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Gravel biker on gravel road to a villa in Tuscany

Tuscany – ambitious

Italy

Florence, Pisa, Siena. A hilly landscape and cypresses decorating the alleys. These are the first pictures that come to our minds when we think of Tuscany. This ambitious Tuscany cycling vacation offers all that – and adds some impressing insider’s tips along the route: the 34°C warm thermal waterfalls of Saturnia, small towns on hills with an unforgettable view, a typical Tuscan dinner in a countryside garden restaurant – and at the end of the tour a stay on the sea. Immerse into la dolce vita della bella Italia!

5

Day stages

6,700

Altitude difference

470

Kilometers

  • View above the houses of Siena in Tuscany
  • Gravel biker on a gravel road passing Tuscan vine
  • Scenic view over the typically hilly landscape of Tuscany
  • Ponte Vecchio Bridge in Florence with little shops and apartments on it
  • Bright stones smoothed by a thermal waterfall in Tuscany
  • Zwei Gravelbiker auf einer Zypressen-Allee in der Toskana
  • Scenic view to San Gimignano in Tuscany
  • Tuscan antipasti with different sorts of salami, ham and cheese, served with bread
  • Gravel bike leaning on signs pointing to L'Eroica in Tuscany
  • Pisa Cathedral and Leaning Tower of Pisa in twilight
  • FIAT tractor oldtimer
  • Scenic view to the thermal waterfalls of Saturnia in Tuscany
  • Cafés and historical apartment houses on Piazza dell'Anfiteatro Square in Lucca in Tuscany
  • Two gravel bikers in a small alley in the historical center of Montalcino
  • Sea and harbor of Talamone in Tuscany
  • Dusk in Spring in Tuscany

Highlights

  • Florence, Lucca, Pisa, Siena
  • Saturnia hot waterfalls
  • Local food
  • Hilly landscape and unforgettable views
  • Overnight by the sea
Map Tuscany ambitious tour by Gravel Bike Tours
Elevation level Tuscany ambitious tour by Gravel Bike Tours

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Pisa

Individual arrival in Pisa. Get an overview of the old maritime republic that Pisa used to be. You reach the historic center easily from your hotel. Overnight in Pisa.

Day 2: Pisa - Florence (120 km)

After breakfast you get on your bike for the first day’s stage. First, you ride through the innertown, passing directly the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Afterwards, you ride along a river to Lucca city. Lucca impresses with its huge, circling, medieval city wall that is fully intact. You cross the historic old town where you can marvel the beautiful streets and squares. Leaving the center, you pass the impressing aqueduct. You continue in flat country. Later, you reach the Arno River and get finally to Florence. You can immerse into the vital city and explore the city center on the evening. If you extend your stay in Florence (see Extras), you will have time on the following day for visiting the Uffizi Gallery or the Palazzo Pitti. Overnight in Florence.

Meals: breakfast

Altitude difference: 540 m – Level of difficulty: 3/5

Day 3: Florence - Siena (100 km)

After a large breakfast, you leave Florence and reach immediately a more hilly area. This is where the wine producing Chianti region starts, holding ready for you breathtaking views. In the early afternoon, you see a medieval town with towers on a hill – this is San Gimignano, your next destination. Leaving the City of Towers, you enjoy the nature and other beautiful villages on your way to Siena. Siena is rightly said to be one of the most beautiful cities in Tuscany and Italy. Here you can stroll around the calm historic center. It’s UNESCO world heritage. Those who want to extend their stay in Siena (see Extras) can test the pub scene at night and visit the many palaces and museums on the next day. Overnight in Siena.

Meals: breakfast

Altitude difference: 1,700 m – Level of difficulty: 4/5

Day 4: Siena - Pienza (80 km)

Today you enjoy another beautiful day in Tuscany. Leaving Siena, you ride over hills to the famous L’Eroica cycle track. You ride on white gravel roads, the “Strade Bianche”, and under Italian cypresses. Around noon, you reach the pretty mountain town of Montalcino. Here, you can visit the fortress and have lunch in one of the many restaurants. After that, you continue on beautiful paths, through small villages, and you pass a swimming area that is recharged by a nearby ancient thermal spring. Later that day, you reach Pienza where you can visit the cathedral and enjoy the view down the hill from the main square. Overnight in Pienza.

Meals: breakfast

Altitude difference: 1,540 m – Level of difficulty: 3/5

Day 5: Pienza - Saturnia area (115 km)

Soon after you start the day’s stage, you can see the famous Monte Amiata, and you cycle toward it. Crossing fields, you reach mountainous gravel paths, and then you ride along beautiful country roads to Abbadia San Salvatore, submontane of Monte Amiata. In Abbadia, you can have lunch. Afterwards, you pass a fortress and you ride over country lanes, typical Tuscan gravel roads, through wine-growing areas and to Etruscan graves that are worth a visit. Finally, you reach your countryside hotel where a dinner is served to you in a pretty garden restaurant tonight. If you want, you can ride to the incredible thermal waterfalls of Saturnia that are sulfurous and 34°C warm (route is included in your GPS data). Overnight in Saturnia area.

Meals: breakfast, dinner

Altitude difference: 1,910 m – Level of difficulty: 4/5

Day 6: Saturnia area - Talamone area (50 km)

We highly recommend to get up early today. Ride to the thermal waterfalls of Saturnia before sunrise and enjoy the sunup in the 34°C warm, steaming water. This in an unforgettable experience. After a shower at your hotel, you can have breakfast and then slowly start to your last day’s stage. Today you ride in the direction of the sea. Shortly, you ride uphill, afterwards it’s only getting down. You leave the hilly landscape and reach your destination at the Mediterranean Sea around noon. You can spend the afternoon either at the beach or with a walk through the historically interesting coast town of Talamone. Overnight in Talamone area.

Meals: breakfast

Altitude difference: 360 m – Level of difficulty: 1/5

Day 7: Departure Talamone

After breakfast and before departure, you can enjoy a last little walk at the beach. Individual departure (see Arrival and departure) or extension of stay in Talamone or Pisa (see Extras).

Meals: breakfast

Services

ServicesExtrasAccommodation

Included services:

  • 6 nights in double room
  • Visitor’s tax
  • 6x breakfast
  • 1x dinner
  • GPS data
  • Local phone assistance
  • Secured payment certificate
  • Tour documents
  • Spot in a monitored parking garage during the tour (6 nights) (54 EUR)
  • Discount when booking more than 1 room
  • Rental gravel bike: Lombardo Sram 1×11, or similar model (260 EUR per bike)
  • Luggage storage in Pisa for the duration of the tour (on request)
  • Luggage transfer from hotel to hotel (1,350 EUR for 1-4 bags)
  • GPS data from Talamone to Albinia train station (at no charge; more information below General information>Arrival and departure)
  • Transfer from Talamone to Pisa: only luggage (530 EUR for 1-4 bags)
  • Transfer from Talamone to Pisa: 1-4 own bikes, 1-3 persons, luggage (770 EUR)
  • Transfer from Talamone to Pisa: 1-8 rental bikes, 1-3 persons, luggage (600 EUR)
  • Extension of stay at one of the overnight places (from 55 EUR p. p.)

All partner accommodations are middle class accommodations. When we chose a partner accommodation, it’s important to us that they all have anything that is particular. If available, the accommodations’ specialties on our Tuscany tour are:

  • Bike friendly (all)
  • Overnight in the middle of the old town
  • Pool
  • Garden restaurant
  • family-run hotel
  • Overnight close to the sea

Dates and prices

1 April 2023 to 18 June 2023 & 1 September 2023 to 12 November 2023

1529 EUR per person in single room

919 EUR per person in double room

739 EUR per person in triple room

729 EUR per person in quadruple room

General information

Tour characterArrival and departureTravel and safety notice

40% gravel, 55% asphalt, 5% unpaved

5 Day stages

Altitude difference: 6,700 m

470 km

Level of difficulty: 4/5 (Tough)

Nearest airports: Pisa, Florence
By intercity bus: Pisa
By car: Pisa
By train: Pisa Centrale (arrival), Albinia (departure)
Trains from Albinia to Pisa leave every 1-2 hours (website of Trenitalia). The train station of Albinia is 10 km away from your hotel in Talamone (depending on availability). At the ticket machine, you can pick English as your language. Buying train tickets on the ticket machine is very easy in Italy. The price for one person plus bike from Albinia to Pisa Centrale is about 20 EUR. After a 2 hours non-stop train ride, you reach Pisa. If you book an extra night in Pisa, your hotel is close to the train station.

Please take account of the travel and safety notice of your home country for Italy, and the regions Tuscany and Lacio, as same as the applicable regulations in these areas.

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