Stroll
Tuscany in Depth: Volterra to Montepulciano - 11 Days

Tuscany in Depth: Volterra to Montepulciano - 11 Days

11 Days
Moderate

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Overview

This walk explores Tuscany from the ancient city of Volterra, via the medieval powerhouse of Siena and the hilltop town of San Gimignano, before crossing the UNESCO-protected Val d'Orcia region to the elegant hilltop town of Montepulciano. The route follows sections of the ancient Via Francigena deep into a landscape of soft rolling hills and avenues of towering cypress trees.

The walk takes in the 16th-century wine town of Montalcino, renowned for its Brunello wine, and the remarkable thermal baths of Bagno Vignoni, where hot springs have drawn visitors since Roman times. The route moves through chestnut groves, vineyards and classic Tuscan countryside, passing the hilltop hamlets of Castelnuovo dell'Abate and Monticchiello along the way.

Highlights

  • Walk from Volterra, via Sienna through Tuscany's Val d'Orcia region, to Montepulciano
  • Hang out in the glorious 'Piazza del Campo' in Siena and in the hilltop town of San Gimignano
  • Sample the award-winning Brunello wines of Montalcino
  • Soak in the thermal baths of Bagno Vignoni
  • Visit medieval abbeys, hilltop towers and Romanesque churches
  • Explore the Renaissance town of Montepulciano
  • Spend each night in classic Tuscan townhouses or rural hotels

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Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive in Volterra

Today arrive at leisure into the old town of Volterra. Built on a high plateau, Volterra was once a trading powerhouse and although the old town is only a third of its original size, it is a joy to explore. Wander through a maze of cobbled streets, crammed with gorgeously preserved Etruscan, Roman and medieval architecture.

Accommodation

3-star Hotel in Volterra

Day 2Walk to San Gimignano
15 km
Day 3Loop Walk San Gimignano
16 km
Day 4Walk to Colle Di Val D’Elsa
13 km
Day 5Transfer to Monteriggioni, walk to Siena
21 km
Day 6Walk to Montalcino
19 km
Day 7Walk to Castelnuovo dell’Abate, transfer to Bagno Vignoni
12 km
Day 8Walk to Pienza
15 km
Day 9Walk to Montepulciano
15 km
Day 10Explore Montepulciano / Optional walk to Montefollonico
19 km
Day 11Onward Travel

What's Included

Accommodation

3-star Hotel (9 nights), B&B (1 night)

Meals

10 breakfasts, 0 lunches, and 0 dinners

Transfers

  • Private Vehicle Transfers
  • Luggage Transfers

Guidance & Support

  • Itinerary & Walk Notes
  • Walking App for Navigation
  • 24/7 on-trip support

How We Rate This Walk

3

Stroll Walking Level

Moderate

Rated by our team — we walk every route before we recommend it.

Expect some hills and longer walking days. A reasonable level of fitness will help you enjoy the experience.

View Fitness Guide

9

Days on the trail

12-21 km

Average per walking day

251-655 m

Gain per day

-

Trail difficulty

Where You'll Stay

During this walk, you will stay in a mix of small, family-run boutique B&Bs and three and four-star hotels, each one well placed along the route and well used to receiving walkers. As many overnight stops are in small villages and towns, alternative accommodation of equivalent standard may occasionally be necessary, and any such options will be discussed when your trip is confirmed. For those looking to make the most of the Chianti region, an upgrade to a wine resort in Gaiole in Chianti is available on request.

Hotel Chiusarelli Bedroom 2
Hotel Chiusarelli balcony
Hotel La Cisterna Entrance
Albergo Etruria Bedroom 3
Albergo Etruria Outdoor
Albergo Etruria Bedroom 2
Albergo Etruria
Hotel La Cisterna Bedroom
Hotel La Cisterna bedroom
Hotel La Cisterna balcony
Arnoflo bnb garden
Anorflo bnb outdoor seating
Anorflo bnb exterior
Hotel Chiusarelli bedroom
Hotel Chiusarelli front porch
Siena scenery
Hotel dei Capitani pool
Hotel dei Capitani exterior
Hotel dei Capitani bedroom
Hotel dei Capitani pool 2
La Locanda del Loggiato front extrance
La Locanda del Loggiato bedroom
La Locanda del Loggiato outdoors
La valle view
Hotel La Valle Piccolo View
Hotel La Valle Piccolo
Hotel La Valle Piccolo Bedroom
Hotel il Rondo backyard
Hotel il Rondo bedroom
Hotel il Rondo night time

What You'll Eat

Each of the ten mornings begins with breakfast before you head out on the trail. Lunch is available at cafes and local food stores along the route, and your hosts will provide a list of dinner recommendations each evening to point you in the right direction. This stretch of Tuscany is one of Italy's great food regions, and eating well here requires very little effort.

Note: Please advise us of any food allergies or intolerances at the time of booking. If you have severe allergies, bringing some of your own snacks is recommended, as specialist ingredients can be harder to source along the way.

Hotel Chiusarelli dining room
tuscan food
Hotel La Cisterna Dining

More About This Trip

Dates & Pricing

Choose Your Start Date

Pick any available date — this is your trip, your schedule

June 2026

Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
1
2
Available
Limited
Unavailable

Prices shown are per person, twin/double share basis.

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The Tuscany Experience

Wonder
Stroll from Etruscan Volterra to Montepulciano through UNESCO-protected Val d’Orcia region
Walking with genuine historical weight beneath your boots. Step into San Gimignano’s UNESCO-listed centre beneath its medieval tower skyline
Explore Siena’s glorious Piazza del Campo and Monteriggioni’s ancient ramparts
Wellness
Tuscany invented slow travel before anyone thought to name it. Slow Down. Breathe in. This is Tuscany at its most honest.
The therapeutic power of this landscape is not dramatic or demanding, it works quietly, through the eyes and the nose and the slow accumulation of beautiful moments
Walk through the World's most painted landscape. Moderate walks along strade bianche, vineyards and gently rolling Siena landscapes
Nature
Follow cypress-lined white roads through Brunello vineyards and chestnut groves.
Picnic beneath olive trees near Poggio Alloro and Poggio Casaglia & enjoy the sunset over the Val d’Orcia from Montepulciano’s hilltop edge.
Recharge in family-run boutique B&Bs, classic townhouses and rural hotels. Soak in Bagno Vignoni’s thermal baths.

From

£1,805/person