TUSCANY UMBRIA LE MARCHE – COAST TO COAST - 16/05/2023

Day 1

Welcome Day

Transfer from Pisa airport or station to the hotel.
Welcome from the staff, presentation of the trip, delivery and preparation of bikes.

Welcome dinner.

Day 2

Bibbona - Volterra. 82 km

This cycling holiday starts with a beautiful stage from Bibbona to Volterra.
We leave Bibbona and head to Bolgheri where we ride through important and famous vineyards. These vineyards are famous for the "Sassicaia" wine they produce.
The first easy climb takes us to the Castagneto Carducci. Here, we start a spectacular segment on a mountain ridge road.
Then, we cross the wilderness area of Larderello where they produce 12% of the world's geothermal energy.
At this point the enchanting Volterra and our luxury accommodation are waiting for us.

Day 3

Volterra - Siena. 75 km

After an excellent breakfast, we head to Siena.
Our stage starts with a long descent towards the Colle Val d'Elsa. Here, we start a gradual climb through a natural area. We ride on peaceful back roads through old historic villages in a continuous up and down.
Siena, a city famous all over the world, is our final destination. In the evening, we dine in the old city center. This allows us to visit the Duomo, Piazza del Campo, and many other beautiful sites.

Day 4

Siena - Montepulciano. 77 km

Today, we ride through some of the most famous scenery in the world – the heart of Tuscany. Breathtakingly beautiful rolling hills and past old farms with their characteristic vineyards, olive trees, and rows of cypress trees.
Our first stop is Asciano for a light lunch in the old medieval center.
This is an easy stage, with frequent ups and downs, sometimes a bit steep, but never too demanding.
The important and famous town of Montepulciano is waiting for us. This extraordinary Tuscan town is of Etruscan origin. One of the most appreciated wines in Tuscany, the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, is named after the town.
We won't be able to resist a visit to the historic buildings and the suggestive medieval old downtown.

Day 5

Montepulciano - Assisi. 90 km

With this stage, we leave Tuscany and we reach Umbria, The Green Heart of Italy (Il Cuore Verde d’Italia).
This is a long stage, but without long climbs. It takes us, at first, from Montepulciano to Lago Trasimeno, the biggest lake in Central Italy, where we either have lunch or grab a coffee in one of the numerous bars and restaurants beside the lake.
Back in the saddle, we cycle now through the welcoming panorama of green Umbria with its undulating hills and welcoming old villages. Early on, we can already see Assisi in the background, perched on a hilltop at the base of the Monte Pasubio.
Assisi is one of the most important cultural cities in Italy. San Francesco d'Assisi was born here, also making it an important religious center.
After a visit to the city, a delicious dinner and some priceless Umbrian wine are our reward after this long stage.

Day 6

Assisi - Norcia. 80 km

This incredible Coast to Coast bike tour is a mix of sea, hills and mountains.
Today, we enter the Apennine Range, a long mountain range that runs from North to South through Italy. If we want to link the Tyrrhenian Sea to the Adriatic Sea, we must ride over these wild mountains.
This stage gives us our first taste of the mountains. We encounter a different kind of cycling - long climbs with a moderate gradient, always surrounded by an extraordinary landscape.
Our destination is the cultural town of Norcia, at the foot of the Monti Sibillini and inside the Parco Nazionale dei Monti Sibillini.

Day 7

Norcia - Camerino. 84 km

This stage resembles an Alpine stage. Majestic mountains welcome us as we pedal on one of the most spectacular mountain roads in Central Italy.
We leave Norcia in the morning and head to Castelluccio di Norcia. This fairytale village is perched on a hilltop in the Piano Grande plateau at 1452 m asl, in a high mountain environment.
We start out up a road that takes us from the Valley of Norcia to the plateau, a long mountain road with a breathtaking view of the valley.
Once we reach the plateau, we ride at altitude up to Castellucio. This area is famous for its lentil plants that offer an incredible visual experience for visitors who pass through during the spring bloom.
We then leave the mountains and have a long descent to Camerino. We are now in a new region - the Marche, The sweet region (La dolce regione).

Day 8

Camerino - Pergola. 76 km

Le Marche is an unspoiled region of rolling hills, mountains, and coastline. It has a lot to offer a tourist. Maybe less famous than Tuscany, but it is undoubtedly of equal beauty.
In this stage, we ride inside the Parco Naturale Regionale della gola Rossa e di Frasassi, a natural canyon between some mountains. We ride on peaceful back roads through quiet old villages.
Our final destination is an agrotourism where we can rest and taste local organic dishes and wine.

Day 9 

Pergola - Sea. 55 km

The final stage. This stage takes us from the heart of the Marche to the spectacular Adriatic Sea with its sparkling green water.
In 8 days, we have ridden through three regions, from the Tyrrhenian Sea to the Adriatic Sea.
A long cycling tour through historic towns and unique and extraordinary landscapes, over mountains and hills, and from sea to sea - a succession of great and unforgettable emotions.

Day 10 

Breakfast and transfer to Ancona airport/station.

INCLUDED:

• Taxes
• Luggage transfer
• 9 nights accommodation
• 9 dinners
• 9 breakfasts
• Technical bike guide
• Technical assistance
• Medical Insurance

EXCLUDED: tips, laundry, service, beverage, lunches, and anything not explicitly stated on this page!