Bicycle through the heart of Tuscany on a tour that begins in Cortona made famous by Frances Mayes in her book, "Under the Tuscan Sun." From Cortona you pedal to the beautiful Val d'Orcia recognized by UNESCO as a "World Heritage Landscape" for its unique blend of human and natural environments. Over the course of eight days you'll visit Pienza, Montepulciano, Montalcino, and Siena. Prepare to explore the picture postcard landscape of Tuscany, one of the most beautiful regions in Italy.
Cortona, Siena, Montalcino, UNESCO World Heritage Landscapes in Val d'Orcia
Keep in Mind: We work hard to maintain consistency across all of our tours, but some trips have unique differences. Here are some things to keep in mind about this tour.
This is our most popular cycling tour of Tuscany. Book early to guarantee your spot.
Includes
8 days, 7 nights' accommodation; all breakfasts, 5 dinners with wine; guided tour of Siena; 1 wine tasting; and the usual (see below).
Learn more about what is included and what to expect on your Classic tour at the Classic Tour Style page.
Arrive / Depart
Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) or Florence Airport (FLR) / Florence
Highlights: Ancient Etruscan city of Cortona, Etruscan Museum, setting for Frances Mayes book "Under the Tuscan Sun"
You are in the spectacular hill town of Cortona today looking over the Chiana River valley (the "Val di Chiana"). Cortona offers the perfect introduction to Tuscany since its founding as an Etruscan town dates to 600 BC. Today Cortona retains the look and character of a Medieval city. Come a day early to see the newly restored Etruscan Museum or the Diocesan Museum with its Fra Angelico paintings. We'll fit bikes and do a test ride late this afternoon before going to dinner together.
DAY 2: Bicycle from Cortona to San Casciano dei Bagni
Highlights: Views across the Val di Chiana, Lake Trasimeno, and the spa town of San Casciano dei Bagni
You'll pedal south today across the Chiana Valley to the spa town of San Casciano dei Bagni. San Casciano sits on the slopes of Monte Cetona, the northernmost of a series of extinct volcanoes in central Italy. Enjoy views looking back on your route from Cortona across the Val di Chiana. Enjoy a dip on the thermal pool overlooking the valley before dinner together.
DAY 3: Bicycle the Orcia Valley - "Val d'Orcia" to San Quirico
Highlights: Pienza and the Val d'Orcia, Tuscany
You'll ride through Radicofani today dominated by its 11th century castle and continue through the Orcia Valley to Pienza, home of Pope Pius II. Pope Pius turned this tiny village into a showpiece of Renaissance town planning in the 16th century. Our hotel tonight is just inside the city walls. Take a walk around Pienza and sample the local wines and cheeses (we highly recommend the Pecorino that is wrapped in chestnut leaves and aged under a bed of ashes allowing for uniform drying and aging).
DAY 4: Cycle San Quirico to Montepulciano and the Val d'Orcia.
Highlights: Wine village of Montepulciano, Bagno Vignoni thermal springs and San Quirico d'Orcia
Your loop ride today takes you through the wine village of Montepulciano and into the heart of the Orcia Valley. This valley is unique in Tuscany. Composed of poor clay soils the rounded hills change color with the seasons from bright greens and reds in spring to soft gold in summer and deep gray when the fields are ploughed in late fall. The margins of the valley are lined with volcanic plateaus allowing for better soils to cultivate grapes and olives. Cycle through the tiny Medieval spa of Bagno Vignoni and on to San Quirico d'Orcia.
DAY 5: Bicycle from San Quirico to the wine town of Montalcino
Highlights: Brunello di Montalcino, optional loop to the Abbey of San'Antimo
This morning starts with a ride on the ridgeline of the bare clay hills north of San Quirico. Cypress trees mark the entrances to isolated Tuscan farms on distant hills. The quaint village square in Trequanda is an excellent mid-morning cappuccino stop. As you continue down the Asso River Valley, you leave the clay hills and ride through vineyards as you make our way to the Etruscan village and wine town of Montalcino. This fortified town sheltered summering Sienese nobles during the 16th century, but today is more famous for producing one of Italy's premier red wines, Brunello di Montalcino. Call it a day and head to the hotel or take an extra ride to the famous Abbey of Sant'Antimo. We have a special aperitif planned this evening.
Highlights: Monte Oliveto Maggiore, the "Crete Senesi," Siena
The full beauty of the Tuscan landscape with the lush green fields and forests of the Orcia Valley and the barren clay hills of Central Tuscany unfold before us today as you leave Montalcino and pedal to Siena. You'll pass by the historic monastery of Monte Oliveto Maggiore and spin along the eroded chalk hills of the Crete Senesi. Siena remains Italy's best-preserved medieval city and rivaled Florence for dominance over Tuscany during the 1300s. You'll be transported back in time as soon as you enter the city walls. We'll take a guided tour of the city later this afternoon and learn about the Palio, the horse race that takes place twice a year in the main square.
Highlights: Siena, alternative ride to Castello de Brolio
You have the option today to take a rest from the bike and enjoy some sightseeing in Siena or join us on a loop ride into the Chianti hills. Not far from Siena is the famous Castle of Brolio or, "il Castello di Brolio." Brolio is the estate where the blend of wines that today make up Chianti was invented. This famous Tuscan wine is a blend of 70% Sangiovese, 20% Canaiolo and 10% Malvasia or Trebbiano wines. We'll be back to Siena in time for you to enjoy gelato or an aperitivo on your own in Piazza del Campo, before dinner together.
Meeting time 2 p.m. - on Day 1, meet your fellow cyclists and Tour Leaders at the Day 1 Hotel specified on the itinerary.
Note:
As you are planning, remember that the hotels listed in our itineraries are our primary hotels and are - in rare cases - subject to change. Before you make arrangements, check with us if your tour departure is guaranteed. If your tour departure is out further than 6 months, please also check with us as there might be slight changes to the itinerary.
The below information will help you plan your arrival. For more tips or other routes, you might like Rome2Rio. The fare and timing information listed below is approximate.
The closest airports are Florence (FLR) and Pisa (PSA). Rome (FCO) is a 2-3-hour train ride away.
Flying into Florence and continuing to Cortona:
Vola in Bus shuttle to the Firenze S.M. Novella train station (20 min/EUR 6) or taxi to the train station (15-20 min/fixed rates EUR 20 (weekdays), EUR 23 (weekend), luggage EUR 1/piece)
Train to Camucia-Cortona (1.5 hours/fares vary)
Taxi from Cortona train station to Day 1 Hotel (5 min/EUR 15)
The below information will help you plan your departure. For more tips or other routes, you might like Rome2Rio.
We recommend flying out of Florence (FLR):
Taxi to Siena Train Station (10 min/EUR 12)
Train to Santa Maria Novella Train Station in Florence (1.5 hours/fares vary)
Vola in Bus shuttle from the S.M.N. Florence train station to the Florence Airport (20 min/EUR 6) or taxi (15-20 min/fixed rates EUR 20 (weekdays), EUR 23 (weekend), luggage EUR 1/piece)
Keep in Mind
We work hard to maintain consistency across all of our tours, but some trips have unique differences. Here are some things to keep in mind about this tour.
This is our most popular cycling tour of Tuscany. Book early to guarantee your spot.
Pre-Trip Planning Checklist
To Do Today!
Read through your Reservation Confirmation Email, it has important information to help you plan your trip!
Check the date on your passport. The expiration date should extend three months past your date of return to your home country
Reserve your flights after you know you have a confirmed tour departure. Please check with our office if you do not know if your trip is confirmed. As you make your plans refer to the Getting To and Away sent to you in your booking confirmation email it provides meeting times and the starting and ending hotels and shuttle information when applicable.
Book your pre and post-tour hotel nights. Please refer to the Getting To and Away sheet you received in your Reservation Confirmation Email.
Final payment is due 90 days prior to the tour start. Please refer to your Deposit Payment Invoice and the Final Payment Reminder e-mail you have received for detailed instructions.
6 Weeks–2 Weeks Prior to Departure
Start reading one of the books or watching one of the movies from our Suggested Reading and Movie List which you'll find on the country page linked from the www.experienceplus.com/travelinfo page.
Gentle terrain includes mostly undulating/flat sections and a rare longer climb (less than 3 km - 2 miles) with an average grade less than 3%.
Rolling Hills
Rolling hills featuring multiple gentle slopes (average grade of 3-4%) usually less than 3 km (2 miles). There may also be an occasional shorter (less than 2 km -1 mile) but steeper climb. Or a longer climb where the average grade is less than 3%.
Hilly
Hilly terrain has climbs up to 3 km (2 miles) with an average grade between 4% and 6%. There may also be climbs longer than 3 km (2 miles), but with an average grade less than 4%.
Very Hilly
Very hilly terrain includes one or more climbs, some of which maintain an average grade (meaning you will have short sections both steeper and less steep in the same climb) of 7% and 8% for no more than 3 km (2 miles). There will also be some longer climbs, but with a lower average grade.
Mountainous
Mountainous terrain includes one or more climbs with an average grade over 8%. Mountainous rides can also include longer climbs (more than 5 km - 3 miles) with an average grade up to 6%.
Level 1 - 1.5
For those desiring gentle rides with a limited amount of climbing.
Level 5, also known as our Expeditions, are multi-week tours designed for strong riders looking for the challenge of riding across countries or continents.
Gentle terrain includes mostly undulating/flat sections and a rare longer climb (less than 3 km - 2 miles) with an average grade less than 3%.
Hilly
Hilly terrain has climbs up to 3 km (2 miles) with an average grade between 4% and 6%. There may also be climbs longer than 3 km (2 miles), but with an average grade less than 4%.
Very Hilly
Very hilly terrain includes one or more climbs, some of which maintain an average grade (meaning you will have short sections both steeper and less steep in the same climb) of 7% and 8% for no more than 3 km (2 miles). There will also be some longer climbs, but with a lower average grade.
Mountainous
Mountainous terrain includes one or more climbs with an average grade over 8%. Mountainous rides can also include longer climbs (more than 5 km - 3 miles) with an average grade up to 6%.
Tour Levels
Level 1 - 1.5
For those desiring gentle rides with a limited amount of climbing.
Level 5, also known as our Expeditions, are multi-week tours designed for strong riders looking for the challenge of riding across countries or continents.
Gentle
Mountainous
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