A Taste of Tuscany Cycling

Name: A Taste of Tuscany Cycling
Brand: Exodus
Rating: 3 (1 reviews)

1 reviews

Activity Level

Moderate

Activity

Cycling

Overview

This single-centre cycling holiday introduces you to quintessential Tuscany; it has all the ingredients to create a wonderful lasting impression of this rightly famous region: the landscapes, the food, the people and, of course, perfect cycling routes.

This is not just a cycling holiday it is an immersion into local Tuscan life, from wine and oil sampling to hot thermal spa baths and the chance to taste local wines and olive oils. Sample the Vino Nobile of Monepulciano, rich Pecorino cheese in Pienza or take a bath in Roman Bagno Vignoni.

Key Information

Trip Code: C07ST
Ways to Travel: Self-Guided Holidays
Countries: Italy

What's Included

All buffet breakfasts and 4-course evening meals
Headwater Navigation App
High Quality Bikes
Wine, olive oil and local produce tasting
1 thermal spa entrance

5 days of Cycling

Day 2: 41 km / 25.5 miles
Day 3: 34 km / 21.1 miles
Day 4: 39 km / 24.2 miles
Day 6: 36 km / 22.4 miles
Day 7: 35 km / 21.7 miles

Highlights

Fabulous local insight into traditional Tuscan life: the food, the wine, the culture
Exhilarating cycling across the UNESCO Val d'Orcia
Delicious classic, home cooked Tuscan cuisine - with 'km 0' cooking (all local food)
Visit the wine and cheese towns of Montepulciano and Pienza
Warm and welcoming agriturismo (farmhouse accommodation hotel) with a passionate owner - the best of Italian hospitality

Itinerary

First Destination: Chianciano Terme
Next Destination: Chianciano Terme

Meals included:Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast

First Destination: Chianciano Terme
Next Destination: Chianciano Terme

Arrive at the Agriturismo La Pietriccia and enjoy a stroll to the old town, before your evening briefing by the owner, Stefano, and the first of many home cooked dinners. (Staying at the Agriturismo La Pietriccia for 7 nights, Half Board)

Meals included:Dinner

Start the week with mountain views and forest tracks as you head to the small town of Montallese and on to Lake Chiusi. After a lunch-break take the long distance path of Sentiero della Bonifica to the Lake of Montepulciano, a nature reserve ideal for bird-watching before heading back to the agristurismo in time for dinner.

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

You will be transferred to Radicofani, the highest point in the Val d’Orca, for incredible views. From here cycle to Contignano, famous for its pecorino cheese and a perfect spot for lunch before a downhill stretch through the forest and past the beautiful private gardens of La Foce. The back to the Agriturismo in time for wine and local produce tasting in the old town before dinner.

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Descend along country tracks passing a truffle-growing area before crossing the Astrone stream. Cycle through beautiful valleys to the medieval town of Sarteano before carrying on to Cetona, then climb to Mondo X where you can find one of the best restaurants in Italy, La Frateria – a beautiful convent started by St Francis in 1212. Head back to your hotel in time for your dinner.

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Spend the day relaxing, enjoy an olive oil tasting at the agriturismo or walk into Chianciano Vecchia to see the Etruscan Museum of Chianciano Terme. On your way back to the hotel you could use your thermal spa voucher and relax in the healing waters.

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Cycle through acres of vineyards on your way to Montepulciano and stop to take in views of the famous Mount Amiata. Explore Montepulciano’s winding medieval streets before cycling back to Chianciano.

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

After a short transfer to Pienza take time to explore the town – it is one of the cheese capitals of Italy – and its beautiful medieval historic centre. Perhaps pick up a sandwich filled with porchetta or a slab of rich and creamy Pecorino. The ride takes you downhill to cross one of the stunning plains of the Val d’Orcia, and a short detour takes you to Roman Bagno Vignoni with its roman baths and sulphur springs. Follow a long straight Roman road then cross the valley and climb up and down into Chianciano.

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Leave Chianciano Terme.

Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

Skip the hassle: We’ll handle your trip from start to finish, with competitive flight prices, dates that suit you, 24-hour support, loyalty discounts, and peace of mind for delays or disruption.

Call us on 1 844 462 4317

Book Your Flights With Us

Window or aisle? Premium seat with extra legroom? Adding a stopover en route? We’ll sort the flights that fit your plans. With access to thousands of routes - major airlines and regional gems alike, we’ll help you fly from your preferred airport, at times that suit you. Secure your flights and trip together and enjoy peace of mind knowing everything's organized with one team here to help if plans change.

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Accommodation

Hotel

Your base for the week is the modest but comfortable Agriturismo La Pietricca, which stands on a hill with great views of Chianciano Vecchia. Stefano who runs the agriturismo will welcome you with his enthusiasm for everything to do with nature in the surrounding area and will also teach you all about the artisan products in the local area. The hotel produces 65% of what it serves on your table, and is surrounded by its own farm and orchards. There is a lovely terrace and swimming pool and lovely shady grassy area that looks out across the valley, where in the heat of summer you can take your dinner outside.

Essential Information

Vehicle Support: This is a self-guided trip for those who prefer to cycle independently, but with our assistance to take out the stress of the logistics and planning. We arrange your accommodation and provide you with route directions so that you can cycle at your own pace. The hotelier, Stefano, will be there to meet you and will be available, throughout the trip, should you need assistance.

As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. There may be others on the same departure date as you, but you will not be organised together. The route directions contain an emergency assistance telephone number should you need it and in emergencies, the hotelier will be able to arrange a taxi or pick you up themselves. They may wish to charge for this service.

Alternative Air Travel
Alternative flights, onward rail to your holiday area and connecting private transfers can be arranged from most UK airports. If you would like to use one of the many ‘low cost’ airlines, we can book these on your behalf (£30 admin fee per person). We can also book UK shuttles to connect with your onward flight, please call for details and prices.

Alternative transfers
If you require alternative transfers, then we can usually arrange these for you (there may be an additional charge).

Self drive
We can arrange various channel crossings for you. Please call for details and prices.

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.

Tuscan food is based on the Italian idea of ‘cucina povera’ (poor cooking); simple inexpensive meals that can be made for large groups. Whilst this was once dictated by the economy and expense of the produce, the tradition has remained. The cuisine of this region doesn’t use complicated seasonings or elaborate recipes, and instead focuses on fresh, high quality ingredients that allow the natural flavours in each dish to shine through. Typical dishes include fagioli con salsiccia (cannellini beans with sausage), tagliatelle al tartufo (pasta in a truffle sauce) bistecca Fiorentina (a T-bone steak often large enough to share!), pici (a fat, handmade spaghetti, often served with tomato and garlic sauce or game meat). Don’t miss the local cacio and pecorino cheeses, and sample the famous wines: Nobile di Montepulciano and Brunello di Montalcino.

April and May departures can expect warm days, although rain is always possible. Nights may still be rather cool. Early June is similar, with the days becoming progressively hotter and the evenings much warmer. September and October are cooler and wetter, yet visibility is usually better. We strongly recommend a fleece-lined jacket or warm sweater in May, September and October.

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.

Reviews

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Christopher Hewson

Added July 2025

Amazing scenery - but a few disappointments

This was managed and run by Headwater (Exodus’s sister company who runs the European cycling trips as data s I can tell. We were both really long forward to this trip, and for the most part it was brilliant. However, there were a couple of issues… (1) This trip really needs a good level of experience in mountain biking. All the rides had long downhill sections on sometimes very loose gravel. My wife actually fell off (fortunately with minimal injury) as did one of the other couples on the trip (more serious - no more cycling for her!). This should be highlighted. (2) For some reason Headwater were unable to book direct trains as advertised, and no pre-booked seats. On the return trip, we were forced to stand for around an hour in the non-air conditioned carriage doorways in 39 degree heat (the aisles were too busy to even get in the air con parts!). This really put a downer on the trip as it was our last part of the holiday! Headwater should have booked earlier to get direct trains - or at least have booked seats!