Tuscany Cycle Siena & Chianti

from $2,149.00

Ride through Tuscany’s classic towns of Siena, San Gimignano and
Montepulciano

Reviews 34 Reviews

5/5
Vacation Style Holiday Type
- Cycling
Guided
Activity Level Moderate
5/8
Group Size Small Group
6 - 16

Call us: 1-800-567-6286 Email us Request a brochure

All about the Tuscany Cycle Siena & Chianti.

The Tuscan landscape is one of the most evocative and romantic in Europe with cypress trees lining the roads, olive groves, vineyards, ancient hill-top towns and, of course, classic Renaissance cities. Our group cycling tour is carefully planned to take in the best of Tuscany without feeling rushed: part of the joy of the Italian lifestyle is sitting and watching the world go by with a glass of wine in your hand! During the week we ride through diverse areas of Tuscany, such as the hills of Chianti and the beautiful countryside around Montepulciano. Riding north, we enter ‘Le Crete’, a wonderfully scenic region that’s home to some of Tuscany’s best towns and villages. We then enjoy Siena’s magnificent Campo before biking past the towers of San Gimignano and onto our final destination in Florence. Following country roads wherever possible, we mix point-to-point and circular rides to make a perfect cycle tour of this region.

The tour package inclusions and exclusions at a glance

What is included in this tour?Items that are included in the cost of tour price.

* All breakfasts
* 7 nights accommodation at 3 star hotels with en suite facilities
* All transport and listed activities
* Tour leader throughout
* Airport transfers (at designated times)
* Local bike rental

What is not included in this tour?

Flights
Single Accommodation (available on request, inquire for supplement)
E-Bike (available on request, inquire for supplement)
Local taxes (approx. EUR 10 per person, see Trip Notes)

Highlights

Enjoy famous Tuscan cuisine and wine
Explore the cultural cities of Siena and Florence
Visit some of Tuscany’s most beautiful hilltop towns
7 nights at 3 star hotels with en suite facilities
5 days cycling with partial vehicle support (limited seats)
Group normally 6 to 16, plus leaders. Min age 16 years
95% tarmac, 5% easy gravel roads

Day 1 Start San Quirico.

Start in the hilltop town of San Quirico D’Orcia, one of the most beautiful and charming medieval towns of the Orcia Valley.**
Day 2 Circular ride through classic Tuscan countryside via Pienza, the wine town of Montepulciano and thermal spa village of Bagno Vignoni.

Today we head towards Pienza, a charming town full of history and culture. From here we cycle to the beautifully situated wine centre of Montepulciano, famous for its Vino Nobile. We then head towards the mediaeval village of Monticchiello and on to the well known thermal bath of Bagno Vignoni, before making our way back to the hotel.
Day 3 Ride through vineyards and the walled town of Murlo to Siena.

A classic day’s riding, showing Tuscany at its most picturesque. Following back roads, we head out of San Quirico with a first stop at Montalcino. We then descend on the road to Buonconvento and ride back up to Murlo passing by Bibbiano. From here we ascend the short but steep Rospatoio Pass and take a lovely road section via Ville di Corsano, as we approach the splendid gothic city of Siena.
Day 4 Free day in Siena to explore or relax.

Siena is one of Italy’s best-preserved medieval towns with one of the world’s most gracious squares, the Campo. There is plenty to see in Siena and its sights are best explored on foot as the town is compact but hilly. There are many museums and buildings of interest to visit, such as the impressive Duomo. Alternatively you may choose to head out for an unguided ride. On the June 30th departure you will get the chance to be in Siena during the ’Palio Horse Race’, one of Italy’s most famous annual sporting events and experience the thrilling atmosphere around it. Held in honour of the Virgin Mary, ten of the city’s seventeen contrade, or districts, are represented by a horse and jockey in each race and will compete against each other during this event. It has been held in Siena’s civic hub, Piazza del Campo, since 1644 and local people get involved to a level that it is still common for ‘mixed-marriage’ couples to separate for the days leading up to and including the race if the contrada of the husband and wife both have a horse in contention.
Day 5 Ride via Gaiole and Radda to Castellina in Chianti.

From Siena we head directly into the heart of Chianti. Our picturesque route takes us via some lovely small villages and hamlets, as well as some spectacular vineyards and castles, such as that of Castello di Brolio. Here there is the option to taste some of the area’s finest wines. We then cycle on to Gaiole for lunch and after a gelato stop in Radda, we follow our final section to Castellina in Chianti, where we stay for two nights.
Day 6 Circular ride through the Chianti hills via towers of San Gimignano and Monteriggioni.

From Castellina, we ride through rolling countryside before taking an amazingly scenic descent into the lower valley. From Poggibonsi we head towards the distant towers of San Gimignano, nestled between the hills and small hamlets. The Unesco town is one of the most visited and interesting sights in Tuscany; famous for its towers, Vernaccia wine & Safron. We spend a few hours enjoying the atmosphere, walking by the walls and admiring the town’s high towers. Our return route involves a long but beautiful climb before reaching Castellina and enjoying a well deserved gelato.
Day 7 Cycle to Florence via Panzano and Greve in Chianti.

Our final spectacular ride passes through Panzano in Chianti towards the market town of Greve in Chianti. This is described as one of the most scenic roads which links Florence with Siena through the Chianti hills. Here we have time to admire the triangular piazza which hosts the famous Chianti wine festival before heading towards Strada and Impruneta, known for their local terracotta production. In Impruneta we stop for our lunch. We finish by taking a panoramic road towards Florence, cycling all the way to Piazzale Michelangelo for a final group shot. We will arrive in Florence in the early afternoon, giving you time to start exploring this wonderful city of the Renaissance including the Cathedral and Baptistry – the oldest building in the city. Also see the Ponte Vecchio, the superb bridge over the river Arno, lined with goldsmiths and the most famous symbol of the City.
Day 8 End Florence.

End in Florence. Please speak to our sales team if you would like to book extra nights in this magnificent city.**

Where you stay

Hotels

You will spend 7 nights in family run and comfortable 3-star hotels. All accommodation have been carefully selected for their welcoming atmosphere and all rooms have en suite facilities. Some hotels have a swimming pool where we can relax after the long cycling days.

We can arrange single rooms throughout the trip (subject to availability). Please check with your sales consultant for availability and prices.

Eating and Drinking

All breakfasts are included and are Continental in style, consisting of coffee or tea, cereals, cheese and cold meat, bread, pastries, yoghurt, jam and/or honey.

Italy’s cuisine is hearty, satisfying and full of flavour. Inspired by the kitchens of the nonna, Tuscany’s food is authentic and surprising – pizza and pasta are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the diverse array of unforgettable food you’ll find on this trip. Starters include antipasti of cured meats or a crustini di fegato made from toasted slices of bread with a chicken liver pate. Soups options are the zuppa di fagioli, with beans, or ribollita, a deliciously hearty vegetable and bread soup. The tagliatelle al tartufo brings the delicious flavors of truffles into a rich, luscious pasta dish whether the bistecca florentina, a mouth-watering t-bone steak takes centre stage for main course. End your meal with cantucci biscuits, dipped into a glass of vin santo, sweet dessert wine for a true taste of Tuscany. Vegetarians are well catered for in Italy. Please inform us of any dietary requirements at the time of booking.

Is this trip for you?

This trip is classified Road.
Activity Level: 3 (Moderate).
Please see the introductory pages of the cycling holidays brochure or our website for more important information on classification and grading.

This region is famous for its rolling hills, so be prepared for some climbing in places. This trip will require a moderate to good level of fitness as the area and rides are on undulating roads varying from 2km hills to 9km hill stretches on some days.
Days 3 and 6 falls into the upper category of moderate grade riding, including some steep sections up to 10-25%.
Distances per day vary from 50-70km. There are no transfers to or from hotels on this trip: all the rides are designed to be door-to-door.
We aim to use quieter country roads where possible, but sometimes we need to pass busy sections surrounding towns. The most scenic routes are on tarmac, with occasional stretches of dirt/gravel roads (locally known as ‘white roads’).

5 days cycling, average 58km/day (36 miles), full vehicle support.
Terrain: 95% tarmac, 5% easy gravel roads. Approx. 300 km in total.

Most days rides will be broken up by morning coffee, lunch and afternoon gelato stops. Usually section of 5-15 km will be done between re-grouping. The leader will keep the group together during busier/complicated sections, but on straight roads, cyclists are free to ride at their own pace.

Summer months

Tuscany can be very hot during summer months, especially from June to August but heatwaves can happen also in April and May. During summer months temperatures can possibly reach high 30s (degC). We will try and start our days earlier, when possible, to avoid the hottest hours of the day but please be aware that temperatures and humidity will be high. You should feel comfortable and be used to cycle in the heat. Presence of mosquitoes in summer may increase (significantly), we recommend taking mosquito repellent with you.

Please note that at times, especially during summer months, the arrival airport pick up time can be late in the evening. In this instance you will have additional time to spend in Pisa. 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, on return we will have to be at the airport earlier than normally scheduled. This will mean a longer waiting time before checking in.

Overall Rating

5/5

Reviewed On 25/06/2020

5/5

CYCLE THROUGH SIENA & CHIANTI

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
It has to be the ride into Sienna and arriving in the main sqaure. It's also pretty amazing arriving in Piazza Michelangelo in Florence. The Piazza del Miracolos in Pisa takes some beating. or maybe it was the first taste of Vino Nobile de Montepulciano?
What did you think of your group leader?
The group leaders Mike and Rudy were both great, very experienced and committed to making sure that everything went smoothly and that everyone in the group had a great time. Nothing was a problem and they worked hard all the time to make things even better.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
The distances are not long but it's quite up and down. You'll enjoy the trip more if you do some hill training before you go. There is an optional hill to ride up on the return from San Gimignano - the incline is gradual so you can certainly complete it and it's a great feeling when you reach the top and look down where you've come from!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
There is a local pasta called pici, which is like a fat spaghetti. It's only available freshly made so this is the only place you can get it. It's really delicious with pecorino cheese and black pepper.

Reviewed On 25/06/2020

5/5