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Tuscany Italy Active Culinary Walking & Hiking Tour

Tuscany Italy Active Culinary Walking & Hiking Tour

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Bella Toscana Culinary Adventure

From $3,798 - $4,198 pp dbl. occ. | 6 days / 5 nights

(+$195 to $390 for sgl. occ.)

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.

Highlights

Walk through brimming vineyards and old-world villages, getting to know our local amici along the way
Prepare and savor farm-to-table recipes passed down through generations—buon appetito!
Hike the white roads of southern Tuscany to hunt for truffles—the prized local culinary treasure
Relish handmade cuisine, from your first plate of pici all'aglione to your final bowl-scraping spoonful of tiramisu

Italy

Start Arezzo / End Florence

Itinerary

Day 1 Meander through vineyards, woodland and Renaissance hill towns | Get a taste of the region's undulating terrain as you walk 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 Panzano, home to numerous fine Chianti wineries | 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! | From the tiny hamlet of Vertine, hike from one unbelievable vista to the next, stopping for lunch at a local home for an alfresco feast among the grapevines | Join Backroads' friends Ciro and Umberto to learn how to let the pizza dough fly | 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 | 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 hike in the countryside surrounding Bagno Vignoni.

Next: Dates & Prices

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. View cancellation policy.

Cancellation fees may vary based upon departure date. Please review the grid below:

Number of Days Prior to Trip Start	Cancellation Fees (per person)	Departure Dates
96+ days	$200	2018 6/3, 6/17, 9/9, 9/16, 9/23, 9/30, 10/7
61-95 days	30%
31-60 days	60%
0-30 days	100%

For information on our trip transfers see here.

Please click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.

Available
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Going
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Private Trip
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C Classic Dates

2018 June

6/3–6/8

6/17–6/22

2018 September

9/9–9/14

9/16–9/21

9/23–9/28

2018 October

10/7–10/12

View Private Dates

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.

2018 Private Trip Pricing

10 or more guests: from $3,798 pp dbl occ
8 - 9 guests: from $4,298 pp dbl occ
6 - 7 guests: from $5,398 pp dbl occ
4 - 5 guests: from $5,698 pp dbl occ
2 - 3 guests: from $6,598 pp dbl occ

Please click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.

Don't see your ideal travel date? Make a Date

8 AVAILABLE TO BOOK
for 8 or more guests
16 AVAILABLE TO BOOK
for 16 or more guests
Reserved

C Classic Tours

2018 September

8 9/30–10/5

View Scheduled Dates

The sky’s the limit! Tell us what your dream trip would be and we'll make it happen! Whether you're looking for a honeymoon trip for 2, a 30-person family reunion or a 100-person corporate trip, we can do it all. A dedicated Custom Trip Consultant will work closely with you to bring your dreams to reality. Call us at 800-462-2848 to speak with your Custom Trip Consultant or click on the button below.

REQUEST YOUR CUSTOM TRIP NOW

Previous: Overview

Dates

C Classic Tours

2018
Jun
Sep
Oct

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Prices

From $3,798 - $4,198 pp dbl. occ.
6 days / 5 nights

(+$195 to $390 for sgl. occ.)

Reviews

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Casual Hotels

Il Borgo di Vèscine

Radda in Chianti (2 nights)

Palazzo Leopoldo

Radda in Chianti (1 night)

Albergo le Terme

Bagno Vignoni (2 nights)

See Lodging Details

Activity Level

This trip is rated Levels 1-3

See Daily Route Options

What's Included

Services and equipment are included.

See how we include more

Why Backroads

Why Travel with Backroads in Tuscany

Find out What sets us apart

More On This Trip

Hiking on Backroads Tuscany Cooking Vacations

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Detailed Itinerary Reserve This Trip

Reviews by Power Reviews ®

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Next: Lodging

Casual Hotels

Accommodations may vary based on departure date. Any difference from what is listed below can be found by clicking on your desired date on the View Scheduled Dates or Private Dates tabs.

Il Borgo di Vèscine

Radda in Chianti (2 nights)

A 13th-century hamlet handsomely restored as a welcoming hotel with unsurpassed views of the Tuscan countryside. (pool)

Palazzo Leopoldo

Radda in Chianti (1 night)

Located in the heart of the Chianti region, this elegant 14th-century manor house features spacious guest rooms with original frescoes. (pool, spa)

Albergo le Terme

Bagno Vignoni (2 nights)

This charming family-owned hotel overlooks the town's central piazza, whose ancient pool is fed by underground thermal springs. (pool, spa)

Previous: Reviews

Next: Activity Level

This Trip Is Rated Levels 1-3

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 (drag to see full )

Day	EASYGOING				ACTIVE				AVID
Daily Route Options
	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	600
1	Tutti a Tavola Cooking School (4 Hours)
2	5*	500	6*	500	8*	1000
	Chianti Classico Winery Visit & Lunch (1.5 Hours)
	Pizza Making Demonstration (1 Hour)
3	3*	400	5*	800	8*	1100
	4*	400
	Wine & Balsamic Vinegar Tasting (1 Hour)
4	3*	400	4*	700	9*	1200
4	Truffle Talk with Lunch (1.5 Hours)
5	3*	500	5*	600	9*	1400
5	Cooking Demonstration & Dinner (4 Hours)
6	2	600
6	3	700

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 level 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.

Previous: Lodging

Next: What's Included

Meals

All breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners

Also Included

Expertise and services of our experienced Trip Leaders
Snacks and beverages between meals
Additional guides and experts from the region on many trips
Van shuttles to support a variety of route options
Comprehensive Travel Planner with detailed pre-trip information
Private guided tours at museums, historic sites, wineries and other select attractions as noted in the Travel Planner
All gratuities at hotels and restaurants
Special events, including wine tastings and other select attractions as mentioned in the Travel Planner
On biking and multi-adventure trips, use of fully equipped Backroads titanium bike plus helmet and accessories
Trailercycles, carriers, and kid-sized helmets for Family Trips
Equipment and experienced guides for kayaking, rafting, snorkeling, sailing and canoeing as described
Park and other entry fees
Fares for trains, ferries and other modes of travel as listed in the Travel Planner
Select coach transfers
Baggage transfers and porterage

Previous: Activity Level

Next: Why Backroads

Get the Straight Talk about This Trip

We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.

Previous: What's Included

Next: Why Backroads

Why Travel with Backroads in Tuscany

From Farm to Table - on Foot

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.

Everyone at Their Own Pace

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.

More Leaders to Support You

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.

Your Trip Will Run. Period.

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.

The Right Local Pairings

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.

The Value of Casual Hotels

In addition to the ideal balance of comfort and hospitality in our choice of lodgings, this trip featuring Casual Hotels 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.

Our Cultural Roots Run Deep

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.

Quality You Can Measure

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.

Previous: What's Included

Detailed Itinerary Reserve This Trip