2025 VIP Trans Apennines
VIP Trans Apennines
From the sumptuous landscapes of Tuscany through the dramatic high peaks of the Apennine mountains, experience the very best of Italy in our version of Tirreno Adriatico
Our latest VIP trip features a sensational ride across the Apennine mountains, from the Mediterranean to the Adriatic.
Please note: this trip is only open to repeat guests and their friends.
Featured Climbs
Blockhaus, Sella di Leonessa / Monte Terminillo, Campo Imperatore, Monte Amiata
Overview
Details
Next Departure
June 15th 2025
From
USD $5,495
Duration
8 days / 7 nights
Non-Rider Friendly
No
Rental Bike
USD $550
Ride Program
Total Distance
Total Elevation
Daily Av. Distance
Daily Av. Elevation
Overview
Starting in the fabulous thermal retreat and spa in San Casciani dei Bagni, our 2025 VIP ride crosses the dramatic high peaks of the Apennine mountains.
The trip starts with a magnificent loop through the famous landscapes and picturesque villages of the Val d’Orcia, considered by many as Tuscany’s most beautiful valley, and includes the climb to Monte Amiata, the highest mountain in southern Tuscany. After the first 2 nights in Tuscany, you’ll start the journey eastwards across the Apennines, starting with a first stop close to the stunning medieval town of Spoleto where a late afternoon walk to it’s magnificent Duomo and Rocca Albornoziana hilltop castle is a must.
You’ll hit the first big Apennine climb the following day in the form of the 1,900m Passo Sella di Leonessa, offering spectacular views of nearby Monte Terminillo, before the long descent to Rieti, known as the heart of Italy.
For the remainder of the trip you’ll ride through the highest peaks of the Apennines conquering several iconic Giro d’Italia climbs. You’ll ride through the Gran Sasso National Park and climb the incredible Campo Imperatore at over 2,100m. The final day includes the Passo Lanciano, the Passo San Leonardo and for those willing to give it a shot, the mighty climb to Blockhaus, where Giro stage winners include Eddy Merckx, Nairo Quintana and in 2022, Aussie rider Jai Hindley who went on to win the Giro that year.
Join Peter and the best staff in the business on this sensational journey across one of the world’s most celebrated cycling destinations: Tirreno-Adriatico!
Itinerary
Day | Description | Distance | Elevation | Hotel | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
01 | Benvenuti in Italia | Fonteverde Hotel & Thermal Retreat | |||
02 | Classic Tuscany Loop | Fonteverde Hotel & Thermal Retreat | |||
03 | Through Umbria to historic Spoleto | Relais Borgo Campello | |||
04 | Monte Terminillo | Park Hotel Villa Potenziani | |||
05 | Across Lazio and Abruzzo to L'Aquila | Canadian Hotel | |||
06 | Parco Nazionale del Gran Sasso | Albergo Parco Gran Sasso | |||
07 | Blockhaus and the Parco Nazionale della Maiella | Hotel Ovidius Santa Croce | |||
08 | End of an epic journey! | ||||
Daily Averages |
Itinerary Detail
Day 1
Distance
Elevation
Benvenuti in Italia
Your trip starts ar Rome Fiumicino Airport where our staff will meet you before the transfer to the magnificent Fonteverde Hotel and Thermal retreat, featuring the natural thermal springs of San Casciano dei Bagni in Tuscany.
After a brief orientation, bike build and lunch, you’ll head out for your first ride in the most beautiful region of Tuscany, the Val d’Orcia. After 16km you’ll start the 7km climb to Sarteano, one of southern Tuscany’s most beautiful villages, maybe a good option for a coffee stop!
Day 2
Distance
Elevation
Classic Tuscany Loop
A magnificent ride today through the Val d’Orcia, considered the most scenic region of Tuscany. Included in the ride is the highest mountain in Southern Tuscany, Monte Amiata, which comes at the 60km mark and climbs for 20km to an elevation of almost 1,700m. Amiata is up there with Alpine climbs so pace yourself on this one, and it’s closely followed with a tough wee bump to the hilltop town of Radicofani before the final run-in to the hotel, and a well-earned dip in the natural springs!
Day 3
Distance
Elevation
Through Umbria to historic Spoleto
The journey eastwards across the Apennines starts today with a scenic ride across Umbria towards the historic town of Spoleto. No huge climbs to contend with but a series of short inclines make for a challenging day in the saddle. You’ll ride through the medieval towns of Orvieto and Todi, with a final climb high above Spoleto to your hotel for the evening, the Relais Borgo Campello, a unique destination based in an ancient convent and castle in the medieval village of Campello Alto.
Day 4
Distance
Elevation
Monte Terminillo
Highlight of today’s ride is the spectacular climb over the Passo Sella di Leonessa to Monte Terminillo.
Leaving the hotel in Scheggino, for the first 40km you’ll be following the route of Stage 11 of the 2024 Giro d’Italia over the Forca Capistrella to Leonessa. From Leonessa the Giro went east towards Prati di Tivo where Tadej Pogacar sealed another stage win, you’ll continue south towards into Lazio and the long climb to Terminillo. From the summit, enjoy a 25km descent to your next hotel in the town of Rieti, the centre of Italy!
Day 5
Distance
Elevation
Across Lazio and Abruzzo to L'Aquila
Your journey continues through rural Lazio and the Monte Navegna & Monte Cervia Nature Reserve. From the hotel in Rieti you’ll be straight into climbing mode as you tackle a couple of short climbs to get you of the town and inot the Nature Reservae. From there enjoy a magnificent ride along the shores of Lago del Salto before starting the main challenge of the day, the 22km climb to La Forca di Castiglione. From the summit the next 40km are “mostly” downhill to your next hotel in L’Aquila.
Day 6
Distance
Elevation
Parco Nazionale del Gran Sasso
A stunningly beautiful ride today, high up in the Parco Nazionale del Gran Sasso featuring some of the most dramatic peaks in the Apennines. After a flat 10km start to the ride, the road soon points upwards signalling the start of the climb to the Passo delle Capannelle. From the summit you’ll head into the national park, the scenery is spectacular – and only gets better as you head towards the incredible Campo Imperatore at over 2,100m. The ride continues through the national park, over the Valico di Capo de Serra and eventually down to your hotel in the stunning hilltop town of Castel del Monte.
Longer ride available – feel up for an extra 40km and 1,100m elevation? – then continue past the hotel for a beautiful loop through Ofena and back up to the hotel via the climb through Calascio!
Day 7
Distance
Elevation
Blockhaus and the Parco Nazionale della Maiella
Your trip ends with a magnificent ride through another National Park, the Parco Nazionale della Maiella and features one of the most challenging climbs in Italy (ranked 6th overall in a list of toughest climbs in the whole of Italy). The climb is Blockhaus, referring to a stone house at the top of the climb and thought to have got it’s name from an Austrian commander stationed there during the unification of Italy in the 1860’s. it has featured several times in the Giro d’Italia with the great Eddy Merckx winning there in 1967. Last winner was Aussie Jai Hindley in 2022. It’s a spectacularly brutal climb, over 20km, 1700 elevation gain and an average grade of around 8%. But well worth the effort!
From Blockhaus you’ll ride further into the National Park, over the much more gentle Passo San Leonardo, before the final 20km descent to your hotel in Sulmona – and the end of a magnificent journey across the backbone of Italy, the Thomson version of Tirreno-Adriatico!.
Don’t worry, for those who’ve had enough climbing for the week and would rather skip Blockhaus, there’s a shorter ride avoiding this monster climb, with a total distance of 117km and 2,100m elevaiton gain.
Day 8
Distance
Elevation
End of an epic journey!
Unfortunately, your trip across the Apennines has come to an end.
Our shuttle will drop you off at Rome Fiumicino Airport.
Map & Profile
Climb | Distance | Elevation | Av. Grade | Category | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
No major climbs today |
Climb | Distance | Elevation | Av. Grade | Category | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Castiglione d’Orcia from Bagno Vignoni |
5.1% | 3 | |||
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
12-15
>15
|
|||||
Monte Amiata from Seggiano |
6.4% | HC | |||
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
12-15
>15
|
|||||
Radicofani from River Paglia |
4.8% | 3 | |||
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
12-15
>15
|
Climb | Distance | Elevation | Av. Grade | Category | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Colonnetta from Orvieto |
4.6% | 3 | |||
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
12-15
>15
|
|||||
Todi from Pontecuti |
5.6% | 3 | |||
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
12-15
>15
|
|||||
Castelvecchio from Todi |
3.9% | 3 | |||
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
12-15
>15
|
|||||
Relais Borgo Campello from Campello sul Clitunno |
4.8% | 2 | |||
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
12-15
>15
|
Climb | Distance | Elevation | Av. Grade | Category | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Forca di Cerro from Spoleto |
4.5% | 2 | |||
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
12-15
>15
|
|||||
Forca Capistrello from Sant’Anatolia di Narco |
6.0% | HC | |||
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
12-15
>15
|
|||||
Sella di Leonessa / Monte Terminillo from Leonessa |
6.2% | HC | |||
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
12-15
>15
|
Climb | Distance | Elevation | Av. Grade | Category | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Colle Moro from Rieti |
7.5% | 1 | |||
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
12-15
>15
|
|||||
Vallecupola from Longone |
5.9% | 3 | |||
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
12-15
>15
|
|||||
Forca Di Castiglione from Sant’Ippolito |
4.5% | 1 | |||
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
12-15
>15
|
Climb | Distance | Elevation | Av. Grade | Category | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Passo Capannelle from Cermone |
4.7% | 2 | |||
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
12-15
>15
|
|||||
Campo Imperatore from Gigino |
4.6% | HC | |||
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
12-15
>15
|
Climb | Distance | Elevation | Av. Grade | Category | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Blockhaus from Lettomanoppello |
7.7% | HC | |||
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
12-15
>15
|
|||||
Passo San Leonardo from Caramanico |
4.5% | 1 | |||
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
12-15
>15
|
Climb | Distance | Elevation | Av. Grade | Category | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
No major climbs today |
Climbs
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Climbs
Dates & Prices
Date | Booking Status | Availability | Price / Per Person | Single Supplement | Non-rider Discount | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2025 | |||||||
Jun 15 - 22 |
Taking Bookings |
Places Available |
USD $5,495
|
USD $950 |
USD $1,040 |
Book this trip | |
Aug 31 - Sep 7 |
Taking Bookings |
Places Available |
USD $5,495
|
USD $950 |
USD $1,040 |
Book this trip |
Waiting List
Sign up to the waiting list for this departure, to be notified if a space becomes available. Please fill out the information below:
Trip Hotels
Fonteverde Hotel & Thermal Retreat
Relais Borgo Campello
Park Hotel Villa Potenziani
Canadian Hotel
Albergo Parco Gran Sasso
Hotel Ovidius Santa Croce
What's Included
What's Included | What's Not Included |
---|---|
Accommodations & Meals
Transportation
Cycling Support
Nutrition during the ride
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What's Included |
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Accommodations & Meals
Transportation
Cycling Support
Nutrition during the ride
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What's Not Included |
|
Pick-up/Drop-off Info
Arrival
Pickup Location | Time |
---|---|
Rome Fiumicino Airport |
9:00am |
OR |
|
Isola Sacra Rome Airport Hotel |
9:00am |
Departure
Drop Off Location | Time |
---|---|
Rome Fiumicino Airport |
9:30am |
Rental Bikes
Specialized Aethos Expert
Frame
Aethos FACT 10r Carbon
Groupset
Di2 Shimano Ultegra
Weight
699g (size 56)
Wheels
Roval C38
Chainrings
52/36T
Cassette
11-34t (12-speed)
Sizes
49, 52, 54, 56, 58, 61
USD $550
View DetailsVIP Trans Apennines
A sensational journey across the Apennine mountains through Tuscany, Lazio, Umbria and Abruzzo