Etruscan Trails in Central Italy
In the footsteps of an ancient civilization
Tour Dates
As we are only a very small team, we cannot run every tour each year. The next departure for this tour will be 2026.
Tour Cost
€3,295 per person
Single supplement: €325
This 8-night tour starts and finishes in the Eternal City and follows in the footsteps of the Etruscans – an ancient civilization which populated the centre of Italy long before the Romans. We visit UNESCO World Heritage tombs, walk along sunken Etruscan roads and explore the outstanding towns of Civita di Bagnoregio and Orvieto which were both important Etruscan settlements. Our hikes take us through the rolling landscape of central Italy, with its olive groves, cypresses and vineyards as well as to the tranquil waters of Lake Vico and Lake Bolsena. We finish in the Val d’Orcia, a strikingly beautiful valley in the southern part of Tuscany and home to some of Italy’s most celebrated wines.
This tour starts and finishes in Rome, and our pick-up and drop-off point is Rome’s Fiumicino airport. People might choose to extend their walking holiday in Italy by spending more time there or by visiting Milan, Venice, Florence or Siena. For more ideas on where to go visit our City Guide page.
What is included?
- 8 nights’ accommodation in three wonderful hotels
- Two experienced and knowledgeable guides to look after your every need and bring this stunning area to life
- All meals including excellent wines
- Gourmet picnic lunches each day and snacks en route
- Support vehicle, enabling you to walk as much or as little as you please
- Transport in air-conditioned minibus
- All museum entries and cultural visits as per the itinerary
- Comprehensive pre-trip information
Our tours are genuinely all-inclusive – learn more about what we offer.
Tour Highlights
Visit UNESCO World Heritage sites throughout the region
Taste the noble wines of Montepulciano and Montalcino
Follow sections of the historic Via Francigena pilgrim route to Rome
Walking / Terrain
There are 6 days of walking on the trip. We usually walk on strade bianche (gravel roads), woodland tracks and through farmland. This area of central Italy is relatively hilly, with some significant ups and downs, but not mountainous. The walking is fairly rugged in sections so sturdy walking boots, with good ankle support, are required. Walking poles would be an advantage, especially on steeper sections. There is van access at lunchtimes on all days of this tour so you can choose to walk a shorter day if required.
Shortest/Longest Day: 9.8km/6 miles: 16.5km/10.2 miles
We have graded this hike a Level 3. Some of our tours are more challenging than others, so see how we grade our hikes to make sure you choose the right one for you. If you are interested in this tour, then you might also like to take a look at Medieval Umbria, Northern Tuscany and Ravenna or Parma, Tuscany and the Ligurian Sea
Accommodation
Relais Sans Soucis and Spa: A comfortable hotel right on the shore of Lake Vico with spa facilities
Hotel Palazzo Piccolomini: A beautifully-restored four-star hotel in the historic centre of Orvieto
Villa Cicolina: The 16th century country residence of a noble family, in the hills of Montepulciano
Itinerary
LEAVE BLANK
Day 1
We meet at Rome Fiumicino Airport at 9.30 am. A short drive takes us to the UNESCO World Heritage site at Cerveteri where we have a private guided visit of the Etruscan tombs. It is important to be wearing your walking boots/shoes to hand for this first day. After a picnic, we visit the Roman amphitheatre and church of Mithras in Sutri, before arriving at Lake Vico and our hotel, where we stay for two nights. Dinner tonight is in the hotel.
Day 2
A short drive takes us to the Casaletto Pass where we start our walk at 623 m. We climb through ancient beech forests before descending to Lake Vico for our picnic. After lunch, we walk along the water’s edge with lovely views of the volcanic lake. Dinner tonight is in a local restaurant.
(16km/10 miles)
Day 3
Today we leave Lake Vico and drive to another beautiful volcanic lake at Bolsena. After a visit to the church of Santa Christina, we walk out of the crater on an old Roman road and through ancient sunken Etruscan roads. We pass more Etruscan tombs before stopping for our picnic. After lunch, we continue through open farmland to finish the hike below the town of Orvieto. We stay here in the heart of the town for three nights. Dinner is in a local restaurant.
(16.5km/10.2 miles)
Day 4
Our walk today takes us to the extraordinary town of Civita di Bagnoregio. Once an Etruscan settlement, it was later known as the “dying town,” damaged first by a major earthquake and then by rapid erosion, leaving an island isolated in the landscape. Our hike takes us through wooded countryside and open farmland back to Orvieto. Dinner in a Slow Food restaurant in Orvieto.
(14.3km/8.8 miles)
Day 5
Today is a non-walking day. We start with a tour of the town with an expert local guide before free time to explore Orvieto and its many interesting churches, museums, and historic streets. Long lunch in one of Orvieto’s top restaurants. Free time in the afternoon before we meet for an aperitif in a popular local bar.
Day 6
We leave Orvieto and head for the Val d’Orcia, one of the most beautiful valleys in Southern Tuscany. Our hike takes us through open farmland on wide gravel roads (strade bianche) and woodland. We picnic in a picturesque spot on a ridgeline with open views. At the end of the walk, we visit the famous gardens of La Foce, a property owned by writer Iris Origo who vividly recorded daily life in the valley during the Second World War. After our visit, we drive to Montepulciano. Our hotel, where we stay for three nights, is a few kilometres from the town with views of the Tuscan landscape. Dinner in the hotel.
(9.8km/6 miles)
Day 7
A short drive takes us to Pienza, famous for Popes and pecorino cheese, where we visit the Piccolomini Palace. Our hike today takes us back towards Montepulciano, stopping for our picnic in the countryside en route. Later we visit a local winemaker to learn about the fabled Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and taste his wines. Dinner in the hotel after the wine tasting.
(10km/6.1 miles)
Day 8
A short drive takes us to the small town of San Quirico for the start of our walk. We stroll through the village and then follow farm tracks through open countryside with far-reaching views to Montalcino and the Val d’Orcia. After our picnic, we return to the hotel by van. Time to rest before heading out to explore the lovely town of Montepulciano, ahead of our final dinner in its historic centre.
(11.6km/7.2 miles)
Day 9
We return to Rome airport for 12.00 pm. En route, we will make a stop at Chiusi train station for anyone wishing to use the rail network to onward destinations.
