Name: Hiking the Via Francigena: Valleys, Vistas, and Vegan Feasts (2027)
Brand: World Vegan Travel
SKU: 1

Trip Length:12 days / 11 nights
Trip Dates:11-22 October, 2027
Start Location:Florence, Italy
Trip Price:USD $9,850/person in a shared room / USD $9,995/person in a twin (2-beds) room
End Location:Rome, Italy
Single Supplement:+USD $3,000/person
Group Size:14-18 travelers
Sign Up Deposit:USD 2000$/person

An ancient pilgrim road, minus the hardship. Twelve days hiking the finest stretches of the Via Francigena from Tuscany to Rome, with 100% plant-based Italian feasts waiting at the end of every trail and a bus to carry your bags.

We’re Walking To Rome!

The pilgrims walked all of it. We walk the best of it.

For more than a thousand years, pilgrims have followed the Via Francigena to Rome: through Tuscan hill towns, past Siena, across the Val d’Orcia and on to the Eternal City. It’s one of Europe’s great walks. It also comes with long stretches of roadside verge, village menus built on cheese and cured meat, and everything you own on your back.

So we fixed that.

Hiking, Upgraded. We kept the hilltop towns, the forest trails and the cypress-lined hills, and put the busy roads and dull stretches on a bus. You walk with a light day pack, and your suitcase is waiting in your room. Every meal along the way is 100% plant-based, from trail picnics to dinner at the hotel. We call it gliking.

How Much Walking? Eight walking days, 4 to 6 hours each on rolling Tuscan trails, with two rest days in between. Walk at your own pace: our guide leads from the front, a tour leader walks at the back, and the support bus is there if your legs have had enough. Nobody slows anyone down, so speed demons and strollers are both welcome!

And it’s not all walking: along the way we stop for the good stuff, from a winery or an olive oil tasting to an abbey or a castle.

Your Route:

San Miniato & San Gimignano: From the hills southwest of Florence to the town of medieval towers, then two nights at a fully vegan hotel, with a rest day in between.
Monteriggioni & Siena: A night inside the walls of a castle village, then the walk into the heart of Siena.
Val d’Orcia: Cypress hills, then two nights in the thermal village of Bagno Vignoni, at a hotel with its own huge thermal pool, and a long lunch at a farm sanctuary nearby.
Radicofani: Our big climb, up to a hilltop fortress on the edge of Tuscany.
Rome: Our final walk, into the Eternal City, and a final feast to toast our adventure.

Somewhere Good to Land. Every night ends at a handpicked hotel, some with sweeping views, some full of old-world character, always comfortable. On our two rest days, put your feet up or join an optional outing to the towns nearby.

Brand New for 2027. Our newest trip, and our most ambitious: a different hotel & kitchen almost every night, every one cooking 100% plant-based, plus picnics and lunches in between. It took a lot of work. You’ll just taste the results.

The WVT Advantage. Two WVT tour leaders and the same local hiking guide all the way. A support bus that shadows the group, so if your legs have had enough, you ride ahead. Every meal, every snack, every drink, every tip and two laundry days. From Florence to Rome, your wallet stays in your bag.

The Via Francigena problem	The WVT answer
Village menus. Small-town trattorias lean heavily on cheese, cured meats and meat sauces.	✓ 100% plant-based, every meal. We work with every kitchen on the route, so you never read a label or quiz a waiter.
Everything on your back. Pilgrims carry all they own, every step of the way.	✓ A light day pack. The bus moves your suitcase from hotel to hotel, and it’s in your room when you arrive.
Busy roads and dull stretches. Parts of the route follow traffic or plod through flat, featureless country.	✓ We skip them. The bus takes us past the roads and the boring bits, so your walking time goes on the beautiful parts.
Hours without a café. Some stretches have nowhere to eat, buy water or sit down.	✓ Picnics, lunches and a snack basket. Catered trail picnics, sit-down lunches, and the bus usually nearby at lunch to restock snacks and water.
No way out. Start a stage and you finish it, tired legs or not.	✓ Ride ahead. Our support bus shadows the group for most of the day. Had enough? Hop on.

18 Seats. One First Departure. There’s only one first time, and only 18 people get to share it.

Lace up and join us!

Why You'll Love This Trip

Gliking, Not Slogging:The best stretches of the Via Francigena on foot, with a support bus for the busy roads, the dull bits and tired legs.
100% Plant-Based, Trail to Table:Every meal, snack and trail picnic is vetted and included, in a corner of Italy where cheese and cured meat rule the menu.
Tuscany at Its Finest:San Gimignano’s towers, a night inside the walls of Monteriggioni and the walk into the heart of Siena.
More Than a Walk:Stops along the way for the likes of a winery, an olive oil tasting, an abbey or a castle, plus a visit to a farm sanctuary.
From Fortress to Rome:Conquer the big climb to Radicofani’s hilltop fortress, then finish the way pilgrims have for a thousand years: on foot, in the Eternal City.
Fully Hosted, Fully Included:Two WVT tour leaders, a local hiking guide all the way, every meal, every drink, every tip, two laundry days, and your bags moved for you.
Hotels Worth Resting In:Two nights at a fully vegan hotel near San Gimignano, and two in the thermal village of Bagno Vignoni, at a hotel with its own huge thermal pool. Both come with a rest day and optional outings to nearby towns.
The Val d’Orcia:Cypress-lined hills, rolling vineyards and the wine towns of southern Tuscany.

Is this trip for me?

We want you to love this trip, so here’s the honest version.

WALKING

This is a hiking trip. There are eight walking days, averaging 17 to 18 km (about 11 miles) each. The shorter days are around 13.5 to 15 km (8.5 to 9.5 miles), and the longest reach 20 to 21 km (12.5 to 13 miles).

Expect 4 to 6 hours on your feet, with time for rest stops, photos and lunch.

Most days climb 300 to 400 m (1,000 to 1,300 ft) over rolling hills. The exception is Radicofani: a long, steady climb of more than 500 m (1,650 ft) to a hilltop fortress.

You don’t need to be a mountaineer, but you should be comfortable on uneven ground for several hours, day after day.

WALK AT YOUR OWN PACE

Worried you’ll slow everyone down? Or that everyone will slow you down?

Neither happens here.

Our local guide leads from the front, and one of our tour leaders walks at the back, so nobody is ever last alone.

Stride out or stroll; the group spreads out and comes back together at breaks and lunch. And if your legs have had enough, the support bus can take you ahead from its next meeting point.

TERRAIN & FOOTING

Mostly Tuscany’s famous strade bianche (white gravel roads), quiet country lanes, olive grove tracks and footpaths, with occasional rocky stretches through the woods. After rain, the clay turns muddy and slippery.

We keep road walking to a minimum, but there’s some, especially on the final approach into Rome.

Bring broken-in hiking shoes, and poles if you use them; we don’t supply them.

HOTEL CHANGES

Most nights we sleep somewhere new, so it’s bags out after breakfast on seven mornings. Our two rest days, at I Pini and La Posta, are the breather in between. You can skip the optional outings, but this is not a stay-put holiday.

WEATHER

October is one of the best months to walk in Tuscany, but it’s changeable. Expect cool mornings, warm sun on the open hills, and rain at some point. We walk in light rain; if it’s unsafe, we change the plan.

COMFORT STOPS

Some stretches go a couple of hours without a café or a toilet. We plan breaks at the places that have them, but now and then nature is the only option.

NON-VEGAN SURROUNDINGS

This is rural Italy. You’ll walk past farms with animals, and autumn is hunting season, so you may hear hunters in the woods. At sit-down meals, other diners may be eating meat.

Trip Info

Trip Price

USD $9,850/person in a shared room / USD $9,850/person in a twin (2-beds) room

Single Supplement

USD $3,000/person

Group Size

14-18 travelers

Starting Location

Florence, Italy

Finish Location

Rome, Italy

Trip Status

Launch in progress.

Trip confirmation deadline = 11 April, 2027

Price Includes

11 nights in handpicked hotels, including a fully vegan hotel and a thermal spa hotel
Luggage moved from hotel to hotel, so you only carry a day pack
Every meal from the welcome dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 12, all 100% plant-based
All drinks whenever we’re together: water, coffee, tea, juice, soft drinks, beer, wine and cocktails
A snack basket to fuel your walks, from energy bars to trail treats
A comfort basket with blister care, hand lotion and other trail essentials
Every excursion in the itinerary, with entrance fees and local guides included
Two WVT tour leaders and the same local hiking guide for the whole trip
All tips for guides, drivers, restaurant & hotel staff, and activities
Live Q&A before the trip to put your questions to the tour leaders
Two complimentary laundry days
Gift and amenity bag
Support bus on every walking day, so you can ride ahead if your legs have had enough

Price Excludes

Flights to Italy and home
Medical travel insurance (mandatory)
Travel to the welcome meeting in Florence on Day 1
Day 12 transfer, or onward travel from Rome
Premium alcohol (top-shelf spirits, champagne and the like)
Meals, snacks and drinks you choose to have on your own
Hiking gear: boots, poles, day pack and rain jacket
Activities you arrange yourself, and any tips for those

Itinerary

DAY 1:Florence to San Miniato

Make your way to Florence for our welcome meeting, then we leave the city behind for the hills and San Miniato, a hilltop town on the Via Francigena and our starting point.

We settle in at Relais Borgo Bucciano, then gather for a quick gear check: boots, day packs, rain jackets, and anything you’re unsure about, so tomorrow starts without surprises. Then it’s our welcome dinner and a toast to the road ahead.

Stay: Relais Borgo Bucciano, San Miniato
Meals: Welcome dinner, with drinks
Good to know: Getting to Florence is up to you, and breakfast and lunch are on your own today. We’ll send meeting details after you book.

DAY 2:San Miniato to Gambassi Terme

Boots on. Before you set off, pack your suitcase and leave it in your room or the lobby. It will be waiting in your room at the next hotel.

Our first day on the Via Francigena takes us through classic Tuscan countryside: white gravel roads, rolling farmland and long views over the hills. Our local guide brings the route to life as we go, from the pilgrims who passed this way to the plants and wildlife along the trail.

Near the end of the day, we skip the last stretch of busy road and ride the final few kilometres into Gambassi Terme.

Tonight we stay at Tenuta Sant’Ilario, a woodsy country hotel on the edge of town. Gambassi Terme has been a spa town since medieval times, though we won’t have time for the waters on this trip.

On the trail: about 20 km (12.5 miles), up to 400 m (1,300 ft) of climbing, 5 to 6 hours
Stay: Tenuta Sant’Ilario, Gambassi Terme
Meals: All meals, with drinks
Good to know: Tuscany’s famous white gravel roads, the strade bianche, give a pro cycling race its name. Today you walk the real thing. And this is the pilgrim road itself: in 990, Archbishop Sigeric of Canterbury walked home from Rome along it and wrote down every place he slept.

Day 3:Gambassi Terme to San Gimignano

A shorter, gentler day to follow the longest one. We climb through vineyards and olive groves toward the skyline of San Gimignano, whose medieval towers rise above the hills for miles.

We finish at Agrivilla I Pini, our home for the next two nights, and the best part is that it’s fully vegan: every meal and every corner.

Tonight, hand in your laundry. It’s back tomorrow.

On the trail: about 13.5 km (8.5 miles), about 350 m (1,150 ft) of climbing, 3.5 to 4 hours
Stay: Agrivilla I Pini, San Gimignano (night 1 of 2)
Meals: All meals, with drinks
Good to know: San Gimignano once had around 70 towers, built by rival families to show off. About 14 still stand. Tonight is the first of our two laundry days, so hand it in before dinner.

DAY 4:A Day Off in San Gimignano

No boots today. Sleep in, linger over breakfast and enjoy a fully vegan retreat in the Tuscan countryside. When you’re ready, wander into San Gimignano and its famous towers, or join our optional outing to somewhere special nearby, organized by us and included in your trip. Or do nothing at all. It’s your day.

Stay: Agrivilla I Pini, San Gimignano (night 2 of 2)
Meals: All meals, with drinks
Good to know: Day-off rules: breakfast is the only fixed point. San Gimignano’s white wine, Vernaccia, was the first Italian wine to receive DOC status, in 1966, in case anyone asks. Your laundry is back today… it’s sun-dried so the return time depends on weather!

DAY 5:San Gimignano to Monteriggioni

We say goodbye to I Pini and set off on one of the prettiest walks of the trip, through woods, river valleys and farmland. The bus carries us past the flat, repetitive middle of the stage, so we spend our time on the best of it.

We finish with a climb up to Monteriggioni, a tiny village still wrapped in its medieval walls and towers.

Tonight we sleep inside those walls, at the Hotel Monteriggioni. The day-trippers leave in the afternoon, the gates quiet down, and the village is ours for the evening. Take a stroll once the light turns golden. It’s the most atmospheric night of the trip.

On the trail: about 18 km (11 miles), about 300 m (1,000 ft) of climbing, 4 to 5 hours
Stay: Hotel Monteriggioni, inside the medieval walls
Meals: All meals, with drinks
Good to know: Monteriggioni’s walls have 14 towers, and Dante compared them to the giants in the Inferno. Linger after dinner: this is the one night you can wander a medieval village without the crowds.

DAY 6:Monteriggioni to Siena

Today you walk the iconic hills of Tuscany: cypress ridges, vineyards and strade bianche, with Siena’s towers growing on the horizon. The finish is the highlight of the week.

We walk in through Porta Camollia, the same gate the pilgrims used, and on into the heart of Siena, the walk we’ve been building toward. After soaking up the old town, we ride to our hotel just outside the walls.

We spend the night at Villa Ermellina, a grand hotel with a terrace overlooking the city.

On the trail: about 21 km (13 miles), about 300 m (1,000 ft) of climbing, 5 to 6 hours
Stay: Villa Ermellina, just outside Siena
Meals: All meals, with drinks
Good to know: This is one of our longest days, and the support bus is there just in case. On the outer side of Porta Camollia is an inscription that reads, in Latin, “Siena opens her heart wider to you.” Pilgrims have read it for a thousand years.

DAY 7:Siena to Bagno Vignoni

We leave Siena behind for the Val d’Orcia, the Tuscany of postcards: cypress-lined ridges, rolling fields and hilltop villages, all in a UNESCO World Heritage landscape. The bus drops us at the trailhead and we walk through the best of it, passing through the thermal village of Bagno Vignoni.

Tonight we stay at La Posta, right in the village, with its huge thermal pools. After a day on the trail, sink into the warm water. Access is included, and you can go whenever you like!

On the trail: about 15 km (9.5 miles), about 350 m (1,150 ft) of climbing, about 4 hours
Stay: La Posta, Bagno Vignoni (night 1 of 2)
Meals: All meals, with drinks
Good to know: Pack a swimsuit. Bagno Vignoni’s central square is a giant pool of steaming thermal water that has been there since Roman times. You can only look at that one, but your hotel’s pools are the ones you can get into.

DAY 8:A Day Off in the Val d’Orcia

A second day off, and the thermal pools are right there. Sleep in, soak, then take it as slowly as you like. Or join our optional outing to the wine hill towns nearby, such as Montalcino or Montepulciano, home of Tuscany’s great reds, organized by us and included.

Stay: La Posta, Bagno Vignoni (night 2 of 2)
Meals: All meals, with drinks
Good to know: Montalcino makes Brunello and Montepulciano makes Vino Nobile. Both have been famous for centuries. The outing is optional, so you can also spend the entire day in the pool.

DAY 9:Val d’Orcia to Bolsena

Today is the big one. We climb steadily through the last of the Val d’Orcia toward the hilltop fortress of Radicofani, a stronghold that dominates the landscape for miles. It’s the hardest day of the trip, and the view from the top is the reward.

Along the way we stop for a long, memorable meal at La Tana del Bianconiglio, a farm sanctuary, and a chance to meet the animals who live there.

After the climb, we say goodbye to Tuscany and ride into northern Lazio, to the shore of Lake Bolsena for sunset. Bring a swimsuit if you’re feeling brave.

Tonight we stay at Borgo La Chiaracia, a modern hotel set in the open countryside, with a spa on site.

On the trail: about 20 km (12.5 miles), more than 500 m (1,650 ft) of climbing, 5 to 6 hours
Stay: Borgo La Chiaracia, near Bolsena
Meals: All meals, with drinks
Good to know: This is our toughest day, and the support bus is there just in case. Radicofani’s fortress was once the lair of Ghino di Tacco, a medieval “gentleman bandit” who ended up in Dante and Boccaccio. The hotel spa is open to you, but treatments are not included.

DAY 10:Bolsena to Viterbo

A shorter walk with a big payoff. We leave the lakeshore behind and climb through olive groves and the Turona forest, with the lake spread out behind us, to the hilltop town of Montefiascone, which marks the point where Rome is just 100 km away. Then we hop on the bus into Viterbo, the medieval “City of the Popes”, for the rest of the afternoon and the evening.

Viterbo’s old town is one of the best-preserved in Italy: narrow stone lanes, fountains and a papal palace where cardinals were once locked in until they chose a pope. Tonight we stay in or near Viterbo, at the Nicolo’ V.

On the trail: about 16 km (10 miles), about 450 m (1,500 ft) of climbing, 4 to 5 hours
Stay: Nicolo’ V.
Meals: All meals, with drinks
Good to know: Montefiascone is the home of a wine with a famous name: Est! Est!! Est!!! The story goes that a medieval bishop’s servant chalked “Est” (“it is here”) on every inn door where the wine was good, and he liked this town’s wine so much he wrote it three times. The papal conclave, the locked-door election of a pope, is said to have begun in Viterbo in the 13th century.

DAY 11:La Storta to Rome

This is the day the whole trip has been building toward. We start on the northern edge of the city and walk the last stretch of the Via Francigena: through the green hills of the Insugherata nature reserve, then up Monte Mario. It was called “Monte Gaudio”, the Mount of Joy, because it’s where pilgrims first saw Rome after weeks on the road.

The dome of St. Peter’s Basilica appears below you. Then it’s downhill, all the way into St. Peter’s Square, where we finish the way pilgrims did: on foot, with a big cheer.

Then the bus takes us to The Hoxton, Rome, where you can freshen up.

Tonight, we head into the city for our final feast at a local restaurant and raise a glass to the road behind us.

On the trail: about 19 km (12 miles), under 300 m (1,000 ft) of climbing, 5 to 6 hours
Stay: The Hoxton, Rome
Meals: All meals, with drinks
Good to know: The first part of the day is on forest and park trails, and the final approach is on city pavement. There’s a long stretch of downhill at the end, so your knees will earn their feast. Wear your hiking shoes all the way to the square.

DAY 12:Arrivederci, Roma

One last breakfast at The Hoxton, and then the Via Francigena is behind you. Pack up and head home, or on to your next adventure, or stay on in Rome and explore the Eternal City at your own pace. You’ve earned it.

Meals: Breakfast
Good to know: Transfers aren’t included today, so you’ll need to arrange your own way to the airport or train station. Rome has two main airports, Fiumicino and Ciampino, and Termini station is the main hub for trains. If you’re staying on, Rome is wonderful on foot, and you’ve had practice!

A brand-new route, still being polished. We’re fine-tuning this itinerary right up until departure, so some days, stops and even hotels may change. Every change will be for the better. On the trail, the weather has a say too: if a storm rolls in, we’ll hop on the bus and head for the hotel early. Better a long lunch than a soaking.

Gallery

Booking Terms & Conditions

How To Join

Solo Travelers

Payment Schedule

Payment Methods & Fees

Cancellation Policy

Important Notes

We expect this trip to sell out quickly so ensure your spot on the trip and sign up early by paying the sign-up deposit (2000$/person).

Once we have the necessary numbers for the trip to go ahead, we will confirm the trip. Please see the TRIP INFO section for the confirmation date.

Do note that the sign-up fee and subsequent payments are non-refundable. Please see our cancellation policy section below for more information.

In order to sign up, click the booking link on this page (once it’s live). Any problems or questions? Email us!

If you are signing up as a solo traveler, do so quickly! We only have 2 single room available a reduced single supplement. Please read our solo travelers section for more information.

SINGLE ROOMS are available for solo travelers. Because hotels charge per room rather than per person, we negotiate a limited number of reduced single supplement rates with our hotel partners. On this trip there are 2 reduced-rate solo spots, at USD $3,000 per person.

Once those two are booked, solo travelers can still join, subject to availability, but the supplement rises to the hotel’s standard single-occupancy rate, as on most group tours.

Room standards: Single rooms are allocated within each hotel’s standard categories. Depending on the property, a solo room may be smaller or laid out differently from a double. Several of our hotels are small and full of character, so room sizes vary. Room allocations across the group are determined by booking date, travel history with us, and specific mobility or accessibility needs.

PAYMENT SCHEDULE
Following the sign-up fee (PAYMENT #1), the remaining balance will be due in 2 installments:

1 month after the trip has been confirmed OR immediately if the trip is already confirmed: 50% of remaining balance (PAYMENT #2)
3 months before the trip’s start date: final balance (PAYMENT #3). This is non-negotiable. If you do not pay the balance for your trip, your place will be given to another individual and your payments until then will be forfeited.

We can work with you on a payment plan: pay your trip in the usual 2 installments, or opt for several. Contact us to discuss what works best for you!

PAYMENT METHODS
We currently accept CREDIT CARDS PAYMENTS and DIRECT BANK TRANSFERS for the following currencies: USD, EUR, GBP, CAD and AUD.

EXTRA PAYMENT FEES
Online Bank Payment: for the above currencies, we do not charge a fee for this, although your bank may do so. Please inquire with them directly.

Credit card payment: the following fees will be added to the total:

2.9% for Visa and MasterCard
3.9% for American Express

Since our trips are highly catered and made of activities that need a lot of planning and organization, all payments (the initial 2000$ sign-up deposit, 50% deposit and final payment) are non-refundable. This is because we must forward payments for accommodation, transportation, suppliers, etc. very early on, in order to privatize our accommodation, activities and our meals.

To see our booking terms and conditions you can click here. You will find the cancellation policy in section 9 and 10.

TRAVEL MEDICAL INSURANCE – MANDATORY

All travelers must have travel insurance that covers emergency medical treatment and emergency evacuation. It is also prudent to purchase insurance to cover more. To learn more about buying insurance for a World Vegan Travel trip, read this blog post.

ITINERARY

The itinerary is therefore subject to change, especially if we find an experience that we believe would make the trip even better.

DIET RESTRICTION & ALLERGIES

If you have any specific dietary needs or food preferences, we kindly ask you to contact Brighde at [email protected] before finalizing your booking. Please provide her with detailed information about your dietary needs or preferences, and ensure you receive a written response from Brighde before finalizing your trip booking. Your cooperation and understanding in this matter are greatly appreciated.

Please note that any additional requests made after the booking has been completed might not be able to be accommodated.

ROOM ALLOCATIONS

Room allocations across the entire group are determined by booking date, travel history with us, and specific mobility/accessibility needs.

FAQ

TOUR PRICE REASONING

Our price covers almost everything: once you arrive in Florence, you’re done paying.

Every meal, snack and drink (premium alcohol aside), every tip for guides and drivers, your luggage moved from hotel to hotel, a support bus, two laundry days, a gift and amenity bag and eleven nights in handpicked hotels are all in the price. You also get two WVT tour leaders, not one, plus a local hiking guide for the whole trip.

Then there’s the part you don’t see. Italy is easy to love and harder to eat vegan in than people expect, especially in small villages and on trail days, so we spend months working with every hotel, restaurant and local partner on the route: briefing kitchens, rewriting menus and making sure every plate is 100% plant-based. That work starts months before departure and becomes close to full-time in the last two to three months.

We also know that for many people a trip like this has been a dream for years. So we’ve built an itinerary to match, with the best stretches of the Via Francigena, hotels worth looking forward to and food you’ll talk about long after you’re home.

HOW MUCH PHYSICAL ACTIVITY CAN I EXPECT?

Plenty. This is a hiking trip. There are eight walking days, averaging 17 to 18 km (about 11 miles), with the longest around 20 to 21 km (13 miles). Expect 4 to 6 hours on your feet each walking day. Most days climb 300 to 400 m (1,000 to 1,300 ft) over rolling hills, and one long, steady climb takes us up to Radicofani.

The ground is mostly gravel roads, country lanes and footpaths, with some rocky forest trail, and it can get muddy after rain.

You carry only a light day pack, and you walk at your own pace, with our guide at the front and a tour leader at the back. If you need a break, the support bus can take you ahead, and two rest days split up the week.

For the full picture, see “Is this trip for me?” above.

DO I NEED TO BE AN EXPERIENCED HIKER? SHOULD I TRAIN?

You don’t need to be a mountaineer, or to have done a long-distance walk before. You do need to be comfortable walking for 4 to 6 hours a day, several days in a row, on uneven ground with some ups and downs.

If you already walk or hike regularly, you’re in good shape. If you don’t, start building up a few months before the trip: longer walks on weekends, some hills, and ideally a couple of back-to-back days. And wear in your hiking shoes before you arrive. Your feet will thank you.

WHAT IF I DON’T WANT TO WALK ONE DAY?

That’s fine. If you’re tired, nursing a blister or just want a slower day, you can ride ahead on the support bus to the next hotel, or sit out part of a walk and join us later where the bus can meet the group. Just tell us in the morning. Our two rest days also give your legs a real break mid-trip.

This is a holiday, not an endurance test. Walk as much of it as you like.

DO WE WALK THE WHOLE WAY TO ROME? DO I GET A PILGRIM CERTIFICATE?

No, and that’s the point. The full Via Francigena from Tuscany to Rome takes weeks, and includes long stretches on busy roads and some dull, flat country. We walk the most beautiful stretches and use the bus to skip the rest.

That also means we don’t walk the last 100 km in full, which is what the official pilgrim certificate in Rome (the Testimonium) requires. What you do get is the best of the Via Francigena, and a walk into St. Peter’s Square that feels every bit as earned.

IS THERE AN AGE LIMIT TO JOIN THE TRIP?

Travellers aged 16 and over are welcome.

There’s no upper age limit, though do note that there is a fair amount of walking on this trip.

CAN I SIGN UP AS A SOLO TRAVELER?

Absolutely! Many of our travelers join solo. We work with our hotel partners to negotiate reduced single supplement rates, but because hotels charge per room, only 2 reduced-rate solo spots are available on this trip.

Once they’re booked, solo travelers may still be able to join at a higher supplement, in line with normal group tour practice.

All rooms meet our standards, though single rooms may differ in size or layout from doubles. Please see the TRIP INFO section section for current availability and rates, and book early if you’re traveling solo.

Should you still be on the waiting list when the trip closes and gets confirmed, we may be able to offer you a single room (depending on availability).

I HAVE A DIETARY RESTRICTION (ALLERGIES, GLUTEN-FREE, ETC)

Please note that any additional requests made after the booking has been completed might not be able to be accommodated.

LGBTQ TRAVELLERS

World Vegan Travel is a safe place for all LGBTQ+ travellers, and we have zero tolerance for discrimination of any kind.

Italy is generally considered safe for the community. Same-sex couples have been able to form civil unions since 2016, though same-sex marriage is not legal.

Attitudes are most relaxed in the big cities and can be more traditional in small rural towns, so discretion in the villages is wise, as it would be anywhere.

WHAT DRINKS ARE INCLUDED?

Water, juice, coffee, tea, soft drinks, beer, wine and cocktails whenever we’re together. Premium alcohol (top-shelf spirits, champagne and the like) is extra; pay on the spot or charge it to your room.

HOW MUCH MONEY SHOULD I BRING?

Very little. Your meals, snacks, drinks (premium alcohol aside), hotels, transport during the trip, included excursions and all tips for guides, drivers, and restaurant and hotel staff are covered. You’ll only need money for souvenirs, premium drinks, spa treatments, and any meals or activities you arrange on your own.

Cards are widely accepted in Italy, though a little cash is handy in small villages and for the odd café stop. ATMs (bancomat) are easy to find in towns, but not on the trail, so take out some euros before you set off.

FLIGHTS, VISAS & INSURANCE

Flights: You book your own flights. Fly into Florence and home from Rome; most airlines sell this as a single “multi-city” ticket. Florence airport is small, so you may find better connections via Pisa, Rome or Milan, all a short train ride from Florence.

Please note that airport transfers are NOT included at either end.

Our welcome meeting in Florence is around midday on Day 1, so plan to arrive the day before if you can. You’ll start the walk rested and over the jet lag.

Visas & entry: If you hold a passport from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand or most European countries, you don’t need a visa for Italy. You can stay up to 90 days in any 180 in the Schengen area, which includes Italy and the Vatican. Your passport must have been issued within the last 10 years and be valid for at least three months after you leave Europe.

Since 2026, the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) records non-EU travelers at the border, so expect to have your fingerprints and photo taken on arrival instead of a passport stamp.

The EU also plans to introduce ETIAS, a short online travel authorization for visa-free visitors. It isn’t running yet and has no confirmed start date. If it becomes required before our trip, we’ll tell you exactly what to do. If anyone asks you to pay for ETIAS now, it isn’t the official site.

Travelling on a different passport? Entry rules vary, so check with your nearest Italian embassy or consulate well before you book flights.

TRAVEL/MEDICAL INSURANCE
Medical travel insurance is mandatory on our trip. We need to have assurances that you are fully covered in the event of a medical emergency, including repatriation. You will need to send us your policy detail and emergency contact number before the trip’s start date.

Trip Insurance (trip cancellation, lost baggage, etc.), on the other hand, is entirely up to you, though we highly recommend purchasing it. It often comes packaged along with medical travel insurance, or you may get coverage simply by paying for the trip using a credit card (inquire with your card supplier).

CAN YOU HELP WITH BOOKING OUR FLIGHTS AND ONGOING TRAVEL?

As we are not a travel agency or booking agents, we can’t book any flights or ongoing travel (ie hotels, transportation, etc) for you. However we can surely help with recommendations, suggestions and tips as you look into flights, or extending your holiday. It never hurts to ask, so don’t hesitate to contact us with any queries whatsoever!

WHAT WILL THE WEATHER BE LIKE?

Mid to late October is one of the best times to walk in Tuscany: the summer heat has gone, the vineyards have turned gold, and the trails are quieter.

Expect mild days of roughly 16 to 22°C (61 to 72°F), and cooler mornings and evenings, sometimes down to around 8°C (46°F). Hilltop spots like Radicofani can feel cooler and windier, and Rome is usually a few degrees warmer.

October is also prone to rainfall. That’s why a good rain jacket is on your packing list. If a storm rolls in, we’ll adjust the day or hop on the bus and head for the hotel early.

WHAT SHOULD I PACK?

One suitcase, plus a day pack. The bus moves your suitcase from hotel to hotel, so it doesn’t need to be light enough to carry, but with seven hotel changes and two laundry days, packing light makes life easier.

For the trail:

Broken-in hiking shoes or boots, ideally waterproof. Please don’t bring a brand-new pair.
Good hiking socks, a few pairs
A comfortable day pack, big enough for a rain jacket, water, snacks and a layer
A reliable rain jacket
Layers: a fleece or light insulated jacket for cool mornings and windy hilltops
A refillable water bottle
Sun hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
Walking poles, if you use them

For off the trail:

Comfortable clothes for the evenings. Dinners are relaxed, no dress code.
A swimsuit for the thermal pools at La Posta
Comfortable shoes to change into after a day in boots

Our comfort basket covers blister care and the small stuff, and we’ll send a full packing list a few weeks before departure.

WILL MY MOBILE PHONE WORK IN ITALY?

Yes, your mobile phone should work, but check with your carrier before you go. Turn off global roaming unless your carrier offers an international plan or Italy package, or you risk a very expensive bill when you get home.

If your phone is unlocked, an eSIM or a local Italian SIM card is usually the cheapest option. You can buy an eSIM online before you leave, or a SIM card at the airport or in town.

On the trail, coverage is good most of the time, but expect some dead spots in the countryside and forests. You’ll never be on your own: your guide and tour leaders stay in touch with each other and with the support bus throughout the day.

We’ll send more information in the Trip Information Document after you book.

WILL THERE BE INTERNET ACCESS DURING THE TRIP?

Yes. All our hotels have Wi-Fi, though in the countryside or inside medieval walls, speeds range from fast to “good enough for a photo or two”.

We also carry portable Wi-Fi hotspots with the group during the day, so you can stay connected on the trail and on the bus.

Still, bring your own data plan or eSIM. You’ll want it if you’re out of range of our hotspots, ahead of or behind the group, or off exploring on your own.

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