Small Group Private Tours to Tuscany and why?

Some of my favorite trips are when I'm guiding the private small group tours to Tuscany and the countryside. If you're dreaming of being "Under the Tuscan Sun" just like the movie, then this is the trip for you.

An Italy vacation in the countryside of Tuscany is one of the most beautiful and relaxing trips you can take. One thing you have to understand though is that the region of Tuscany is gigantic and goes from all way from north of Lucca and Pisa to an hour and a half south of Siena, about two and a half hours top to bottom. So when we discuss Tuscany we need talk more about where we're going in relation to the "towns" in Tuscany.

So, let's start in Northern Tuscany near Lucca and Pisa, which by the way are only an hour to the west of Florence!..First off, we need to rent a car and I drive you around, I'm an expert at this and know how and where to bring you on your private, small group vacation to Tuscany. When thinking of a Tuscan countryside vacation we're going to be staying on a Farm Agriturismo - a farmhouse owned by a family who sell out rustic hotel rooms and and also cook for you, some are small places with four rooms and some are bigger converted places that used to be Monasteries that have 20 or more rooms.

Basing yourself around Lucca and Pisa is great if you don't want to stay around Florence in the countryside, but you have to know that it limits some of the day trips you can do south of the Florence area. Day trips to the north of Lucca/Pisa are easy and can be the area of the Cinque Terre, the Five lands, but I usually go to this area and stay a few nights with my tourists to fully appreciate.

You can also base yourself in the countryside outside of Florence on a farm "Agriturismo" which is a good way to have a central spring point to see the countryside of Northern Tuscany, lets say down to Siena. Towns to visit are in the Chianti region and this is where we go wine tasting and small restaurant eating....San Gimignano, although I don't go much these days as it's over touristed during the day, but at night it's gorgeous. I prefer Volterra for a less touristed town and a more authentic Tuscan experience, it has everything for your Tuscan experience.

Speaking of Siena now, it makes a great "city" home base if you stay here and do day trips to the north of Siena and also to the south of Siena. One hour south of Siena is quite possibly what you're dreaming of because this area is called the Val D'Orcia, it's what most TV shows and movies show when we think of "Under the Tuscan Sun" or the movie "The Gladiator".

I really discovered the Val D'Orcia area in the Fall of 2013 and I base a lot of my general Italy tours on the availability of my favorite farm near Pienza, we're going to this area and staying on a Farm Agriturismo for at least 3 nights. Towns to day trip to are Pienza, Montepulciano, Montalcino, San Quirico D'Orica, Bagno Vignoni....simply put, heavenly places with a slow pace.

Iconic activities in all of Tuscany are the cooking classes, wine tasting, Castle hopping, and scenic drives. When in Tuscany, often times we have no hard scheduled agenda other than visiting one or two towns a day exploring and enjoying the laid back schedule.

So if you're dreaming of a classic small private tour of Tuscany feel free to fill out the email form or just call me, I work alone and would love to fulfill your Tuscan vacation dreams.

Chris T, Custom Tours of Italy