INCLUDES: *Airport transfer to/from the Rome airport; accommodations (based on double occupancy-shared king beds) in a traditionally renovated 600 year-old Tuscan farmhouse apartment; half board (all breakfasts, and most dinners); some picnic lunches provided, guided city/cultural tours, garden tour, wine tasting, pasta making lesson, archeological tour, basic Italian language lesson, mountain bike/helmet rental, daily guided bike tours, and a day at a thermal hot pool.

EXCLUDES: Airfare, any prior nights and final night’s lodging near Rome airport, some lunches, a few dinners, any personal items/shopping and mandatory traveler's insurance.

Difficulty level: Intermediate to Advanced riders

Experience the beauty of the hill town of Pienza and surrounding medieval villages near Siena. By bicycle we will explore the breathtaking rolling hills of the beautiful Val d'Orcia, the very heart of Tuscany. . We will meet the true Tuscan locals and experience a variety of traditional activities including; pasta making, wine tasting, picnics and archeological/cultural tours.

SAMPLE ACTIVITIES:

• Ground transfers to and from the Rome airport (Saturday-Saturday)
• Registration and entry into the mtn bike race the “Gran Fondo di Brunello”
• Daily choice between a shorter or a longer bike ride
• Incredible meals at award-winning local spots
• Organic farm tour and lunch
• Day at a local thermal spa — enjoy an afternoon bathing in a therapeutic natural hot pool that the Romans enjoyed
• Mountain bike and helmet rental for the week
• Guided mountain bike tour, by local guides, through the vineyards of the famous Brunello wines — finishing the tour at a private Brunello wine cellar for a special wine tasting and lunch
• Guided bike ride to a monastery made famous by the film The English Patient
• Guided bike ride to a charming village for a typical picnic lunch
• Shorter bike rides are optional to enjoy the nearby villages — stroll through medieval hill towns, Renaissance gardens, churches or cafe sit or shop as a break from biking
• Guided bike ride to Pienza with a tour of the family farm
• Etruscan tomb tour: L’Hermitage — private archeological site
• Guided artisan tour of Montalpulciano and special wine tasting of the Vin Nobile at lunch
• Tour of a beautiful living Romanesque Gregorian abbey
• Pasta and or pizza making lesson — learn to hand roll the famous pici pasta and enjoy a garden dinner with our host family
• Basic Italian language lesson

Minimum number of participants: 6

* Some or all of the above activities are available depending on time, weather and energy of the participants.