Via Francigena - Section 14

(1,2) Leisurely (3,4) Stimulating (5) A Challenge


Our holidays are graded by 3 categories of difficulty: Leisurely, Stimulating and A Challenge. This grading system will allow you to select the ideal holiday for yourself or your group. We aim to offer you the best experiences and unforgettable memories on a holiday where your desire for a challenge, comfort and safety are our priority. As the abilities of everybody are different, it’s important that you decide on a holiday which best suits your own needs and capabilities. You should take some time to look over our grading system so you can decide which holiday is best for you!

How do we grade?
When grading our holidays we take 3 main factors into consideration: Distance, Gradient and Trail Type (i.e. mountain track, forest road, surfaced road, etc.)
Our Easy walking and cycling holidays are best for families with young children. With older children, experience and fitness level should be considered when deciding on a holiday.

Leisurely(1,2)
• Time: Under 5 hours per day on average.
• Gradient: Gentle, no steep climbs
• Trail Type: Walking path, easily accessible
• Suitable for: Everybody. Some easy preparation walks should increase your enjoyment.


Stimulating(3,4)
• Time: 5 to 7 hours / less than 20km per day on average
• Gradient: Up to 1000m ascent per day on average, possibility of some steep climbing
• Trail Type: Walking paths, mountain trails, not technically difficult
• Suitable for: Moderate level of fitness required. Some weekend walks of around 3-4 hours should help your preparation.


A Challenge (5)
• Time: Days can be over 7 hours / 20km
• Gradient: Days can be more than 1000m, some steep climbing
• Trail Type: Walking paths, mountain trails, can be technically difficult
• Suitable for: Good level of fitness required. Previous experience would be best. Regular weekend walks of 4-5 hours or more are advisable in the months leading up to your holiday. These should include some mountain walks.

To Lucca

The nearest airport is Pisa International aiport. It offers major flights for all major international airports, as well as low-cost flights (Ryanair or EasyJet). To reach Lucca, there is a bus service from the airport, the journey is roughly 50 minutes (http://www.pisa-airport.com/index.php?lang=_en&id_sect=197). There is also a train going directly from the airport to Lucca, you can check timetable and prices on the website http://www.fsitaliane.it/homepage.html.

You can also fly to Florence International airport, which is a litlle bit farther. Of course the best way to get there is by taxi, a €80 journey. You can also take a bus between the airport and the city centre http://www.aeroporto.firenze.it/EN/index.php?percorso=contents&jk=17&curr=0, and then a train from Florence to Lucca www.trenitalia.com.

It is also possible to fly into Rome, from here there are two possible train routes: via Pisa Centrale or Via Firenze SMN.

There are more solutions via Firenze SMN owing to the higher frequency of Freccia trains between Rome and Florence than between Rome and Pisa. Some people might also prefer the coastal route via Pisa, which skirts parts of the coastline.

Via Pisa:1. Take a Frecciabianca OR an Intercity train from Roma Termini to Pisa Centrale. The Frecciabianca is a faster, more modern and nicer train, so give it priority over the Intercity unless the latter's schedules are more convenient. The fastest Frecciabianca train makes the run in 2 hours and 30 minutes.

2. Connect at Pisa Centrale to an unreserved regionale train to Lucca (3 Euros and just under 30 minutes travel time).

NOTE: Depending on the connection schedules, sometimes it's better to make the connection at Viareggio instead of at Pisa Centrale. The Trenitalia website will indicate when this is the case. The unreserved regionale train from Viareggio to Lucca also costs 3 Euros and takes just under 30 minutes travel time.

Via Florence: Travelling via Firenze SMN will cost a little more, and take about the same amount of time (since the Freccia train from Rome to Florence is one hour faster than the Freccia train from Rome to Pisa).

NOTE: The regular "BASE" fare on the Freccia train from Rome to Pisa is 44.50 Euros, and 43 Euros from Rome to Firenze SMN (recently reduced from 45 Euros). It really pays to book in advance and get a SUPER ECONOMY or ECONOMY promotional ticket (if you're in a position to do so). THESE PROMOTIONAL FARES NO LONGER HAVE ADVANCE PURCHASE REQUIREMENTS (although they do sell out quickly in advance, since they are capacity-controlled; you can usually book up to 120 days beforehand). There is a wide range of promotional fares, and only a few tickets are offered at the rock-bottom SUPER ECONOMY fare of 9 Euros. The 9-Euro SUPER ECONOMY fare is even cheaper than the "ordinaria" fare of the unreserved regionale train from Rome to Pisa Centrale and from Rome to Firenze SMN (and the Freccia train is much faster and nicer than the regionale).
BEWARE: The Trenitalia SUPER ECONOMY fare is nonchangeable and nonrefundable. The ECONOMY fare is changeable once up to the departure time of the scheduled train (you must upgrade to the "BASE" fare and pay the difference), but is otherwise nonrefundable. Consequently, you need to be very sure of your travel plans if you choose one of these promotional fares. If you MISS your reserved train, even by one second (other than due to a missed CONNECTION from another Trenitalia train, with minimum connection times), and have one of the promotional fares, you forfeit the ticket and must buy a brand new ticket for a later-departing train. That's why it's RISKY to travel on a promotional ticket when connecting directly from an arriving plane (unless the promotional fare is so low (e.g. 9 Euros), that you won't care).

CONNECTING BUS OPTION TO LUCCA: From Florence to Lucca, you also have the option of taking the intercity bus (Monday through Saturday only), which departs hourly from the intersection of Via Nazionale and Via Fiume, 250 meters from the SMN train station. The bus takes 80 minutes and costs about the same as the regionale train, but has reclining seats. As you exit the station on the side of McDonald's and the Pharmacy, cross over the wide busy street to the other McDonald's at the corner, then turn left on Via Nazionale and proceed another 50 meters to the CAP ticket office, where you purchase your bus ticket. The bus currently departs around the corner from here (Via Fiume). Be aware that the departure location may change in the future.


CONNECTIONS FROM/TO FCO AIRPORT AND ROMA TERMINI: You can take the Trenitalia nonstop Leonardo da Vinci airport train (14 Euros and 32 minutes, departures every 30 minutes) OR one of the airport bus services (fares as low as 4 Euros; 45-80 minutes travel time).

From Siena

Once again, the two closest airports are Pisa and Florence.

To go to Pisa, you can take a bus in Siena going directly to Pisa International Airport. http://www.pisa-airport.com/aeroporto_di_pisa_196.html, which is a less than 2-hour journey. Pisa Airport offers major flights for all major international airports, as well as low-cost flights (Ryanair or EasyJet).

To go to Florence, You have to take a train between Siena and Florence http://www.fsitaliane.it/homepage.html, and then a bus going from the centre of the city to the airport http://www.aeroporto.firenze.it/EN/index.php?percorso=contents&jk=17&curr=0.

Included:

Luggage transferred from hotel to hotel
Rooms en-suite in nice hotel with character
Half Board during the hike
Holiday Pack: inc. notes & map(s) & pilgrim passport, what to bring, language book
Emergency number 24/7. On the ground support

Not Included:

Flights
Insurance (recommended)
Drinks
Dinner first and last nights
Transfer from/to airport