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Italy - Tourer - Self Guided Road Cycling Holiday

Turkode Destinasjoner Turen starter 42581 Italia Pisa

Turen destinasjon Reisen er levert av 8 dager Pisa Fra : NOK 0 Oversikt

An easy paced road cycling holiday that explores one of the country's premier destinations. Tuscany - the word itself is evocative, conjuring images of classic landscapes, rolling hills, cypress trees and medieval hilltop towns.

Reiserute

Day 1: Arrival: Pisa Airport Day 2: Casciana Terme to Day 3: San Gimignano to Radda in Day 4: Radda in Chianti to Day 5: Pienza to Day 6: Montalcino to Casole d’Elsa Day 7: Casole d’Elsa to Casciana Terme Day 8: Departure The region also offers superb cycling attracting riders from all over the world. You will spend your first evening in the charming medieval town of Casciana Terme, a spa town retreat scattered with great restaurants and superb gelateria.

The following morning you will head south through the olive groves to the atmospheric twin castled hilltop town of San Gimignano a fascinating 'town of towers' and one of the best preserved medieval settlements in .

Moving onwards you ride into the Parco della Val d’Orcia, a World Heritage site with a distinctive landscape of conical hills rising from the flat chalk plains. Wine lovers will be in their element as you’ll be spending evenings in both Montalcino and Chianti where you can enjoy a glass or two of Brunello and Classico. Moving on you will head for the atmospheric twin castled hilltop town of Volterra. On your final day on the bikes you return to Casciana Terme in good time to take advantage of the town's soothing thermal waters and wind down before your flight home.

Day 1: Arrival, Pisa Airport Following arrival at Pisa airport (PSA), we will transfer you to the charming town of Casciana Terme, a spa town retreat. You will receive your road book and we will provide you with all the information you will need for the duration of your trip, before we leave you to start your self- guided tour of Tuscany. Depending on your arrival time, there should also be time to have a quick leg stretch on your bikes before your evening meal in one of the town’s great restaurants.

Day 2: Casciana Terme to San Gimignano (B) Your first day’s ride will take you from Casciana Terme to the gem of Tuscany, San Gimignano. Leaving the hills around Pisa, the riding is gentle as you roller coaster along the roads of the ‘Colli Pisane‘, taking a network of minor roads past woodland, vineyards and small towns. Just before you stop for your lunch you gradually climb through lush green woods, before the final descent towards San Gimignano. You will stop in your tracks as the view opens up, ahead of you the ‘Town of Towers’ and one of the prettiest and best preserved medieval settlements in Italy. You should have plenty of time to walk around San Gimignano, climb one of the towers and taste the ice cream which won 1st prize at the world ice cream championships. A short ride will take you to your delightful hotel, surrounded by vineyards and rolling hills. Depending on the time of year, a dip in the pool and relaxing with a drink, makes a great finish on your first day riding in Tuscany!

Approx. distance: 45 Miles / 70 Kms

Day 3: San Gimignano to Radda in Chianti (B) Leaving the charming town of San Gimignano, today’s ride is a rollercoaster through a picturesque landscape, with many little medieval fortified villages perched on top of the hills, such as and Radda in Chianti.

You will have time to ride up and through many of these small towns, absorbing the whole Tuscan experience. With incredible views, intimate piazzas and some wonderful boutiques and art galleries, these towns make a perfect itinerary for your bike ride. Your destination for today is Radda in Chianti.

Staying at the accommodation in the centre of Radda in Chianti, you have time to enjoy the atmosphere of this hill top town and indulge in some fine wine tasting and dining at some of the best restaurants of the region.

Approx. distance: 40 Miles / 65 Kms

Day 4: Radda in Chianti to Pienza (B) Today you leave Radda in Chianti and ride through Gaiole and on to , on your way to Pienza. Today’s ride takes you further south past hills blanketed with vineyards and thick forests. This whole region is dotted with castles, once defensive systems but now privately owned by wine producers.

You will then ride past Meleto, San Donato in Perano and Brolio Castle. You can rest your legs in , yet another little medieval town set on a hillside, above the Valley. After a final roller coaster climb through the ‘Colli Sienesi‘, you will reach Pienza, your destination for today’s ride, the quintessential renaissance town in Tuscany.

Approx. distance: 55 Miles / 90 Kms

Day 5: Pienza to Montalcino (B) Pienza is a rare example of Renaissance town design. Often described as a ‘utopian city‘, it represents one of the best planned Renaissance towns, where a model of ideal living and government was attempted, based on the concept of a town able to satisfy the needs of a peaceful and hardworking populace. Pienza’s location in the centre of the Val d‘Orcia, a wonderful and untouched valley, helps the town to embody the fundamental principal that humanistic architecture attempted to incorporate – the balanced relationship between Man and Nature.

Leaving Pienza, you continue with a fantastic descent and a superb ride into the heart of Val d’Orcia, a UNESCO heritage region with conical hills lined by cypress trees, the ultimate aesthetic of the Italian landscape. You then ride on to San Quirico d’Orcia and Bagno Vignoni where legend has it that St Catherine and Pope Pius II both bathed in the thermal waters. On to Castiglione d’Orcia with its picturesque stone paved streets and Romanesque church, the final climb of the day will take you to the quintessentially Tuscan hill town of Montalcino.

Narrow streets lined with boutiques, art shops and wine shops allows for a relaxing time. For wine lovers, Montalcino Brunello wines can be tasted in one of the many wine bars, savouring some of the best reds that the area has to offer.

Approx. distance: 28 Miles / 45 Kms

Day 6: Montalcino to Casole d’Elsa (B) You are getting to the end of your cycling in Tuscany and the riding is smooth along the rolling hills of the region around Montalcino. Leaving the hill town, a long and gradual descent will take you back down into Val d‘Orcia. Today’s riding will be a gentle roller coaster of superb riding through more countryside and farmland. Your destination for today is Casole d‘Elsa, a cobbled medieval town set on top of a hill, barely visited by tourists. Rewarded by the views and yet another gelato stop, you move in to your accommodation. After a dip in the pool you can then head back up to Casole for dinner at a traditional ‘osteria‘.

Approx. distance: 50 Miles / 80 Kms

Day 7: Casole d’Elsa to Casciana Terme (B) Your final day’s ride will take you back towards the rolling Pisan hills and Casciana Terme. Taking a network of minor roads, eventually ascending to Volterra, one of Tuscany’s most evocative hill towns. From the Etruscan gates to the remains of the Roman forum, you’ll capture the real Italian experience here. Arriving early afternoon in Casciana Terme, not only will it give you time to sort out your bikes but also to make the most of the hot springs and more fine dining and wine. A great way to end Italy’s ultimate riding experience.

Approx. distance: 45 Miles / 70 Kms

Day 8: Departure It’s time for us to meet up with you again and transfer you back to Pisa airport for your flight home. (Transfer time approx 45 minutes).

Viktig Informasjon

What's Included:

Accommodation (shared twin / double en suite rooms) Meals as per the itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner) Local representative (with welcome meeting) Detailed route notes and maps Luggage transfers Airport transfer on scheduled arrival day from Pisa airport (PSA) Airport transfer on scheduled departure day to Pisa airport (PSA)

What's Not Included:

Bike hire (available if required, GBP 200) Flights and charges for travelling with your bike (if applicable) Meals not stated in the itinerary Travel insurance Single room (available if required, from GBP 210) Personal clothing and equipment Personal expenditure (souvenirs, bar bills, hotel facilities etc) Entrance fees to museums and other attractions en route City tax to be paid at each accommodation (amount varies) Airport transfers on days other than the scheduled arrival / departure days

Other useful travel information Vaccinations: We recommend you have a dental and medical check-up before the holiday Passport: A full passport is required for visiting this destination. Baggage: Your allowable baggage is one main piece of luggage per person, other than your bike and a small day pack. Meals: Breakfast are typically Italian, lunches can be taken en-route or you can make your own packed lunches stopping at local shops on the way. When dinners are included, they are taken at the accommodation. Otherwise, they can be taken in the hotel or in a local restaurant. Travel Insurance: It is a condition of your trip that you are covered by a medical and personal accident insurance policy that includes repatriation to your home country and cover for all planned activities. Grade: 3 Moderate: For riders with experience, good fitness & a decent level of skill. Some features that may be experienced more frequently in a higher grade tour. Most days include a couple of significant climbs. Some long days & some steep to very steep sections. Not for beginners. 45-60 miles / 70-95 kms per day. Airport transfers: For this tour we ask that you fly into and back from Pisa airport (PSA). Please arrive between 09:00 and 16:00 and depart between 11:00 and 19:00. Please note – If you make travel arrangements that fall outside of the time windows there may be an additional charge for your transfers. Terrain: You will be riding mostly on well surfaced tarmac roads, through countryside linking up some of the most important hilltop centres in this stunning region. Tuscany is predominantly hilly, so you can expect some climbs with short steep sections followed by meandering descents. Tuscany is also famous for it’s ‘Strade Bianche’ (unsealed white roads) which host their own annual road cycling race; L‘Eroica. You will have an opportunity to ride some short stages of the L‘Eroica route so we recommend that riders avoid super lightweight racing tyres and opt for a slightly more robust tyre such as a puncture resistant 25c. These will also be useful when on the approach to some of our rural accommodations which are often dirt road or gravel driveways. Strade Bianche roads are entirely rideable on road bikes and do not present any danger, risk or increased difficulty however we can provide vehicle transfers or offer alternative routes to riders who prefer not to ride these short unsurfaced stages. Bike Hire: If you have opted to hire then your bike will typically be a Giant Defy or Contend with Giant/Liv Avails (alu frames) for those preferring a women’s specific frame. They are great bikes with good quality components and generally come equipped with at least one bottle cage, a saddle bag and a small pump. We can also include a helmet which should be requested at time of booking. Please note that your bike will come with flat pedals as standard, so please do bring your own if you use clip-in pedals. Vehicle Support: There is no vehicle support on this tour, however your luggage will be transferred between your accommodation. We do provide a 24- hour emergency contact number for you to call if you encounter any problems during the trip. Please note that this may incur additional charges depending on the nature of the action required. Daily departures: available between April and October, excluding the hotter summer months of July and August. Priser / Datoer

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