No place in the world like Italy! On this 8-day e-bike adventure, we’ll get to sample two of the country’s bucket-list destinations: the enchanting Tuscany and the eternal Rome. An ordinary day could look like this: after exploring Renaissance towns and pedaling along cypress-lined roads, we’ll reach a quiet hilltop village, sit down in an Italian trattoria, and think to ourselves that la vita è bella. Starting from the idyllic Tuscany, we’ll pedal our way south, mostly tracing the ancient pilgrimage route Via Francigena, and end our journey in Vatican’s St. Peter’s Square. Your next holidays could be under the Italian sun, tasting authentic food all day long, and experiencing the true essence of Italy!
Moving along a variety of roads and terrain, we’ll mostly trace the steps of an ancient pilgrimage route
Don’t miss out on mouth-drooling Italian dishes and Chianti, Montepulciano, and Montalcino wines
Pienza, Siena, San Quirico, Rome… These are just some of the towns we’ll get to explore
Two of Italy’s highlights are seamlessly blended in this one, week-long adventure—with our trusty e-bikes, we’ll get to discover Tuscany and cycle all the way to Rome! We’ll get to explore the region’s gems, taste local food, and see how the Italians live. As we’ll be powered by e-bikes, these Tuscany to Rome cycling holidays are perfect for friends or couples with different levels of fitness. All lodgings are included, as well as luggage and airport transfers, a support vehicle, and most meals. This will be an Italian adventure to remember!
Following your arrival into Pisa Airport, we’ll all meet up and get transferred to Siena (approximately a 2-hour drive) and our first accommodation. Depending on flight times, there will hopefully be some time to explore Siena and the Tuscan culture right away, visiting the Duomo di Siena and sipping on an Aperitivo in Piazza del Campo.
Accommodation: 3-star boutique hotel, traditional Tuscan homestead, or agriturismo
We’ll start our journey today leaving Siena through the ancient town gates, heading south on the Via Francigena and the beautiful Crete Senesi with a roller coaster ride through classic Tuscan landscape. Picking up the Via Francigena again, we’ll head to Buonconvento, where we’ll have time to stop for a refreshing break and, if inclined, visit the fortified walls. The next section will lead us, with the help of our e-bike gears, over the rolling hills, to San Quirico, a medieval hamlet with a quaint center where we’ll stop for the night.
Meals: Breakfast
Cycling: 37 miles / 60 km
Elevation gain: 750 m / 2,460 ft
Accommodation: 3-star boutique hotel, traditional Tuscan homestead, or agriturismo
From San Quirico, we’ll head towards the Val d‘Orcia valley, descending quiet lanes to the medieval hamlet of Bagno Vignoni and its healing baths—home to the legendary water nymphs! After resting and taking time to explore the hot water springs, we’ll head right into the center of the UNESCO Heritage Site of Val D‘Orcia, a natural paradise that never fails to amaze.
From here we’ll take a detour, away from the Via Francigena and head towards Pienza, which was also a popular Renaissance town amongst the pilgrims, as the birthplace of Pope Pius II. Pienza, located in the heart of Val d’Orcia, perfectly embodies the humanistic architecture principle of balancing Man and Nature. Leaving Pienza after lunch, we’ll continue with a fantastic descent through the region with conical hills lined by cypress trees, the ultimate aesthetic of the Italian landscape. We’ll ride on towards Radicofani and our agriturismo for the night.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Cycling: 25 miles / 45 km
Elevation gain: 800 m / 2,625 ft
Accommodation: 3-star boutique hotel, traditional Tuscan homestead, or agriturismo
Leaving the hamlet behind, we’ll bike along the old Via Cassia, the Roman route to Rome, now a cobbled road, surrounded by stunning scenery and dominated by Monte Amiata. We’ll take a break in Acquapendente, famous for the Romanesque crypt beneath the Basilica del Santo Sepolcro where, according to tradition, some stones bathed in the blood of Christ are thought to have been kept.
Getting back in the saddle, we’ll continue riding towards Lazio and the stunning Lake Bolsena.
This is a great way to finish a day in the saddle, riding amongst the thick woods and meadows scattered with olive trees, with the view of the lake opening up as we descend, until we reach Bolsena itself. There will be time in the evening to explore its fortress and narrow streets.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Cycling: 43 miles / 70 km
Elevation gain: 950 m / 3,120 ft
Accommodation: 3-star boutique hotel, traditional Tuscan homestead, or agriturismo
Today’s ride starts with a stunning route through woods and olive groves as we make our way around Lake Bolsena and into the region of Lazio. As we descend into the lower plains, we’ll cross an area famous for the production of extra virgin olive oil, before arriving in Montefiascone. Here, we’ll take a break in one of the piazzas for yet another cappuccino.
The next section leading into Viterbo takes us across cultivated countryside, with the option to stop at the thermal waters of Bagnaccio for a quick dip in the open-air pools, where pilgrims also stopped before proceeding towards Viterbo. In Viterbo, we’ll take time to admire the splendid Palazzo dei Papi and the Longobard cloisters of Santa Maria Nuova. We’ll then continue to Vetralla, our home for the night.
Meals: Breakfast
Cycling: miles / km
Elevation gain: m / ft
Accommodation: 3-star boutique hotel, traditional Tuscan homestead, or agriturismo
We’ll continue our journey south, first riding through a dense forest and then open countryside, passing through fields of hazelnuts. Along the way, we’ll come across the Torri d’Orlando, the ruins of an abandoned monastery, before reaching Sutri, a fascinating little town with dwellings carved out of tuff.
In Sutri, we’ll stop for a short visit to the Roman amphitheater, dating back to Emperor Augustus, which is entirely carved out of the hill. Moving on, the ride heads into the hills (time to turn up your power!) and we’ll pass the waterfalls of Mount Gelato, an ideal spot for a refreshing stop. A short, sharp climb will lead us to our accommodation for the evening in Formello.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Cycling: 36 miles / 58 km
Elevation gain: 750 m / 3,120 ft
Accommodation: 3-star boutique hotel, traditional Tuscan homestead, or agriturismo
Leaving Formello, we’ll enter the Regional Park of Veio, effortlessly tackling the roller-coaster route with our e-bikes. As we approach Rome, the roads get busier, and we’ll make our way to the cycle path alongside the River Tevere. Enjoying the final ride along its banks, we’ll arrive at the gates of Vatican City. Entering St. Peter’s Square with its grandiose architecture, our cycling journey along the Via Francigena will come to a celebratory end!
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Cycling: 25 miles / 40 km
Elevation gain: 200 m / 660 ft
Accommodation: 3-star boutique hotel, traditional Tuscan homestead, or agriturismo
Time for one last delicious breakfast before transferring to the Rome Fiumicino Airport for your flight home. When you’re already in Rome, it’d be a shame not to stay a few more days and explore this wonder of a city! Let us know if you need help organizing some extra nights.
Meals: Breakfast
What you get on this adventure:
What’s not included:
Skill and fitness
These Tuscany to Rome cycling holidays are ideal for those who have a decent level of fitness and some experience riding off-road on uneven terrain. The often gravelly and uneven nature of some of the terrain and cheeky climbs make this route relatively challenging, meaning that in general, it’s expected you can handle this and that you’re comfortable with longer and tougher days in the saddle. This tour is not suitable for total beginners.
Terrain and roads
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
Indeed you can! If you don’t own a suitable bike or would prefer to avoid bringing your own, your guides have one to rent. Rental bikes will be provided with a front handle pannier and tyres will be suitable for gravel roads. This is an e-bikes only tour, so regular mountain bikes aren’t provided.
Rental bikes are typically Haibike SDURO 2.5 HardNine E-Mountain Bikes.
If you choose to bring your own e-bike, please contact us so we can discuss the bike specification and ensure it is suitable for the tour.
Helmets can be provided locally on request. Please let us know upon booking if you’ll need one.
Group sizes and pricing
Tuscany to Rome cycling holidays can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements
If your group has riders under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
To get to your Tuscany to Rome cycling holidays, fly into Pisa Airport (PSA). That’s where your guides will pick you up and take you to Siena (approximately 2 hours).
Please check with your guides prior to making any travel arrangements to ensure that a minimum number of participants has been reached. That’s when you can also make flight arrangements to fit with the scheduled airport transfers. Please note that if you make travel arrangements outside the scheduled transfer windows, there may be an additional charge for individual transfers.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both emergency medical and travel insurance.
With medical insurance, if you have an accident or medical emergency on or off the mountain, you’ll avoid paying out of pocket for costly expenses. This covers everything from hospital treatments to emergency air transportation and more. Travel insurance covers canceled flights, natural disasters and other scenarios that may interrupt your travel plans.
We also expect you to respect local regulations and take measures to protect yourselves, your guides, and the communities you’re traveling to. If you need assistance selecting the right insurance for your group, let us know and we will be happy to help!
Secure your early bird spot with a 10% deposit! This tour gets sold out very quickly, but with early-bird booking, you’ll be the first one to know. Pick the month that suits you best and we’ll let you know once the dates are live—don’t risk missing out on your bucket list adventure!
A non-refundable $250 deposit to secure your place is due upon booking. The remaining amount is paid 2 months (60 days) prior to departure. Once the trip is confirmed by the guide, the cancellation policy stated below applies.
If you need to cancel the trip, please contact us in writing. If you wish to transfer a booking to another person, please write to us at least seven (7) days before your trip. Administration charges may arise.
