Chianti Walking & Wine

Chianti Walking & Wine

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8 Days From

$2617

$2245

Chianti Walking & Wine

8 Days Starting and ending in Castellina

Visiting: Italy

Tour operator:

Exodus Adventure Travels

Tour code:

TDC

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

5 - 16

Physical rating:

Leisurely / Moderate

Age range:

18-99

Special diets catered:

Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements

Tour operated in:

English

Activities:

Sightseeing, Walking

From: $2617 $2245 Operator discount: -$372 -14%

NB: Prices correct on 30-Jun-2024 but subject to change.

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour Overview

With its Renaissance cities, mediaeval villages and cypress-lined avenues snaking through vineyards, southern Tuscany is the perfect place for a relaxing guided walking holiday. Based at the tranquil Villa Casalta, on our tour we visit beautiful San Gimignano, the market town of Greve in Chianti, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Siena and the magnificent city of Florence. During the week we sample several varieties of the world-renowned local Chianti and have the opportunity to learn more about Italian wine at the Wine School of Siena.



Highlights

  • Stay in a converted farmhouse

  • Enjoy the fabulous Chianti wines

  • Walk the classic rolling hills of Tuscany

Itinerary

Day 1


Fly to Pisa; transfer to Villa Casalta, 2kms from Castellina in Chianti
(transfer approx. 1hr30mins).



Day 2


Today we head to the mediaeval market town of Greve in Chianti walking
through a magnificent setting of olive groves and vineyards. On the way, we
will stop in the fortified hilltop village of Montefioralle, considered the
most ancient 'borgo' in Chianti. After lunch we enjoy a wine tasting in
a local winery before heading back to our farmhouse for dinner.



Day 3


This morning we will set out for a local history walk to the heart of the
Chianti area, covering the route from Villa Casalta to Radda in Chianti. We
will take a walk through local woodlands where we can admire the so famous
emerald vineyards valleys. In the afternoon we will have the chance to taste
the much acclaimed Chianti Classico wine at a local winery.



Day 4


After breakfast we make our way to the centre of Siena for a day exploring
this fascinating city. We have time to visit the numerous museums and
stunning Duomo and to relax in one of the many outdoor cafés in Piazza del
Campo, home of the world famous Palio horse race. Please note that shoulders
should be covered for entering the Duomo. You may also like to visit the many
boutiques specializing in local products and cutting edge Italian fashion. In
the afternoon we also have the opportunity to learn about Tuscan wines on a
1-hour fun interactive course at the Tuscan Wine School.



Day 5


Today is free to rest any tired legs at the poolside. Alternatively, your
leader can advise on local Chianti wine tasting tours and cooking classes or
offer assistance for unguided walks or daytrips.



Day 6


Our destination today is the magnificent city of Florence, the birthplace of
the Italian Renaissance with an enormous wealth of historical sites, museums,
galleries, churches and architectural delights. Most of the great artists,
thinkers and builders from Renaissance history passed through or lived in
Florence when it was under the rule of the Medici family, the most famous
patrons of the 16th century. But Florence is not just a Renaissance
showpiece: once you have had your fill of the historical trail there are many
other things to see and do. The city has not ceased to be a centre of
learning, and there is a university, many art and language schools and a
large student population to liven up the café-bars, restaurants and
nightclubs. There are also some great markets and chic boutiques. From April
to July, Florence also holds one of Europe's major cultural events, a
festival of opera and classical music called the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino.
There are no guided tours organised for the day but there's an option to join
one of the free walking tours in the morning. This will then leave you enough
time to visit the Uffizi galleries. If you wish to do so we recommend that
you prebook your ticket online to avoid lengthy queues. An ideal slot time
would be around 2 pm. it can be earlier if you're not interested in joining
the morning free walking tour. Tickets can be purchased through 
https://webshop.b-ticket.com/webshop/webticket/eventlist?production=1
. 

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Day 7


After a  transfer to the quaint hamlet of San Donato, we walk through the
farm grounds following the pathway to Montauto and on up to the picturesque
mediaeval town of San Gimignano. The walk is not long and should take
approximately 3 hours. The afternoon is spent exploring this beautiful town
including visits to the Palazzo Comunale, Pinacoteca and Torre Grossa and
there is some free time to wander and soak up the atmosphere. 



Day 8


Transfer to Pisa; fly to London.

Please note that at times, especially during summer months, the inbound
flight can be late in the evening. In this instance you will have additional
time to spend in Pisa. Leader will take care of all arrangements in terms of
transport from/to the airport and the city centre and luggage storage. It may
also happen that, for logistical reasons, on return we will have to be at the
airport earlier than normally scheduled. This will mean a longer waiting time
before checking in. 



What's Included

  • Flights from London (if booking incl. flights)

  • All transport and listed activities

  • All breakfasts, 5 dinners, 3 wine tastings

  • All accommodation 

  • Tour leader throughout

What's Not Included

  • /Local taxes (approx. EUR 14 per person, see Trip Notes)/

  • Single accommodation (available on request)

  • Travel insurance

  • Visas or vaccinations

Accommodation

Surrounded by Tuscan hills, Hotel Le Renaie occupies a privileged spot in the little village of Pancole, just 4mi (6.5km) from San Gimignano. Here, the Sabatini family has created an intimate, friendly retreat with just 25 air-conditioned rooms and plenty of places to mingle.



Under the beautiful Italian summer sun, the swimming pool area (which has a separate hot tub) is the perfect place to cool down; alternatively, find a shady spot in the flower-filled gardens to sit, chat or read a book. Come evening, gather in the bar-restaurant for delicious Tuscan cuisine and a glass or two of excellent local wine. It’s a popular stop for Pancole residents, so you know it’s good. There are also games tables (table football, billiards and ping pong) to keep the entertainment going or you can take your drinks onto the bar terrace for views over the garden, which is filled with hydrangeas and citrus plants.



Amenities



Swimming pool (usually open May to mid-October)

Restaurant serving traditional Tuscan meals

Bar/cafeteria for light snacks and lunches (open every day)

Games tables



Worth knowing



A limited number of rooms have a balcony (facing the pool or garden) and these are assigned by the hotel

Pool opening dates are subject to local weather conditions and pool maintenance requirements; cooler months may not be suitable for swimming

Food


All breakfasts, 5 dinners and 3 wine tastings are included.

Breakfast is usually a continental-style buffet. The five included dinners
are taken at Villa Casalta (drinks not included). Vegetarian choices are
available - please advise us of dietary requirements on booking.

Videos

Check out our Q&As

  • Who is Exodus Travels?

    At Exodus Travels, we've been exploring the world for nearly 50 years. From Walking and Trekking, Cultural and Cycling, Responsible Wildlife, to Polar and our new Premium Adventures, we are proud to offer award-winning small group and self-guided tours to 100+ countries worldwide.

  • Do you require a visa for this holiday?

    No visa required for British passport holders. Please note in Italy it is compulsory to carry ID with you at all times.

  • Are flights included in this tour?

    International flights are not included with this tour.

  • Is there a supplement for solo travellers?

    If you would like to be paired with a tour member of the same gender, there is no additional charge. A single supplement can be requested if you would like your own room.

  • Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?

    Yes.

  • Are children permitted to take part in the tour?

    Minimum 18 years old people can go on this tour.

  • Are vaccinations required for this tour?

    There are no specific health risks.

  • Can you assist with pre or post tour accommodation?

    We are happy to assist with pre and post tour accommodation. Please enquire for detailed information.

  • What is the maximum group size?

    16

  • What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?

    If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Exodus has been trading since 1974

  • What documents will I receive before I travel?

    Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.

  • Can I join the tour once it has departed?

    You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.

Reviews from travellers on this tour

Great trip

Lovely wine and hill walking with excellent town/c

Lovely wine and hill walking with excellent town/city tours. All very well organised.

A memorable holiday

A really good balance between sightseeing, walking

A really good balance between sightseeing, walking and wine tasting from an excellently located villa

Chianti: walking and wine

An excellent and relaxing holiday.

An excellent and relaxing holiday.

Best decision ever

Exodus tours were recommended to me, and as someon

Exodus tours were recommended to me, and as someone who knows little about wine but loves to drink it I was keen on this trip. I also fancied some exercise and activities thrown in. I was slightly dubious about going alone but soon realised when I got there that exodus caters for people like me. I would say the trip is scaled correctly in terms of activity level, I particularly enjoyed the panzano and San gimignano walks. There's also loads to do on your free day, I rented a vintage fiat from castellina, some of the group went riding and others cooking so plenty of options. Couldn't recommend this trip enough.

1st time Exodus experience

This was our first holiday with Exodus. Usually we

This was our first holiday with Exodus. Usually we are independent travellers so we were both a bit nervous about a group 'organised ' trip but we needn't have worried. We had a great group of people; different backgrounds and nationalities which made for an interesting week of getting to know each other. Our fabulous guide Mark was absolutely brilliant, patient, helpful and very accommodating, keeping us out of too much sun, well watered and well informed about the various places we visited. Roberta, our host at the villa was absolutely lovely and looked after us wonderfully with the help of Margarita. We really had a great week and as well as being very impressed with our trip we've also been inspired by the experiences of Exodus from our fellow travelers; definitely food for thought for future trips.

Chianti Walking Tour

Really enjoyed the week. It was a good mix of wal

Really enjoyed the week. It was a good mix of walking and wine tasteing with the bonus of old cities and great views of the Tuscan countryside.

Fabulous

A fabulous combination of walking the Tuscan count

A fabulous combination of walking the Tuscan countryside, combined with wine tastings and city visits. Alejandro was a brilliant leader. Villa Castalta is a perfectly adequate base for a walking holiday. The meals at the Villa are basic but wholesome. The restaurant used in the village were all different and very good. The best being Il Re Gallo. The 3 main walks are all interesting, each finishing in an interesting town for lunch and gelato! Despite the high temperatures during our week (highs of upper 30s) all the walks were at a a relaxed pace with plenty of stops along the route.

Wine not....hehe

This was my first solo trip, exodus came highly re

This was my first solo trip, exodus came highly recommended and so I thought I'd try it! The agent Barry rang me at times I was free and was so so helpful, booking and organising different flight was made far easier with his help. Landed in pisa and was greeted by Rosanna- our tour guide for the holiday. Honestly, I was a tad nervous and she was just lovely, very calming, like sunshine in human form!! Rosanna was very helpful, chatty, bubbly, informative and amusing throughout the whole trip. It was such a happy time!! I'm still laughing at some of the moments we had one week on !

A very enjoyable holiday!

A very enjoyable week away. Comfortable rustic acc

A very enjoyable week away. Comfortable rustic accommodation with friendly staff set in the beautiful surrounding Chianti countryside. A relaxed balance of healthy moderate walking, interesting wine tasting and well planned city visits.

A perfect mix of walking, wine tasting and sight-seeing

This was my 10th trip with Exodus in 4 years so I

This was my 10th trip with Exodus in 4 years so I am already a fan and it almost provided us with what we'd hoped for. There was a good balance of walking, wine tasting and sight-seeing. The days spent in Florence, Siena and San Gimignano were not at all rushed and we had ample time to do all that we planned. It was also great to be driven in by Simon our wonderful guide. It meant that we spent very little time travelling. Villa Casalta accommodation was simple in a traditional way and our room was beautiful and very clean. We were given a very warm greeting from Roberta on our arrival and she waved us off on our departure however for the rest of the week we hardly saw her. The swimming pool was lovely to sit around but very cold to swim in during October although I did mange it one afternoon. The location is lovely with a pleasant 20 minute walk to pretty town of Castellina along a gravel road.

Read all 62 reviews

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  • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

    Exodus Adventure Travels allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus adventure travels, 43 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    Exodus Adventure Travels requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus adventure travels charges.

    Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.