Bike along the Amalfi Coast, Italy’s rugged and sun-drenched coastline.
Find yourself biking the Amalfi Coast of Italy amongst rugged mountains that hug the coastline and the deep blue sea. Explore Cilento National Park with isolated areas, protected beaches, caves, flowering plants and animals that are nearly extinct except for this place. Our cycling tour allows you to discover the diversity of the Amalfi Coast, best discovered at a slower pace on bike. Dramatic landscapes, quiet villages, ancient sites, fragrant wildflowers, and the flavor of local cuisine – fresh and homemade. This Siciclando bike tour will surely become part of your soul.
Arrive in Naples, a city worth exploring at the foot of Mt. Vesuvius. You will begin with a guided tour of this exciting city. On the second day, see the power of Mt. Vesuvius up close with our volcanologist. Go on to discover the ancient Herculaneum; which met the same fate as Pompeii and was overtaken by Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD. It is here you will witness ancient Italy trapped in time. Our guide will uncover the deep mystery and beauty of this place – a rich and unique experience with fewer tourists than Pompeii.
The tour will continue south to Maratea where we will begin biking along the Tyrrhenian Sea. Siciclando’s bike tour will take you on quiet bike routes — outside of busy cities and tourist areas — where you can discover Italy by bike, at your speed.
Cycle into the peaceful Cilento National Park. By day enjoy breathtaking views and by night relax in wonderful agritourism inns, villas, and comfortable hotels. Enjoy a guided tour of the ancient sites of Paestum with magnificent temples and the historical center of Salerno.
- Cost
- € 1680 – € 1990 ($) see PRICING details below
- Duration
- 9 days/8 nights
- Start of the Tour
- Naples. First night and coordinated pick up on day 2
- End of the Tour
- Praiano (Amalfi Coast)
- Airports IN and OUT
- Naples
- 2010 Start Dates
- April 17, May 8, May 29, September 18, October 2, October 16
Highlights of the tour
- Enjoy a guided tour of Naples, a city of contrasts; strong traditions laced with progress. It holds the spirit of the Mediterranean with its many colors and long history.
- Hike Mt. Vesuvius with our volcanologist; a gentle adventure on one of the most famous volcanoes in the world.
- Discover Herculaneum with our guide. Along with Pompeii, this is one of the most important archaeological sites in the south of Italy. Both cities were ended by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 A.D. Herculaneum is less known and has fewer tourists. A wonderful experience.
- Relax in Maratea, a quaint, small town on the Tyrrhenian Coast – this lovely medieval town is known as the city of 44 churches.
- Experience the rich diversity and isolation of Cilento National Park, Italy’s second largest national park – gentle hills, dramatic coastlines, wildflowers, ancient civilizations, and charming villages.
- Enjoy the panoramic view of the promontory Palinuro. From here we will take a boat trip to see a different view of this amazing coastline and explore the caves along the way.
- See Paestum and its outstanding Greek temples on a guided tour.
- Soak up the sun of Amalfi Coast with its breathtaking coastline and small, sweet villages.
- Savor Southern Italy’s authentic food and wines – seafood, regional olive oil, fresh buffalo mozzarella, homemade pasta, and delicious fresh fruits and vegetables. And, of course, red and white wines of the area.
- See video highlights of this new Amalfi Coast tour.
Day 1 – Welcome to Naples, Italy!
Arrive on your own in Naples. Enjoy a guided tour of this fascinating city in the afternoon (3:00 p.m.).
Day 2 – Hike Mt. Vesuvius, visit to Herculaneum and private shuttle to Maratea
Today, before we leave Naples, we’ll enjoy a gentle hike of Mount Vesuvius volcano with our volcanologist to guide you. Onto the archaeological site of Herculaneum for a guided tour of this city devastated by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 A.D. This day will offer a glimpse into the culture 1,000 years ago. A unique opportunity.
We will coordinate your transport to Maratea, where we will begin the biking portion of the tour.
Day 3 – Biking to Palinuro (33.12 miles/55.2 kilometers)
A mostly gentle ride, with some climbs along the coast at first and then later inland. Our bike route will take you to Palinuro. This first section of the ride will give you a beautiful view of the Gulf of Policastro. Then we cycle inland, around the eastern part of Mount Bulgheria, an impressive block of limestone. We’ll pass a number of charming villages and will have time to enjoy an Italian coffee or cappuccino. Then we’ll reach the entrance of the Mingardo Canyon, dominated by the abandoned village of San Severino. Soon after we’ll ride downhill to Palinuro, nestled in a dramatic and beautiful seaside setting.
Day 4 – Boat excursion and bike ride to the farm (19.95 miles/33.25 kilometers)
This day starts with a boat excursion to enjoy some of the grottoes and perhaps… a swim.
After the boat trip you will bike to Pisciotta and Ascea.
Some stretches include a climb that will take you in land. Here we will be stay in a comfortable agriturismo inn with an olive field (olive oil and wine are produced here).
Day 5 – Two options: Bike loop rides of Cilento National Park or the Campania countryside – (12.69 miles/21.25 kilometers for the short loop or 49.08 miles/81.8 kilometers for the long loop)
Today you have a choice of a bike loops.
The longer one will allow you to enjoy some little towns inside of the Cilento National Park. Along the loop you’ll bike along one of the finest coasts of Italy with alternating views of the charming seaside and medieval villages. We’ll have some superb views overlooking both the southern coast, towards Palinuro, as well as the Gulf of Salerno and the Amalfi Coast. As we get to Acciaroli, we can stop for a coffee in this little sea village where Earnest Hemingway spent so much time.
The shorter bike loop will take you along a quiet secondary road close to the farm. You’ll pass through some small villages and will enjoy large views of the valleys. This is the perfect choice if you want to ride a bit and enjoy some time at the farm too.
Day 6 – Bike the ‘heart of the Cilento’ and visit ancient Paestum (43.25 miles/72.1 kilometers)
The bike ride today will take us to Paestum. We’ll begin with a climb and will pass through small villages such as Moio della Civitella, Stio, Magliano, Monteforte Cilento. The route then continues, without much climbing, through the heart of the Cilento National Park, with beautiful mountainous scenery and thick forests. Along the way we’ll have some opportunities to stop for a rest and discovery. Then the route continues along the west side of an impressive mountain chain. The next section of cycling becomes easy, almost all downhill, taking us easily to the fertile plain of Paestum.
Day 7 – Tour Paestum and the Amalfi Coast (optional 5.4 miles/9 kilometers)
We will begin the day with a guided visit to the archeological sites of Paestum. We will take a break from biking and transfer by van along the Amalfi Coast to Praiano where the next hotel is located. Along the way we will stop for lunch in Salerno, gateway to the Amalfi Coast. After lunch enjoy a tour of the Amalfi Coast by boat. If you would like to bike from Amalfi to the hotel, you may – it is approximately 5.4 miles or 9 kilometers.
Day 8: Cycling Amalfi Coast and Punta Campanella (31.7 miles/52.85 kilometers)
Today we’ll have the opportunity to enjoy the dramatic ‘Strada Amalfitana’, along the Amalfi Coast. A short ride will take us to Positano, the most scenic of the villages on the coast. After Positano the coast becomes wilder and more rugged, some stretches we will climb and then take a break. We will continue onto Colli di San Pietro, a ridge that separates the Amalfi Coast from the rest of the Sorrentine Peninsula. Our loop will continue to Sorrento and towards the very end of the peninsula: Punta Campanella. Lunch will be enjoyed in Sorrento, a popular tourist area. On the way back to our hotel we’ll enjoy the sunset along the Amalfi Coast — a wonderful experience!
This is definitely one of the nicest bike rides in the world and certainly the best way to end a terrific Siciclando Bike Tour of the Amalfi Coast and Cilento National Park in Italy!
Day 9 – Departure Day
End of our services after breakfast. Ciao!
Actual tour itinerary may vary slightly due to unforeseen circumstances.
Siciclando carefully chooses every aspect of a tour, including the accommodations.
Our choices are based on comfort and quality. We often choose hotels that are family-owned and operated because they provide a richer experience and because it is important to us to support the efforts of these individuals. We have developed relationships with many wonderful hotel operators. Here is a sample of the hotels on this tour.
Tour accommodations will be based on availability and the time of year. Once you have made your final payment for the tour, we will send you a confirmation letter that includes daily accommodations and contact information.
- Level of difficulty: MODERATE
- This group trip is suitable for regular bikers who are in good general physical condition. All rides are easy to moderate. For this trip we require a cycling experience. The climb to Mt.Vesuvius, at the beginning of the trip, is about 200 m uphill on a steep path. The rides have some stretches in climb that need a good experience in managing the gears and a reasonable capacity to ride on climb.The trip anyway includes several enjoyable bike rides on downhill and includes the service of the van support, which allows you to avoid the most difficult climbs. Our guide will be there when you need, and will be happy to support you.
- Airflight
- The reference airport for the tour is NAPLES.
Naples has an international airport which has flights arriving from throughout Italy. There are a number of low cost airlines flying into Naples including EasyJet, Air One, Air Berlin, Air Italy. Here the links of the airport website where you can get the airlines company internet address most convenient for you: NAPOLI. - Suggested Readings and Famous Writers:
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- George Norman Douglas, Siren Land
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Italian Journey
- Henry James, Italian Hours
- What to taste:
- Don’t miss the “limoncello” in the Amalfi Coast. This is an easy and inexpensive to produce requiring only sugar, water, lemon zest, alcohol, and time to mature.
- Movies:
- A Good Woman film directed by Mike Barker. The screenplay by Howard Himelstein is based on the 1892 play Lady Windermere’s Fan by Oscar Wilde. It is the third screen version of the work, following a 1925 Ernst Lubitsch silent film and Otto Preminger’s 1949 adaptation entitled The Fan.
It Started in Naples, film directed by Melville Shavelson and produced by Jack Rose from a screenplay by Suso Cecchi d’Amico based on the story by Michael Pertwee and Jack Davies. The film stars Clark Gable, Sophia Loren, Vittorio De Sica and an Italian cast.
Peperoni ripieni e pesci in faccia, film directed by Lina Wertmüller. The film stars F. Murray Abraham, Sophia Loren.
The Talented Mr. Ripley, film directed by Anthony Minghella. It is an adaptation of the 1955 novel by Patricia Highsmith, which was also filmed in 1960 as Plein Soleil. The Talented Mr. Ripley starred Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, Cate Blanchett.
Ciao, Professore! (original title Io speriamo che me la cavo, or “Me, Let’s Hope I Make It”), film directed by Lina Wertmuller. Comedy film about an elementary-school teacher from northern Italy who is sent by mistake to an impoverished town in the Naples region of southern Italy, where he must deal with vast cultural differences and teach chronically truant children who only respect violence and power.
- Group tour price
-
- 4-5 people € 1990 per person
- 6-7 people € 1865 per person
- 8+ people € 1680 per person
- Additional options and fees
-
- Private room – € 230 (not available for self-guided trips)
- Hybrid Bike rental – € 100 (€ 18 each additional day), which includes 1 bike pannier per bike, helmets and a cycle computer.
- Road Bike rental – € 175 (€ 27 each additional day), which includes 1 bike pannier per bike, helmets and a cycle computer.
- Services Included
-
- 1 English-speaking trip leader
- 8 nights in double rooms: 4 nights in 4 star hotel; 1 night in 3 star hotel; 3 nights in 4 star agriturismo inn
- 8 breakfasts
- 5 dinners
- Boat trip on day 4
- Guides for Naples on day 1, Vesuvius and Herculaneum on day 2, and Paestum on day 4
- Admission to Mt. Vesuvius and Herculaneum
- Baggage transportation between hotels
- Detailed route information and maps
- Van support
- Services Not included
-
- Admission to museums and archaeological sites (unless specified above)
- Tickets for trains or any public transportation
- Wine or beverages
- Airfare
- Transfers to the starting point or from the finishing point unless specified; we can assist you in planning and arranging for any necessary shuttles
- Transport of bike case (for guests who bring their own bike)
- Personal expenses (laundry, personal supplies, phone calls, etc.)
- Gratuity
- Self-guided option
- This tour is not available as a self-guided option.
- Tour code
- AB
