Via Francigena: From Montalcino to Viterbo - Sun, May 31 2020

REGISTRATION & PAYMENT REQUIRED: Once you've reviewed the event details, and decided you'd like to join us, you MUST sign up at the bottom of this page. This is a paid event with payment managed by the trip leader(s) and NOT the AOC. Please read the event description carefully for payment details and instructions.



Via Francigena: From Montalcino to Viterbo


The Basics:
STATUS: Cancelled - Hide from Calendar
Event Type:Hike
Event Location: Montalcino, Italy
Date(s) & Time:Sun, May 31 2020  5:00 pm >> Sun, Jun 7 2020 10:00 am
Registration Opens: Mon, Sep 30 2019 8:00 pm
Registration Cut Off: Mon, Sep 30 2019 8:00 pm
Event Duration:6 Days 17 Hours
Difficulty Rating:D5: Difficult (Exploratory)
Distance:84 Miles
Pace:Moderate
Trip Leader(s):
Richard A. Zalik
Email Trip Leader(s)
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Member Cost:$1,150.00/Person (See Detailed Cost Info Below)

Participant Info:
Who's Invited: Members Only, 21 And Older Only
Maximum Group Size:16
Minimum Group Size:4
Number Registered So Far: 6 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)
Are Dogs Permitted: No

Note: This is an "EXPLORATORY" trip. This means that there are parts of this trip, or perhaps the whole trip, that is new to your Trip Leader(s). However, they are confident that this will not be an issue.
This note is here so that you can make an informed decision. When a Trip Leader isn't personally familiar with a trip, there is an increased chance of things not going as planned and you need to be prepared. The Trip Leader may have additional details in the itinerary.

Itinerary:

Notice: This web page is designed so that you can only put yourself on the waiting list. Once i verify that you satisfy the registration requirements i will move you to the list of participants. If you add yourself to the list of participants without my permission I will move you back to the waiting list. See registration requirements below.

South of Montalcino the country becomes wilder, with forests, low plateaux and Monte Amiata and the wide crater of Lake of Bolsena.

Day 1: Arrive in Montalcino.

Day 2: Montalcino to Pescina: Paths through vineyards lead down to the superb Romanesque abbey church of Sant’Antimo. We then continue down through olive groves into the Orcia Valley, before walking up to the forested slopes of Monte Amiata (16.5 miles, 7.5 - 8 hours). 

Day 3: Pescina to Piancastagnaio: We walk through forest of chestnut and beech, to the ancient volcanic peak of Monte Amiata. Then continue down through forest, and a cleft in the volcanic cliffs, to Piancastagnaio, on the side of the mountain with panoramic views, where we stay at a converted monastery (12.8 miles/6 .5 hours)

Day 4: Piancastagnaio to Acquapendente: Tracks along low ridges with long views bring us to the ancient town of Proceno, from where we descend to the Serlate Valley before walking up to the town of Acquapendente, with its fine square and waterfalls (20.2 miles, 10 hours).

Day 5: Acquapendente to Bolsena: Forest tracks through the low Monte Volsinii lead to the edge of a wide ancient volcanic crater, then down to the wide blue waters of Lake Bolsena (12.4 miles, 6 hours).

Day 6: Bolsena to Montefiascone: Ancient paths with lake views lead to panoramic Montefiascone, surmounted by a fortress. Amongst its fine churches is that of San Floriano, which houses the tomb of the bishop whose visit to the town is famously commemorated in the name of its wine: Est! Est!! Est!!! (11.1 miles/5.5 hours).

Day 7: Montefiascone to Viterbo: Following one of the finest sections of paved Roman road in Italy we cross a plateau, pausing to enjoy Roman baths and thermal springs on the ancient route, before continuing to the walled city of Viterbo (11.4 miles, 5–5.5 hours).

Day 8: Return home.


Required Items to Bring:

Good walking shoes, hiking poles

Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.

Insect repellent, rain gear


How to Get There:
Event Directions:

The recommended airports for this route are Pisa, Florence and Rome. There are buses and trains to Buonconvento from Pisa (2–3 hours, €11-€24 ), Florence (2–3 hours, €11) and Rome (3 hours, €18-€34). From Buonconvento it is a short taxi ride to Montalcino (~€30)


Notes:

Registration Requirements.

TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS EVENT:
1. You must be an AOC trip leader or an active AOC member recommended by an AOC trip leader. This requirement is in place to verify that you have the necessary level of fitness and, most important, that you are a sociable person that will get along with the rest of the group and will not engage in disruptive behavior. This event is intended for bona fide AOC members and not for persons that join the club just to participate in this event. It is your responsibility to find a trip leader that will send me a recommendation on your behalf. Please put yourself on the waiting list. As soon as registration opens I will check whether you qualify, and, if you do, will move you to the list of participants, provided the maximum number of participants has not been reached.  (I will go through the list of participants in the order they are listed on the waiting list). If you do not qualify you will remain on the waiting list until you do, or the maximum number of participants has been reached. You must also have recent D5 experience.

2. After I move you to the list of participants please send me a deposit of $130 by PayPal to zalikri@gmail.com. If I don't receive your deposit by October 15 I will move you back to the waiting list.

3. I need to receive your remaining  balance by March 8, 2020. Otherwise I will have to move you back to the waiting list and try to find another participant in the event.

After I move you to the list of participants please tell me whether you want a room with two beds or a double bed. If a double bed, please tell me with whom you will be sharing it.

5. I will give some preference to those that were unable to get into the Cinque Terre or Tuscan Hills events and are still on one of the waiting lists.

WEATHER: Weather in June tends to be sunny, but there may be some rainy days as well.

COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSPORTATION: Cell phone service along our route may be spotty. Although I will carry a satellite phone, satellite signal is not guaranteed either. If for any reason you cannot walk on a given day transportation may be available to transport you to your next destination at additional cost, but this service is not guaranteed.

DISCLAIMER: The Trip Leader for this event has elected either to personally collect the funds that event participants are required to pay, or to require participants to pay funds directly to a third party. No funds will be paid to the Atlanta Outdoor Club for this event. Therefore, by registering for this event, you acknowledge and agree to the following: (1) the monies paid by registrants will not be monitored, managed, or otherwise accounted for by the Atlanta Outdoor Club; (2) that the Atlanta Outdoor Club bears no financial responsibility for this event; and (3) you waive any and all claims against the Atlanta Outdoor Club, and hold the Atlanta Outdoor Club harmless for the loss of any monies you paid for this event.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any paying registrant may request directly from the Trip Leader, prior to the event, a breakdown of funds collected, estimated expenses, and deposits made in anticipation of the event. Following the event, the Trip Leader must complete his or her financial accounting for the event, with supporting documentation, within 30 days of the completion of the event, and a paid registrant may request a breakdown of funds collected, money spent and supporting documentation after that time. If you are unable to obtain requested documentation, please contact the Director of Paid Events.

 

 
 


* We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines while participating in AOC events.

Member Cost:$1,150.00/Person
Cost Includes:

INCLUDED:

Seven nights accomodation in 3 or 4 star hotals, breakfast and dinner included.

We will have a route manager who will meet is in  San Gimignano for a briefing, move our luggage along the route, book restaurants for us, help us with any travel arrangements and be contactable at any time during our walk.

Luggage transfer between overnight stops. We leave our luggage at our lodging in the morning and we pick it up at our next lodging upon arrival. We only carry a small pack with the day's necessities. You may take more than one bag on this trip, but the weight limit for EACH bag is 15 kg or 33lbs. 

A $25 nonrefundable AOC user fee.         

Cost does NOT include anything not explicitly mentioned above, in particular:

Lunches: we will have route book  that provide information as to where we can purchase picnic supplies and/or bars and restaurants on the route.

Evening meals: for evenings when a meal at our hotel is not included, the route book has restaurant suggestions to suit a variety of budgets, and the route manager can book restaurants on our behalf.

Transport to/from the start/end of the route.

Entrance fees to museums, churches etc.

City Tax of 1 or 2 Euros per night, payable in cash (this is not always collected).

Note: Based on recommendations, we are contracting with a company in the UK. The cost allows for currency rate fluctuations and includes credit card fees. Any surplus in excess of 10 USD per person will be refunded, otherwise it will be transferred to AOC. 

Make a Payment:Although there is a cost for this event, you do not pay through the AOC. Please review the event details carefully for information about how/where to make your payment.

Cancellation/Partial Attendance:   Please review the AOC cancellation policy.
*Note:

In the event of cancellation, any money that has not been sent to the service provider will be refunded in full (except for the AOC user fee) but once it has been transferred no refund is possible. However if there is another person on the waiting list that is qualified to participate in the event, and the person you were supposed to share a room with does not object, and the hotels en route permit it, you may switch with her or him. The Trip Leader will not be involved in your private financial arrangements.