Amalfi Coast + Cilento Bike Tour

Welcome to the sleepy seaside town of Maratea: take an early train down from Naples or spend a night at our beautiful pre-tour hotel. After a bike fitting, we’ll warm up our legs on a lovely piece of coastal road that rolls gently up and down south of town. Then it’s time for an incredible switchback climb to the ruins of old Maratea on a towering mountain peak—the road alone is an engineering marvel, but the views are the real draw as the rugged coastline of Calabria marches off into the distance. We’ve earned today’s lunch of handmade pasta at our friend Antonio’s out-of-the-way restaurant. The descent back to the coast is the cherry on top. Spend the afternoon at the hotel spa, pool, or private beachfront before we regroup for a seafood dinner as the sun sets into the Mediterranean.

• Meals: Lunch/ Dinner
• Destinations: Maratea, Massa, Monte San Biagio
• Ride: 24 miles / 38 km, elevation gain: 2,929 feet / 893 metres
• Shorter Option: 17 miles / 28 km, elevation gain: 2,624 feet / 800 metres
• Overnight: Santavenere

Today promises to be one of the most perfect days you’ll ever have on a bike, beginning with a premier stretch of coastal road. It’s soaring vistas, towering cliffs, and shimmering bays all the breathtaking way to Villamare, a laid-back beach town where we’ll stop for pastries and coffee at a café frequented by locals. Once we refuel, tackle a climb through silvery olive groves to San Giovanni, where the town’s Baroque steeple is silhouetted against the sea. Around the bend, the Mediterranean beckons as we cruise into the fishing village of Camerota. Opt to keep riding or transfer to Pisciotta and check into our next boutique hotel. Explore the village’s narrow maze of streets, join the locals for a spritz in the piazza, and head to dinner at a charming Cilentano restaurant nestled amidst the olive trees.

• Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
• Destinations: Villamare, San Giovanni a Piro, Marina di Camerota, Pisciotta
• Ride: 33 miles / 55 km, elevation gain: 3,280 feet / 1,000 metres
• Longer Option: 48 miles / 77 km, elevation gain: 4,904 feet / 1,495 metres
• Overnight: Marulivo

This morning, warm up your legs with a stunning stint of coastal riding—we’re headed to Acciaroli, the sleepy fishing village that inspired Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea.” There is truly no shortage of old men here: incredibly, 15% of the town’s inhabitants are over 100 years old. This longevity is attributed to the local Mediterranean diet, and we’ll have our own introduction to this nourishing fare at our friend’s tiny osteria—the proprietor Pasquale is a champion of Campania’s culinary traditions. Finish riding to UNESCO-listed Castellabate, a historic hill town that peers over the sea. There might even be a chance to hop in for a swim! Our home for the night is a seaside palazzo, and the surrounding town is full of excellent gelato and world-famous pizza, making it a great place to dine on your own this evening.

• Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
• Destinations: Acciaroli, Agnone, Castellabate
• Ride: 38 miles / 62 km, elevation gain: 3,657 feet / 1,115 metres
• Shorter Option: 30 miles / 49 km, elevation gain: 2,922 feet / 891 metres
• Overnight: Palazzo Belmonte

Tackle some new terrain today as we ride along the coastal ridges of the Cilento National Park, reaching a family farm at the edge of the Salerno Plain. This region is renowned for its buffalo mozzarella, and you can be sure we’ll sample our fair share of fresh cheese (plus other local fare) at a farm lunch. This afternoon takes us to the ruins of Paestum, some of the world’s best-preserved ancient Greek temples. Top it off with a private boat cruise across the Gulf of Salerno, passing the historic beach landings used to stage the Allied invasion here during World War II. The acclaimed Amalfi Coast awaits on the far side of the Gulf—we’ll anchor in the town of Amalfi itself and head up to our fantastic final hotel for a relaxed evening meal.

• Meals: Breakfast / Lunch/ Dinner
• Destinations: Perdifumo, Cicerale, Paestum, Amalfi
• Ride: 27 miles / 43 km, elevation gain: 2,142 feet / 653 metres
• Longer Option: 38 miles / 61 km, elevation gain: 4,323 feet / 1,318 metres
• Overnight: Monastero Santa Rosa

Today in Amalfi, we trade our bikes for a more timeless form of travel. Historically, this whole coastline was connected by a series of mule paths—some of the more isolated villages only received road access in the last 20 years—so there’s no better way to appreciate the beautiful Amalfi Coast than by foot. Hike Amalfi’s so-called Path of the Gods to a tiny village above Positano where our friend Luisa prepares a home-cooked lunch and invites us to pick fresh produce from her garden. Of course, the meal must end with a glass of homemade limoncello. Spend your last afternoon out and about in Positano or enjoy the spoils of the hotel before our final dinner together at the Michelin-starred Reffetorio ristorante.

• Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
• Destinations: Furore, Nocelle, Positano
• Activity: 3-5 hours hiking
• Overnight: Monastero Santa Rosa

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast before you head to your next destination. We suggest staying a few extra nights here in the Amalfi Coast or Capri, but if you have more adventures ahead our guides will transfer you to the train station in Naples.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Destinations: Naples