Cycling Retreat in Lucca: Why This Tuscan Week Works So Well

Lucca, where every ride has a sense of possibility.

Some places slowly become part of your story, and for me, Lucca is one of them.

I’ve been returning to Lucca every year since 2012, and every time I arrive, I’m reminded why this week continues to be such a favourite, both for me and for guests. It’s also where I choose to base myself each European summer, and over time it has become Soulfit Adventures’ second home.

There’s something about the rhythm of it that just works. Part of it is the town itself.

Lucca has this beautiful ease about it. Life spills out onto the streets. People are walking, talking, riding, sitting in the piazza with a coffee or an aperitivo. Cycling isn't just an activity here, it's part of the fabric of daily life. It always has been and I love that.

A Week That Flows

One of the things that makes Lucca so special as a retreat is how effortlessly the week unfolds.

We stay in one beautiful base for the entire week, which means no unpacking and repacking, no moving around, and no losing time in transfers. You arrive, settle in, and exhale. From there, the days take on their own rhythm.

Mornings start with coffee and breakfast before we head out onto roads that quickly leave the bustle behind. Within a short time, we’re on backroads, winding through forests, olive groves, vineyards, and tiny hilltop villages that many people would never otherwise find.

Some days bring long, steady climbs and sweeping descents. Others unfold more softly, with quiet roads, small villages, and the kind of riding that encourages conversation as much as it does effort.

What I love most is the variety.

Lucca gives us options. Challenge when we want it, flow when we need it, and always roads that reward the effort.

Beyond the Ride

One base for the week. Olive groves, poolside afternoons, and space to truly settle in.

Of course, what makes this week memorable isn’t only what happens on the bike. It's the return.

That feeling of rolling back in after a solid days ride, after a stop for a gelato first of course, then changing into something comfortable for a moment by the pool, a post ride stretch, a wine tasting or a massage.

It’s that balance that people remember. The riding is absolutely a highlight, but it’s the way the whole day fits together that makes the experience feel so complete.

Lucca Has a Way of Welcoming You In

There’s a warmth to Lucca that’s hard to put into words.

It’s in the locals heading out on their bikes in the early morning light. It’s in the small cafés and squares, it's in the feeling that even if it’s your first time there, it somehow doesn’t feel unfamiliar.

Guests often say that by the end of the week, it feels like they’ve really lived there, not just visited. I think that’s one of the biggest differences.

This isn’t a rushed itinerary. It’s not about ticking off sights. It’s about settling into the rhythm of the place and letting the week unfold naturally.

Why I Keep Coming Back

Every year I come back to Lucca, and every year it offers something slightly different.

A road I haven’t ridden in a while. A hidden climb I didn't know about that blows me away. A new favourite café stop. A different group dynamic that gives the week its own personality.

But the essence always stays the same. Beautiful riding. Thoughtful pacing. Great food. Good company. A place that seems to wrap itself around the week in the best possible way.

That’s why it works so well. And why it continues to be one of the Soulfit weeks I most look forward to.

If Lucca has been sitting on your vision board, feel free to send me a DM or email to register your interest for upcoming dates.