Western Tuscany & Elba Self-Guided

Accommodation

The standard accommodations for the self-guided itineraries are family run hotels. Generally, these have around 10 to 20 guest rooms and the owners live on the premises. Italian hotel are classified by a star rating system – from one to five stars – standards for each category may vary a little from region to region. Most of the hotels that we use fall into the three star category – though we occasionally use two and four star hotels when circumstances or availability dictate. In almost all cases the bathroom facilities are ensuite (self-contained within the room). Some of the smaller hotels do not have a restaurant, but there will always be several options close by, within easy walking distance.

The Italian breakfast is light – a cappuccino and a brioche (pastry). Most hotels serve a continental breakfast of orange juice, coffee, tea or hot chocolate, bread rolls and jam. There may also be yogurt, cheeses, cured meats, pastries and cakes.

When you book a tour, your pre-trip planner will have more details about the specific facilities and services provided by the accommodations.

Examples of our Tuscany hotels include;

• Albergo Il Marzocco, Montepulciano
• Il Giglio, Montalcino
• Ristorante Fiorentini, Sansepolcro

Getting there

The Tuscan airports at Pisa and Florence mostly handle internal and short haul flights. Coming from abroad, Rome may be more convenient. Rome has two airports. Leonardo da Vinci Airport (at Fiumicino) is used by the major airlines, while Ciampino Airport is used by budget airlines such as Ryanair.

Getting to and from the trailheads (Siena, Sansepolcro, Florence) for the Tuscany itineraries involves travel from your arrival airport to the nearest mainline station or bus station for onward transport to the trailhead town.

Most inter-city trains leave Rome from Termini Station. Most inter-city buses leave from the main bus station outside Rome Tiburtina railway station. The Metro (line B) connects the two.

From Leonardo da Vinci Airport the most convenient way to get into Rome is to take the Leonardo Express, a direct train service to Termini (½ hr/every ½ hr).

From Ciampino Airport take a Terravision bus (¾ hr/ every hr) which to Termini. You can book online.

Pisa Airport has a railway station – trains run to Florence Santa Maria Novella Station (1½ hr/every hr). For Siena (2 hr/ every hr), change at Empoli.

Terravision buses run a regular service from Pisa Airport to Florence Santa Maria Novella Station (1¼ hr / every 1½ hr).

Terravision buses run a regular service from Florence Airport to Florence Santa Maria Novella Station (¼ hr/ every 1½ hr).

Siena

Note that the train station in Siena is located approximately 2 km from Siena's historical centre. It's a five minute bus ride from the city centre (Piazza del Sale) to the train station and buses run regularly in both directions.

• From Rome Termini
  Train to Siena (3½ hr /every hr)
  
  
• From Rome Tiburtina
  Sena Line Bus to Siena (3 hr / every 1½ hr)
  
  
• From Pisa
  Train to Siena (change at Empoli)
  
  
• From Florence
  Train to Siena

Climate

Tuscany is at its most beautiful in spring when the meadows and waysides are carpeted with wild flowers. Autumn is equally attractive when the beech and chestnut woods become clothed in a blaze of seasonal red and gold. The best months for avoiding the heat and the crowds are May, June, September and October. Easter should be avoided, as accommodation can be hard to come by. In August Tuscans head for the coasts for their annual vacation – and many shops, bars and restaurants are closed.

Tuscany is renowned for its light, which develops a clear golden quality as the days of high summer begin to shorten. Spring and autumn days are warm with plenty of hours of sunshine. July and August are the hottest, driest months, and you must to be comfortable cycling in very hot temperatures if you choose these months for your tour. October is also fine, but there is a greater chance of rainfall.

€895 is the cost per person sharing. The cost includes the following (unless stated otherwise)

• 8 nights' accommodation with breakfast
• Pre-trip planner
• Routes in the form of highlighted maps and cue sheets
• Telephone support
• Meet and greet (if you are renting bicycles)

Luggage Transfers

• Please note that you will need to carry your own gear out to the island of Elba on panniers. The rest of your luggage will be sent on to your next destination
• Luggage transfer charges are calculated as follows:
  
  

  The standard charge is based on one or two riders. A couple would therefore share the luggage transfer costs. There is then a small additional fee for the third and each additional person.
  For example:

  1. Total cost for one or two riders = €490 (245 per person based on two people sharing)
  2. Total cost for three riders = 490+ 30= 520 (173 per person)
  3. Total cost for four riders = 490+ 30+ 30=550 (137 per person)

Note that the more riders in the group, the less expensive are the luggage transfers per rider.

Please note that whilst we will try our best to provide you with the exact bike as listed below, due to availability or sizing issues we may not always be able to. The bike you will receive will be of a very similar spec and always in very good condition.

Fuji Absolute Hybrid Bike

• 5 frame sizes
• FX Alpha Gold Aluminium
• FX Alloy fork
• 27 speed

Bring your own saddle and/or pedals if you wish and we will fit them to the bike. (You must be able to remove them yourself at the end of your trip).

Fitted with: Rear rack; platform pedals, bottle cage, fenders (mudguards)

Equipment provided: Handlebar bag; map case; spare tube; puncture repair kit; lock; mini pump; multitool.

Available on request: Panniers, helmet, odomoter, gps unit

Kona Touring Bike

• Kona Cromoly Butted Frame
• Disc brakes
• Kona Cromoly Fork
• 27 Speed.

Bring your own saddle and/or pedals if you wish and we will fit them to the bike. (You must be able to remove them yourself at the end of your trip)

Fitted with: Rear rack; platform pedals, bottle cage, fenders (mudguards)

Equipment provided: Handlebar bag; map case; spare tube; puncture repair kit; lock; mini pump; multitool.

Available on request: Panniers, helmet, odomoter, gps unit

Fondriest Carbon Road Bike

• 7 frame sizes
• Monocoque carbon frame
• Reflex fork
• Sleek Italian design

Bring your own saddle and/or pedals if you wish and we will fit them to the bike. (You must be able to remove them yourself at the end of your trip)

Fitted with: Platform pedals, bottle cage,

Equipment provided: map case; spare tube; puncture repair kit; lock; mini pump; multitool, frame bag

Available on request: Panniers, helmet, odomoter, gps unit

Fuji E-Traverse E-Bike

• Suntour NEX disc fork
• Bafang H400 rear hub motor
• Bafang 5 mode LED display w/walk assist
• Shimano Gearing

Bring your own saddle and/or pedals if you wish and we will fit them to the bike. (You must be able to remove them yourself at the end of your trip).

Fitted with: Rear rack; platform pedals, bottle cage, fenders (mudguards)

Equipment provided: Handlebar bag; map case; spare tube; puncture repair kit; lock; mini pump; multitool.

Available on request: Panniers, helmet, odomoter, gps unit