Tuscany’s Hidden Hills to the Ligurian Sea
Inntravel's signature self-guided format on a coast-to-coast Tuscan walk that swaps the Chianti tourist trail for the quieter Lunigiana ranges. Two-night stops in family-run agriturismi mean you actually settle in.
About this trip.
La Maremma in quiet Tuscany
La Maremma is the part of Tuscany most visitors miss — a wild, secretive stretch of hill country that runs down to the Ligurian Sea. It was once the preserve of charcoal burners, shepherds, and butteri (the cowboys who still tend the region's oxen and horses). The interior is genuinely quiet: rolling hills, cork-oak woods, and walled medieval villages where family-run wine shops outnumber souvenir stalls. The coast, when you reach it, is a string of golden beaches backed by fragrant pine groves and the ruins of one of Italy's most unusual archaeological sites.
This is a self-guided walk for people who want Tuscany without the crowds, and who like the idea of finishing the week paddling in the sea.
Through Sassetta, Suvereto and down to Baratti
You spend the first two nights at Tenuta La Bandita, an agriturismo near Sassetta. Day one is a 13.5km circuit through chestnut woods up to the village, with a longer option that loops to Castagneto Carducci — a hill-top town with the artisan workshops and DOC Bolgheri wine bars to justify a slow lunch. On day two, a 15km mostly-downhill route brings you into Suvereto, a walled village in the foothills, ascent 350m, descent 645m. The week follows a similar rhythm: 5–15km a day across gently rolling hills and rocky-then-sandy coastline, graded easy-to-moderate, with the occasional climb thrown in.
The villages are the connective tissue — Suvereto, Castagneto Carducci, Campiglia — each with its own family-run shops and trattorie serving Tortelli Maremmani, Spezzatino alla Maremmana made with local red, acquacotta, and proper charcuterie. The walk ends at the Golfo di Baratti, where the Parco Archeologico holds the only Etruscan necropolis built directly on the sea. Tombs sit a few yards from the pine trees and the water, which is a strange and quietly affecting thing to come across at the end of a week's walking.
Practicalities and what's included
Six nights in total: one 4-star hotel and two agriturismi, one of them an elegant wine estate where a tasting is built into the stay. The package covers six breakfasts, five dinners, luggage transported between accommodations, route notes, GPS navigation, and transfers on days 2 and 4. You can start any day, and the season runs 1 April to 30 June and 1 September to 31 October 2026 — the operator avoids high summer here, with good reason given July and August averages of 29°C.
From £1,470pp. Rail from London can be arranged, as can flights with connecting transfers, or just the transfers if you'd rather book your own travel. The walking grade is 1–2, suited to anyone happy with 5–15km a day including some short uphill sections. It will appeal most to walkers who'd rather skip Chianti and the tour buses, eat properly at the end of each day, and finish at a swimmable bay with a small piece of pre-Roman history attached.
The shape of the trip.
What's typically in the price, what isn't.
A general guide for walking holidays of this kind. Check the operator's booking page for the final inclusions on this specific trip.
Typically included
- ✓Hotel accommodation, double or twin en-suite rooms
- ✓Daily breakfast at each hotel
- ✓Luggage transfer between hotels on every walking day
- ✓Detailed route notes with maps and GPX files
- ✓24/7 support line in English for the duration of the trip
Typically not included
- ×Flights to and from the country of travel
- ×Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- ×Lunches — typically a village picnic or café stop
- ×Some evening meals — depends on the specific itinerary
- ×Alcohol beyond any wine included with set dinners
- ×Optional room or transfer upgrades
Everything you might be wondering.
Q1How hard is it really?
The grading is set by the operator and usually reflects daily distance and total ascent. As a rule of thumb: if you can comfortably manage a 5-6 hour hillwalk at home on a weekend, a moderate-graded route will be fine. Read the day-by-day notes carefully, and train with a loaded pack in the months before.
Q2Can I do this solo?
Yes — self-guided walking holidays are well suited to solo travellers, and some operators waive the single-room supplement on certain departures. The route notes are written for confident independent walkers, and most operators run a 24/7 support line.
Q3Do I need to speak the language?
No. Hotels and restaurants on the route are used to English-speaking walkers. A phrasebook for menus and a few polite basics (hello, thank you, please) is all you really need. The operator's support line speaks English.
Q4Can I bring my dog?
Some routes are dog-friendly, others aren't — it depends on whether all the accommodation on the itinerary accepts dogs. Check with the operator before booking. If you do bring a dog, you'll need a pet passport, up-to-date rabies vaccination, and a lead for villages.
Q5What if it rains?
The route is walkable in rain — your luggage travels ahead regardless, so you'll always arrive somewhere dry. Some trails get slippery in wet weather and the operator's support line can arrange a taxi for any stage if conditions are properly bad.
Q6How do I get there from the UK?
Most routes are reachable by a short flight to a nearby airport, followed by train or transfer. The operator will usually point you at the nearest airport and can advise on rail connections. Some will book train tickets on your behalf for a small fee.
Q7Can I shorten or extend it?
Usually yes. Many operators offer shorter versions of a route as a standalone, and most will add extra nights at the start or end at their own rates. Ask when you enquire — they'll tailor it before booking.
Q8What about cancellation?
Typically a deposit (usually 20-25%) is taken at booking, with the balance due 8-10 weeks before departure. The operator's own terms apply — Mooch doesn't handle the booking or refunds. Travel insurance is strongly recommended.
Three walking holidays, side-by-side.
Other walking holidays on Mooch in the same spirit. All prices per person, from the operator.
