Custom Italy Bike Tours | Bike Through Italy

Tour Itinerary

Day 1

Welcome to Umbria!
We begin in Umbria’s main city, the medieval town of Perugia. Enjoy a walk along the Corso Vannucci, the elegant main street of Perugia that winds through the town like a slow river. Take time to view the treasures of the National Gallery of Umbria or Perugino’s frescoes housed at the Collegio del Cambio. We will meet in the afternoon for a walking tour to hear the rich story of Perugia. And… if you like chocolate you are in the right place: Perugia is known for its “bacio” chocolate kiss.

0 Miles

B: Included
L: On Your Own
D: Included

Day 2

Bike Under the Tuscan Sun
Our ride today will take us along the north edge of Lake Trasimeno, the largest lake in central Italy and home to a wondrous bird population. Our route brings us to Cortona, one of the iconic villages of Tuscany. The town is embraced by a medieval wall cloistering delightful boutiques and cafe's. Cortona is the setting for the famous book and film “Under the Tuscan Sun.” Despite its fame, this lovely town has not lost its quaint charm or authenticity and is well worth exploring.

35 Miles
58 kilometers

B: Included
L: Included
D: On your own

Day 3

Ride the Renaissance
From Cortona we begin our ride with a downhill and then an enjoyable ride into the quiet countryside of Tuscany. The destination today is Pienza, a town completely restored as an ideal Renaissance town by Pope Pio II beginning in 1459. This was the beginning of urban planning concepts with the central square surrounded by important buildings (palaces, cathedrals, and clock towers). Pienza became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996 due to its cultural significance in urban planning.

29 Miles
48 kilometers

B: Included
L: On your own
D: On your own

Day 4

Criss-crossing Tuscan hills
Enjoy a bike loop which will take us to Montepulciano, one of the most famous towns of Tuscany. The route will take us through charming villages and wonderful landscapes, along forests and among the typical countryside that makes Tuscany so famous. We’ll visit the wine cellars of one of the oldest wineries in the area, carved into the basement of a noble palace in town. We will enjoy a cooking class this afternoon where we will learn traditional recipes of the area and make our dinner.

26 Miles
43 kilometers

B: Included
L: On your own
D: Included

Day 5

Ancient Roman waters
We’ll bike Tuscany’s rolling hills to Montalcino, the home of Brunello wine. Take time to stroll through the village and perhaps taste the wines or prized olive oil at a sidewalk cafe. We will take a private van shuttle to our hotel at Bagno Vignoni, known for its thermal waters since ancient Roman times.

31 Miles
52 kilometers

B: On your own
L: On your own
D: Included in hotel

Day 6

Biking and Brunello!
Our ride takes us from the top of Mount Amiata through chestnut forests and small villages where we arrive at Sant’Antimo Abbey, a beautiful Romanesque abbey. After the abbey, we’ll stop at a Brunello winery for a tasting and light lunch. Brunello is produced with 100% Sangiovese grapes and is one of Italy’s best known and most expensive wines. After lunch we will transfer to our hotel in Bagno Vignoni.

21 Miles
35 kilometers

B: On your own
L: Group
D: On your own

Day 7

Biking and Brunello!
Enjoy our final Tuscan bike ride to beautiful Siena and more picturesque landscapes along the way. We offer two ride options today: the shorter ride ends 20 kilometers from the hotel in Siena, where a private shuttle takes you to the hotel, while the longer route allows you to bike directly to the hotel. Once in Siena, consider a slow walk, as the locals do. There is so much to explore including the well-known oval shaped central plaza — the Piazza del Campo adorned with the Mangia Tower. This is the gathering place for Siena and is the site for the Palio horse race that takes place twice a year; once in July and once in August. We will have a walking tour of the city this afternoon. Arrivederci

31 Miles
51 kilometers

B: On your own
L: Group
D: Group

Pricing

Additional options

Single room supplement — $610

Included

7 nights in 4 star accommodation;
7 breakfast
4 dinners (D1; D4; D5; D7)
1 cooking class (D4)

Chocolate tasting in Day 1
2 lunches and 1 picnic style lunch (D2; D6 and D3)
2 Wine tasting D4; D6
Guided walking tour in Siena on Day 7

One English-speaking trip leader
Baggage transportation between hotels
GPS tracks and route information and maps
Hybrid bike rental
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

Payment Options: credit card; wire transfer

Tour Hotels

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 for the "guided" version (please, ask us the hotel list for the "self guided" version which, due to the logistic, may be different).

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.