants in Dasà, each guest home will come with a kitchen, so you are free to shop for ingredients at the local markets and cook for yourself. However, it is extremely unlikely that you will find that necessary. Calabrians eat like they will die tomorrow, and they feed guests according to the same philosophy. Trust us, there will be no lack of food.

I would like to stay in Italy longer! Can you help?

Yes! Our Calabrian partner, Angela Donato, is the best travel agent this side of the Alps and can help you to extend your trip in Italy. Let us know what kind of plans you would like to make and she can advise further. Feel free to email her at [email protected]

I have an allergy or food intolerance, can I still join?

Let us know what your needs are and we will be happy to do everything we can to accommodate you! We have hosted guests with a wide range of dietary requirements without

any trouble.

Will my cell phone work in Italy?

Most of our guests choose to use international roaming plans provided by their domestic carriers, but it’s also very easy to acquire a temporary, local SIM card for your trip. They are widely available for purchase upon arrival in Italy. For the best coverage in Dasà, we recommend using WindTre.

What is your COVID policy?

We follow the recommendations and requirements of the Italian government at all times. As of this writing (always subject to change) there are currently no restrictions on travelers who have contracted COVID-19. In the event that a guest gets sick, we do not cancel the trip unless regulations change. It is up to individual guests to assess the hazards of travel and make their own decisions about whether to risk joining a group tour. As with any sickness, we urge guests who are feeling under the weather to rest, relax, recuperate, and rejoin the group once they have recovered.

Payment Policy

A 50% non-refundable deposit will be collected at the time of booking. The remaining payment will be due 6 months before the trip commences. If booking within 6 months of the trip, the full fee will be due at checkout.