Best of Umbria and Tuscany Biking Tour - Guided Italy bike tours, featuring Tuscany, Umbria and Sicily

Perfect Places. Peaceful bike rides.

Enjoy the best of both regions: the peaceful and artistic Umbria along with the perfect beauty of famous Tuscany. Biking is enhanced by wonderful side trips to towns steeped in religious history including the most famous, Assisi, home to Saint Francis. See the artists who make the famous Deruta pottery and weave lace, both crafts which have held onto techniques that are centuries old.

Enjoy time in Siena with its famous Piazza del Campo, a beautiful, busy town square. Visit the ornate Cathedral of Siena (duomo), a wonderful example of Romanesque architecture completed in 1380. Cycle through vineyards and end the day with a glass of the region’s unique Montefalco wine. You’ll have a difficult time choosing your favourite day.

Cost: € 1265 – € 1620 ($) see PRICING details below
Duration: 8 days/7 nights
Start/End: Assisi/Siena
2010 Start Dates: April 24, May 8, May 16, May 29, June 12, September 10, September 18, October 2, October 16

Highlights of the Tour

Visit the town of Assisi and the Saint Francis Basilica with frescos by Giotto
See how the famous Deruta pottery is made, beautiful ceramics with its style developing as early as 800 BC
Visit Torgiano and Lungoratti wineries for a taste of Montefalco wine, a deep red wine unique to this area
Go to Isola Maggiore where Italian women weave lace as they have for centuries
Stay in the town of Cortona, made famous by the book Under the Tuscan Sun
Explore the medieval village of Montepulciano amidst Tuscany wine country
Visit Sienna with its beautiful public square, the Piazza del Campo, and ornate duomo.

Itinerary
Photos
Maps
Notes
Pricing

Day 1 – Welcome to Assisi, Italy!

Arrival in Assisi and transfer to your hotel. Visit this beautiful town which is within a 10 minute walk from your hotel. Spend time at the stunning Saint Francis Basilica and enjoy the frescos by Giotto. The next morning you are given your information materials: road book, maps, guide book and vouchers. You will have a chance to try your bike and make necessary adjustments.

Day 2 – Loop around Assisi (30 miles/50 km)

Today the ride takes you to Spello a very nice small town, on the Subasio Slopes, with fewer tourists. You will be riding through olive groves with no major uphill except for the final climb back to Assisi. Enjoy another night at the same inn.

Day 3 – Assisi to la Corte del Poggio (36 miles/60 km)

Bike to Trasimeno Lake with a visit to Deruta, famous for its elaborately painted ceramics with techniques developed over centuries. We will also visit Torgiano and Lungarotti wineries for tasting of the region’s unique Montefalco red wine or a stop at the wine museum. You will bike through soft hills and nice villages until you reach la Corte del Poggio. The road is continuously rolling up and down hill. You will be happy to find a nice swimming pool upon arrival at the inn.

Day 4 – Around the lake to Cortona (30 miles/50 km)

Another enjoyable day as we get a nice view of the lake, Monte del Lago, and San Feliciano fishing village from the Montecorognola overlook. Take a boat to Isola Maggiore where old ladies weave their age old laces and where you can taste delicious fish at Sauro’s. Then continue to Cortona where you will spend the night.

Day 5 – Cortona to Montepulciano (27 miles/45 km)

Today you enter Tuscany through the wine country of Montepulciano. Before getting there, you will enjoy a tour of the small Chiusi and Montepulciano Lakes. Once in Montepulciano, tour this beautiful renaissance town. Be sure to visit the superb Cantine del Redi Winery with their vaulted cellars. Enjoy a taste of the “Nobile” at Crociani Winery, a smaller operation, but very friendly.

Day 6 – Montepulciano to Buonconvento (27 miles/45 km)

After a visit to the San Biagio church, head for Pienza, the beautiful Renaissance town, home to Pope Pio the II. On the way discover the incredible “Crete” landscape with barren hills, crowned by rows of cypress trees. Stop in Montichiello, a little medieval borough where you can sip a cappuccino (or a glass of wine) seated at the terrace of the local cafè. Make the detour to visit the thermal town of Bagno Vignoni with its incredible main square. You will spend the night in a nice inn near Buonconvento or in a modern three star hotel in Buonconvento.

An alternative on this day can be a visit to Montalcino and then onto Buonconvento.

Day 7 – Buonconvento to Siena (30 miles/50 km)

The road to Monte Oliveto Maggiore Monastery is a gentle climb from Buonconvento. Stop and visit the abbey before continuing to Asciano, a small town in the heart of the Crete. From there continue on to Sienna. The landscape is more rugged today with plenty of ups and downs, but the landscape is superb and worth the ride. Spend the night in Sienna in a centrally-located three star hotel.

Day 8 – Siena – Departure Day

Free time in Sienna to visit the town before your departure. Ciao!

Actual tour itinerary may vary slightly due to unforeseen circumstances.

Click on a photo to enlarge it.

Level of difficulty: Moderate

Tuscany and Umbria are no easy regions as the most interesting places are on top of a hill. However we have chosen the smoothest slopes to reach the top and the easiest routes. The toughest day are the fifth with the climb to Cortona and the last, going to Siena.

Travel notes

The reference airports for the tour are Perugia, Pisa, or Rome.

You can also find information about travel by train.

Books

Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayers

Movies

Il Paziente inglese
Ballo da sola

Group tour price

4-5 people € 1620 per person
6-7 people € 1450 per person
8+ people € 1265 per person

Pricing philosophy

Additional options

Private room – € 265
Hybrid Bike rental – € 100 (€ 18 each additional day), which includes 1 bike pannier per bike, helmets and a cycle computer.
Road Bike rental – € 175 (€ 27 each additional day), which includes 1 bike pannier per bike, helmets and a cycle computer.
Cooking class – € 80 per person

Included

One English-speaking trip leader
Seven nights in three-star hotels, all rooms with en suite bathroom
Seven breakfasts and three dinners
Baggage transportation between hotels
Detailed route information and maps
Van support

Not included

Admission to museums and archaeological sites
Tickets for trains or any public transportation
Wine or beverages
Airfare
Transfers to the starting point or from the finishing point unless specified; we can assist you in planning and arranging for any necessary shuttles
Transport of bike case (for guests who bring their own bike)
Personal expenses (laundry, personal supplies, phone calls, etc.)
Gratuity

Self-guided option