| Tuscany Walk Classic details |
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Departures 2008 :
May 3 & 24
June 7
August 30
September 13
October 4 | Departures 2009 :
May 2 & 23
June 6
August 29
September 19
October 3 | Duration: 8 Days/7 Nights
Departing from: Hotel Orto de' Medici, Florence at 12:00 pm on Sunday, Day 2
Tour finishes: In Poggibonsi, around 10:30 a.m. on Day 8
Price: $2,899 USD per person based on double occupancy. Single supplement $350 USD.
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Siena's medieval City Hall
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Summer sunflowers
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Lunch in the Chianti hills
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The magnificent towers of
San Gimignano
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Hiking fall fields
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Springtime green!
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Sunset from the Villa Lecchi
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Happy Hour in Colle val d'Elsa
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Tuscany Walk Classic |
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Tuscany Walk Classic Itinerary
Preview - Come walk the hills and villages of beautiful Tuscany, where natural and historical splendors surround us on every hike. Discover the mysterious Etruscan civilization in Volterra, see the stunning towers of medieval San Gimignano, explore the quiet streets of Colle di Val d'Elsa, the crystal capital of Italy, and admire Siena’s splendid “Il Campo” square, arguably the most beautiful in all Italy. Combine the sensual pleasures of Tuscany (food, wine, sunshine!) with the physical pleasure of walking through some of the most beautiful countryside in the world. Buon appetito and happy trails!
Day 1 -- Saturday: Arrive in Florence and transfer to the 3-star hotel Orto de' Medici in the heart of historic Florence. It is only a few minutes' walk from the Accademia, home to Michelangelo's David, and less than five minutes to the Duomo. Dine independently tonight. Dinner and transfer on your own. Hotel included.
Day 2 - Sunday: Meet your guides and the rest of the group at 12:00 p.m. for a private transfer (90 minutes) to Volterra and the start of our first hike. The van drops us off in the countryside and we begin walking from there. The walk takes us up through olive groves and vineyards, past stone farmhouses, and eventually to the imposing city walls of Volterra. From the battlements we look down on the Roman theatre and out across the landscape of western Tuscany to the sea. On a clear day you can even see the islands of Elba and Corsica. After checking into the hotel we meet our local guide for a visit of town, whose history spans
Etruscan, Roman, Medieval and Renaissance periods. We visit the fascinating Etruscan Museum, where 3,000 year old funerary
urns, ceramics, and filigree gold jewelry bear witness to the
extraordinary sophistication of the Etruscan civilization. Before dinner we meet up for an aperitivo to discuss the week's activities, followed by dinner. The walk: 2 hours, mostly uphill but at a gentle grade. Distance: 7 km (4 miles). Overnight Volterra at La Locanda. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 3 - Monday: We begin our day with a 30-minute van shuttle to the trailhead, then we set off for the hamlet of Ulignano and a picnic lunch. We walk through oak forests and vast wheat fields, past solitary cypress trees and stone farmhouses, before eventually looping back towards Volterra, whose towers and steeples stand out across the valley in the distance. Van shuttle back to the hotel. Free time to further explore Volterra or unwind at a café before dinner. The walk: 2.5 hours to lunch, then another hour in the afternoon over rolling terrain. Distance: about 12 kms (7 miles). Overnight Volterra. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 4 - Tuesday: We bid farewell to Volterra and transfer by van towards Colle di Val d'Elsa. Our walk takes us past a 15th century hunting lodge to the hamlet of Montauto from where we have wonderful views onto the storybook "city of the towers," San Gimignano. We walk on an ancient trail called the Via Francigena, where pilgrims and noblemen once travelled north and south through Europe. We have lunch in San Gimignano, then have time to explore before transferring by van to Colle di Val d'Elsa where we stay the next two nights. "Colle," for short, is a charming walled town and home to Italy's finest crystal makers. The walk: 3.5 hours to San Gimignano through rolling terrain. Distance about 15 kms (9 miles). Overnight Colle di Val d'Elsa. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 5 - Wednesday: Our loop walk from Colle takes us to a small private Tuscan winery and a tasting of its Chianti, Vernaccia and Vin Santo wines as well as their olive oil. We will have a leisurely lunch at the winery with the option to walk back to Colle di Val d’Elsa. Free time in the afternoon to either peruse Colle's crystal shops or do another walk. The walk: About two and a half hours to the winery with an optional hour and half walk back in the afternoon. Distances about 9 kms (6 mi) with an optional extra 7 kms (4.5 mi). Overnight in Colle di Val d’Elsa Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 6 - Thursday: Today we take a break from hiking and do a little urban exploring, Medieval style! We transfer by van to beautiful Siena, one of Italy’s most enchanting cities. Conquered by the Medicis in 1585, Siena became a backwater, frozen in time, making it one of Europe’s finest example of a preserved Gothic city. The high concentration of buildings from the 12th-14th centuries makes Siena unique, and the main square, “Il Campo,” is considered by many to be Italy’s most beautiful piazza. The famous bareback “Palio” horse race is held in the square twice a year. Our local guide will explain the mayhem and passion of the race, then take us to visit the Duomo and its medieval treasures. After lunch you can join your guide to explore Siena's city walls and hidden neighborhoods or venture out on your own to shop or explore the town at your leisure. Reconvene at 16:00 to transfer to our home for the last two nights, the lovely Villa Lecchi. The Villa Lecchi is an 18th century Tuscan villa that has been lovingly restored and transformed into a charming family-run hotel. Magnificent Lebanese cedar trees spread their branches out over the villa's park, where on a hot summer afternoon the shade is welcome. Enjoy a swim in the pool or soak up the view over the surrounding hills while enjoying a cool glass of prosecco on the terrace. Our dinner tonight features delicious local produce and traditional Tuscan dishes made in the family kitchen. Overnight Villa Lecchi. Hotel and breakfast included.
Day 7 - Friday: Enjoy the view this morning from your country villa, then have breakfast in the garden before starting out on our final walk into the famous Chianti Classico vineyards beneath the village of Castellina in Chianti. A quick shuttle takes us to the hilltop fortress of Monteriggioni, so impressive that Dante mentions it in a stanza of his "Inferno." We then walk through forests and verdant farmland to reach the historical winery of Lilliano for a short visit and then lunch. The afternoon's walk is a fantasia of vines, olives, and wide views, leading us back home to the Villa Lecchi. The walk: about 2.5 hours to lunch, then another 1.5 hours over rolling terrain; distance about 15 kms (9 mi). Overnight Villa Lecchi. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 8 - The tour concludes after breakfast, but your guides will be happy to help you with your onward travel plans. We shuttle everyone into the nearby town of Poggibonsi, which is well connected to Florence and Siena by bus and train (we usually take the 9:46 train, arriving in Florence at 10:50). From there you can easily catch trains for the rest of Italy. Breakfast included.
At this point your trip with us is finished, but of course there is
much more to see and do in Tuscany. If you wish to spend a few days in
Florence after the trip, we can help you arrange a guided visit of the
city or of the Uffizi. Need a hotel? We have many favourites to suit
all budgets. Of course there are also Arezzo, Lucca and Pisa to
explore. Perhaps you will just have to come back to Tuscany!
Useful Links -
The City of Florence : everything you need to know about the city
The Accademia: home of Michelangelo's David and other world-famous works
The Uffizi Gallery: one of the greatest collections in the world. We recommend you make reservations ahead of time.
The Duomo: one of the wonders of the Renaissance, Florence's cathedral.
The City of Volterra tourist authority: official site of the city and its activities.
Alabaster in Volterra: information on this ancient craft and the city's craftsmen.
Crystal in Colle Val d'Elsa: all about the city's crystal producers -- one of the most important centers in Europe.
Siena Tourist Authority: details on the city's history and events.
Chianti Classico wine consortium: a site devoted to this world-renown wine and its group of producers
UNESCO World Heritage sites in Italy: come see the marvels that await you in Italy!
SITA Bus Service Poggibonsi to Florence: schedules for buses to/from Florence and Siena, including Poggibonsi.
General Information
Note on Itinerary: Although we do our best to adhere to the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control.
Trip Cost Includes: 7 nights total (1 night 3-star in Florence, 2 nights in 4-star in Volterra, 2 nights in Colle di Val d'Elsa & 2 nights Villa Lecchi in 3-star hotels); 7 breakfasts and 5 dinners, bilingual guide or guides; all van transfers and luggage transfers from pick-up in Florence on Day 2 to Saturday morning Day 8; guided visit of Volterra, entrance to Etruscan museum, and guided visit of Siena and the Duomo.
Not Included: Round-trip airfare; airport/hotel transfers; lunches; 2 dinners (1 in Florence and 1 in Siena); travel insurance; gratuities; alcoholic beverages; and items of a personal nature. Qualifications: This trip is rated moderate to easy. Some prior hiking experience is beneficial but anyone in good physical condition will have no problems with the walks. We usually walk between 10-16 kms a day (6-10 miles), which translates into about 3-4 hours of walking a day, more or less equally divided between morning and afternoon. This may sound like a lot, but we make frequents stops to take pictures or simply enjoy the view. However, a regular conditioning program consisting of walking/running and a daily stretching regimen is recommended, beginning at least 3 months prior to departure. This will get you in shape and ensure that you are able to enjoy fully all that this wonderful trip has to offer.
Van Support and luggage transfers: When required and and indicated in the itinerary, we use van transfers to shuttle you from the beginning and end of the hikes. Your luggage is moved by van from hotel to hotel.
Weather: In May and June, the climate is generally sunny and warm with daytime temperatures in the 80s and evening temperatures dropping 10-20 degrees. Rain showers are a possibility but typically do not last longer than a few hours. September and October weather is similar, but temperatures can be slightly cooler with fewer daylight hours. Some rainfall is possible on any of the departures requiring participants to arrive equipped with appropriate raingear.
Getting there (this will redirect you to our "Getting to the Trip" page)
General Information: This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the CustomWalks Ltd. reservation information and trip agreement. Please read this information carefully and e-mail us (or use the "Contact Us" page) if you have any questions. We highly recommend the purchase of Trip Insurance which you can do through CustomWalks Ltd or by clicking on the logo below (another window will open up on your screen).
We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited. Send us an email or fax to reserve your trip. Full trip details including detailed pre-departure information, train timetables, and a gear list are sent upon receipt of deposit.
Come join us!
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