
Highlights
- Stay in a genuine Tuscan accommodation overlooking stunning landscapes
- Sample the best wines of Chianti, Montepulciano and Montalcino
- Riding down the “Creti Senesi” on a roller coaster ridge ride
- Enjoy the journey from Tuscany to Rome on a variety of terrain, including ancient Roman roads
- Visit the famous hilltop towns of San Quirico d‘Orcia and Radicofani
- Ride into St Peter’s Square in Rome
Itinerary
You will be met at Pisa airport and transferred to Siena (approx 2 hours), where you may well stop over in the Piazza del Campo for an aperitivo before going out for dinner.
- Meals: Breakfast
You leave Siena through the ancient town gates and start your journey south on the Via Francigena and into the Crete Sienesi. Arriving near the ancient Etruscan hamlet of Murlo, your have the option to come off the Via Francigena route and enjoy a fun ride on narrow trails by the Crevole River, then up a former mining railway track to Murlo itself.
Picking up the Via Francigena again, you head to Buonconvento where you have time to stop for a refreshing break and if inclined visit the fortified walls. The next section over rolling hills will lead you to San Quirico d’Orcia, a medieval hamlet with a quaint centre where you stop for the night.

- Meals: Breakfast, dinner
From San Quirico, you head towards the Orcia valley and after a little roller coaster track you descend on a fun trail to the medieval hamlet of Bagno Vignoni with its healing baths and home to the legendary water nymphs.
After resting and taking time to explore the hot water springs, you head right into the centre of the Unesco Heritage Site of Valle D‘Orcia. From here you start a steady climb towards Radicofani along some well surfaced strade bianche. Make sure to spend some time in Radicofani to visit and absorb the local sights before checking into your accommodation.
- Meals: Breakfast
From Radicofani you will bike along one of the most exciting sections of the Via Francigena. Leaving the hamlet behind you head along the old Via Cassia, the Roman route to Rome, now a cobbled trail surrounded by stunning scenery and dominated by Monte Amiata. You can rest in Acquapedente, famous for the Romanesque crypt beneath the Basilica del Santo Sepolcro. According to tradition some stones bathed in the blood of Christ are thought to have been kept here.
Getting back in the saddle you’ll continue biking towards Lazio and Lake Bolsena. The view of the lake will open up as you descend on dirt tracks amongst thick woods and meadows scattered with olive trees, until you reach Bolsena itself.
Time in the evening to explore its fortress and narrow streets.
- Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Today’s ride starts with a stunning route through woods and olive groves on a mix of forest tracks and single trails. As you descend into the lower plains you will cross an area famous for the production of extra virgin olive oil before arriving in Montefiascone were you take time in one of the Piazze’s to have yet another cappuccino break.
One of the sections today is on a superbly preserved Roman cassia (cobbled) road. This leads into Viterbo, winding through cultivated countryside with the option of stopping off at the thermal waters of Bagnaccio for a quick dip in the open air pools where pilgrims would also stop before proceeding towards Viterbo.
In Viterbo you should allow some time to admire the splendid Palazzo dei Papi and the Longobard cloisters of Santa Maria Nuova. You then carry on to Vetralla, your destination for the night.
- Meals: Breakfast
You carry on your journey south, first riding through a dense forest and then open countryside through fields of hazlenuts. You will come across the “Torri d’ Orlando”, the ruins of an abandoned monastery. You then arrive at Sutri, a fascinating little town with dwellings carved out of stone. Here you can stop for a short visit of the Roman amphitheatre which dates back to the emperor Augustus and was completely carved from the hill.
Moving on the ride heads into the hills and you pass the waterfalls of Mount Gelato, an ideal location for a refreshing stop and why not, a gelato! Your accommodation is in Campagnano.

- Meals: Breakfast
Leaving Campagnano you enter the Park of Veio and the Valle del Sorbo on a stunning and never ending single track through the woods, stopping to rest in the village of Formello with it’s fine medieval buildings.
As you get closer to Rome the roads get busier and you make your way to the cycle path along the River Tevere, enjoying the final ride along its banks leading you to the gates of the Vatican City. As you enter St Peter’s Square with it’s grandiose architecture your biking journey comes to a spectacular end.
- Meals: Breakfast
After a final breakfast we will transfer to the airport for your travel home from Rome Fiumicino airport.
Gallery
The Cycling
Terrain
This beautiful journey to Rome follows the Via Francigena as closely as possible throughout the week. The Via Francigena makes its way south on a multitude of different surfaces. Back roads, forest tracks, strade bianche, country lanes through fields and single tracks.
More often than not the terrain is forgiving, following well-surfaced tracks and routes but every day offers some more technical MTB challenges where the terrain is rolling and some steeper climbs and descents should be expected.

Mountain Biking Grade
Distances of 25-50 miles / 40-80 kms per day
Aimed at regular cyclists who have a degree of off road experience
Some moderate and difficult technical sections
Our grading guidelines have been carefully created based on our many years of cycling experience, as well as customer feedback from our trips. Of course, if you're still struggling to figure out where you fit on the scale, do feel free to give us a quick call and we'll be more than happy to help!
For more information about our grading system click here.
Is this suitable for you?
If you have some experience of off road riding on a variety of terrain, and would like to do more, a grade 3 trip could be for you. These rides give you elements of our higher grade trips but at a manageable level with sections of singletrack (narrow trails wide enough for one rider) and shorter steep sections (both up and down) which require more bike handling ability. A day’s ride can see you on the trails for around 8 hours (with breaks) and covering between 25-50 miles depending on the terrain. If you’re generally fit and manage to ride regularly this could be the level for you.
Dates & Prices
2021 Daily departures available from 26 Mar to 30 Oct
Season 1 For trips starting between (and inclusive of) 08 Apr to 21 Apr, 03 May to 26 Jun, and 02 Sep to 30 Oct: $1,820 per person
Season 2 For trips starting between (and inclusive of) 26 Mar to 07 Apr, 22 Apr to 02 May and 27 Jun to 01 Sep: $1,995 per person
Whats Included 
A) Accommodation (shared twin / double en suite rooms)
B) Meals as per the itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
C) Local representative (with welcome meeting)
D) Detailed route notes and maps
E) Luggage transfers
F) Airport transfer on scheduled arrival day from Pisa airport (PSA)
G) Airport transfer on scheduled departure day to Rome airport (FCO)
What's not Included 
A) Bike rental (available if required)
B) Flights and charges for travelling with your bike (if applicable)
C) Single room (available if required)
D) Travel insurance
E) Meals not stated in the itinerary
F) Personal clothing and equipment
G) Personal expenditure (bar bills, hotel facilities etc.)
H) Entrance fees to museums and other attractions en route
I) Airport transfers on days other than the scheduled arrival / departure days
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