Unknown Tuscany & Orvieto

What sort of weather can I expect?

Meteorological records for the area, taken over a period of more than 10 years, are represented in the Weather Chart provided with each itinerary. Early in the spring it can still be quite cool and fresh with bright days and dewy mornings, and it can rain. From late spring through September days are very warm, with the possibility of swimming in Lake Bolsena. In October it is cooler and fresh, with bright days. Again, there is a possibility of rain.

What sort of walking can I expect?

This fitness level of this walking holiday is Grade 2-3.The terrain for this walk is a mixture of hills, plateaux and gorges. We walk mostly along farm tracks and unmade roads but also use sunken Etruscan roads (!), which can be steep and occasionally slippery (mossy). We walk through fertile arable land and past vineyards, along narrow wooded valleys and over the hills of an extensive volcanic area that incorporates Italy’s largest crater-lake, Bolsena. There are no vertiginous walks.

8-day: Walks are offered on 6 days (or 7 with optional approach to Pitigliano). 5-day: Walks are offered on 3 days. The walk lengths vary from 3 hours to a maximum of 6 hours walking.

Hours of walking, which may vary from individual to individual, means hours of actual walking and does not include stops for lunch, sightseeing or rests.On certain days our paths may cross rugged terrain - please make sure that your footwear provides sufficient ankle support.

What if I don't want to walk?

You don’t have to! You can get a lift with the Route Manager to the next hotel when your bags are moved on, or we can arrange taxis and advise you of local transport options to facilitate shortening the walks.

How do I get to the start of the route?

Travel to Italy

The recommended destination airports for this route are Rome Fiumicino, Rome Ciampino and Perugia

Travel to the first hotel

If you are not taking a taxi all the way to Pitigliano, the best routing is via Orvieto, from where a taxi will take one hour, €100.

From Fiumicino airport:

The fastest route to the centre of Rome is the Leonardo Express. Trains run very frequent services 7 days a week to Roma Termini station.  Journey time 32mins. From Termini there are regular services to Orvieto. Journey time 2- 2.5 hours.  Check timetables and prices at www.thetrainline.com. 

From Rome Ciampino airport: 

There are shuttle buses to Roma Termini operated by Terravision (www.terravision.eu) and SIT (www.sitbusshuttle.com) . If you buy your ticket online it will cost €13 return, slightly more if you buy on the bus or at the airport/ station. Buses leave regularly from outside the departures terminal, journey time 40 minutes. 

Note: There is not a ticket counter selling bus tickets at Ciampino airport. You should simply go outside the terminal and look for the buses/their agents selling tickets.

You can also take a shuttle to Ciampino station and train from there to Roma Termini. Check train schedules here: www.thetrainline.com 

A taxi journey from Ciampino to any one location within Rome’s walls is a very reasonable (approx) €30 for up to 4 passengers. This is a flat rate set by the government. Don’t let the taxi driver propose a higher rate. The taxi rank is outside the terminal.

From Perugia airport:

Take a shuttle bus to Perugia train station (20 mins), then an onward train to Orvieto (1 hour 45 - 3 hours). Check schedules and prices here: www.thetrainline.com

Taxi Bookings

We can book you a taxi from Rome Fiumicino or Rome Ciampino airport to the first hotel. The taxi holds 3-4 passengers (depending on luggage), takes approx 2 hours and costs from €340 (€370 for a van). From Perugia airport -  €300. Prices may vary at weekends, Bank Holidays or late at night. 

Please place your booking with the ATG office at least two weeks before departure. The cost of the taxi will be confirmed to you once the booking is secured. Payment of the taxi fare should be made locally, not to ATG. The driver will have your flight details and will be waiting in Arrivals with a sign showing your name or ATG.

•If you change your flight please notify us on 01865 315678 so we can contact the taxi company to reschedule the taxi for you. 

•If, on the day of departure, your flight is cancelled or you miss or change it, please immediately contact the ATG emergency number 01865 315600 so we can contact the taxi company to reschedule or cancel the taxi for you. 

•If your flight is delayed and you have arranged for the taxi to meet you at the destination airport, your taxi driver will wait for you.

•If you are delayed and you have arranged for a taxi to meet you at a non airport location (e.g. a train station) it is essential that you contact your Route Manager or call the ATG emergency line to notify us at the earliest possible moment, so we can contact the taxi company to re-schedule or cancel the taxi for you. 

•Please note that failure to advise ATG that you cannot meet the taxi booked for you may result in the taxi costs being passed back to you.

Important: Taxi prices quoted apply to the local firm used regularly by ATG – and are guaranteed only if you book through the office in advance. If you get a taxi off a taxi rank please ask the driver to confirm the price for you. 

Where can I leave my car if I drive to the route?

The Hotel Guastini in Pitigliano has a private garage where you may leave your car for €15 per day. This must be pre-booked via the ATG office.

What should I bring?

Bring whatever clothes and footwear you find most comfortable for everyday wear, and a change or two for the evenings – smart/casual.
Some trips include quite distinguished hotels and restaurants, for which you may wish to ‘dress up’ in the evening, however on Independent trips you have more flexibility in determining how casual you wish to be. For walking we recommend lightweight walking boots with firm ankle support (make sure you wear them in before the trip!), a small daypack for your lightweight waterproof clothing, camera, fleece etc. An increasing number of people bring telescopic walking poles. For a comprehensive packing list click here: what to bring

What sort of food can I expect?

A temperate climate produces an abundance of excellent fruit and vegetables in this region of Italy which are used with rustic simplicity to create sophisticated dishes. Tuscan food is basically simple, and
uses good local ingredients. Although the Tuscans are called ‘bean eaters’ (mangiafagioli) the main staple of their diet, besides pasta, is bread, traditionally unsalted to complement the salted prosciutto, salami and strong sheep’s’ cheeses. Whilst a traditional cuisine, it is not a poor one and meat and game
feature strongly, preferably cooked on an open fire. This is country food and even the most elegant restaurants serve rustic terracotta bowls of rich vegetable and bean soups, of which the local version in this area – often tomato-based and featuring a poached egg - is called acquacotta (literally ‘cooked water’!). In Bolsena (Lazio) we eat fish from the Lake, whilst Umbria is famous for producing some of the tastiest salami in Italy and offers the unexpected addition of fresh trout to the menu, caught in the nearby mountain streams.

Breakfast

Most of the hotels we use offer a buffet-style breakfast with a wide range of both hot and cold choices. 4- and 5-star hotels almost always offer ‘cooked’ breakfast. Occasionally, in more remote areas, or in some 2 or 3-star hotels, breakfast can be a decidedly more ‘Continental’ affair – i.e. bread, croissant, juice, coffee.

Lunch

The ATG Route Booklets and our ‘Sustainable Shopping Guides’ are filled with information about markets and shops in which to buy your lunch. From seasonal fruits, local cheeses, cured hams and freshly baked breads, you are limited only by what you can carry in your pack!

Dinner

On some routes, usually where there is no other restaurant within walking distance, half-board accommodation is included (see ‘what is included’ for this trip). In other areas where there is a selection of restaurants, ATG includes a list of recommendations in your ATG Route Booklet. Some restaurants are recommended because they have provided meals that have been regularly enjoyed by ATG clients; other restaurants are renowned internationally (e.g., within the Guide Michelin).

Restaurant bookings

Your Route Manager will be delighted to book restaurants for you if required, ensuring the places you eat at are...

•Your first choice

•The highest standard

• The best value

...and you are not disappointed by finding the restaurant full.

Wine

You pass through two main areas with distinctive wines – Pitigliano, whose white wine was given its DOC status in
1966 and is aged in Etruscan caves, and Orvieto Classico, a golden-coloured wine which dates back to the Etruscans. In addition, we drink Tuscany’s newest DOC wine - the Morellino of Scansano and try the anecdotally renowned white Est! Est!! Est!!! from Montefiascone.

Several of our independent routes (including this one) pass through well-known wine producing regions. If you are particularly interested in wine you may also like to consider...

• Classic Alsace

• Provence: Vaucluse & the Lubéron

• Siena to Florence

• Tuscany & Siena

• Tuscan Hills

• Southern Tuscany

• Ancient Volcanic Landscapes

• Roman Roads to Orvieto

• Umbria & Assisi

• Sintra & the Portuguese Coast

What if I have a dietary restriction or food allergy?

When you book, let us know about any restrictions. Most dietary restrictions do not present a problem on our routes due to the wide variety of shops and restaurants available. Your Route Manager will provide you with advice and recommendations at your briefing.

What should I bring to wear in the evenings?

There is no need to dress up for dinner – ‘smart casual’ dress is acceptable in all but the smartest restaurants in Italy.

Do the hotels have WIFI, hair dryers, laundry service?

How much should I budget for items not included?

You can get an idea of transport costs in the ‘getting there’ section of
the trip page. For lunches, costs will depend on whether you choose to buy picnic items or eat in bars/restaurants. Dinners: some are included (see ‘what’s included’). For evening meals not included, the route book provides restaurant recommendations to suit a wide range of budgets. Entrance fees to museums, churches, galleries and other sightseeing costs will vary considerably depending on how much you want to see and how old you are (!). Over 60s enjoy significantly reduced prices at many attractions, so it is worth carrying (safely) some form of identification showing your age. Other costs are items of a personal nature, shopping expenditure and transport if you choose to limit your walking with public transport or taxis.

City Tax (Italy only)

In March 2011, the Italian legislature passed a decree that created a new tourism tax to be paid by visitors to Italy and collected by the accommodation where they are staying. The purpose is to raise revenue that municipalities can use to maintain local facilities and infrastructure and to help in the preservation of cultural and historical treasures, all of which benefits tourists. The roll-out of the tax has been gradual, with each council determining the way in which it should be implemented. First introduced in the big cities, since 2012
the tax has been introduced by many other town councils. The tax is charged by guest per night, with an upper limit to the number of nights that can be charged. The rate (usually €1-2 Euros per person per night) is determined by the rating of the accommodation. This tax is not included in the price of independent holidays but where applicable will be payable direct to your hotel in cash.

What if I want to extend my trip?

We are delighted to book extensions for you at either end of your trip. We only book hotels with which we have an established relationship and where we can ensure a high level of service and enjoyment. If you would like an extension booking please indicate this during the booking process and we will contact you with pricing information.

Where can I find general FAQs?

For FAQs relating to the Company and general trip questions, click here