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€654 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.
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 via Cagli in Marche, 66mi. (91 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.Standard Accommodations: Hotel la Terrazza *** (900 m from old town centre)
Superior Accommodations:
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)
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.Elevation:
Highest point: 450 m / Lowest point: 205 m
Total ascent: 552 m / Total descent: 718 mLonger route: Spello, Foligno-Spoleto-Montefalco-Bevagna-Torgiano 67 mi. (108 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.Elevation:
Highest point: 446 m / Lowest point: 195 m
Total ascent: 774 m / Total descent: 946 mStandard 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.Elevation:
Highest point: 401 m / Lowest point: 164 m
Total ascent: 986 m / Total descent: 934 mStandard Accommodations: Hotel Lido ***
Superior Accommodations: Hotel Lido in superior roomDay 4: Day of rest or roundtrip tour around Lake Trasimeno (through Tuscany's Chiusi), 58 mi. (94km)
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.Elevation:
Highest point: 396 m / Lowest point: 255 m
Total ascent: 835 m / Total descent: 826 mStandard Accommodations: Hotel Lido ***
Superior Accommodations: 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)
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.Elevation:
Highest point: 704 m / Lowest point: 240 m
Total ascent: 837 m / Total descent: 855 mLonger 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.Elevation:
Highest point 396 m / Lowest point: 255 m
Total ascent: 1405 m / Total descent: 143 0mStandard/Superior Accommodations: Country Hotel Poggiomanente
Day 6: Umbertide - Gubbio via Cagli in Marche, 56 mi. (91 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 of 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 ****Elevation:
Highest point: 765 m / Lowest point: 240 m
Total ascent: 1292 m / Total descent: 1018 mDay 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 ****
or Hotel la Terrazza *** (superior room)
or Nun Relais or Anfi House ***** (with a supplement)Elevation:
Highest point: 83 0m / Lowest point: 328 m
Total ascent: 1158 m / Total descent: 1254 mDay 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)
Looking for more? View all our featured bicycle tours, specials, and news or look at our full list of bike tours in Europe.
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
Inclusions
What’s Included
- Hotel accommodations in selected category for 4 or 7 nights
- Breakfasts
- Carbon road bike rental
- Luggage transfer
- 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 (4 or 7 dinners may be included with a supplement. See pricing.)
- Bike helmet (€5) - must be booked in advance
- Local tourist tax (between €1-3 per day)
- Bicycle protection
- Travel Insurance
Dates & Pricing
Dates
2023
Arrivals are possible any day from April 1 until October 31, 2023 (included)
* Except August 7-20, 2023 (incl.)
Please Note
- Rates are 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
Standard Hotels
Double room: $ 1549 £ 896 $ 1,459 € 985 ₪ 3715 NZ$ 1692 NOK 11007 kr 11378 $ 1,096
Single room: $ 1921 £ 1112 $ 1,810 € 1222 ₪ 4608 NZ$ 2099 NOK 13655 kr 14116 $ 1,359
Single traveler supplement: $ 86 £ 50 $ 81 € 55 ₪ 207 NZ$ 94 NOK 615 kr 635 $ 61
Third person in triple room: $ 1068 £ 618 $ 1,006 € 679 ₪ 2561 NZ$ 1166 NOK 7588 kr 7844 $ 755
Dinners included: $ 269 £ 156 $ 253 € 171 ₪ 645 NZ$ 294 NOK 1911 kr 1975 $ 190
Superior Hotels
Double room: $ 1761 £ 1019 $ 1,659 € 1120 ₪ 4224 NZ$ 1924 NOK 12516 kr 12938 $ 1,246
Single room: $ 2315 £ 1340 $ 2,180 € 1472 ₪ 5551 NZ$ 2529 NOK 16449 kr 17004 $ 1,637
Single traveler supplement: $ 86 £ 50 $ 81 € 55 ₪ 207 NZ$ 94 NOK 615 kr 635 $ 61
Dinners included: $ 324 £ 187 $ 305 € 206 ₪ 777 NZ$ 354 NOK 2302 kr 2380 $ 229
Standard Hotels
Double room: $ 1028 £ 595 $ 969 € 654 ₪ 2466 NZ$ 1123 NOK 7308 kr 7555 $ 727
Single room: $ 1234 £ 714 $ 1,163 € 785 ₪ 2960 NZ$ 1349 NOK 8772 kr 9068 $ 873
Single traveler supplement: $ 55 £ 32 $ 52 € 35 ₪ 132 NZ$ 60 NOK 391 kr 404 $ 39
Third person in triple room: $ 744 £ 430 $ 701 € 473 ₪ 1784 NZ$ 813 NOK 5286 kr 5464 $ 526
Dinners included: $ 168 £ 97 $ 159 € 107 ₪ 404 NZ$ 184 NOK 1196 kr 1236 $ 119
Superior Hotels
Double room: $ 1140 £ 660 $ 1,074 € 725 ₪ 2734 NZ$ 1245 NOK 8102 kr 8375 $ 806
Single room: $ 1451 £ 840 $ 1,367 € 923 ₪ 3481 NZ$ 1586 NOK 10314 kr 10662 $ 1,027
Single traveler supplement: $ 55 £ 32 $ 52 € 35 ₪ 132 NZ$ 60 NOK 391 kr 404 $ 39
Third person in triple room: $ 813 £ 471 $ 766 € 517 ₪ 1950 NZ$ 888 NOK 5777 kr 5972 $ 575
Dinners included: $ 195 £ 113 $ 184 € 124 ₪ 468 NZ$ 213 NOK 1386 kr 1432 $ 138
Extra Options
Helmet: €5
Extra nights
Double/twin room Single room Assisi (Standard accommodation) On request On request Assisi (Superior accommodation) On request 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.
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.
Covid-19 Info
Country Entry Requirements
Due to the changing requirements for entry, it is imperative that you stay up to date on requirements set by the country/countries that you are visiting. Please visit our Travel Restrictions Tool page and the country/countries government webpage for this information.
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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7 years ago
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