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About Ciclismo Classico

The Best in Italian Cycling Tours | The Ciclismo Classico Difference

photo of Simone and his dessert

At Ciclismo Classico, we’re what Italians call il vero e proprio—the real deal. We eat, sleep, and breathe cycling. We dream in Italian. Everything we do is infused con passione, a way of embracing the world with a distinctly Italian flair.

Since our founding in 1988, Ciclismo Classico has garnered awards from Outside and National Geographic Traveler and praise from The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Bicycling, CNN.com and Forbes.

You’ll discover that a vacation with Ciclismo Classico is no ordinary bike trip. Our tour leaders are not only avid cyclists, but local insiders. Most were born and raised in Italy and Europe and live there year-round. You’ll be immersed in la vera Italia, the authentic Italian culture, in a way that most tourists never come close to experiencing. You’ll take backroads only the locals know, witness amazing vistas far off the tourist trail, eat where the locals eat, and learn to speak the language with new friends. We guarantee that this exhilarating experience will leave you enriched and forever-changed.

While Italy remains our first love, we’ve branched out to offer our culturally rich cycling experiences in places such as France, Spain, Austria and New England. Rest assured that we always bring the same Ciclismo passione to each tour, no matter where we hit the road.

As our founder Lauren Hefferon explains, “Our mission is to make every ride or walk like your first—full of learning, excitement, hope, joy and freedom. We feel privileged to serve our unique itineraries to an international community of active travelers, ages 2 to 92, who share a love for cross-cultural learning.”

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All Levels

You’re potentially interested in any level of trip and don't want your site experience tailored to any specific level.

Easy

You’re new to biking, or you just want to take it easy with lots of stops to take pictures and explore and no one hurrying you along. Expect a leisurely pace over generally flat terrain.

Average distance per day: 18-35 miles.

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Moderate

You’re not a fanatical rider, but you exercise regularly and enjoy a leisurely day’s spin on your bike. You might want to graduate to “intermediate” one day, or not. The pace is relaxed but the terrain gently rolling, more ups and downs, more vistas and valleys than Easy tours.

Average distance per day: 35-45 miles.

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Intermediate

You’re active on your days off, and recreational biking is most likely your weekend sport of choice. You love to ride and it shows in your endurance and strength. A steady but active pace, with opportunities to push yourself and some challenging climbs, with great descents over rolling terrain. (These folks ARE cyclists, they are usually pretty serious cyclists but do not train at the expert level.)

Average distance per day: 40-50 miles.

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Expert

You crave vigorous pacing, challenging climbs and thrilling descents. You crave longer mileage with lots of hills and descents, varying terrain, and a mountain pass or two only makes it better.

Average distance per day: 45+ miles.

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Family

If you have kids under 16, we have great options for you! With fewer hotel changes, easier biking and wheels for all ages, we've got your ideal active family holiday.

Average distance per day: 20–30 miles.

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