Nichols Expeditions offers Guided and Self-Guided Bicycle and Hiking Tours in Italy in Tuscany, Umbria, Piedmont, Sardinia, Sicily and Veneto.

Italy Guided Group Bicycle Tours are for cyclists who want a full service bike tour led by an experienced guide and luggage support. With a guide, you will visit the fun locations most guide books overlook and enjoy perfectly timed stops for coffee and gelato at the best cafes. They even take the stress off deciphering an Italian menu and help choose the right wine to go with your meal.

On Guided Group Tours we welcome singles and couples who enjoy meeting and riding with a fun mix of cyclists from all over the US and a few international locations. Many of these riders have been on numerous tours with us in the past. We will provide references upon request. The Guided Group Tours are generally accompanied by Chuck & Judy Nichols, owners of Nichols Expeditions, who add a playful spirit to the adventure.
Click here to view our guided tours in Tuscany, Umbria, Piedmont, Sardinia and our new tour - the Francigena Way.

Guided Charter Tours are fully supported cycling tours for groups of 8 or more riders. Select a cycling route in Tuscany, Umbria, Sicily, Sardinia or the Piedmont and our knowledgeable staff will design a tour that is just right for you, with the travel dates and amenities you choose. The cost is comparable to our Guided Tours, and you have the flexibility to customize your tour to your liking. Most Guided Charter Tours are arranged by folks who want a tour to fit into their vacation schedule or to commemorate a special birthday, while some simply want to travel with a group of their own friends. Anyway you want it, we are ready to help you create the tour of a lifetime!

It all starts with an email or a call; 800-648-8488

Guided Charter Tours may be arranged in Tuscany, Umbria, Sicily, Sardinia, the Piedmont & Veneto.

Self Guided Cycling and Hiking Tours are for groups of 2 or more people who want the simplicity and spontaneity of riding or hiking on their own without the services of a guide. You will have a detailed route map, daily luggage transfers and great lodging waiting for you each evening. These tours are perfect for couples, families and small groups of friends. You choose the dates and tour location, and we will take care of all the details to make your tour a most memorable bicycling or hiking adventure.

Call or email us for detailed information and sample itineraries; 800-648-8488
8 Day Itineraries, starting at €1,200 Euros/pp. Shorter itineraries are also available.

Click here to view our sample self-guided itineraries in Tuscany, Umbria, Sardinia, Sicily Piedmont and Veneto.

ITALY GUIDED BIKING TOURS

This year we are offering two different styles of guided bike tours in Italy - a FULLY SUPPORTED BIKE TOUR and SUPERSAVER BIKE TOURS.

OUR FULLY SUPPORTED TOUR IS A NEW TOUR OF THE FRANCIGENA WAY: This 14 day bike tour follows the medieval pilgrimage route from the north to Rome. The entire route goes from Cantebury, England to Rome, but we have chosen to ride the most spectacular stretch. Our tour begins in southern Switzerland, crosses the Alps at the spectacular St. Bernard Pass, and ends in Rome. Passing from high alpine valleys to the Crete hills of Tuscany, the route passes through stunning geography and some of our favorite towns in Italy; Siena, Lucca, Montalcino and San Gimignano. This van supported tour will be accompanied by Chuck and Judy Nichols. Cycling the Via Francigena: 14 days, September 20 - October 3, 2009, €2,550 Euros/pp.

SUPERSAVER BIKE TOURS! This year we are introducing our NEW, AFFORDABLE, BIKE TOURS IN ITALY. Now you can ride and enjoy three of Italy's best cycling locations, Tuscany and Umbria - 8 nights for €1500(Euros), Sardinia - 8 nights for €1500(Euros) and the Piedmont - 7 nights €1400(Euros) fantastic!

If the high cost of the Euro is making an Italian cycling vacation sound way too expensive, then these tours are for you! These bike tours feature great riding, fantastic scenery, comfortable lodgings and LOW PRICES. Chuck and Judy Nichols will personally accompany these tours so you know they will be fun and all the details will run smoothly.

Each day you can choose to ride with the group or travel independently at your own pace. All riders will have their own map with route directions, and your baggage will be transferred to your lodging so you only carry what you need for the day on your bike. Lodging with breakfasts are included as well all dinners, and Chuck and Judy will be there to handle bike maintenance and logistics.

These tours are in scenic, hilly areas with little traffic, and there will be numerous opportunities to stop for photos. The daily distances will average 30 - 35/miles, and if you would like greater mileage, we can map out some longer options for you.

Italy Bicycle Tour of Tuscany and Umbria is an Italian journey of the senses, with stunning scenery, rich smells and wonderful taste treats. This carefully selected route takes us through a charming Italian landscape of rounded hilltops silhouetted by stately cypress trees. Vineyards and olive groves lead to magnificent walled cities filled with  narrow winding streets, great food and world famous wine. Accommodations are a mix of country inns and old-world style hotels.
Cycling the Best of Tuscany & Umbria: 9 days, May 26 - June 3, 2009, €1,500 Euros/pp. Group Charter & Self-guided tours are also available.

Our Bicycle Tour of Sardinia will take you to the best places on Italy's most magnificent island. This is a tasty combination of cultures wrapped in the magic of the Mediterranean. On the ride we'll have the chance to visit an island with archeological treasures, fabulous vistas, superb beaches and outstanding cuisine. Accommodations are unique local lodgings & spring is the perfect time for wildflowers. This tour is for the cyclist who wants the road less traveled, but with a great meal waiting at the end! Cycling the Best of Sardinia 9 days, April 26 - May 4, 2009, €1,500 Euros/pp. Group Charter & Self-guided tours are also available.

Italy Bicycle Tour in the Piedmont takes us through a region most famous for its exceptional cuisine and superb wines, but the hidden gem is the remarkable bicycling. We will be riding on quiet roads that wind through vineyard-covered hillsides dotted with quaint medieval villages and regal castles. The visuals are truly astounding!  Our nightly accommodations are a wonderful mix of old-world style inns and country houses to give you a good feel for the history and charm of this unique area. 
Italy Cycling Tour in the Piedmont 8 days, September 11 – 18, 2009, €1,400 Euros/pp. Group Charter & Self-guided tours are also available.

Italy Self Guided Bike Tours l Piedmont Wine Tasting l Italian Cycling Trips
Italy Bicycle Vacations l Europe Bike Tours

RESERVATIONS: For complete reservation information click here.