Lucca, Volterra and the Island of Elba
Hiking through Tuscan History
Tour Dates
5 – 13 May 2026
4 – 12 May 2027
Tour Cost
€3,795 per person
Single supplement: €400
This classic Tuscan hiking holiday 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
After meeting at Pisa Central Train Station at 9.15 am, we drive 45 mins to the Charterhouse of Pisa, a former 14th-century Carthusian monastery located in the village of Calci in the pretty Graziosa valley to the north of the city. After our visit we have a light lunch in a local trattoria before continuing to the delightful city of Lucca (30mins). Later in the day we stroll around the walls and visit some of Lucca’s best-loved architectural gems. Welcome drink and dinner in a local restaurant tonight.
Day 2
A short drive takes us to the start of our walk in the Colline Lucchesi, the hills of Lucca, surrounded by vineyards and olive groves. We hike through the pretty countryside, enjoying a picnic and tasting of the local wines and olive oil at the end of the hike. Return to Lucca in the afternoon. This evening, we have tickets to a concert of Puccini classics. Puccini was born and raised in Lucca and his former home has been opened as a small museum. Dinner tonight in a local restaurant.
(6km/3.7miles)
Day 3
Early start as we head today into the Apuan Alps. This is a challenging and rewarding hike, steadily climbing 750m on well-graded former mule tracks and narrow mountain trails. We hike through ancient chestnut woodlands to open mountain pastures with stunning views of the Tuscan coast and the craggy peaks of the mountains which are still quarried for the precious Carrara marble. Lunch in a mountain refuge before descending via a different route to a picturesque village. Return to Lucca for dinner. This is a more challenging hike than we usually offer on a Level 3 tour and there is no van access en route. We therefore offer an optional free day in Lucca for non-hikers to explore the churches and museums (and shops!) of this charming town.
(12.3 km/7.6 miles)
Day 4
Depart Lucca after breakfast and head southwards towards Volterra, a city with a fascinating Etruscan and Medieval history. Hike the rolling green hills of the Val di Cecina, climbing up to the town perched on a hill. We stay for two nights in a hotel on the edge of the town with stunning views of the countryside. Later in the day there is time to explore Volterra before a local wine enthusiast, Massimo, welcomes us for a wine tasting in his Enoteca. Casual dinner in a local pizzeria.
(6 km/3.7 miles)
Day 5
A spectacular hike through farm and woodland takes us from the countryside around Volterra to emerge at the famous medieval towers of San Gimignano. We picnic en route in a scenic olive grove before the final climb into the town where we have time to enjoy a well-earned gelato in the main piazza and marvel at the extraordinary architecture of this tiny jewel. There is an opportunity to visit the beautiful Collegiate church with its outstanding 14th-century frescoes before returning to Volterra for dinner in the hotel.
(18km/11.2miles)
Day 6
Depart Volterra after breakfast. A short drive takes us towards the coast where we walk towards the pretty village of Bolgheri, now regarded as one of the most exciting wine regions in Tuscany. Enjoy a wonderful lunch at a delightful trattoria in the village, accompanied by one of the region’s most famous Super-Tuscan wines. Later in the day we drive to Piombino for the ferry to Elba where we stay in the four-star Hotel Hermitage on the bay of Biodola. Dinner in our hotel, overlooking the bay.
(6km/3.7miles)
Day 7
A short drive takes us from the hotel up to the town of Marciana. Our final hike climbs up almost to the highest point of the island from where we follow a ridge with stunning views of the Tuscan Archipelago. Today your guides hike the picnic in for you as there is no van access. We descend to the coast in the afternoon and transfer back to our hotel. Dinner in a charming agriturismo in the centre of the island.
(12 km/7.4 miles)
Day 8
This is our non-walking day. We drive to the capital Portoferraio to explore its Medici fortress, port and Napoleon’s villa. There is time to explore before we return to the hotel by van in the early afternoon. 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.
