Tuscany Walks & Chianti Wines

Experience Overview

The intoxicating beauty of Tuscany is there for all to see. But that’s just the start on this gentle small-group hiking adventure. Guided by an expert tour leader, we experience the Garden of Italy through the eyes of a local, staying in the small village of Pancole, where we’re treated to classic Italian hospitality by the Sabatini family. Our walks take us through beautiful vineyards and we explore the Renaissance cities of Siena and Florence with expert local guides. Of course, we also sample several varieties of the local chianti together, forging friendships that could last a lifetime.
Trip For You
This trip is graded Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings, visit our Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip, please contact us. Walking profile: This trip offers a good mix of city and countryside walks. The terrain and path type include paved tracks, forest trails and gravel. The walks are not technically difficult, although there are some ascents and descents, so a reasonable amount of fitness is required. Please be aware, the Radda walk on Day 3 can be challenging due to the length and hilliness of the route. The area is quite hilly and most drives, although short, follow twisty mountain roads through wooden areas. Climate: Tuscany can be very hot in summer, especially from June to August but heatwaves can also happen in April and May. Temperatures can reach the high 30Cs (around 100F). We try to start our hikes earlier to avoid the hottest hours of the day but temperatures and humidity will be high. You should feel comfortable walking in the heat. The number of mosquitos may increase (significantly) in summer, so we recommend bringing repellent.
Group Description
The tour leader accompanies the group on all programmed activities, except for your free day and, on some departures, your walk on Day 4, which may be led by a local guide.
Eating Drinking
All breakfasts, five dinners and three wine tastings are included. Breakfast is usually a continental-style buffet. The five included dinners are taken at Hotel Le Renaie. Four meals consist of three courses, dessert and a glass of wine. On Tuesday evening, when the restaurant is closed to the public, you will be treated to a special pizza feast. All meals are homemade and prepared using locally sourced ingredients and following traditional Tuscan recipes. For this reason, the menu doesn’t include fish-based options. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free choices are available – please advise us of dietary requirements on booking.
Transportation
We use a private minibus for airport transfers and most excursions plus the local train/bus services on certain days. Transfers are no longer than one hour at a time and road conditions are good.
Joining Instructions
Key information Start hotel: Hotel Le Renaie, Località Pancole, 53037 San Gimignano (SI) Phone: +39 0577 1607452 Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today. There will be a welcome briefing around 6pm in the evening. Airport: Pisa (PSA) Getting to the start hotel The start hotel is approximately 1hr 20min drive from the airport. We provide one group arrival transfer from the airport, which is timed to coincide with the arrival of a chosen flight. You may join this transfer at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves. Speak to your sales representative for the group arrival transfer times or to arrange a private transfer. The usual meeting point for the group transfer is Pisa Airport, where the guide will be waiting for you. Occasionally, unpredictable parking restrictions at the airport mean the group transfer includes a five-minute journey on the Pisamover from the airport to the railway station. In this case, the guide will still meet you at the airport on arrival and accompany you on the Pisamover. Make your own way It’s possible to reach the start hotel by public transport, but the journey is complicated. We therefore recommend joining the group transfer where possible. If not, you can pre-order a taxi through Exodus. This will take you from Pisa Airport directly to Hotel Le Renaie. It will take approximately 1hr 20min  to reach the accommodation and costs approximately €200, paid locally. If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative. Catching your return flight There’s a group departure transfer to the airport for those booked onto a chosen flight. Please speak to your sales representative if you wish to join. If the group departure transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative transfer. Note on the group flights The inbound flight can sometimes be late in the evening, especially during summer. In this instance, you will have additional time to spend in Pisa. The tour leader will take care of all arrangements in terms of transport from/to the airport and the city centre and luggage storage. It may also happen that, for logistical reasons, we must be at the airport earlier than normally scheduled on return. This will mean a longer waiting time before checking in. Consider taking the train Reach this trip by train from the UK or across Europe and lower your carbon footprint. Our partner, Byway, can take care of the planning and booking.
Weather Information
Expect warm days in April and May. Although rain is possible, it seldom lasts long. Nights may be cool. We strongly recommend a fleece-lined jacket or warm sweater in these months. June sees the start of summer and July and August can become quite hot by mid-afternoon, so this time is kept free for lunch. Although rain is unusual, torrential cloudbursts are not unknown. September and October are cooler and wetter, yet visibility is often better. Swimming is usually still possible.
Spending Money
For the dinner not included, allow €35 for a good meal and extra for wine. Lunches are not included but there is always somewhere to buy lunch (a cafe lunch costs approximately €15) or provisions to make a picnic if this is preferred. You will also need to allow for tips at restaurants. Local taxes: Many Italian cities have introduced a tourist tax for non-residents. The local administration oversees the tax, which will be collected by the accommodation provider at check-in or check-out. This fee varies depending on the hotel category, the season and number of days of stay. It is usually €2-€3 per person per night. For this trip, please allow €10-€15, depending on the season, for the week. In some cities, children and people aged 75 or over are exempt from this tax. Optional activities and excursions — Optional wine tasting: €5-€10 depending on the number of wines tested — The Boboli Gardens in Florence: €10 — Uffizi Gallery in Florence: €24 (including €4 booking fee) — Accademia Gallery in Florence: €18 (including €6.50 booking fee)
Tipping
Our local staff are paid fairly for their work. Most wish to tip their guides in appreciation of their help and friendliness. This, of course, is not compulsory and depends on the service received. For this trip, we recommend allowing approximately €15-€20 per leader per week.

Highlights