Volterra to San Gimignano Walk
Personalized quotation
Luggage transfer
24h telephone assistance
Hotel accommodations
This will be a perfect journey to discover the magic that Tuscany has to offer.The vineyards, sunflowers, hills bathed by the sun rays, and the buildings that hold centuries of historywill be those landscapes that will ensure you falling in love with one of the largest and most important regions in Italy.
- You’ll begin the tour in the picturesque town of Volterra and you will finish in the charming medieval village of San Gimignano.
- You will delight in delicious local cuisine and world-famous wines.
- You will walk along Etruscan paths and paths of pilgrims.
- You can visit the cities of Florence and Siena.
Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrival in Volterra
The first day will be in the charming town of Volterra, located in the middle of the traditional Tuscan landscape, will be an ideal place to discover history through its beautiful constructions, including Palazzo dei Priori, the oldest castle in the region.
Overnight in Volterra
Park Hotel Le Fonti
Located very close to Porta dell'Arco, the entrance to the beautiful and well-preserved medieval town centreof Volterra, is a cosy hotel that has 50 comfortable rooms.
It has an amazing swimming pool and a magnificent terrace that offers an excellent panoramic view over the hills of the city of Pisa.
It has an amazing swimming pool and a magnificent terrace that offers an excellent panoramic view over the hills of the city of Pisa.
Day 2 - Volterra to Casole d'Elsa 9 miles | 15 km
After a 30-minute transfer, you will reach the trails that will take you through the Berignone Forest Nature Reserve, a beautiful place where, hopefully, you will be able to contemplate foxes, wild boars and deer.
Leaving this charming forest, you will find the wonderful view of the valley and Casole d'Elsa, where you will spend the night.
Leaving this charming forest, you will find the wonderful view of the valley and Casole d'Elsa, where you will spend the night.
Overnight in Casole d’Elsa
Hotel Terre di Casole
This recently renovated hotel is located 10 minutes from the town centre.
It has 40 modern and elegant rooms and each has a terrace or balcony overlooking the pool and the beautiful gardens at the back.
The hotel's restaurant offers delicious traditional dishes and exquisite desserts.
It has 40 modern and elegant rooms and each has a terrace or balcony overlooking the pool and the beautiful gardens at the back.
The hotel's restaurant offers delicious traditional dishes and exquisite desserts.
Day 3 - Enjoy your day in Casole d'Elsa
This will be a day to learn more about Etruscan culture in Casole d'Elsa, a romantic village located in the hills of the province of Siena.
From here, you can see Mount Amiata in southern Tuscany, as well as visiting the amphitheatre and the Etruscan tombs that are still in very good condition, despite the passage of time.
From here, you can see Mount Amiata in southern Tuscany, as well as visiting the amphitheatre and the Etruscan tombs that are still in very good condition, despite the passage of time.
Overnight in Casole d’Elsa
Hotel Terre di Casole
This recently renovated hotel is located 10 minutes from the town centre.
It has 40 modern and elegant rooms and each has a terrace or balcony overlooking the pool and the beautiful gardens at the back.
The hotel's restaurant offers delicious traditional dishes and exquisite desserts.
It has 40 modern and elegant rooms and each has a terrace or balcony overlooking the pool and the beautiful gardens at the back.
The hotel's restaurant offers delicious traditional dishes and exquisite desserts.
Day 4 - Casole d'Elsa to Colle di Val d'Elsa 12 miles | 19 km
On the tour to the small village of Quartaia, you will have a pleasant walk through the fascinating sunflower fields and beautiful orchid-lined paths.
After a lunch break, you will continue through the forest, along the famous pilgrims' path and you will find several fossils, remnants of the incredible past in these lands: thousands of years ago, this area was completely covered by the sea.
To reach the hotel, you will walk along the banks of the River Elsa, with its turquoise waters and limestone.
After a lunch break, you will continue through the forest, along the famous pilgrims' path and you will find several fossils, remnants of the incredible past in these lands: thousands of years ago, this area was completely covered by the sea.
To reach the hotel, you will walk along the banks of the River Elsa, with its turquoise waters and limestone.
Overnight in Colle di Val d’Elsa
Palazzo San Lorenzo & Spa
Located on the top of Colle di Val d'Elsa, it is a 17th century hotel with spacious fully equipped rooms with TV, air conditioning, minibar and free wireless internet.
There is also an indoor pool and a spa on site.
Delicious buffet breakfasts are served in the restaurant, set in a beautiful, bright glasshouse.
There is also an indoor pool and a spa on site.
Delicious buffet breakfasts are served in the restaurant, set in a beautiful, bright glasshouse.
Day 5 - Enjoy your day in Siena, Florence or Colle di Val d'Elsa
Today you have the option to visit Siena, Florence or Colle di Val d' Elsa.
If you decide to go to Siena, you will have to take a bus and take a 30-minute tour. There you can get to know its charming Piazza del Campo, where the traditional Palio Festival is celebrated.
Florence, located an hour away, is a beautiful Renaissance city where you can breathe in art. In every corner, you can find a museum or monument to discover.
If you prefer to stay in the "The City of Glass", as Colle di Val d'Elsa is called, you will have the possibility to go to the historic centre or see how the glass is made.
If you decide to go to Siena, you will have to take a bus and take a 30-minute tour. There you can get to know its charming Piazza del Campo, where the traditional Palio Festival is celebrated.
Florence, located an hour away, is a beautiful Renaissance city where you can breathe in art. In every corner, you can find a museum or monument to discover.
If you prefer to stay in the "The City of Glass", as Colle di Val d'Elsa is called, you will have the possibility to go to the historic centre or see how the glass is made.
Overnight in Colle di Val d’Elsa
Palazzo San Lorenzo & Spa
Located on the top of Colle di Val d'Elsa, it is a 17th century hotel with spacious fully equipped rooms with TV, air conditioning, minibar and free wireless internet.
There is also an indoor pool and a spa on site.
Delicious buffet breakfasts are served in the restaurant, set in a beautiful, bright glasshouse.
There is also an indoor pool and a spa on site.
Delicious buffet breakfasts are served in the restaurant, set in a beautiful, bright glasshouse.
Day 6 - Colle di Val d'Elsa to San Gimignano 10 miles | 16 km
On the Via Francigena walk, you will follow in the footsteps of the pilgrims and you will encounter dazzling sunflower fields, apple orchards and small villages until you reach the River Foci.
Before continuing on the road to San Gimignano, you can take a small detour and enjoy a pleasant wine tasting in Montauto.
Before continuing on the road to San Gimignano, you can take a small detour and enjoy a pleasant wine tasting in Montauto.
Overnight in San Gimignano
Relais Santa Chiara
Amid the most beautiful landscapes of the Tuscan region, you will find this elegant hotel with two swimming pools, one of them a hydro massage pool, ideal to relax after a day of walking.
Its rooms are fully equipped, and in the common areas you will find an incredible terrace to enjoy the view of the hills, vineyards and olive groves, while having a delicious breakfast or a drink from the bar.
Its rooms are fully equipped, and in the common areas you will find an incredible terrace to enjoy the view of the hills, vineyards and olive groves, while having a delicious breakfast or a drink from the bar.
Day 7 - Enjoy your day in San Gimignano
Today is an ideal day to visit San Gimignano, a small and charming walled village that transports you back to medieval times.
You can walk through its beautiful streets, enjoy a "gelato" in one of the best ice cream parlours in the world and reach its historic centre, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1990.
You can walk through its beautiful streets, enjoy a "gelato" in one of the best ice cream parlours in the world and reach its historic centre, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1990.
Overnight in San Gimignano
Relais Santa Chiara
Amid the most beautiful landscapes of the Tuscan region, you will find this elegant hotel with two swimming pools, one of them a hydro massage pool, ideal to relax after a day of walking.
Its rooms are fully equipped, and in the common areas you will find an incredible terrace to enjoy the view of the hills, vineyards and olive groves, while having a delicious breakfast or a drink from the bar.
Its rooms are fully equipped, and in the common areas you will find an incredible terrace to enjoy the view of the hills, vineyards and olive groves, while having a delicious breakfast or a drink from the bar.
Day 8 - San Gimignano to Volterra 14 miles | 22 km
After a 10-minute taxi ride, you will arrive in Caggio to start your walk through the Castelvecchio Nature Reserve.
There you will start a tour that will take you through fantastic fields dotted with wild strawberry plants and gum rockroses until you find a panoramic "strada bianca" (white gravel road), where beautiful falcons fly.
Later, you will walk through the cypress fields, pass through Sensano and Ulignano, two villages dating back to the 16th century, until you reach Monte Voltraio, a mountain reaching 461 metres (1512 feet) in height.
After a picnic break, you'll climb an ancient route to Volterra.
There you will start a tour that will take you through fantastic fields dotted with wild strawberry plants and gum rockroses until you find a panoramic "strada bianca" (white gravel road), where beautiful falcons fly.
Later, you will walk through the cypress fields, pass through Sensano and Ulignano, two villages dating back to the 16th century, until you reach Monte Voltraio, a mountain reaching 461 metres (1512 feet) in height.
After a picnic break, you'll climb an ancient route to Volterra.
Overnight in Volterra
Park Hotel Le Fonti
Located very close to Porta dell'Arco, the entrance to the beautiful and well-preserved medieval town centreof Volterra, is a cosy hotel that has 50 comfortable rooms.
It has an amazing swimming pool and a magnificent terrace that offers an excellent panoramic view over the hills of the city of Pisa.
It has an amazing swimming pool and a magnificent terrace that offers an excellent panoramic view over the hills of the city of Pisa.
Day 9 - Volterra
On this day, you will have to head to Pisa Airport to take your return flight.
End of our services.
End of our services.
Itinerary map
Services
Included
- Accommodation in en suite rooms in charming hotels
- Daily Breakfasts
- Evening meals on days 1, 4, 5 and 8
- Luggage transfers between accommodations
- Transfers as specified in the itinerary
- Information dossier with maps and routes
- 24-hour telephone support
- Sustainable travel, we compensate the CO2 emissions of your trip
- Taxes
Extras
- Travel insurance
- Cancellation insurance
- Additional nights
Travel & transfers
To get to the starting point of this walking holiday through the Tuscany region, the best option is to take a flight to Pisa Airport. Afterwards, you'll need to head to your hotel.
When you finish your trip, you can transfer to Pisa Airport, so you can take the flight to your home city.
When you finish your trip, you can transfer to Pisa Airport, so you can take the flight to your home city.
FAQs
Is luggage transfer included? What are the luggage requirements?
Absolutely! Each traveller has included 1 piece of luggage that we will transfer between your accommodations. It's important that this piece of luggage meets the following criterias:
- Maximum weight of 45 lbs (20 kg).
- Must be only 1 piece of luggage without any attachments or accessories.
- Should not contain valuables, fragile items, food or medications.
- Must be correctly identified (booking reference of your trip and the full name of the trip holder).
Will I be free to choose my walks in Tuscany?
We will give you the instructions for the walking routes and provide you with detailed maps so that you can enjoy them at your own pace, safely and with the certainty of being accompanied by Orbis Ways.
Will I have free time on this walk through Tuscany?
Yes, you usually have a day off at each hotel to get to know the region or just to rest.
What should my physical preparation be?
This route has a medium-low level of difficulty, making it ideal for people looking for between 4 and 6 hours of walking a day and with ascents/descents of up to 700 m.
You do not need to have experience in walking, however, it is advisable that you are in good physical condition, and that you are in good health.
What kind of equipment do I need?
We recommend you to bring boots and walking sticks as the walks will be done on the "strada bianca" (white gravel paths), paved lanes, forest trails and valleys. We also suggest wearing a sun hat for certain sections of the tour.
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