Norcia, Castelluccio and the glorious flowers at the foot of Monte Vettore

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Norcia, Castelluccio and the glorious flowers at the foot of Monte Vettore

Cycling at the foot of towering peaks and through boundless, flowering valleys

This tough tour starts in Norcia and extends along the Sibillini mountain range, with its soaring landscapes and ancient hilltop villages. The length of the route is not excessive but there are some hard climbs along the way, so the tour is not suitable for less experienced cyclists or enthusiasts with little training. Setting off from Norcia’s sports facilities, we’ll immediately start cycling uphill for the 6 km that will take us to the top of the Forca d’Arancano pass, where we’ll get a stunning view of Norcia and the surrounding plateau. The descent will take us to Preci, passing the Basilica di Sant’Eutizio and then, after a few ups and downs, we’ll press on towards Visso, crossing into the Marche region. After a short, refreshing break, we’ll head to Castelsantangelo sul Nera where we will face the hardest climb on our entire route: 10 km up to Forca di Gualdo with an average gradient of 7%. Once at the top, we’ll cycle for another 5 km, until we reach Castelluccio di Norcia where we will stop to appreciate views of places that are still unspoilt and full of picturesque charm. Setting off again, we’ll cross Piano Grande, the famous expanse that attracts thousands of tourists between May and June during the flowering season, and then return to our starting point in Norcia after the last 3-km climb following a long downhill stretch. Book this tour in the heart of the Sibillini mountains, our courteous and highly-professional guides are waiting to to accompany you!

Plan

1
briefing

h. 09:00
2
first part of the trail

h. 09:10
3
lunch break

h. 13:20
4
second part of the trail

h. 14:20

Recommended clothing

For this activity we recommend comfortable clothing that does not restrict your freedom of movement.
Bring a windcheater/anorak with you, even if the activity takes place in the summer months.
We recommend wearing the right footwear for the type of bike you are going to use.
We strongly recommend the use of a crash helmet suitable for biking.

We also recommend you bring:

A comfortable backpack suitable for cycling/walking
A warm sweater, such as a technical sports shir, for sudden drops in temperature
A change of clothes (especially socks) in case of sudden rain
Hat with a sun visor
Warm hat
Gloves
Sunscreen

Included

Expert guide
Mechanical assistance for repairs in case of punctures, problems with brakes or other malfunctions that can be dealt with on the spot.
In most cases a car will be on hand to provide any complex assistance or to keep drinks and food chilled.

Not included

Bicycles and related accessories are not included in this itinerary.

If you wish, you can choose bike hire from amongst our additional options. We will provide you with the bike that’s best suited to the type of route, taking your preferences into consideration, including helmets, pedaling accessories and spare parts for ordinary repairs. We have various types of bikes available, including e-bikes.

Time

The activity will last about 9 hours, including small stops. However, the duration may vary depending on the pace of the group and the need to take fewer or more breaks.

Languages

Italian
English

When

You can enjoy this experience throughout the year.

Children

This activity is also open to children provided they are accompanied by their parents.

Pet policy

We are sorry but no pets will be allowed to accompany you in this activity.

Requirements

To do this activity it is essential to have a good level of physical fitness and to be in good health.

Additional information

This activity includes a lunch break, so we advise you to bring a packed lunch or to select the option ‘packed lunch’ so that we can provide it for you. Don’t forget to tell us about any allergies, intolerances or other special dietary needs: we will be happy to adapt your lunch to your needs.

Important

This activity can only be undertaken in favourable weather conditions, which will be evaluated by our partner and confirmed 48 hours in advance. In case of poor weather conditions we will immediately contact you and propose an alternative activity or a refund of the price paid.
This activity is subject to our operators’ availability. We have a large selection of collaborators capable of leading this activity, but if on the day you selected we do not have operators availabile, we will immediately, or in any case within 48 hours of booking, suggest an alternative activity you might wish to do or the choice of receiving a full refund of the price paid.
The times shown in the program are indicative and may vary according to your requests or those of the other participants in the group. These are always and in any case previously agreed with our staff or with the guide.

Always communicate through Exploring Umbria to ensure you receive the best bespoke service to suits your requirements. In order to protect your payments, never transfer money via channels outside the Exploring Umbria website.

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Norcia, Castelluccio and the glorious flowers at the foot of Monte Vettore

Cycling at the foot of towering peaks and through boundless, flowering valleys

Photo gallery

briefing

first part of the trail

lunch break

second part of the trail

Cancellation policy

Where you can do this activity

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