Ancient Volcanic Landscapes

What sort of weather can I expect?

Meteorological records for the area, taken over a period of more than 10 years, are represented in the Weather Chart provided with each itinerary.showers; evenings can be a bit nippy. In April the air is fresh, the sun warm, and there are likely to be (occasionally heavy) showers; evenings can be a bit nippy. In May the temperatures warm considerably In May the temperatures warm considerably. Daytime temperatures from mid May through June will feel hot if you are travelling from more temperate climes. If you are fit and can cope with very hot, sunny conditions, you may wish to consider July and August in order to enjoy the benefits of a quiet period as many other tourists and locals head for the mountains or coast; stamina and heat/sun resistance, sun cream and hat will be required. Early September is still hot and dry. Throughout these summer months, the periods of hot, sunny days are punctuated by brief but dramatic thunderstorms demanding proper waterproofs. Mid-late September offers increasingly pleasant temperatures and in October the air becomes fresher, the views longer, while returning rains turn the fields green again.

What sort of walking can I expect?

This trip is Grade 3-4. If you intend to walk the full 225 Miles to Rome (to include Tuscan Hills and Approach to Rome), you should consider the overall Grade to be 5 (the highest level), due to the sheer volume of walking. You need stamina to complete the route all the way to Rome.

This is an 8-day trip of which 6 days are spent walking. The length of each day varies from 5.5 hours to a maximum of 9 hours walking. Hours of walking, which may vary from individual to individual, means hours of actual walking and does not include stops for lunch, sightseeing, rests or siestas. On certain days the walk takes you into the hills where the paths cross a more rugged terrain that may be muddy in wet weather – please make sure that your foot­wear provides sufficient ankle support.

The walking is reasonably demanding: there are no free days. Although much of the walking follows dirt roads, there are also farm tracks and smaller wooded paths, broad gravel tracks and cart tracks. Some field crossings, some thread-like grassy tracks. For those planning an autumn trip – do be prepared to cross one or two roughly ploughed fields. There are no vertiginous patches.

On day 2, there is a (surprisingly!) steep ascent through wild country to Pescina on the slopes of Monte Amiata; and on day 4 there is an open, unsheltered section of route on approach to Acquapendente. If you have any concerns about these sections, please discuss these with your Route Manager, who will advise you about options if you would like to walk only part of the way.

What if I don't want to walk?

You don’t have to! You can get a lift with the Route Manager to the next hotel when your bags are moved on, or we can arrange taxis and advise you of local transport options to facilitate shortening the walks.

How do I get to the start of the route?

Travel to Italy 

The recommended destination airports for this route are Pisa, Florence and Rome (Fiumicino and Ciampino.

Travel to the first hotel by public transport

The nearest train station to Montalcino is Buonconvento. From Buonconvento you can either take a bus, or taxi (15-20 minute drive; approx €30) to Montalcino.

The bus route from Buonconvento to Montalcino starts in Siena, so if you are pre-extending in Siena you may wish to take the bus all the way.  You can see the bus timetables for Siena-Buonconvento-Montalcino at the following website:
www.tiemmespa.it/index.php/Viaggia-con-noi/Orari-e-linee/Siena/Extraurbano  - scroll down (click on 'mostra altri' to scroll down) to timetable 114A. Beware the symbols that may indicate services that do not run every day!

NB: Please remember to validate your train ticket by stamping it in the green and white or yellow machines at the start of the platform before you board the train; you can be fined if you have not done so.

From Pisa airport:

'PisaMover', a high-speed, fully-automated rail link takes you from Pisa Airport to Pisa Centrale train station in the centre of Pisa in less than 8 minutes and departs every 5 to 8 minutes between 6.00 am and midnight 365 days a year. Cost: € 2.70 per person one way.  Tickets can be bought at the biglietteria (blue ticket machine) at the airport station.

You may be able to buy a combined PisaMover and train ticket to avoid queuing again at Pisa Centrale. You can also catch a taxi from the airport to Pisa Centrale station which can take as little as 5 minutes.

The railway ticket office is at the far right hand end of the hall as you exit baggage reclaim into Arrivals.

From Pisa, there are 3 possible train routes to Buonconvento and once you know your time of arrival at Pisa airport (where baggage reclaim is not usually too slow) we strongly recommend you consult the excellent www.trenitalia.com site to assess your most convenient train schedule. If you fill in your date of travel and starting/finishing points for the train journey, the site provides an extremely clear table of all departures between Pisa Centrale and Buonconvento that day.

The last train from Pisa Centrale is at 17.07 arriving in Buonconvento at 20.30 where there are bus connections for Montalcino at 21.00 and 21.50 (journey time approximately 30 minutes). 

Alternatively, a later train (18.54) from Pisa Centrale to Siena (change at Empoli) arrives at Siena at 20.38 (approx cost €10), still in time to catch an onward bus connection to Montalcino from Siena (21.15).

Where can I leave my car if I drive to the route?

The Dei Capitani hotel does not have a car park in which you can leave a car, but there are some free spaces and some paying car parks close by. However, please be aware that these car parks are unsupervised. Montalcino is a fairly quiet rural town.

What should I bring?

Bring whatever clothes and footwear you find most comfortable for everyday wear, and a change or two for the evenings – smart/casual.
Some trips include quite distinguished hotels and restaurants, for which you may wish to ‘dress up’ in the evening, however on Independent trips you have more flexibility in determining how casual you wish to be. For walking we recommend lightweight walking boots with firm ankle support (make sure you wear them in before the trip!), a small daypack for your lightweight waterproof clothing, camera, fleece etc. An increasing number of people bring telescopic walking poles. For a comprehensive packing list click here: what to bring

What sort of food can I expect?

Southern Tuscan food is simple and uses quality local ingredients which complement the excellent robust wines of the
region. It is seasonal food usually prepared with home grown ingredients. Although the Tuscans are called ‘bean eaters’ (mangiafagioli) the main staple of their diet, apart from pasta, is bread, which is traditionally unsalted to complement the salted prosciutto, salami and strong sheep’s cheeses. Whilst it is a traditional cuisine, it is not a poor one, and meat and game feature strongly, preferably cooked on an open fire. The Tuscans are less interested in the presentation of the food than
in the excellence of the ingredients, and even the most elegant restaurants serve rustic terracotta bowls of rich vegetable and bean soups. The Tuscans also have a sweet tooth,
producing a variety of rich spicy cakes full of candied fruit and nuts, and light biscuits.  Further south, there is an interesting
range of cuisine, combining the stronger flavours of Latium with the subtle influences of Umbria. You will enjoy excellent fish from Lake Bolsena - coregone, perch, trout and eel, and vegetables
from fertile volcanic soil around the lake. Rich and varied pastas; sauces with tomato and peperoncino. Specialities include lamb with wild herbs, ricotta, sheep cheeses (pecorino), wild boar and
truffles.

Breakfast

Most of the hotels we use offer a buffet-style breakfast with a wide range of both hot and cold choices. 4- and 5-star hotels almost always offer ‘cooked’ breakfast. Occasionally, in more remote areas, or in some 2 or 3-star hotels, breakfast can be a decidedly more ‘Continental’ affair – i.e. bread, croissant, juice, coffee.

Lunch

The ATG Route Booklets and our ‘Sustainable Shopping Guides’ are filled with information about markets and shops in which to buy your lunch. From seasonal fruits, local cheeses, cured hams and freshly baked breads, you are limited only by what you can carry in your pack!

Dinner

On some routes, usually where there is no other restaurant within walking distance, half-board accommodation is included (see ‘what is included’ for this trip). In other areas where there is a selection of restaurants, ATG includes a list of recommendations in your ATG Route Booklet. Some restaurants are recommended because they have provided meals that have been regularly enjoyed by ATG clients; other restaurants are renowned internationally (e.g., within the Guide Michelin).

Restaurant bookings

Your Route Manager will be delighted to book restaurants for you if required, ensuring the places you eat at are...

•Your first choice

•The highest standard

• The best value

...and you are not disappointed by finding the restaurant full.

Our Tuscany walking holidays are wine-lover’s treat. There are superb local red wines, notably Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, which complement Tuscan cuisine very well. Further south, enjoy the famous Orvieto Classico from Orvieto and Est!Est!!Est!!! from Montefiascone.

Several of our independent routes (including this one) pass through well-known wine producing regions. If you are particularly interested in wine you may also like to consider...

• Classic Alsace

• Provence: Vaucluse & the Lubéron

• Siena to Florence

• Southern Tuscany

• Tuscan Hills

• Tuscany & Siena

• Roman Roads to Orvieto

• Etruscan Lanes to Orvieto

• Umbria & Assisi

• Sintra & the Portuguese Coast

What if I have a dietary restriction or food allergy?

When you book, let us know about any restrictions. Most dietary restrictions do not present a problem on our routes due to the wide variety of shops and restaurants available. Your Route Manager will provide you with advice and recommendations at your briefing.

What should I bring to wear in the evenings?

There is no need to dress up for dinner – ‘smart casual’ dress is acceptable in all but the smartest restaurants in Italy.

Do the hotels have WIFI, hair dryers, laundry service?

All have WIFI except the Silene and Toscana. All have hairdryers except the Silene. None offer a laundry service.

How much should I budget for items not included?

You can get an idea of transport costs in the ‘getting there’ section of
the trip page. For lunches, costs will depend on whether you choose to buy picnic items or eat in bars/restaurants. Dinners: some are included (see ‘what’s included’). For evening meals not included, the route book provides restaurant recommendations to suit a wide range of budgets. Entrance fees to museums, churches, galleries and other sightseeing costs will vary considerably depending on how much you want to see and how old you are (!). Over 60s enjoy significantly reduced prices at many attractions, so it is worth carrying (safely) some form of identification showing your age. Other costs are items of a personal nature, shopping expenditure and transport if you choose to limit your walking with public transport or taxis.

City Tax (Italy only)

In March 2011, the Italian legislature passed a decree that created a new tourism tax to be paid by visitors to Italy and collected by the accommodation where they are staying. The purpose is to raise revenue that municipalities can use to maintain local facilities and infrastructure and to help in the preservation of cultural and historical treasures, all of which benefits tourists. The roll-out of the tax has been gradual, with each council determining the way in which it should be implemented. First introduced in the big cities, since 2012
the tax has been introduced by many other town councils. The tax is charged by guest per night, with an upper limit to the number of nights that can be charged. The rate (usually €1-2 Euros per person per night) is determined by the rating of the accommodation. This tax is not included in the price of independent holidays but where applicable will be payable direct to your hotel in cash.

What if I want to extend my trip?

We are delighted to book extensions for you at either end of your trip. We only book hotels with which we have an established relationship and where we can ensure a high level of service and enjoyment. If you would like an extension booking please indicate this during the booking process and we will contact you with pricing information.

Where can I find general FAQs?

For FAQs relating to the Company and general trip questions, click here