8-Day Gravel Bike Vacation in Tuscany and Umbria
Inhoudsopgave
2
3

A gravel bike adventure through the highlights of Tuscany and Umbria

Admiring the endless beauty of Umbria and Tuscany from the saddle of a gravel bike is a unique experience. In the itinerary below, we describe an 8-day trip from Assisi to Siena. This trip is offered by a local cycling tour specialist. Luggage transport, GPX routes, 24/7 support, and hotels are included. Read more about this at the bottom of the page. Of course, you can also plan this trip entirely on your own.

White Roads of Tuscany and Umbria

The route takes you along the most picturesque “strade bianche” in these two beautiful regions of central Italy. You’ll ride along bike paths and quiet country roads lined with olive groves, vineyards, and picturesque medieval villages.

Gravel Bike Vacation - Hills and Vineyards in Umbria
Strade bianche - on a gravel bike
Perugia - view

Highlights of a gravel bike vacation in Tuscany and Umbria

  • Assisi and Bevagna
  • Umbria’s Most Famous Wine Region
  • Strade bianche, the white gravel roads
  • The Paths of St. Francis
  • Foligno
  • The Umbrian Valley
  • Sagrantino
  • Trasimeno Lake
  • Solomeo
  • Perugia
  • Cortona
  • Val d’Orcia
  • Montepulciano
  • Siena
Assisi - Via di Francesco
Strade bianche - Cycling in Tuscany
Hiking in Umbria - Bevagna - Church of St. Michael the Archangel

Day 1: Arrival in Assisi

You’ll arrive in Assisi on your own. You’ll be welcomed by the organizers at the Santa Maria degli Angeli train station in Assisi and taken to your hotel. There, you’ll receive your bikes (if you’re renting them) and all the necessary information for your gravel adventure through Umbria and Tuscany. Take some time to explore Assisi; visit the sites associated with St. Francis and get ready for your first ride the next day.

Overnight stay in Assisi

Day 2: Gravel bike ride from Assisi to Spello and Bevagna

Distance: 65 km – Elevation: 600 m

The first gravel ride. From Assisi, you’ll reach Spello via the beautiful Via degli Olivi, at the foot of Mount Subasio. After Spello, you’ll continue on to Foligno and then to Bevagna, a beautiful medieval gem. The return trip to Assisi takes you through Piandarca, Cannara, and Rivotorto, home to the beautiful sanctuary.

Overnight stay in Assisi

Hiking in Umbria - Perugia
Gravel Trail in Umbria

Day 3: Cycling from Assisi to Perugia

Distance: 50 km – Elevation: 370 m

Today you’ll leave Assisi and cycle to Perugia. You’ll ride through lush southern countryside. You’ll pass through Bastia Umbra and follow the Chiascio River to reach first Costano and then Brufa.

From here, you’ll enjoy a beautiful view—mostly along strade bianche—down into the Tiber River valley. After crossing the river, you’ll ride past rolling hills near the outskirts of Perugia. Here, you’ll join the Trasimeno-Perugia bike path to reach the Pian di Massiano train station.

Here, you can hop on the mini-metro with your bike, which will take you to the heart of the Acropolis in about ten minutes. This way, you’ll avoid all the traffic and easily reach Perugia’s historic center and your hotel.

Overnight stay in Perugia

Day 4: Gravel ride from Perugia to Solomeo

Distance: 50 km – Elevation: 580 m

Today’s stage is quite challenging (at least the first 20 km) and takes you to the charming village of Solomeo, the home of cashmere. It has been lovingly restored by Brunello Cucinelli and his humanistic fashion company.

You’ll reach this beautiful spot by passing through the Monte Pacciano area north of Perugia. A sweeping view of Mount Tezio, Perugia’s “mountain,” and the surrounding countryside. From there, a series of beautiful, quiet strade bianche will lead you to Solomeo. It’s definitely worth stopping for a break! Afterward, continue on to your agriturismo, just one kilometer away.

Overnight stay in Solomeo

Gravel Bike Route - View from Cortona
Tuscany Bike Path Near a Vineyard

Day 5: Cycling from Solomeo to Cortona in Tuscany

Distance: 78 km – Elevation: 660 m

A long but mostly flat stage. It takes you along beautiful strade bianche with views of Lake Trasimeno. If you cycle around the lake from the south, you’ll arrive in the charming village of Castiglione del Lago, the perfect spot for a lunch break. After that, you’ll continue cycling into Tuscany.

Tip: Take it easy and save some energy for the end, because most of the elevation gain comes on the final climb to the beautiful town of Cortona.

Day 6: Gravel biking in Tuscany: from Cortona to Montepulciano

Distance: 59 km – Elevation: 690 m

This is your first stage entirely in Tuscany. From Cortona, you’ll cross the Val di Chiana via the most beautiful white roads until you reach the Abbazia di Farneta , one of the oldest Benedictine monasteries in the region, dating back to the 9th century AD.

After visiting the abbey, you’ll head down to the Chiana River and follow the Bonifica Trail until you reach Lake Montepulciano, a nature reserve known for its rich flora and fauna.

From here, a long climb toward Montepulciano begins; riding along strade bianche surrounded by vineyards and stunning views, you’ll reach the church of San Biagio and then your hotel.

Overnight stay in Montepulciano

San Biagio bij Montepulciano
Via dell'Amore - Pienza - Val d'Orcia - Tuscany - Italy

Day 7: Gravel ride from Montepulciano to Buonconvento

Distance: 54 km – Elevation: 1,090 m

Today’s stage has the most elevation gain of the entire trip, but it also takes you through some of Tuscany’s most beautiful hilltop villages. You’re in the Val d’Orcia, one of the most beautiful valleys in Tuscany.

Tip: Start early so you can fully enjoy the scenery along the way:

  • The first stop is the village of Monticchiello
  • Then you’ll drive through the beautiful Renaissance town of Pienza, a terraced town perched above the Val d’Orcia and a filming location for iconic productions such as Ridley Scott’s *Gladiator*
  • Next, Bagno Vignoni with the Piazza delle Sorgenti
  • Then a steep climb of about 3 kilometers on to Vignoni Alto
  • And then on to San Quirico d’Orcia with its beautiful Horti Leonini (Renaissance gardens)

You’ll end the day with a bike ride along one of the most beautiful strade bianche in the world—part of the permanent Eroica route—which will take you to your agriturismo near Buonconvento.

Overnight stay in Buonconvento

Driveway lined with cypress trees in Tuscany - Siena
Landscape near Siena - Crete Senesi

Day 8: Gravel bike ride from Buonconvento to Siena (Taverne d’Arbia)

Distance: 69 km – Elevation: 960 m

The final leg of this spectacular gravel bike tour. Today, you’ll spend most of your time on the world’s most beautiful strade bianche, with constant climbs and descents that will really put your legs to the test.

You’ll tackle the famous climb up Monte Sante Marie shortly after passing through Asciano, where the gradient can reach a steep 18%. But the breathtaking 360-degree view stretching from Monte Amiata to Chianti and the Crete Senesi makes it all worth it.

The stage ends in Taverne d’Arbia, where a member of the organizing committee will be waiting to drive you to Siena so you can avoid the busy suburbs.

Enjoy a day in Siena before continuing your trip.

Overnight stay in Siena

Day 9: The end of your gravel bike vacation through Umbria and Tuscany

Spend another day in Siena before continuing your trip. You can take the train or bus back to Assisi if you left your car there. You can also arrange a transfer (for a fee) through your tour operator.

This 8-day gravel bike tour starts in Assisi and ends in Siena. You’ll make your own way to Assisi—either by car or by flying from Rotterdam/The Hague Airport to Perugia with Transavia.

Organized gravel bike vacations in Tuscany and Umbria

If you’d like to book this trip through an agency, please fill out the form below. We’ll forward your request. You’ll then book with a local travel agency with which we have a good working relationship. We’ll receive a small commission, but the price for you will remain the same.

Price: €1,550 per person, based on double occupancy

Included

  • 8 nights (in 3- or 4-star accommodations)
  • Breakfast (dinner available upon request)
  • 24/7 Emergency Number
  • GPX files
  • Luggage transport from hotel to hotel

Not included

  • Trip to Assisi
  • Bicycle Rentals
  • Dinners
  • Tip
  • Surcharge for single or multi-person rooms

Bicycle Rentals

You can rent bikes from the organization—either regular gravel bikes or gravel e-bikes. The bikes come standard with a plastic water bottle, a pannier, a lock, a repair kit, and spare tires. If you’re a beginner, a gravel e-bike is recommended.

Offerte aanvragen Gravelbike vakantie Umbrië en Toscane

Als je een offerte aanvraagt, sturen we deze door naar de lokale partner en bevestigen zij direct aan jou indien akkoord. Je betaalt dezelfde prijs als wanneer je direct reserveert. Verdere afhandeling van de reservering en betaling regel je met de lokale leverancier (met wie wij goed contact en afspraken hebben). Wij blijven altijd beschikbaar voor mogelijke vragen.

"*" geeft vereiste velden aan

Naam*
Voer een nummer in van 1 tot 10.
Fietshuur*
Gravelbike

Gravel Bike Vacation in Umbria and Tuscany on a Map

Table of Contents
2
3
Madelon-Seignette - auteur Nature Travel Lab

Over de auteur

Madelon Seignette

Met een passie voor reizen en fotografie én meer dan 30 jaar ervaring in de reisbranche, deel ik graag mijn bijzondere natuur-reistips. Reizen is heerlijk en belangrijk, je ontmoet nieuwe mensen en culturen en het opent je blik op de wereld.

ALLE BERICHTEN VAN DEZE AMBASSADEUR

Bekijk andere blogs

Slow Food Puglia: The Divine Flavors of Southern Italy

Slow Food Puglia: The Divine Flavors of Southern Italy

,

Slow Food Puglia: Tasting Mussels and Clementines in Taranto Starting in the summer of 2026, in the province of Taranto, in the far south of Italy, you can literally sample what small-scale local producers have to offer. At the same time, during these excursions,...

Last September, we had a wonderful six-day hiking vacation from Bologna to Florence (Via Degli Dei). Not only was the weather perfect, but the organization also contributed to this wonderful experience. The hotels were good, and our luggage was always delivered to the hotel before we arrived. The private transfer was on time, and communication via WhatsApp during our hiking week went smoothly as well; responses were quick and clear. We can therefore definitely recommend this hiking vacation through Nature Travel Lab!

We hebben afgelopen september een heerlijke wandelvakantie (zes dagen) gehad van Bologna naar Florence (Via Degli Dei). Niet alleen werkte het weer mee, maar ook de organisatie droeg bij aan deze fijne ervaring. De hotels waren goed en onze bagage werd steeds vóór onze aankomst bij het hotel afgeleverd. De privétransfer was op tijd en het contact via WhatsApp tijdens onze wandelweek verliep ook goed; er werd snel en duidelijk gereageerd. Wij kunnen deze wandelvakantie via Nature Travel Lab dan ook zeker aanbevelen!

Johan en Pauline

After reading the report on the “Alpenüberquerung,” we got really excited. The combination of hiking through beautiful nature and the luxury of luggage transport and a reserved hotel perfectly meets our desire to stay active but then be able to enjoy a well-deserved drink and a delicious meal. The hikes were manageable for us and very varied; some basic fitness is required, especially since we aren’t used to the elevation gain. The trip really gives you the feeling that you’re on a hiking expedition, especially since you hike on your own but meet the same fellow hikers in the afternoons and evenings at one of the mountain huts or at the hotel. Highly recommended for hikers who love unspoiled nature combined with the luxury of a hotel!

Na het lezen van het verslag van de 'Alpenüberquerung' zijn we enthousiast geraakt. De combinatie van wandelen in de prachtige natuur en de luxe van het bagagetransport en een gereserveerd hotel, beantwoord helemaal aan onze wensen om actief bezig te zijn maar daarna lekker te kunnen genieten van een welverdiend drankje en een lekkere maaltijd. De wandelingen waren voor ons goed te doen en zeer gevarieerd; enige basisconditie is wel vereist, zeker omdat we de hoogtemeters niet gewend zijn. De tocht geeft je echt het gevoel dat je op een wandel-expeditie bent, helemaal omdat je individueel loopt maar 's middags en 's avonds dezelfde lopers treft in één van de hutjes op de berg of in het hotel. Absolute aanrader voor wandelaars die van ongerepte natuur houden gecombineerd met de luxe van een hotel!

Ton & Julia

Peloponnese Hiking Tour

Wandelreis Peloponnesos

Mar en Co

A really beautiful six-day hike from Bologna to Florence. Communication with NatureTravelLab and the local agent was excellent. The information packet was waiting for us at the hotel in Bologna, and the app with the route worked great. Luggage transport was well organized every day, and our bags were waiting for us each time we arrived at our new room! We covered more than 1,400 meters of elevation gain, but unfortunately didn’t always get the views we’d hoped for due to cloud cover and some drizzle. Most days had great hiking weather. It was wonderful to walk into Florence on foot and stay there an extra day.

Een hele mooie zesdaagse hike van Bologna naar Florence. Communicatie met NatureTravelLab en lokale agent was prima. Infopakket lag klaar in hotel in Bologna en app met route werkte top. Bagagevervoer was elke dag goed geregeld en de tassen stonden er elke dag weer als we aankwamen in onze nieuwe kamer! Meer dan 1.400 hoogtemeters gemaakt, maar hadden helaas niet altijd de gewenste uitzichten door bewolking met wat motregen. Meeste dagen prima wandelweer. Heerlijk om per voet Florence in te lopen en daar nog een dag extra gebleven

Jeroen

We experienced the Walk of the Gods as a great adventure. Our start in Bologna didn’t go quite as planned because our app wasn’t working yet and we couldn’t find a single sign for Via degli Dei in the square. Fortunately, we were quickly able to join two young hikers from Florence who were also doing the hike. After a wonderful night’s stay at the beautiful Rio Verde agritourism farm, Day 2 went much better with the help of the hiking app. Along the way, we enjoyed stunning views, met some great fellow hikers, and sampled delicious local dishes. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t always on our side, and we had a day of heavy rain, which made the trail very slippery and required us to be careful. It’s a real treat when, on the last day, you can already see Florence in the distance and walk into this beautiful city a few hours later. Thank you so much for your quick and friendly responses to all our questions.

We hebben de tocht der Goden als een groot avontuur ervaren. Onze start in Bologna verliep niet helemaal naar wens omdat onze app nog niet werkte en we op het plein geen enkel bordje konden vinden van Via degli Dei Gelukkig konden we snel aansluiten bij twee jonge wandelaars uit Florence die de tocht ook liepen. Na een heerlijke overnachting in een prachtige Agri toerisme Rio Verde verliep dag 2 een stuk beter met behulp van de wandel app. Onderweg hebben we genoten van prachtige uitzichten. Leuke wandelaars ontmoet en heerlijke streek gerechten geproefd. Helaas waren de weer goden ons niet altijd goed gezind en hadden we een dag volop regen waardoor het pad erg glibberig werd en het oppassen was. Het is volop genieten als je de laatste dag al van veraf Florence ziet liggen en deze mooie stad een paar uur later binnen loopt. Dank je wel voor jullie snelle vriendelijke reacties op al onze vragen.

Rob en Jose

We enjoyed the trip. We also made some changes to our itinerary, and the email correspondence went very smoothly. We started in Mantera; the next day, our first and only hike was a really beautiful one. The taxi picked us up right on time. Unfortunately, the second day’s route was almost the same when we cycled to Ostuni. The bikes were well-maintained, including panniers and helmets (these were simply included). You could even bring your own water bottle!!! We found the route very scenic and varied. There were charming little villages where we could stop for lunch or coffee. The app worked great. All the hotels ranged from good to excellent, though we didn’t think the hotel in Leuca was worthy of 4 stars. We followed your advice for the two nights we stayed there. We found Leuca a bit underwhelming for a two-day stay. We would have preferred to stay in Gallipoli or Lecce for two days. We took this trip in April and were very lucky with the weather. It’s still a quiet time of year, but we didn’t mind that. We definitely recommend it!!!

We hebben de reis als prettig ervaren. We hebben ook onze reis aangepast en de mails gingen erg vlot. We zijn in Mantera begonnen, de volgende dag onze 1e en enige wandeling was een hele mooie wandeling. Werden netjes opgehaald door de taxi. Helaas was de 2e dag bijna de zelfde route toen we gingen fietsen naar Ostuni. De fietsen waren keurig verzorgd incl.fietstassen en helmen ( Dit zat er gewoon bij) Je zou zelf een bidon kunnen meenemen !!! De route vonden wij heel mooi en afwisselend. Leuke dorpjes om te lunchen of koffie te drinken. Gaat prima met de app. Alle hotels zijn prima tot uitstekend, echter het hotel in Leuca vonden wij geen 4 * waardig. Waar we 2 nachten verbleven zijn we vanuit jullie advies gegaan. We vonden in Leuca iets minder voor 2 dagen. We hadden liever in Gallipoli of in Lecce 2 dagen verbleven. Wij hebben deze reis in april gedaan, hadden veel geluk met weer. Is nog rustig periode, maar dat vonden wij niet erg. Het is zeker een aanrader !!!

Rondreis door Puglia

Thanks to a great tip from Nature Travel Lab, we had a wonderful week in Italy. Fattoria di Maiano, just outside Florence, was a beautiful and peaceful place. And the suggested road trips were a great guide for exploring the region. We’ll definitely check here for tips for our next vacation, too. Highly recommended!

Dankzij een gouden tip van Nature Travel Lab een heerlijke week gehad in Italië. Fattoria di Maiano net buiten Florence was een prachtige en rustige plek. En de voorgestelde autoritten waren een heel mooi handboek om de regio te verkennen. Ook voor de volgende vakantie zullen we hier checken voor tips. Zeker een aanrader!

Tara en Roy

We spent a divine week in Italy: we walked the Path of the Gods, from Bologna to Florence—about 135 km spread over 6 days of hiking. Challenging distances and climbs, amazing views, nature, and a warm welcome every time we arrived at the agriturismo or albergo/hotel. All of this was perfectly organized by the Italian company Slow Active Tours, entirely in line with Nature Travel Lab’s itinerary proposal: upon arrival in Bologna, an information packet was waiting for us, complete with a hiking map, a booklet, and passports for the stamps. And the hiking app was very practical for along the way! Our luggage was transported every day and was always waiting for us when we arrived at the next location. Communication was smooth and clear. In short, highly recommended, well worth it, and well-organized.

Wij hebben een goddelijke week in Italie doorgebracht: de Godenweg gelopen, van Bologna naar Florence, zo’n 135km verdeeld over 6 wandeldagen. Pittige afstanden en stijgingen, geweldige uitzichten, natuur en steeds weer een gastvrij onthaal bij aankomst in de agriturismo, of albergo/hotel. Dit alles was perfect georganiseerd door het Italiaanse Slow Active Tours, geheel volgens reisvoorstel van Nature Travel Lab: bij aankomst in Bologna lag er een infopakket klaar, met wandelkaart, boekje en paspoorten voor de stempels. En de wandelapp was zeer praktisch voor onderweg! De bagage werd elke dag vervoerd, en was steeds ter plekke als wij aankwamen op de volgende locatie. De communicatie verliep vlot en duidelijk. Kortom, aanrader, zeer de moeite waard en goed georganiseerd.

Roos & Marc

In September, I walked the Cammino Materano. Communicating with Madelon about the booking was a pleasure. To be honest, I was quite nervous because it was my first time doing a multi-day hike—alone and in a region I wasn’t familiar with—but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The hike to Matera was beautiful, and I was able to complete it without any trouble thanks to the clear on-site signage and the routing and advice provided by the GPS app. The rest of the organization was top-notch as well. My luggage always arrived on time at the right destination, and the hotels and B&Bs were of high quality. In addition, the organizers were easy to reach via WhatsApp if I had any questions. Highly recommended!

In september heb ik de Cammino Materano gelopen. Het contact met Madelon voor de boeking was plezierig. Eerlijk gezegd vond ik best spannend, omdat het de eerste keer was dat ik een meerdaagse wandeling deed, alleen en in een voor mij onbekende regio, maar het is mij uitstekend bevallen. De wandeling naar Matera was prachtig en heb ik probleemloos kunnen lopen dankzij de heldere bewegwijzering ter plekke en routing en adviezen in de gps app. De overige organisatie was ook top. Mijn bagage was altijd op tijd op de juiste bestemming en de hotels/benb's waren van hoge kwaliteit. Daarnaast was de organisatie goed bereikbaar via whatsapp in geval van vragen. Dikke aanrader!

Barbara

Slovenia was absolutely amazing. A beautiful country, friendly people, lovely hiking trails, and truly top-notch hotels. The staff at the local organization were also very easy to reach and helpful. The hiking was manageable. As Dutch people, we’re not used to high altitudes, of course, so it was pretty tough at times. But it was also a lot of fun.

Slovenie was helemaal geweldig. Mooi land, leuke mensen, mooi wandelroutes en echt top hotels. Ook waren de mensen van de lokale organisatie echt goed bereikbaar en behulpzaam. Lopen was goed te doen. Wij zijn als Nederlanders natuurlijk geen hoogtes gewend, dus dat was soms best pittig. Maar ook lekker.

Charlotte

We had a wonderful trip. Everything was well organized. Due to an unfortunate fall, I ended up traveling with my luggage for a day, but that was handled well, too. We really liked all the accommodations. Only the Hotel Hebe in St. Piero a Sieve was a little less impressive, but it was still okay.

Wij hadden een fijne reis. Alles prima geregeld. Ik ben -door een ongelukkige val- een dag meegereisd met mijn bagage, ook dat werd goed geregeld. We vonden alle accommodaties heel fijn. Alleen hotel Hebe in st Piero a Sieve iets minder, maar wel oke.

Carla

Looks fantastic! I'm definitely going to book a trip with this company... they're committed to sustainability and personalized advice. Definitely worth it.

Ziet er fantastisch uit! Ik ga zeker een reis bij deze organisatie boeken...ze staan voor duurzaamheid en persoonlijk advies. zeker de moeite waard.

Belinda

Madelon and her team are true experts. Thanks to their years of experience and passion for travel, they manage to surprise us time and time again. Beautiful hikes, the most picturesque spots—it’s a real treat. I highly recommend them!

Madelon en haar team zijn echte experts. Door hun jarenlange ervaring en passie voor reizen weten ze ons iedere keer weer te verrassen. Prachtige wandelingen, de mooiste plekjes en daardoor echt genieten. Zeer zeker een aanrader!

Richard

Nature Travel Lab provided us with very helpful and honest assistance!

We zijn heel adequaat en eerlijk geholpen door Nature Travel Lab!

Peter

If you’re looking for travel itineraries, the most beautiful hikes, and destinations, you can find it all here. You’ll find endless inspiration for your next trip. Beautiful cities are interspersed with nature. You’ll find everything you need to know about practical matters. Plus, there are plenty of tips for sustainable travel. That way, you’ll get the most out of your trip.

Ben je op zoek naar reisroutes, de mooiste wandelingen en bestemmingen, dan kun je het hier allemaal vinden. Je vindt oneindig veel inspiratie voor een volgende reis. Mooie steden worden afgewisseld met natuur. Je leest alles over praktische zaken. Daarnaast worden er veel tips gegeven om duurzaam te reizen. Zo haal je alles uit je reis.

Marijke

45

Laat je inspireren

Ben je op zoek naar de mooiste wandel- en fietsroutes? Of wil je informatie over reizen met de trein of advies voor de mooiste roadtrips door de natuur. Laat je inspireren voor je volgende reis in het groen; ideeën om je eigen reis te plannen of te kiezen voor een georganiseerde reis.

Meer info

Wandelroutes

Fietsroutes

De mooiste roadtrips

Met de trein

Cities