The Palio of Siena is one of Italy's most spectacular events but much of the interest lies in the rituals and folklore around the race. Hedonistic Hiking's Palio of Siena tour takes you right behind the scenes, and with accommodation in a historic palazzo in the centre of Siena, also provides the opportunity to catch several of the unscheduled Palio activities.  Away from the Palio, the tour includes hiking in the surrounding countryside and Hedonistic Hiking's signature focus on local gastronomy.

Comments Hedonistic Hiking co-owner, Jackie Parsons, 'We want to share this beautiful corner of Tuscany which has been our home for over 20 years, and fully immerse our guests in what is truly a memorable experience. The race is, of course, magnificent, but by staying in the heart of the city, our guests also get the chance to catch a glimpse of the early morning trials and unscheduled activities such as the flag-throwing and drum rehearsals.'

The 6-night tour (12-18 August 2022) kicks off with a walking tour of the city and Contrada Museum visit on the first day of the 'Quattro Giorni del Palio', before joining the locals in the Campo to see the horses being allocated to their Contrade. Pre-race highlights include watching the penultimate trial race, the lively pre-race dinner, and, on the day of the race, attending the blessing of the horse at one of the Contrada chapels. There are also, of course, grandstand tickets to the race.

As with all Hedonistic Hiking tours, guests enjoy the usual focus on exploring the countryside and learning about the region through its gastronomy. The tour (level 1) includes hikes in the Chianti hills and in the relatively undiscovered Val di Merse, gastronomic picnics in Tuscan vineyards and an opportunity to learn how to cook several Tuscan specialities at a local agriturismo. Dinners are at a range of superb restaurants, with all courses matched to some of the region's top wines.

Prices: from £2565pp fully inclusive of 6 nights' accommodation, all meals with wine, tickets to the Palio and related events, and transfers from Pisa, with www.hedonistichiking.com.

NOTES TO EDITORS

Fully inclusive: All Hedonistic Hiking tours are fully-inclusive, including guided walking, gourmet picnic lunches, gastronomic dinners with wine, museum visits and food/wine tastings or cookery classes, and airport transfers. Flights are not included. Accommodation is in hand-picked, locally-owned hotels.

Tour grading: Hikes are graded (1-5) according to walking difficulty, ranging from a gentle stroll through Tuscan vineyards to more challenging mountain hikes on alpine trails in the Dolomites.

Tour locations: Hedonistic Hiking tours run in Australia (Victoria) and Italy. Italian destinations include the Dolomites, the Alps, Piedmont, Friuli-Venezia, Emilia Romagna, Tuscany, Umbria, the Basilicata, the Abruzzo, Sardinia and the Italian Lakes. Several of the tours cross borders into France, Slovenia and Austria.

Company history: Hedonistic Hiking was established in 2007 by Jackie and Mick Parsons. Tours are researched, planned and led by either Jackie or Mick, supported by an experienced, knowledgeable team.