Teatro Amilcare Ponchielli Stazione Genova

Umbria Cycle

8 days (Orvieto)

Destinations visited: Italy, Orvieto

Grading:

introductory to moderate

Grading Definitions

Discovery & Cruising

These are our least demanding trips. These journeys of discovery and cruises involve little or no extended activity and are suitable for people with a basic level of fitness and good health. The itinerary may take place in remote areas (with basic facilities) and may involve long travel days on various types of transport. Sightseeing may be conducted on foot and all participants should be capable of carrying their own luggage from vehicle to hotel rooms. These adventures do not go above 2500m and rarely involve camping.
Suggested preparation: Once or twice a week, we recommend you walk on undulating terrain for an hour, for at least 2 -3 months prior to departure.

Adventure Touring

Suggested preparation: Two or three times a week, we recommend you walk on undulating terrain for an hour or more, for at least 3 months prior to departure.

Introductory

These trips involve trekking or walking, cycling, rafting or sea kayaking for up to five or six hours a day at a slow but steady pace and should never be misinterpreted to mean they are easy trips. These trips do not spend time at altitudes above 4000m and are usually a week in duration. You will need a reasonable level of fitness and good health.
Suggested preparation: 30 minutes of aerobic type exercise, (either cycling or jogging) three times a week for three months leading up to your trek. For trekking, hill walking with a daypack in variable weather conditions is also recommended. For a cycling adventure, road cycling twice a week for three months prior to departure is recommended.

Introductory to Moderate

These trips involve a combination of what is described in our INTRODUCTORY and MODERATE levels. The emphasis is on introductory activity with several moderate stages

Moderate

These adventures involve trekking, cycling, rafting or sea kayaking for up to 6 or 7 hours a day at a steady pace. These trips may spend successive days at altitudes not generally exceeding 5,500m and are usually between 10 and 15 days in duration. You will need a good level of fitness and be in good health.
Suggested preparation: 45 minutes of aerobic type exercise, three to five times a week for the three months leading up to your trek. Hill walking with a pack in variable weather conditions or road cycling is also recommended depending upon the activity you plan to undertake.

Moderate to Challenging

These adventures involve trekking, cycling, rafting or sea kayaking for up to 6 or 7 hours a day at a steady pace. These trips may spend successive days at altitudes not generally exceeding 5,500m and are usually between 10 and 15 days in duration. You will need a good level of fitness and be in good health. Suggested preparation: 45 minutes of aerobic type exercise, three to five times a week for the three months leading up to your trek. Hill walking with a pack in variable weather conditions or road cycling is also recommended depending upon the activity you plan to undertake.

Challenging

These adventures involve trekking, cycling or rafting in remote areas in variable weather conditions for up to 8 to 10 hours a day (possibly more subject to weather conditions and altitude). This may include spending successive days at altitudes not generally exceeding 6000m. These trips may often be over three weeks in duration. You will need an excellent level of fitness, be prepared to carry a daypack weighing up to 8kgs (and in some cases a full pack) and be completely comfortable in adverse weather conditions.
Suggested preparation: One hour of aerobic type exercise, four to five times a week for three to six months prior to departure. Hill walking with a pack in variable weather conditions or on/off road cycling is also recommended.

Entry Mtn/Exploratory Treks

These adventures are classed as expeditions. They involve either extreme trekking and or basic mountaineering. Expect remote and poorly defined trails in variable weather conditions for up to 12 hours a day (possibly more subject to weather conditions and altitude). This may include a number of demanding high pass crossings and evacuation may be difficult from remote areas. Suitable for first time mountaineers wishing to take the step from trekking into the realm of mountaineering. Prior experience trekking at altitude is preferable but not essential and you should be comfortable in adverse weather conditions. Prior technical mountaineering experience is not necessary. Terrain will involve low angle snow slopes. Ropes may be used during treks for glacier travel and steeper sections of ice and snow. When mountaineering, basic mountaineering instruction is given by our mountaineering guides.
Suggested preparation: For grade 8-10 mountaineering expeditions you will need to be very fit and healthy. A minimum of 1 hour of aerobic exercise per session, four to five times a week is essential. Running and cycling in hilly areas is particularly beneficial as are multi day walks on the weekends. This is the ideal time to try out your boots and other gear to make sure you are prepared and ready for your expedition. If you are considering Intermediate or advanced level trips, you will need to discuss your preparation leading up to the trip with our expert staff.

Intermediate Mtn Expedition

Participants should be competent and self sufficient in the outdoors and have experience in multi day trekking at altitude. Prior experience on an entry level mountaineering expedition is highly recommended. The terrain will involve low to moderate angle snow slopes and traveling on crevassed glaciers. Experience using ice axe and crampons is preferred but not essential.
Suggested preparation: For grade 8-10 mountaineering expeditions you will need to be very fit and healthy. A minimum of 1 hour of aerobic exercise per session, four to five times a week is essential. Running and cycling in hilly areas is particularly beneficial as are multi day walks on the weekends. This is the ideal time to try out your boots and other gear to make sure you are prepared and ready for your expedition. If you are considering Intermediate or advanced level trips, you will need to discuss your preparation leading up to the trip with our expert staff.

Advanced Mtn Expedition

These are our most challenging expeditions. Clients must have prior mountaineering experience. Most are participatory expeditions & involve load carrying, setting up of camps, cooking and campcraft. Altitude is generally greater than 6500m. Some of these expeditions also involve “technical” climbing and are for experienced alpine climbers / mountaineers only. Technical expeditions involve steep climbing at high altitude (including rock climbing). Participation on one of these expeditions is subject to acceptance by one of our high altitude mountaineering guides.
Suggested preparation: For grade 8-10 mountaineering expeditions you will need to be very fit and healthy. A minimum of 1 hour of aerobic exercise per session, four to five times a week is essential. Running and cycling in hilly areas is particularly beneficial as are multi day walks on the weekends. This is the ideal time to try out your boots and other gear to make sure you are prepared and ready for your expedition. If you are considering Intermediate or advanced level trips, you will need to discuss your preparation leading up to the trip with our expert staff.

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Cycle through the rolling Umbrian countryside, discovering medieval hill top villages en route

Discover the magical landscapes and gently rolling hills of the Umbrian countryside as you cycle through this special region of Italy. Visit Assisi, Perugia, Spoleto and Todi, with each town revealing an incredible wealth of art treasures, many dating back to the Middle Ages. Absorb the authenticity of the region as you wander through the winding streets of the medieval hamlets and untouched villages laden with local handicrafts. Umbria is a spectacle of nature with a proud gastronomic tradition. At night experience the friendliness of the local hoteliers as you stay in atmospheric accommodation.

Highlights

Cycling through the superb countryside of Umbria
Soaking up the atmosphere in Orvieto, with its rich religious heritage
Discovering a region as beautiful as Tuscany but with less tourists
Experiencing the fabulous hill top towns of Perugia, Assisi and Spoleto enroute

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Orvieto

Individual arrival in Orvieto. This breathtaking city was built on the summit of a butte of white tuff and therefore it seems like a fortress standing out on the impressive cliffs and dominating the Umbrian countryside. The Gothic façade of the cathedral of Orvieto is just one of the many unique monuments covering the millenniums of history.

Day 2 Train to Fabro, cycle via Città della Pieve or Chiusi to Castiglione del Lago (50/60km)

This morning you take a small train trip to Fabro and its beautiful castle over looking the Chiana Valley. You then start cycling over the rolling hills. Today you have two choices: either going slightly uphill through Città della Pieve (a medieval village still surrounded by 14th century city walls and the birthplace of the famous painted "il Perugino") or through an easier but longer stretch through Chiusi. The perfectly preserved medieval town of Castiglione del Lago and its imposing castle surrounded by walls is your destination for today. Total by train: 30km

Day 3 Follow the northern shores of the lake to Magione then by train to Perugia (40km)

Today's cycle follows the northern shores of the lake, passes through Passignano del Trasimeno, and crosses hills to finally reach Magione and its castle Cavalieri di Malta. From here you have a short train journey to Perugia (ticket not included in tour cost, approx 3 euro per person). Perugia was built as an acropolis on the hills and has a splendid old town centre surrounded by Etruscan city walls. Total by train: 20km

Day 4 An easy cycle to Santa Maria degli Angeli and Assisi (35km)

Today is an easy cycle. After crossing the Tiber plain the route leads you to Santa Maria degli Angeli at the foot of the hill of Assisi, where many places are linked to the everyday life of Saint Francis of Assisi. Afterwards you will reach the town of Assisi, which will astonish you with its arts, monuments and its great atmosphere. The 13th century Basilicia di San Francesco is the mother church of the Franciscan Order and the burial place of St Francis.

Day 5 Cycle across the countryside to Spoleto via Spello, Foligno & Bevagna (45/50km)

Today is the most exciting trip of the tour with many possible and interesting stops. The first one is Spello, a walled town lying on the ridge of Monte Subasio, with a large number of Roman ruins. You then continue cycling across the Umbrian countryside towards Foligno, famous for its 'Piazza della Repubblica' and 'Piazza del Duomo'. A small detour leads you to Bevagna and afterwards you can cycle on towards Trevi, getting back to the main itinerary. The stage ends in Spoleto, a well preserved medieval village which is nowadays a flourishing cultural centre of international fame.

Day 6 Continue to the beautiful medieval city of Todi (60km)

From Spoleto you cycle towards the village of Castel Ritardi and from this point you leave the Umbrian valley to enter beautiful hills covered with oak and olive trees as far as Todi. Todi, perched on a hill and overlooking the Tiber valley, is considered one of the most beautiful medieval cities in Italy.

Day 7 Cycle through small villages in the middle of nature to Orvieto (45/55km)

Today's cycle leads you through small villages into the middle of nature. There are some hilly sections although they are not to difficult to overcome. A variation of the stage takes you along a bank of the Lake Corbara. During the last few kilometres of the cycle the white tuff cliff town of Orvieto suddenly emerges from the splendid rolling hills.

Continue reading ...

Day 8 Trip concludes

The trip concludes after breakfast.

Additional Information

Inclusions

7 breakfasts - a varied buffet breakfast will be served in each hotel
7 nights accommodation in 2-4 star hotels on a twinshare basis with ensuite facilities
Bicycle rental, 27 gear with puncture resistant tyres, gel saddle, pannier and helmet
Route descriptions and maps
Luggage transfer
7 day hotline service

Group Size Min

Group Size Max

Accommodation Summary

Equipment Required

Wet weather gear, sunscreen, bike helmet and sun hat. A comprehensive gear list is included in the pre departure information provided on booking.

What You Carry

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