We invite you on a very unique and special trip to Tuscany! It’s truly unique, as the tour takes you to two regions of Tuscany that are less well known and not so “Tuscan”, but at the same time offer a whole experience of a lifetime with their wild natural beauty, beautiful valleys, majestic mountains and charming towns. And, of course, there’s the beach, the blue water, everywhere, which is the icing on the cake. The tour is a mix of our two previous tours, the northern part (Lucca and surroundings) and the western coast (Maremma), with the best trails!
In the north, we explore the hills and valleys around Lucca, hike to the Apuan Alps, visit Pisa and Collodi and of course the coastal towns such as. Viareggio or Forte dei Marmi. Further south along the west coast is the Maremma region, one of the least known and visited areas of Tuscany, but one of the best areas for cycling in spring. Will we visit beautiful little villages like Bolgheri, Sassetta, Monteverdi Marittimo or Suvereto? And of course we’ll be ferrying over to Elba, the largest island in Tuscany!
We’ll have two accommodations, one in the north, near Lucca, and one further south, near Suvereto, but the day of the move will be a biking one.
Travel
The journey out to the location and home is done by a minibus. The transportation at the location is also by a minibus. Ferry to Elba (the ferry is not included in the price!) If you want, you can fly to Pisa, we can arrange transport!
When?
2024. Apr. 27. – may. 5. (Sat – Sun) – 8 nights 9 days – Last place left!
What can I do if there are have no spots available?
If the tour is full, but you want to come specifically for this tour, please let us know, because you may be put on a waiting list, or if there is a lot of interest and the waiting list is full, we can start another tour on the same date. Contact us here!
Price 2024
- Normal price: 445.000 ft
- Frequent flyer price: 435.000 ft
Number of people
Starting number: 5-7 people. Min. 6 persons.
Application, payment
To apply, fill out the application form (on the right, on mobile in the middle or the bottom of the page). When applying, you don’t have to pay while filling out the form, you only need to enter some data (be careful, the form is several pages long!). If you have successfully registered, you should also receive an automatic email! We will then send the advance request to the email address you provided. We will inform you about further details by email.
Help
- How can i apply (FAQ)?
- You have a question? If you are not sure about something or don’t understand something? Call or write us an email and/or subscribe to our newsletter!
Informations
Amount of down payment: 40% of the total amount (Payment after online application and contact)! The application is not valid without the down payment! (Please read the GTC!)
Applicaton deadline: 2024. March 15.
Departure/arrival location: Budapest
The price contains
Travel by minibus
Accommodation in farmhouse
Breakfast
Tour guide
Bicycle rental What kind of bicycle do we give?
Maps
The price does not contain
Lunch, dinner
Individual and cancellation insurance
Price of optional programs
Ferry ticket to Elba
Price of entry tickets
About the tour
We invite you on a less classic, but very unique and special Tuscan journey! It’s a unique experience, as the tour takes you to two lesser-known regions of Tuscany, but also to wild natural beauty, beautiful valleys, majestic mountains and charming towns. And, of course, there’s always the shore, which is the icing on the cake. The tour is a mix of our two previous tours, the northern part (Lucca and surroundings) and the western coast (Maremma), with the best roads!
The northern part, with Lucca in the centre, lies at the foot of the Alps, and this is also noticeable on the roads: north of Lucca, the landscape is typical Alpine. Lucca is one of the best, most livable Tuscan towns, with a brilliant old town and a city wall to cycle around. Further south along the west coast is the Maremma region, one of the least known and least visited areas of Tuscany: close to the north of the Tyrrhenian coast, it is a backdrop of uncrowded, unfrequented roads, wild mountain serpentines and small towns perched on majestic hills. Who wouldn’t want to visit cities with beautiful names like: Massa Marittima, Sassetta, Castagneto Carducci, Monteverdi Marittimo, Suvereto? Only good things can come out of this! And we haven’t even mentioned Elba!
We will have two places to stay, one in the north and one further south, but the day of the move will also be a day of cycling.
The Maremma region is the least known and least visited part of south-western Tuscany, bordering the coast of Liguria and Tyrrhenia, from Livorno to Grosseto. This is due to the fact that, until the beginning of the last century, it was a marshy area that decimated the people. The region is considered the ancestral home of the Etruscans, and in recent decades several ancient, huge Etruscan cities have been excavated. Still relatively sparsely populated today, it offers visitors wonderful roads, mountain villages and great beaches. They have great agrotourism, low traffic and spectacular roads. Among other things, it has one of the best cycling routes in Italy and is also the crossing point for one of the best cycling routes in Tuscany, the Elbe.
Bicycle
Almost all types of bikes are accepted for this tour. The route will have minimal gravel, mostly asphalt. But the gravel is also one of the better ones, so you can bring a road bike. You can come with a gravelle, cross, hybrid or touring bike. We provide the rental of normal (cross) bicycles (subject to stock), so you don’t have to pay extra. Please let us know your request in advance, as stocks are limited. Of course you can bring your own, and we’re happy to do that, but the bike we provide is well equipped and very comfortable. Read on to find out what kind of bike we provide and what to look out for if you bring your own!
You can also rent an e-bike. The rental of ebikes is not included in the tour price, but is offered at a discount compared to renting from elsewhere). An ebike is a bicycle on which an electric motor helps you pedal. It’s adjustable in several gears, so you can go up even the steepest climbs with ease. The ebikes are very useful for people who don’t normally cycle much, or who don’t want to exert themselves because of their age or health. About eBike rental.
Who is it for?
If you’ve already been to Tuscany, you’ve seen the typical sights, but you want to go back and see something different and special.
If you’ve never been to Tuscany, but want to start your exploration of a unique region.
If you love the sea and the hilly, mountainous countryside and nature.
If you like completely deserted, undiscovered landscapes and cities untouched by mass tourism.
Difficulty
The hikes are moderately difficult or difficult. Although not a mountain pass, this area of Tuscany is (not) easy. The routes are set up so that an average person with an athletic physique (and cycling background) can do them. Preparation before the year is a prerequisite. The level and distance are above average, with some longer uphill or more level routes. Tuscany is a hilly region, much hillier than the Balaton highlands, but the hike can be completed with a little will and muscle. On the tour we stop a lot, rest, look around, have coffee, eat. We don’t rush, we wait for the laggards and the guides help us. We always indicate the level and difficulty of the specific day. For those who find these levels and distances too short, we recommend our challenge tours (Tuscany, Dolomites), where we do more hikes with higher levels.
Find out what it’s like to cycle in Tuscany in this article!
General information about what to know about the difficulties of the hikes? Is the tour difficult for you?).
We answer all your other questions here:
Day 1: Travel
Departure early Saturday morning, journey time is (depending on traffic) 11-12 hours. In the afternoon we arrive at the hostel in Lucca. We won’t be cycling any longer on this day, if we get there in time there is the possibility to cycle into town(s).
Day 2: Around Pisa and Monte Pisano
Our first day of cycling takes us around the mountain between Pisa and Lucca, bypassing Pisa. We go around the mountain from the north-west, passing small towns on the way, then cycle into Pisa, visit the famous Duomo Square (unfortunately there is always a crowd) and the old town, which is much less important because of the Duomo and the leaning tower, but just as beautiful and charming On the way back, we pass a beautiful and long medieval aqueduct and then continue on to beautiful mountain villages (Buti, Vicopisano). At the end of the hike we take a nice undulating road to Lucca.
Distance: 70 km, altitude difference: about 400 m. Difficulty: 2/5. Planned time: 8 hours (with sightseeing).
Day 3: Collodi
On Monday our destination is Collodi, the “town” of Pinocchio author Carlo Lorenzini, who took his pen name from this town, but of course we will also visit the Serchio river valley and the road to the castles “above” Lucca. The first part of our journey takes us through the Val d’Serchio, the valley of the Serchio river. Starting from Lucca, we will visit the Devil’s Bridge and then the hilltop town of Bagni di Lucca. We have a coffee there and cycle up a small pass (700m high), then down a narrow valley towards Collodi. From Collodi we drive along the side of the hills, on undulating, very enjoyable roads towards Lucca, where our route is lined with beautiful castles. The road winds through beautiful forests.
Distance: 70 km, altitude difference: about 1300 m. Difficulty: 3/5, with one major and several minor climbs. Planned time: 8 hours.
Day 4: Val d'Serchio and the Apuan Alps
The highlight of the northern part is this tour, which starts in the Val d’Serchio, through the wild valley of the Serchio river and continues along the beautiful path of the Apuan Alps, before ending at the sea. As the day before, we start from Lucca and hike all day in a beautiful wild river valley. We go past Bagni di Lucca, then all the way to Garfagnana in the hills. From here we turn towards the sea and follow a wild valley road through the foothills of the Apuan Alps. The road climbs slowly and steadily, but moderately. But from the pass to the sea, a 30km descent begins, with crazy speed! Our tour ends at the sea, from where we drive back to the hotel.
Distance: 110 km, difference in altitude: m, planned time: 8 hours. A moderately difficult hike, with a longer but not so difficult climb and a long distance.
Day 5: Move to Bolgheri, Canneto and Sassetta
On this day we will move further south. We pack up early in the morning and drive to the other hostel. On the way we stop in Bolgheri. The town is a little jewel box of just a few houses. It is possible to buy from the “water”, which is a perfume produced locally using only natural materials. We also sit down in the Zwack-owned pastry shop. If you don’t want to take the day off, we will also be full on this day! The smaller loop will take you to several lovely towns and some very nice roads! Our first town is Cannetto. Before that, we climb a hill and reach the village, whose old town consists of two streets and houses that are hundreds of years old. From here we head towards Monteverdi Marittimo, followed by Sassetta. After Sassetta we cycle to Suvereto along one of the most beautiful roads in Italy. Dozens of hairpin bends and steady downhill gradients make for an enjoyable ride.
Distance: 50km, difference in altitude: about 600 m. Difficulty: 2/5, with gentle climbs and many descents. Planned time: 3 hours.
Day 6: The coast and the Etruscans
On this day we follow in the footsteps of the Etruscans: our destination is the nearby Baratti Bay and Populonia, the (remains of) the Etruscan village that dominated the area from above. We start from home and our first destination is Campiglia Marittima, which we visit. Then we head towards Baratti Bay. In the bay, enjoy the calm, forested beach. Stronger cyclists can also cycle up to Populonia, a short but tough climb. The second half of our journey takes us past the coastal pine trees to San Vincenzo, a port town, from where we cycle back to Campiglia.
Distance: 70 km, altitude difference: about 650 m. Difficulty: 2/5. Planned time: 8 hours. With two small climbs.
Day 7: Geothermal power plants
Our penultimate day is spent in one of the most unique parts of Maremma and Tuscany. This is the inland area of volcanic activity, geothermal power plants and geysers. Our destination is the largest geothermal power plant park in the world. set in the wooded hills of Tuscany. Departing from our accommodation, we reach the area through a landscape of rolling hills, sulphur smells, geothermal lakes, power plant chimneys and metal pipes running from the power plants. The erupting sulphurous gases and yellowish-brownish earth provide the backdrop. We check out the park and then just go back to the accommodation. On the way, we will also try a local brewery.
Distance: 80 km, altitude difference: about 1100m. Difficulty: 3/5 with two major climbs. Planned time: 8 hours.
Day 8: Elba
This day will be spent entirely in Elba, the most enjoyable, most beautiful, but also the most difficult day of our week-long tour! Early in the morning, we ferry over and spend the day sailing around the western part of Elba. Our route takes us almost all the way to the sea, with hardly any tourists in spring and autumn, so we cycle on almost deserted roads and enjoy the blue sea. Sometimes we stop at a nice beach, maybe it will be cold for swimming (the sea is 20-21 degrees). For lunch we eat octopus or seafood prepared with local specialities. The road winds away from the sea in places, up into the mountains, offering magnificent panoramic views. In the afternoon we arrive back at the port and ferry back to Piombino. If the team is in agreement and the stamina is there, a longer route is possible.
Distance: 70km, altitude difference: about 900 m. Difficulty: 3/5, longer distance, with one or two steeper climbs.l. Planned time: 8-9 hours.
Day 9: journey home
We check out in the morning and drive home. We’ll travel during the day and arrive home in the afternoon.
Our first accommodation is in the quiet hills outside Lucca. In the farmhouse you will stay in two-bedroom or studio apartments. Our second accommodation will be not far from the beach, near the small village of Suvereto, in the middle of “nowhere”, in a quiet and peaceful area, in an agrotourism with a swimming pool. Accommodation is in fully equipped apartments with two or three bedrooms (two beds per room).
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