Things to do in Val d'Orcia: the 10 best experiences

Horseback riding in Volterra, near Florence, amidst the rolling Tuscan hills and Berignone forest, è a very pleasant and relaxing outing.

Horseback rides can last one hour, one hour and thirty minutes or three hours depending on your preference. All walks are also suitable for beginners.

The trails are very scenic, amidst hills and nature in total relaxation. The 3h walks also include a snack.

The walk is conducted in groups with a’instructor. The minimum age required for the walk è 14 years. The maximum weight of the participant è is 95Kg.

The horseback riding tour among the vineyards and tasting in San Gimignano will take place among the unforgettable panoramic views among rustic farmhouses and vineyards in the area.

It is a horseback tour of the estate, nearby vineyards and the forest around San Gimignano (1 hour).

Afterwards there will be a short lecture on wine and vineyards, after which there will be a full wine tasting and then, if selected, lunch outdoors in the garden.

The San Gimignano horseback ride and lunch is a pleasant experience among the beautiful views of San Gimignano with lunch at Il Vecchio Maneggio farmhouse, in the hills just outside the town.

The walk starts in the morning or afternoon. During the trek you will have the opportunity to love learning about horses thanks to the guides who will accompany you on the tour.

Before or after the walk, depending on the time you choose, you will stop at an agritourism to enjoy a lunch or dinner with a special menu. It includes bruschetta with locally produced extra virgin olive oil, penne with Tuscan meat sauce or tomato, dessert of your choice, wine, water and coffee.

Lunch is at 1 p.m. and dinner at 8 p.m. (lunch present in the experience only in the period between April and September)

You will be provided with all riding equipment, including helmet (mandatory). Recommended clothing includes long pants and closed shoes.

The quad bike excursion in the countryside between Volterra and San Gimignano è a unique experience that combines adventure, nature and Tuscan culture.

This tour traverses hills, woods and country roads with panoramic views and breathtaking scenery. You will begin the l'excursion with a brief introduction to ATV riding and safety measures.

Following that, the adventure can begin! This type of experience è the ideal for nature lovers looking for an adventure off the beaten path, to discover an authentic and adventurous side of Tuscany that goes beyond the classic tourist routes.

The tours can be one hour or one and a half hours and are suitable for all levels of experience and families even with children, as long as they are over 5 years old.

Lunch among the vineyards and wine tasting in San Gimignano is a very romantic experience in Tuscany. It is also available for dinner and includes a walk through the vineyards, during which you will be shown the technique of harvesting grapes. Afterwards you will be given a lesson on wine, from winemaking techniques to how to preserve a vineyard.

This will be followed by a tasting of wines and typical Tuscan products among the rows of the estate vineyard, with lunch or dinner served. The experience consists of a vertical tasting of 15 Tuscan products.

Lunch or dinner will be accompanied by the tasting and the following courses:

•    Aperitivo with typical Tuscan cold cuts and cheeses and bruschetta.
•    Tuscan Ribollita or Lasagna with truffles
•    Roasted meat with side dish
•    Cantuccini with Dessert Wine or Vanilla Ice Cream with Balsamic.

Available upon request are vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free menu.

The horseback ride in the Tuscan countryside from Rignano sull'Arno, includes a group tour on horseback at the slowest gait (pace), saddle fitting and field practice before departure are included.

Upon arrival you will be asked to sign insurance forms, followed by a full explanation on the ground, on "riding the horse," and on safety, and then you will set off for the ride that will develop according to the package you choose.

Once you feel comfortable, you will begin the actual walk through the Tuscan hills. During the tour, you will take in the natural beauty of the Tuscan countryside, with its rolling hills and green fields. Your riding instructor will guide you through scenic trails, giving you the opportunity to enjoy breathtaking views of stunning scenery.

If you have chosen to do only the one-and-a-half hour ride, the ride will end at the stables where you can get off the horse and rest.

If, on the other hand, you have chosen to add the tasting (total time about 3 hours), the walk will take place through the countryside among vineyards, olive groves, cultivated fields and farmhouses that characterize the Tuscan landscape. It will then end in the park of the historic villa Torre a Cona. This is followed by a short walk (3 minutes) to reach the entrance of the villa where clients will be met by the villa staff. Here the guided tour to the small museum and cellars of Torre a Cona will begin, where the production processes from vine to bottle will be explained. This will conclude inside the old barn, with a tasting of four of the Villa's production wines accompanied by a plate of local cheeses. At the conclusion you will be taken back to the stables by van. The experience lasts about 3 hours (including about an hour and a half in the saddle).

Either way, horseback riding in the Tuscan hills is an unforgettable experience that will introduce you to the beauty and culture of Tuscany.

Horseback riding in the Sienese Hills in Tuscany can last one or two hours, and has the riding stables as its starting point. Nearby there are many woods through which you will be led.

Favorite destinations to reach are several hermitages, such as churches and monasteries, including Eremo di Lecceto or San Leonardo al Lago (2h). The latter is located on the Via Francigena, a beautiful scenic road with views of the Sienese hills.

Little curiosity: the Via Francigena is a pilgrimage route that in the Middle Ages joined Canterbury to Rome, site of St. Peter's tomb, and this to the ports of Puglia, where it was possible to embark to the Holy Land.

Horseback riding in Siena is a unique opportunity for prinipianti to get closer to horseback riding while enjoying a wonderful view of Siena and the Sienese hills.

After cleaning the horse together with the equestrian guide, you will be taught how to mount the horse and how to walk in total peace. You will then have the opportunity to stop at the organic farm for a tasting of typical Tuscan products.

The walk takes about 1 1/2 hours and can be organized as a group or exclusively.

You can walk in the morning or at sunset and the minimum age required to participate is 14 years old.

The horseback riding tour among the vineyards and tasting in San Gimignano will take place among the unforgettable panoramic views among rustic farmhouses and vineyards in the area.

It is a horseback tour of the estate, nearby vineyards and the forest around San Gimignano (1 hour).

Afterwards there will be a short lecture on wine and vineyards, after which there will be a full wine tasting and then, if selected, lunch outdoors in the garden.

The San Gimignano horseback ride and lunch is a pleasant experience among the beautiful views of San Gimignano with lunch at Il Vecchio Maneggio farmhouse, in the hills just outside the town.

The walk starts in the morning or afternoon. During the trek you will have the opportunity to love learning about horses thanks to the guides who will accompany you on the tour.

Before or after the walk, depending on the time you choose, you will stop at an agritourism to enjoy a lunch or dinner with a special menu. It includes bruschetta with locally produced extra virgin olive oil, penne with Tuscan meat sauce or tomato, dessert of your choice, wine, water and coffee.

Lunch is at 1 p.m. and dinner at 8 p.m. (lunch present in the experience only in the period between April and September)

You will be provided with all riding equipment, including helmet (mandatory). Recommended clothing includes long pants and closed shoes.

Horseback rides in the Crete Senesi, Buonconvento, can be an hour or an hour and a half, and have the riding stables as their starting point.

The horseback rides follow routes through the countryside that will allow you to pass by some ancient villas and cypress avenues.

What are you waiting for? Book this experience that will leave you with unforgettable memories!

Wine tasting and winery tour in the Crete Senesi in Tuscany can be done with 4 different tours to choose from:

Classic tour

This tour includes a visit to the historic Fèlsina winery, where you will be taken on a journey to discover the wines produced by this winery. During the tasting, you will have the opportunity to taste four of their most representative wines, selected to offer you a true sensory experience:

•    Classic Method Brut Sparkling Wine: a sparkling wine produced with the classic method, characterized by a refined effervescence and a dry and harmonious flavor.
•    I Sistri Igt Toscana (100% Chardonnay): a dry white wine produced with the Chardonnay grape variety, with an elegant and complex character.
•    Chianti Classico Docg Berardenga (100% Sangiovese): a red wine produced with the Sangiovese grape variety, typical of the Tuscan region, with an intense and tannic flavor.
•    Chianti Classico Riserva Docg Berardenga (100% Sangiovese): a high quality red wine produced with selected Sangiovese grapes, aged in oak barrels for at least 24 months, which gives it an intense and complex character.

Jeep Tour

This private tour offers an experience that will lead you to discover the vineyards of Fèlsina through a jeep tour on the dirt road. Along the way, you will be accompanied by a specialized guide who will explain the methods of vine cultivation and wine production, while you admire the magnificent Tuscan hills.

The visit will continue at the Rancia estate and vineyard, where you will have the opportunity to learn first-hand about wine production processes and observe the vineyards and winery. Here, you will be offered a tasting of four of Fèlsina's representative wines.

Classic tour and lunch

The classic tour with lunch takes place exactly like the classic tour, but allows you to combine the tasting of 4 wines with a 3-course lunch consisting of farm and local products.

Jeep tour and lunch

The Jeep tour with lunch takes place exactly like the Jeep Tour, but allows you to combine a three-course lunch of farm and local products. In addition, you will also be offered a tasting of four mono-cultivar oils, produced by Fèlsina and selected to offer you a true sensory experience of the Tuscan territory.

The horseback riding tour among the vineyards and tasting in San Gimignano will take place among the unforgettable panoramic views among rustic farmhouses and vineyards in the area.

It is a horseback tour of the estate, nearby vineyards and the forest around San Gimignano (1 hour).

Afterwards there will be a short lecture on wine and vineyards, after which there will be a full wine tasting and then, if selected, lunch outdoors in the garden.

The San Gimignano horseback ride and lunch is a pleasant experience among the beautiful views of San Gimignano with lunch at Il Vecchio Maneggio farmhouse, in the hills just outside the town.

The walk starts in the morning or afternoon. During the trek you will have the opportunity to love learning about horses thanks to the guides who will accompany you on the tour.

Before or after the walk, depending on the time you choose, you will stop at an agritourism to enjoy a lunch or dinner with a special menu. It includes bruschetta with locally produced extra virgin olive oil, penne with Tuscan meat sauce or tomato, dessert of your choice, wine, water and coffee.

Lunch is at 1 p.m. and dinner at 8 p.m. (lunch present in the experience only in the period between April and September)

You will be provided with all riding equipment, including helmet (mandatory). Recommended clothing includes long pants and closed shoes.

Lunch among the vineyards and wine tasting in San Gimignano is a very romantic experience in Tuscany. It is also available for dinner and includes a walk through the vineyards, during which you will be shown the technique of harvesting grapes. Afterwards you will be given a lesson on wine, from winemaking techniques to how to preserve a vineyard.

This will be followed by a tasting of wines and typical Tuscan products among the rows of the estate vineyard, with lunch or dinner served. The experience consists of a vertical tasting of 15 Tuscan products.

Lunch or dinner will be accompanied by the tasting and the following courses:

•    Aperitivo with typical Tuscan cold cuts and cheeses and bruschetta.
•    Tuscan Ribollita or Lasagna with truffles
•    Roasted meat with side dish
•    Cantuccini with Dessert Wine or Vanilla Ice Cream with Balsamic.

Available upon request are vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free menu.