Discover the joys of the Tuscan table as you learn the secrets of Italian cooking from our charming local friends. Celebrate fresh seasonal ingredients prepared with passion, yet minimal manipulation. Slow down and let food be the focal point of the day. And savor this journey that nurtures both body and spirit.
Day
1 Meander through vineyards, woodland and Renaissance hill towns, welcomed by our local amici along the way 
Get a taste of the region's undulating terrain as you stroll from Castellina to Vèscine Homer once called olive oil "liquid gold"—you'll call it delicious during our exclusive degustazione (tasting) Sip Chianti and prepare a home-style Italian meal alongside locals in the cucina of their cooking school.
Days
2-3 Explore picture-perfect Panzano, home to Tuscany's best-known butcher and numerous fine Chianti wineries From the tiny church of San Giusto in Salcio, amble from one unbelievable vista to the next, stopping for lunch at a local home for a one-of-a-kind alfresco feast among the grapevines Tonight's culinary theme—pizza! Join Backroads' friends Ciro and Umberto to learn how to let the dough fly High ridges and peaceful forests lead the way to our lunch spot in the home of a local friend—a one-of-a-kind experience! In Radda, enjoy a private wine talk and pour—and balsamic vinegar tasting—with our friend Fabrizio.
Days
4-6 Follow the strade bianche (white roads) of southern Tuscany's Val d'Orcia Head south to the crete senesi (chalk hills) to hunt for truffles Wander in Renaissance-style Pienza, Pope Pius II's utopian village Vibrant green in springtime, rich gold in autumn, the surrounding hills are a joy to explore in any season Lunch takes place at an agriturismo (working farm) and dinner is a hands-on affair as we prepare piatti tipici Toscani, typical Tuscan dishes Say arrivederci to Tuscany with a leisurely walk to the village of San Quirico d'Orcia.
I have traveled a lot and the Backroads Culinary Walking Tour in Tuscany is my favorite so far. Loved the Tutti a Tavolo cooking class the first night. Laughed so much and it was a great way to get to know my fellow travelers. Suzie Regul, Michael Bluestein and Giulia took fabulous care of us and were so helpful! The walks/hikes were doable and Giulia was never far away in the van if someone needed a lift. This was my first Backroads trip, but not my last!- St. Louis, MO
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A 13th-century hamlet handsomely restored as a welcoming hotel with unsurpassed views of the Tuscan countryside. (pool)
Located in the heart of the Chianti region, this elegant 14th-century manor house features spacious guest rooms with original frescoes. (pool, spa)
This charming family-owned hotel overlooks the town's central piazza, whose ancient pool is fed by underground thermal springs. (pool, spa)
There's no better way to find out about Backroads than by hearing it from the people who have traveled with us. For more about the Backroads Experience, read our Guest Testimonials.
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Comments about Tuscany Active Culinary Walking Tour:
I have traveled a lot and the Backroads Culinary Walking Tour in Tuscany is my favorite so far. Loved the Tutti a Tavolo cooking class the first night. Laughed so much and it was a great way to get to know my fellow travelers. Suzie Regul, Michael Bluestein and Giulia took fabulous care of us and were so helpful! The walks/hikes were doable and Giulia was never far away in the van if someone needed a lift. This was my first Backroads trip, but not my last!
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
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Chef making eggplant Parmesan. YUM!
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With my friends
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Me with Franca and one of the tuttis.
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Comments about Tuscany Active Culinary Walking Tour:
We did this as Backroad's last tour of the season. There were a total of 6 guests and 2 guides. The itinerary was perfect with just the right amount of walking to stimulate our appetites for the next culinary adventure. These varied from pasta cooking classes the 3 nonnas, in a country inn, and in a renovated village convent. We visited and tasted fresh olive oil firms and wineries as well as a world-renowned butcher. The walks were gentle and varied with options to extend or shorten based upon individual need. This was definitely the right way to tour the Tuscan countryside!
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
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Comments about Tuscany Active Culinary Walking Tour:
I'm ready to go again. Cooking classes were great fun. Landscapes are beautiful.
Comments about Tuscany Active Culinary Walking Tour:
Great daily hiking excursions touring phenomenal Tuscan destinations (both historical and culinary). First time booking with Backroads and we are talking about doing a larger family trip with BR. All hassles are taken care of so you get to do nothing but enjoy and experience the tasty goodness of Tuscany. BR used 3 of our photos from the trip so we have a nice credit to put toward our next BR trip!
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
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Comments about Tuscany Active Culinary Walking Tour:
We cooked, we hiked & we ate, oh yea we drank a little wine. What more could you ask for in a trip? Lots of fun!
Displaying reviews 1-5
The earlier you book, the more choice you'll have and the lower your price. And you can always change your mind—you won't be charged to transfer to a different trip before your final payment is due.
Please click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.
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AVAILABLE TO BOOKi GOING FASTi CONTACT USi PRIVATE TRIP - RESERVEDi
Interested in a Private Trip? Check out the Make It Private tab for private dates available, or call us at 800-462-2848.
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.
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| 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 | 4 | 400 | ||||||||
| Tutti a Tavola Cooking School (4 Hours) | ||||||||||
| 2 | 5* | 500 | 6* | 500 | 8* | 1000 | ||||
| Chianti Classico Winery Visit and Lunch (1 1/2 Hours) | ||||||||||
| Pizza Making Demo (1 Hour) | ||||||||||
| 3 | 5* | 600 | 6* | 800 | 7* | 1300 | ||||
| Wine and Balsamic Vinegar Tasting (1 Hour) | ||||||||||
| 4 | 3* | 400 | 4* | 700 | 9* | 1200 | ||||
| Truffle Talk with Lunch (1.5 Hours) | ||||||||||
| 5 | 3* | 500 | 5* | 700 | 9* | 1400 | ||||
| Cooking Demonstration and Dinner (4 Hours) | ||||||||||
| 6 | 2* | 600 | ||||||||
Note: The terrain on this trip includes a mix of rolling vineyard paths, gravel roads and wooded trails.
* Includes shuttle.
Learn more about how we determine our activity levels and fully support a range of abilities and interests.
Please note that our distance and elevation figures come from Ride with GPS. Other sources (such as Map My Ride and Garmin devices) may give differing elevation figures due to different GPS and mapping technologies. Readings from a Garmin or a smart phone are influenced by other factors such as air pressure.
Some so-called culinary trips offer little more than a token cooking class; others oblige you to spend so much time in the kitchen that you never get to see the surrounding region. In Tuscany, where Backroads has been setting the standard for food-focused active vacations over the past 20 years, we get the balance right between special culinary events and great walks through the countryside to whet your appetite.
We design and support our Tuscany trips to suit mixed abilities and varied interests—so you can set your own pace, then change things up as the day unfolds. And all guests are free to do the same, traveling together or apart, with no one cramping anyone else's style. Which sounds easy in theory, but it's hard to pull off. Here's more on how we do it.
On our Tuscany trips we have an extra leader supporting you along the trail—for a total of three, compared to the industry standard two. So we can be in more places at once, giving personal attention to guests traveling at their own pace. Here's more on our Trip Leaders.
Under our Book with Confidence policy, your Backroads trip will run even for one or two people (or a family of three or four), subject to a nominal extra fee. Or transfer to another trip, and we'll give you a credit. It's all part of our trademark commitment to treating guests with integrity, transparency and total accountability. Read all the details.
Our Trip Leaders combine deep local expertise with a firm grasp of North American expectations around quality of service. By the same token, we pair experienced Backroads leaders with local guides who know how to cater to your needs while cracking open the culture or natural history in ways that are meaningful, memorable and often magical.
In addition to the ideal balance of comfort and hospitality in our choice of lodgings, this Casual Inns trip includes nearly all of your meals, plus everything from cocktail receptions to the best snacks along the road. So there's rarely a need to reach for your wallet – we've got you covered.
Thanks to our extensive connections in Tuscany, Backroads takes you off the beaten track and deep into the region's culture in ways that traditional travel can never hope to do. We know the people and their customs, the legacy of art and architecture, the complex history and politic—and if we're not sure, our amazing local experts can fill in the blanks.
Since 1979, Backroads Founder and President Tom Hale has shown that staying #1 means constantly evaluating our performance using the best possible source of information: our guests. As we systematically analyze your feedback on our trip consultants, leaders, hotels, meals and on-trip activities, we never stop working to make a great company even better.
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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 the selection of dates below for your group; some dates are only available for 16 or more guests while other dates are available for 8 or more guests. If your party has fewer than 8 guests, or your preferred date is not available, we'll create a departure just for you. Call or email us to reserve your date.
Click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.
8 AVAILABLE TO BOOK FOR 8 OR MORE GUESTS 16 AVAILABLE TO BOOK FOR 16 OR MORE GUESTS RESERVED
Don't see your ideal travel date? Make a Date! i
Invite your family and friends on an adventure that's entirely your own - for your group of 8 or more. Find out more
I simply can't imagine a better way to immerse yourself in the life of a region, to explore hidden corners and appreciate nuances while enjoying the benefits and enormous satisfaction of traveling under your own power. These are experiences you cannot have behind the wheel of a car, or on a train or a tour bus. Active travel is, at its heart, a way of connecting more authentically with the world. Sure, Backroads provides amazing leaders, superb accommodations and meals, and opportunities you could never arrange on your own. But all of our comprehensive planning and support is aimed at something far simpler: bringing you the immediate, highly personal satisfaction of discovering a new world on your own terms.
— Tom Hale, Founder & President
