Active Tuscany Vacation

Day 1

Arrival Florence airport and transfer to our hotel in Florence. (Some may choose to fly in the day before.)  In the afternoon we’ll enjoy a guided city tour of Florence with our local guide and climb to the Cathedral dome for spectacular views.  Our group will get acquainted while we enjoy our welcome dinner then head back to the hotel.  Overnight Florence. D

Day 2

After a tasty breakfast at our hotel, we’re off to enjoy the Accademia Gallery to see the most famous of Michelangelo’s work: David, a colossal nude of the biblical hero who killed the giant Goliath.  Next, the Uffizi Gallery, housing some of the world’s most important art treasures, and a celebrated assembly of works including paintings from the late Middle Ages through the early 18^th century. Here we will admire such striking works as Caravaggio’s “Medusa”, Botticelli’s “Birth of Venus”, Leonardo da Vinci’s “Annunciation” and more.  We’ll lunch at the Mercato Centrale where vendors offer a multitude of delicious options. We’ll have time to stroll the city a bit – so beautiful, then back to our hotel to relax. We’ll enjoy dinner in Florence with some more time to stroll the streets of this fair city. Overnight Florence. B, D

Day 3

After a tasty breakfast at our hotel we’ll be transferred to beautiful Siena. We’ll admire the beautiful panorama of the Tuscany hills.  We’ll check into our hotel and enjoy a walking tour of Siena to visit the beautiful monuments and the history of the town rich in culture. Famous all over the world for the Palio Horse Race held in Campo Square twice a year, Siena is known also for its Duomo as one of the finest Gothic cathedrals in Italy. In the late afternoon we head to “kitchen school”. Together with our teacher/chefs, we’ll prepare some of the most typical dishes of the Tuscan countryside, discovering the old recipes of the “grandmothers” using fresh, local products. At the end of the class we will enjoy a family style dinner of the dishes we made during the cooking class, and enjoy some local Chianti wine too. It’s such a beautiful way to really ‘taste’ the real Tuscan experience. Overnight Siena. B, D

Day 4

After breakfast we will check out of our hotel and board our van to continue our adventure in beautiful San Gimignano.  Known as the Town of Fine Towers, San Gimignano is famous for it’s medieval architecture and unique in the preservation of about a dozen of its tower houses. This afternoon, we will accompany our guide on a walking tour of and around San Gimignano, including climbing the highest of the city’s towers – the Torre Grossa – to enjoy spectacular views of the surrounding countryside.  We’ll step back in time in this small, walled city, enjoying the locals and a few boutiques for your shopping pleasure. We’ll also have a wine tasting at La Rocca to get a taste of some local vino.  Tonight is on our own to further explore this lovely town, find a delicious dinner and maybe a local musical group to entertain us.  Overnight San Gimignano.  B

Day 5

After breakfast, we’ll transfer to Lischeto for a beautiful morning hike chosen by our local Trip Leader. She has an eye for delightful trails with maybe a surprise or two. Last time, we found shells in the ground – the kind left from World War II. A bit of history showed itself in the countryside. We’ll arrive at the Lischeto farmhouse for lunch where we’ll enjoy a locally produced, organic and delicious lunch. After lunch, we’ll have a cheese making demonstration and make cheese with the farm owners. This is not only fun, but a delicious activity as well.  This afternoon, we’ll transfer to Volterra and enjoy a walking tour and visit a local alabaster workshop. We’ll transfer back to our hotel to relax and, yes, enjoy dinner. Overnight San Gimignano.  B, L, D

Day 6

After a tasty breakfast at our hotel, we will pack up and head to Porto Santo Stefano where we’ll have time to stroll around this port city a bit and have lunch at a local trattoria. We’ll take a large ferry to Giglio Island. The island is one of seven that form the Tuscan Archipelago, lying within the Archipelago Toscano National Park. We’ll tour the beautiful Giglio Castello, a self contained city inside the castle walls with such history and beauty. The photographer will definitely surface in you! We’ll check into our hotel and enjoy dinner and overnight on this little known and unique island of Tuscany. Overnight Giglio. B, D

Day 7

After breakfast we will depart for the port and enjoy a snorkeling lesson close to the gorgeous shores of Giglio. We’ll head out on our boat with the included option to snorkel and see a variety of colorful fish in the clear blue waters while we float under the Tuscan sun.  Who knew you could snorkel in Tuscany? Back on shore, we’ll have lunch and say arrivederci to Giglio as we ferry back to Porto Santo Stefano.  A short transfer to the town of Orbetello to check into another of our positively lovely hotels, where we’ll have some time to stroll the beachside town, do a bit of shopping, and then enjoy dinner. Overnight Orbetello.  B, D

Day 8

After a tasty breakfast at our hotel, we will transfer to Pisa. Although Pisa is known worldwide for its leaning tower (the bell tower of the city’s cathedral) the city contains more than 20 other historic churches, several medieval palaces, and various bridges across the Arno River.  We’ll have a walking city tour with a local guide including the iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa and all the majestic architecture around Miracle Square.  This afternoon is at leisure to enjoy the town of Pisa, some shopping, exploring, perhaps an aperitivo at a local sidewalk cafe, and soak up more of that Tuscan sun. We’ll meet up for dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight Pisa. B, D

Day 9

After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll walk to the train station to have a local immersion day. We’ll board the train to the beautiful town of Lucca. We’ll meet another local guide, have a safety lesson, then take off on our E-bikes for a wonderful ride through the scenic small town. The E-bikes will take us through Lucca’s historic city walls that form a 3-mile greenway loop that completely encircles the city. The path is very wide and completely flat. We’ll enjoy amazing views and get a feel for this cool town.  Next there’s time to shop in local boutiques, lunch at another fabulous outdoor cafe, and enjoy the street art – another photographer’s delight and well kept ‘secret’ of Tuscany. We’ll take the train back to Pisa and enjoy our Farewell Dinner while we recount our wonderful memories together. True Tuscany! Active Tuscany! Now, Your Tuscany! Overnight Pisa. B, D

Day 10

We’ll breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the Pisa airport for outbound flights, or stay and play in beautiful Tuscany, or points beyond. B

• 9 days/ 9 nights fully guided tour with an English speaking Trip Leader and a Canyon Calling US Rep
• All land transportation as outlined in the itinerary
• Deluxe hotel accommodations, double occupancy, and all hotel taxes and fees
• Most meals as outlined in the itinerary (B= Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)
• Activities and gear as outlined in the itinerary
• All activity guide gratuities
• All excursions, entrance fees and permits, all taxes

• Round-trip transportation to/from Italy
• Alcoholic beverages (unless noted in the itinerary) and other items of a personal nature
• Gratuity to the Local Trip Leader at the end of the tour