DAY-TO-DAY PROGRAMME

Day 0 Naples (or Salerno)

N.B. If you arrive one day earlier you have the chance to pay a visit to the world-famous archaeological museum in Naples, where all the artefacts from Pompeii and Herculaneum are displayed, and/or the equally wonderful Capodimonte museum. It is also possible to make a daytrip to Pompeii. Several hotels can be booked in Naples and Salerno, according to your wishes (either ‘downtown’ centrally located, or near the harbour or train station, ranging from 3- to 5-star).

Day 1
After arriving in Paestum, your private minibus picks you up and brings you to the hotel, just outside the ancient city walls, just a few metres from the Greek temples. Depending on your arrival time, you could already take an optional short trip to test your bicycles, or, alternatively, go for a visit to the archaeological site, dating back to the 6^th century BC (UNESCO World Heritage!), where you will admire not only the temples, but also several other monuments. In the late afternoon you will meet your tour guide and the rest of the group for a short introductory briefing on the tour, after which you will have a great dinner on the premises of the hotel.
Hotel *** – Paestum
Distance: 6,5 km. – Cycling time: 1 h. – Ascent & descent: +/- 30 m.

Day 2
Our first trip takes us through the ancient territory of the Greek town of Paestum. It’s a relaxed ride through the plain, but you could opt for a longer and harder option that takes you to some nice medieval hamlets in the foothills and offers some amazing views. Before setting off you can visit the temples and the museum of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Paestum and its world-famous Doric temples. Here you will admire not only the three temples, but also other monuments including the amphitheatre, the ‘Heroon’ tomb, several Greek and Roman houses and one of the town’s impressive gates. In the local museum you can see the exemplary collection of prehistoric utensils, Greek vases and Roman sculpture. Absolutely not to miss is the so-called ‘Tomba del Tuffatore’ (Diver’s Tomb), a rare example of Greek funeral painting. Lunch can be taken at a local buffalo farm where you taste delicious, genuine, fresh mozzarella. The cycling trip will then take you through the plain to the Sele River, past the ‘Capo di Fiume’ karst springs, to the villages of Giugnano and Cicerale (optional) and back down again to your hotel. Dinner is on the premises of the hotel tonight. After dinner you can opt to make another short stroll past the temples and perhaps grab a gelato.
Hotel *** – Paestum
Distance: 37/71 km. – Cycling time: 2,5/5 h. – Ascent & descent: +/- 130 m. / +/- 750 m.

Day 3
Today you will leave the Paestum plain for a first taste of the real Cilento. Your trip takes you on quiet roads through fragrant Mediterranean maquis and shady olive groves, up into the coastal hills above the town of Agropoli, through some dreamy medieval hamlets, and down again to the coastal villages of Santa Maria and San Marco di Castellabate. From here you continue along the coast in a southern direction. This is definitely one of the finest coastal rides in Italy, alternating wonderful views with charming seaside villages. You cycle past the headland of Punta Licosa, named after the nymph Leucosia, and then climb the ‘red hills’. After a flattish section you may then stop for a drink in Acciaroli, where, back in 1952, Ernest Hemingway spent some holidays and – some say – was inspired to write ‘The Old Man and the Sea’. After a last easy climb, you descend to the delightful little fishing village of Pioppi. Here you can visit the small Sea Life Museum dedicated to the local marine fauna and flora. Pioppi is also famous as the second home of the American professor Ancel Keys, father of the so-called Mediterranean Diet. A last short stretch brings you to Casalvelino Marina, where you will stay in a beautiful agriturismo for the next two nights. Tonight you’ll indulge in local specialties: the dinner you’ll have is completely based on the agriturismo’s own produce, prepared according to the best recipes.
Agriturismo – Marina di Casalvelino
Distance: 60 km. – Cycling time: 3,5 h. – Ascent & descent: +/- 740 m.

Day 4
Today’s trip starts with a long and winding climb up the southern slopes of Monte Stella, to the beautifully located old village of Acquavella, through olive groves and vineyards. The road continues uphill and, past the village of Stella Cilento, you reach Omignano. Once you have reached this village, the route becomes easier,  from here you’ll start the ‘Ring of Monte Stella’, a very panoramic tour with fantastic views in all directions, all around the ‘Mountain of the Sea’. This circuit touches several charming villages at more or less the same altitude (a transfer to either Stella Cilento or Omignano can be arranged). The easy road now passes through chestnut forests, opening up now and then to wonderful views over the inland Cilento, reaching as far as the Alburni and Cervati mountain ranges. Once you reach the northern edge of Mt. Stella, your views open up towards the Amalfi Coast and Capri. On clear days the view stretches even as far as the island of Stromboli in Sicily! Part of the tour goes through open landscapes, another part through the chestnut forests. You pass a number of nice medieval villages: Celso, Galdo, San Mauro, Stella Cilento, all worth a short stop. Their honest simplicity and quiet peace is best savoured from the local bar, with an Italian coffee at hand. At the end of the day you descend towards Pollica, and then along the coast back to Casalvelino. Or you can opt for a slightly longer route that takes you down to the fishing village of Acciaroli again, for a nice ‘aperitivo’ at the harbour, before doing the beautiful final stretch back to Casalvelino. After arriving here you can make a stop at the beach for a well-deserved relaxing swim. Another  great dinner awaits you on the premises of your beautiful agriturismo.
Agriturismo – Marina di Casalvelino
Distance: 58 km. – Cycling time: 5 h. – Ascent & descent: +/- 1020 m. (shorter options possible)

Day 5
Today is a relatively easy day, which will bring you along the panoramic coastal road to the southern part of the Cilento. The first few km. are like a warm-up ride through the coastal plain of the Alento River. Soon you reach the archaeological site of Velia, home to the Greek philosophers Zeno and Parmenides, and cradle of one of Europe’s most ancient schools of medicine. Amongst its remains one finds the celebrated ‘Porta Rosa’ (Pink Gate), one of the first examples of the use of the vault in Greek architecture. After a short visit you continue your ride, which now starts to go uphill, to reach the village of Ascea. The road now passes through fragrant Mediterranean maquis and centuries-old olive groves, all the while offering fantastic views over the sea. At about lunchtime you reach the medieval hilltop village of Pisciotta. Here you can enjoy a great lunch, overlooking the Mediterranean below. Luckily the ride after lunch is mostly downhill. Halfway through the afternoon you reach the headland of Capo Palinuro. This promontory, named after one of the helmsmen of the mythical hero Aeneas, is one of the most famous spots in the Cilento National Park. Its unique topography, made up of dazzlingly high rock cliffs full of sea grottos, amongst which is the stunning ‘Grotta Azzurra’, makes for a wonderful sight. You cycle to the little village of Palinuro and stop at the tiny port. Those who feel like it can make a short boat tour of the cape, visiting the caves!
Hotel*** – Palinuro
Distance: 42 km. – Cycling time: 2,5 h. – Ascent & descent: +/- 600 m. N.B. A longer tour will bring you inland along the beautiful villages of Ceraso, Santa Barbara and Rodio.

N.B.

Day 6
After an early breakfast, you start your cycling day with a wonderful stretch along the southern coast of the Cilento National Park. You arrive in the lovely coastal town of Marina di Camerota, where you can have a short biscuit stop. And then you start climbing! During this very scenic climb you enjoy an unparalleled view of one of the most unspoilt stretches of coastline in southern Italy, the ‘Costa degli Infreschi’, one of the most unspoilt stretch of coastline in southern Italy. You pass through the little hamlet of Lentiscosa, and continue to the amazingly located village of San Giovanni a Piro, beautifully located with spectacular views of the Gulf of Policastro on the one side and the impressive sheer cliffs of the mountain on the other. Here you can have lunch, either a picnic lunch at one of the most stunning places you’ve ever been to, or in a cosy little restaurant.

You then continue the tour all around the impressive Mt. Bulgheria. First with a short downhill section, and then ‘levelish’ through the villages of Bosco and Acquavena, keeping the impressive limestone crags of Monte Bulgheria to your left. After reaching the valley of the Mingardo River you can continue for a short visit to the charming village of Roccagloriosa, nestled on a rocky hill high above the valley floor. After a stroll and perhaps a drink in the village square, you continue downhill, alongside the river, towards the entrance of the impressive Mingardo canyon, dominated by the abandoned medieval village of San Severino. Through the Mingardo canyon you return to your hotel at Cape Palinuro.
Hotel*** – Palinuro
Distance: 57 km. – Cycling time: 5 h. – Ascent & descent: +/- 960 m.

Day 7 
Today you can sleep in for a bit and enjoy the scenery. After a leisurely breakfast you are brought to the train station from where you can take the train to Naples, Rome or to Salerno, the gateway to the Amalfi Coast. Those who have booked the Amalfi extension continue their tour from here.

Cilento Coast Cycling Tour

ACCOMMODATION & MEALS

All nights are spent in beautiful, characteristic hotels or agriturismo’s (generally 3-star). All rooms have en-suite facilities.

No picnic lunches are included in the tour price, but these can be prepared for you by the accommodation holders, or materials for picnics can be purchased in the villages where you stay.

INCLUSIONS

• 6 nights accommodation – BB/HB
• 2 nights in Hotel*** in Paestum – HB
• 2 nights in Agriturismo in Casalvelino – HB
• 2 nights in Hotel**** in Palinuro – BB
• Luggage transfer on day 3 & day 5
• Private transfers as specified
• Extensive route notes, with description of the route & tourist information
• Maps at 1 : 50.000 scale (or better)
• GPS waypoints & tracks
• 24/7 h assistance

 NOT INCLUDED

• Departure taxes & Visas
• Travel Insurance
• Drinks and meals not mentioned in the itinerary
• Optional additional tours or activities
• Items of personal nature
• Bicycle rental  (road racing bicycles or E-Bikes available on request)

Please note that bike rental is not included in our tour prices, offering you the possibility to bring your own bicycles. For those who wish to rent a bike we offer good quality bicycles at the best prices for the duration of the tour. You can have a look at our rental bikes here.

LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY

Moderately easy (2-3): Mostly moderately easy rides but with inevitably several climbs, only few of which are a bit more challenging. All roads are well paved and mostly quiet with little traffic except for some stretches near Paestum. Extensions or shortcuts are possible on some days.

Fitness: Some experience with bicycle touring and a good general physical condition will certainly make your travel experience more enjoyable. You should be able to cycle for several hours a day also in hot dry weather conditions.

ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE

Arrival: The tour starts in PAESTUM, which can easily be reached by train from either Naples or Salerno. A private transfer from the train station to your hotel is included. In case you arrive by private car, you can park your car here until the end of the tour. Naples has an international airport. From Rome (and many other cities) Naples and Salerno, and thus Marina di Camerota, can easily be reached.

Departure: The tour ends in PALINURO. A short transfer brings you to the train station.

Cilento Coast Biking Tour

EXTRA NIGHTS

It is possible to extend your tour with a few days at Salerno, along the beautiful Costiera Amalfitana or at Naples. Details and prices on request. Extra cycling and/or sightseeing options can be provided!

It is also possible to include extra nights in any of the accommodations ‘en route’, in order to ‘recover & relax along the way. Extra cycling and/or sightseeing options can be provided !

UPGRADE
It is possible to book an upgrade in some of the places en route. Details and prices on request.