Italy’s Tuscan Islands and the Sensations of Chianti
Kayaking in Italy with H2Outfitters
Highlights
- A great blend of kayaking on the crystal clear Mediterranean Sea and exploring Tuscany’s picturesque villages, sprawling olive groves and vineyards, and visiting Medieval San Gimignano and nearby Sienna.
- The fall dates coincide with the Annual Grape Harvest Festival in the village square of the hillside village of Impruneta, renowned for its Terra Cotta
- Stay at a local family-run Inn, sample local wines and indulge in savory Italian dishes handed down from through the generations.
Full Description
Explore an archipelago the crystal-clear waters of the Mediterranean and discovering the rich history of Tuscany all in one trip!
When the goddess of love Venus emerged from the swells of the Tyrrhenian Sea, seven gemstones were lost from her crown as the waves crashed all around her. These seven stones became the islands of the Tuscan Archipelago: Elba, Giglio, Capraia, Gorgona, Pianosa, Giannutri and Montecristo. So these are the gems of Tuscany encompassing 600,000 acres making it Europe’s largest marine park.
The most famous and largest of these islands is Elba, dominated by nature with its long sandy beaches, small inlets, vertical cliffs, and transparent deep blue sea. The Etruscans mined metals here, to the Romans, it was a destination resort, and to Napoleon it was his home away from home during his exile. We’ll visit small medieval villages, sample local fare rich in genuine flavor, and explore the stunning coastline of white sand, hidden cobblestone beaches, and rugged rock outcroppings.
From here, we’ll journey to the heart of Tuscany, a region first inhabited by the ancient Entruscans, who cherished the hills, the land, and the air as a place of sanctuary. For Chiantigianos it is the place to cultivate the grape, harvest the olive, and to savor the sights, sounds, and scent of the hills. For us peregrinators, wayfarers as the Roman tourists called themselves, it will be a delight for the senses and truly an adventure for a lifetime.
Our wanderings will lead us to small, family run wineries, peaceful treks in the hills past olive groves and hidden villas. We may be able to mount up on the ubiquitous Vespa motor scooters on a tour of Medieval villages, tasting wine, sampling food, and seeing the sights of the hill country. Our lodgings will be in small family-run Inns with history that goes back generations. We’ll visit the town of many towers, the medieval enclave of San Gimignano, and take the time to roam through its narrow streets, explore its shops, talk to painters, examine fine leather goods, and of course, indulge and imbibe! Gelato and wine are there for the tasting!
Includes:
- 8 night’s accommodations in Inns or hotels
- Meals as noted on itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
- All transportation once in Florence as outlined on the itinerary
- All kayaking gear and safety equipment
- Qualified and highly trained guides
Excludes:
- International airfare between the US and the start/end cities
- Passport and visa fees
- Medical and trip insurance
- Evacuation costs
- Excess baggage fees
- Fuel surcharges
- Items of a personal nature, including laundry, telephone/fax bills and bar bills; other items not specifically mentioned as included.
- Fees for optional activities
- Meals not specified on itinerary
- Airport departure taxes; additional hotel nights that may be incurred due to airport schedule changes or other factors
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1: Friday
Depart US for Florence, Italy (overnight flight).
Day 2: Saturday – Impruneta
Once you arrive in Florence you will be transported to the cozy, family-run Inn, the Bella Vista, located in the Tuscan hill town of Impruneta about 30 minutes south of Florence. Freshen up and then enjoy some time to unwind from your travels with a stroll through the village famous for its terra cotta pottery and the Basilica of Santa Maria. (D)
Day 3: Sunday – Impruneta
Grab your cameras and get ready to have some fun at the famous Grape Harvest festival, a tradition whose history goes back millennia. Throughout the month of September, the four wards of the region begin building their allegorical floats, which must be ready by the last Sunday in September, when the floats parade around Piazza Buondelmonti accompanied by spectacular ballets and performances. It is a time of great merriment, festivity, and fun shared by everyone; a unique event not to be missed. (B, L, D)
Days 4-8: Elba Island
It’s off to the Tuscan island archipelago for five days exploring Europe’s largest marine park by land and sea. Basing ourselves on the large island of Elba we’ll have plenty of time to discover its many treasures, beautiful sandy beaches, secret green bays and inlets, and steep cliffs, as we paddle the crystal-clear waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea. The island of Elba due to its wealth of minerals and strategic geographic position was occupied by various world powers over the course of its history. The Etruscans and Romans appreciated Elba for her iron ore as well as her medicinal muds, and even the English, Germans and French often challenged each other for control of the island. But it was Napolean’s brief exile here that left the most significant mark on this minute kingdom. There will be opportunities throughout our stay for you to visit some of the island’s historical landmarks and museums as well as enjoy the dramatic landscape of the island itself. (B, L, D)
Day 9: Impruneta
It’s back to the mainland for our final stay in Impruneta with our friends at the Bella Vista. Upon our return to the area, we’ll head to the nearby medieval village of San Gimignano, one of the most famous small towns in Italy with its dramatic skyline bristling with towers. This immaculately preserved village is surrounded by some of the loveliest countryside in Tuscany. Stroll through the narrow streets lined with local artisans and shops, enjoy a gelato in the town square, or simply kick back and relax with a glass of the town’s famous white wine, Vernaccia. (B, L, D)
Day 10: Sunday
Depart for US. (B) NOTE: We try to be as accurate as we can with our itineraries but certain factors out of our control can cause the itinerary to change. We appreciate your flexibility and trust in us to provide you with a safe, enjoyable, and memorable experience.
About The Operator:
H2Outfitters
Headquarters:
Orr's Island, Maine
Established:
January 1982
H2Outfitters is recognized as the East Coast’s original sea kayak outfitter and as “One of the World’s Best Adventure Travel Companies” by National Geographic Adventure magazine.Established in 1982 the company has had many “firsts” in the areas of kayak instruction, safety, leadership as well as trips and outfitting.The company’s principals, Cathy Piffath and Jeff Cooper, are recognized as leaders in their field.Of particular note, Cathy has been recognized as one of the “finest technical paddlers in the country” and has been featured in such magazines as Shape, Paddler, Self, Downeast, and Yankee among others.Her partner, and H2Outfitters’ Director of Fun, Jeff Cooper was described by Men’s Journal as “arguably the finest kayak instructor on the East Coast…” and has himself been a topic of discussion in publications ranging from the Financial Times to National Geographic Adventure magazine.
Cathy & Jeff have been prominent figures nationally in the kayak instructional arena with the American Canoe Association and the British Canoe Union.They served as the first ACA instructor trainer educators on the East Coast and wrote the first national curriculum for sea kayaking in the early 90s. H2Outfitters has been an innovator in outdoor education as well as its marketing within the industry here and abroad. Consequently, H2O’s reputation for excellence is recognized around the globe.
The company’s International Adventures for a Lifetime trip program has been recognized nationally as offering some of the most unique and exciting excursions in adventure travel.Combining cultural and historic perspectives with the hands-on aspect of sea kayaking, H2Outfitters has taken the Seven Seas and made them accessible in a fun and educational manner to people of all ages.Japan’s Inland Sea, the Amalfi Coast of Italy, Iceland’s West Fjords, and Italy’s Tuscan Island Archipelago are but a few of the trip’s they offer to adventurous travelers.The company has worked closely with travel writers and authors worldwide in the development of their trips; Tony Perrottet, Dario Castagno, Steve Jermanok, and Isamu Tatsuno to name a few.
Some H2Outfitters’ Highlights
- -Pioneers of sea kayak instruction in the US
- -Principals recognized as the best and finest in their field
- -Cutting edge programming, distinctive adventures
- -Company takes the interactive “getting off the bus” approach to international travel
H2Outfitters’ Mission Statement:
At H2Outfitters, we firmly believe that skills development is the best insurance for all kayaking activities. It provides a foundation on which to build a secure paddling future for a relatively small investments. Your ability to paddle, and paddle well, allows you to make intelligent decisions that range from buying a boat and judging its characteristics, to selecting the river or ocean trip that suits your needs. Instruction is not hype, doesn’t need a sales pitch, and is, in fact, and investment in your futures. Take it seriously because it ensures Serious Fun!
This mission statement still holds as true today as it did when we established it in 1982.
H2Outfitters is committed to high-quality kayaking instruction. Our instructors are selected not only for their kayaking skills, but also for their teaching skills and group management ability. Our staff is dedicated to making sure you have Serious Fun!