Travelling can take you to the ends of the earth, visit extraordinary sites, eat sublime food and sleep in enchanting places. But in most cases the difference between an ordinary holiday and a special, sometimes unforgettable holiday is the company.

Finding the right travel companion is basically essential… when you can choose it, of course!!

On holiday with your pets

There are those who travel with friends, those who love to do it alone, those who decide for a romantic couple's tour, and those who go on a group trip hoping to find fun and nice friends, to share emotions and exchange email addresses.

And then there are those who don't want to get away, even on holiday, from their "most faithful friend": the pet.

Travelling with your dog, or leaving with your cat on vacation, become a way of sharing happy moments outside the normal everyday life spent between the house and, for the luckiest ones, the nearby park.

Planning the journey

Sometimes, the idea of spending your vacation with your pet can be difficult to manage as, especially for some destinations, it is hard to find restaurants and hotels that accept dogs and cats, or to get around with pet-friendly means of transportation: even bringing your cat on the plane would be complicated!

If you want to avoid to make your vacation stressful even before your departure, there is the possibility of turning to someone who can help you organise and make your unforgettable "beastly holiday" enjoyable. We know that your loyal friend likes the outdoors just as much as you do for a dynamic, active and "slow" holiday, to discover the unicity and the authenticity of the places you visit.

Welcome, four-legged friends!

Do not hesitate to ask us for a pet-friendly holiday! We will help you organise your preferred mode of travel: trekking, cycling or food&wine and cultural itineraries. If you decide to travel with your furry friend, we will design a tailor-made 4-legged holiday for you, from a simple weekend to a whole week or more with your faithful friend.

Ad hoc tours with your dog: emotions guaranteed

Maria Teresa and Giuseppe travelled with us and their two wonderful dogs. They chose a tailor made tour, that took them along some of the paths in the magical Itria Valley and in the enchanting coastal park that runs from Otranto down to Leuca. And they didn't deprive themselves of anything! On the contrary, they returned home enriched by joyful emotions and indelible memories of wild places experienced in playful company, and witnessed by that bit of white sand on the floor, unconsciously carried by their adorable masses of ruffled fur.

Here is a list of tours you can choose for a walking trip with your furry friend:

And why give up a nice bike trip just because our friends can't ride? All you need is the right accessories, such as a practical bike trailer, and you could then set off on a nice bike tour of Salento in 6 or 8 days.

Dog-friendly walks in the South of Italy

If you love animals and nature, the maximum of the experience you could desire to live is certainly an outdoor trip with your loyal friend. And it will not be the case of improvising: pets are used to a certain comfort and to follow their routine, therefore it is good to study all in detail so that this experience could amuse your hairy travel companion and not destabilise him.

We at Slow Active Tours are here for this: we want to accompany you and your dog (or cat) by hand (or paw) in a journey like you could not have imagined.

We will give you ideas about the itineraries to follow in the South of Italy, we will introduce you mainly our walking tour proposals, which are the most suitable for the company of your four-legged friend, we will suggest you pet-friendly accommodations, where to rest after a more or less long walk.

At the sea with your dog

If you decide to travel to Puglia in the summer, there are also many dog-friendly beaches, equipped or not. In Salento, for example, there are many of them both on the Adriatic and on the Ionian side. Among the free beaches where you can let your pet play and refresh, for example, we suggest you Marina di Mancaversa, Porto Selvaggio and Lido Pizzo (which are natural reserves, so on a leash!) on the Ionian coast, and the beaches of San Cataldo and San Foca on the Adriatic coast.

Do not underestimate a regenerating stop with your dog in a sunny beach: there are many benefits you and your loyal friend can enjoy.
→ The sea water has curative properties on the dog’s skin, it helps the restoration of the damaged tissue and enhances its look. Moreover, the sun is good for the bones and improve the mood of you dog! But pay attention to avoid the hottest time and a prolonged exposure. And keep your dog hydrated with copious water (obviously, not the salted water of the sea!).

Some useful tips for traveling with your dog

Firstly, carefully consider the suitability of your dog to follow you in an adventurous trip. 
Here is what to ask yourself and some advice for a smooth experience:

  • Is he really ready? Has he the right age (more than 1 years old but not too old) and the right level of training? Perhaps, before to leave for a walking tour, get him used to long walks through the town or in countryside. Moreover, keep in mind that small dogs get tired before that medium-big ones.
  • Then, since you will be immersed into the nature, we suggest you to shear the dog before departure, to keep him cleaner.
  • Be sure that he has eaten at least three hours before the trip: in this way, he will be well-fed, but not weighed down by the digestive processes.
  • Bring always fresh water to avoid that he dehydrates and bowls and snacks for the journey.
  • Pick up after your dog with the proper dustpan and bags and do not forget to bring the leash (and perhaps also a spare one), antiparasitic drugs and a tweezers for ticks.

We are sure that, by following these simple precautions and relying on tourism professionals, you and your four-legged friend will enjoy a unique experience that will enrich and unite you even more ... Look at him, he's already wagging his tail at the idea!