Tuscany Biking Tour

Tuscany Family Biking

North of Siena

Is this the trip on which your kid develops an eye for Etruscan figurative art? Or learns the key features of Quattrocento Renaissance architecture? Maybe not. But it doesn't take a genius to know that Tuscany scores top marks for family fun. Enjoy miles of smiles on kid-approved routes. Discover ancient hill towns and climb a medieval tower. (Fueled by gelato, of course!) Taste truffles - and meet the dog that sniffs them out. Chianti tasting for the adults. Hands-on pizza making and watercolor lessons for the youngsters. Enjoy your perfect family adventure in Tuscany.

Trip Highlights
  • Iconic hill towns of San Gimignano and Radda in Chianti
  • Family-friendly routes past cypress trees, vineyards, grazing sheep and stone farmhouses
  • Tour a medieval abbey, now a private estate producing its own olive oil and honey
  • Savor classic Tuscan indulgences, including truffles and gelato
  • A night of pizza- and cookie-making for the kids, and wine tasting and feasting for the adults
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The Day-to-Day Itinerary

Day 1 Family-friendly routes past cypress trees, vineyards, grazing sheep and stone farmhouses Enjoy a warm-up spin from the 16th-century chapel of San Vivaldo through picturesque countryside and quaint towns.

Day 2 Savor classic local delicacies, including truffles, pasta and gelato It's a quick downhill ride to Corrazzano, with a stop at Tartufi Nacci to learn about truffles Adults can taste this local delicacy in its many forms (think truffle oil, cheese and pasta), while kids accompany a truffle-sniffing dog on a hunt! Stop for a Backroads picnic in the town of Palaia.

Day 3 Iconic hill towns brimming with history En route to San Gimignano, pedal through Volterra, known for its alabaster and wealth of Etruscan and Roman ruins Kids dabble in watercolor techniques with a local artist, while grown-ups take in spectacular views of San Gimignano's towers from our scenic country abode.

Day 4 A special meal just for kids, and wine tasting and feasting for the adults After reaching Monteriggioni on two wheels, sit down to a leisurely lunch on your own Explore the shops in Castellina and treat yourself to a gelato Youngsters put together a well-rounded meal - pasta and cookies! - while adults taste notable regional wines and dine at a trattoria.

Days 5-6 Tour a medieval abbey, now a private estate producing its own olive oil and honey Wonderful vistas abound during a ride through the heart of Chianti Take a tour of Badia a Coltibuono (or "Abbey of the Good Harvest") before a gourmet picnic lunch A festive final evening provides the perfect ending to our trip.

Look at what other guests are saying about this trip!

Biking Tuscany was a great experience for my family. Our leaders were excellent and catered to our every need. Their knowledge of the region was excellent and they were a constant source of information. In addition, the chemistry between them was very energetic. The choice of lodging and cuisine was superb and offered a great sampling of the area. Thank you, Backroads. We will definitely return.
Diane Artiles - Bethesda, MD More about this Trip All Guest Reviews

For 32 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the tour experts. To see all our biking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning walking and hiking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning multisport tours click here.

Tuscany Family Biking

Casual Inns

Palazzo Mannaioni
Palazzo Mannaioni

Montaione (2 nights) Originally a 16th-century residence - and still maintaining its historic granary and olive oil mill - this hotel is set along the medieval walls of Montaione. (pool)

Hotel Pescille
Hotel Pescille

San Gimignano (1 night) Once a country villa, this hotel offers spectacular views of San Gimignano's medieval skyline. (pool)

Fattoria Valle
Fattoria Valle

Panzano (2 nights) Situated just outside the village of Panzano, this former private residence overlooks vineyards and the surrounding valley. (pool)

You are viewing the Family Casual Inn itinerary.

Tuscany Family Biking

Routes 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 Biking Average Walking Average
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
Kid-Friendly Routes
The route options below are for adults and older kids with more biking experience who are up for longer rides or hikes. For all other kids (and adults who choose), we make it easy to do even less than the shortest option mentioned below, usually by taking a short lift in one of our support vehicles. We are here to make sure everyone has a great time so there's no need for you to worry about whether your child will be able to "keep up."

Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain

Day 1
  • Level 1   2 Route Options Available 
  • 8, 20 miles
  • 350 - 600 feet elevation gain
Day 2
  • Levels 2 to 3  3 Route Options Available
  • 21, 31, 38 miles
  • 200 - 1500 feet elevation gain
Day 3
  • Levels 1 to 3 3 Route Options Available
  • 15, 20, 37 miles
  • 1000 - 2900 feet elevation gain
Day 4
  • Levels 2 to 4 3 Route Options Available
  • 25, 37, 46 miles
  • 600 - 2200 feet elevation gain 
Day 5
  • Levels 1 to 4 3 Route Options Available
  • 18, 24, 45 miles
  • 600 - 2700 feet elevation gain 
Day 6
  • Level 1 1 Route Option Available
  • 8 miles
  • 850 feet elevation gain
Please note: On this Family Trip, liberal van shuttling is incorporated into the itinerary to facilitate our activities and mileage is kept moderate to enable you to spend more time exploring on your own.

You are viewing the Family Casual Inn itinerary.