Via Francigena Camino Italy: San Miniato Alto to Buonconvento - 9 Days

The walk starts in San Miniato Alto and finishes in Buonconvento, in Tuscany. The two most convenient airports are Pisa (PSA) and Florence (FLR), both with international connections across Europe. From Pisa Airport, trains reach San Miniato in around 30 to 50 minutes, with some services requiring a change at Empoli. From Florence Airport, a bus connects to Florence Santa Maria Novella station, from where direct trains reach San Miniato in around 40 to 55 minutes. Please note that the transfer from San Miniato station to your hotel is not included; this can be arranged as an optional extra on request. Book Italian rail tickets in advance through Trenitalia.

The walk ends in Buonconvento, from where trains connect to both Pisa and Florence airports, with journey times of around 2 to 3 hours and one or two changes. Remember to stamp your ticket at the platform machine before boarding any train in Italy.

This walk is available from 1 April to 31 October, with no fixed start days. Spring brings wildflowers, green vineyards and comfortable temperatures through the Tuscan hills. July and August can see afternoon temperatures well into the 30s on exposed stretches, so early starts are essential. Autumn is many walkers' favourite time, with the wine and truffle harvests under way, golden light across the Crete Senesi and pleasantly mild conditions. September and October are particularly good, with quieter trails throughout.

This walk is graded moderate. The route follows varied terrain through the Tuscan countryside, and good walking boots with reliable ankle support are recommended throughout. A regular walking routine of three to four times per week in the months before departure is advisable preparation. Daily walk notes, maps, and GPX tracks are provided.

You must hold adequate travel insurance for your trip, including cover for personal liability and accidental injury and illness. For all trips involving international travel, your policy must also include emergency medical treatment, evacuation and repatriation cover. We strongly recommend your policy also covers trip cancellation and curtailment, and loss of or damage to luggage.

A cancellation fee usually applies if you cancel after your booking is confirmed. Travel insurance with cancellation cover will generally cover this fee, so it's worth arranging your policy at the time of booking.

Full insurance requirements are set out in our booking terms and conditions.

A detailed information pack and itinerary will be sent to you around six weeks before departure, covering everything you need to know for a seamless experience. In the meantime, our team is always on hand to answer any questions.

Luggage transfer is included in your package and is normally provided by the accommodation itself.
Please clearly mark all your belongings with your name and put a small note with the name of the next accommodation in order to indicate where the bags should go next (check your accommodation list). Also, ask the accommodation owner where the bags should be left in the morning. Labelling your belongings prevents mix-ups, delays and loss.

Bags should be ready and at the reception or store room by 9:00 hrs.

If you are unable to walk, you can always ask if the luggage transporter can take you with them when transporting your baggage, but this is not always possible and sometimes you have to pay a small fee locally. In some countries, there are special insurances for transporting peoples and sometimes the car is not suited for transporting people.

When you travel with public transport, you always take your luggage with you unless specified differently.

For your safety and well-being, we are unable to accept bookings for solo walkers on this self-guided trip. The remote nature of some tracks and limited mobile reception mean that walking alone presents a higher risk in case of emergencies.