Escorted 'GREEN LANES OF ITALY' offroad adventure holiday
Ref: A402
CLASSIC TUSCANY BACK-COUNTRY
2nd AUG
ESCORTED AND GUIDED 4x4 OFFROAD ADVENTURE
7 nights, 6 full days from €575 pp
2nd AUG Guided offroad tour through the heart of Tuscan landscape and culture - across the Apennines from Florence to the beautiful Tyrrhenian coast of the Maremma.
Where:
Tuscany, Italy
Region:
Tuscany
Gallery:
Airport:
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DRIVE YOUR OWN VEHICLE OR RIDE-ALONG PLACES AVAILABLE
Prices in Euros
THE GREEN LANES OF TUSCANY - a tour that is rich in culture, architecture, beautiful landscapes and wild unspoilt coast. Perhaps the most intense and varied off-road adventure in Europe - our Tuscany Off-road Safari. Definately a 'must do' once in your life and the perfect mix for families with kids of all ages. The tour ends on the Maremma coast which makes for a great extension to your holiday.
What you can expect to see and taste along the way. local salumi, shepherds and pecorino cheese, olive oil, wine tasting, typical trattorie, thermal springs, castles, medieval hamlets, roman towns, hermitages, monasteries, abbeys, medieval bridges, artisans, ancient mills, 1500m peaks, vine yards, olive groves, clay hills, sea cliffs, forests, mountains, valleys, plains and of course - 'classic' Tuscan countryside.
What's included |> 7 nights comfort camping |> maps |> 4x4 support vehicle and guide |> expedition schedule with full route notes |> 1 BBQ evening |> English speaking guide throughout the holiday. €675pp reducing to €575pp if the group size reaches 9 or more.
We can also provide tents and ground mattresses too if required - ask for prices.
What's NOT included - Fuel, meals and beverages.
|> Extend your stay by 1-night at the start and have a day in Florence. |> Extend your stay by any number of nights at the end and continue your holiday on this most beautiful and unspoilt stretch of the Mediterranean coast. |> RIDE ALONG places available for those without their own vehicle - ask for prices.
Request or
email
or call +44 (0)845 0944 669.
HIGHLIGHTS
Florence | Pratomagno mountains | Apennines | Casentino Forest National Park | Medieval hamlets | Crete Senesi | Valdorcia and Monte Amiata | Maremma and the Tyrrhenian coast | Argentario promontory | Swim every day - in idlylic rivers, freshwater pools and the Mediterranean sea.
HOLIDAY IMPRESSIONS
Day 1: Arrival day, meet south of Florence. Day 2: Florence to Camaldoli. Day 3: Camaldoli to Arezzo. Day 4: Arezzo to Siena. Day 5: Siena to Arcidosso. Day 6: Arcidosso to Capalbio. Day 7: Porto Santo Stefano and the Argentario Promontory. Day 8: Transfer day, depart from Argentario.
TRIP DETAILS
Day 1: Arrival day, meet south of Florence. Plan to arrive and meet everyone in the afternoon. Your camping place for the night is in the surrounding countryside of Florence, overlooking the Tuscan landscape. Head for the Valdarno exit of A1 motorway.
Day 2: FLORENCE to CAMALDOLI. 80km | Dirt roads 70%. Today's route crosses the Pratomagno mountain range to the Casentino Forest National Park.
In the morning we leave the asphalt roads of modern life for the first wild area of the trip, the Pratomagno mountain chain. A panoramic gravel road takes us to the top (1500 m) where the view is 360 degrees over the Arno valley and across the surrounding Apennine mountains. Descending to the other side we enter the Casentino, a relatively unknown area of Tuscany rich in historical sites and ancient traditions. Along the road we'll pass many local producers of salame, prosciutto and pecorino cheese.
The route crosses the valley then climbs the slopes of the Apennines into the heart of the Casentino Forest National Park. It’s the best preserved forest of it's kind in Europe (36.000 ha), with an “ocean” of secular trees wherein live red deer, fellow deer, roe deer, wild boar and wolves. Our day finishes at the Monastery of Camaldoli (founded in the 11th century), a spiritual place deep in the forest. Overnight in forest camp-site. Further Info - Casentinesi Forest National Park.
Day 3: CAMALDOLI to AREZZO. 80km | Dirt roads 70%. Today's route follows the edge of the Apennines to Arezzo via the peak of 'La Verna'.
Leaving Camaldoli we take a road which runs along the edge of the Apennines to the other important natural and religious site of the National Park - La Verna mountain. During this section we'll enjoy wonderful panoramas from the Apennines down to the Adriatic coast. Approaching La Verna, the landscape changes dramatically as we pass from the forest to the patch-work countryside of fields and pastures with typical villages set amongst.
Close to La Verna lives a shepherd’s family which produces pecorino, ricotta and raviggiolo according to ancient methods. It is possible to visit them and taste the products. The final part of today's journey take us to Arezzo, one of the most beautiful and interesting towns in Tuscany. The medieval centre maintains its unchanged ancient architecture and in the Romanic churches there are many important art works (from Piero della Francesca and Cimabue, for example). Overnight in a camp-site in the surrounding countryside of Arezzo. Further Info - Valdichiana.
Day 4: AREZZO to SIENA. 80km | Dirt roads 60%. Today's route takes us to Siena, crossing the Crete Senesi - one of the most amazing areas of Tuscany.
We leave the Apennines for the classic landscapes of Tuscany that are so symbolic of this world famous region of Italy - the beginning of hill towns, vineyards, cypress trees, country houses and so on. The road offers many panoramic views over Valdarno and Valdichiana, two charming valleys which look like enormous gardens thanks to the combination of grasslands, fields, olive groves and vineyards. The first stop is Lucignano, a medieval town with a typical circular structure of village streets that take you back through time.
Crossing the last mountain chain, we descend into a magic landscape composed of endless clay hills (badlands). It’s the area of “Crete Senesi”, recognized as one of most beautiful natural landscapes of the World. Crete are crossed by many gravel roads which disappear into the colours of the land, taking us to the abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore, founded in 1313. It’s an impressive austere, late-gothic structure with a cloister depicted with frescos by Luca Signorelli.
The last part of today’s journey takes us to Siena, a jewel of Tuscany. Siena exhibits some of most important gothic churches of Italy and its districts maintain the original medieval architecture. This town is famous for the annual historic horse-races called “Palio” which takes place in the splendid Piazza del Campo. Overnight in a camp-site in the surrounding countryside of Siena.
Further Info - Siena and surrounding landscapes.
Day 5: SIENA to ARCIDOSSO. 90km | Dirt roads 70%. Today's route takes us to Monte Amiata after traversing the hills along the Valdorcia, a most beautiful part of Italy.
To start the day, we drive south along the Valdorcia, the valley of the river Orcia. This area has many hill towns, each of them with their own strong character. Montalcino is famous for the red wine “Brunello DOC” which is strictly produced only from vines cultivated in the surroundings of the town. Along the road it is possible to stop at local wine producers and taste this fantastic “divine nectar”. San Quirico d’Orcia has ancient origins and is situated on the “Via Francigena” - an old Pilgrim route from Canterbury to Rome. In the centre there still exists the “Spedale” which offered shelter to pilgrims.
Later on, we arrive in Pienza, a rare example of Renaissance town planning. It has been called the "ideal town" or the "utopia town", since architects in that age tried to realise a model of life and an ideal government on earth. They envisaged a town able to give concrete answers to the needs of civil, social and economic coexistence between man.
Our journey continues south-west to the dormant volcano called Mount Amiata at 1738m, discovering abbeys, castles and roman thermal springs along the way. Overnight camping just outside Arcidosso in the Amiata mountain chain. Further Info - Amiata.
Day 6: ARCIDOSSO to CAPALBIO. 70km | Dirt roads 80%. Today's route crosses the Maremma, a little known part of Tuscany rich in history and wonderful landscapes, to the Tyrrhenian coast.
In the morning we drive to the top and over the Labbro mountain, a fantastic panoramic point where it is possible to admire all of the Maremma to the Tyrrenian sea. Maremma is the extreme southern part of Tuscany and includes a strip of hills and plains blessed with sunshine in all seasons. Tuscan people consider it a very rustic land because of it's wilderness and the traditional lifestyles of shepherds and farmers.
During the day we can see interesting natural and geological sites such as impressive gorges, calcareous cliffs and thermal springs. This area is also rich in amazing hamlets which maintain the atmosphere of the middle ages - this is the true and original Tuscany !
Maremma is known also for local recipes prepared with indigenous game and for special wines like Morellino di Scansano and Ansonica. Ansonica is made from a kind of grape used since the age of the Romans. The next 2 nights in a camp-site on the Maremma coast with beach and swimming pool. Further Info - the Maremma.
Day 7: PORTO SANTO STEFANO and the ARGENTARIO PROMONTORY. 60km | Dirt roads 60%. Todays' route follows the coast, discovering amazing beaches, to the impressive Argentario promontory and Orbetello Lagoon.
This final day follows the so called “Silver coast” for the special colours of beaches and the sea. The beaches range from golden sands to black volcanic sands from old magma flows, always with the deep blue waters of the Mediterranean sea alongside.
Not far into this magical scenery we will make an interesting discovery from an archeological point of you. On the top of a hill, there are the ruins of a roman town called “Cosa”. The “foro”, the roads and temples are immersed in the Mediterranean scrub and the environment is enriched by secular olives. Our journey continues towards a natural jewel of the Tuscan coast, the Orbetello Lagoon. It is a wetland of 27sq km and is recognised as one of most important areas for water fowl in Europe. During every season it is possible to see hundreds of flamingos and other beautiful species.
Orbetello is also one of the few remaining places in Italy where 'bottarga', salted mullet roe, is produced. After crossing the lagoon we approach another impressive natural monument, the Argentario Promontory. It’s an enormous mountain in the middle of sea linked to the coast with two narrow sand strips. A dirt road runs around it offering unsurpassed panoramic views over this wild coast and the many islands of the Tuscan archipelago. Back to camp-site on the coast for final overnight. Further Info - Orbetello Lagoon.
Day 8: Transfer day, depart Argentario. end of tour; clients can leave from the Argentario promontory or stay longer in the camp-site on the Maremma coast. View photos of Tuscany in winter.
ADDITIONAL INFO
Extend your stay This holiday can be extended by as many days and nights as you wish, giving you more time to relax and explore the area better. Ask us for further details.
[1] This offroad 'safari' runs during the first week of August.
[2] Itineraries are subject to change depending on local weather and mountain conditions.
[3] You should be a reasonably experienced off-road driver and be quite comfortable with full-days of driving cross-country.
[4] Camping equipment including ground mattresses can be provided if required - ask for prices. You should however bring your own sleeping bags.
[5] This offroad 'safari' is open to individual bookings of 1 or more persons. We require a minimum total group size of 6 persons for this offroad 'safari' to go ahead.
[6] For group bookings of 8 people or more, you are free to choose specific dates for which we will run this offroad 'safari' exclusively for that group. A group discount of 5% will also apply.
[7] Children under the age of 18 booked with accompanying adults will be charged at just EUR 100 per child for the entire 7 night trip.
To book: Check or
email
or call +44 (0)845 0944 669.
NOTE:
1. Prices in 'euros' and based on 2 people sharing a double room,
otherwise a single supplement applies. Flights not included unless
specified.
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