May: This photography tour is not currently in the schedule, but can be added by request

  5 nights/6 inclusive days  |  Maximum of 6 participants, and a minimum of 4 participants

Photography Tour Overview: This Tuscan odyssey will start and end near Florence and includes many ancient hill towns such as San Gimignano, Monteriggioni, Montalcino, Pienza, Casole d'Elsa, Montepulciano and the medieval town of Siena, capital of the Siena province and UNESCO World Heritage Site. The photography will be a mixture of the ancient contrasting with the modern in the form of rustic artifacts, flowerpot-laden window ledges, and narrow cobbled streets. We'll conclude our photo tour with the classic Florence skyline with the iconic Ponte Vecchio in the shot. As with all of our photography tours, early and late shooting is scheduled for each day.
 

Our itinerary . . .
But first things first! We suggest that you set your camera's clock to the local time, as your images will then synchronize with the times in our included photo tour field notes.

Days 1, 2, 3 + 4  |  San Gimignano, Monteriggioni, Siena and Pienza
After the group has gathered at 11 a.m. at our gateway hotel near the Florence airport, we'll head south in the direction of Siena in the heart of Tuscany and Chianti country. Our first real taste of 'Toscana' will be during a photo-explorations of the 'tower' town of San Gimignano and Monteriggioni, another hill town with walls that date to the 13th century. Photography here will be a mixture of ancient buildings contrasting with locals on cell phones, and window frames with peeling paint. In terms of architecture, little has changed in Monteriggioni since the 16th century, consequently the walls and inner buildings are considered the best preserved examples of their kind in all of Italy. At San Gimignano we'll pause for the included first day lunch. On to our hotel near San Quirico d'Orcia for a four night stay.
On days 2, 3, 4 and 5 we'll rise early for the best possible light, hopefully low-lying fog too, on the Val d'Orcia's classic Tuscan scenes. Each day we'll take loop trips through the Tuscan countryside, and be ready to photograph the warm late light as it bathes the landscape each evening. As we move from one hill town to another we'll pause for other subjects such as olive grove symmetry, or a line of Cypress trees leading to/framing a hill farm. Among the hill towns we'll explore on foot will be Montalcino, Pienza, Montepulciano, Bagno Vignoni, plus Saint Antimo abbey and more. We'll also spend time at the Bosco della Ragnaia gardens in San Giovanni d'Asso. Siena is another notable hill town and we'll make at least one late in the day visit for dinner on the Piazza del Campo that sits under the magnificent tower of Torrre del Mangia. Included will be twilight photography of the floodlit centuries old buildings and more.
Near San Quirico d'Orcia, 4 nights

Day 5  |  Florence: Skyline and Ponte Vecchio
More early light images prior to breakfast, and then we'll head back to Florence via a different route making photography stops along the way for long lens shots of hill towns that dot the landscape such as Montefollonico. We'll explore Torrita di Siena on foot, and continue on to Florence. Lastly, we'll shoot the Florence skyline and classic Ponte Vecchio from Piazza de Michelangelo to close the trip. The included dinner on the last night of our photography tour will feature an 'It's You!' presentation of clients in action on this tour by John.
Near Florence airport, 1 night

Day 6  |  Departure day
As there isn't any photography scheduled for the day of departure on this trip, your flight home can be arranged for any time today. Transport to the airport is included unless you’re staying on for a day or more.

Photo Tour Photographer/Leader: John Baker, Travel Images Photography Tours
The preceding itinerary is a copyrighted work by John Baker Photographer LLC, and Travel Images Photography Tours
 

Enhancing Your Photography Skills
Describing the assistance you'll receive on one of our photography tours takes more than a few words, so for greater detail please go here.

Exertion level: This photography tour is classified as 'non strenuous' to 'moderately strenuous'
A majority of images are found in close proximity to our vehicle
Each day we will visit various hill towns and explore them on foot. Consequently there are steps and inclines, but as you'll be exploring with your camera the pace will be slow, and the distances relatively short.
In every other respect this photography tour is considered non-strenuous to mildly strenuous

Do you need a Visa for travel to Italy?
Travelers from all countries can do a quick check of visa requirements here or here
Our international clients may need to contact the embassy of their intended destination in their own country for a visa. Go here or here
 

Photography Tour Cost, Deposit, Cancellation Policy and Enrollment Guidance

Trip Cost: $2,712 USD per person not including airfare. A 5% discount is applied to all double occupancies. A single room supplement is required for single occupancy

Single Supplement: 14% of the base cost of the trip

The deposit for this photography tour is $400. Make a deposit, or pay your tour balance here

Cancellation policy: Go here

Enrollment guidance: Go here
 

Included in the Trip Cost: The following items are included in the trip cost . . .

• Photography instruction throughout the trip by John

• All accommodations with private facilities [en-suite]

• All breakfasts

• Lunch on day one of the trip

• Dinner on the last night of the trip

• On-vehicle snacks and bottled water

• All ground transportation

• Airport pick-up on day 1, and drop-off on departure day. Arrival prior to day 1 is not included

• Entrance fees for sites and activities listed below under ‘Admissions Included’

• Following the trip you'll receive detailed field notes describing the time, place and subject of each photo stop, plus image uploads to a private web page of clients 'in action' on the trip

Not Included in the Trip Cost: The costs for these items are the responsibility of each participant . . .

• Airfare

• Travel costs between your home and the gateway airport and return

• Any transportation or travel costs incurred prior to or after the tour’s inclusive dates

• Pre-tour and/or post-tour accommodation

• Lunches and dinners except for lunch on day one of the trip, and dinner on the last night of the trip

• Alcoholic beverages

• Entrance fees or costs related to optional sites or activities not included in the itinerary

• Baggage fees

• Medical expenses

• Personal items such as the hotel mini-bar, laundry et cetera

• Incidental charges incurred at our accommodations such as movie rentals, internet and phone

• Travel insurance

• Passport or visa expenses

• Airport departure taxes, if applicable

Admissions Included in the Trip Cost:

• Bosco della Ragnaia gardens

• Any other admissions such as village *towers are optional and not included. * Be prepared to climb a lot of steps!