Tuscany Family Bike Tour
- Iconic hill towns of Montepulciano 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 pasta and gelato
- A night of pizza- and cookie-making for the kids, and wine tasting and feasting for the adults
Pedaling & Pizza from Cortona to Chianti
Is this the trip? The one where 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!). Chianti tasting for the adults. Hands-on pizza making for the youngsters. Enjoy your perfect family adventure in Tuscany.
Days
1-2 Savor classic local specialties, including truffles, pasta and gelato 
Enjoy a warm-up spin through the Val di Chiana, picturesque landscape and quaint towns 
Visit the famous hilltop town of Montepulciano and wander the medieval streets Lunch at a local café overlooking the expansive countryside.
Day
3 Discover iconic hill towns brimming with history Pedal your way through the valley up to Castiglione del Lago and enjoy views of famous Lago Trasimeno from the walled city Kids spend time at the lake swimming and paddling, giving grown-ups the chance to spin the rolling terrain to Cortona Explore the town's Etruscan ruins.
Day
4 Adults taste notable regional wines and dine at a trattoria, while youngsters put together a well-rounded meal - pizza and cookies! Bike through Chianti's quintessential vineyards and olive groves to Radda, part of the Antica Lega del Chianti.
Days
5-6 Visit Badia a Coltibuono (or "Abbey of the Good Harvest"), a private estate producing its own olive oil and honey
Explore ridgetop Castellina, an ancient village with a unique arcaded passageway and hit the shops and gelaterie in town Visit Greve in Chianti, home to the famous explorer Amerigo Vespucci.
Guests Reviews About This Trip
One of the best trips we ever had as a family. The kids would have been miserable sightseeing countless museums and churches. What a fabulous way to really experience Italy and the culture while being with a fun social group. My teenagers truly enjoyed having the other kids their age on the trip. We all had a wonderful time. It was great blend of exercise, sightseeing, and cultural experiences. LOVED IT!!!! We had three amazing leaders. All wonderful!!! There will definitely be more Backroads trips in our future!!- Greensboro, NC
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.- Bethesda, MD
This trip ranks as one of my favorite all-time vacations. The setting in Tuscany is breathtakingly beautiful. This trip was everything I imagined and more! I especially enjoyed meeting the other families. There was also a very nice mix of kids. The Trip Leaders were exceptional - very personable and took a very special interest in the group. All of them were very good with kids. They provided excellent van support. By the end of the trip, the leaders and the entire group had really bonded. It was really hard to leave such a nice group of people.- Houston, TX
Casual Inns
Borgo Tre Rose
Valiano (2 nights) Originally a 12th-century residence, this hotel is depicted in a Leonardo da Vinci painting. (pool, tennis)
Relais Villa Baldelli
Cortona (1 night) Once a country villa, this hotel offers spectacular views of Cortona's medieval skyline. (pool)
Relais Fattoria Valle
Panzano (2 nights) Situated just outside the village of Panzano, this former private residence overlooks vineyards and the surrounding valley. (pool)
Private Trips Options & Pricing
Gather your favorite people to share a Backroads adventure on a ready-to-book Private Trip - featuring all the legendary Backroads hallmarks from expert leaders to unforgettable activities.
You can pick from a large selection of dates for your group of 8 or more. Call us for date availability.
If your party has fewer than 8 guests, or if your preferred date is not available, we'll create a departure just for you.
Pricing for Private Trips (prices may vary based on departure date)
| 2 - 3 guests $5,798 pp dbl. occ. | 8 - 9 guests $4,298 pp dbl. occ. |
| 4 - 5 guests $4,998 pp dbl. occ. | 10 - 11 guests $3,698 pp dbl. occ. |
| 6 - 7 guests $4,498 pp dbl. occ. | 12 or more guests $3,398 pp dbl. occ. |
Youth savings do not apply to Private Trips.
This Trip Is Rated Level 1-4
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.
| Daily Route Options | ||||||||||
| Day | EASYGOING | ACTIVE | AVID | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | ||||||
| miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | |
| 1 | 15* | 100 | 24 | 600 | ||||||
| 2 | 13* | 1000 | 24* | 1300 | 41 | 1900 | ||||
| Kids: High Ropes Course & Rock Climbing Activity | ||||||||||
| 3 | 12* | 200 | 30 | 400 | 44 | 800 | ||||
| Kids: Activities at Lake Trasimeno | ||||||||||
| 4 | 17* | 1300 | 24* | 1800 | 32 | 2400 | ||||
| Kids: Pizza & Biscotti Making | ||||||||||
| 5 | 18* | 1600 | 24* | 1800 | 45 | 3100 | ||||
| 6 | 8 | 700 | ||||||||
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.
* Includes a shuttle
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For 35 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the Tuscany tour experts. See our award-winning Europe Italy biking tours, Europe Italy walking and hiking tours and Europe Italy multisport tours.
