A Journey through Tuscany: Bike, Food, and Wine Tour

Things to know

• What’s included?

  What you get on this adventure:

  • • An experienced, local cycling guide with extensive knowledge of the area
    • 7-day Tuscany bike, wine, and food tour
    • Accommodation in Palazzo Massaini for 6 nights (luxury farmhouse)
    • Bike rental — hybrid, road bike, gravel, or e-bike (available to rent upon checkout)
    • Six breakfasts, six dinners, and two lunches
    • Two cooking classes
    • One wine tour
    • One cheese tasting
    • All maps, trip notes, and detailed route directions
    • All shuttles and technical assistance
    • Support van
    • Luggage transfers
    • Services of experienced guides
    • Cicloposse water bottle
    • Transfer on Day 1 from the Chiesi station to the accommodation
    • Transfer on Day 7 to the Chiesi station
    • Sales taxes

  What’s not included:

  • • Airfare to Italy
    • Train to Chiusi
    • Five lunches
    • Beverages
    • Laundry expenses
    • Guide gratuities — optional
    • Travel and medical insurance — optional
• What’s the accommodation like?

  For a truly authentic experience of the Tuscan countryside, there’s no better base for your trip than Palazzi del Papa or Palazzo Massaini. Nestled in the heart of the Val d’Orcia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, these estates are surrounded by vineyards, olive groves, and medicinal plants. The price of the trip is based on double occupancy, but a single supplement is available.

  These places guarantee maximum privacy and an unforgettable stay. The feeling of peace and serenity here is like nowhere else in the world. It’s exactly what you imagine when you think of the Tuscan countryside—and soon you’ll be strolling through picture-perfect bucolic landscapes.

  More info on these lodgings is found above.

• What’s the food and cooking classes like?

  Your guides will take you out to dine every evening, and you’ll get to discover simple osterias, family trattorias, and elegant restaurants. Tuscan cooks take advantage of the freshest seasonal products and tamper with their natural state as little as possible. In Italy, a meal can tell a lot about the local culture, so pay attention! A variety of bike tours get you deep into some of the world’s most awe-inspiring landscapes, while the sampling of food and beverages let you dig into the Tuscan way of life. Each meal will be paired with a Tuscan wine: besides the must Brunello, Nobile and Chianti classico you will learn about and sip Morellino di Scansano, Super Tuscan & Bolgheri, Orcia doc, Vin Santo, Syrah di Cortona.

  Actually tasting all that delicious food won’t be the only thing you’ll be doing—you’ll also get to make it by yourself! Most days include a hands-on cooking class or a visit to local artisan shops to taste local food, wine, and cheese. You can check out the itinerary to learn more about what your days will look like.

  You’ll leave this Tuscany food, wine, and bike tour feeling inspired and eager to make delicious Italian meals! Anyone becomes enamored with the Italian way of life and cuisine, so the enthusiasm to cultivate these lessons into your daily life won’t linger soon.

  Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free diets can be accommodated, as well as certain intolerances or allergies!

• How fit do I need to be?

  The itinerary of this Tuscany bike, wine, and food tour is designed to make it a true vacation, not a race! The pace is leisurely in order to enjoy the scenery along the way. You will be covering an average of 25-35 miles (40-56 km) per day, but you can find day-by-day distance breakdowns in the itinerary. Covering shorter distances is also possible. You can choose between a hybrid bike, race bike, e-bike, and gravel bike.

  Advanced cyclists who’d like to kick it up a notch can be accommodated, while back-up transportation and support is always available.

  Note that it’s possible to have non-riding participants! There will be optional activities available. Contact us for more information.

• Can I rent a bike?

  Yes! If you’d like to skip the hassle of bringing a bike with you to Tuscany, your guides offer bike rental. Prices are per person and for the entire week if cycling:

  • • Hybrid bike — $195
    • Race bike, e-bike, or gravel bike — $270
• What do I need to bring?

  This is a list of clothing & footwear we recommend you bring:

  • • Cycling shorts (padded shorts recommended, try them out before the tour)
    • Riding jerseys
    • T-shirts and/or casual shirts (quick-dry)
    • Bathing suit
    • Bike socks and/or sports socks (quick-dry)
    • Dress or casual socks
    • Windbreaker or cool-weather jacket (rainproof and breathable)
    • Light rain jacket or poncho (cheap version is fine—insurance on sunny days!)
    • Bike shoes
    • Riding gloves
    • Underwear (quick-dry)
    • Sweater or fleece
    • Slacks or light jeans (quick-dry, wrinkle resistant)
    • Belt
    • Comfortable walking shoes
    • Sandals

  Miscellaneous

  • • Passport, wallet and ID
    • Waterproof, zip-lock type plastic bag for your valuables
    • Health insurance card
    • Travel insurance card
    • Cash, credit cards and/or travel cheques
    • Electronic chargers (for camera, MP3 player, e-reader, cell phone)
    • Adaptors or convertors

  First aid kit

  • • Insect repellent
    • Antiseptic cream or antibiotic ointment
    • Antihistamine tablets for hay fever
    • Sunscreen and total bloc
    • Throat lozenges or hard sweets
    • Painkillers
    • Band-aids and ‘Second Skin’ for blisters
    • Rehydration salts
    • Multi-vitamins
• Group sizes and age requirements

  Group sizes and pricing

  • • For this Tuscany bike, wine, and food tour, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 6:1.
    • It takes a minimum of 6 people for this tour to operate. The maximum group size is set at 14 participants.
    • Single supplement is available at an additional cost of $535.
    • Participants need to book the Tuscany bike, wine, and food tour at least 45 days in advance.
    • Participants will receive tour confirmation at the latest 60 days prior to the start of the tour. If the minimum number is not reached, there’s the option of moving the tour to another scheduled week or getting a full refund.

  Tuscany bike, wine, and food tours can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

  Min. age requirements

  • • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
    • Minors older than 16 may be permitted to join the hike on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.

  If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

• Getting there and meeting location

  Your Tuscany bike, wine, and food tour begins at Chiusi train station. Chiusi is a charming little town very well connected by rail. If you’re flying in, the nearest airports are Florence Airport (FLR), Pisa Airport (PSA), and Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO). From there, you can reach Chiusi by bus, train, or car—Chiusi is a major stop on all Rome-Florence lines.

  You’ll meet your guide at 1 pm on Day 1 of the tour at Chiusi train station. Make sure to be fresh and ready for Day 1, so flying in a day earlier and booking your accommodation for the night might be a good idea.

• Safety measures in Italy

  We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both emergency medical and travel insurance.

  With medical insurance, if you have an accident or medical emergency on or off the mountain, you’ll avoid paying out of pocket for costly expenses. This covers everything from hospital treatments to emergency air transportation and more. Travel insurance covers canceled flights, natural disasters and other scenarios that may interrupt your travel plans.

  We also expect you to respect local regulations and take measures to protect yourselves, your guides, and the communities you’re traveling to. If you need assistance selecting the right insurance for your group, let us know and we will be happy to help!

• Deposits and cancellation policy

  A non-refundable $330 deposit to secure your place is due upon booking. The remaining amount is paid 2 months (60 days) prior to departure. Once the trip is confirmed by the guide, the cancellation policy stated below applies. If the Client cancels…

  • • 60-30 (sixty to thirty) calendar days prior to the start of the tour, Client is entitled to a 50% (fifty percent) refund of the total trip amount.
    • After that deadline, Client is not entitled to any refund.
    • Clients will receive tour confirmation at the latest 60 (sixty) calendar days prior to the start of the tour. If the minimum number is not reached by then, Client will have an option to either get a full refund or move to another scheduled week.

  In very rare cases, it may be necessary for the Guide to cancel the tour. In the event of cancellation, a full refund will be sent to the Client and this constitutes full settlement. The Guide is not responsible for other expenses incurred such as hotel reservations or non-refundable airline tickets.

  Secure your spot for the following season with a 10% deposit! This tour gets sold out very quickly, but with early-bird booking, you’ll be the first one to know. Pick the month that suits you best and we’ll let you know once the dates are live—don’t risk missing out on your bucket list adventure!

  • • Only 10% of the total amount should be paid as a deposit upon booking. This deposit is non-refundable, but can be transferred to another 57hours adventure anytime in case the dates don’t suit you.
    • Once the set dates for the following season are live, you can confirm your booking by the end of this year by paying another 20% of the total amount.
    • The final balance is due 3 months (90 days) prior to departure.
    • Once the trip has been confirmed, the regular cancellation policy applies.