RING OSS: +47 22413030 
Vi leter nå etter din drømmereise
SØK
9
16 528
Combine fabulously unspoilt Chianti countryside with the chance to visit the world-famous cities of Florence and Siena.
Arrive at your 4 star hotel just outside Volterra's mediaeval gates, where you have time to relax in the pool before dinner. *(Staying at Park Hotel Le Fonti, Half Board)*
There's a short transfer (30 mins) this morning to the start of your walk. Forest trails lead east through the Berignone Nature Reserve where you may be lucky enough to see wild boar, deer and fox. As you leave the forest, the ridge opens up giving wonderful valley views out towards Casole d'Elsa where you'll spend the next two nights. *(Staying at Hotel Terre di Casole)*
Distance in Km: 14
Distance in Miles: 9
Activity Hours: 4
Casole d'Elsa is a picture perfect Etruscan village atop a panoramic ridge. From the vermillion hued 14th century castle, views stretch as far as Monte Amiata in the south of Tuscany. A leisurely lunch maybe in the medieval piazza, before visiting the small but intact amphitheatre and Etruscan tombs. *(Staying at Hotel Terre di Casole)*
Today's walk takes you down to the valley floor passing fields of sunflowers and orchid-sprinkled paths, before coming to the small hamlet of Quartaia, a good lunch stop. Continue through the woods along the famous pilgrims' path, the Via Francigena, where the fossils in the stones beneath your feet bear witness to the time when this area was covered by the sea. A final easy stroll takes you along the milky-blue, limestone-rich River Elsa and to your stunning 4 star hotel, a beautifully converted 12th century Benedictine abbey with garden and pool. *(Staying at Relais della Rovere, Half Board)*
Distance in Km: 19
Distance in Miles: 12
Activity Hours: 5
Take the local bus to Siena (30 mins) or Florence (1 hour). Or stroll into impressive Colle di Val d'Elsa, a fascinating town of two halves with a lift linking the lovely new piazza with the medieval upper town. *(Staying at Relais della Rovere, Half Board)*
Today you follow in pilgrims' footsteps along the Via Francigena. Bright with sunflowers and fragrant apple orchards, this historic path skirts tiny hamlets and lonely chapels towards the lazy Foci river. You may like to make a short detour to take in a wine tasting at Montauto, before retracing your steps to rejoin the Via Francigena up to San Gimignano. There's time for a swim in the pool before dinner. *(Staying at Relais Santa Chiara, Breakfast only)*
Distance in Km: 16
Distance in Miles: 10
Activity Hours: 5
Visit San Gimignano's mystical towers this morning built by warring neighbours in the 12th century to outdo one another! Or for a longer day out, hop on a local bus to Siena (30 mins), a perfectly preserved medieval gem with a stunning striped 14th century Gothic cathedral and beautiful square. *(Staying at Relais Santa Chiara, Breakfast only)*
A short taxi ride (10 mins) from your hotel takes you to the start of the walk in Caggio, at the Castelvecchio Nature Reserve. From here you follow a woodland trail dotted with rock roses and wild strawberry plants to reach a panoramic strada bianca, where hawks soar overhead. With open views across cypress-studded ochre fields to Monte Voltraio, you pass through Sensano and Ulignano, historic hamlets with 16th century villas. Perhaps picnic by the era Valley before ascending an ancient mule track back to Volterra. *(Staying at Park Hotel Le Fonti, Half Board)*
Distance in Km: 22
Distance in Miles: 14
Activity Hours: 7
* 8 nights hotel-to-hotel accommodation
* 4 Days walking
* All continental breakfasts and 4 evening meals
* Services of your local Headwater Representative
* Headwater Wine Collection Service
* Route directions and maps
* Luggage transfers between hotels
* Walking transfers
All continental breakfasts and 4 evening meals.
Italy’s most famous export is probably its cuisine and the traditional
dishes of Tuscany are the most influential and revered. The region’s food
is based on cucina povera, ‘poor/peasant cookery’, a rural cuisine based
on available natural ingredients: olive oil, unsalted bread, pulses and
vegetables, wild mushroom or porcini, and salt-cured meats such as salame and
prosciutto. In particular, Tuscan olive oil is renowned for its quality and
is the most important ingredient in the region’s cookery. You will find it
in almost every dish - as a salad dressing, poured over vegetables and into
soups and even as a replacement for butter on bread (very nice with a
sprinkling of salt!).
Of course the Chianti region is best known for its regional wine (the very
best ones are Chianti Classico and have a black cockerel stamped on the
label). Chianti is produced in the vineyards dotted around the Tuscan hills;
we actually visit the hills to the north of Siena, where the Chianti Colli
Senesi wine is produced. Made from the Sangiovese grape, this is an excellent
light, fruity red. Although best known for its red wine, a good white wine is
also produced in the Chianti region. Made from the Vernaccia grape, the
Vernaccia di San Gimignano is a crisp dry white which has greatly improved
over recent years. It is best drunk young.
* 8 nights hotel-to-hotel accommodation
* 4 Days walking
* All continental breakfasts and 4 evening meals
* Services of your local Headwater Representative
* Headwater Wine Collection Service
* Route directions and maps
* Luggage transfers between hotels
* Walking transfers
Av. daily ride: 18km (11 miles).
No. of days walking: 4
Terrain & route: The walking mainly follows flat strade bianche (white roads)
with some asphalt lanes and partly shaded forest and valley trails. Walking
boots and poles are recommended. Strade bianche are mainly exposed, affording
excellent views - a sunhat is essential.
Vehicle Support: A representative will be there to meet you, make sure the
bikes are all set up and will be on call throughout the trip should you need.
It is important that you are happy reading maps and following route notes, we
make these as accurate as possible and they are regularly checked.
As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. There maybe
others on the same departure date as you, but you will not be organised
together. The route notes contain an emergency assistance telephone number
should you need it and in emergencies, the local representative is normally
able to dispatch a taxi or pick you up themselves. They may wish to charge
for this service.
You start in Volterra, a real Etruscan gem with its tangle of alleys home to
alabaster workshops and secret chapels, from where you walk through the
verdant Berignone Nature Reserve and up to a fantastic panoramic ridge before
a final climb to Casole d'Elsa. Your journey then takes you east to mediaeval
Colle di Val d'Elsa, enjoying balcony views across the Elsa Valley. As you
move towards stunning San Gimignano, the mediaeval 'Manhattan of Tuscany',
the landscape is dominated by vines so there are plenty of wine-tasting
opportunities here!
Hotels
Our carefully picked hotels, all with pools, are full of contrasts, from a 4
star recently renovated, elegant boutique hotel just outside the mediaeval
town of Casole d'Elsa to the refined elegance of the 4 star Relais della
Rovere in Colle di Val d'Elsa, a magnificently restored 12th century abbey.
Chianti is synonymous with excellent food and wine and evening meals are a
celebration of the local cuisine. Perhaps try pappardelle alla lepre (fresh
ribbons of pasta with a hare sauce) or bruschetta (toasted bread rubbed with
garlic and olive oil, topped with sun-ripened tomatoes), all washed down by a
glass or two of full-bodied Chianti!
As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. A local
representative is on hand to assist you and will meet you at the beginning of
the week to go through the route notes and point out particular places of
interest. Your luggage is transferred and route notes and maps are provided.
Please note: the walking and luggage transfers included in this tour are
subject to a minimum of 2 people (in total) booked on the departure. A
supplement (payable in advance) to cover these transfers and sole occupancy
of a room will apply if only 1 person travelling on a departure date.
All continental breakfasts and 4 evening meals.
Italy’s most famous export is probably its cuisine and the traditional
dishes of Tuscany are the most influential and revered. The region’s food
is based on cucina povera, ‘poor/peasant cookery’, a rural cuisine based
on available natural ingredients: olive oil, unsalted bread, pulses and
vegetables, wild mushroom or porcini, and salt-cured meats such as salame and
prosciutto. In particular, Tuscan olive oil is renowned for its quality and
is the most important ingredient in the region’s cookery. You will find it
in almost every dish - as a salad dressing, poured over vegetables and into
soups and even as a replacement for butter on bread (very nice with a
sprinkling of salt!).
Of course the Chianti region is best known for its regional wine (the very
best ones are Chianti Classico and have a black cockerel stamped on the
label). Chianti is produced in the vineyards dotted around the Tuscan hills;
we actually visit the hills to the north of Siena, where the Chianti Colli
Senesi wine is produced. Made from the Sangiovese grape, this is an excellent
light, fruity red. Although best known for its red wine, a good white wine is
also produced in the Chianti region. Made from the Vernaccia grape, the
Vernaccia di San Gimignano is a crisp dry white which has greatly improved
over recent years. It is best drunk young.
The tour itself normally begins at the start hotel in Volterra on the
afternoon of Day 1 of the itinerary. Arrival and departure transfers from
Pisa airport are included for those making flight inclusive bookings.
Flights:
We can also book flights for you. The standard flights we usually use are
with British Airways Heathrow to Pisa 08:25/11:35 transfer to hotel 75
minutes. Return: Transfer to airport 75 minutes British Airways Pisa to
Heathrow 12:35/14:00 Business/club/first class seats are available on
request.Please note that the standard flights/trains may occasionally change
throughout the season so please enquire for up-to-date details.
Standard transfers
For flight inclusive bookings transfers are included from Pisa airport at
11:35, and back to Pisa airport at 09:00. For land only bookings transfers
are available for a supplement.
Alternative transfers
If you require alternative transfers (because you will be arriving at a
different time to our standard flights), then we can usually arrange these
for you (there may be an additional charge).
April and May departures can expect warm days and although rain is possible,
it seldom lasts long. Nights may still be rather cool. We strongly recommend
a fleece-lined jacket or warm sweater in these months. June sees the start of
summer and July and August can become quite hot by mid afternoon, so this
time is kept free for lunch. Although rain is unusual, torrential cloudbursts
are not unknown. September and October are cooler and wetter, yet visibility
is often better. Swimming is usually still possible at this time.
Waterproofs
Warm jumper/fleece
Suncream
Water bottle (1 litre) you will be able to refill each day at the
accommodation.
Torch (useful for walking to the village in the evening)
Swimwear
Lunch is not included in the itinerary and some dinners are left open where
there are good restaurant choices, please allow some spending money for this.
We recommend approximately €5-15 (US$4.50-13) per lunch and €20-30
(US$18-27) for dinner
* Travel insurance
* Single accommodation (available on request -compulsory supplement)
* Visas or vaccinations
*OPTIONAL UPGRADES*
* Flights from Heathrow to Pisa with British Airways, including local
transfers
* Other flights, including regional departures
* Business/club/first class fares on request
* Room upgrades and extra nights at selected hotels
* City break add-ons in Siena, Lucca, Florence and Pisa
* Option to extend to 10 nights
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.
-8.png)
Download PDF 
