small joinable day tours from Florence

Hi Sharon,

I haven't taken this tour yet but will in a couple weeks when I head to Italy. Everything we read seemed legit and the reviews were solid.

http://www.florenceandtuscanytours.com/re__E2-%20TUSCANY%20IN%20A%20DAY-%20%20%20MAKE%20THE%20MOST%20OF%20YOUR%20TUSCANY%20%20with%20optional%20light%20dinner__386__18__27__2.php

It's a 12 hour tour out of Florence that brings you to Pisa, Vinci, San Gimignano, and Siena. 75 euro for the day.

Kevin

Thank you Kevin.

I checked out their website but they don't do Lucca and Pisa without a wine tour, which doesn't interest me, and it seems depending on number of people signed up for the tour, they will either go by minivan (if 8 or fewer people) or coach, which means up to 25 people?

I am going to be staying in Siena for 4 days (with 2 wonderful small day tours to the Tuscan countryside with Roberto) so will be able to do Siena on my own.

Thank you again - and enjoy your adventure!
Sharon

Try contacting "Slow Days" in Florence. They do small group tours throughout Tuscany, but I don't know for sure that they visit those towns. Pisa/Lucca are easily visited from Florence by train (the train station in Lucca is right outside the fantastic old city walls). Vinci is small (do-able, if that is the word, easily within an hour and a half, and that includes visiting the museum and tower). It is not so easily accessible as Lucca/Pisa.

Worth writing Slow Days an email to ask anyhow.

For Siena is your tour with Tours by Roberto? Did you ask Roberto about those towns out of Florence? He picks up in Siena and Florence. I customized the tour we did with Roberto. Cost a little extra but it's worth asking Roberto about those towns. He may also be able to recomend someone too who does the area.

Also have you checked out the site Tours by Locals? They may have a guide doing the area's you want to go to. I used them for a tour of Viterbo, Vetrella and Bolsena since I didn't have a car. Our guide Rudolph was amazing. We had am amazing lunch at his house.

Thank you both.

Simon, I checked out Slow Days - they do not have joinable tours.

Robert, yes, the tours in Siena are with Tours by Roberto. I am really looking forward to those days with him. On the 16th he only has Chianti out of Florence. He did give me names of guides in Florence, but unfortunately, they only do private tours, as I am finding with 95%+ of tours in Florence and Rome, which is above my budget as a solo traveler. Another option would be Viator, but they seem to be mostly larger tours by coach which I don't want to do either.

At this point, I will probably just leave it open. I am on a "wait" list with a couple of guides to join their tours if they book a tour for those days. I may just go to Lucca and Pisa by myself. I would like to visit Volterra, but don't want to spend over 3 hours in San Gimignano and then be in Volterra during Siesta. Disappointing...

Thanks again,

Sharon

Going it on your own is the best budget solution, and you'll be proud of yourself when you get the train and bus schedules figured out. On p. 610 of RS Italy book, maybe you have already noticed his mention of a direct bus from Pisa to Lucca.

Thanks Laura,

I had thought of doing that - it would be good experience for me as I have to take a bus to Siena, and trains to CT and Rome. Lucca/Pisa might be a good dry run without luggage to worry about - although I just have a carry on.

I use Rick's books as the cake to develop my trips - then fill in with frosting. And, if I miss frosting in certain areas, I can always eat cake!

Thanks again,

Sharon

You will be able to do these cities on your own. You could go to Volterra on a different morning, or go to Volterra in the morning and San Gimignano in the afternoon, if you can get the bus schedules to coincide. I have often done half-day trips from Florence in the morning and come back to Florence in the afternoon. I have been told that Vinci is difficult to reach without a car.

Hills and Roads in Siena does pickups in Firenze. Used them twice, loved how easy going and flexible they are. Great reviews on TA, and have a website by the same name http://www.hillsandroads.com/. Roberto is great too, but if his scheduled tours aren't in synch with your itinerary, maybe try Hills and Roads or similar service.

Thank you.

Amazing grace - I have been in touch with Luca from Hills and Roads re joining tours to Lucca/PIsa and S Gimignano/Volterra. It has been a challenge as depending on other people to join, and their requirement At this point, I think we have worked it out. Luca is very receptive to questions, concerns, itinerary suggestions, etc. and I think is making a great effort to treat each of his clients as if they were booking a private tour.

The Lucca/Pisa day is now going to be Lucca - time to bike around the ramparts, wander through the town and have lunch, Vinci, Montecatini alto (finicular) and a quick stop at Pisa. S Gimignano/Volterra is going to be less time in SG and more time in Volterra taking in to consideration Siesta from 13.00 - 15.00. I am very much looking forward to both days with him.

I'll report back in June.
Sharon

Lucca is a great guy. I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time!