Hilltop Towns of Tuscany – 6 Days

DISTANCE - ~AVERAGE

Distance training should be a consideration in your overall training program, so take every opportunity you can to walk. As you progress, incorporate longer walks into your training plan.

Schedule one or two long walks each week, gradually increasing the distance until you can comfortably cover 16km in a single day. Also include walks on consecutive days to help your body adapt to the demands of walking for multiple days in a row.

Ensure you can comfortably walk the average distance per day displayed in the graph, at least one month before you undertake your hike.

ELEVATION - BELOW AVERAGE

Elevation is not a major consideration in your overall training program. However, you should still incorporate some form of resistance training to increase your endurance.

FLAT TERRAIN

Whilst training for walking on flat and hard terrain, you should focus on building endurance and ensuring you can maintain a comfortable pace.

Start with regular walks on sidewalks, roads, or paved paths to get used to the surface. Maintain a proper posture and engage your core muscles to support your back, keeping a steady gait. Ensure that you have comfortable, supportive footwear with adequate cushioning. If endurance is important, consider incorporating low-impact cross-training activities like swimming or cycling into your routine.

About the walking

We grade this walk as moderate. Tracks and trails may have short steep hill sections and rough surfaces. A moderate active lifestyle makes the walking enjoyable, an exercise regime of 2 to 3 times a week is needed.

Walks are generally along well-defined trails. You should be used to walking between 15km per day with up to 500m of ascent and descent. The vast majority of trails and tracks are well defined and cover a variety of terrain. On any typical day, you will be walking on forest trails, gravel tracks, rolling farmland, through vineyards and into the villages and towns where you will stay. It is commonplace in Italy that there are no separate footpaths (even in the towns) which means you will often be walking on the roads. Please always be mindful of all road users when doing so. For each of the walks, you will be provided with daily walk notes, a map and the GPX tracks if you require to use them for your own device.

Availability

This walk is available from late April to the end of June and mid-August through to October.

Not available from 1st July – 22nd August.

From April into May the days are warm and sunny with equally pleasant evenings. Into June, sunflowers are in full bloom, vineyards are flowering, and the days become much warmer (up to 30 degrees). Village piazza’s buzz with life and are perfect for enjoying an al fresco dinner. Mid-August into September marks the beginnings of the grape harvests, so you might be lucky enough to encounter a local festival or two. By October, the summer heat has retreated. The days are warm with evenings cooling off. It isn’t uncommon for Tuscany to experience thunderstorms during summer days, so you should always be prepared for a change of season during the day.

How to get there and away

This walk starts in Volterra and ends in Siena. Volterra does not have an airport, but nearby Siena has excellent train links to the Pisa, Florence and Rome airports. From Siena, we can arrange a private transfer for you or you can use the public transport links to Volterra.

Florence airport
Take the airport train directly into the Florence centre. Here you can change for a direct train service to Siena (approx 2 hrs).

Pisa Airport
On arrival at Pisa Airport, you can take the ‘Pisa Mover’ train shuttle to the Pisa Centrale station to change for services to Siena (changing in Empoli). Journey time is between 1hr 30mins – 2hrs.

Rome Airport
Rome has two airports. Fiumicino and Ciampino. Fiumicino airport connects through to Florence Central station in around 2hrs 30mins (with a change of trains in Rome central station). If you’re arriving at Rome Ciampino airport you will need to take the airport bus to Ciampino station and change at Rome central station for services to Siena. Journey time from Ciampino to Siena is around 2hrs 30mins (depending on times and services).

Onward Travel From Siena

Siena does not have an airport but does have excellent train connections to Florence (direct service, 1hr 30mins), Pisa (change at Empoli, 1hr 45mins) and Rome (via Chiusi Chianciano Terme, 4hrs or via Florence, 3hrs 15mins).

For all train travel in Italy prices, timetables and ticket reservations can be made through The Trainline or Tren Italia.

Another useful generic planning tool for travel is Rome2Rio should you be travelling from, or to, other destinations.

Insurance

We require that you have adequate travel insurance against potential losses, damage or injury, including cancellation costs and loss of luggage.

For all trips that require international travel, you must have purchased travel insurance that also includes medical evacuation coverage.

We also charge a cancellation fee if you cancel your walking holiday after we have confirmed it to cover costs incurred from our suppliers and in the office.  See the FAQ section for more information.

IMPORTANT - SOLO WALKERS

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.