Classic Tuscany Guided Walk

7 days (Florence)

Destinations visited: Italy, Florence

Grading:

moderate

Grading Definitions

Discovery & Cruising

These are our least demanding trips. These journeys of discovery and cruises involve little or no extended activity and are suitable for people with a basic level of fitness and good health. The itinerary may take place in remote areas (with basic facilities) and may involve long travel days on various types of transport. Sightseeing may be conducted on foot and all participants should be capable of carrying their own luggage from vehicle to hotel rooms. These adventures do not go above 2500m and rarely involve camping.
Suggested preparation: Once or twice a week, we recommend you walk on undulating terrain for an hour, for at least 2 -3 months prior to departure.

Adventure Touring

Suggested preparation: Two or three times a week, we recommend you walk on undulating terrain for an hour or more, for at least 3 months prior to departure.

Introductory

These trips involve trekking or walking, cycling, rafting or sea kayaking for up to five or six hours a day at a slow but steady pace and should never be misinterpreted to mean they are easy trips. These trips do not spend time at altitudes above 4000m and are usually a week in duration. You will need a reasonable level of fitness and good health.
Suggested preparation: 30 minutes of aerobic type exercise, (either cycling or jogging) three times a week for three months leading up to your trek. For trekking, hill walking with a daypack in variable weather conditions is also recommended. For a cycling adventure, road cycling twice a week for three months prior to departure is recommended.

Introductory to Moderate

These trips involve a combination of what is described in our INTRODUCTORY and MODERATE levels. The emphasis is on introductory activity with several moderate stages

Moderate

These adventures involve trekking, cycling, rafting or sea kayaking for up to 6 or 7 hours a day at a steady pace. These trips may spend successive days at altitudes not generally exceeding 5,500m and are usually between 10 and 15 days in duration. You will need a good level of fitness and be in good health.
Suggested preparation: 45 minutes of aerobic type exercise, three to five times a week for the three months leading up to your trek. Hill walking with a pack in variable weather conditions or road cycling is also recommended depending upon the activity you plan to undertake.

Moderate to Challenging

These adventures involve trekking, cycling, rafting or sea kayaking for up to 6 or 7 hours a day at a steady pace. These trips may spend successive days at altitudes not generally exceeding 5,500m and are usually between 10 and 15 days in duration. You will need a good level of fitness and be in good health. Suggested preparation: 45 minutes of aerobic type exercise, three to five times a week for the three months leading up to your trek. Hill walking with a pack in variable weather conditions or road cycling is also recommended depending upon the activity you plan to undertake.

Challenging

These adventures involve trekking, cycling or rafting in remote areas in variable weather conditions for up to 8 to 10 hours a day (possibly more subject to weather conditions and altitude). This may include spending successive days at altitudes not generally exceeding 6000m. These trips may often be over three weeks in duration. You will need an excellent level of fitness, be prepared to carry a daypack weighing up to 8kgs (and in some cases a full pack) and be completely comfortable in adverse weather conditions.
Suggested preparation: One hour of aerobic type exercise, four to five times a week for three to six months prior to departure. Hill walking with a pack in variable weather conditions or on/off road cycling is also recommended.

Entry Mtn/Exploratory Treks

These adventures are classed as expeditions. They involve either extreme trekking and or basic mountaineering. Expect remote and poorly defined trails in variable weather conditions for up to 12 hours a day (possibly more subject to weather conditions and altitude). This may include a number of demanding high pass crossings and evacuation may be difficult from remote areas. Suitable for first time mountaineers wishing to take the step from trekking into the realm of mountaineering. Prior experience trekking at altitude is preferable but not essential and you should be comfortable in adverse weather conditions. Prior technical mountaineering experience is not necessary. Terrain will involve low angle snow slopes. Ropes may be used during treks for glacier travel and steeper sections of ice and snow. When mountaineering, basic mountaineering instruction is given by our mountaineering guides.
Suggested preparation: For grade 8-10 mountaineering expeditions you will need to be very fit and healthy. A minimum of 1 hour of aerobic exercise per session, four to five times a week is essential. Running and cycling in hilly areas is particularly beneficial as are multi day walks on the weekends. This is the ideal time to try out your boots and other gear to make sure you are prepared and ready for your expedition. If you are considering Intermediate or advanced level trips, you will need to discuss your preparation leading up to the trip with our expert staff.

Intermediate Mtn Expedition

Participants should be competent and self sufficient in the outdoors and have experience in multi day trekking at altitude. Prior experience on an entry level mountaineering expedition is highly recommended. The terrain will involve low to moderate angle snow slopes and traveling on crevassed glaciers. Experience using ice axe and crampons is preferred but not essential.
Suggested preparation: For grade 8-10 mountaineering expeditions you will need to be very fit and healthy. A minimum of 1 hour of aerobic exercise per session, four to five times a week is essential. Running and cycling in hilly areas is particularly beneficial as are multi day walks on the weekends. This is the ideal time to try out your boots and other gear to make sure you are prepared and ready for your expedition. If you are considering Intermediate or advanced level trips, you will need to discuss your preparation leading up to the trip with our expert staff.

Advanced Mtn Expedition

These are our most challenging expeditions. Clients must have prior mountaineering experience. Most are participatory expeditions & involve load carrying, setting up of camps, cooking and campcraft. Altitude is generally greater than 6500m. Some of these expeditions also involve “technical” climbing and are for experienced alpine climbers / mountaineers only. Technical expeditions involve steep climbing at high altitude (including rock climbing). Participation on one of these expeditions is subject to acceptance by one of our high altitude mountaineering guides.
Suggested preparation: For grade 8-10 mountaineering expeditions you will need to be very fit and healthy. A minimum of 1 hour of aerobic exercise per session, four to five times a week is essential. Running and cycling in hilly areas is particularly beneficial as are multi day walks on the weekends. This is the ideal time to try out your boots and other gear to make sure you are prepared and ready for your expedition. If you are considering Intermediate or advanced level trips, you will need to discuss your preparation leading up to the trip with our expert staff.

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A classic walk from Florence to Siena through the magnificent Tuscan countryside

From Piazza della Signoria to Piazza del Campo, an inspirational guided walk joining two of the most important Tuscan cities. Between Florence, the city of Leonardo, Giotto, Dante and Brunelleschi, and Siena, native land of the "Palio" lies the Chianti wine region, an area of rolling vine covered hills, medieval villages and olive groves. The region is ideal for exploring on foot, experiencing the slower pace of life endemic to Tuscany and learning about the long history of wine making. From Colle Val d' Elsa, a lovely medieval village and our base for most of the trip, walk in the company of our guide along the Francigena Way to Saint Gimignano, a town dominated by its magnificent towers and Volterra famous for its alabaster handicrafts. Ample opportunity is set aside to visit markets, explore the narrow streets of small towns and visit museums, galleries and vineyards en route.

Highlights

Historical towns of Siena and Florence
San Gimignano: an original approach from Colle val d’Elsa
The villages of the Chianti region: Castellina and Radda in Chianti
Soaking up the atmosphere in specially chosen hotels

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Florence

On arrival in Florence, make your way to the group hotel. The tour guide will meet you at the hotel in the afternoon, following which there will be a short city tour with time free to visit Florence. Dinner in a restaurant and overnight in hotel.

Day 2 Transfer to Colle Val d'Elsa, explore town and walk to Colle Alta (4hrs)

After breakfast transfer by public bus to Colle Val d'Elsa where we begin our walk along the Via Francigena. At Colle Alta you can visit a crystal workshop in the tradition of the famous master craftsman Boreno Cigni. We spend time visiting Colle Val d'Elsa, the ancient city of Etruscan origin, allied with Florence against Siena in the 12th Century. Dinner and overnight in hotel. Ascent +150, descent -150m

Day 3 Transfer to Castellina in Chianti and walk through vineyards to Radda (4hrs )

Transfer by private minibus to Castellina in Chianti. The route passes through the vineyards and olive groves of Chianti Classico, along trails and unpaved roads in the heart of the Chianti region, up to Radda in Chianti. Sightseeing of the city and return by minibus to Colle Val d'Elsa. Dinner and overnight in hotel. Ascent +350m, descent -200m

Day 4 Walk to San Gimignano, visit town (4hrs)

From Colle Val d'Elsa we begin walking to reach the Abbey Cone, founded by the Benedictine rule around 1000. It subsequently came under the reform "vallombrosana" when it was consecrated in 1124 as the Church of Santa Maria Assunta, bishops of Volterra. Passing Molino d'Aiano along the Via Francigena we head to San Gimignano. The town is set on a hill at 324m altitude and dominates the whole Val d'Elsa: it is a beautiful example of a medieval town that has remained intact despite modern development. The numerous towers are a defining feature that sets it apart from other towns. Enclosed within its 11th century walls, the town is built along two axes which intersect: from east to west from the tower in Poggio to Poggio Montestaffoli and from north to south along the axis that goes from Porta San Giovanni to Porta San Matteo, where it follows the Via Francigena. Return to Colle Val d’Elsa by bus. Dinner and overnight in hotel. Ascent +390m, descent -290m

Day 5 Transfer to Volterra, explore town and surrounds by foot (3.5hrs)

Transfer by public bus to Volterra. We hike around the hills of Volterra to discover the hidden corners and better appreciate the cliffs and the Etruscan necropolis. Sightseeing of the city: this small medieval town is definitely a must see for any trip to Tuscany, both for its atmosphere and historical riches. The town rises miraculously to 545m on an impressive wall of limestone and clay excavated by erosion. Return to Colle Val d'Elsa by bus. Dinner and overnight in hotel. Ascent +300m, descent -300m

Day 6 Transfer by public bus and walk to Monteriggioni, transfer to Siena (4.5hrs)

After breakfast short transfer from Colle Val d'Elsa by public bus to reach the start of the trek. Through the Val d'Elsa, we reach the village of Scorgiano, following a path that leads to the Castle Petraia converted into a residence in the 15th and 16th century. Visit the Cistercian monastery of the 11th century (fresco attributed to Duccio Boninsegna, baptismal funds of the 15th century) and the ruins of a fortified wall. Later we arrive in Monteriggioni, with its well preserved walls with 14 towers. Transfer by private bus to Siena. Dinner free and overnight in Siena. Ascent +280m, descent -250m

Day 7 Visit town, trip concludes

Siena is a classic hilltop town with impressive monuments, such as the Buonsignori Palace with its National Picture Gallery, the white and dark green marble decorated Dome dating back to the twelfth century, the Piccolomini Library, the Baptistery and the Museum of Metropolitan Opera. You can visit these terrific sites or simply enjoy a stroll around Piazza del Campo and along the narrow streets, stopping for a taste of Panforte and Ricciarelli in some of the typical confectioner’s shops. The trip arrangements conclude after breakfast.

Additional Information

Inclusions

6 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 5 dinners Breakfasts are usually continental inclusive of breads, tea, coffee & juices. Lunch will be picnic style often consisting of bread with meats, cheeses and salad. Dinner will consist of 3 courses, usually starting with a salad, followed by a chicken, red meat, fish or pasta dish & finishing with a dessert of fruit or cakes.
6 nights in 3 star hotels on a twin share basis with ensuite facilities (hotel taxes may apply - payable locally)
English speaking guide throughout
Luggage transfer by public bus on day 2 and by private minibus on day 6
Transfers by public and private buses as described

Group Size Min

Group Size Max

Accommodation Summary

During your time in Florence, Colle Val d’Elsa and Siena you will be accommodated in 3 star hotels. All accommodation is provided on a twin or triple share basis with ensuite facilities.

Equipment Required

Wet weather gear, sunscreen, headtorch, gaiters, good walking boots and sun hat - walking poles optional but recommended. A comprehensive gear list is included in the pre-departure information provided on booking.

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