Siciclando Active Holidays - Maremma Bike Tour through the hills of Tuscany | Siciclando Active Holidays - Guided Italy Bike Tours featuring Tuscany, Umbria and Sicily

Undiscovered Tuscany: Maremma Bike Tour

Bike Tuscany where you are a part of the perfection and harmony of this glorious place. Cycle through picturesque landscapes, visit historically authentic villages, and enjoy the amazing flavors of this region. Siciclando’s Maremma Bike Tour puts you in touch with a quieter part of Tuscany, an area still undiscovered by most – in the Etruscan area of southwestern Tuscany. Where local traditions endure and ancient civilizations echo through the present. This Italian bike tour offers the perfect balance of biking through vivid countryside and along the Tyrrhenian Sea. We have created bike routes that give you optional extensions, allowing you to get just the right amount of biking to fit your needs. We will take you through a region that sees fewer tourists and offers authentic experiences that make this tour memorable.

The Undiscovered Tuscany: Maremma Biking Tour is a special tour to Siciclando. Although Tuscany is a popular destination, Maremma is a unique and quiet setting for rich experiences. We have carefully chosen authentic places and settings to make this a memorable trip – a great choice for the romantic.

We will begin this exciting tour in the picturesque town of Orvieto, where you will discover many fascinating aspects of this beautiful place. You will be taken by the charm of this medieval town during a guided walk which will take you to a beautiful Gothic-style cathedral and then on to the Palazzo del Gusto (The Palace of Taste). This is an old monastery that now plays an important role in the slow food movement founded in 1989 as a response to fast food and fast paced lifestyles. There is a strong focus on maintaining local food traditions and creating awareness of the pleasure and responsibility of cooking and eating well.

The tour will take you to Semproniano, another medieval town set among the hills of Albegna. Surrounded by the beautiful countryside, this will be our base for the next three nights. From here you will experience enjoyable bike rides along rolling fields, vineyards, and olive groves. Here we will gain a good understanding of the flavors of the region as we cook a Tuscan dinner together. This will be an unforgettable experience with our friends Angela and Enrico, who will explain the ingredients and traditions of this region and how to bring it all together in an amazing meal.

You will be pleased to discover the precious town of Sovana, a hidden treasure of this area. The amazing art found in frescos and paintings will surprise you. Traditional weaving is still practiced here.

Pitigliano, is another wonderful town carved in the tufa cliffs above the countryside. There are more than 1,000 caves carved in the steep rock cliffs. This combined with the tall tower houses make this town a majestic sight. After our bike ride here, we will enjoy a walking tour that will lead us along the tombs and the village remains of the Etruscan community that dominated this region long ago. See the charm of “Little Jerusalem” named for the active Jewish population that has inhabited this place since the 15th century. We will enjoy a taste of the grapes we have biked past, when we visit a local winery and enjoy a light lunch.

We will begin a journey towards the sea, passing more charming villages including the town of Magliano in Toscana, which is surrounded by a town wall built between the 13th and 15th centuries. There are three gates that allow entrance into the village – like entering a fairy tale.

We will continue our taste of Tuscany with an olive oil tasting. Giorgio will help us understand the important points of good olive oil while tasting varieties from the region. A visit to a local farm will give you an opportunity to see how local cheese is produced. You will get a chance to taste the different kinds and enjoy lunch at the farm. Another experience we look forward to sharing with you.

We think you will agree that this tour is a wonderful blend of biking, history, culture, and flavors uniquely set in this quiet part of Tuscany. Join us!

Cost: € 1465 – € 1870 ($) see PRICING details below
Duration: 8 days/7 nights
Start/End: Orvieto – Capalbio/Orbetello
2010 Start Dates: September 17, September 25, October 3, October 18

Highlights of the tour

Discover the charming hilltop town of Orvieto during a guided walk that introduces you to an ancient Etruscan well, a lovely Gothic-style cathedral, and ends with a wine and cheese tasting at Palazzo del Gusto (The Palace of Taste).
Enjoy a guided walk of Pitigliano, an ancient city carved into the steep tufa cliffs, here you will discover “Little Jerusalem” where there is a large and active Jewish population that settled in this town in the 15th century as well as ancient relics of a powerful Etruscan civilization.
Join our friends, Angela and Enrico, for a cooking class where together we will prepare our Tuscan dinner using regional ingredients and timeless traditions.
Experience the wines of this region with our wine tasting.
Visit the lovely town of Sovana, a jewel of undiscovered Italy with beautiful frescos and paintings that capture the essence of this place, where they still practice old-style weaving.
Relax with a massage during the tour.
Learn the secrets of good olive oil with our friend Giorgio who will host a tasting.
Wake to the sounds of church bells and sea as we discover this wonderful region.

Itinerary
Accommodations
Photos
Maps
Notes
Pricing

Day 1 – Welcome to Orvieto! Arrival on your own to Orvieto, one of the most beautiful small towns of Italy dramatically set atop vertical cliffs and surrounded by ancient defensive walls! Relax in this peaceful place
Our group will meet at 4:00 pm for a walking tour to better understand the 3,000 year history of this charming town.
Dinner is included today.

Day 2 – Transfer to Semproniano and a warm-up ride (13.2 miles/22 kilometers)
We will transfer from Orvieto to Semproniano, a little medieval town located in the Maremma region, among the hills of Albegna. The surrounding area is an example of a cultivated countryside covered with vineyards and olive groves.
Once in Semproniano, you’ll enjoy a light lunch at the hotel. We will have a brief introduction to the tour and a gentle warm up ride to get familiar with the bikes.
Breakfast and lunch are included today.

Day 3 – Biking the rolling hills of Tuscany and a cooking class (18.3 miles/30.5 kilometers)
A gentle rolling ride that takes you south to Sovana and Pitigliano, two of the most unique medieval towns in Italy. Enjoy Etruscan and Roman history told through incredible works of art: exquisite frescoes and paintings. Sovana is a jewel of Italy, a treasure chest of art and history, architecture and culture. Pitigliano is a village carved in tufa cliffs with a thousand caves and houses like towers situated on a prominent massive rock that is visible for miles. This charming town embraces and actively promotes its history. A wine and food tasting featuring local produce will complete the tour held in one of the many caves carved in the rock centuries ago.

In the afternoon our friends, Angela and Enrico, will introduce us to the local cuisine and take us through the preparation of a traditional Tuscan dinner using regional ingredients and original techniques. Buon appetito! We will stay in Semproniano again tonight.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included today.

Day 4 – To a lovely country hotel close to the medieval town of Scansano (22.86 miles/38.1 kilometers)
Today our destination is the resort hotel called Antico Casale di Scansano which offers a full range of amenities such as jacuzzi, sauna, massages and two outdoor swimming pools. The ride features spectacular views of the valley below where one sees grazing sheep and goats. The vineyards grow the Morellian grape, the local name for the red Sangiovese varietal which is the famous red wine from the Maremma area. Upon arrival at this rural resort Irene will greet us and show us our accomodation for two nights overlooking an equestrian centre and panoramic valley below from our terraces.
Breakfast is included today.

Day 5 – Down hill! (21 miles/35 kilometers)
After breakfast we glide down hill on a curving gradual sloping quiet road for 8 miles. Perhaps the best down hill of our trip. The first village we reach is Magliano in Toscana, surrounded by a wall built between the 13th and 15th centuries and allowing entrance into the village by one of three gates. Today’s ride will vividly demonstrates why we’re here – the superlative rural vistas which seemingly never end.

In the afternoon we will enjoy an olive oil tasting at the hotel hosted by Giorgio, a very expert olive oil producer of the area. A wonderful experience! We will spend another relaxing night at the countryside hotel.
Breakfast and dinner are included today.

Day 6 – Bike toward the sea (37.7 miles/62.8 kilometers)
After the spectacular down hill, a gentle rolling ride will take you toward the sea through the pretty village of Capalbio and ending our ride in a very charming resort of the area.
Breakfast and lunch are included today.

Day 7 – Bike to the beach of Talamone (20.22 miles/33.7 kilometers)
Experience the flat and quite road of the area toward the medieval town of Talamone, standing on a small promontory overlooking the Meditarranean sea. Here a small pretty beach to swim and feel the beauty of the sea. A picnic lunch is arranged for you today with local fresh products of the area.
Overnight in the resort for our farewell dinner together.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included today.

Day 8 – Departure Day
After breakfast, end of services and we will say our goodbyes. Ciao!

Actual tour itinerary may vary slightly due to unforeseen circumstances.

Click on any photo to enlarge it.

Siciclando carefully chooses every aspect of a tour, including the accommodations. Our choices are based on comfort and quality. We often choose hotels that are family-owned and operated because they provide a richer experience and because it is important to us to support the efforts of these individuals. We have developed relationships with many wonderful hotel operators. Here is a sample of the hotels on this tour.

Tour accommodations will be based on availability and the time of year. Once you have made your final payment for the tour, we will send you a confirmation letter that includes daily accommodations and contact information.

Level of difficulty: Easy to moderate

The Tuscany Maremma bike routes are among beautiful hills, which means mostly gentle ups and downs. This tour is described as moderate to easy with an average 22 miles per day. Some days there is an optional extension of 18-24 miles for those interested and ready. This flexibility allows different levels of bikers a great tour at their preferred pace.

We will begin the tour with a warm up ride on day 2. Days 3 and 4 are nice loop rides along rolling terrain ending with gentle climbs to hilltop villages and offer extensions for those wanting a longer ride. Day 5 and 6 are gentle rides — note, day 6 is our longest ride of 38 miles and a gentle climb to the town of Magliano in Toscana. Day 7 is nice ride along the coast with an optional extension.

Travel notes

Airport: the trip is based on ROMA Fiumicino

Books

Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes (now, also a movie)
The true story of an American women who buys and restores an abandoned villa in the countryside of Tuscany. Follow along as she discovers the beauty of the simple Italian life.
Bella Tuscany: The Sweet Life in Italy by Frances Mayes
A continuation of the New York Times Bestseller Under a Tuscan Sun. Re-enter the world of Tuscany for more beautiful stories of this place and its people.
In Tuscany by Frances Mayes
The book begins with “Tuscany is a world; Italy is a universe.” See for yourself the observances of this wonderful place.
On the Shore of the Mediterranean (Travel Narrative) by Eric Newby
A sparkling observer and famously entertaining, Newby tackles the Mediterranean in the merry classic account of travels to North Africa, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Cairo, and Jerusalem.
The Hill Towns of Italy by Richard Kauffman
An oversize survey of the towns, people, and countryside of Tuscany and Umbria. It covers 13 classic towns in the region including Siena, Cortona, Perugia, Assisi and Orvieto. First published in 1983, the book is a good mix of handsome color photographs and insightful text.
Central Italy, Tuscany and Umbria by Berrie Kerper
A quirky, literary guide to the history, food, and landscape of Tuscany and Umbria – as presented in travel essays by writers foreign and local. With an extensive annotated bibliography for each section.
The Tuscan Year, Tuscan Life and Food in an Italian Valley by Elizabeth Romer 1996
An intimate portrait of life on a Tuscan farm, as seen primarily through the robust food. Romer captures the goings-on in the countryside, especially in the kitchen.
A Thousand Days in Tuscany by Marlene de Blasi
“Filled with warmth and the rich and simple drama of a beautiful life. The evocation of country dishes is mouthwatering, the lyrical beauty irresistible.” Susan Herrmann Loomis, author of Cooking at Home on Rue Tatin

Group tour price

4-5 people € 1870 per person
6-7 people € 1635 per person
8+ people € 1465 per person

Pricing philosophy

Additional options and fees

Hybrid Bike rental – € 100 which includes 1 bike pannier per bike, helmets and a cycle computer.
Road bike rental €175.00 which includes 1 bike pannier per bike, helmets and a cycle computer.
Single occupancy for hotels € 240.00

Included