We meet in the port city of Ancona, the gateway to the Marche region along the Adriatic coast. From here, we'll whisk you away to Sirolo, a picturesque town nestled further down the coastline. Situated atop cliffs with panoramic views of the Adriatic Sea and featuring a medieval town square, we couldn’t ask for a more scenic launchpad to our cycling adventure. In the evening we gather for a trip briefing and welcome dinner.
Villa Ghirardelli
DinnerBidding farewell to the Adriatic coastline, our inaugural ride takes us into the rustic heart of Central Italy. We ride on a mix of paved and gravel roads across a landscape of undulating hills in the historic hinterlands of Marche. We pause in Offagna, a medieval hilltop village with an excellently preserved 15th-century fortress, 'Rocca di Offagna'. We will also pass by another historic gem, Polverigi, with its distinctive circular old town center. Our day's route concludes amidst the green hills of San Marcello for some R&R at a renovated wine estate. Indulge in a glass or two of the estate's exquisite natural wines produced on-site.
Tenuta San MarcelloBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 60km
+1270m
-1200mToday we head for the eastern foothills of the Apennine mountains, the rocky backbone of the Italian Peninsula. The first half of the ride takes us along a winding network of gravel roads through olive groves and vineyards. These are the valleys where Verdicchio di Jesi – awarded as the second best wine in the world – is produced. As we inch our way closer to the Apennines we’ll stop in the medieval village of Serra San Quirico and discover its narrow streets and piazza. The second half of the ride then takes us into the eastern foothills of the Apennines with longer ascents and descents on gravel roads. A highlight is passing through the Gola di Frasassi, a scenic canyon with rugged limestone cliffs and home to the famous Frasassi Caves. A final climb leads us to Fabriano, Italy’s 'City of Paper' which for hundreds of years was Europe’s most esteemed paper production center. Explore this heritage-infused town before we meet for dinner.
B&B La PortellaBreakfast, Lunch, DinnerRide 62km+1880m-1726mFrom Fabriano, we take a few km of paved secondary roads before switching to gravel roads that cross the Apennines. We now find ourselves in Umbria, Italy’s green heart, filled with beautiful rolling hills covered with forests, farmland, and villages. We ride up and down the region’s quintessential 'white roads' for around 40 km, punctuating this stage with a fun (and bumpy!) descent to the historic town of Assisi. Nestled in the western slopes of the Apennines, Assisi was the birthplace of St. Francis, founder of the Franciscan Order, to whom the town’s beautiful Basilica – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – is dedicated. We’ll spend some time uncovering Assisi’s architectural, religious, and artistic splendors before a gentle finish to today’s ride through the Umbrian countryside. We spend the night at an elevated farm stay surrounded by olive groves near the town of Cannara. You can enjoy homemade olive oil and ,of course, some fine local wine!
Incanto della NaturaBreakfast, Lunch, DinnerRide 76km+1500m-1620mFrom Cannara we ride through one of Umbria’s prime winegrowing regions and ,after around 60 km, we’ll reach Central Italy’s largest lake, Trasimeno. It is also the fourth largest lake nationwide though compared to its more well known counterparts exudes a calmer and more low-key ambiance. Trasimeno’s gentle, shallow waters and string of medieval towns dotting the marshy shoreline make for a lovely backdrop. We trace part of the lake via a dedicated bike path before veering west to enter Tuscany where we hop onto the so-called 'land reclamation path', a network of mostly gravel roads following an ancient canal which turned this area of Tuscany from wild valleys into an agrarian hinterland with farms and vineyards as far as the eye can see. We conclude our ride in Montepulciano, a town of mixed medieval and renaissance character located high up on a rocky ridge overlooking the iconic Tuscan countryside. It’s hard to dream up a more picture-perfect locale to conclude and celebrate today’s long ride! With plenty of osterias to choose from, dinner is on your own tonight. Make sure to pair with the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, the town’s signature wine.
Palazzo Tombesi TrecciBreakfast, LunchRide 90km+1200m-965mToday we ride the famous white roads of Tuscany, made popular by the L’Eroica and Strade Bianche cycling events. These twisty, undulating chalk roads wind through Tuscan hills and vineyards, offering a challenging yet dreamy ride. But we aren’t racing! We’ll be taking our time to savor the roads and the places they lead to. Our first stop is Pienza, 'the ideal town', so named due to its conception by a 15th-century pope as an exemplary Renaissance urban space. This pope would be happy to know that Pienza is now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We then cross Val d’Orcia – with its iconic cypress trees lining the roads – to reach the village of Buonconvento which is surrounded by a still intact 14th-century defensive wall. The final stretch takes us on a winding climb to the fairytale hilltop town of Montalcino. Beyond the charm of its setting and historic piazza, the town is best known for being the home of one of Italy’s most renowned wines: Brunello di Montalcino.
Albergo il GiglioBreakfast, Lunch, DinnerRide 60km+1300m-1300mFrom Montalcino, we’ll “treat” ourselves to a few km of asphalt before returning to Tuscan gravel roads. Not too long into the ride we’ll see the imposing Abbey of Sant'Antimo rise above the rolling hills. Benedictine monks still reside in the abbey and perform Gregorian chants in the Romanesque church. We then continue to the castle of Porrona, a beautifully restored 13th-century Sienese stronghold. From here onwards we traverse the Maremma, a pristine and lesser-known region of southern Tuscany with dense forests. This wilderness will be our home for tonight as we go glamping at a nature lodge nestled in the Maremma hills near Scansano. The property is only accessible by off-road vehicle, offering a truly remote experience in the heart of Italy.
Tenuta San LudovicoBreakfast, Lunch, DinnerRide 77km+1380m-1540mIt is time for the home stretch as we cycle to the Tyrrhenian coast. From the forests of Maremma, we have a final climb to the town of Scansano, famous for producing Morellino di Scansano, a beloved Tuscan wine. We then enjoy a mostly downhill ride to the coast, soaking in our final views of the Tuscan hills, vineyards, and charming historic villages. Once we reach sea level we cross onto the Argentario promontory. This rugged headland offers a grande finale to our adventure as we are welcomed by the azure waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea. High fives are surely in order when we saddle-off in the coastal town of Porto Santo Stefano where we’ll celebrate our journey with a farewell dinner.
Bike&Boat hotelBreakfast, Lunch, DinnerRide 70km+617m-1000mArrivederci! Feel free to extend your stay and relax by the sea or travel onwards to your next destination in Italy or beyond. Arrangements for transfers or post-tour hotels can be made.
BreakfastDisclaimer: The adventure cycling tours we operate often go beyond the beaten track, and the countries where we ride are not always predictable. Due to these reasons, it is occasionally necessary to reroute or update itineraries. Our guarantee is that we will not change a trip unless for safety or to improve it. Our listed hotels are always accurate at the time of writing, but should we have to change any hotel, it will always be for a similar or better one.
DestinationsItaly
Tour MeetsAncona
Fly in toAncona International Airport (AOI)
Group Size4-16 riders
SpiceRoads jerseyWater bottleSupport vehicleGuide(s)Meals (as indicated)AccommodationSnacks and drinks
International flightsDomestic flightsAirport pick upAirport drop offVisa feesAlcoholTips
This tour covers 495 km over 7 days of riding from Sirolo, on the east coast, to Porto Santo Stefano, on the west coast of Central Italy. We cover three regions – Marche, Umbria, and Tuscany – with a varied terrain ranging from rolling hills, vineyards, olive groves, the rugged Apennines, the beautiful Val D’Orcia, and the wild Maremma. This is Central Italy at its best, made possible by an exclusive and novel gravel biking route.
The trip is fully supported, and your guide’s expert knowledge of the area and terrain means that you always know what is coming up in terms of distance and difficulty. This makes a tremendous difference, as does the constant supply of water and refreshments along the way.
Suitability: The tour is suitable for cyclists possessing a good level of physical fitness as the average distance per day is more than 70 km and the average climb per day is more than 1000 m. Fitness will be a huge asset on those long days and challenging climbs. You should be comfortable on a gravel bike and have experience navigating on rocky roads for extended periods. There are some challenging technical sections. There are no rest days, though we have the afternoons free to relax and recharge. The tour is guided and fully supported, and a transfer is possible at certain points during each stage for any weary riders. As the tour visits many charming villages, towns, heritage sites and vineyards, riding is not the only focus and a fair amount of time will be spent off-saddle to explore these fascinating and picturesque places. If you are a fan of wine and gastronomy, then you will also love this tour.
Biking Conditions: This route has been designed specifically for gravel bikers and so we ride on a mix of gravel and secondary asphalt roads. The conditions of the roads vary widely, ranging from hard-packed and level to loose and bumpy. Throughout all days, the terrain is hilly and changeable with flat sections and a lot of climbs and descents. Some climbs can be gradual while others are short but steep. For the most part, you can expect very little traffic in the countryside but coming in and out towns, as well as near popular tourist attractions, we will share the roads with cars and buses and rules of traffic must be observed. While rainfall is uncommon during the months we schedule our tours, showers can occur at any time – we generally ride rain or shine though, based on the guide’s discretion or your level of comfort, modifications to the planned route can be made. It’s all part of the adventure!
We meet in the port city of Ancona, the gateway to the Marche region along the Adriatic coast. From here, we'll whisk you away to Sirolo, a picturesque town nestled further down the coastline. Situated atop cliffs with panoramic views of the Adriatic Sea and featuring a medieval town square, we couldn’t ask for a more scenic launchpad to our cycling adventure. In the evening we gather for a trip briefing and welcome dinner.
Villa GhirardelliDinnerBidding farewell to the Adriatic coastline, our inaugural ride takes us into the rustic heart of Central Italy. We ride on a mix of paved and gravel roads across a landscape of undulating hills in the historic hinterlands of Marche. We pause in Offagna, a medieval hilltop village with an excellently preserved 15th-century fortress, 'Rocca di Offagna'. We will also pass by another historic gem, Polverigi, with its distinctive circular old town center. Our day's route concludes amidst the green hills of San Marcello for some R&R at a renovated wine estate. Indulge in a glass or two of the estate's exquisite natural wines produced on-site.
Tenuta San MarcelloBreakfast, Lunch, DinnerRide 60km+1270m-1200mToday we head for the eastern foothills of the Apennine mountains, the rocky backbone of the Italian Peninsula. The first half of the ride takes us along a winding network of gravel roads through olive groves and vineyards. These are the valleys where Verdicchio di Jesi – awarded as the second best wine in the world – is produced. As we inch our way closer to the Apennines we’ll stop in the medieval village of Serra San Quirico and discover its narrow streets and piazza. The second half of the ride then takes us into the eastern foothills of the Apennines with longer ascents and descents on gravel roads. A highlight is passing through the Gola di Frasassi, a scenic canyon with rugged limestone cliffs and home to the famous Frasassi Caves. A final climb leads us to Fabriano, Italy’s 'City of Paper' which for hundreds of years was Europe’s most esteemed paper production center. Explore this heritage-infused town before we meet for dinner.
B&B La PortellaBreakfast, Lunch, DinnerRide 62km+1880m-1726mFrom Fabriano, we take a few km of paved secondary roads before switching to gravel roads that cross the Apennines. We now find ourselves in Umbria, Italy’s green heart, filled with beautiful rolling hills covered with forests, farmland, and villages. We ride up and down the region’s quintessential 'white roads' for around 40 km, punctuating this stage with a fun (and bumpy!) descent to the historic town of Assisi. Nestled in the western slopes of the Apennines, Assisi was the birthplace of St. Francis, founder of the Franciscan Order, to whom the town’s beautiful Basilica – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – is dedicated. We’ll spend some time uncovering Assisi’s architectural, religious, and artistic splendors before a gentle finish to today’s ride through the Umbrian countryside. We spend the night at an elevated farm stay surrounded by olive groves near the town of Cannara. You can enjoy homemade olive oil and ,of course, some fine local wine!
Incanto della NaturaBreakfast, Lunch, DinnerRide 76km+1500m-1620mFrom Cannara we ride through one of Umbria’s prime winegrowing regions and ,after around 60 km, we’ll reach Central Italy’s largest lake, Trasimeno. It is also the fourth largest lake nationwide though compared to its more well known counterparts exudes a calmer and more low-key ambiance. Trasimeno’s gentle, shallow waters and string of medieval towns dotting the marshy shoreline make for a lovely backdrop. We trace part of the lake via a dedicated bike path before veering west to enter Tuscany where we hop onto the so-called 'land reclamation path', a network of mostly gravel roads following an ancient canal which turned this area of Tuscany from wild valleys into an agrarian hinterland with farms and vineyards as far as the eye can see. We conclude our ride in Montepulciano, a town of mixed medieval and renaissance character located high up on a rocky ridge overlooking the iconic Tuscan countryside. It’s hard to dream up a more picture-perfect locale to conclude and celebrate today’s long ride! With plenty of osterias to choose from, dinner is on your own tonight. Make sure to pair with the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, the town’s signature wine.
Palazzo Tombesi TrecciBreakfast, LunchRide 90km+1200m-965mToday we ride the famous white roads of Tuscany, made popular by the L’Eroica and Strade Bianche cycling events. These twisty, undulating chalk roads wind through Tuscan hills and vineyards, offering a challenging yet dreamy ride. But we aren’t racing! We’ll be taking our time to savor the roads and the places they lead to. Our first stop is Pienza, 'the ideal town', so named due to its conception by a 15th-century pope as an exemplary Renaissance urban space. This pope would be happy to know that Pienza is now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We then cross Val d’Orcia – with its iconic cypress trees lining the roads – to reach the village of Buonconvento which is surrounded by a still intact 14th-century defensive wall. The final stretch takes us on a winding climb to the fairytale hilltop town of Montalcino. Beyond the charm of its setting and historic piazza, the town is best known for being the home of one of Italy’s most renowned wines: Brunello di Montalcino.
Albergo il GiglioBreakfast, Lunch, DinnerRide 60km+1300m-1300mFrom Montalcino, we’ll “treat” ourselves to a few km of asphalt before returning to Tuscan gravel roads. Not too long into the ride we’ll see the imposing Abbey of Sant'Antimo rise above the rolling hills. Benedictine monks still reside in the abbey and perform Gregorian chants in the Romanesque church. We then continue to the castle of Porrona, a beautifully restored 13th-century Sienese stronghold. From here onwards we traverse the Maremma, a pristine and lesser-known region of southern Tuscany with dense forests. This wilderness will be our home for tonight as we go glamping at a nature lodge nestled in the Maremma hills near Scansano. The property is only accessible by off-road vehicle, offering a truly remote experience in the heart of Italy.
Tenuta San LudovicoBreakfast, Lunch, DinnerRide 77km+1380m-1540mIt is time for the home stretch as we cycle to the Tyrrhenian coast. From the forests of Maremma, we have a final climb to the town of Scansano, famous for producing Morellino di Scansano, a beloved Tuscan wine. We then enjoy a mostly downhill ride to the coast, soaking in our final views of the Tuscan hills, vineyards, and charming historic villages. Once we reach sea level we cross onto the Argentario promontory. This rugged headland offers a grande finale to our adventure as we are welcomed by the azure waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea. High fives are surely in order when we saddle-off in the coastal town of Porto Santo Stefano where we’ll celebrate our journey with a farewell dinner.
Bike&Boat hotelBreakfast, Lunch, DinnerRide 70km+617m-1000mArrivederci! Feel free to extend your stay and relax by the sea or travel onwards to your next destination in Italy or beyond. Arrangements for transfers or post-tour hotels can be made.
BreakfastDisclaimer: The adventure cycling tours we operate often go beyond the beaten track, and the countries where we ride are not always predictable. Due to these reasons, it is occasionally necessary to reroute or update itineraries. Our guarantee is that we will not change a trip unless for safety or to improve it. Our listed hotels are always accurate at the time of writing, but should we have to change any hotel, it will always be for a similar or better one.
Because some people can't imagine going on a trip without their own beloved bicycle, we do not provide them as part of this tour. However, you can hire bikes locally for the price listed in the tour pricing section. We provide high-quality Cinelli (or similar) gravel bikes ideally suited for the conditions and terrain on this tour. If you bring your own bike, please make sure it is a gravel bike in good mechanical order. We also have E-Bikes available for hire, but they are limited in number & size - please send an email to us to check on availability.
Basic spares and tools are carried by the guide and on the support vehicle, though we cannot guarantee having spares for every conceivable problem. Carrying a basic tool kit, a spare tube and a pump while riding is recommended.
Wearing a helmet is required on all our biking adventures and is non negotiable. If you do not wear a helmet you will not be allowed to cycle. Your tour leader is trained in first aid and emergency rescue, but to a large degree you must be responsible for your own safety while riding. It is therefore compulsory that you take out travel insurance that will cover you for a mountain biking tour.
You will be led by a local English-speaking guide and if the group is 9 people or more we will add another guide to the tour. All our guides are well informed in the history, culture and religions of the area where you are biking and are skilled at passing that knowledge on to you. Your guide is also medically trained and an experienced cyclist, able to handle most minor repairs en route.
See here for recommendations and detailed information.
Italy has a Mediterranean climate: mild springs from March to May, with temperatures ranging from 10-20°C (50-68°F), warm summers span from June to August, with temperatures typically between 20-30°C (68-86°F), and fall extends from September to November, with temperatures ranging from 10-20°C (50-68°F). Winter lasts from December to February, with temperatures from 0-10°C (32-50°F). The best time for cycling is late spring/early summer and late summer/early fall, when temperatures are pleasant and you can avoid the peak rush of the summer tourism season.
Meals are included as per the itinerary where B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner.
Italian food is loved all over the world, but nothing beats a deep-dive into traditionally prepared regional delicacies straight from the source. Paired with world-class wine, of course. We eat most dinners family-style with generous spreads meant for sharing. On the road, we either stop for a light lunch at a farm or restaurant or have a packed meal at a quiet location. Breakfasts are at the hotels/agriturismi.
Keeping you completely hydrated is a job we take very seriously. Water and a regular supply of refreshments are included in the tour price while riding. Soft drinks and other beverages during meals are not included. But you may also want to bring electrolyte in powder or tablet form. Alcoholic drinks (ahem, some of the world's best fine) are available everywhere, but are NOT included in the price. Occasional wine pairings may be included as a part of dinner - your guide will let you know when they are.
SpiceRoads does not require you to pay a surcharge for travelling alone. We will arrange for you to share accommodation with another traveller of the same gender and if we can not match you up we will provide a single room at no extra charge. If you prefer not to share a single supplement is payable to guarantee your own room. The cost of the single supplement is listed above.
We recommend that you tuck away a few extra Euros for possible incidentals that might arise. It is always wise to have some paper currency in case of ATM absence or credit card problems. This will save you a lot of unnecessary worries. It is also customary to tip local tour guides and drivers; however, the amount you give should be dependent on the level of service you receive.
Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted throughout the country, but that is not a guarantee, especially in mom & pop shops in rural areas.
Tourist Tax: The tourist tax varies depending on the region and the type of accommodation. The fee is between 1 - 5 Euros per person/per night. This amount needs to be paid directly and in cash - hence why we do not include it in the tour price and you will be expected to pay this where necessary.
The currency used in Italy is the Euro (€).
If this is the tour for you here's what you need to do to confirm your place:
Just complete our online booking form or send your booking details offline (email or post), and we will confirm your participation. No deposit is needed to confirm your place on a SpiceRoads tour.
You are advised to read our Booking Conditions in full before you make your payment and should you require further clarifications of any of the conditions below, please email us or call our office.
There is a minimum number of participants (usually 2) required to enable the trip to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to Depart'. Once a trip is guaranteed to depart you are free to book your flights and make other travel arrangements. If the trip status is ‘Limited’ will mean we have only a small number of spaces available for booking. If you are unsure about the trip status, please email us or call our office.
From the tour page, click the 'Book Now' link. All departures for this tour will appear, just select the date you'd like to travel. For the next steps, you'll need to know the names of the people travelling. If you wish you can also provide extra details such as passport numbers, height (for bike hire), or you can add that later by logging into Manage My Trip (we'll set up an account for you automatically if you don't already have one). Our system will contact you from time to time to fill in the missing information, as it will be required before departure. However, if the trip that you are booking offers a child discount, you will have to fill out the date of birth of each rider (so we can calculate the appropriate discount).
If you are having any problems please send us an email, or give us a call (+66 026 3295) and one of our travel specialists will assist you with your booking.
Just call us or send an email indicating which trip you want to join and we will happily send you a list of questions and process your booking for you.
We do not require a deposit or full payment to book a place for you on a tour.
The balance of the tour’s cost (final invoice) will need to be paid 60 days before the departure date with fees for any bicycle rental(s), single supplement(s) and extra hotel nights.
In the case where a booking is made when there are less than 60 days until the tour departure date, the tour’s cost should be paid in full within 72 hours of receiving an invoice from SpiceRoads. Payment can be made by credit card using our online payment gateway or by bank transfer. When making payment online you will need to confirm that you have read these booking conditions during the "checkout" process, which equates to agreeing to the terms of services and stipulations as indicated in this document.
In all cases, tour fees need to be paid “in full” before participation in a tour. No person(s) will be allowed to join a tour without fully settling their invoice and receiving a confirmation number from SpiceRoads.
The exception can be made for last-minute miscellaneous fees that can be paid locally (visas, additional local hotel bookings, etc.) can be settled on the day of arrival.
If the tour is cancelled or postponed by SpiceRoads because we didn't make the trip numbers and the tour can’t run, we will make a full cash refund (by bank transfer or on your credit card).
If the tour is cancelled for any other reason, including due to Covid related travel restrictions, we will give you a full credit (with no deductions for admin or any other small-print item) to use on any SpiceRoads tour with no time limit. (Exceptions being flights, special permits and other non-refundable items and these will be advised when booking the trip).
Before paying for your tour, you can cancel your booking with no charge and up until 40 days before departure, you can change your booking to another travel date or move your booking onto another SpiceRoads tour with no charges.
If you need to cancel after you have made full payment, please see our cancellation policy.
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