At a Glance
Taste your way around Italy on this mouth watering 6 days culinary adventure. A gourmet escape from Chianti to Florence showcasing the perfect balance of tantalizing food and wine experiences while taking in exquisite scenery. From home-style cooking classes to sipping on fine wines, unfold the secrets of traditional recipes by local chefs on this immersive culinary walking voyage into breathtaking Tuscany.
Your journey begins in the enchanting city of Arezzo. Discover Italy's most famous wines to its organic winery in the heart of the Chianti region and immerse into its culinary pursuits. Relish your inner chef as you unfold the secrets of home-style Italian meals in cooking classes from pasta to saffron. Delve deeper, discovering quaint medieval towns and villages. Marvel at their natural splendours and indulge into cuisine that ...
Trip Highlights
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What's Included
- All meals as specified in itinerary
- All luggage, hotel and shuttle transfers
- Park and other entry fees
- 5 nights accommodation in hotels on a twin share basis
- Professional guiding: two support vans, 6:1 guest to leader ratio on average
- Hiking, activities and sightseeing as stated in the itinerary
- Comprehensive travel planner with detailed pre-trip information
- Expertise and services of our experienced Trip Leaders
- Snacks and beverages between meals
- Van shuttles to support a variety of route options
- All gratuities at hotels and restaurants
Itinerary
Level 2, Approx. 7km (4 miles), Elevation gain: 153m (500ft) Start your journey with beautiful views of Tuscany. Immerse into an enchanting medieval village of Castellina, located in the heart of Chianti Classico. Perched on a hill, be captivated by the magnificent views of valleys and heroic vineyards that define Tuscany. The town dates back to the 12th century and the soul of Castellina is tangible in its alleys of timeless beauty, in the squares that have hosted the farmers' festivals for centuries, among its vineyards and centuries-old olive groves guarded by dry stone walls, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Take a pleasant stroll along walkways, forested paths and strade gravel roads before arriving in Radda Chianti. Along the way, halt at a family-owned farmhouse-turned-villa for an exclusive olive oil tasting guided by a local. Continue to delight your taste buds with a delicious alfresco pranzo (lunch) buffet before a walk through picture perfect woods and manicured vineyards, a quintessential Tuscan landscape. |
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Arrive at the charming Il Borgo di Vèscine, a 13th century restored hamlet and your home for the next two nights. Perched on top of verdant hill, embrace the spectacular views of the surrounding Chianti Valley boasting century old olive trees and vineyards. Unwind in the pool, whisk away in the quaint garden terraces, or indulge in a Chianti Classico by the cozy fireplace dating back to the 1500. In the afternoon, your gourmet journey culminates as you learn the secrets to traditional recipes in a cooking class led by an engaging local chef in his very own kitchen. Savour moments over great food and company before returning to the hotel. |
THREE HIKING OPTIONS: Start the day with a quick shuttle to Castelvecchif for a pleasant walk to what ridgetop town of Panzano. Uncover its local delights from artisan boutiques, wine shops, medieval spices and the best butcher shop in the region at Macelleria Cecchini. It also offers historical (1000 years old) cellars along with the best productions of Tuscan red wines, olive oil and grappa. Enjoy a picturesque picnic lunch with sweeping views of the vineyard before a short walk to a nearby winery. Enjoy a private tour of the grounds and delight your taste buds with a wine tasting. If you are ready to return, shuttle back to the hotel or continue hiking through the densely shaded oak forests, statuesque cypress trees, and manicured olive orchards of the Chianti countryside. |
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In the evening, savor a delicious meal at the hotel's restaurant bursting traditional Tuscan dishes made with passion and organic ingredients. Marvel at old recipes revisited in innovative ways paired with the finest choice of wines. |
THREE HIKING OPTIONS: After a delicious breakfast, shuttle to Gaiole to relish lovely views of the Ricasoli fortresses in the surrounding hills. A short climb through the woods gets us hiking along a picturesque ridgeline with views of Radda, small villages, and neatly manicured grapevines and vineyards. After lunch, take a quick walk to reach the charming town of Radda, where we will find tonight's hotel, Palazzo Leopoldo. As night falls, head to a balsamic vinegar tasting with our friend and Radda local, Fabrizio. Tantalise your taste buds with Chianti Classico wine with farm-to-table dinner and learn how to prepare some traditional recipes. Take this sublime opportunity to devote yourself to good food and try the most prestigious Chianti wines. |
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You will stay at the dazzling Palazzo Leopoldo Hotel, an elegant 14th century manor house, nestled in the heart of Chianti. An authentic setting of the ancient lords of Tuscany, marvel at original pieces of the ancient residence. Relax at one of several original frescoes, cozy by the fireplace or unwind at the jacuzzi or pool. |
THREE HIKING OPTIONS: After bidding goodbye to Chianti, head to another legendary Italian wine area: Montalcino. Begin your hike in a peaceful valley 10 kilometers from the town of Montalcino in central Tuscany, where stands the splendid Romanesque abbey of Sant’Antimo. Surrounded by olive trees and cypresses, this remarkable structure exudes a sense of peace. Take time wandering around the property and feel the perfume of its history. Halt at Mastrojanni winery to discover the history and production of saffron and enjoy the saffron-based dishes while sipping on crisp Brunello di Montalcino wine. After lunch, a trail through one of the off beaten corners of Val d'Orcia strikes the perfect balance between history, memory, and poetry. Walk in admiration of sweeping views of ancient castles, rivers and the hamlet of Vigini Alto. Later, arrive at Bagno Vignoni, popular for its amazingly hot spring waters, and relish the spa treatments. A perfect scene, spend the afternoon sampling authentic gelato. |
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You will stay at our Albergo Posta Marcucci, nestled inside Mastrojanni, which exemplifies sublime treatments in the indoor relaxation area. Boasting their own wellness centre and thermal bath, soak in this time to truly unwind and pamper. |
THREE HIKING OPTIONS: After breakfast at the hotel, trail towards the village of San Quirico d'Orcia along the gravel paths of the Via Francigena, an ancient pilgrimage route. Leisure the espresso and set out for a wonderful walk through the spectacular Val d'Orcia, a World Heritage site. Travel to the farm roads for lunch and a pasta-making demonstration before relaxing on the terrace drinking in panoramic views of Pienza’s picturesque rolling green hills. In the afternoon, explore the magical Pienza, designed by 15th-century Florentine architect Bernardo Rossellino, who was chosen by Pope Pius II to exemplify Renaissance ideals. Walk to the main square to see two of his masterpieces: Palazzo Piccolomini and a classically inspired duomo. After exploring Pienza, shuttle back to Bagno Vignoni for a bit of rest and relaxation. Come evening, celebrate with a farewell aperitivo and dinner in the heart of Tuscany at the special Posta Marcucci restaurant. Indulge in the most authentic Tuscan spread bursting of fresh local flavours for your final dining affair. |
Level 1, Approx. 3.2km (2 miles), Elevation gain: 61m (200ft) Spend a relaxing morning at the hotel or take one last opportunity to hike through Tuscany's fascinating natural thermal pools and admire the remains of ancient mills. Bid a farewell to your culinary adventure in Tuscany and board a private coach for Florence, leaving inspired and relaxed for your onward journey. NOTE: This itinerary is provided as an example only – prevailing conditions and local arrangements may cause variation. |
Dates & Prices
Please contact us for private departures and group bookings. Single Supplement is available on request.
More Info
- The departure point is Arezzo
- The finish point is Florence
- Major commercial flights provide convenient access to Arezzo. The nearest international airport iis Perugia Airport which is 64.8 km (40.3 miles) away. Other nearby international airports include Florence, 66.4 km (41.3 miles), Pisa,122.3 km (76 miles), Bologna, 127.6 km (79.3 miles) and Rome 187.9 km (116.8 miles).
Summertime in Tuscany is typically hot with little to no rain. Spring (April and May) and Autumn (October and November) are milder and rainier, but there are still plenty of dry, sunny days. During the months of May and October you are most likely to experience good days with pleasant average temperatures that fall between 20 degrees Celsius (68°F) and 25 degrees Celsius (77°F). On average, the warmest month(s) are July and August. Winter can still have some sunny days but is usually wetter and colder, especially at night. The coldest month is January with an average maximum temperature of 10°C (50°F).
The routes on this trip are rated Levels 1-4.
Level 1, 2-5 hours, 3-8km (2-5 miles), Maximum Elevation Gain 244m (800 ft)
Level 2, 2-4 hours, 6-11km (4-7 miles), Maximum Elevation Gain 396m (1300 ft)
Level 3, 3-5 hours, 8-14km (5-9 miles), Maximum Elevation Gain 610m (2000 ft)
Level 4, 4-6 hours, 10-18km(6-11 miles), Maximum Elevation Gain 914m (3000 ft)
Level 5, 5-7 hours, 11-21+ km (7-13+ miles), Maximum Elevation Gain 1219m (4000+ ft)
Onlyluxe Travel acts as travel agency and work with different tour operators.
Payment Detail
All pricing is in Australian dollars and are quoted on a per person twin share basis. A supplementary price is available (see below). Bookings are not confirmed until full payment and the signed Booking Form has been received by Onlyluxe Travel.
A non-refundable 30% deposit is payable within 7 days of your booking, with the final balance due 120 days prior to departure. If a booking is made 120 days or less before departure, the full payment is payable immediately. Last minute bookings are payable before arrival. Failure to pay on time may result in automatic cancellation of a booking with cancellation penalties payable to Onlyluxe Travel. If you pay by credit card or PayPal a surcharge will be added to the total price.
Single Supplement
All accommodation is twin share. Single guests will share with someone of the same gender. If a single room is demanded, a supplementary price of will apply. The supplementary price refers to our quotation and needs to be stipulated at the time of booking.
General Cancellation Policies
- Outside of 120 days monies will be refunded less 30% of full fee
- Within 120 days prior to arrival all monies will be forfeited
- No refunds will be given in the event of non-arrival, any unused services or unused nights due to flight or weather disruption
- We strongly recommend guests protect themselves with travel insurance and medical insurance
Please Note: Cancellations must be advised in email and will take effect from the date they are received.
Liability
The participant agrees to indemnify Onlyluxe Travel, and its servant, tour operator and agents, in relation to any liability, loss and damage which the tour operator, or its servants and/or agents may incur as a result of the participants, negligence or misconduct during the tour.
Smoking is not permitted on the bus, or in tents or in other accommodation being used by tour operator at the time that a trip is being conducted.
Child Policy
Please consult travel consultant on age limit.
Changes to Itineraries
Local conditions may necessitate changes to sightseeing, walking and driving routes, camping and accommodation locations. While every effort will be made to provide the services and experiences as offered in our brochure, on our website, and in our trip letters, we reserve the right to vary your itinerary. In the event that we are forced to change your arrangements, substitute arrangements of a similar standard will be provided. The tour operator will not be liable where interruptions to itineraries are caused by weather conditions, technical problems to transport used by the tour operator, industrial action, political or civil commotion or other circumstances beyond our control. We refer you to the conditions regarding travel insurance.
Changes in Prices
While we will do its utmost to honour its pricing unforeseen circumstances may mean that prices may be subject to change without notice.
Pre-Existing Medical Conditions and Age Limits
You need to advise Onlyluxe travel and the tour operator on any pre-existing medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability that might reasonably be expected to increase the risk of your requiring medical attention, or that might affect the normal conduct of a trip and the enjoyment of other trip members. Onlyluxe Travel and the tour operator may require an assessment of your medical condition from a qualified medical practitioner. If you fail to adequately notify the tour operator of any pre-existing medical conditions and/or disability, the tour operator reserves the right, at its reasonable discretion, to cancel your participation in a trip at any time, including after the commencement of your trip, with no right of refund if your medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability could be reasonably expected to affect the normal conduct of the trip and the enjoyment of other trip members.
Cancellation by The Tour Operator
The tour operator is at the mercy of nature in all her beauty and all her fury. The tour operator will under no circumstance knowingly place at risk the health and well-being of our guests and guides. In the case of natural threats, acts of God and the like (e.g. bushfires, impassable snow, etc) the tour operator may need to cancel a tour with very little notice. In some cases, this can occur after the tour has commenced. The tour operator reserves the right to cancel any tour up to 60 days prior to departure if the minimum number requirement is unable to meet for a tour. If the tour operator needs to cancel for any reason, the cost of the tour or any other costs associated with travel to the designated pick up point, overnight accommodation, meals, etc will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore we strongly recommend travel insurance be taken out prior to travel.
Force Majeure
'Force Majeure' means (without restriction) any event which Onlyluxe Travel or its third party providers could not, even with due care, foresee or avoid. Force Majeure covers events such as, but not limited to, adverse weather conditions, fire and all similar events beyond our control. In the case of Force Majeure Onlyluxe Travel will not accept liability, and reserves the right to change and cancel trips.
Evacuations
In rare circumstances, due to injury or unforeseen illness, the tour operator may need to evacuate you from a remote part of the walk. Helicopter evacuations are expensive and in most cases will be at a cost to the customer.
For Australian residents, under the Australian Government Medicare Act, it is prohibited for any domestic travel insurance product to provide any financial reimbursement with regard to ambulance or air ambulance services. We therefore strongly advise our customers to take specific ambulance cover through their health insurance provider. Evacuation cost will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore it is also strongly recommended that our customers take out travel insurance to cover (amongst other things) the costs associated with evacuation.
Travel Insurance
In view of the heavy cancellation penalties applied to cancelled reservations in certain circumstances, we strongly recommends suitable travel insurance be purchased at the time the holding deposit is paid. We recommend insurance cover that covers any loss which may be suffered due to cancellation. We also strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance against loss of baggage and medical expenses.