If Tuscany is the heart of Italy, Umbria is its soul. Being rural, it allows for an authentic experience when visiting with plenty to see and do including a wonderful combination of monuments in historic villages and dream-like vistas of bucolic countryside.

Only Great Explorations:

  • Small groups, extraordinary guides, and authentic experiences.
  • A ride you will never forget: from Assisi to Spello
  • A meal you will never forget: dinner in Bevagna at a favourite restaurant
  • Order off the menu at restaurants you won’t find in guidebooks
  • Distinctive, charming hotels too small for larger groups
  • We design and operate our own trips so there are only good surprises

Location

Torgiano

Torgiano

Day 1

Bevagna

Bevagna

Day 2 +3

Todi

Todi

Day 4

Orvieto

Orvieto

DAYS 5+6

What’s Included in the Cost of Your Trip?

INCLUDED IN REGULAR TRIP

Services of one or more experienced Great Explorations guides
Support vehicle
6 nights lodging
All breakfasts, 2 lunches, and all dinners but 1
Entrance fees for selected historical sites and museums
Detailed map and route instructions
All baggage transportation

Not Included

Bike rental

Particulars

EVENT DATES

2024

Apr 22-28
May 6-12
May 13-19
Aug 19-25
Sep 9-15

2025

Dates available upon request

Trip can start at any date. Custom and self-guided trips also available. Call or email for details.

TRIP SIZE

4-16 participants

TOTAL DAYS

7 days / 6 nights

ARRIVE / DEPART

Torgiano / Orvieto

ACTIVITY LEVEL

Moderate/Challenging
20-40+ miles daily
Van supported

TERRAIN

1 day flat, 2 days gently rolling, 3 days are moderately rolling with some hills.

COST

Land Cost:
US $2,950 pp
Includes 6B/2L/5D

Single Supplement:
US $750

Bike Rental:
US $280

E-Bike Rental:
US $480

E-bikes are generally available but are on an ‘on request basis ‘ and will be confirmed on receipt of your booking registration. E-bikes provided are the best rentals available in the region. Our regular fleet of hybrid and race bikes are fun to ride and light and fast, but if having an e-bike will make your trip, we’ll do our best to provide. E-bike rentals are non-refundable. 

Please note: Final itinerary is subject to revision; any changes made are done so in an attempt to provide the best possible trip given route conditions and available services. Due to the nature of our business and exchange rates, prices are subject to change. All prices quoted are U.S. dollars but we gladly accept payment in Canadian dollars also. Due to cancellations and waiting lists, trip availability fluctuates daily. If you have any questions or would like to confirm space on this trip before making your reservation, please contact us at info@great-explorations.com or by telephone at 604.730.1247.

Getting there :
Torgiano: Arrive via Rome or Florence (2 hours away from either by train); Torgiano is 15 km south of Perugia and can be reached easily by taxi on arrival at the train station.


1

Day 1

Torgiano

Arrive in Torgiano. We’ll stay at Hotel Al Grappolo D’Oro, ideally located in the historical center of this wine village- we’ll meet prior to dinner for bike fit and introductions.

2

Day 2-3

Bevagna

Riding east of Torgiano, we’ll make our way to Assisi, the hometown of St. Francis, Italy’s patron saint and founder of one of the world’s largest monastic orders. The town itself is tiered with pink stone set in a verdant valley with sacred Mt.Subasio as a backdrop. You’ll have the chance to visit the important monuments here before lunch at a wonderful local restaurant. Afterwards, we’ll continue along a cycling path to the quaint village of Spello, with an optional wine tasting late afternoon. In Bevagna, we’ll stay at Palazzo Brunamonti, a former palace recently converted into a distinctive hotel in the historical center with dinner at the wonderful La Bottega di Piazza Onofri. Next day, we’ll begin with a walking tour where a local guide will reveal secret treasures of Bevagna. Our cycling route on this day will include options to Trevi and Spoleto. Each are hill-towns beautifully medieval in appearance with great restaurants and cafes.

3

Day 4

Todi

Our ride today takes us through unspoiled countryside with vistas that look out over much of southern Umbria. The shorter option will have you in Todi for lunch and our longer route takes you first to Montefalco to explore this hill-top village en-route. Arriving to Todi, we’ll reach the Piazza del Popolo, described as the most perfect medieval piazza in Italy.  We’ll take a walking tour of the town and enjoy an evening meal in Todi’s best restaurant, where they prepare your meal over an open fire. We stay at the 4-star Fonte Cesia, located in the historical city center.

4

Day 5-6

Orvieto 

We’ll start the day with a glorious descent and then make our way west, stopping for lunch next to a private castle en-route. Guide-books describe this road as follows: “With its hill-top hamlets, olive groves, vines, herds of white oxen and miles of deserted roads and tracks, this is the archetype of pastoral lowland Umbria” Arriving to Orvieto, there is much to see; we’ll join the evening passagiata before dinner at a quiet trattoria. On our next day of riding we’ll loop to Civita de Bagnoreggio, perhaps the most perfect hill-town in Italy.  As in all of our trips, we’ll finish with a celebratory dinner and toast our week together. Our accommodation in Orvieto is in a former palace, now a 4-star hotel.

5

Day 7

Depart at your leisure by train.

Hotel Al Grappolo D'Oro, Torgiano

A 19th century residence recently converted into a comfortable 3-star hotel with beautiful gardens and swimming pool. Relax and enjoy the panoramic views of vineyards and the green hills of Perugia, Assisi and other historical and cultural centures.


Palazzo Brunamonti, Bevagne

This charming 3-star hotel was once the home of the noble Pierto Brunamonti and his wife, the poetess Lady Bonacci. Restored with the intent to embrace its historic past, this palace creates an atmosphere of comfort and beauty. Its location, just off the central plaza of town is ideal.


Fonte Cesia, Todi

This luxurious hotel is Todi's best and in fact the only 4-star hotel in the historical center. The result of a careful renovation of an ancient and noble 17th century palace, Fonte Cesia offers comfortable and tastefully decorated guest rooms along with several sitting rooms in which to relax.


Palazzo Picolomini, Orvieto

Formally a beautiful 16th century palace, this masterfully restored 4-star hotel is rich with high-level comforts blended with artistic and historical riches. The rooms are elegantly simple, tastefully furnished and augmented by lovely common rooms, on-site wine cellar and restaurant. Palazzo Picolomini is located close to the historical city center.



			

Trip Reviews

June 3, 2016

I would return to Umbria and Puglia in a heart beat!

May 20, 2016

We loved the entire trip. The accommodations were 5 star, the cycling was fantastic,food and wine was never ending, and Gabriela and Sylvia were wonderful!

September 18, 2007

“Loved the charm, people and low traffic of the small towns as well as the grape and olive groves of the countryside. We had an incredible time under the guides’ leadership and the unique experiences they provided.”

September 15, 2007

“We have cycled in Europe on our own in the past but the knowledge of the guides, the comfort of having hotels arranged, the local knowledge all gave us a good insight into Italian culture and we felt pampered.”

September 14, 2007

“The guides were EXCELLENT. The scenery was gorgeous. I think one of the best things about this trip was that the group was small and it allowed our guides a lot of flexibility which they took advantage of.”

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