| Umbria Bike details |
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Duration: 8 Days/7 Nights
Departing from: Perugia at 9:00 on the Sunday, Day 2.
Tour finishes: In Orvieto on Day 8. Private departures only: please contact us for details.
Price: €1,995 per person based on double occupancy. Single supplement €200.
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On the way to Trevi
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11th century chapel, on
the way to Montefalco
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Springtime
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View from hotel, Bevagna.
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Lake Bolsena, day 6 ride.
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Carbs are good for you!
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Pick up some handmade
Deruta ceramics
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Umbria Bike |
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Umbria Bike Itinerary
Preview - Umbria is a colorful mosaic of greens, blues, and a thousand shades of white. The green comes from its verdant forests, olive groves and vineyards; blue from its large expanse of sky; and the white from the local stone that was used to build the villas, palaces, churches and villages that adorn the landscape. Proud medieval cities sit perched on volcanic tufa hills and keep watch over the rolling hills below. Come bike down quiet country roads between amazing cities like Perugia, Assisi, Todi, and Orvieto, and then relax at night with a traditional Italian meal and some of Italy's best red wine.
Trip design: We had two primary goals in mind when we designed this trip. The first was to develop a trip that enabled us to stay in Umbria's most beautiful and historic towns. Secondly, we wanted to get you off the beaten track and ride through some of the region's spectacular countryside. During the first three days of the trip we go to Perugia, Assisi, Spello, Trevi, Montefalco, and Torgiano, and stay the night in Bevagna. These are the most beautiful and culturally important Etruscan, Roman and medieval towns of the region. During the second half of the trip we go through the mountainous hinterland of Umbria, and stay in beautiful Todi and Orvieto. The riding starts out in the flats and gets progressively hillier and more challenging. The trip ends in Orvieto, which is on the main north-south railway line (Rome-Milano) and autostrada which allows for a quick and easy departure at the end of the trip. The trip is rated moderate (easier than our Tuscany Bike trip), with optional challenging extension rides each day. The trip is van assisted.
Day 1 - Saturday: Independent arrival in Perugia. Perugia's Etruscan, Roman and medieval walls bear witness to its long history as a strategic importance in the area. The Corso Vannucci is the main pedestrian street thorough the old town and is a great place to join in the daily passeggiata -- the age-old tradition of the evening stroll, to see and be seen and chat with friends. Cool off with a home-made gelato, or else relax with a glass of wine at an outdoor café. Overnight Perugia. Hotel and breakfast included. Dinner not included.
Day 2 - Sunday: Meet your guide(s) at 9:00 this morning and transfer to the countryside to get fitted on your bikes. After the bike fitting and safety talk, we will start out on the flats and ride to the wine-producing village of Torgiano for lunch. You will have time to explore the town and the fantastic Lungarotti wine museum (the Lungarotti family has been making wine here for centuries. Rubesco is the DOC wine from Torgiano) before continuing on to Bevagna, a beautiful walled village with Roman, medieval, and Renaissance architecture. Our hotel tonight is located in a converted 12th century convent. Bevagna also boasts some excellent trattorias and wine bars. We dine together tonight in the Osteria Podestà. Overnight in Bevagna. (Mileage: easy, flat 50 km/31 mi) Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 3 - Monday: Assisi rises dramatically on a hill beneath Monte Subasio, in the heart of Umbria. Like so many Umbrian towns, Assisi has its own particular colour, a rosy glow reflected from the pink hues of the locally quarried stone used in the town's centuries' old buildings. You will have time in the morning to explore Assisi and visit the basilica of San Francesco, famous for its 14th century frescoes depicting the life of St. Francis attributed to Giotto. A delightful afternoon ride takes you to the charming walled village of Spello through ancient olive groves. It is then a short ride back to Bevagna. Strong riders can do a challenging optional ride via Gualdo Cattaneo. Overnight in Bevagna. (Mileage: moderate 50 km/31 mi, with optional challenging extension) Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 4 - Tuesday: Today we ride across the valley to the hillside village of Trevi for mid-morning cappuccino in the village piazza before heading into the rolling hills and vineyards that surround Montefalco, Umbria's most prestigious wine-growing town. This afternoon we will have a guided visit and tasting at one of the producers of the famed Sagrantino di Montefalco. The town of Montefalco itself is worth a visit. It sits high above the Clitumnus valley and was once a Roman garrison town and later a strategic fortress in the conflict between the Guelphs and Ghibellines. The 14th-century ramparts that surround the village date from this period. This evening is a "free night" dinner so you can choose to splash out on a lavish meal or try some lighter fare at one of the town's many trattorias. Overnight Montefalco. (Mileage: moderate 50 km/31 mi with some steep hills). Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 5 - Wednesday: We leave charming Montefalco to head into the wild hills of Umbria. Our ride takes us through a sparsely populated area, into tiny hamlets and villages and past imposing castles and villas, before dropping us back down to the valley beneath the perched town of Todi. Dramatically situated on the peak of a hill at a sharp bend in the Tiber river, Todi has for centuries been an important strategic city. Three sets of concentric walls date from Etruscan, Roman and medieval times, encircling the stone palaces and townhouses of the ancient city. Todi has one of the most beautiful squares in all of Italy, set between the 12th century cathedral and the city's imposing public buildings, including the crenellated walls of the Palazzo dei Priori, the Romanesque-Gothic Palazzo del Popolo, and the Gothic Palazzo del Capitano. Dinner tonight is in Todi's finest restaurant. Overnight in Todi. (Mileage: moderate 55 km/34 mi) with some long but gradual hills) Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 6 - Thursday: We cross the Tiber river on the 14th-century Ponte Cuti bridge before starting a long but gradual climb up onto a high plateau. The views are stunning throughout the day. The ride continues through rolling country before a long descent towards Orvieto, which sits atop a throne of volcanic tufa rock surveying the Tiber valley. Like so many Umbrian towns, its foundations are Etruscan but its most prosperous period was during the Middle Ages when the Popes came to Orvieto to escape the summer heat in Rome. Orvieto's cathedral is widely considered to be one of the finest in Italy. Our hotel is located within the thick city walls. Overnight Orvieto. (Mileage: a challenging 50 km/31 mi, with a long hill). Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 7 - Friday: You can choose to do a relatively short ride out to the stunning village of Civita di Bagnoregio and return to Orvieto to explore its underground city or you can continue on to the lakeside village of Bolsena to make for a satisfying 70 km day. Both rides "feature" a very steep climb from the base of Orvieto out to Porano and then pleasant, rolling countryside. The village of Bolsena has a beautiful medieval quarter dominated by the 13th-14th century castle, and there are several good fish restaurants around the lake. The return ride gives you an unforgettable view of Orvieto as the low afternoon sun glitters off of the mosaics that adorn the façade of the Duomo. Final night celebration in a local trattoria. Overnight Orvieto. (Mileage: a moderate 33 km/21 mi, or a more challenging 70 km/44 mi) Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 8 - Saturday: Transfer to the Orvieto train station for connections throughout Italy. Orvieto is on the main north-south train line, so offers direct trains to Rome, Florence, Bologna and Milan. Breakfast included.
General Information
Note on Itinerary: Although we do our best to adhere to the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control.
Qualifications: This trip is rated moderate to challenging. The terrain is different from Tuscany, where the hills are constantly rolling. In Umbria the first two days are flat and then you get longer but more gentle uphills and downhills. There may be only one major hill per day, so we can easily offer a lift in the van for tired cyclists. If you ride 2-3 times a week and are relatively fit you will enjoy this trip.
The daily distances are between 45-65 kms (28-40 miles), which
translates into 3-5 hours of riding more or less equally divided
between morning and afternoon. This may sound like a lot, but we take
frequent breaks to take pictures, enjoy a cappuccino, or simply stop
and admire the view. You are provided with written route directions,
which allow you to be independent and ride at your own pace. However, a
regular conditioning program consisting of cycling, walking/running and
a daily stretching regimen is recommended, beginning at least 3 months
prior to departure. This will get you in shape and ensure that you are
comfortable in the saddle, allowing you to enjoy all that this
wonderful trip has to offer. In other words, get your bum used to a
bike seat before you arrive to avoid suffering during the trip! There
is a support van to move the luggage and also to help tired bikers in
case of need. Most importantly, the rides are absolutely beautiful! The Bikes: Our hybrid bikes are lightweight KTM "Life Sprint" aluminium frames
with high-end Shimano Deore and Deore XT componentry. They are very
comfortable, with a relatively upright riding position as well as
climbing bars which enable you to change your hand position. They have
27 speeds with index shifters on the handlebars. They have a low
gearing ratio to make hill climbing especially easy, and the upright
sitting position reduces shoulder and neck fatigue. A
more upright position also means that you get to look at the beautiful
countryside instead of just the asphalt in front of your wheel!
The bikes come with a small front handlebar bag suitable only
for light things, a separate map case, water bottle, pump, spare tube,
and a rear carrier rack. We HIGHLY recommend that you bring a strap-on
rear carrier bag that sits on top of the rear rack (not a side panier).
You can bring your own pedals and seat, which we can mount for you. The
bikes are sized based on the information that you send to us, so be as accurate as you can! You must
bring your own helmet. Please check KTM website if you are interested in a hybrid bike. If you would prefer a road bike, please see the Carrera-Podium website. If you would like more detailed info from our bike geek, please send him an e-mail.
Trip Cost Includes: All accommodations (1 night in Perugia, 2 nights Bevagna, 1 night Montefalco, 1
night Todi -- all 3-star --, and 2 nights in 4-star hotel in Orvieto); 7 breakfasts and 5 dinners; bilingual
guide or guides; support vehicle; guided tours as noted in the
itinerary; all luggage transfers; final transfer to Orvieto train
station at the end of the trip; quality 27-speed hybrid-style touring
bike with front handlebar bag and rear rack.
Not Included: Round-trip airfare; airport/hotel transfers;
lunches; two dinners (first night in Perugia, 1 in Orvieto); travel insurance; gratuities; alcoholic beverages and items of a
personal nature. Please bring your own bike helmet, as you will be required to
wear one.
Reservations and payment: In order to reserve a space on the
trip, a non-refundable deposit of $200 USD or €200 (depending on
the trip) is required. Please contact us at info@customwalks.com or go to the Reservations page
on our website for more information. We will send you a trip agreement
that outlines the terms and conditions of payment and cancellation. Weather: We have scheduled our departures to avoid mid-summer heat and crowds while still enjoying an ample amount of sunshine. Temperatures generally range from 75° to 85° F during the day, dropping approx. 10 degrees at night. Some rainfall is possible on any of the departures requiring participants to arrive equipped with appropriate raingear (see Gear List).
Getting there (this will redirect you to our "Getting to the Trip" page)General Information: This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the CustomWalks Ltd. reservation information and trip agreement. Please read this information carefully and e-mail us (or use the "Contact Us" page) if you have any questions. We highly recommend the purchase of Trip Insurance which you can do through CustomWalks Ltd or by clicking on the logo below (another window will open up on your screen).
We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited. Send us an email or fax to reserve your trip. Full trip details including detailed pre-departure information, train timetables, and a gear list are sent upon receipt of deposit. Come join us!
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