8 Days | Fall in love with provincial Italy on a cycling adventure through Tuscany’s villages
Explore the rolling hills and olive groves of Tuscany on this eight-day cycling adventure from Florence to Pisa. Cycle through small, traditional villages backdropped by mountain views in Barga, then ride the pulsing streets of Pisa to the famed lopsided tower. Visit one of the oldest bakeries in Italy, operating since 1885, for a taste of their delicious biscotti (and maybe an espresso, too) and soak up some of the stunning views of Garfagnana – Tuscany's mountainous escape – with a bike ride through the town. With stops in Vinci and Lucca, too, you’re bound to fall in love with provincial Italy (even more than you were before).
Trip overview
- Start
- Florence, Italy
- Finish
- Pisa, Italy
- Theme
- Cycling
- Destinations
- Italy
- Physical rating
- Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
- Style
- Original
- Ages
- Min 14
- Group size
- Min 1 - Max 15
- Trip code
- ZMXT
- Pedal through the rolling green hills and vineyards of Tuscany, stopping to sample the local cuisine and indulging in a glass (or two) of vino along the way.
- From Lucca's tree-lined city walls, you’ll follow the gentle Serchio River on your bike to the world-famous Leaning Tower of Pisa – take the classic shot in front of the tower or hunt down the best local cafe and people-watch.
- Retrace the steps of Leonardo da Vinci around his home city, Vinci. Surrounded by olive groves, your cycle will take you past Casa Natale di Leonardo then returns you to the village where you can explore at your own pace.
- Stay in picturesque Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, where you’ll spend your day cycling up and down the valleys, maybe stopping at the famous Fronte della Rocca for one of their cakes and coffees that have been enjoyed since 1885.
- Get away from tourist crowds and experience the authentic Italy – on two wheels and two feet, you’ll have the best chance to connect with locals, ride through rural areas you otherwise wouldn’t visit and have the insights from a local leader who knows all the best spots.
- By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, World Bicycle Relief. Donations provide school kids, health workers, and farmers in far-out areas with bicycles that provide access to education, healthcare, and income.
- To complete this trip, it’s important that you’re both confident and competent in riding a bicycle.
- While the cycling distances on this trip are relatively short, the stunning terrain of northern Tuscany is naturally hilly so you’ll need a reasonable level of fitness to enjoy the trip – but remember, we will always have the support vehicle on hand if you need to take a break for an hour or a day.
- On this trip we have a single leader that rides with the group, and another that drives the support vehicle (acting as a back marker where needed).
- As our riding is done mostly on sealed roads with the occasional gravel cycle path there are no technical cycling skills required – but given the hills involved we do suggest practicing riding downhill so you’re comfortable with this once the trips begins.
- If you feel like doing all the riding but with less effort, we have the option of hiring an electric bike (e-bike) on this trip.
Itinerary
View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2025 - 31 December 2026
Inclusions
7 breakfasts, 2 lunches
Bicycle (e-bike option available, subject to availability), Support vehicle, Local bus
Hotel (7 nights)
- Signa to Vinci Guided & Vehicle Supported Cycling
- Lucca to Barga Guided & Vehicle Supported Cycling
- Devil’s Bridge visit
- Garfagnana - Picnic
- Barga to Garfagnana Guided & Vehicle Supported Cycling
- Lucca - Picnic
- Garfagnana to Lucca Guided & Vehicle Supported Cycling
- Lucca to Pisa Guided & Vehicle Supported Cycling
- Florence - Uffizi Gallery - EUR24
- Florence - Accademia - EUR17
- Florence - Medici Chapels - EUR17
- Florence - Bargello Museum - EUR14
- Florence - Baptistry, Museo Opera del Duomo, Giotto Bell Tower and Brunelleschi Dome - EUR30
- Vinci - Museo Leonardiano Birthplace of Leonardo Combo Ticket - EUR11
- Barga - Dinner - EUR25
- Barga - Fondazione Pascoli - Free
- Barga - Cathedral - Free
- Castelnuovo di Garfagnana - Cathedral - Free
- Castelnuovo di Garfagnana - Fortezza dell'Este - Free
- Lucca - Cathedral of San Martino & Ilaria del Carretto Tomb - EUR3
- Lucca - Palazzo Pfanner House & Gardens - EUR6
- Lucca - Puccini concert - EUR20
- Lucca - Guinigi Tower Climb - EUR6
- Torre delle Ore Climb - EUR4
- Pisa - Leaning Tower of Pisa - EUR27
Dates and availability
Important notes
1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information. The Single Supplement does not include night 7 in Pisa, which will be twin share.
2. Bicycle hire is included in your trip price. Please advise your height at time of booking so as we can organize a suitable sized bike.
3. An e-bike option (at additional cost) may be available on this trip. We have limited numbers of these bikes available and they are an 'on request' basis only. A request does not guarantee an e-bike, only a confirmed booking. Please ask your agent for more details at the time of booking.
4. Bike helmets are compulsory on this trip. We are unable to hire bike helmets locally so please ensure you bring your own bike helmet from home.
5. On this trip we have a single leader that rides with the group, and another that drives the support vehicle (acting as a back marker where needed). Where the vehicle cannot travel directly with the cyclists (e.g. a cyclists-only path) your leader will assign a person from the group to act as a back marker.
6. As space in the support vehicle is very limited we request that travelers bring only a small bag, no more than 20kgs with them.
7. Due to frequent unscheduled closures we have removed the Verrucole Fortress visit.
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