Welcome to Le Marche Excursions, a tour company that provides unparalleled voyages to the hidden heart of Italy. Owner/Operator Dave Barker is a second generation tour director who has been traveling to Italy since he was a child in the late 1970’s. Dave divides his time between Sarnano, a mountain village in the southwest part of Marche, Italy and Podgorica, the capital of nearby Montenegro.
Le Marche Excursions promotes slow and sustainable tourism. We follow the seasons to provide the best experiences and cuisine at the right time. Our small group sizes allow passage into places that are inaccessible by larger tour groups. Our mission is to take you beyond the borders of what you can expect from a typical European vacation.
Le Marche means “the borderlands,” and is the only Italian region with a plural name. It is located between Emilia Romania and the tiny independent country of San Marino to the North, Tuscany and Umbria to the West, Lazio to the Southwest, and Abruzzo to the South. The eastern boundary of Marche is formed by the stunning Adriatic coast.
Le Marche Excursions will take you off the beaten path into a world of waterfalls, truffles, tranquil beaches and rugged mountains. The idea for the company was formed on a hike up Monte Sibilla in 2024. The friendliness of the local guides, the breathtaking landscape and hearty food and drink afterwards was too good not to share.
Much of the region is only accessible by car or bus. The capitol of the region, Ancona has a regional airport, seaport and train station that provide easy access to other parts of Italy, Europe and the Balkans. Our offerings will obviously focus on Le Marche, and will include other regions and cities in Italy. Due to Marche’s proximity to the Adriatic coast, trips to the Balkans are in the works as well.
A running joke among Italians is that Americans only visit Venice, Florence, Rome, Cinque Terre and the Amalfi coast, and the rest of Italy simply doesn’t exist. At Le Marche Excursions, we will take you off the beaten path and Unveil Italy’s Hidden Heart.
