Lucca, Volterra and the Island of Elba
Hiking through Tuscan History
Tour Dates
29 April 2025 – 7 May 2025
Tour Cost
€3,695 per person
Single supplement: €375
This classic Tuscan tour starts in the artistic gem of Lucca – a beautifully preserved city encircled by its Renaissance walls lying just south of the stunning marble mountains of Carrara. We visit Volterra, a timeless hilltop town with Etruscan and Roman history and hike to San Gimignano with its unmistakable skyline of medieval towers. On our way to the beautiful island of Elba we stop in Bolgheri – now one of the most exciting and innovative wine regions in all of Italy. We finish on Elba, hiking almost to its highest point and exploring its capital city and the villa which was home to its infamous exile – Napoleon Bonaparte.
The tour starts and ends in Pisa, and our pick-up and drop-off points are Pisa Centrale train station and Pisa airport. Many people choose to extend their walking holiday in Italy by visiting Florence, Siena, Parma, Rome or the Cinque Terre. For more ideas on where to go visit our City Guide page.
What’s Included?
- Experienced and knowledgeable guides to look after your every need and bring this stunning area to life
- 8 nights’ beautiful accommodation in 3 different hotels
- All meals including wine
- Gourmet picnic lunches each day and snacks en route
- Dinner in a variety of superb restaurants
- Support vehicle, enabling you to walk as little or as much of the trail as you please
- Transport to/from Pisa in air-conditioned minibus and all ferry crossings
- Comprehensive pre-trip information
- Luggage transported for you so all you need to carry is a small backpack with water etc.
Our tours are genuinely all-inclusive – learn more about what we offer.
Tour Highlights
- Explore a jewel of the Tuscan Archipelago with island hiking
- Learn about the rich culture and history of the towns we visit
- Discover lesser-known but impressive Tuscan wines
Walking/Terrain
Terrain: Strade bianche (gravel roads), woodland tracks and quiet lanes, although Day 3 has more mountainous terrain. The rest of this area of Tuscany is hilly but not mountainous
Shortest/Longest Day: 6km/3.7 miles: 18km/11.2 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
San Luca Palace/Palazzo Alexander: Two 4-star converted palazzi just inside the magnificent walls of Lucca
Villa Nencini: Situated on the edge of Volterra with stunning views across the Tuscan landscape
Hotel Hermitage: A spectacularly located hotel with private beach, gardens and pools on the gorgeous bay of Biodola
Itinerary
LEAVE BLANK
Day 1
9:15 am: Meet at Pisa Centrale train station. Drive for 45 minutes to the Charterhouse of Pisa, a former 14th-century Carthusian monastery in the picturesque Graziosa Valley. After the visit, enjoy a light lunch at a local trattoria. Drive 30 minutes to the city of Lucca, where we stay at either the San Luca Palace or Palazzo Alexander, two four-star hotels just inside the Renaissance city walls. In the afternoon, stroll around Lucca’s walls and visit some of its architectural gems. Enjoy a welcome drink and dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 2
A short drive takes us to the start of our walk in the Colline Lucchesi, the hills surrounding Lucca, filled with vineyards and olive groves. Hike through the countryside, enjoying a picnic and tasting local wines and olive oil. Return to Lucca in the afternoon. Attend a Puccini classics concert in the evening; Puccini, born in Lucca, has his former home open as a small museum. Dinner at a local restaurant.
(6 km/3.7 miles)
Day 3
Early start as we head into the Apuan Alps for a challenging hike. Climb 750 meters on former mule tracks through chestnut woodlands to open mountain pastures with stunning views of the Tuscan coast and Carrara marble peaks. Lunch in a mountain refuge before descending via a different route to a picturesque village. Return to Lucca for dinner. This hike is challenging with no van access; non-hikers can explore Lucca’s churches, museums, and shops.
(12.3 km/7.6 miles)
Day 4
Depart Lucca after breakfast and head south to Volterra, a city rich in Etruscan and Medieval history. Hike the rolling hills of Val di Cecina to reach the town perched on a hill. Stay for two nights in a hotel on the edge of town with stunning countryside views. Explore Volterra and enjoy a wine tasting with local enthusiast Massimo in his Enoteca. Casual dinner at a popular local restaurant.
(6 km/3.7 miles)
Day 5
Hike from the countryside around Volterra to the medieval towers of San Gimignano. Picnic in a scenic olive grove en route and enjoy a gelato in the main piazza. Visit the Collegiate Church with its 14th-century frescoes before returning to Volterra for dinner at the hotel.
(18 km/11.2 miles)
Day 6
Depart Volterra and drive to the coast to Bolgheri, known for its exciting wine region. Enjoy a tasting lunch at a trattoria in Bolgheri, paired with a famous Super-Tuscan wine. In the afternoon, drive to Piombino and take the ferry to Elba. Stay at the four-star Hotel Hermitage on the bay of Biodola. Dinner at the hotel overlooking the sea.
(6 km/3.7 miles)
Day 7
A short drive from the hotel takes us to the center of Elba Island. Hike up almost to the highest point, following a ridge with stunning views of the Tuscan Archipelago. Guides will carry the picnic as there is no van access. Descend to the coast in the afternoon and transfer back to the hotel. Dinner at a charming agriturismo on the island.
(12 km/7.4 miles)
Day 8
Non-walking day. Drive to Portoferraio to explore its Medici fortress, port, and Napoleon’s villa. Return to the hotel by van. Final dinner at a restaurant on the Bay of Biodola, along the beach from the hotel.
Day 9
Return to Pisa train station for 12:00 pm.
