1. Destination
Is there a particular region of Italy that you’ve always wanted to ride in and/or visit?
Is it exploring the quiet, hidden rockwall lined backroads of Puglia or immersing yourself in the history and beauty of Tuscany, which literally surrounds you at every turn?
With tours in 2025 in Sicily, Tuscany, Piemonte, the Italian Alps and Dolomites, and Puglia, we have you covered to experience some of the most iconic riding destinations in Italy, through to regions where cycling tourism is only just emerging, but the landscapes, culture and history allow us to curate a very unique experience for you.
2. Dates
Which month do you prefer to be in Italy? And what temperatures do you prefer to ride in?
We have carefully matched the dates of all of our tours with the optimal times of year to ride in each region.
There is bella Toscana at the start of Summer in June and Puglia perfection at the start of September, both with warm days and cooler nights. Sicily is stunning in mid Spring, not only because of the pleasant weather, but also because the landscape is covered in wild flowers of every colour, creating a real spectacle on the road each day.
We have only one tour in the peak of July, our Stelvio & Dolomites tour, which is based in the mountains at 1200m above sea level and so with pleasant temperatures in the 20’s, it is cooler than the rest of the country.
Click here to see our trip calendar.
3. Riding Style
Do you like climbing?
Are you interested in climbing mountains or hills, or a mix of both?
Or do you prefer longer, flatter rides with less climbing?
Below is an overview of each tour’s characteristics:
Tour of Sicily – Longer days, lots of elevation but with the climbs having an average gradient of 3.5%, except Mt Etna at a 7% average. It’s a steady 8 days of undulating climbing, with a superb mountain climb finish.
Tour of Tuscany – Continually undulating terrain with climbs that are between 3-6km, with an average gradient of 5.5%. It’s a hill climber’s paradise with little pinches here and there.
Tour of Piemonte – Lots of short and sharp hills, with an average gradient of 7%. It’s challenging and punchy, with an incredible mountain climb finish as part of La Fausto Coppi Gran Fondo.
Stelvio & Dolomites – Lots of climbing, with the ascents ranging from 6-26km in length and with average gradients of 7.5%, but plenty of sections that go beyond this. It’s the mountain climber’s bucket list tour.
Tour of Puglia – One of the flattest parts of Italy and while there are some days with elevation, it usually is around 1% for 40km, with a few small pinches as you roll up into a hilltop town or two. It’s a true two-wheel riding adventure.
4. Bucket List
Is there a bucket list climb or two, or a gran fondo experience you’d like to achieve in Italy?
Our Stelvio & Dolomites tour is perfect for checking off the bucket list climbs of not only Passo dello Stelvio, but also Passo Gavia, Sella Ronda, and Passo Giau.
Or if you are wanting to experience the best of a truly authentic Italian Gran Fondo, then the perfect fit for you is our Tour of Piemonte & La Fausto Coppi Gran Fondo.
Or if it’s a cycling holiday you’re after with amazing riding, culminating with the bucket list experience of Mount Etna, then Sicily is a must.
5. Travelling Partner
If you’re travelling with a non riding partner, their interests are important.
One of the unique elements of our tours is our highly active and engaging partner program, with each tour featuring its own highlights:
The Best of Sicily – it’s a unique blend of experiences that immerse you in the history and culture of Sicily such as Siracusa and Piazza Armerina, together with our hike on Mount Etna and a very authentic Sicilian cooking class in a private residence, that makes this program special.
Tour of Tuscany – three diverse regions providing three amazing hikes in nature, visits to beautiful hilltop towns including Pienza and San Gimignano, a special experience of Siena and a couple of wonderful ‘meet the producer’ days, learning about olive oil and pecorino cheese, all combine to bring out the special beauty of Tuscany.
Piemonte & La Fausto Coppi Gran Fondo – this is a non riding tour dedicated to foodies. In the home of slow food, we immerse in some very unique and special slow food producer experiences, enjoy a wonderful day of cooking at a local farm property, and enjoy a hike or two in the Barolo hills and mountains.
Stelvio & Dolomites – in these two spectacular mountain regions of Italy, we hike, explore and maximise our time in nature, taking in the incredible scenery and enjoying delightful wellness experiences post hike to soothe the muscles.
Tour of Puglia – we immerse in the Puglia’s agricultural heart and enjoy experiences including olive oil, burrata making and cooking orecchiette with nonna, while also exploring the region’s unique architecture with its whitewashed towns, gorgeous trulli and baroque Lecce.
