WE OFFER INDEPENDENT CYCLING VACATIONS IN ITALY AND FRANCE
Our self-guided tours are fully organized vacations for independent travelers staying in deluxe accommodation.
Self-guided cycling holidays may still be regarded as something of an innovation, by it is ten years now since we offered our first self-guided holidays.
The freedom and flexibility of going when you want for as long as you want and at your own pace has certainly proved to be the way many people prefer to enjoy their vacations.
You have a set itinerary, pre-paid accommodations, luggage transfers and a hotelier waiting for your arrival every evening who knows your route in cases of emergency. There is no guide and no group to hurry you along or slow you down.
LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY:
Easy:
Gentle terrain, five hours a day walking, four hours cycling without steep climbs.
Moderate:
Rolling hills, six hours a day walking, four hours a day cycling, with some uphill climbs.
Challenging:
Five to six hours walking and cycling with longer ascents and steeper downhill.
Route notes:
On our detailed route notes, you’ll see how far you’ll walk each day, details of waymarking, information on places to stop for lunch and about places to visit along the way. We also provide you with an Italian phrase book, and maps.
Buon Viaggio!!
SAMPLE CYCLING TOUR AND ITINERARYA Week Cycling in... Umbria & Tuscany
Perhaps the best of both regions - a land of beautiful landscapes, historical cities of art, and incomparable wines...
From San Francesco of Assisi to Santa Caterina of Siena, an ideal exploration of this varied and historic countryside. We take you from the peace and tranquility of Umbria to the rugged strength of the Tuscan landscape, via a mystic land of the soft colours of sunflower, olive grove and vineyard and the memorable flavours of home made cooking - and those wines!
Day 1 Arrive in Perugia, where you are met by our representative to arrange bicycle hire, route notes etc. Depending on your arrival time there may be time to explore the city before riding out to your first hotel, outside Assisi, for dinner and overnight. 15 miles; 2œ-3 hours cycling
Day 2 A full day in the surrounding countryside. Our recommended route is into Assisi (about 7 miles), with time to explore this historic town. The Lower Basilica has now reopened to the public, with the Upper Basilica due to reopen in Spring 2002. Continue to the unspoilt village of Spello, on the slopes of Mt Subasio, via a choice of routes, before returning to Assisi for dinner and overnight. 15-32 miles; 3-5œ hours cycling
Day 3 A long day to Lago Trasimeno, via Deruta (well known for its ceramics), and Torgiano - home of the Lungarotti wine estate. After allowing time to visit the cellars or the wine museum return north through gentle hills and small villages to Solomeo, and your accommodation at either il Poggiolo or Poggio delle Corti, one a charming old fashioned villa, the other a small country inn. 38 miles; 5œ hours cycling
Day 4 A full day to explore the countryside surrounding L Trasimeno. Discover the Montecorognola view point over the lake, Monte del Lago and the fishing village of San Feliciano. Time to take a boat to Isola Maggiore, perhaps for a short walk, or a fish lunch at Sauro's, before arriving at a small country inn at Pozzuolo. A longer alternative is to continue around the lake to the hill top village of Paciano, via Panicale (with some superb murals by Perugino (Raffaello's master), ending with dinner and overnight at the Locanda della Rocca. About 32-40 miles; 4-6 hours cycling
Day 5 Into Tuscany, via the vineyards of Montepulciano, with a detour to the small lakes of Chiusi and Montepulciano. Time to explore this beautiful Renaissance town and perhaps the superb Cantine del Redi with their vaulted cellars, or else to taste Nobile at the small Crociani winery. Free eveing for dinner. 28 miles; 4 hours cycling
Day 6 Off to Pienza, home to Pope Pio II, via the Crete landscape of barren hills crowned by rows of cypress. Time also for a cappuccino in Montichiello at the terrace of the local cafe, or to detour for a thermal bath in Bagno Vignoni. Dinner and overnight in a small agriturismo near Buonconvento. 28 miles; 5 hours cycling
This is a good place to extend your stay for a day, perhaps to visit the red brick abbey at Monte Oliveto Maggiore, sample wines at Montalcino, or just relax by the pool or in the sauna.
Day 7 A choice of routes. Follow a 'white road' winding amongst hills and oak woods, passing the Etruscan villages of Murlo and Radi. Alternatively, take the northerly route through Monte Oliveto abbey and Asciano. Either way you reach Siena for your last night. Free evening for dinner. 32 miles; 5 hours cycling
Day 8 Tour ends after breakfast, though you may wish to extend your stay to explore Siena on foot.
Travel Notes... 7 nights mostly half board in 2/3* hotels and agriturismo
Cycling 2œ-6 hours per day; moderate, some fairly steep hills Departures any day
Inclusions: baggage transfer between hotels, use of cycling notes and maps, arrival transfer from Perugia. All breakfasts, 5 dinners. Optional gourmet dinner one night (extra). Other transfers, personal expenses, entrance fees, wine tastings, tips and items not mentioned excluded.
Cycling Vacations Where You Set The Pace