£4,195.00 per person*
($5,327.65 USD or $8,306.10 AUD)
£500.00 deposit
£850.00 single room supplement
Six months before your tour departure a payment to bring your balance to 50% of the total. Final payment due 2 months before tour date. Please refer to the terms and conditions for Italian Tours.
There are currently no scheduled dates for this tour, but please contact us if you want to schedule a private tour for six or more people.
We met Mario our guide on another cycling tour and were thrilled to find out he would be leadng the tour in Tuscany. His enthusiasm is contagious and as a native Italian it promises to be a great trip.
-- S. Kay Toronto, Ontario
Chianti vineyards
Village of Volpaia
Fortified villages and castles
Castelnuovo Berardenga
UNESCO Siena hills
Group Transfer at 11:00 am from Florence Airport or Railway Station ( 1 hour transfer)
Shuttle to Florence Airport ( 1 hour 50 min transfer)
Designed for sporty people who are looking to enjoy some more challenging rides. E-bikes are available as an option. Rides are up to 80 km with up to 1,000 m of climbing. Options available for shorter routes
View GalleryNew for 2023 Welcome to Tuscany! Prepare yourself for breathtaking scenery & a magical landscape of green rolling hills and towering cypress trees that line the paths to Tuscan villas. Bike along waves of vineyards and into charming villages. The Chianti area is a quiet region amidst the Renaissance atmosphere of Florence and Siena. The scenery and roads make it a wonderful place to bike, which is why the Eroica Vintage Bike Race & Strade Bianche World Tour race sprint through here every year. This is a tour for lovers of cycling, great hospitality, fabulous wine & fabulous food.
Welcome to Italy! Group arrival transfers are scheduled for you from Florence airport or train station at 11:00am taking you to your resting place for the next 3 nights in the medieval village of Radda in Chianti.
After fitting everyone on their bikes, you can sit and relax by the hotel's pool, wander into the village following the cobblestone streets and "camminamento medieval" to explore the secrets behind the stone walls of this city or take part in the warm-up ride.
Later in the evening, we will regroup for a lovely dinner perhaps enjoying one of the famous Chianti Classico the area is renowned for.
Optional ride: 19km/11 miles
Today we take in the rolling green hills of the Chianti region covered with stunning vineyards, and olive trees. We'll ride to Greve with it's famous triangular-shape square which has been for centuries the place of the Saturday market. Greve a gateway of the Chianti region, (even if it is pretty hard to define a precise border!) On our way back we will stop in the village of Volpaia for lunch. The earliest documents mentioning Volpaia, date back to 1172. Already listed among the three best wines in the world by Wine Spectator, Volpaia is known worldwide for the uniqueness of its cellars hidden in the walls of the ancient fortified village.
Ride : 46 km, 1162 m / 28 miles, 3812 feet
Another wonderful loop will bring us to the town of Gaiole in Chianti. Located to the east of Radda, Gaiole offers a preview of what were the battles for local power that dominated these lands for over a hundred years: from the Medici family to the Ricasoli family, from the Guelphs to the Ghibellines and the constant wars for territorial supremacy between Florence and Siena. It was these continuous conflicts that stimulated the creation of the fortified villages and castles with their numerous watchtowers that we can all visit in the surrounding area today, many of which have been transformed into splendid accommodations for stays in Chianti, including restored villas and cottages.
Enjoy lunch in a seafood Trattoria (yes, seafood! The chef is from the south of Italy!) then bike back to the accommodation. In the afternoon enjoy a wine tasting inside of the Home of Chianti Classico!
Tonight if you are still wanting dinner after our large lunch, the guides will provide recommendations for local restaurants where you can dine on your own or with other members of the group.
Ride: 52 km, 911 m /32 miles, 2980 feet
Option to extend the ride:73 km, 1325 m /45 miles, 4340 feet
Today you can get to the pool at our sleeping location for the night by taking the short route or if you see like you have had sufficient rest, take the longer route option. We ride to Castelnuovo Berardenga. A nice picnic lunch will delight you along the way. Once at the accommodation relax at the pool and enjoy dinner all together!
Ride: 34 km, 463 m/ 21 miles, 1519 feet (Option to extend the ride: 74 km, 1671 m /46 miles, 5480 feet)
This 62 km point to point ride takes you to Bagno Vignoni; the route is beautiful due to the UNESCO Siena hills and the overall countryside. You'll ride the "Crete Senesi" and a section of "Le Strade Bianche" passing through Asciano and San Giovanni D'Asso. Lunch in San Quirico then bike to your final accommodation, the wonderful Osteria dell Orcia in Bagno Vignoni.
Bagno Vignoni is a tiny village in the Val d'Orcia, in the heart of Tuscany, surrounded by rolling hills and towering cypresses. The village has a profound relationship with its springs that have attracted travelers for a long time. The heart of Bagno Vignoni is the Piazza delle Sorgenti, where there is a massive pool of thermal water, built-in 1500, and all-around surrounded by Renaissance buildings that give elegance to the square as a whole. The water flows at a temperature of 52 °, creating an atmosphere out of time, especially on cold and humid days when the contrast of the water temperature creates a mist that helps to make the place magical.
Ride: 62 km, 1261 m/ 38 miles, 4130 feet
Two options for today: the short ride will take us to Pienza, UNESCO site and very famous for the Pecorino cheese. The long ride will take us to Montalcino, well known for its wine.
In the afternoon guests have the option to take part in a traditional cooking class close to Pienza.
Enjoy a spectacular farewell dinner to celebrate this fantastic tour!
Ride 57 km, 119 m /35 miles ,390 feet
Option to extend the ride: 83 km, 1977 m
After breakfast, taking the opportunity to exchange phone numbers and e-mail addresses with newly-made friends, before we depart on our onward journeys.
There is a shuttle to Florence Airport (about 1h and 50 minutes travel time)
Our non France tours are operated by our partners in the different European or New Zealand countries and therefore offer slightly different options to our France located tours. For our Tuscany tour the following is included:
Group arrival transfers are scheduled for you from Florence airport or train station at 11:00am
Chianti vineyard tour and tasting
We provide the transfers to and from the local airports and the nearest rail stations, please refer to each tours specific details.
We stay in luxury 4*hotels for the Tour of Tuscany which we choose for their location and charm . All rooms have en-suite shower or bath facilities.
We select our hotels for their character as well as their facilities, and avoid chains in favour of independent privately run hotels.
Prices are based on two sharing in twin or double rooms. Singles are available on request. Where possible, we choose hotels with swimming pools as there is nothing quite like a dip after a day in the saddle!
It is sometimes necessary to change accommodation for reasons of room availability, minor adjustments to the route or upgrading the hotels. We will always endeavour to use hotels of an equal or higher level of comfort/facilities to those shown – please contact us to check for the most up-to-date information regarding your particular tour.
All evening meals ( minus Day 3 - see itinerary) are included, and we carefully select the restaurants for cuisine and ambience, and favour those with a strong regional flavour.
All meals include a starter, main course and dessert, some will have an additional cheese course. We are happy to arrange for our restaurants to cater for specific dietary requirements and allergies etc. Fine wine (or soft drink alternative) with all evening meals and coffee to follow.
Lunch is included and where route and weather allow we organise picnics; these feature copious salads, cold meats, cheeses, crusty bread, fruits, etc, and a choice of drinks. Where route or weather does not allow a picnic, we arrange meals at suitable cafés and bistros.
We provide ‘hybrid’ touring bicycles with 27 indexed gears, our guides will generally be on hand to fix punctures and minor mechanical problems and carry pump, tubes etc.
The bikes are meticulously maintained and we keep a wide range of sizes; female specific saddles are also available.
For nearly all of our tours an e-bike - electrically assisted bicycle - is an extra-cost option. These bikes apply a 'multiplier' to the level of input provided by the rider, the level of assistance can be adjusted for the terrain. This can be useful if members of your party have very different levels of bike-fitness and experience, as hills that look daunting suddenly become easy with an e-bike.
Please contact us for details.
There will be a minimum of two guides on every tour; one cycling with the group and one in the minibus which will follow the group. The bus carries all luggage not required for the day's ride and will always be available for anyone at any point during the day. If for instance you want to take a day off the bike, or if a particular day seems a little hard, the bus will take you for as long or as little as you wish it to.
Guests will also be provided with GPX files for use with your GPS. GPS units are available to rent on request.
Guides are easily contactable by mobile phone. Prior to your trip we encourage you to download What's App, as we find this an easy way to communicate with all guests. The guides are enthusiastic experts on the local area and will be able to sort out any problems or special requests that you might have.
The Relais Vignale & Spa hotel welcomes you to Radda in Chianti: a 18th century manor house, recently renovated respecting the original and traditional architecture, in a warm and elegant setting.
The perfect balance between prevailing silence and peacefulness. At the Relai Il Vignale you can truly relax in the spa, pool or lay down in the large flower-filled garden, featuring a panoramic terrace overlooking the Chianti Hills. The Restaurant is an authentic example of culinary excellence, paired with their local wines.
Villa Curina Resort stands in a small 16th century village, rich in history and charm. Enjoy its delicious, local products and embrace the terrace overlooking the Chianti hills, with Siena in the background.
Situated in the UNESCO countryside, Val d'Orcia is a 16th Century, historic building. The hotel will give you a Tuscan experience with its traditional food & Tuscan wine. Book a massage and embrace the green oasis.
It is sometimes necessary to change accommodation for reasons of room availability, minor adjustments to the route or upgrading the hotels. We will always endeavour to use hotels of an equal or higher level of comfort/facilities to those shown.
Below we answer all the most common questions that you might ask before choosing an Italian Cycling Holidays cycling tour. If you have any further questions then please get in touch. We look forward to hearing from you.
Anybody who is reasonably active and has a reasonable level of fitness should be able to take part and enjoy our cycling tours in Italy. We provide options for different ride routes ( still with support) on some days.
An e-bike - electrically assisted bicycle - is an extra-cost option. These bikes apply a 'multiplier' to the level of input provided by the rider, the level of assistance can be adjusted for the terrain. This can be useful if there are members of your party who have very different levels of bike-fitness and experience, as hills that look daunting suddenly become easy with an e-bike. Contact us via the contact page if you would like more details.
We would nevertheless recommend that anyone who has not taken any regular exercise for some time consult their doctor before considering any activity-based holiday. Bear in mind that a little regular riding before coming on a cycling vacation will always be a benefit to the experience.
We will arrange group transfer from your choice of Florence Airport to Florence Train station. Travel time from Florence to our starting hotel in Radda in Chianti is around 60 mins.
Departure from Bagno Vignoni
A group transfer will depart the hotel at 11:00. Choose to shuttle to your choice of Siena city centre (1 hour travel time) or to Florence train station (2 hours journey time)
Alternative transfers can be arranged for you at additional cost.
Fly into Florence Airport, the connections to the rest of Europe are fantastic. Guests travelling from the USA will likely fly via Paris.
Fly into Rome Airport
For international flights. Rome Airport has direct flights from New York & Boston
Travel from Rome to Florence via the regional train & get a sneak preview of the countryside you’ll see on the tour. Journey time is 3 hours, 45 mins.
Pedals are obviously fairly important on a cycling tour! We stock the following kinds:
Flat – i.e. no special cleats or grips, these pedals can be used with any kind of footwear. If you do not regularly use special pedals or cycling shoes, we recommend standard trainers/sneakers to wear while riding.
SPD– This is the standard Shimano SPD compatible system; two bolts and the small cleat pictured on the shoe with the yellow sole. These cleats are ideal for cycling tours as the cleat is usually recessed into the bottom of the shoe.
Other – we do NOT stock any other pedal systems. If you use any other kind of pedal, you are very welcome to bring your own and our guides can fit them to your bike for the week. However, we would advise against racing-style pedals such as the Look Keo, Shimano SPD-SL or similar, as these tend to have a large, protruding cleat on the sole of the shoe which makes walking around visits or lunch stops (or even nipping into a public toilet!) quite uncomfortable and dangerous. Sports tours are a little different as there are much longer days and less off-the-bike walking – a choice is ultimately up to you though!
We are happy for anyone to bring their own bikes. Our bikes are of a high standard, and our customers usually express pleasant surprise at the quality of the machines, so it might be a better option to bring your saddle and/or pedals which we will be very happy to fit.
The main thing that people who are not regular distance cyclists worry about is a sore behind. This is not as is popularly thought due to too-hard saddles, but friction between skin and garments. This is why professional cyclists wear skin-tight lycra shorts with padded inserts. Many people feel a bit self-conscious in this sort of gear and your local cycle shop will have a range of padded undershorts which can be worn under normal clothing, or regularly styled shorts with sewn-in padded liners. Otherwise, lightweight comfortable clothing (tee-shirts, shorts, trainers) is ideal, with something warmer like a fleece just in case. As we will be dining well, you might like to take something presentable for the evening meal.
As well as being an active holiday, sampling the best that Italy has to offer, we believe that our trips should be an opportunity to meet people and make new friends. We require a minimum of 6 people, which we feel is the number needed to achieve a group spirit. If we cannot achieve this number, we may cancel the tour giving a minimum of five weeks notice.
We require all participants to have travel insurance with full medical cover. It is part of the conditions of our tours that participant should provide evidence of suitable cover.
In accordance with “The Package Travel, Package Tours Regulations 1992” customers of French Cycling Holidays Limited will be indemnified in respect of their net ascertained financial loss sustained arising from the cancellation or curtailment of the declared trip travel arrangements arising solely from the event of the financial failure of French Cycling Holidays Limited.
This insurance has been arranged by Towergate Chapman Stevens through Hiscox Insurance Company Limited.
We met Mario our guide on another cycling tour and were thrilled to find out he would be leadng the tour in Tuscany. His enthusiasm is contagious and as a native Italian it promises to be a great trip.
S. Kay Toronto, Ontario
