Classic Tuscany

As the terrain is hilly and the walks are long you should have a good level of fitness to make the most of this tour.

The terrain has many ascents and descents. Most of the route follows gravel and farm tracks and trails, and you will be following minor roads from time to time.

This tour is graded moderate overall, as the terrain is hilly. Within the tour, individual days may vary in difficulty - some sections are a bit tougher or easier than the overall rating suggests.

We've carefully selected 'comfort' properties for this tour - charming lodgings of character, small family-run agriturismo, and village B&Bs that make for a memorable stay in Tuscany. These are subject to availability, so an alternative of equal standard may occasionally be offered. You can add extra nights at any of the overnight locations on this tour.

A 'superior' upgrade is also available for a supplement, featuring former convents, monasteries and stylish villas.

Yes, solo travelers are very welcome. There will be a supplement because some costs, like transfers, aren't shared. Or if you'd like to book a single room, just ask. These are available for a supplement.

Tuscany's food and wine are a real highlight of this tour - you'll come across fattoria and agriturismo (farms producing olive oil, cheese, pasta, saffron and wine) along the way, perfect for a stop. Breakfast is included each morning, while lunch and dinner are left open so you're free to choose from the many excellent restaurants in the region, or ask your accommodation for a packed lunch.

This tour is available to start anytime between March and October. As Tuscany is a very popular destination, we suggest booking as early as possible to secure your preferred dates - availability in Siena can be especially tight around the annual Palio horse races in early July and mid-August.

Spring offers warm sunshine, fewer crowds and pleasant walking conditions, with wildflowers coming into bloom in May. September and October are also a favorite time of year, with cooler weather and striking autumn colors. July and August are good months too, but can be hot for walking, so an early start and plenty of water are recommended, though the towns and villages are at their liveliest during this period.

Your bags will be transferred from your accommodation each day and moved onto your next overnight stay. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg/44lbs per person.

The route isn't waymarked, except for some sections that follow the Via Francigena pilgrimage route.

Navigation is straightforward using our app which has maps, tracks and daily route info. Simply download the information and tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone. Once on the trail you do not need signal for the app to work and follow your progress.

If landing at Florence Airport (FLR), a tram departs around every 10 minutes to take you to Florence's main railway station, Santa Maria Novella (20 minutes). From here, it's a 45-minute train ride to Pontedera, or 1 hour 15 minutes to Poggibonsi. If landing at Pisa Airport (PSA), a shuttle train runs regularly to Pisa Central Station (5 minutes), from where it's a 15-minute train ride to Pontedera, or 1 hour 15 minutes to Poggibonsi. A taxi transfer from either Poggibonsi or Pontedera train station to your hotel in Volterra is included in your tour arrangements. Train timetables are available at Trenitalia.

For your return, it's easy to travel from Siena by train to the major airports at Florence, Rome or Pisa, travelling from the central stations in these cities back to the airports as described above (Trenitalia for timetable planning). Approximate total journey times from Siena are around 2 hours to 3 hours 15 minutes to Pisa (Siena train station sits in the valley below the city centre, reached by escalators or local buses), around 1 hour 30 minutes to Florence Santa Maria Novella via a direct train through Empoli, and around 1 hour 40 minutes to Pisa via a direct train through Empoli. For Roma Termini in Rome, you'll normally need to change trains at Chiusi-Chianciano Terme.

You'll need good hiking shoes or boots, comfortable hiking clothes, waterproofs, a daypack, and we recommend hiking poles. A portable charger for your cell phone is essential. On booking, our Tour Info will give you a complete packing list.

On certain days you can shorten the route or skip it entirely by using a taxi or public transport. On this tour, you can also join the taxi that's already transferring your luggage between towns with prior notice, so you don't need to arrange separate transport. On several days the hikes are optional loop walks too, so you can choose to explore on foot or simply relax instead.

We highly recommend that you have travel insurance when you book with Macs Adventure. Your policy should cover medical treatment (including repatriation and emergency evacuation by air ambulance or helicopter), injury, death, third-party liability, and trip cancellation