Walking in Tuscany

• Accommodation: 7 Classic nights (Agriturismo Braccicorti)
• Five days of walking; one free day
• Activity Level 3 and Activity Level 5 departures available; see Dates & Prices
• Group normally 6 to 14, plus leader. Minimum age: 16

All breakfasts, five lunches and five dinners are included. Breakfast: Continental with a choice of cereal, local bread, yoghurt, cheese, fruit, homemade spreads, fresh eggs, milk, fruit juice, teas and coffee. Lunches: Packed lunches are provided on hiking days with a buffet-style selection of meat, fish, cheese, salad and bread for sandwiches, plus a daily salad mix such as chickpea or rice salad, panzanella or a bean mix, plus fruit and cake. Dinners: These are usually three courses. The first course is a traditional soup or pasta with local bread and olive oil. The main course is a local meat or fish dish with vegetables and salad and wine offered by the Braccicorti family. The meal is finished with a small homemade dessert such as pannacotta or fruit salad or local ice cream and, on occasions, finished with a grappa or amaretto. Dietary requirements are fairly well catered for in this area. Braccicorti do not offer a menu; therefore, it is important to notify us in advance of any dietary needs so the Giovanetti family can plan your meals accordingly. If you follow a more specific diet, such as gluten-free or lactose-free, it is advisable to bring your own snacks as these are hard to find locally. Gluten-free bread and pasta is readily available in the local area and will be provided as long as the family have notice prior to travel.

Part of a microclimate, the weather can be unpredictable. We therefore recommended taking a warm, long-sleeve top to use in the evenings, particularly during April, May and October.  Although October can be cooler than other months, the weather is usually more settled and visibility can be at its best. April brings new growth with green beech leaves, May and June bring a blanket of spring flowers. In September and into October, the autumn colours of reds, purples and oranges cover the area.

The lesser-known Garfagnana region is home to some of the most spectacular and interesting hiking trails in Italy, with the bonus that we rarely see other walkers.

Walking profile: Most paths are well-maintained; however, a few sections are less frequently used and rough underfoot, with some steep ascents and descents. It will suit regular exercisers and previous trekking experience is needed.

Activity Level 3 (Moderate) daily stats

Distance: 7mi-10mi (11km-16km)

Ascent/descent: 1,315ft-2,790ft (400m-850m)

Hiking hours: six to eight

Activity Level 5 (Challenging) daily stats

Distance: 7mi-11.5mi (11km-18.5km)

Ascent/descent: 2,135ft-4,000ft (650m-1,220m)

Hiking hours: six to nine

Journeys: The area is mountainous and most drives, although short, follow twisting mountain roads through wooded areas.

All departures: We use the same mountain ranges for both levels and vary the routes according to weather conditions or other factors beyond our control. While aiming to always follow the routes described in these Trip Notes, it will be the tour leader’s decision to amend the itinerary if necessary.

Activity Level 3 (Moderate) departures: Most departure dates are graded Activity Level 3 (Moderate) with accumulative ascents and descents of 1,315ft-2,790ft (400m-850m). We usually walk six to eight hours each day, so a good level of fitness is required.

Activity Level 5 (Challenging) departures: For Activity Level 5 (Challenging) weeks, we usually walk between six and nine hours per day with an accumulative ascent and descent of 2,135ft-4,000ft (650m-1,220m). A high level of fitness is required. We spend one night in a mountain refuge during our two-day ridge walk. You do not need to check out of the main accommodation; however, you may wish to pack overnight items for your tour leader to take to the refuge ahead of your stay to save you from carrying any extra weight during your walk.

For more information on our trip gradings, visit our Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip, please contact us.

Climate: Tuscany can be very hot during summer, especially from June to August, though heatwaves can also occur in April and May. We try to start our walks earlier to avoid the hottest hours, but temperatures and humidity will still be high. You should feel comfortable walking in the heat. Additionally, agriturismos, which are based in the countryside, are not normally equipped with air conditioning. Mosquito numbers may significantly increase in the summer, so bring repellent with you.

Arrival: The inbound flight can be late in the evening, especially in summer. In this instance, you have additional time to spend in Pisa. The tour leader takes care of all arrangements in terms of transport from/to the airport and the city centre and luggage storage. It may also happen that, for logistical reasons, on return we must be at the airport earlier than normally scheduled. This means a longer waiting time before checking in.