Tuscany: Cycle Siena & Chianti

Ride along the back roads of classic Tuscany­­

The Tuscan landscape is one of the most evocative and romantic in Europe, with cypress tree-lined roads, olive groves, vineyards, ancient hilltop 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. We ride through historically diverse areas of Tuscany, such as the Chianti hills and beautiful countryside around Montepulciano. Riding north, we discover a wonderfully scenic region, home to some of Tuscany’s most beautiful towns and villages. We then enjoy the magnificent Piazza del Campo in Siena before biking past the towers of San Gimignano and on to our final destination in Florence. Following country roads wherever possible, we mix point-to-point and circular rides to make a perfect cycling tour of this region.

People, Places & Planet

We work hard to create trips that have a positive impact on the people and places we visit and look after the planet we explore. Learn more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.

Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:

People

How this trip helps improve life for local communities.

• Local guides keep you well informed about local traditions and cultural-social sensitivities.
• This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally owned hotels, restaurants, and other enterprises, and by championing locally produced food wherever possible. This trip stays in four family owned hotels.
• Read more about our other initiatives here.

Places

How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.

• By travelling in a small group we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
• We work with our partners on the ground to proactively reduce waste; this includes eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles by providing refills for re–usable bottles.
• With our partners, Rewilding Apennines, we rewild 100 square meters (1,075 sqft) of land per passenger who travels with us.
• Read about our commitment to nature protection and restoration here, including our rewilding commitment for every customer who travels with us.

Planet

How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.

• Accommodation and restaurants in the itinerary use locally sourced food which has not been transported long distances.
• As this is s cycling holiday it provides a low impact way of exploring the destination.
• Read about our climate action here, including our carbon reduction and compensation commitments.

Tips for sustainable travel on this trip

• Leave no trace: we do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
• Plastic waste reduction: please bring a re–usable water bottle on this trip, also consider avoiding single-use hotel toiletries, which generate a large amount of plastic waste.

Is this trip for you?

This trip is classified Road and Activity Level 4 (Moderate & Challenging).For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.  

This region is known 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 1.2mi (2km) to 5.6mi (9km) hill stretches on some days.

Days 3, 5 and 6 fall into the category of Moderate and Challenging riding, with elevation gains of more than 3,281ft (1,000m) and some steep sections up to 10%-25%. Daily distances vary from 32mi-47mi (51km-75km). There are no transfers to or from hotels on this trip: all the rides are door-to-door. We use quieter country roads where possible, but sometimes we need to pass busy sections surrounding towns. The most scenic routes are on paved roads, with occasional stretches of dirt/gravel roads (locally known as white roads).

Five days cycling, average 37.5mi (60km) per day, partial vehicle support (limited seats).
Terrain: 95 percent paved, five percent easy gravel roads. Approximately 193mi (302km) in total.

Most days, rides will be broken up by morning coffee, lunch and afternoon gelato stops. Usually sections of 3mi-9mi (5km-15km) will be done between regrouping. 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

Tuscany can be very hot during summer (June to August), but heatwaves can also happen in April and May. We try to start our days earlier, when possible, to avoid the hottest hours, but temperatures and humidity will be high. You should feel comfortable and be used to cycling in the heat. The number of mosquitos may increase significantly in summer, so bring mosquito repellent with you.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.

Vaccinations and Health

Italy

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, rabies and tick-borne encephalitis. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Visa

Italy

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Italy. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/italy
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/italy
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/italy/entry-requirements
• USA:  www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Italy.html

Please note: it is compulsory to carry ID with you at all times in Italy.

Food & Drink

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.

Tuscan food is authentic and surprising – pizza and pasta are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the diverse cuisine on this trip.

• Starters may include antipasti of cured meats or a crostini di fegato made from toasted bread slices topped with chicken liver pâté .
• Soup options may include the classic bean dish of zuppa di fagioli or ribollita, a delicious, hearty vegetable and bread soup.
• For mains, you might try the truffle-infused pasta dish tagliatelle al tartufo or a mouth-watering T-bone steak delicacy known as bistecca alla Fiorentina.
• End your meal with cantucci biscuits dipped into a glass of the sweet dessert wine known as vin santo for a true taste of Tuscany.

While Tuscan cuisine has a strong meat focus, vegetarians can be well catered for. Please inform us of any dietary requirements at the time of booking.

Weather

Italy has  plenty of sunshine and warm temperatures from spring through to autumn. Summer departures will usually have hot weather, with highs around 35C (95F). April-June and September-October departures are likely to be cooler with a slightly higher chance of rain. In late summer, there is the possibility of heavy thunderstorms (generally in the afternoons), but these are usually short-lived.