We would like to get recommendations for small group tours from Florence to Siena, Monteriggioni, a winery and lunch or dinner in a country home/villa. We do not want to go to San Gimignano as many reviews have said it is too touristy and too crowded. We do not want a private driver, as that is too expensive. We are going in mid-October.
Thank you.
J and D
Tour company "Walk About Florence" offers what you are looking for but with San Gimignano, not small groups but all the reviews rave about the tour and the company and it is #1 on Tripadvisor. Walks of Italy also offers the same tour at a higher cost.
Just this past Saturday my sister and I did a tour called Taste of Tuscany through the company Italy on a Budget (you can google them). We had a short stop in Monteriggioni, a wine tasting at a beautiful villa/winery, then a longer stop in Siena. The company also offers a version of this tour with dinner in a Tuscan farmhouse (but we did not do the dinner). We had a wonderful time with a truly great tour guide, and it was only 7 people. They company is geared towards 18-39 year old travelers, so that is worth noting. We had a marvelous time. Best of luck!
The best budget way to see a taste of tuscany is take the bus from Florence to Siena. Then walk everywhere within walls of Siena. It will be a great day, have lunch in the plaza and enjoy and incredible day in Siena. Have expressos/vinos then back to Florence on bus again. So easy, so affordable and u will enjoy it all. The buses are very clean and central to everything.
BTW in mid october the tourist load in San Gimi. will be close to nothing.
Oh boy.. you will be going during the crush (grape harvest season). It's beautiful in Tuscany in mid-October. We just returned from there a few weeks ago and did a one-day Tuscan wine tour to 3 estates that included 2 meals, all the wine you can drink, beautiful vistas, a sommelier (who doubled as our driver) and a roomy bus that accommodated only a small eight-person group.
The company is Tuscan Wine Tours. It was a wonderful experience. The price was $150 per person, and worth every penny. It is a great way to spend a day in the tuscan countryside.
Enjoy.
