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Route Rating Level 2 to Level 4

PDF iconDetailed Itinerary

RESERVE THIS TRIP!

Premiere Inns
  • From $4,198
    To $4,298 pp dbl. occ.
  • (+$1,000 for sgl. occ.)

Reserve early for the best available price. More Info

TRIP NOTES

All meals included except 2 lunches and 1 dinner.

Cancellation Policy

View cancellation policy

Meet / Depart

Siena, Italy/Arezzo, Italy

Special Interest

Culture & History, Fine Wine & Cuisine, Romance &/or Honeymoon

Recommended Reads

Essential trip reading

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Southern Tuscany Biking Vacations

Tuscany Biking

South of Siena

You’ll quickly understand the allure of southern Tuscany as you pedal between villages so intimate, you will experience the sounds and aromas of pranzo—the midday meal—as it’s being prepared inside Italian homes. While there are plenty of hills to climb, your efforts will be well rewarded. After spinning through rolling vineyards, past undulating wheat fields and over chalky white hills by day, savor pecorino cheese, homemade pasta, fruity olive oils, celebrated Brunello wines and the warmth of Italian hospitality each evening.

You are viewing the Classic Premiere Inns version of this trip.
View the Classic Casual Inns Itineraries.

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Days 1-2 castelnuovo dell'abate

Meet in Siena Warm up with a pleasant ride over rolling terrain along the flank of Monte Amiata, Tuscany's highest mountain   Pedal through vineyards yielding southern Tuscany’s prestigious Brunello di Montalcino wine Tranquil roads lead past the Abbazia Monte Oliveto Maggiore, the region’s most notable monastery, and the exposed chalk hills known as biancane.  

Day 3 pienza

Visit the ancient spa town of Bagno Vignoni, where Catherine de' Medici was known to linger Follow country roads to the quaint village of Castelmuzio In Pienza, one of Tuscany’s Renaissance gems, marvel at architectural masterpieces and shop for ceramics For dinner, savor such Tuscan favorites as panzanella, pappardelle al sugo and acquacotta.

Days 4-6 Farneta

In medieval Montepulciano, Tuscany’s highest hilltop town, discover hidden piazzas, visit the famous Tempio di San Biagio pilgrimage church and perhaps taste Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Pedal through the Val di Chiana, where Chianina cows contentedly graze  Climb to the postcard-perfect Etruscan village of Cortona for a guided walking tour of its ancient town center, gaining insight into its storied past Bike along picturesque roads of the Val di Chiana to Lago Trasimeno, Italy’s fourth largest lake and a favorite vacation spot of Italians.

Trip praise

This truly was a remarkable, memorable trip. I feel that biking allowed us to truly experience Italy in an intimate way. We met people on the roadside picking mushrooms...we could see Tuscany, feel Tuscany, and smell Tuscany!
Marianne Kaluza—Sammamish, WA

For more than 29 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the Tuscany tour experts. For biking tours in Europe Italy, trust our in-depth connections. To see all our Europe Italy biking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning Europe Italy walking and hiking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning Europe Italy multisport tours click here.

Tuscany Biking

MEDIEVAL MASTERPIECES : Premiere Inns

Castello di Velona

Castelnuovo dell'Abate (2 nights): Set on a hill above the Val d' Orcia, this elegant Renaissance castle welcomes you with a sparkling swimming pool, antiques and broad views of the countryside.

Relais Il Chiostro di Pienza

Pienza (1 night): Originally a 15th-century convent, this hotel is situated in the heart of town and offers tastefully furnished guest rooms and a pool.

Villa Petrischio

Farneta (2 nights): Set on a quiet hill, this lovely four-star hotel, enclosed by pine trees, was built in the 18th century for the Lombardi counts who wanted to be close to the Abazzia Farneta.

Tuscany Biking Tuscany Biking

Relais Il Chiostro di Pienza

You are viewing the Classic Premiere Inns version of this trip.
View the Classic Casual Inns Itineraries.

Tuscany Biking

Route Rating

Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain

Day 1
  • Level 1 3 Route Options Available
  • 10, 12, 19 miles
  • 0 - 2000 feet elevation gain
Day 2
  • Levels 2 to 3 3 Route Options Available
  • 21, 37, 44 miles
  • 1000 - 3000 feet elevation gain
Day 3
  • Levels 2 to 4 3 Route Options Available
  • 25, 41, 54 miles
  • 2000 - 5000 feet elevation gain
Day 4
  • Levels 2 to 4  2 Route Options Available
  • 29, 43 miles
  • 1500 - 2500 feet elevation gain
Day 5
  • Levels 2 to 4 3 Route Options Available
  • 21, 44, 51 miles
  • 500 - 2500 feet elevation gain
Day 6
  • Level 1 1 Route Option Available
  • 21 miles
  • 500 - 1000 feet elevation gain
Tuscany Biking Tuscany Biking

Trips For All Abilities

Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.

Activity Level Average Time Average Distance
    Biking Walking
& Hiking
1 2-3
hours
10-20
miles
2-5
miles
2 2-4
hours
21-30
miles
5-7
miles
3 3-5
hours
31-40
miles
7-9
miles
4 4-6
hours
41-55
miles
9-11
miles
5 5-7+
hours
56-75+
miles
11-13+
miles