Women’s Tuscany Trip: Italian Food, Wine and Cycling 2021 TBA
$3,899
Location - Tuscany
Dates
September 12, 2020 - September 19, 2020
Cycling around Tuscany, Italy
Trip Details
Meet in Chiusi, a main stop on the Florence – Rome railway. Head to our hotel in Pienza where we’ll stay for the next four nights. Settle in and then unwind on the terrace enjoying sweeping views of the Tuscan countryside. Get fitted with high end rental bikes and then we’ll stretch our legs with a short ride. Back at the hotel, enjoy a welcome happy hour with local wine and cheese and then go out for dinner as group.
Each morning starts with a sumptuous buffet breakfast at our hotel. At breakfast preview the day’s ride and excursions. Daily mileage is 30 to 40 miles. The schedule and ride lengths are subject to change due to weather conditions as well as participants’ abilities and desires.
Today’s ride north through Montisi, Trequanda and San Giovanni d’Asso. The area is rich with farms, hamlets and castles. This evening, visit a villa for a cooking class. Learn to cook a traditional Tuscan dinner including pasta from scratch.
Ride to Monticchiello: Cycle through a scenic landscape dotted with vineyards, cypresses and hilltop medieval villages. Stop at a farm for a tour that includes world class artisan cheese making. Enjoy a second cooking class here, making our lunch with farm fresh ingredients. Dinner is on your own tonight.
Ride to Castiglione D’Orcia and explore the ruins of an ancient castle. From the top we have a 360 degree panoramic view of the Val D’Orica. On our return ride stop along the way at Bagno Vignoni, a Roman thermal spa town and soak our feet in the thermal hot spring. Back in Pienza, enjoy a wine and cheese happy hour outside overlooking the valley we just rode through. Out to dinner together tonight.
Ride to Montalcino, a medieval city renowned for its Brunello wines. Our luggage is transferred to our Montalcino hotel. After lunch in the courtyard of our new hotel, we walk to the Padelletti cellar for a tour and wine tasting. Enjoy dinner on your own in one of Montalcino’s many excellent restaurants.
Ride south through the vineyards of Montalcino. Make a stop at the vineyard of Castello Banfi and walk through the glass museum. Next we ride to Ciacci Piccolomini D’Aragona for a tour and a wine tasting in their bicycle museum. Back in Montalcino we enjoy another fun dinner together.
Ride to Mont Oliveto, a 14th century Benedictine Abbey. Magnificent frescoes line the hallways of the abbey. We have a spectacular ride back to Montalcino with fantastic views. Tonight we enjoy our last dinner together celebrating our adventures with our new friends!
After breakfast we’ll taxi to the Chiusi train station to continue your travels or head to the airport.
Ends at 4:00pm
What to Expect
- Beautiful bike rides through rolling hills
- 7 nights lodging in 3-star hotels. (4 nights in Pienza, 3 nights in Montalcino.)
- Double Occupancy Rooms (ask [email protected] about single occupancy options for a surcharge.)
- 7 breakfasts
- 5 dinners
- 2 lunches (included at Podere il Casale farm and on arrival at our hotel in Montalcino)
- 3 wine and cheese happy hours
- Bike rental (high end road bikes)
- Cooking class and farm tour
- Cooking class at Pienza Villa
- 2 Vineyard tours and wine tastings
- Ground transportation from and to Chiusi train station, taxi to evening cooking class
- Luggage transport between hotels in Pienza and Montalcino
- Experienced Backcountry Babes trip leaders
- Camaraderie and fun in a supportive environment
- Have any questions? Email us at [email protected]
About Your Trip Leader
Lisa Graves rides in Tuscany every fall. She has cycled through all of Europe, including a year long “cycle about.” When not riding her bike she can be found kayaking, rock climbing & skiing throughout rural Maine. This is Lisa’s 7th year leading the Tuscany trip. Over the years she has refined the trip to give us the best of the best! Italy is a fantastic place to cycle and enjoy great food and wine. We look forward to our 2020 Tuscany cycling adventure and hope that you can join us!
Getting There
Fly to Rome, airfare estimate is about $1000 from many major cities. From Rome, take the train to Chiusi. Chiusi is on the main Rome-Florence trainline, and is about 90 minutes and $27. Leaders will provide detailed information on train schedules and traveling by train.
