Italy - Tuscany - Pisa to Florence - Self-Guided Leisure Cycling Holiday

Oversikt

A beautiful journey between two of Italy's most iconic cities. Beginning in Pisa, the home of the famous Leaning Tower, your journey starts much like it will continue, by taking in some of the most classic historic sights in the country.

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Day 1: Arrive into Pisa

Day 2: Pisa to Lucca

Day 3: Lucca to Montecarlo

Day 4: Montecarlo to Montecatini

Day 5: Montecatini to Vinci

Day 6: Vinci to Florence

Day 7: Free Day in Florence

Day 8: Departure from Florence

From Pisa, your journey will follow the course of the Serchio River as you pedal across beautiful Pisan countryside to the medieval city of Lucca. Well known for its pristinely preserved Renaissance walls encircling its historic, shady city centre, Lucca is the perfect spot for a stroll and a post-ride apperetivo. 

 

As you head deeper into Tuscany, the route will take in some of the region's smaller towns and villages, including charming Montecarlo, the spa town of Montecatini and Leonardo da Vinci's hometown, Vinci. 

 

You'll finish your ride in the utterly irrestistable Florence, one of the world's most enchanting cities. With so many fascinating sites to take in, we’ve scheduled in a free day here. The birthplace of the Renaissance; romantic, enchanting Florence (Firenze) is a place to lose yourself in world-class art and delicious Tuscan cuisine. Time to explore!

 

If you fancy an even more rural Tuscan experience, then do check out our Classic Tuscany holiday which allows you to explore the Crete Sinesi.

Day 1: Arrive into Pisa    

Today is your arrival day in Pisa, located on the Arno River and home to the famous Leaning Tower and the Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles), all part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. Time to explore and get ready for your week of cycling!

Day 2: Pisa to Lucca (B)

Today is your first day in the saddle as you meander through Pisa, along the river towards the northern outskirts. From here, you’ll ride along a path that follows an ancient water duct to the hills that separates Lucca from the fertile plains of Pisa. 

As you skirt around the hills, you’ll ride through Asciano and St Giuliano Terme on your way to the Serchio River.

Approx. distance: 26 Miles / 42 Kms 

Day 3: Lucca to Montecarlo (B)

You’ll start the day riding alongside the Serchio river again, heading north out of town. Turning east, you’ll cycle through the Lucchese hills, immersing yourselves in the stunning countryside dotted with superb Renaissance villas and olive groves. Some of these villas deserve a visit with their stunning staircases in the middle of superb parks such as Villa Oliva, Villa Mansi and Villa Reale. 

Particularly beautiful are the olive groves that terrace the hills of Lucca. Meandering through the countryside you’ll eventually reach Montecarlo, a little hamlet perched on the top of a hill, with narrow cobbled streets and alleyways overlooked by a fortress. With a lovely selection of rustic Trattorias serving traditional Tuscan food, including bruschetta dipped in fresh local olive oil, and great hospitality, this is a great place to spend the night. 

An additional, optional loop ride is available if you wish to visit Collodi (around 15 Kms), where the author of Pinocchio spent his childhood. Here we recommend visiting the famous park and adjacent Villa Garzoni.

Approx. distance: 22 Miles / 35 Kms

Day 4: Montecarlo to Montecatini (B)

Today’s route is relatively short offering the possibility to spend some time exploring the most famous thermal city in Italy and taking a stroll down the narrow lanes of Montecatini Alta. 

Setting off from Montecarlo, the narrow lanes meander through cultivated fields and along small canals. The first part of the ride will lead you to the lower hills of Buggiano. Here the riding becomes a little bit more challenging as the route gradually weaves itself up to Castello di Buggiano and Massa. There is plenty of time to stop and wander through these charming hamlets, admiring the view of the rolling hills and expanses of olive groves. 

The reward is a fun descent that will lead you straight into Montecatini Terme. From here, you can head up to Montecatini Alto by taking the short cable car. Alternatively, enjoy some of the Spa facilities that are available in town (you’ll need to book in advance).

Approx. distance: 15 Miles / 25 Kms 

Day 5: Montecatini to Vinci (B)

Back on your bikes, you’ll head south, cycling among the villas of the Medici family, olive groves, vineyards and beautiful farmland. The route will take you south of Pistoia, edging Monte Albano. A short detour near Lampolecchio will take you to Villa Respigliosi, once belonging to Pope Clemente IX, and now a luxurious estate. 

Moving on, you’ll soon reach the small hamlet of Vinci, Leonardo da Vinci’s birthplace. There should be plenty of time to visit the museum and absorb the atmosphere of this small town before heading to your accommodation which is a short cycle out of town.

Approx. distance: 19 Miles / 30 Kms 

Day 6: Vinci to Florence (B)

A slightly more challenging day on the bike today on the way to Florence. Leaving Vinci, the route will take you over the rolling hills of Carmignano, riding through small villages and gradually climbing to the highest point on this trip, 400mt. The views across to the west and Florence are stunning. What goes up must come down, and the rewarding gradual descent will lead you down to the Arno river, first cycling through the narrow streets of the charming town of Signa. From here, the riverside Arno cycle path will lead you all the way into Florence. 

Florence is the gem of Italian Renaissance, so once you have checked into your hotel you should head out to explore!

Approx. distance:  27 Miles / 45 Kms 

Day 7: Free Day in Florence  (B)

The Renaissance city of Florence is bursting with culture, and worthy of a full day of sightseeing. You’ll leave your bikes behind, as you explore the city on foot, winding your way through cobbled streets. The entire city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and must-see sights include il Ponte Vecchio, The Duomo, Piazza della Signoria, gli Uffizi. 

This evening you’ll be free to dine in one of the city’s many restaurants; Tuscany is famed for its wine and fresh produce. 

Day 8: Departure from Florence (B)

Time to head back to the airport for flights home, after a final delicious breakfast of course! 

If you’d like to extend and explore Florence for another couple of days, please do let us know and we can help organise this for you.

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• What's Included:

  • Accommodation (shared twin / double en suite rooms) in small hotels / agriturismi / guesthouses 
  • Meals as per the itinerary (B-Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner) 
  • Local representative (with welcome meeting) 
  • Detailed route notes and maps 
  • Luggage transfers 

  
  

  What's Not Included:

  • Bike hire (available if required, from GBP 165 - Electric bike from GBP 275) 
  • Flights and charges for travelling with your bike (if applicable) 
  • Single room (available if required, on request from GBP 210) 
  • Travel insurance 
  • Meals not stated in the itinerary 
  • Personal clothing and equipment 
  • Travel arrangements to first hotel or from final hotel 
  • Local tourist tax (to be paid locally – Approx. 2€ per day)
    
  • Hotel upgrade from GBP 245, Single room upgrade from GBP 295
    

  
  

  Other useful travel information:

  Vaccinations: We recommend you have a dental and medical check-up before the holiday

  Passport: A full passport is required for visiting this destination.

  Baggage: Your allowable baggage is one main piece of luggage per person, other than your bike and a small day pack.
  Meals: This holiday is available on a B&B basis only. For lunch you can stop at local shops and pack up a picnic or stop at a cafe or restaurant en-route, and you can take your evening meals either at your accommodation or in a local restaurants. Recommendations for places to eat will be included in your route notes. 

  Travel Insurance: It is a condition of your trip that you are covered by a medical and personal accident insurance policy that includes repatriation to your home country and cover for all planned activities.

  Grade: 2 Gentle, On undulating or rolling terrain, occasional moderate / challenging climbs. No high altitude ascents & the odd short steep climbs. For semi-regular riders / relative novices wishing to gain experience & fitness. 40-50 miles / 60-80 kms per day & grade 3 Moderate, For riders with experience, good fitness & a decent level of skill. Some features that may be experienced more frequently in a higher grade tour. Most days include a couple of significant climbs. Some long days & some steep to very steep sections. Not for beginners. 45-60 miles / 70-95 kms per day.

  Airport transfers: For this tour we ask that you make your own way to your hotel in Pisa on arrival and onwards from Florence at the end of the trip.
  

  Terrain: This holiday follows mainly quiet roads along with some short sections of gravel roads(around 85% on asphalt roads and around 15% on unpaved roads). The terrain is predominantly flat with some hilly sections. Day 5 will prove the harder of the days with a 9km gradual climb. Trains can be used to reduce distances if you choose (on day 3). Some roads will have local traffic, especially leading into Lucca, Montecatini and Florence.

  Bike Hire: If you don’t own a suitable bike or would prefer to avoid bringing your own we have bikes available to hire. These bikes are typically Giant Roam or Giant X Sport hybrids (or equivalent). We can provide a helmet locally on request, please let us know if you’d like to hire when you make your booking. Hire bikes will be provided with a pannier rack and 1 bag, a tool kit, a spare inner tube, a bike lock, a bike pump, a KM counter and a map holder. We have electric bikes available to hire on request. It may take us a day or so to confirm availability so please let us know as soon as possible if you’d like to take this option.

  Vehicle Support: There is no vehicle support on this tour, however your luggage will be transferred between your accommodation. We do provide a 24-hour emergency contact number for you to call if you encounter any problems during the trip. Please note that this may incur additional charges depending on the nature of the action required.

  Daily departures: available between 01/04 and 31/10.
  

Priser / Datoer

Ved skriftlig aksept av vårt tilbud bekrefter du/dere at våre betingelser er både lest og forstått og at evt kansellerings gebyrer kan tilkomme ved en evt. avbestilling av reisen.