Local Living Italy - Coastal Tuscany

Introduction

See a side of Italy that tourists seldom witness on this intimate seven-day tour. Explore the streets of Capalbio, a remarkably well-preserved medieval town on the coast. Then immerse yourself into Tuscany's local culture, staying overnight in a quaint villa, sampling homemade olive oil pressed from olives grown in nearby groves, and exploring the nearby island of Monte Argentario in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Hitting destinations off the tourist trail, you'll truly explore Tuscany like a local.

• Stay in a villa overlooking olive groves
• Explore the medieval village of Capalbio and its historic fortresses
• Savour home-cooked meals and local wine
• Wander through the seaside port villages of Monte Argentario
• Snorkel in azure waters along the Tuscan coast

Duration: 7 days

Start/Finish City: Rome to Rome

Service Level: Standard

Comfortable tourist-class accommodations with character; mix of public and private transport.

Physical Grading: 2 - Light

Light walking and hiking suitable for most fitness levels. Nothing too challenging.

Travel Style: Local Living

Intimate unpack-just-once adventures that bring out the best of the world’s best destinations.

Trip Type: Small Group

Small group experience; Max 14, Avg 10.

What's Included

Your G for Good Moment: Migrantour Rome, Rome
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group, Rome
Your Foodie Moment: Olive Oil Tasting, Capalbio
Your Foodie Moment: Tuscan Cooking Class, Capalbio. Property orientation walk including snack and olive oil tasting. Orientation walk of old Capalbio town. Monte Argentario day trip. Cooking class and liquor tasting. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.

What are the main highlights of this trip?

Stay in a villa overlooking olive groves, Explore the medieval village of Capalbio and its historic fortresses, Savour home-cooked meals and local wine, Wander through the seaside port villages of Monte Argentario, Snorkel in azure waters along the Tuscan coast

Itinerary Disclaimer

While it is our intention to adhere to the route described below, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The Trip Details document is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered. Aboard expedition trips visits to research stations depend on final permission.

Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances.

How large will the group be?

Max 14, Avg 10.

Meals Included

6 breakfasts, 3 dinners

Meals

Eating is a big part of traveling. Travelling with G Adventures you experience the vast array of wonderful food that is available out in the world. On this trip, you have included 6 continental breakfasts and 3 dinners using local and often organic ingredients.

Transport

Minibus, train, walking.

About our Transportation

Transport on this trip will mostly be by train and private minibus. The train systems in Italy are generally good with seat reservations and toilet/snack facilities on longer journeys.

Please note that you MUST be comfortable carrying your own luggage as you can expect stairs in Italian train stations (very few are equipped with escalators or elevators). You may be required to carry your luggage short distances (up to 20 mins walk), in larger cities and occasionally the group will take taxis to and from hotels.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 nt), locally owned agriturismo/guesthouse (5 nts).

About Accommodation

For the duration of our trip we stay at the same villa. Located about a 10 minute drive from the medieval town of Capalbio, our hilltop villa is surrounded by greenery with panoramic views of the sea, olive groves and surrounding countryside. Perfectly nestled in the heart of the Etruria province, an area rich in archeological sites and rich natural landscape, the property is just a short 8km (4miles) from the beach and approximately 1 hour from Monte Argentario. The rooms are warmly decorated with a variety of rural and sea views. Rooms in the main house share bathroom facilities, while rooms in the annex have ensuite bathrooms. An outdoor pool is also available starting in June through the end of September.

If you would like to share a room with your travelling companion, please make sure you book together, selecting twin or double room according to your preference. Available room types are always shown on each particular tour, and we cannot guarantee your room type will be able to be changed at a later date. If you are unable to book at the same time as your travelling companion, please contact us directly as soon as possible so that we can check availability and, if possible, assign you to the correct room type.

Joining Instructions

Please note that day 1 is an arrival day and no activities have been planned on this day. Upon arrival to the city on day 1 (or earlier if you have booked pre-accommodation with us), please make your way to the joining hotel (note that check-in time will be in the afternoon). Once you arrive at the hotel, look for a note or bulletin board in the reception with a note from your CEO. This note will give the details of your Welcome Meeting on day 1 (usually between 5pm and 7pm), where you will get a chance to meet your CEO and other travellers, as well as learn more about how the tour will run. If you don’t see a note, please ask reception for details!

If you are arriving later and will miss the Welcome Meeting, your CEO will leave a note at reception for you with any information you may need, and with morning instructions for the next day.

Joining Instructions:

By Bus from the Airport:

Shuttle buses run from Fiumicino airport and Ciampino Airport to Termini station in the city centre approximately every half hour. Look for the Terravision stand at the arrival terminal. Cost is €5 one way and takes approximately 1 hour.

By Train from the Airport:

The Leonardo Express is the name of the train that will shuttle you from Rome's main international airport, Fiumicino, to central Rome's Termini station. A Leonardo Express train leaves every half hour in each direction.

Trains to Roma Termini Station start at 6:35 in the morning with trains running at 5 and 35 minutes after the hour. The last train of the day departs at 11.35pm. The train station is open 4am to 1am and covers 35 km in around 30 minutes. Cost is 14 Euros per person. Tickets for Leonardo Express are available at rail ticket office, newspaper seller tobacconist's, and self-service tellers, each located in the railway station atrium.

Upon arrival at Termini Station, continue by metro or on foot to your start hotel.

NOTE:
You must always stamp tickets in the machines on the platform before starting your journey.

By Taxi from the Airport:

Taxis run fixed rates to and from airports. The rate is 40 EUR. The rate for designated Fiumicino taxi drivers is 60 EUR and are inclusive of luggage, for a maximum of four passengers.

To arrange an arrival or departure transfer, we recommend you book through our preferred transfer provider - HolidayTaxis - by copying the link below into your web browser:
https://partner.holidaytaxis.com/?ref=GADVE

Choose from a range of transport options including both private and shared transfers at a discounted rate.

We advise that you book both your arrival and departure transfers in advance. Please make sure you have the following details before booking:

- Flight number
- Flight Arrival Time and Date
- Flight Departure Time and Date
- Passenger's Name
- Number of Passengers
- Email
- Valid Mobile Telephone Number
- Drop off and/or Pick Up Address

Emergency Contact

Should you need to contact us during a situation of dire need, it is best to first call either the G Adventures Local Representative (if one is listed below) or our G Adventures Local Office. If for any reason you do not receive an immediate answer, please leave a detailed message and contact information, so they may return your call and assist you as soon as possible.

EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS

G Adventures Office London, United Kingdom
During Office hours (Weekdays, 9am-5:30pm Local Time)
+44 20 7243 9870

For absolute emergencies after office hours please contact: +44 7817 262 559

If you are unable for any reason to contact our local office, please call the numbers listed below which will connect you directly with our Sales team who will happily assist you. Hours of operation by region can be found here.

Toll-free, North America only: 1 888 800 4100
Calls from UK: 0344 272 0000
Calls from Germany: 0800 365 1000
Calls from Australia: 1300 796 618
Calls from New Zealand: 0800 333 307
Outside North America, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and the UK: +1 416 260 0999

Visas and Entry Requirements

All countries require a valid passport (with a minimum 6 months validity). Contact your local embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date visa requirements, or see your travel agent. It is your own responsibility to have the correct travel documentation. Visa requirements for your trip will vary depending on where you are from and where you are going. We keep the following information up to date as far as possible, but rules do change and sometimes without warning. While we provide the following information in good faith, it is vital that you check the information yourself and understand that you are fully responsible for your own visa requirements.

Visa information specific to your destination and nationality can be found in our Important Pre-Departure Information page here

For other nationalities, travelling in Europe has been simplified with the introduction of the Schengen visa. As a visitor to the Schengen area (Austria, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Portugal, Finland, Italy, Spain, France, Luxembourg, Sweden, Czech Republic, Hungary, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland) you will enjoy the many advantages of this unified visa system. Generally speaking with a Schengen visa, you may enter one Schengen country and travel freely throughout the Schengen region during the validity of your visa. There are limited border controls at Schengen borders, if any at all.

Please note that the UK and Ireland are NOT part of the Schengen agreement.

A Schengen visa is applied for at the Embassy or Consulate of the Schengen country in which you will be spending the most nights on your trip to the Schengen space. If you are only visiting one country on your trip then you apply for your visa at the Consulate of this Schengen country.

Spending Money

Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip.

Tipping

While conventions can vary from country to country, tipping is customary in Europe. A general rule is 10% of the bill for wait staff, and a smaller amount (€1 or €2) for other service providers.

Tipping is an expected - though not compulsory - component of your tour program, and an expression of satisfaction with the persons who have assisted you on your tour. Although it may not be customary to you, it is of considerable significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels. There are several times during the trip where there is opportunity to tip the local guides. You may do this individually, or your CEO will offer to collect the money and tip as a group. Recommendations for tipping local guides would range from €3-5 per day, depending on the quality and length of the service; ask your CEO for specific recommendations based on the circumstances and culture.

At the end of each trip, if you felt your G Adventures CEO did an outstanding job, tipping is expected and appreciated. The precise amount is a personal preference, however €30-€40 per person, per week can be used as a guideline.

Optional Activities

Vatican City
- Vatican City Visit (Free)

Rome
- Pantheon Visit (2-5EUR per person)
- Colosseum Visit (24EUR per person)
- Roman Forum Visit (24EUR per person)

Capalbio
- Il Giardino dei Tarocchi (Tarot Garden)
- Capalbio Beaches

Monte Argentario
- Snorkelling in Monte Argentario (30EUR per person)
- Boat Excursion to Giglio and Giannutri Islands (50-80EUR per person)

Feniglia
- Feniglia Bike and Beach

Cosa
- Cosa Archeological Site

Saturnia
- Saturnia Village Visit and Hot Springs (50EUR per person)

Pitigliano
- Pitigliano (Little Jerusalem) Visit (50EUR per person)

Safety and Security

Many national governments provide a regularly updated advice service on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest travel information before departure. We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe keeping of your passport, air tickets, travellers' cheques, cash and other valuable items. Leave your valuable jewelery at home - you won't need it while travelling. Many of the hotels we use have safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage. When travelling on a group trip, please note that your group leader has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it deemed necessary, due to safety concerns. Your Chief Experience Officer (CEO) will accompany you on all included activities. During your trip you will have some free time to pursue your own interests, relax and take it easy and explore at your leisure. While your CEO will assist you with options available in a given location, please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your itinerary, and we offer no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgement when selecting an activity in your free time. Although the cities visited on tour are generally safe during the day, there can be risks to wandering throughout any major city at night. It is our recommendation to stay in small groups and to take taxis to and from restaurants, or during night time excursions.

Water based activities have an element of danger and excitement built into them. We recommend only participating in water based activities when accompanied by a guide(s). We make every reasonable effort to ensure the fun and adventurous element of any water based activities (in countries with varying degrees of operating standards), have a balanced approach to safety. It is our policy not to allow our CEOs to make arrangements on your behalf for water based activities that are not accompanied by guide(s).

Swimming, including snorkeling, is always at your own risk. Read more about travel safety for ways to further enhance your personal safety while traveling.

A Couple of Rules

Illegal drugs will not be tolerated on any trips. Possessing or using drugs not only contravenes the laws of the land but also puts the rest of the group at risk. Smoking marijuana and opium is a part of local culture in some parts of the world but is not acceptable for our travellers. Our philosophy of travel is one of respect towards everyone we encounter and in particular the local people who make the world the special place it is. The exploitation of people in the sex trade is completely contrary to this philosophy. Our CEOs have the right to expel any member of the group if drugs are found in their possession or if they utilize the services of paid sex workers, in any capacity.

Planeterra Foundation - the non-profit partner of G Adventures

Planeterra International Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to turning travel into impact by helping local communities earn an income from tourism. Planeterra connects underserved local communities to the benefits of tourism by developing and supporting small community-owned businesses. These businesses support Indigenous people, empower women, grant youth access to employment opportunities, and protect the environment. Planeterra also works to ensure these businesses have a thriving customer base by integrating their projects into G Adventures’ itineraries globally.
G Adventures is Planeterra’s largest corporate donor, covering all operating costs, so 100% of your donation will bring opportunity to people in need.

G Adventures Dollar-a-day Program - Make Every Day Count - Turn your travel into impact with Planeterra Foundation.

Did you know? Most communities around the world do not benefit from tourism. Give back to the places you visit on your travels by creating opportunities for local people to earn an income, and protect the environment.

Make every day count by donating $1/day for the length of your trip, and join us in empowering the communities you will visit when you travel. 100% of your donation goes directly to Planeterra projects.

Minimum Age

You must be 18 to travel unaccompanied on a G Adventures tour. For minors travelling with a guardian over 21 years old, the minimum age is 12.

International Flights

Check-in times and baggage allowances/restrictions vary by airline and can change at any time. For the most up-to-date information for your flight, please contact your airline. We recommend checking in online in advance to avoid potential delays at the airport.

LGBTQ+ Safety

The safety and well-being of all of our travelers is a priority at G Adventures and that includes our travelers who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community. We recognize that there are specific concerns and questions you may have about your adventure in terms of safety and security. We encourage you to visit our LGBTQ+ page for useful resources to ensure you feel safe and comfortable throughout the duration of your trip. The Equaldex tool linked on this page can be of particular help when deciding where you may want to visit next.