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€575 Rates
- Book This Trip
Overview
This road bike tour in Italy runs through the green heart of the country (or il cuor verde d'Italia), which is what Umbria is frequently called. 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 secret well kept.
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, a jewel of bike tours in Italy. This tour is very similar to the Umbria tour except it covers longer distances.
If Umbria is not your thing, check out our full list of bike tours in Italy.
Itinerary
8 Day Tour
Day 1: Arrival in Assisi
Day 2: Assisi - Spello - Foligno - Spoleto - Montefalco - Bevagna - Torgiano, 67 mi. (108 km) or 41 mi. (65 km)
Day 3: Torgiano - Passignano on Lake Trasimeno, 50 mi. (80 km)
Day 4: Day of rest or roundtrip tour around Lake Trasimeno (through Tuscany's Chiusi), 62 mi. (100 km)
Day 5: Umbertide through Tuscany's Cortona, 67 mi. (107 km) or 30 mi. (47 km)
Day 6: Umbertide - Gubbio via Cagli in Marche, 60 mi. (95 km)
Day 7: Gubbio - Assisi, 43 mi. (70 km)
Day 8: Departure from Assisi (Viole)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.
Standard Accommodations:
Hotel la Terrazza *** (900 m from old town centre)
Superior Accommodations:
Hotel Dal Moro Gallery ****
Superior Borgo Antichi OrtiDAY 2: Today you have the choice between a shorter or longer tour
Shorter route: Spello - Montefalco - Bevagna - Torgiano, 41 mi. (65 km)
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 it's 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 63 mi. (104 km)
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.
Standard Accommodations:
Hotel Al Grappolo d’Oro ***
Superior Accommodations:
Le Tre Vaselle ResortDAY 3: Torgiano - Passignano on Lake Trasimeno, 50 mi. (80 km)
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.
Accommodations: Hotel Lido *** (standard room with lake view)DAY 4: Day of rest or roundtrip tour around Lake Trasimeno (through Tuscany's Chiusi), 62 mi. (100 km)
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.
Accommodations: Hotel Lido *** (standard room with lake view)DAY 5: Today you also have a choice between a shorter or longer tour
Shorter route: Lake Trasimeno - Umbertide, 27 mi. (45 km)
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)
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.
Standard/Superior Accommodations:
Country Hotel PoggiomanenteDAY 6: Umbertide - Gubbio via Cagli in Marche, 60 mi. (95 km)
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 Le Marche and from there, you arrive to Gubbio, where your accommodations are right in the town center.
Standard Accommodations:
Hotel San Marco ***
Superior Accommodations:
Hotel Bosone ****DAY 7: Gubbio - Assisi, 43 mi. (70 km)
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.
Standard Accommodations:
Hotel la Terrazza *** (900 m from old town centre)
Superior Accommodations:
Hotel Dal Moro Gallery ****
Superior Borgo Antichi OrtiDAY 8: Departure from Assisi.
Individual departure from Assisi following breakfast.5 Day Tour
Day 1: Arrival Assisi
Day 2: Cycling to Torgiano 40 mi. - 64 mi. (65 km or 104 km)
Day 3: Cycling to Passignano 49 mi. (80km)
Day 4: Loop around lake 62 mi. (100km)
Day 5: Departure after breakfastLooking for more? View all our featured bicycle tours, specials, and news or look at our full list of bike tours in Europe.
Accommodation
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.Inclusions
What’s Included
- Hotel accommodations for 7 nights
- Breakfasts
- Carbon Road bike rental
- Luggage transportation
- Tour information packet
- GPS rental (tracks will be sent approximately two weeks before the tour start) or we suggest downloading Maps.me on your cell phone
- Route descriptions & maps
- Route briefing on arrival day
- 7 day emergency hotline
What’s Not Included
- Remaining meals
- Local tourist tax (between .80 and 2.00€ per day)
- Bicycle protection
- Travel Insurance
Dates & Pricing
Dates & Pricing
DATES 2021
Arrivals are possible any day from April 1st until the beginning of November (other dates are possible upon request)
Standard Hotels
Double room: $ 1408 £ 790 $ 1,362 € 890 NZ$ 1524 kr 9208 $ 1,088
Single room: $ 1668 £ 935 $ 1,613 € 1054 NZ$ 1805 kr 10905 $ 1,288
Single traveler: $ 1755 £ 984 $ 1,697 € 1109 NZ$ 1899 kr 11474 $ 1,356
Third person in triple room: $ 1057 £ 593 $ 1,022 € 668 NZ$ 1144 kr 6911 $ 816
Dinners included: $ 274 £ 153 $ 265 € 173 NZ$ 296 kr 1790 $ 211
Superior Hotels
Double room: $ 1665 £ 933 $ 1,610 € 1052 NZ$ 1801 kr 10884 $ 1,286
Single room: $ 2044 £ 1146 $ 1,977 € 1292 NZ$ 2212 kr 13367 $ 1,579
Single traveler: $ 2131 £ 1195 $ 2,061 € 1347 NZ$ 2306 kr 13936 $ 1,646
Dinners included: $ 324 £ 182 $ 314 € 205 NZ$ 351 kr 2121 $ 251
Standard Hotels
Double room: $ 910 £ 510 $ 880 € 575 NZ$ 985 kr 5949 $ 703
Single room: $ 1044 £ 586 $ 1,010 € 660 NZ$ 1130 kr 6828 $ 807
Single traveler: $ 1112 £ 624 $ 1,076 € 703 NZ$ 1204 kr 7273 $ 859
Third person in triple room: $ 672 £ 377 $ 650 € 425 NZ$ 728 kr 4397 $ 519
Dinners included: $ 166 £ 93 $ 161 € 105 NZ$ 180 kr 1086 $ 128
Superior Hotels
Double room: $ 968 £ 543 $ 936 € 612 NZ$ 1048 kr 6332 $ 748
Single room: $ 1168 £ 655 $ 1,129 € 738 NZ$ 1264 kr 7635 $ 902
Single traveler: $ 1226 £ 688 $ 1,186 € 775 NZ$ 1327 kr 8018 $ 947
Third person in triple room: $ 696 £ 390 $ 673 € 440 NZ$ 753 kr 4552 $ 538
Dinners included: $ 191 £ 107 $ 185 € 121 NZ$ 207 kr 1252 $ 148
Extra Options
Extra nights:
La Terrazza, Assisi $ 84 £ 47 $ 81 € 53 NZ$ 91 kr 548 $ 65 Single room $ 120 £ 67 $ 116 € 76 NZ$ 130 kr 786 $ 93 Hotel del Moro, Assisi $ 92 £ 51 $ 89 € 58 NZ$ 99 kr 600 $ 71 Single room $ 125 £ 70 $ 121 € 79 NZ$ 135 kr 817 $ 97 Borgo Antichi Orti $ 92 £ 51 $ 89 € 58 NZ$ 99 kr 600 $ 71 Single room On request Extra nights in other cities, 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.
Please Note
- Rates are based on double occupancy
- Information to read before you book
- We recommend purchasing trip insurance
- Please see our FAQ
Extra Info
Skill Level — Difficult
This cycling tour in Italy is classified as difficult, self-guided with distances averaging 65 miles per day over hilly terrain with steep climbs.
Airport Info
Fly to Rome.
Local Travel
Train from Rome to Assisi, 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.
Remarks
A GPS is available for this tour.
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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