Overview
A six day, self-guided cycling holiday, by e-bike, along ancient trails in both Umbria and Lazio, starting and finishing in the ancient hilltop town of Orvieto, a stunning halfway point between Florence and Rome, and a quick train journey from both. If you love to combine history with your adventure, cycling in Umbria is a treat. Ancient architectural highlights include the exquisite Etruscan city of Civita di Bagnoregio, the Necropolis of Pianezze and the Renaissance Rocca Farnese. Geologists also fawn over the vast waters of Lake Bolsena, which is actually a crater formed by the Vulsini volcano, which erupted in Roman times.
- Orvieto
- Bolsena
- Lake Bolsena
- Capodimonte
- Montefiascone
- Civita di Bagnoregio
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Orvieto
Arrive in Orvieto, a fortified medieval town built on a volcanic tuff plateau in Umbria. Enclosed by defensive walls, it’s known for its 14th-century cathedral with the most stunning facade, all crafted with mosaic. The town is also famous for the Pozzo di San Patrizio, or St Patrick’s Well and network of tunnels, a masterpiece of Renaissance engineering, and which you can visit. You may want a glass of wine after that, another reason why the city is so famous.
- Accommodation: Casa Vèra or similar in Orvieto
- Optional hotel upgrade: Virgilio Boutique Hotel or similar in Orvieto
Day 2: Orvieto – Bolsena | 21km
Collect your e-bikes from the rental shop and leave Orvieto. The route takes you through valleys, shaped by centuries of agricultural activity and settlements. Approaching Bolsena, the landscape transitions into a wide volcanic basin with low ridgelines tracing the edges of the ancient Vulsini caldera which has been filled with water over the years to create Lake Bolsena. Bolsena is a lively lakeside town where modern life and ancient history blend. From the cobblestone alleys around Rocca dei Monaldegaschi to the modern passeggiata (Promenade).
- Cycling for the day: 21km, 3h ↑500m ↓508m
- Accommodation: Casale 1541 or similar in Bolsena
Day 3: Bolsena – Capodimonte | 41km
The day begins with a steady ascent following the Via Francigena to the medieval town of San Lorenzo, before continuing over the hills to the towns of Gradoli, Latera and through ancient olive groves, countryside and along the shores of Lake Bolsena. The day ends in Capodimonte, a lakeside village with narrow stone streets, flower-adorned balconies and views over Lake Bolsena. Overlooking the town is Rocca Farnese, a Renaissance-era fortress that historically guarded the southern part of the lake. Depending on availability you might spend the night in Marta instead of Capodimonte.
- Cycling for the day: 41km, 5h ↑833m ↓807m
- Accommodation: Hotel Ristorante da Otello or similar in Marta or the nearby area
Day 4: Capodimonte – Civita di Bagnoregio | 36km
From Capodimonte, the route passes through the village of Marta, before gradually ascending, giving you great views of the lake. Nearing Montefiascone, the trail climbs steadily as the dome of San Flaviano and the outline of the town comes into view. The next stretch of the ascent is more demanding but offers wide-reaching views of the surrounding landscape before arriving in Montefiascone, known for its Est! Est!! Est!!! wine, cathedral, and panoramic viewpoints stretching from Lake Bolsena to the Apennines. The path then rejoins the Via Francigena towards Civita di Bagnoregio. Perched on a plateau and only reachable by a footbridge, Civita is known locally, and somewhat dramatically, as the Dying City, because of its appearance to be crumbling due to erosion. Even though it’s survived since Etruscan times. For most people, however, it’s an architectural wonder.
- Cycling for the day: 36km, 4h ↑604m ↓535m
- Accommodation: Acqua di Civita Rooms or similar in Civita di Bagnoregio
- Optional hotel upgrade: Corte della Maestà or similar in Civita di Bagnoregio
Day 5: Civita di Bagnoregio – Orvieto | 24km
Cycle to Lubriano, then continue following the route to Canale. The approach to Orvieto follows a gradual ascent as the landscape shifts toward the volcanic plateau where the town is located. The route continues through an idyllic rural landscape, passing remnants of Etruscan tombs and other historical features, as Orvieto’s medieval walls begin to appear in the distance. Return your e-bikes and indulge yourself with a well-deserved glass of wine.
- Cycling for the day: 24km, 3h 30mins ↑632m ↓737m
- Accommodation: Casa Vèra or similar in Orvieto
- Optional hotel upgrade: Virgilio Boutique Hotel or similar in Orvieto
Day 6: Departure
Departure after breakfast.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of small, locally-owned hotels and B&Bs. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to natural adventures. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms.
Click to view sample hotels
- Casa Vèra (Orvieto)
- Casale 1541 (Bolsena)
- Hotel Ristorante da Otello (Marta)
- Acqua di Civita Rooms (Civita di Bagnoregio)
Accommodation is subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel or guesthouse being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Click to view upgraded hotels
- Virgilio Boutique Hotel (Orvieto)
- Corte della Maestà (Civita di Bagnoregio)
Accommodation is subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel or guesthouse being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included on all days. When no restaurant location is available en route, lunches and snacks can either be bought from local shops or packed lunches can be pre-ordered from your hotel the night before. Dinner is available either at the accommodation or from restaurants in the local area.
Difficulty and terrain
This tour is rated easy to moderate and is suitable for bikers with a good level of fitness, with most days offering 3-5h of cycling. The routes cover a variety of terrain including dirt roads and asphalt, with a series of short ascends and descends all over the way due to the hilly landscape (read more about difficulty grades).
We strongly advise you only to follow marked trails and never try to shorten the path through unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed route notes and maps and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed information on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This trip is available from April to October. The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates and you can start your trip on any date within the season.
The Umbria and Lazio regions generally experience mild to warm weather. Spring and Autumn temperatures range between 5–20C, with occasional rain. Summer temperatures typically range between 25–30C, with plenty of sunshine, so it’s advisable to start walks early to avoid the midday heat. For more information please read our Best time to go to Italy blog.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended airports for this tour are Roma Fiumicino (FCO) or Ciampino Airport (CIA).
By train or bus
- If you are able to travel to Italy without flying, this holiday is reachable by rail, with a train station in Orvieto. For more details, see the national rail operator Trenitalia, or use the Omio planner above
- From Roma Fiumicino airport take the Regionale train to Roma Tiburtina station (50mins), before changing here to reach Orvieto (1h 16mins). For more details, see the national rail operator Trenitalia, or use the Omio planner above. From Orvieto railway station, take the funicular opposite station to reach the old town. From here you can walk (15mins) or take the A or CC bus lines to the accommodation.
- Transfers: private transfers to and from the airport can be arranged on request
Inclusions
Included
- 5 nights accommodation
- 5 breakfasts
- Daily luggage transfers (one piece per person, max 15kg)
- Digital Tour materials: detailed roadbook including maps (digital format), a navigation app for smartphones, GPS tracks. Please note that no printed documents will be provided on-site.
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- International flights and land transfers
- Lunches and dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Additional travel-related changes in the programme due to bad weather
- Entrance fees for attractions and museums
- E-bike rental
- Personal expenses
- Any items not specifically mentioned as included in the programme
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- This holiday is available for solo travellers. However, a supplement will be charged as the cost of rooms and also luggage or private transfers (when applicable) is not shared. Please note that solo travellers are always accommodated in their own room. For logistical reasons, we don’t offer an option for solo travellers to share rooms with other solo travellers.
- Top quality e-bikes with helmet, phone holder and lock
- Extra nights
- Hotel upgrades in Orvieto and Civita di Bagnoregio
- Airport transfers
E-bike rental
Our tour incudes e-bike rental. Regular carbon fibre road bicycles are available on demand. All bikes come with helmet, multi-tool, bike lock, extra inner tube, hand pump.
Focus Sam 2
- Model: e-bike MTB full suspended with 720W/h engine
- Frame: Aluminium frame
- Brakes: hydraulic disc brakes
- Wheel/tyre: 27.5-inch plus
- Telescopic seat post
Elios Ampere
- Model: e-bike MTB front suspended with 500W/h engine
- Frame: Aluminium frame
- Brakes: hydraulic disc brakes
- Wheel/tyre: 27.5-inch plus
- Telescopic seat post
Sample pictures shown above, please note that the exact models may differ depending on availability, but the standard will be the same. The bike rental’s deposit is payable on site at the moment of the bike delivery.
