Lucca, Italy

€1238 (per person) / 8 nights / B&B

Holiday Details

Ride Grading

Grade 1: Moderate: generally easy routes, traffic free or on quiet roads or trails over short distances. MTB Grading: NA

Grade 2: Challenging: for new to cyclists wanting a challenge, with some rolling hills but no big climbs. MTB Grading: Green

Location

Lucca, Tuscany, Italy

Holiday Highlights

Gusto Cycling Offers a wide range of Tuscany cycling options to suit all tastes. Tuscany has it all, History, Art, Culture, amazing gastronomy and great wine! plus the added bonus of an enjoyable cycle through its varied countryside and medieval places which have hardly changed for over 600 years!

It’s no surprise that Tuscany is so popular and draws people from walkers and cyclists. Its undulating countryside, hilltop medieval towns with rewarding and far-reaching views is a satisfying end to great days cycling at your own leisurely pace.

It’s a relaxing holiday where you stop for a cappuccino when you like, have a relaxing lunch whenever you want, enjoy a wide variety of accommodation from agriturismos’ to fabulous villas and hotels to suit your budget. After a day of discovery enjoy a delicious local home-cooked cuisine and a glass of wine from one of the many vineyards dotted all over the countryside.
The emphasis is to discover, enjoy, and admire Tuscany and all its cultural treasures as you cycle along quiet country roads, some are undulating of course. A new feature is the introduction of electric hybrid bikes which has proved more and more popular for those who want to enjoy a cycle experience with their partner or friends and still keep fit!

There are 2 distinct Cycling Holidays to consider one is Tuscany North and the other Tuscany South, see below each detailed tour proposals and then decide which one is for you or if you wish to make any changes.

Remember the tour can start any day of the week and in any month, you have complete flexibility to decide when to visit Tuscany.

This tour can start in Lucca to Siena or reverse from Siena to Lucca

Holiday Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrive into Lucca + cycle around the medieval walled town

Arrive in Pisa / Florence airport – transfer to Lucca and stay inside this beautiful medieval walled town, its the home of Puccini and every night there is concerts and recitals in a small event paying homage to Puccini & Verdi by having a short opera in the beautiful church of San Giovanni located inside the medieval walled town. Everyone cycles to work, there are lots of independent restaurants, cafe’s and bars to enjoy the evening stroll. You can walk or cycle around 4km of the walled town.

Day 2
Cycle along the River Serchio towards the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa then cycle back towards the medieval town of Lucca to your accommodation. 53km 255m Elevation.


Day 3 – Lucca to Montecatini Terme beautiful baroque spa town.

Cycle to Montecatini Terme – lovely small spa town with hilltop town of Montecatini Alto access via Funicolar – stay in a 3 or 4 centrally located hotel, this is a relaxing stay not hurried with nice alfresco bars and restaurants to choose from. 38km 322m Elevation.

Day 4 – Montecatini Terme to Montecarlo - Montecatini Terme

Cycle to Montecarlo small medieval village and then visit local wine estate for wine tasting and lunch return to Montecatini Terme. 47km 305m Elevation.

Day 5 – Terme to Vinci - home town of Leonardo di Vinci

Cycle to Vinci – home of Leornardo di Vinci , visit his house and the beautiful museum nearby – stay in a lovely family agriturismo just outside Vinci. 40km 486m Elevation.

Day 6 – Vinci to San Gimignano UNESCO world heritage site

Cycle to the medieval town of San Miniato (26km 303m Elevation) and stay outside in a family Agriturismo or cycle to San Gimignano beautiful hilltop walled town (Unesco world heritage site) famous for it’s many towers, 63km 1.035m or stay 5km outside in a nearby family-owned agriturismo, 68km 1,169m Elevation.

Day 7 – San Gimignano to Siena UNESCO world heritage site

Cycle to the stunning medieval town of Siena (Unesco world heritage site) stay overnight in the north of the town to make it easier to arrive at the hotel – visit and enjoy alfresco drinks or meal in the famous Piazza del campo famous for the Palio di Siena horse race in July and August. 54km 827m Elevation or more direct route 45km 658 Elevation.

Day 8 – Departure from Siena

Check out of the hotel and take the train to Florence and your onward destination or airport.

I always try and stay off as many of the main roads as possible but there will be some traffic on some sections especially entering/exiting Lucca, Montecatini, and Siena. I have produced similar tours for families, distances are short from 35 – 70km elevation depending on the day.

Description of Accommodation

The accommodation varies from 3 and 4 stars hotels to family Agriturismo's all hand picked ny myself offering good location, good quality family cooked Tuscan food and knowing the owners of the property.

Remember I have been running these trips for 10 years and if you view Tripadvisor you can see my dedication to all matters of my clients cycling holiday matter to me so that my customers have a fun filled week of exciting cycling experience to really immerse yourself in getting to know Tuscany by bike.

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g1186912-d5461412-Reviews-Gusto_Cycling-Pieve_a_Nievole_Montecatini_Terme_Province_of_Pistoia_Tuscany.html

Offers

Prices included for Tuscany North

• Choose any day of the year to start your holiday you have compete flexibility
• 7 nights accommodation on a bed and buffet breakfast basis, accommodation is personally chosen and known to me
• Dinner included in Vinci and San Gimignano Agriturismo’s
• Deliver 2 Hybrid Bikes to Lucca
• Rental of 2 Hybrid Bikes helmets and water bottle & puncture kit provided
• Collect 2 Hybrid Bikes in Siena
• Luggage service included x 4 times
• Specially created GPS routes for each day which can be downloaded to your Iphone or Garmin with locations indicated for coffee and lunch stops and places of interest along the way
• My knowledge and insight of the area to give you the best experience of a Tuscany bike holiday
• Daily Contact with myself to see your progress

f you wish you can stay 1 night in Montecatini Terme and stay 2 nights in Siena instead this can easily be arranged.

Price from £1,189 per person based on 2 people sharing.

Extra Services Not Included

• Upgrade to Carbon or Electric Bikes .
• Pisa or Florence Airport transfer to Lucca.
• Siena transfer to Pisa or Florence Airport.
• Additional days pre or post tour can be arranged

Tuscany Cycling Holidays

Both North and South Tuscany Tours offer a varied mix terrain of rolling hills, medieval towns, small villages with tree-lined cypress trees, vineyards, and olive trees, Tuscany south has more climbing it’s certainly not all flat in Tuscany….… choosing an electric bike would make the journey much easier and less stressful and would be recommended for Tuscany South if you feel you are not quite fit enough or capable of completing the distance.

In July and August, I would always recommend an electric bike in all cases just because the heat would tire you much quicker during the day.

Each tour will give you get the chance to see amazing hilltop medieval towns/villages, stunning views of the countryside, wine estates, historic towns, great food, and wine in a relaxed and enjoyable cycle day going at your own pace.

I hope the tours above give you a better idea of routes and keys places of interest each day Remember Tuscany offers for the cycling enthusiasts an ideal scenario for all levels to anyone just wishing to pedal calmly while enjoying the beauty of TUSCANY.