It’s a slice of undiscovered paradise – a corner of Italy not visited by tourists with azure blue seas, ancient towns and villages filled with cobbled streets, churches and authentic products on sale at every corner.

Golden rays bathe each picturesque street, beaches are quiet and uncrowded, the food is delicious (and the wine even more so) but an untapped tourist destination can be lonely for solo travellers so what better a time than to try my first group trip.

Calabria, right on the southern toe of Italy, with Sciliy just a few miles away and the magnificent volcano Stromboli erupting just of the coast has so far avoided the hoards of tourists flocking to Italy every year for sunshine, pasta and some of that famous dolce vita.

Flying out of Stansted on a rainy September afternoon, the thought of relaxing in the sun and experiencing all this region had to offer couldn’t quite eradicate my nerves at joining 33 strangers for a full week.

Great Rail Journeys offer a huge range of bespoke guided tours to almost anywhere you can think of in the globe. From hidden gems on our own shores, to Italy, Scandinavia, Austria, Eastern Europe, the USA, Canada, Asia, India and Africa, there is almost nowhere you can’t discover.

Arriving at the stunning Michelizia Resort on the outskirts of the town dubbed Italy’s prettiest, Tropea, I met my group for the first time.

A huge range of ages from across not only the UK but also the US and even one Italian guest, everyone was tired from the travel but excited to begin our Italian adventure.

Yes, the group was mainly made up of couples but one thing I hadn’t expected was how welcoming and warm absolutely everyone was to a solo traveller – me.

From the very first morning, where we had a walking tour of Tropea, nestled on the cliff edge of the Tyrrhenian Sea with stunning views of crystal blue water and the majestic Stromboli, I was included in every conversation, laugh and meal times were a real delight.

I was ‘adopted’ by a lovely couple who ensured my wine glass was never empty and each meal time and trip around Calabria was a delight, filled with time spent making friends with some of the nicest people you could imagine.

Calabria really is one of Italy’s undiscovered regions – the poorest in Italy but many (myself included) would argue the most beautiful.

The town of Tropea has a rich tapestry of history – it’s stunning historic centre has survived countless earthquakes, invasions and bombings and stands as a testament of beauty to this incredible region. It was even voted Italy’s most beautiful town in 2021, and let’s be honest there’s some very stiff competition.

Next on the agenda was Reggio Calabria, home to the most beautiful kilometre in Italy – I’m not lying when I say this region is stunning. Sadly, even the southern tip of Italy isn’t immune to rain and unfortunately on the day we visited the showers came down heavy. This didn’t spoil to views across the Messini Straits to Sciliy, just a few miles away.

Reggio Calabria is also home to the iconic Riace Bronzes, two life-size statues dating back to 460BC, which really do have to be seen to be believe. The detail and how well they’re preserved really is mind-blowing. 

Just a short train journey along the coast is Scilla, a quaint fishing village, once again nestled into the cliffs right on the coast. Getting lost in its cobbled streets, down to the beach really was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had – and also the best ice-cream I’ve ever eaten.

When in Italy it would almost be a crime to not visit both a vineyard and olive grove. A wine tasting in the sunshine, followed by a walk among the vines was something out of a dream.

A peaceful and traditional olive farm – complete with donkeys – was next up. Known as Calabria’s liquid gold, after tasting bruschetta coated in fresh extra virgin olive oil, it’s easy to see why it has this moniker.

Pizzo is another gorgeous and ancient town in this untapped region. Also home to the Tartufo di Pizzo, a delicious chocolate truffle-shaped ice-cream with a molten chocolate centre and hazelnut ice-cream (don’t come to Calabria if you don’t like food).

Moving away from the coast there are the quaint towns of Serra San Bruno and Soriano. We were lucky enough to visit the former on the day of a mushroom festival, something else the region is famous for, and the village was buzzing with stalls, music and dancing.

Close to the village is the Monastery of San Bruno, which still houses 30-plus monks living in complete solitude and silence – an utterly fascinating way of life.

Close by you can picnic by the Lake of Miracles and visit the tomb of San Bruno himself.

Calabria is a region of Italy ignored on the main tourist route – but if my experience is anything to go by, it won’t be for long.

Oh, and if you’re worried about travelling alone as a solo traveller, I couldn’t recommend a tour highly enough. From the expert tour manager, who organised everything perfectly making this the least stressful holiday I’ve ever been on, to the guide who explained the intricacies of this region, to the people who made me feel more welcome than I could have imagined and I’d now call friends.