Umbria Road Bike Tour
Italy Bike Tours
Bike in Italy through the country’s “Green Heart”
- Tour Type
- Skill Level
- Length5–8 days
- Prices from€686 Rates
Overview
This road bike tour in Italy runs through what is frequently called the green heart of the country (or il cuor verde d'Italia): Umbria. Cycling in Umbria is perfect for those looking to personally experience this unique and unspoiled region with its endless beauty, unparalleled hospitality, and just the right combination of art, nature, and culture. As one of Italy's smallest regions, Umbria has long been a well-kept secret.
In the beautiful Umbrian landscape, you will find rolling hills covered with woodland, vineyards, and silver-green olive groves lacing the colorful fertile valleys. The landscape in the North of Umbria becomes increasingly more rough and unspoiled. Friendly hills change into a mountain landscape with scenic views of the Apennines.
Interspersed throughout, you will find friendly, authentic villages with atmospheric town squares crisscrossed with alleys and many impressive churches and castles.
Highlights
- Perugia, with its spectacular Renaissance palaces, museums, and churches
- Excellent shopping
- The beautiful square Palazzo dei Priori
- The 15th-century Cathedral of San Lorenzo with interesting pink and white stone decoration modeled after the cathedral of Arezzo in 1335
- The Basilica of San Domenico
- The medieval Pilgrim town of Assisi
- Basilica of San Francesco completed in 1253
Anyone who calls themself a cyclist must experience biking in Umbria, the jewel of bike tours in Italy. This tour is very similar to our other Umbria tour except it covers longer distances.
If Umbria is not your thing, check out our full list of bike tours in Italy.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Assisi
Day 2: Assisi - Spello - Foligno - Spoleto - Montefalco - Bevagna - Torgiano, 67 mi. (108 km) or 42 mi. (68 km)
Day 3: Torgiano - Passignano on Lake Trasimeno, 50 mi. (80 km)
Day 4: Day of rest or roundtrip tour around Lake Trasimeno, 58 mi. (94 km)
Day 5: Passignano - Umbertide, 54 mi. (88 km) or 28 mi. (47 km)
Day 6: Umbertide - Gubbio, 53 mi. (84 km)
Day 7: Gubbio - Assisi, 43 mi. (70 km)
Day 8: Departure from Assisi (Viole)All distances are approximate. Due to unforeseen circumstances such as weather conditions or provisions issued by local authorities, the itinerary may be subject to some changes before and/or during your holiday. For example, along the route, you may find temporary deviations/detours necessary due to roadwork that will not be reflected on your maps or route descriptions. In this case, please follow the directions posted locally.
Day 1: Arrival in Assisi
The tour starts in the Pilgrimage city of Assisi, built against the Monte Subasio Mountain. The little city with the towering fort "La Rocca Maggiore" can already be explored on this very first day. At the end of the afternoon, you will receive the route descriptions, maps, and tourist information from a tour agent.Sample accommodations
Standard: Hotel la Terrazza *** (900 m from old town centre)
Superior: Hotel Dal Moro Gallery **** or Hotel la Terrazza in a superior roomDay 2: Today you have the choice between a shorter or longer tour
Shorter route: Spello - Montefalco - Bevagna - Torgiano, 42 mi. (68 km)
Elevation | Highest point: 450 m / Lowest point: 205 m, Total ascent: 552 m / Total descent: 718 m
Starting your tour in Spello, you leave your hotel and pedal through the valley of Spoleto, passing Foligno, your route goes up to Montefalco, also called the "balcony of Umbria", because of its fantastic panorama views. The Franciscan church, now a museum, is decorated with magnificent frescoes from the 15th and 16th century by artists like Benozzo Gozzoli and Perugino. The next town you will visit is Bevagna, whose characteristic medieval square is home to two Romanesque churches. Your overnight stay is in Torgiano, which in medieval times was a fortified village and is situated on a hilltop above the confluence of the Chiascio and Tiber Rivers. Interesting to visit are the wine museum and the 'osteria' of the Lungarotti family, where you can taste their excellent wines.Longer route: Spello, Foligno-Spoleto-Montefalco-Bevagna-Torgiano 67 mi. (108 km)
Elevation | Highest point: 446 m / Lowest point: 195 m, Total ascent: 774 m / Total descent: 946 m
This longer route takes you through the same towns as the above shorter route but also brings you more south through the valley past Foligno towards the town of Spoleto.Sample accommodations
Standard: Hotel Al Grappolo d’Oro ***
Superior: Le Tre Vaselle ResortDay 3: Torgiano - Passignano on Lake Trasimeno, 50 mi. (80 km)
Elevation | Highest point: 401 m / Lowest point: 164 m, Total ascent: 986 m / Total descent: 934 m
Today, you will cycle for a while through an uninhabited region of forests with a farmhouse here and there along the way. Cycling in Umbria through this beautiful hilly terrain, you'll unexpectedly arrive at a glorious view over Lake Trasimeno with its 3 small islands. This Lake is the 4th largest in all of Italy with a rich population of fish. You will pass small, typical Umbrian ‘borghi’ built on a hilltop such as Castiglion del Fosco, Pietrafitta, and Panicale, which still has a fascinating, well-preserved 13th-century Palazzo del Podestà.Sample accommodations
Standard: Hotel Lido ***
Superior: Hotel Lido in superior roomDay 4: Day of rest or roundtrip tour around Lake Trasimeno (through Tuscany's Chiusi), 58 mi. (94km)
Elevation | Highest point: 396 m / Lowest point: 255 m, Total ascent: 835 m / Total descent: 826 m
Trasimeno Lake, beautifully surrounded by hilly landscapes, attracted much favorable attention during the Middle Ages and Renaissance. It was then that the painter Perugino, teacher of Raphael, often used the Lake as a background for his paintings. Next, you will bike around the Lake, passing the cozy towns of Passignano and Tuoro Lago along the way. Then, you'll leave the Lake behind for a nice visit to the Etruscan city of Chiusi. This quaint city has changed very little over time. Lastly, you'll venture back around Lake Trasimeno and maybe have time to visit one of the islands in the Lake.Sample accommodations
Standard: Hotel Lido ***
Superior: Hotel Lido in superior roomDay 5: Today you also have a choice between a shorter or longer tour
Shorter route: Lake Trasimeno - Umbertide, 27 mi. (45 km)
Elevation | Highest point: 704 m / Lowest point: 240 m; Total ascent: 837 m / Total descent: 855 m
This shorter ride brings you through unspoiled nature to your destination, the quiet little town of Umbertide. But first, a steep climb brings you to Castel Rigone from where you will have a magnificent view over the lake. From there, a pleasant undulating ride takes you to Umbertide, whose town center is dominated by a majestic tower, the remains of a castle dating back to 1385.Longer route: Lake Trasimeno - Umbertide (passing Cortona in Tuscany), 52 mi. (87 km)
Elevation | Highest point 396 m / Lowest point: 255 m, Total ascent: 1405 m / Total descent: 143 0m
A lovely ride through the valley of the Tesse brings you to Cortona. This beautiful, Tuscan town is built on a hilltop. Leaving it, you will cycle over a ridge through a mountainous terrain with magnificent views of the surrounding mountains. Your overnight stay will be just outside Umbertide.Sample accommodations
Standard/Superior: Country Hotel PoggiomanenteDay 6: Umbertide - Gubbio, 53 mi. (84 km)
Elevation | Highest point: 765 m / Lowest point: 240 m, Total ascent: 1292 m / Total descent: 1018 m
Today's destination is the fortified hill town of Gubbio. You will cycle through the mountains. It is a beautiful tour through the green hills of the lower Apennines. Along the way, visit Montone, a quiet little town built (482m) on a hilly ridge, situated between the Lana and Carpina streams, which are both tributaries of the Tiber. It's a slow climb uphill to Pietralunga with its old partially, walled center and the Long bards Castle dating back to the 8th century. You will pass Cagli in the region of Le Marche and from there, you arrive to Gubbio, where your accommodations are right in the town center.Sample accommodations
Standard: Hotel San Marco ***
Superior: Hotel Bosone ****Day 7: Gubbio - Assisi, 43 mi. (70 km)
Elevation | Highest point: 83 0m / Lowest point: 328 m, Total ascent: 1158 m / Total descent: 1254 m
On this last day of the tour, you will cycle through a beautiful hilly landscape passing quiet mountain villages. The first stretch begins with a steep climb, but after that, the road undulates gently until it brings you to the bottom of a valley. The last stretch brings you through characteristic little villages and finally, you will see Assisi from afar, built on a spur of mount Subasio.Sample accommodations
Standard: Hotel la Terrazza *** (900 m from old town centre)
Superior:
Hotel Dal Moro Gallery ****
or Hotel la Terrazza *** (superior room)
or Nun Relais or Anfi House ***** (with a supplement)Day 8: Departure from Assisi.
Individual departure from Assisi following breakfast.Day 1: Arrival Assisi
Day 2: Assisi - Torgiano 42 or 67 mi. (68 or 108 km)
Day 3: Torgiano - Passignano 49 mi. (80 km)
Day 4: Loop around lake 58 mi. (94 km)
Day 5: Departure after breakfast* Itinerary as per the 8-day tour (please refer above)
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Map
Hotels & Bikes
Please see each day’s detailed itinerary for the preferred accommodations for this tour. Final accommodation list will be based on availability. If preferred hotels are not available, a comparable alternative will be offered.
Standard: Great 3 star to 4 star hotels; rooms with private facilities.
Superior: Great 3 star to 4 star hotels and B&Bs, rooms with private facilities. All hotels are slightly higher quality than the Standard hotels, including all hotels have a swimming pool except in Gubbio. Hotel in Assisi is close to downtown.Bicycles
Gravel Bike
Cannondale Topstone 3 Carbon
- Weight: 9.5 kg (Bike and frame weights may vary in final production)
- Frame: Topstone Carbon, Kingpin suspension system, SmartSense compatible, Proportional Response construction, 12x142mm thru-axle, 27.2 dropper post ready, BSA 68mm threaded BB, DirectLine internal cable routing, removable fender bridge, multiple gear/bottle mounts
- Fork: Topstone Carbon, 1-1/8" to 1.5" steerer, 55mm OutFront offset, flat mount disc, internal routing, 12x100 thru-axle, triple bottle/gear mounts, fender mounts
- Rear Derailleur: Shimano GRX 810, Shadow RD+
- Front Derailleur: Shimano GRX 810, braze-on
- Shifters: Shimano GRX 600, 11-speed
- Crank: FSA Gossamer Pro Modular AGX+, 46/30
- Rear Cogs: Shimano HG700, 11-34, 11-speed
- Brakes: Shimano GRX 600 hydraulic disc, 160/160mm RT64 rotors
- Brake Levers: Shimano GRX 600 hydraulic disc
- Rims: WTB ST i23 TCS, 700c, 28h, tubeless ready
- Tire Size: 45
- Wheel Size: 700cc
- Hubs: (F) Formula cartridge bearing, 12x100mm centerlock / (R) Formula cartridge bearing, 12x142mm centerlock
- Handlebar: Cannondale 3, butted 6061 Alloy, 16 deg flare drop
- Stem: Cannondale 3, 6061 Alloy, 31.8, 7°
- Grips: Fizik Solocush Soft, 3mm
- Saddle: Fizik Aliante Delta, S-alloy rails
- Seatpost: Cannondale 3, 6061 Alloy, 27.2x350mm
Inclusions
What’s Included
- Hotel accommodations in selected category for 4 or 7 nights
- Breakfasts
- Carbon road bike rental
- Luggage transfer
- Tour information packet
- RidewithGPS access code, 1 per room (gps tracks, tour info and cue sheets)
- Hard copy of route descriptions and maps as back up
- Route briefing on arrival day
- 7 day emergency hotline
What’s Not Included
- Remaining meals (4 or 7 dinners may be included with a supplement. See pricing.)
- Local tourist tax (between €1-3 per day)
- Bicycle protection
- Travel Insurance
Dates & Pricing
Dates
Arrivals are possible any day from April 1 to August 3 & August 19 to October 31, 2024
Please Note
- Rates are per person, based on double occupancy
- Tour prices are based on the fuel costs at time prices are set, often months or years in advance. In rare cases, additional fees may apply for fuel cost increases.
- Information to read before you book
- We recommend purchasing trip insurance
- Please see our FAQ
Pricing
2024
Standard Superior Twin/double $ 1742 £ 907 $ 1,544 € 1035 kr 158678 ₪ 4256 ¥ 174845 Mex$ 19170 NZ$ 1904 NOK 12325 zł 4550 S$ 1538 kr 12218 $ 1,130 $ 1901 £ 990 $ 1,685 € 1130 kr 173243 ₪ 4646 ¥ 190894 Mex$ 20930 NZ$ 2078 NOK 13457 zł 4967 S$ 1679 kr 13340 $ 1,234 Single room $ 2120 £ 1104 $ 1,879 € 1260 kr 193174 ₪ 5181 ¥ 212855 Mex$ 23338 NZ$ 2317 NOK 15005 zł 5539 S$ 1872 kr 14874 $ 1,375 $ 2468 £ 1286 $ 2,188 € 1467 kr 224909 ₪ 6032 ¥ 247824 Mex$ 27172 NZ$ 2698 NOK 17470 zł 6449 S$ 2179 kr 17318 $ 1,601 Solo traveler supplement $ 101 £ 53 $ 89 € 60 kr 9199 ₪ 247 ¥ 10136 Mex$ 1111 NZ$ 110 NOK 715 zł 264 S$ 89 kr 708 $ 65 $ 101 £ 53 $ 89 € 60 kr 9199 ₪ 247 ¥ 10136 Mex$ 1111 NZ$ 110 NOK 715 zł 264 S$ 89 kr 708 $ 65 Third person in triple room $ 1102 £ 574 $ 977 € 655 kr 100420 ₪ 2693 ¥ 110651 Mex$ 12132 NZ$ 1205 NOK 7800 zł 2879 S$ 973 kr 7732 $ 715 - Upgrade to Hotel la Terrazza - $ 32 £ 17 $ 28 € 19 kr 2913 ₪ 78 ¥ 3210 Mex$ 352 NZ$ 35 NOK 226 zł 84 S$ 28 kr 224 $ 21 Standard Superior Twin/double $ 1154 £ 601 $ 1,023 € 686 kr 105172 ₪ 2821 ¥ 115888 Mex$ 12706 NZ$ 1262 NOK 8169 zł 3016 S$ 1019 kr 8098 $ 749 $ 1245 £ 649 $ 1,104 € 740 kr 113451 ₪ 3043 ¥ 125010 Mex$ 13706 NZ$ 1361 NOK 8812 zł 3253 S$ 1099 kr 8736 $ 808 Single room $ 1375 £ 716 $ 1,218 € 817 kr 125256 ₪ 3359 ¥ 138018 Mex$ 15132 NZ$ 1503 NOK 9729 zł 3591 S$ 1214 kr 9645 $ 892 $ 1565 £ 815 $ 1,387 € 930 kr 142581 ₪ 3824 ¥ 157107 Mex$ 17225 NZ$ 1710 NOK 11075 zł 4088 S$ 1382 kr 10979 $ 1,015 Solo traveler supplement $ 76 £ 39 $ 67 € 45 kr 6899 ₪ 185 ¥ 7602 Mex$ 833 NZ$ 83 NOK 536 zł 198 S$ 67 kr 531 $ 49 $ 76 £ 39 $ 67 € 45 kr 6899 ₪ 185 ¥ 7602 Mex$ 833 NZ$ 83 NOK 536 zł 198 S$ 67 kr 531 $ 49 Third person in triple room $ 735 £ 383 $ 652 € 437 kr 66998 ₪ 1797 ¥ 73824 Mex$ 8094 NZ$ 804 NOK 5204 zł 1921 S$ 649 kr 5159 $ 477 $ 819 £ 427 $ 726 € 487 kr 74663 ₪ 2002 ¥ 82270 Mex$ 9020 NZ$ 896 NOK 5799 zł 2141 S$ 724 kr 5749 $ 532 Extra Options
Upgrade in Assisi
Upgrade to Hotel la Terrazza Twin/double $ 32 £ 17 $ 28 € 19 kr 2913 ₪ 78 ¥ 3210 Mex$ 352 NZ$ 35 NOK 226 zł 84 S$ 28 kr 224 $ 21 Single room $ 59 £ 31 $ 52 € 35 kr 5366 ₪ 144 ¥ 5913 Mex$ 648 NZ$ 64 NOK 417 zł 154 S$ 52 kr 413 $ 38 Rental options
Carbon gravel bikes $ 17 £ 9 $ 15 € 10 kr 1533 ₪ 41 ¥ 1689 Mex$ 185 NZ$ 18 NOK 119 zł 44 S$ 15 kr 118 $ 11 Extra nights
On request A single room is for those traveling with other companions but wish to have a single room. The price for a single traveler is for those traveling without companions.
Extra Info
Skill Level — Difficult
This self-guided cycling tour in Italy is classified as difficult with distances averaging 90-115 km per day on longer routes and 45-65 km per day on shorter routes over hilly terrain with steep climbs. For the most part, you will cycle on quiet country roads (asphalted).
Airport Info
Fly to Rome Fiumicino International Airport (FCO). Rome Fiumicino Airport is the busiest airport in Italy, particularly in terms of international traffic. The airport is actually 22 miles (35 km) from Rome’s city center and has its own train station.
The FCO station connects frequently with central Rome with a few options, and from Rome, you can get anywhere else in Italy, including Florence.
Local Travel
Upon arrival at Fiumicino, you can choose either the Leonardo Express, a regional train that will take you to center city Rome or intercity train. Travel from Rome to Assisi is generally 3-4 hr. Transfer to starting point.
Climate
Average high temp in °F for Assisi is 62º in April, 69º May, 77º June, 83º July, 83º August, 76º September & 65º October.
Day of Rest
Day 4 in San Feliciano may be used as a day of rest.
Recommended
Including 3-course dinners.
Extra Stay
Extra nights available by request.
Tour Operator
This tour is run by Ecologico Tours.
We value the strong relationship we have with our local partners and the services we provide.
We are not a broker.
We do not inflate tour prices.
We are simply travelers helping travelers.Would you like to learn more About Us? How about What Makes Us Different than other companies?
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8 years ago
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