CALL 1-866-563-4248 ITALY - Tuscany & Umbria Biking Tours RESERVATION FORM

TRIP DETAILS

Trip Length
6 Days / 5 Nights

2010
Dates & Prices

Trip Hotels
Choose
Premium Inns
or Classic Inns

Trip Meals
All breakfasts,
2 lunches and
all dinners but one

What's Included

Start - Finish
Florence - Perugia
(Firenze - Perugia)
ITALY

Trip Activity Level
Moderately easy to
Moderate

Rated Ideal for Everyone !

NEED MORE INFO ?
Speak to a
Club Toscana
Senior Trip Leader

Click on Image for
TRIP MAP


Biking in some of Italy's most Beautiful Landscapes

Southern Tuscany and western Umbria combine two of the most beautiful and photographed landscapes in Italy. Imagine a gentle rolling terrain of hilltop villages surrounded by fertile green meadows with grazing sheep, fields of ripening grain, lush oak forests, olive groves shimmering in the sunlight and gentle breezes coming off its undiscovered lakes. Starting in the countryside just south of Siena, we'll discover Medieval monasteries and pre-Roman Etruscan settlements. We'll visit villages renowned for their cheeses, their wines and their small town hospitality. In Umbria, we'll ride along the shores of Lake Trasimeno where the Romans met their match in Hannibal, and we'll discover that Assisi is much more than just the city of San Francesco. Follow the quiet sideroads from Tuscany to Umbria, and discover their ever changing landscapes in one of Italy's most enjoyable and refreshing biking destinations.

Day 1 - The Sienese Landscapes - Meet at your hotel in Florence or Siena.Private transfer to the 14th-century monastery of Abbazia di Monte Oliveto Maggiore for an introductory lunch and a visit into its hallowed cloisters to view its frescos by Signorelli and Sodoma.Cycle into the open clay landscapes of Le Crete and its undulating hills with isolated brick villas and farmhouses surrounded by tall cypress trees.

Day 2 - Pienza and the Val d'Orcia - Bike to Montepulciano, a hilltop town with a pedestrian street lined with Renaissance palaces.Discover its ancient underground wine cellars and sample its prized Nobile di Montepulciano red wines, regarded as some of the finest in Italy.Follow quiet roads past forgotten hilltop villages dotting stunning landscapes of grazing sheep and Tuscany's prized oxen.Ride into the spectacular Orcia Valley where every view is worth a photo.Discover Pienza, a perfectly preserved Renaissance village and its main village street with shops stuffed with Pienza's favorite food item, Pecorino cheese.An afternoon ride will take us past small villages, monasteries, fortified villas and castles.

Day 3 - Lake Trasimeno and Città della Pieve - Ride into the flat Chiana Valley and the border between Tuscany and Umbria.Follow quiet sideroads with grain fields flowing in the wind.Pass by abandoned 17th-century brick farmhouses to Lake Trasimeno.Stop in the castellated lakeside village of Castiglione del Lago where local specialities include Lake Trasimeno's delicious lake fish.Finish your afternoon ride with one of the nicest biking routes in Italy along a panoramic ridge past untouristed farm villages overlooking Umbria's lake district.

Day 4 - Torgiano & Deruta - Venture into the vibrant green landscapes of Umbria and its untouristed small villages.Take in a Club Toscana picnic in a sleepy Umbrian hilltop village before passing along the fertile slopes of the Tiber Valley, past a patchwork of olive groves, vineyards and small farms.Visit Deruta, home to Italy's finest ceramic shops and discover one of its most illustrious producers to see ceramic production from raw clay to finished product.Follow along the Tiber River to Torgiano, Umbria's wine capital and home to the Lungarotti Wine and Olive Oil Museums.

Day 5 - The Valle Umbra & Assisi - Bike across the flat Valle Umbra to the town of Assisi.This ancient town of pink and white stone, flowing up the base of Mount Subasio has something for everyone, from the festival of Renaissance frescoes in the Basilica to the sweeping views from the Rocca Maggiore fortress high above the town.Take a casual tour of the Basilica of San Francesco, walk Assisi's medieval streets and discover its vibrant history.Take an optional afternoon ride back to Torgiano via Bevagna, where Roman ruins and the simple life blend to produce one of Umbria's nicest little villages.

Day 6 - Perugia - Homeward bound.Bid a final farewell to the green landscapes of Umbria and take a private transfer to your post-trip hotel or other travel connections in Perugia.As always, we would be more than pleased to help you with any of your post-trip travel planning.
Arrivederci and Buon Viaggio !


"Thank you so much for making our honeymoon and second trip with Club Toscana so special"
- Francine and Christian, New York NY


Our Italian Travel
Specialists are Ready
to Help you with
All Your Travel Needs

  • Convenient pick up at your Florence or Siena hotel and drop off in Perugia

  • Viewing the frescoes among the cloisters of the Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore

  • Riding through the open landscapes of Southern Tuscany

  • Meandering among the Medieval palaces in Montepulciano

  • Discovering Tuscan wines, olive oils and food specialties in Pienza

  • Exclusive tour of Deruta's oldest ceramics producer

  • Exploring the sacred hilltop town of Assisi

TRIP DATES & PRICES
Please click here to see if your preferred travel dates below have been sold out.

Dates
2010
Premium Inns Guided
US $ Price p.p. dbl. occ.
Single Room
Charge
Classic Inns Guided
US $ Price p.p. dbl. occ.
Single Room
Charge
Self-Guided
Trips
March 29 - April 3
April 5 - 10
April 12 - 17
April 19 - 24
April 26 - May 1
May 3 - 8
May 10 - 15
May 17 - 22
May 24 - 29
May 31 - June 5
June 7 - 12
June 14 - 19
June 21 - 26
June 28 - July 3
July 5 - 10
July 12 - 17
July 19 - 24
July 26 - 31
Aug 30 - Sept 4
Sept 6 - 11
Sept 13 - 18
Sept 20 - 25
Sept 27 - Oct 2
Oct 4 - 9
Oct 11 - 16
Oct 18 - 23
Oct 25 - 30
All Dates

$ 3,398.

All Dates

$ 875.

All Dates

$ 2,898.

All Dates

$ 475.

Premium Inns Trips
Save $ 400. p.p.

Classic Inns Trips
Save $ 300. p.p.

TRIP PRICE REDUCTIONS (above itinerary only)
When booking 4 people together, reduce your trip price by $ 200. per person
When booking 5 - 8+ people together, reduce your trip price by $ 400. per person

Price Guarantee - Please note that if your booked trip (name, version and departure date) receives a price reduction from your original booked price, we will automatically give you the new reduced trip price. Additionally, as always with Club Toscana, once you have booked a trip (name, version and departure date), we guarantee that you will not have to pay any potential trip price increases above your original trip combo price before your departure.

Reduce your Trip Price - We accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express for all your trip payments. Club Toscana offers a reduction of 2% off your trip payments when you pay by check, money order or bank transfer.

Trip Prices - Price variations (if above) are a reflection of seasonal hotel rates. All trip prices are per person based on a room with double occupancy. Single room charges are additional for guests traveling solo wishing a double room all to themselves. Self-Guided prices are listed as a savings per person off the Guided Trip Prices. Self-Guided trips require a minimum of 2 participants to reserve space on any of the above trips except dates highlighted above.

Featured Trips when highlighted above, have additional space available and include guaranteed departures hosted by one of Club Toscana's Senior Trip Leaders.

Other Trip Dates - to find other trips with space available on your preferred travel dates, click on our 2010 Calendar.


PREMIUM INNS HOTEL SELECTION

Casa Bianca - Asciano (2 nights) - an historic Sienese olive oil estate with a manor surrounded by a hamlet, is now a luxury residence with lovely rooms and exposed wood beam ceilings, magnificent gardens, a welcoming pool, spa services, and dining on Sienese specialties in their renowned restaurant.

Logge del Perugino - Città della Pieve (1 night) - Set on the Tuscan border with Umbria this XVIII century mansion is now a carefully restored "Hotel de Charme" immersed in an ancient park with a swimming pool, and gardens surrounding the hotel. From the hotel’s beautiful terraces guests can enjoy the stunning view of Lake Trasimeno.

Le Tre Vaselle (pictured) - Torgiano (2 nights) - a five-star luxury inn with spa facilities and a terraced pool set among olive trees. This 17th-century manor hotel maintains its historic character with stone walls, wooden beams, terracotta floors, embroideries and antique furnishings.

Please note: The above selected inns are subject to accommodations availability upon trip request. As there are many beautiful Premium Inns located along our route, if we need to choose an alternative lodging, it will meet or exceed the above selection in ratings, settings, amenities and views.

UPGRADE YOUR TRIP HOTEL SELECTION
Upgrade the accomodations on your Club Toscana trip with any of the area's luxury hotels:

Have a favorite hotel or seen a recommendation in a travel magazine or internet site, or have you received a glowing recommendation from a friend. We can include any hotel located along our trip route to make your vacation experience customized to your specifications. Give us a call to see how we can include your favorite hotels into your trip. Some additional charges might apply to cover changes in hotel rates.


CLASSIC INNS HOTEL SELECTION

Pienza - (2 nights) - a family run boutique hotel with modern amenities and spectacular views of the Val d'Orcia from their terraced gardens, all located just footsteps from the historic village walls of Renaissance Pienza.

Città della Pieve - pictured - (1 night) - this hotel was built in 1887 by King Vittorio Emanuele II as the elegant Villa Mirafiori. Its ornate iron gates open into private landscaped gardens overlooking medieval churches and the verdant Umbrian countryside.

Torgiano - (2 nights) - once a village townhouse built in the 1700s with original wood beam ceilings and terra cotta floors, this charming hotel offers wonderful views of Assisi and the Umbrian Valley from its garden pool.

Please note: The above selected inns are subject to accommodations availability upon trip request. As there are many charming Classic Inns located along our route, if we need to choose an alternative lodging, it will meet or exceed the above selection in ratings, settings, amenities and views.


TRIP START AND FINISH INFORMATION

Trip Start - Florence (Firenze) or Siena, Italy
As a convenience to our guests, we will meet you at your hotel in Florence at 9:00 am. or by special arrangement, the main train station or airport. We can also meet at 10:00 am at your hotel in Siena.

Florence is serviced by an international airport with connections to most major European cities and a main train station located on Italy's main express and high speed train service routes. Florence Santa Maria Novella main train station can be reached from Milan in about 2 - 3 hours depending on the train speed or from Rome in about 1.5 - 2.5 hours. Florence is also served by inter-European flights to Florence Peretola Airport. We would recommend spending your pre-trip evening in Florence. Siena is located about 1 hour south of Florence by train or bus. Our reservations office can make all your pre- & post-trip hotel, flight and train travel arrangements.

For Italian train information and online tickets, please go to the Italian FS National Train Schedules web site.

For pre-trip accommodations, we suggest a visit to Tripadvisor.com for a list of the most recommended hotels based on visitor reviews.

Trip Finish - Perugia, Italy
On the final trip day, we would be pleased to drop you off at your post-trip Perugia hotel, the train station (express trains to Florence 3 hrs. or Rome 2 hrs.) or the Perugia airport (connector flights to major airports).

Usual arrival in Perugia is around 10:00 am with earlier arrivals by request.

For Italian train information and online tickets, please go to the Italian FS National Train Schedules web site.

For post-trip accommodations, we suggest a visit to Tripadvisor.com for a list of the most recommended hotels in your destination city based on visitor reviews.


TRIP ACTIVITY LEVEL

THIS TRIP IS DESIGNED FOR ALL ABILITIES - Though rated easy to moderate, we have designed this trip to be suitable for everyone, from the casual or occasional biker with other travel and site seeing interests to the experienced biking enthusiast looking for that extra challenge. Since your preferred biking pace and your biking interests might vary from day to day, we have a daily list of optional routes, distances and route terrain to give you exactly the kind of cycling you would like to experience. To learn more about how we rate the activity levels on our trips, please go to our Activity & Terrain Levels web page.

TRIP DAILY DISTANCES & BIKING TERRAIN
DAY 1 (26 kms. - 16 miles) - Easy to moderate with 1 long uphill section at the end.
DAY 2 (65 kms. - 40 miles) - Easy to moderately challenging with 2 short uphill and 2 downhill sections.
DAY 3 (81 kms. - 50 miles) - Easy to moderate downhill into a long flat valley with 1 long uphill section at the end.
DAY 4 (60 kms. - 37 miles) - Easy to moderately easy riding with 1 short uphill section.
DAY 5 (57 kms. - 35 miles) - Easy riding in a flat valley (with a 29 km. / 18 mile option).

Each of the above daily distances are typical on quieter, smooth surface paved roads and can be increased or decreased to suit your individual biking style, endurance and interests. Your Club Toscana trip guide and vehicle are always available to offer assistance including lifts up hills or to bypass any difficult sections.


Please note that the above itinerary and it's routes are typical for this trip and can be adjusted to accommodate different hotel choices, your choice of optional routes, optional shorter or longer daily distances, your personal daily biking pace and interests, and special local events that you might wish to join. Weather conditions and unannounced road repairs, etc. can also alter the routes, distances and daily schedules.

In an effort to enhance this itinerary and to help you get the most out this destination and your traveling experiences with Club Toscana, we are continually in the process of researching additional local routes, accommodations, dining establishments and interesting places to visit. Some of these "new finds" could be included in your specific trip.


WHAT'S INCLUDED ON YOUR CLUB TOSCANA BIKING TRIP

Convenient pick-up directly from your pre-trip hotel's front door.

Over 20 years of European adventure travel experience.

Cheerful, professional and trusted bilingual trip leadership with intimate knowledge of this trip's travel area, its culinary secrets, art history and cultural distinctiveness.

All transportation from trip start to finish.

Exclusive lodging with private amenities in wine & olive oil estates, charming country inns and historic town houses.

All buffet breakfasts, 2 lunches and 4 dinners featuring regional favorites and local specialties.

Private support vehicle for shuttles (throughout the trip), for welcome lifts (to bypass that extra effort or for a quick short cut to your hotel), bicycle repairs and on-board refreshments.

Special events, private tours, local experts and entrance fees to historical sites and museums, and other events or tours listed on the itinerary.

Use of a professionally maintained, fully equipped 24-27 speed aluminum TREK road bike or TREK hybrid bike with gel seat & suspension, an insulated rear rack bag, a Pro bike helmet and a new personal water bottle.

Detailed trip maps, route directions with options and a complimentary Club Toscana T-shirt.

All baggage transportation from rendezvous to final drop off.

Convenient drop-off directly to your post-trip hotel or the nearby major rail station, airport or rental car agency.

Unsurpassed customer service to compliment one of Italy's great biking vacations.


TOP REASONS WHY NEW GUESTS CHOSE CLUB TOSCANA & WHY OUR PAST GUESTS HAVE CHOSEN TO TRAVEL WITH US AGAIN

Since our beginnings, Club Toscana has prided itself in producing active vacations that are the closest thing to a private trip, complete with the sort of comforts and camaraderie that comes from visiting old friends.

We have spent over two decades designing itineraries that take in the most interesting countryside destinations, the most stimulating mix of history and culture, the best selection of terrain from flat to invigorating, and the region's most characteristic accommodations -- always with an eye on exceeding your expectations.

The Personal Touch - Many Club Toscana guests have traveled in large groups with some of our industry's major outfitters and have found traveling in those larger groups a little less convenient and relaxed compared with Club Toscana. These outfitters' somewhat inflexible rendezvous and trip drop-off locations, scheduled group meeting times and fixed dining locations & times are good for some, but perhaps a little too rigid for our guests.

Flexibility - We adapt every one of our trips to the interests and abilities of the guests that are booked on that particular trip. We design our daily routes and itineraries for maximum flexibility so you can have as much or as little activity as you would like each day -- with us you never need to follow the schedule. We are ready to go when you are ready to go, we are waiting at the start of every hill just in case you need a lift and we adjust each trip to your specific interests and time schedule.

Service - We take care of everything -- from making sure your luggage is safely transported to the next hotel, to always having a refreshment or a welcome lift when needed, to pointing out that special wine or antique shop, and always allowing you as much free time as you would like to get the most out of your European active vacation.

Knowledge - Traveling with Club Toscana is about discovering beautiful locations, its people, history and culture, all in a private-group-like setting -- the ideal vacation experience. After over 20 years traveling in this trip's location, we know the trip area intimately.

Trip Leadership - Our pleasant natured, well organized and informative North American trip guides individually have at least 20 years of experience guiding active travelers throughout every region visited by Club Toscana. We maintain a guest ratio of 8 guests to 1 guide plus a dedicated trip vehicle to ensure your comfort and security.


NEED MORE TRIP INFORMATION?

E-mail our office at travel@clubtoscana.com or call our professional travel advisers at
Club Toscana Reservations at 1-866-563-4248 toll free 8:30 am to 5:30 pm (EST) Mon. to Fri., 8:30 am to 1:00 pm Sat.
They are ready to answer your trip questions and arrange all your pre and post-trip travel needs for a truly all-inclusive European Active Vacation.



Royal City Travel / American Express Travel Services
10 Paisley Street, Suite 8, Guelph, Ontario, Canada, N1H 2N6
North America Toll Free 1-866-563-4248
travel@clubtoscana.com

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