Discover Tuscany: Culture, Food & Wine

Experience Overview

Settle into our family-run albergo in the hills of Tuscany to immerse yourself in this ever-evocative Italian region. Over the week, we sip wine at renowned chianti producers, discover age-old traditions, and learn all about the region from local experts. Of course, we have guided tours in the iconic cities of Siena and Florence – they’re unmissable – but also visit lesser-known medieval towns for a more intimate experience. Embrace the Tuscan lifestyle with wine tastings at celebrated vineyards and learn the secrets of pasta-making in a cooking class led by local experts.
Profile
— Accommodation: 7 Classic nights (Hotel Le Renaie) — Sightseeing on foot — Group normally 6 to 16, plus leader — Travel by private minibus and train — Option to travel by train to your adventure — Option to book an extension package
At a Glance
— Accommodation: 7 Classic nights (Hotel Le Renaie) — Sightseeing on foot — Group normally 6 to 16, plus leader — Travel by private minibus and train — Option to travel by train to your adventure — Option to book an extension package
Trip For You
This trip is graded Activity Level 1 (Easy). For more information on our trip gradings please visit our Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us. None of the activities are particularly taxing. However, Tuscany can be very hot in summer, especially from June to August, but heatwaves can also happen in April and May. Temperatures can reach the high 30Cs (around 100F).
Group Description
The tour leader accompanies the group on all programmed activities, except for the free day. In Florence and Siena, you are led by local guides.
Eating Drinking
Your package includes all breakfasts, four dinners and two wine tastings. Breakfast is typically a continental buffet. Two of your included dinners are at Hotel Le Renaie and consist of three courses with dessert and a glass of wine. On Thursday, enjoy a special pizza feast at the hotel. All meals are homemade, crafted with locally sourced ingredients, and follow traditional Tuscan recipes. For this reason, the menu doesn't include fish-based options. Dietary preferences, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free options, can be accommodated – please inform us of any dietary requirements when booking.
Transportation
We use a private minibus for airport transfers and most excursions plus the local train, bus and taxi services on certain days. Transfers are no longer than 1hr 30min and road conditions are good.
Joining Instructions
Key information Start hotel: Hotel Le Renaie, Località Pancole, 53037 San Gimignano (SI) Phone: +39 0577 1607452 Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today. There is a welcome briefing in the evening, but if you miss it the leader will update you separately Airport: Pisa (PSA) Getting to the start hotel The start hotel is approximately 1hr 20min drive from the airport. Your options for this journey are: Take an Exodus transfer Exodus provides one group arrival transfer from the airport, which is timed to coincide with the arrival of a chosen flight from London, UK. You may join this transfer at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves. Speak to your sales representative for the group arrival transfer times or to arrange a private transfer. The usual meeting point for the group transfer is Pisa Airport, where the guide will be waiting for you with the minibus. Occasionally, unpredictable parking restrictions at the airport mean the group transfer includes a five-minute journey on the Pisamover from the airport to the railway station. In this case, the guide will still meet you at the airport on arrival and accompany you on the Pisamover. Make your own way It’s possible to reach the start hotel by public transport, but the journey is complicated. We therefore recommend joining the group transfer where possible. If not, you can pre-order a taxi through Exodus. This will take you from Pisa Airport directly to Hotel Le Renaie. It will take approximately 1hr 20min to reach the accommodation and costs approximately €200, paid locally. If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative. Catching your return flight There’s a group departure transfer to the airport for customers who Exodus booked onto a chosen flight to London, UK. Please speak to your sales representative if you wish to join. If the group departure transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative transfer. Note on the group flights The return flight can sometimes be late in the evening, especially during summer. In this instance, you have additional time to spend in Pisa. The leader takes care of all arrangements in terms of transport from/to the airport and the city centre and luggage storage. It may also happen that, for logistical reasons, we have to be at the airport earlier than normally scheduled on return. This means a longer waiting time before checking in.
Weather Information
April and May are warm; rain is possible, but it seldom lasts long. Nights may be cool. We strongly recommend a fleece-lined jacket or warm sweater in these months. June is the start of summer and July and August can become quite hot by mid-afternoon, so this time is kept free for lunch. Although rain is unusual, torrential cloudbursts are not unknown. September and October are cooler and wetter, yet visibility is often better. Swimming is usually still possible at this time.
Spending Money
For the dinners not included, allow €35-€40 for a good meal and extra for wine. Lunches are not included but there is always somewhere to buy lunch (a cafe lunch costs approximately €15-20) or provisions to make a picnic if this is preferred. You will also need to allow for tips at restaurants. Local taxes: Many Italian cities have introduced a tourist tax for non-residents. The local administration oversees the tax, which will be collected by the accommodation provider at check-in or check-out. This fee varies depending on the hotel category, the season and number of days of stay. It is usually €2-€3 per person per night. For this trip, please allow €10-€15, depending on the season, for the week. In some cities, children and people aged 75 or over are exempt from this tax. Optional activities and excursions — Optional wine tasting in Castellina in Chianti: €10-€20 depending on the number of wines tested — Boboli Gardens in Florence: €10 — Uffizi Gallery in Florence: €24 (including €4 booking fee) — Accademia Gallery in Florence: €18 (including €6.50 booking fee)
Tipping
Our local staff are paid well and fairly for their work. Most of our clients wish to give a tip to their guides in appreciation of their help and friendliness. This, of course, is not compulsory and depends on the service received. For this trip, we recommend allowing approximately €15-€20 per leader per week.

Highlights