Hike, Bike and Wine in Tuscany

Val d’Orcia, a UNESCO World Heritage Centre, is renowned for its stunning landscapes, rolling hills, iconic cypress trees and charming medieval villages. What makes this region truly special is its perfect blend of natural beauty, art, and history. The valley is home to picturesque towns like Pienza, Montalcino, and San Quirico d’Orcia, each steeped in centuries-old agricultural traditions, producing some of Italy’s most celebrated wines and cheeses. Val d’Orcia is an iconic part of Tuscany, often featured in its most famous photographs. The area’s captivating scenery also served as the backdrop for the dramatic opening scenes of Ridley Scott’s Gladiator – the landscapes of Val d’Orcia were used to represent the serene nature of the countryside in Italy. During your trip, you’ll have the chance to visit some of these memorable film locations.

Both regions are in Tuscany, but Val d’Orcia offers a more tranquil, less commercialised experience compared to Chianti. While Chianti is known for its vineyards and 'Chianti Classico' wines, Val d’Orcia is recognised for its Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano wines. Val d’Orcia’s landscape is also more dramatic, with rolling hills and vast open spaces, while Chianti’s hills are a bit more forested and dotted with vineyards. Both regions offer spectacular Tuscan scenery, but Val d’Orcia is arguably quieter and more untouched, especially during the low season.

Val d’Orcia is part of the ancient Via Francigena, a historic pilgrimage route that stretches from Canterbury in England to Rome. The route passed through the valley, making it a significant path for pilgrims in medieval times. On this trip you'll hike and cycle some short sections of the original Via Francigena and explore many of the towns along the route, such as San Quirico d’Orcia, Montalcino and Pienza, which have preserved their historical charm and served as rest stops for pilgrims in the past.

Val d’Orcia has a long-standing tradition of thermal baths, dating back to the Etruscans and Romans, who recognised the healing properties of the region’s mineral-rich waters. During your trip, you’ll visit the natural hot springs of Bagni San Filippo and San Casciano dei Bagni, two of Tuscany’s most picturesque thermal spots. These free, open-air springs are nestled in nature, offering an authentic and uncommercialised experience. While the water here isn’t as hot as in some private spa resorts, the setting – among lush greenery and striking limestone formations – makes for a relaxing and unique soak. Both towns also have private thermal baths with luxury services and treatments, but these aren't visited during this trip. However, the natural pools provide a wonderful opportunity to unwind and enjoy the region’s ancient hot spring tradition.

Spa services at the hotel are not included, but are available with a reservation (payable on-site). You can choose from a variety of wellness experiences, depending on availability. A few examples are:

• Spa Light: Waters Path (approximately €30 per person). This hydrotherapy experience in mineral-rich saltwater features a saltwater pool (32-34°C), 18 air-water hydromassage stations, geyser, hydromassage waterfalls, 34°C hydromassage tub, watsu station, 80°C Finnish sauna, and wet footpath.
• Etruscan Spa: Salum per Acquam Path in the Etruscan Salt Caves (approximately €40 per person; duration of 1 to 1.5 hours; swim cap required). Inspired by ancient Etruscan bathing traditions, this spa journey combines hot and cold therapies for deep relaxation and rejuvenation. It features a revitalising footpath, balneum salis 32°, salt cave 35°, Etrusci balneum 34°, Etruscan cave 55°, balneum thermae 38°, and thermal cave 45°. Pools feature water/air hydromassage, cranio-lumbar waterfalls, and a cold anti-aging waterfall.
• Massages and treatments: a selection of massages and wellness treatments are available as per the hotel price list, with reservations required.

Marta Marinelli, raised in Italy’s serene Prosecco Hills, dreamt of global adventures, inspired by her father's travel stories. Her passion evolved into a career, backed by a decade of studies including degrees in international tourism and destination management. She’s worked in the adventure travel sector since 2012, living in Italy, the UK, and now sunny Portugal.

Over twenty years, Marta has explored over 55 countries, visiting remote areas like Ghana, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Haiti and Nepal’s Upper Mustang region. As a Senior Adventure Expansion Manager at Much Better Adventures, she focuses on creating life-changing experiences, ranging from multi-activity adventures, challenging treks to ultimate adventures in iconic places. She loves the challenge of finding the best local adventure hosts around the world, collaborating on adventures that offer genuine immersion, pushing beyond the beaten path and working on exclusive itineraries that challenge your comfort zone.

What makes her tick? Enabling people to live adventure-rich lives while positively impacting and empowering local communities around the world, generating sustainable opportunities for both the host, guides, community, and the environment.

The tap water is safe to drink. Please bring along your own reusable water bottle to fill up at the hotel or public fountains to avoid buying single use plastic bottles.

If bad weather affects any of the activities your local guide will deviate to more sheltered part of the trails for alternative hikes, or may decide to swap around the order of the program.

This trip has been designed to directly benefit the local community by working closely with small, family-run businesses and including off-the-beaten-path experiences. You’ll stay in a locally-owned hotel, dine at traditional trattorias, and visit independent wineries and farms that are often overlooked by large tour operators. The itinerary also includes stops in some lesser-known villages, helping to spread tourism beyond the usual hotspots. Additionally, by running departures in the low season, you support local businesses year-round, helping them sustain their livelihoods outside of the peak summer months.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

Our team of Adventure Hunters co-create exclusive adventures which are run by highly vetted, specialist hosts. The trip is run by our trusted host partner in the destination. We only work with independent, local, in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with. You’ll be introduced to the host straight after making a booking via the Much Better Adventures platform.

Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers are familiar with the practical information provided on the Government’s FCDO website, where current travel advice can be found by searching for the applicable destination(s).

For customers joining this trip from other international destinations – please also read the official travel advice applicable to your country of residence/origin, as this may differ.

We recommend checking out the country-specific information and also talking to a travel nurse.

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

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All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. You must be over 18 to join one of our trips.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

• 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
• 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
• 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.