Tuscan Truffle Trails
Tuscany hardly requires an introduction as a cycling destination and has often been touted as the perfect vacation spot for anyone into the ‘good things in life’.
Although still recognized as mostly a road cycling destination, ever more riders are taking to unpaved trails to avoid the nerve-wracking traffic on Tuscany’s tight and windy roads. Mountain biking on century-old foot and stock tracks seems a preferable alternative if ‘two wheels’ are your idea of exploring Tuscany.
We visit the best out-of-the-way medieval hamlets and show you the few remnant spots of authentic Tuscany away from the normal stream of tourists. Read on as long as unrushed exploration among the olive groves and vineyards followed by leisurely meals fit your idea of a great vacation.
| Quick Facts | Tuscany: Truffle Trails and Medieval Hilltowns |
| Tour Length | 5 days |
| Days of Riding | 5 days |
| Tour Rating |  |
| 2006 Tour Dates | on demand (private charter) |
| Tour Price |
€ 1,195.- (includes rental bikes; single supplementadd € 200 |
| Tour meeting point | Siena |
| Tour starting point | Siena, Tuscany |
| Tour destination | Siena (loop tour) |
| Country visited | Italy |
| Max. # of participants | 8 riders in one group plus 1 guide |
| Min. # of participants | 4 riders in one group plus 1 guide |
| Total vertical | 1,500 m (5,000 ft) to 2,200 m (7,000 ft.) |
| Total distance | 120 km (75 miles) to 160 km (100 miles) |
| Services included | 4 x accommodation, breakfast, lunch & dinners; all fees & gratuities for 3rd-party services; accredited & multi-lingual guide(s); all transportation needs from rendezvous to final tour destination. |
| Additional info. avail. | comprehensive e-itinerary (tour prep. guide) upon your booking |
The Tuscan Truffle Trails is by far our easiest tour and caters mostly to the good folks who have traveled across the Alps with us before, liked the fun and format of our guided tours and would like to share a quality experience in a spectacular but less challenging setting with friends, family or business buddies. This tour is about a vacation treat not a challenge.
We have worked out an extraordinarily scenic loop tour that gets you into the authentic backcountry of Tuscany without feeling rushed or missing out on any of the region’s famous sights. It’s just long enough to become intimate with this enthralling area but short enough to still have some time exploring other parts of Europe on either end of the tour. Let us take care of five extraordinary days for you without getting into your way.
We offer the all-inclusive package tour only by demand for small groups who’d like to experience the privacy and benefits of a tour charter but at a price that would be hard to match even if you put it together on your own.
| Day | Tuscan Truffle Trails & Medieval Hilltowns: stage itinerary |
| 1 | meet us at our favorite café on Siena’s famous ‘Il Campo’; after viewing the main attractions we head out towards Montereggione, a small, out-of-the-way gem of a medieval hilltown. After a sumptuous lunch we ride single-track across the rolling hills that typify the Tuscan landscape. We spend the night in the authentic small town of Colle di Val d’Elsa, Italy’s recognized center of crystal glass arts with many equally renowned culinary venues. |
| 2 | start the day with an easy climb to San Gimignano, the most famous, best preserved but also busiest Tuscan hilltown; we take time to visit before continuing north via dirt tracks, single trail and double track to old-town Certaldo, still as unhurried as during the time of Boccaccio. |
| 3 | head off to 13th century Barberino, located on an impressive plateau with commanding views of the Chianti wine region. Enjoy a slow lunch at San Donato, a long-forgotten, medieval but cozy hamlet away from the busy stream of tourists elsewhere. We ride to the picturesque fortress community of Panzano where we end the day with a tasting of wines of local origin. |
| 4 | after an unrushed breakfast we start climbing into the heart of the Monti del Chianti where fragrant pine forests provide shade before our descent to Volpaia. We relish Tuscan dishes on village piazza with all the locals before clipping in once more for an afternoon espresso in amiable Radda. Stay at the quaint community Lecci - still to be discovered by tourist guides. |
| 5 | an early start ensures cool air on our climb to famous wine estates from where we enjoy unusual panoramic views over the entire southern Tuscan plain. We return to Siena in the afternoon by winding dirt roads, fun single-track and share memories of rare sights away from the hustle + bustle of Tuscany’s tourist traps. |
This tour itinerary is for guidance only. Forces of nature, trail closures or extraordinary opportunities may compel us to change the program at short notice for the sake of your safety, comfort and satisfaction. Our Transalp rides are de facto mountaineering endeavors and require some flexibility on your part.