Tuscany: Cycle Siena & Chianti

• Seven nights at three-star hotels with en suite facilities
• Five days cycling with partial vehicle support (limited seats)
• Group normally 6 to 16, plus leaders. Minimum age: 16
• E-bikes available for an additional cost
• 95 percent paved, five percent easy gravel roads
• Option to travel by train to your adventure

All breakfasts are included and are Continental in style, consisting of coffee or tea, cereals, cheese and cold meat, bread, pastries, yoghurt, jam and/or honey. Tuscan food is authentic and surprising – pizza and pasta are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the diverse cuisine on this trip. Starters may include antipasti of cured meats or a crostini di fegato made from toasted bread slices topped with chicken liver pâté . Soup options may include the classic bean dish of zuppa di fagioli or ribollita, a delicious, hearty vegetable and bread soup. For mains, you might try the truffle-infused pasta dish tagliatelle al tartufo or a mouth-watering T-bone steak delicacy known as bistecca alla Fiorentina. End your meal with cantucci biscuits dipped into a glass of the sweet dessert wine known as vin santo for a true taste of Tuscany. While Tuscan cuisine has a strong meat focus, vegetarians can be well catered for. Please inform us of any dietary requirements at the time of booking.

Italy has  plenty of sunshine and warm temperatures from spring through to autumn. Summer departures will usually have hot weather, with highs around 35C (95F). April-June and September-October departures are likely to be cooler with a slightly higher chance of rain. In late summer, there is the possibility of heavy thunderstorms (generally in the afternoons), but these are usually short-lived.

This trip is classified Road and Activity Level 4 (Moderate/Challenging). Please see our website for more information on classification and grading.

This region is known for its rolling hills, so be prepared for some climbing in places. This trip will require a moderate to good level of fitness as the area and rides are on undulating roads varying from 1.2mi (2km) to 5.6mi (9km) hill stretches on some days.

Days 3, 5 and 6 fall into the category of Moderate/Challenging riding, with elevation gains of more than 3,281ft (1,000m) and some steep sections up to 10%-25%. Daily distances vary from 32mi-47mi (51km-75km). There are no transfers to or from hotels on this trip: all the rides are door-to-door. We use quieter country roads where possible, but sometimes we need to pass busy sections surrounding towns. The most scenic routes are on paved roads, with occasional stretches of dirt/gravel roads (locally known as white roads).

Five days cycling, average 37.5mi (60km) per day, partial vehicle support (limited seats).

Terrain: 95 percent paved, five percent easy gravel roads. Approximately 193mi (302km) in total.

Most days, rides will be broken up by morning coffee, lunch and afternoon gelato stops. Usually sections of 3mi-9mi (5km-15km) will be done between regrouping. The leader will keep the group together during busier/complicated sections, but on straight roads, cyclists are free to ride at their own pace.

Summer

Tuscany can be very hot during summer (June to August), but heatwaves can also happen in April and May. We try to start our days earlier, when possible, to avoid the hottest hours, but temperatures and humidity will be high. You should feel comfortable and be used to cycling in the heat. The number of mosquitos may increase significantly in summer, so bring mosquito repellent with you.