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The Amalfi Coast Bike Challenge
The Sorrentine peninsula, situated between the equally beautiful Bayof Naplesand Gulf of Salerno, is an area of staggering natural beauty and scattered with cultural treasures. Best known for its medieval coastal towns and inland villages such as Amalfi, Positano and Ravello and the resort townSorrento, it is also home to several hidden marvels. Small natural reserves, ancient paper mills and wild mountain scenery are only a small distance away from the busy touristy centres, waiting to be explored by the aware traveller. The best of the coastal scenery is on the southern side of the peninsula, theAmalfiCoast. With its towering cliffs and picturesque coves this definitely is one of the most beautiful coastlines in Europe, with a long tradition as one of the premier tourist destinations in Italy. In addition it offers some of the most beautiful roads and some challenging climbs which have been featured several times in the Giro d’Italia. Cycling along the ‘Costiera Amalfitana’ is an unforgettable experience !
From: 125 €
Tripcode: BRAM
1 Comfort
Level 1 - EN:
Simple accommodation, often with multiple rooms like huts, cottages or guesthouses. Sometimes with bunk beds and often with shared bathrooms. All camping trips fall into this category.
Level 1 - EN:
Simple accommodation, often with multiple rooms like huts, cottages or guesthouses. Sometimes with bunk beds and often with shared bathrooms. All camping trips fall into this category.
Level 2:
Simple to good inns, small family hotels, B&Bs and agriturismo (farmsteads), generaly with private bathroom. Often chosen for their excellent location in relation to the itinerary.
Level 2:
Simple to good inns, small family hotels, B&Bs and agriturismo (farmsteads), generaly with private bathroom. Often chosen for their excellent location in relation to the itinerary.
Level 2:
Simple to good inns, small family hotels, B&Bs and agriturismo (farmsteads), generaly with private bathroom. Often chosen for their excellent location in relation to the itinerary.
Level 3:
Good hotels, inns, B&B, agriturismo (farmstead) with ensuite private bathroom, often wel located and serving good meals
Level 3:
Good hotels, inns, B&B, agriturismo (farmstead) with ensuite private bathroom, often wel located and serving good meals
Level 3:
Good hotels, inns, B&B, agriturismo (farmstead) with ensuite private bathroom, often wel located and serving good meals
Level 4:
Special hotel with excellent food, ambiance and service. Accommodations with a special touch.
Level 4:
Special hotel with excellent food, ambiance and service. Accommodations with a special touch.
Level 4:
Special hotel with excellent food, ambiance and service. Accommodations with a special touch.
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1 Difficulty
Level 1:
Walking levels:
Trips with short walks of generally three to four hours (excluding breaks) and/or optional day excursions; flat or slightly hilly terrain using well kept paths.
Cycling levels:
Easy biking in nearly flat landscape; also possible for people with little or no bicycle experience. The daily distances are approximately 30-50 km in general. Bicycles with up to 3 gears can do the job. All our adult rental bikes have at least 21 gears.
Level 1:
Walking levels:
Trips with short walks of generally three to four hours (excluding breaks) and/or optional day excursions; flat or slightly hilly terrain using well kept paths.
Cycling levels:
Easy biking in nearly flat landscape; also possible for people with little or no bicycle experience. The daily distances are approximately 30-50 km in general. Bicycles with up to 3 gears can do the job. All our adult rental bikes have at least 21 gears.
Level 2:
Walking levels:
Moderate day walks, 4-5 hours per day (excluding breaks) on hilly to mountainous areas using well kept, sometimes stony paths.
Cycling levels:
Biking on gently undulating terrain, you may encounter short climbs from time to time. The daily distances vary between 30 and 65 km. A bicycle with minimum 7 gears will do. All our rental bikes have at least 21 gears.
Level 2:
Walking levels:
Moderate day walks, 4-5 hours per day (excluding breaks) on hilly to mountainous areas using well kept, sometimes stony paths.
Cycling levels:
Biking on gently undulating terrain, you may encounter short climbs from time to time. The daily distances vary between 30 and 65 km. A bicycle with minimum 7 gears will do. All our rental bikes have at least 21 gears.
Level 2:
Walking levels:
Moderate day walks, 4-5 hours per day (excluding breaks) on hilly to mountainous areas using well kept, sometimes stony paths.
Cycling levels:
Biking on gently undulating terrain, you may encounter short climbs from time to time. The daily distances vary between 30 and 65 km. A bicycle with minimum 7 gears will do. All our rental bikes have at least 21 gears.
Level 3:
Walking levels:
Trips with strenuous day walks or trekking in mountainous areas. 5 to 7 hours walking maximum per day, sometimes carrying backpacks with stuff for one night; height differences between 500 & 1000 m. per day
Cycling levels:
Strenuous biking trips in areas where you cannot avoid steep slopes. Some bicycle experience in short trips is needed. The daily distances range from 30 up to 75 km.
Level 3:
Walking levels:
Trips with strenuous day walks or trekking in mountainous areas. 5 to 7 hours walking maximum per day, sometimes carrying backpacks with stuff for one night; height differences between 500 & 1000 m. per day
Cycling levels:
Strenuous biking trips in areas where you cannot avoid steep slopes. Some bicycle experience in short trips is needed. The daily distances range from 30 up to 75 km.
Level 3:
Walking levels:
Trips with strenuous day walks or trekking in mountainous areas. 5 to 7 hours walking maximum per day, sometimes carrying backpacks with stuff for one night; height differences between 500 & 1000 m. per day
Cycling levels:
Strenuous biking trips in areas where you cannot avoid steep slopes. Some bicycle experience in short trips is needed. The daily distances range from 30 up to 75 km.
Level 4:
Walking levels:
Trips with heavy excursions in high mountains, sometimes carrying backpacks with stuff for several nights. 6 to 8 hours maximum per day; height differences up to 1200 meters per day; only for participants with an excellent condition and without fear of heights.
Cycling levels:
Serious and strenuous biking trips in mountainous area, the slopes are longer and/or steeper than at the previous category. Requires a good physical condition, a broad cycling experience and adequate mountain climbing bicycle. The daily distances range between 30 and 80 km.
Level 4:
Walking levels:
Trips with heavy excursions in high mountains, sometimes carrying backpacks with stuff for several nights. 6 to 8 hours maximum per day; height differences up to 1200 meters per day; only for participants with an excellent condition and without fear of heights.
Cycling levels:
Serious and strenuous biking trips in mountainous area, the slopes are longer and/or steeper than at the previous category. Requires a good physical condition, a broad cycling experience and adequate mountain climbing bicycle. The daily distances range between 30 and 80 km.
Level 4:
Walking levels:
Trips with heavy excursions in high mountains, sometimes carrying backpacks with stuff for several nights. 6 to 8 hours maximum per day; height differences up to 1200 meters per day; only for participants with an excellent condition and without fear of heights.
Cycling levels:
Serious and strenuous biking trips in mountainous area, the slopes are longer and/or steeper than at the previous category. Requires a good physical condition, a broad cycling experience and adequate mountain climbing bicycle. The daily distances range between 30 and 80 km.
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Duration: 5 days
Details
The Amalfi Coast Bike Challenge
This tour gives you the opportunity to discover both the Amalfi andSorrentoCoast. You will start from the little fishermen’svillageofCetaraand cycle north towards splendid medieval Amalfi. Along your way you pass through Maiori and delightful Minori and Atrani, arriving at the coasts’ most famous town ofAmalfi. Shortly after you pass along the deeply eroded and amazing ‘fjord’ of Furore and cycle through the little hamlets of Praiano and Conca dei Marini, before arriving at mundane Positano, clinging to the coast’s rocky cliffs. From Positano you climb up to Sant’Agata sui Due Golfi, located on the very ridge of the peninsula and offering wide views both on the Amalfitan and Sorrentine coasts. Small winding country roads then bring you to Termini on the very tip of the peninsula, and down again to Massa Lubrense and the seaside town of Sorrento.From here you continue through the foot hills aboveSorrentoto the seaside resort of Vico Equense and on to Castellamare di Stabia. Along your way you can enjoy ample views of theGulfofNaplesand Mount Vesuvius on the one hand, and of the mountain tops ofMountFaitoon the other. After arriving at Castellamare, you turn inland again, climbing up along Gragnano and Pimonte to Agerola, one of the great climbs of the area. From the highvalleyofAgerolayou then descend on a steep winding road to Pogerola and Amalfi, passing through Furore and cycling around the high end of the spectacular ‘fjord’. Returning toSalernoyou will makean inland detour to famous Ravello and Tramonti, well known for its local food specialties and wine. Also will you cycle past wonderful Raito and the millennium old abbey of Cava dei Tirreni. A last climb takes you up to the medieval castleof Salerno, for a last magnificent view of theGulf ofSalerno, and the whole Amalfi Coast.This amazing cycling adventure will take you along some of Italy’s most spectacular roads, many of which have been the theatre of epic cycling battles during the ‘Giro d’Italia’ between athletes the like of Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali and more recently Lance Armstrong and Ivan Basso. You will discover several hidden aspects of theSorrentopeninsula and see with your own eyes that it has become with reason Italy's most famous coastline.
Itinerary
Expand itinerary Collapse itineraryDay 1: Napoli/Salerno
Naples has an international airport. From Rome(and many other cities)Naples and Salerno can easily be reached. There are regular AV (High-Speed), Eurostar and Intercity trains: travel time by High-Speed train: about one hour; cost around € 40,00, by IC-train: about two hours; cost around € 20,00; by normal, regional trains the cost is about 11 euro, and it takes almost 3 hours. Severalhotels can be booked inNaplesandSalerno, according to your wish (either ‘downtown’ centrally located, or near the harbour or train station, ranging from 3 to 5-star). After your arrival at Cetara you get settled in at the hotel and take hold of your bicycles. Tonight you eat in the restaurant of the hotel. In case you arrive early you may want to take your bicycles for a short ride to the nearbyvillageofVietrisul Mare, renowned for its colourful table ware ceramics, or you may go for a stroll through the historical centre of the smallvillageofCetara, situated at walking distance.
Villages along the way: Naples, Salerno, Cetara
Day 2 :
On the firstday ofyourtripyou will startoutfrom yourhotel and head forsplendidmedieval Amalfi, following the beautiful winding coastalroad, definedby some‘themostscenic ride in the world’. Your firststop isin the idyllicvillage ofCetara, famousforits tunafish production. on to Capo d’Orso,one ofthe highestpointsofthe road, offeringa wonderfuloutlookon the whole ofthe AmalfiCoastand Capri. An exhilarating descenton abeautiful winding road through lemon groves,forestsand dramatic cliffs, bringsyoutoMaiori, the biggest townon thisstretch of the coast, andto Minori, adelightful littlevillage withitsnice centre and beautifulseaside boulevard.Then you continue with ashortclimbto Castiglione and the little white washed village of Atrani and the splendid town of Amalfi. Shortly after Amalfi you will pass by the scenic ‘Grotta Smeralda’ sea cave which is open to the public and the spectacular ‘fjord’ of Furore, a deep canyon opening up to the sea in which a small fishermen’s village clings to the rocky cliffs. You then pass through Praiano and Positano, easily the most scenic and mundane of the little towns on theAmalfitanCoast. After Positano the coast becomes wilder and more rugged, and it is a good climb to arrive at the Colli di San Pietro, beautifully situated on the ridge that separates the Amalfi Coast from the rest of the Sorrentine Peninsula. You now cycle on the plateau high above the coast towards the very end of the peninsula, Punta Campanella. From the very last village (indeed: called ‘Termini’) you have a great view on Capri.
Challenge:70 km, ascent 950 m, 4 hr
Villages along the way: Cetara, Atrani, Amalfi, Praiano, Positano, Termini
Day 3
Today you will cycle from Sorrento through the foot hillsofMount Faito in direction of Castellamaredi Stabia, afterwhich you climb up to Agerola situated up in themountainson the plateau between the Sorrentine and Amalfitan sidesof the peninsula, before descending again to Amalfi.From Sorrentoyou will follow quietback roadsto Piano di Sorrento,afterwhich youstartclimbingup the foothillsofMountFaito. Once you arrive in the small village ofArola, your roadstartssnaking through thishilly country, taking you up and down and down and up again, through thevillagesofTicciano, Casola and Massaquano, before descending tothe seasideresort town ofVico Equense onthe Sorrentine Coast.From Vico Equense you will follow part of the main road along the coast to the town of Castellamare di Stabia, once the location of several luxuriousRoman villas hidden in lush countryside.From Castellamare you startclimbing up theroad leading to the villages ofGragnano and Pimonte,which bringsyou tothe ample valley of Agerola. You will passthrough thevillage arriving at Bomerano. You will pass through thevillage ofFurore, and shortly after circle the higherend ofits‘fjord’, before turning ofthe mainroadand climbing upto Pogerola.Inthe evening you are picked up by private boatand broughtto a nice restaurantlocated in a beautiful little bay nearby. Afterdinneryoutravel back toyourhotel.
Challenge:65 km, ascent 1500 m, 4 hr
Villages along the way: Castel Mare di Stabia, Agerola, Gargano, Pimonte, Ticciano, Casola and Massaquano
Day 4
On your last cycling day youwill head from Amalfi to Ravello and Tramonti, up in the mountains, and thenback again to Salerno. Afterleaving from Amalfi, youturninland atCastiglione andstartclimbing up the steep winding road alongthe narrow valley of the ‘Dragone’ torrentand underneath therock cliffs ofRavello. Ravello, one ofthe main highlightsof the Amalfi Coast. then descendalong a winding road towards theAmalfi Coastagain, toarrive at Maiori with itswide seaside boulevard. Continue inland through some surprising wild scenery in direction of the valley of Tramonti, and find a suitable picnic spot in the latter village.
Challenge:66 km, ascent 1500 m, 4 hr
Villages along the way: Ravello, Tramonti, Castiglione
Day 5
The tour ends in Salerno after breakfast today. A train transfer can take you back to Naples. A taxi transfer to other destinations can be arranged on request
Practical info
Reviews
Start: Salerno
Finish: Amalfi
Dates & prices
Trip availability: Spring & Autumn 2012
| Dates of the trip | Price |
|---|---|
| Single suppl: | 125 €/person |
| Single suppl: | 125 €/person |
| Solo traveller: | 195 €/person |
| Tour price: | 525 €/person |
| Dates of the trip | Price |
|---|---|
| Solo traveller: | 195 €/person |
| Tour price: | 525 €/person |
| Dates of the trip | Price |
|---|---|
| Single suppl.: | 125 €/person |
| Solo traveller: | 195 €/person |
| Tour price: | 550 €/person |
| Dates of the trip | Price |
|---|---|
| Single suppl.: | 125 €/person |
| Solo traveller: | 195 €/person |
| Tour price: | 590 €/person |
| Dates of the trip | Price |
|---|---|
| Single suppl.: | 125 €/person |
| Solo traveller: | 195 €/person |
| Tour price: | 590 €/person |
| Dates of the trip | Price |
|---|---|
| Single suppl.: | 125 €/person |
| Solo traveller: | 195 €/person |
| Tour price: | 525 €/person |