Forget the marble lobbies, infinity pools, and butlers in crisp white gloves. For today’s discerning traveller, luxury has taken on a new form, one rooted in authenticity, intimacy, and meaningful connection. It’s found not in five-star ratings or flash hotels, but in the hushed rhythm of a quiet backroad, the warmth of a family-run villa, and the joy of a homemade pasta dish prepared by hands that have perfected it over generations.
In Italy’s sun-drenched countryside, this quieter, more soulful luxury unfolds slowly and deliberately. It’s the kind of experience boutique cycling company A’qto delivers with effortless grace.
Founded by Nancy De Losa and Damian Hancock, A’qto is built on a belief that travel should be immersive, personal, and profoundly memorable. Their small-group cycling tours take travellers well beyond the postcard icons, into the heart of Italy, where landscapes are timeless, hospitality is heartfelt, and every day feels like a celebration of the senses.
A Shift in What Luxury Means
The travel landscape has changed. Post-pandemic, we’ve emerged with a renewed hunger for simplicity, stillness, and substance. The most coveted experiences are no longer those that impress from a distance, but those that invite us in – to participate, to connect, to savour.
Luxury, in this new era, is found in slow mornings and long dinners, in conversations with locals who welcome you into their homes and share their stories with pride. It’s in the details: freshly churned gelato in a cobbled piazza, the dusty scent of sun-warmed stone, the clink of glasses under string lights as laughter floats into the evening air.
For travellers who crave these kinds of moments – visceral, tactile, emotive – A’qto’s tours tick all the boxes.
Cycling with Soul
A’qto offers curated cycling journeys across regions like Tuscany, Puglia, Sicily and the Dolomites. But make no mistake, this isn’t just about the bike.
Each route is designed with care, not just to challenge or inspire riders but to create space for connection—with the landscape, the people, and, of course, oneself. Cyclists wind through medieval hilltop villages, past vineyards and olive groves, along coastal roads with sweeping sea views. There’s an intentional slowness to it all. A chance to absorb rather than rush, to soak rather than scratch the surface.
Rides are punctuated with experiences that linger in the mind long after you’ve hung up your helmet – lunch in a 400-year-old courtyard, a spontaneous roadside chat with a shepherd herding his flock or a well-earned beer in the garden after a physically and mentally challenging day in the saddle. It’s the contradiction of the experiences that elevate them to be more than they could ever be on their own.
The beauty of travelling by bike is the exposure, both literally and figuratively. You notice more. Smell more. Feel more. The routes are chosen not just for their scenic beauty, but for their ability to stir something deeper. And while they’re not for the faint of heart, A’qto’s support van is always nearby, so riders can feel confident and cared for.
Staying Where Stories Live
A cornerstone of the A’qto experience is accommodation, and here, too, the philosophy is about soul over sparkle. Forget sterile hotels. Guests stay in places with character: boutique masserias surrounded by almond groves, historic villas filled with local antiques, and country houses where the host family still makes their own cheese and wine.
These are places where the walls have stories, where you wake to birdsong and the smell of baking bread, where hosts greet you with a kiss on each cheek and an ice cold granita in hand. It’s not uncommon to leave with a recipe, a friendship, or even a promise to return.
This level of personal connection is no accident. Over the years, Nancy and Damian have built deep relationships with local partners – artisans, farmers, chefs, and hotel owners – who welcome A’qto guests like extended family.
And for those who don’t ride, A’qto’s thoughtfully designed non-rider program ensures they don’t miss a thing. While cyclists explore the countryside on two wheels, non-riders are treated to their own immersive experiences – from market visits and cooking classes to guided town walks and hikes in nature. It’s a parallel journey, just as rich in culture, connection, and joy.
At the Table, Life Slows Down
Of course, in Italy, any experience worth having includes food, and with A’qto, meals are not just sustenance; they’re a celebration.
Each region’s cuisine is honoured with reverence, from hand-rolled orecchiette in Puglia to delicate truffle dishes in Tuscany. Ingredients are seasonal, local, and often grown just steps from where you dine. Meals take place in vineyards, under pergolas, beside crackling hearths, always unhurried, always accompanied by wine, and always full of laughter.
The Kind of Luxury You Feel, Not Flaunt
Ultimately, what A’qto offers is a kind of experiential luxury – one that leaves you not with things, but with feelings: a sense of connection, a new perspective, a full heart.
It’s the joy of discovering a hilltop town you’d never heard of. The quiet pride of conquering a climb you thought was beyond you. The warmth of being welcomed into someone’s home, not as a guest, but as a friend.
And in Italy, a country where community, food, and tradition are woven into the fabric of every moment, this way of travelling feels especially powerful.
As Nancy says, “Luxury isn’t always about what you spend. It’s about how you feel. It’s about feeling enriched, uplifted, and part of something bigger.”
For those ready to trade glitz for meaning, and crowds for connection, A’qto offers a beautiful reminder: sometimes, the greatest indulgence is simply being present – on a bike, on a hillside, with a glass of wine in hand, and with nowhere else to be.
For more information about A’qto or their upcoming tours, visit www.aqtocycling.com or follow them on social media @aqtocycling.
Article by Erin Carey
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