Itinerary Include flights Expand all Polignano a Mare to Sorrento Day 1 Fly to Bari and transfer to the picturesque coastal town of Polignano a Mare. Fly to Bari and transfer to the picturesque coastal town of Polignano a Mare. Depending on the group arrival, there might be time for a relaxing stroll through the town's narrow alleys along the sea shore. We strongly recommend arriving a day or two early to visit some of the other region's jewels including the UNESCO Alberobello or Ostuni. Day 2 Ride through fields and ancient olive groves to the amazing UNESCO city of Matera. Today we start cycling from the coast and go inland, heading for one of the most fascinating cities of southern Italy, Matera. A first warm-up climb brings us onto a large rolling plateau, where we will be pedalling through fields of fennel and ancient olive groves. We pass several nice small Apullian villages along the route, where we stop to regroup, take a coffee or simply for a rest. As we cross into the region of Basilicata for the last part of the route, we cycle through open fields and partly along the Appia Antica, the ancient Roman Road. We should reach the UNESCO listed town of Matera in the afternoon with some time for a relaxing stroll in the historic ‘Sassi’ district and for an Italian 'aperitivo' in one of the beautiful squares. You are free to choose from the wide selection of restaurants and pizzerias for your evening meal however the leader may suggest a group meal for those interested. Meals included: Breakfast Day 3 Challenging ride into the heart of Baslicata to the secret jewel of Castelmezzano, a village perched on top of the so called Dolomites of the South. Today will be our longest ride but the destination will be more than worth the effort! We start with an easy downhill section through the fields, towards the Lake of St. Giuliano. We then follow an old road along a ridge, encountering a number of beautiful historic villages, like Tricarico, an old Byzantine capital and Grassano, before arriving in sight of the stunning Lucan Dolomites as known as the 'Dolomites of the South'. We make a great downhill ride just before having to gather some strength for the challenging but rewarding steep climb up to the beautiful village of Castelmezzano, clinged to the mountains' sandstone rocks. The support vehicle will be availble for those who prefer to skip this last ascent. Castelmezzano, rated as one of the prettiest villages in Italy, is very remote and set in a breathtaking location with stunning mountain views - a perfect quiet retreat after today's long ride. A short walk through the village and up to the Norman steps is a must, before we enjoy a delicious hoemade meal at our hotel's restaurant. Overnight in Castelmezzano. Meals included: Breakfast Dinner Day 4 Cross the border into Campania by bike and reach Montesano Today we are heading west into the Campania region. In the morning we cross the National Park of the Basilicata Apennines, a sparsely populated wilderness area featuring stunning mountain scenery and pleasant villages where time seems to have stood still. Towards the end of the afternoon, after a last challenging climb, we’ll reach the top of the ridge between Basilicata and the Campania region. From here we will be cycling all the way down into the Vallo di Diano, a fertile highplain with several beautiful medieval towns. We settle in the beautiiful hilltop village of Montesano sulla Marcellana. Meals included: Breakfast Dinner Day 5 Ride to the lovely village of Corleto Sant'Angelo and spend a night in a family-run agriturismo with pool. Today's ride is relatively short, thus allowing time for some sightseeing. We first cycle all the way down to Padula, where we recommend paying a morning visit to the Padula Charterhouse, the largest monastery in Italy and UNESCO heritage site. After the visit we get on our bikes again and cycle into the heart of the Cilento National Park. First we follow a nice, mainly flat, route through the Vallo di Diano and continue with a climb up the beautiful ‘Sentinella’ pass (932m), which winds up high above the plain. The last part of the route is a nice descent into the Cilento National Park, where we settle in homely agriturismo with pool. If we arrive on time there we can have a great lunch, after which we can relax on the grounds or go for a short optional ride to nearby Roscigno, the Pompeii of the 19th century. Tonight we dine on great local specialties prepared with organic produce. Meals included: Breakfast Dinner Day 6 Cycle all the way to the coastal town of Paestum in Campania; visit the famous Greek temple. Today we ride a great route in the shadow of the Alburni Mountains making our way down to the Tyrrhenian Sea. Early in the afternoon we’ll arrive at the fantastic Greek Temples of Paestum. Our hotel is just a few hundred meters from here so we have the time to visit the impressive archaeological site. Alternatively, you could opt to relax at the swimming pool. The sea is only a few minutes away by bike so those who whish can also enjoy a refreshing late afternoon swim. Tonight we’ll eat on the premises of the hotel. Meals included: Breakfast Dinner Day 7 Train ride to Salerno; ride one of the most spectacular coastal roads in the world all the way to Sorrento via Amalfi. We start the day with an early train ride to Salerno. Here we get on our bikes and begin our final ride along one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in Italy: the stunning Amalfi Coast. After a short climb up to Vietri, we follow the undulating coastal route to Cetara and continue uphill to the dramatic viewpoint of Capo d’Orso. We then head towards Amalfi itself, where we have time for a short stop and stroll. In the afternoon we ride past Positano, and cross the ridge to then wind down to the nice resort town of Sorrento. Here we can toast to our accomplishment, perhaps with a drink or two down at the beach and a dive into the Bay of Naples, in sight of Mt. Vesuvius. Those who wish can opt for a stroll in the historic centre, or perhaps just a few hours of relaxation. In the evening we all gather together for a last great evening meal (optional). Meals included: Breakfast Day 8 Transfer to Naples and fly to London. Meals included: Breakfast
Italy No visa required for British passport holders. Please note in Italy it is compulsory to carry ID with you at all times. For further Brexit travel advice please visit https://www.abta.com/tips-and-advice/brexit-advice-for-travellers
Hotels and Agriturismo We spend 6 nights in different 3 and 4-star hotels with en suite facilities and one night in a traditional 'agriturismo' - a beautifully converted farmhouse in the Cilento National Park. The hotels have been chosen for their warm hospitality and their typical Italian character. Some hotels have a swimming pool or a beach nearby which will be greatly appreciated in summer. Most of the hotels have restaurants serving typical regional cuisine and delicious local produce. List of hotels normally used: Hotel Covo Dei Saraceni - Polignano Hotel Italia - Matera Becco Della Civetta - Castelmezzano Hotel Palazzo Cestari - Montesano Agriturismo Villa Vea - Bellosguardo Hotel Villa Rita - Paestum Hotel Ulisse Deluxe - Sorrento
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Reviewed July 2019 stephen earnshaw Trip: Italy Coast to Coast Ride: Puglia to Sorrento Coast to coast A superb and demanding trip that warranted its challenging status. It was good to be in a largish “peleton” of 14 riders of variable ages and abilities with a 50/50 gender balance. We cycled through very rustic and hilly terrain and visited fascinating towns and villages across S Italy. All of the hotels were good with delightful food and drink to enjoy. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The descent to the West coast at Paestum- a great sense of achievement as we gazed at the Remains of a Greek temple to Poseidon. What did you think of your group leader? Allesandro and Raphael proved to be an excellent pairing - helpful, cheerful and very hard - working . They did everything to make the tour go smoothly. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? The route is tough especially in June when temperatures exceed 30 c everyday. Be prepared to do long climbs in high temperatures. However there is a huge sense of satisfaction and the descents are great fun . Is there anything else you would like to add? Scrap the section from Salerno to Sorrento- the roads are far to busy to make cycling safe and enjoyable . In addition The Amalfi Coast is very expensive albeit very scenic. Modify the route with another dogleg in the hills so that day six completes the coast to coast at Pasteum!
Reviewed September 2018 Simon Wilkins Trip: Italy Coast to Coast Ride: Puglia to Sorrento Italy: Coast-to-coast ride: Puglia to Sorrento A really well-run trip which goes through beautiful Italian countryside and visits spectacular towns and villages along the way. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? There were many: staying in the spectacular village of Castelmezzano in Basilicata in the Dolomites of the South; cycling through the stunning mountain countryside of Basilicata, exploring Polignano a Mare in Puglia and Matera in Basilicata at night; the ascent out of Castelmezzano through wooded hills; the Amalfi Coast (beautiful in spite of being very busy); the great food (a really excellent range of options whether you are a meat-eater or vegetarian). What did you think of your group leader? Paolo was an extremely professional and able leader (and a really good cyclist). He kept a large group of cyclists safe and happy through a week of quite challenging cycling. He knew the route very well and knew when to stop for water and snacks and to appreciate a good view. He was passionate about the countryside and had a good knowledge of it, too. Equally important was Raffaele, who worked really hard providing vehicle support, bike maintenance and repairs and food and water all along the trip. Raffaele was up early in the morning making sure the bikes were all in tip-top condition and making sure that everyone was taken care of. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? You need to be quite fit to go on this trip as there are some quite long ascents - so it's worth doing some training prior to the trip. The vehicle support on this trip is very good and consequently you can travel light (the standard bikes come with a handlebar bag only) - but always keep some water with you and and extra layer or two in case you cool down after stopping and then have a long descent. Is there anything else you would like to add? A really worthwhile trip if you want both challenging cycling and to see a wide variety of stunning Italian countryside and spectacular towns.
Reviewed September 2018 Kim Sartorius Faulkner Trip: Italy Coast to Coast Ride: Puglia to Sorrento Coast to coast italy Great food, great scenery, great company What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The downhills! What did you think of your group leader? He was very knowledgeable and a great athlete. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Get in shape, get some hours on the bike before hand, protect yourself from saddle sores and enjoy the ride Is there anything else you would like to add? Gearing on the road bikes should be changed for the terrain, it was difficult doing all the climbing with a standard chainset.
Reviewed June 2018 Anne Ferguson Trip: Italy Coast to Coast Ride: Puglia to Sorrento Italy coast to coast cycle Excellent trip. A brilliant holiday. Lovely scenery. Good hotels. Lovely food. Guide and support brilliant. Challenging but really enjoyable cycle. Good level of fitness needed as described in tour description. Lovely supportive group of people What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? All great What did you think of your group leader? Really excellent. Keen to tell us about local history and landmarks. Supportive. Excellent advice re route, road, potential hazards etc Do you have any advice for potential travellers? As expected weather hot but excellent support re water, nutrition on route etc. We stayed on in Sorrento for a few days after. Bus service very good. I would recommend this trip Challenging, trip notes accurate re standard of fitness needed We travelled from Manchester, stayed overnight in Brindisi and then got the train, which worked well Is there anything else you would like to add? I would rather you just used my initials than full name
Reviewed June 2018 Charlotte LAWLEDGE Trip: Italy Coast to Coast Ride: Puglia to Sorrento Challenging and rewarding trip This is a new trip for Exodus , going from from Polignano ,on the East of Italy ,across the Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park ,up the Amalfi coast to Sorrento . The scenery changes every day and it was a well thought out route along mostly quiet roads . I was glad I had not taken my bike as some of the Italian roads were rough, and the bikes that were provided as part of the trip were well chosen for this route . The group was led by Paolo and the mechanic was Raphael and they were both just wonderful and so well organised. Paolo has a real passion for cycling and takes a huge amount of pleasure in showing people his lovely country .We got to see some iconic sites as part of the trip. I forgot to bring my Garmin mount for the bike and I happened to mention it to Raphael and the second day one magically appeared on the handlebars of my bike! Nothing was too much effort. The trip ran without a hitch from start to finish. The accommodation was basic but good and food was plentiful and catered for a vegan in our group and me who is vegetarian ,with no problem. The grade is challenging and I would say that this was a fair assessment of the trip. You need to be good at hills on this trip as there are several long steep passes to go over and some sections are on a gradient of 10 and 12 %, so make sure you are hill ready before you go! I extended my trip by 3 days and I was so glad I had . I went to Capri, Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius and spent one day mouching around Sorrento . This is my second trip with exodus and it wont be my last! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? cycling along the Amalfi Coast. What did you think of your group leader? Paolo was just fantastic. Really good spoken Engligh, Incredibly well organised and charming to spend time with. Really passionate about his work and Italy as a country. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Take SPD pedals if you have them. Do some hill work before you travel ....... Is there anything else you would like to add? Only that I really enjoyed this trip and Palo and Rapheal were in no small part the reason why . Well done to them They should be nominated as part of your awards scheme
Reviewed May 2018 Ginny Noble Trip: Italy Coast to Coast Ride: Puglia to Sorrento Marvellous! This is a great trip to do for those of reasonable fitness and those who enjoy a challenge, magnificent scenery and eating lots of delicious food. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Making it to the top of each one of the hills and wheezing down the other side and all whilst chatting and laughing with great people on the trip. What did you think of your group leader? Paolo Longo couldn't have done anything more to make our holiday easier or more pleasant. He was very knowledgeable, encouraging, supportive and a great laugh. We thoroughly enjoyed his company. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? If you are travelling on the earlier or later trips in the year, it is really important to remember to take wet weather gear. Even though in was warm to hot during May, we did have one cold day and it rained hard. Is there anything else you would like to add? Hope you enjoy it as much as we did!
Reviewed May 2017 Martin Williamson Trip: Italy Coast to Coast Ride: Puglia to Sorrento A top way to see Southern Italy This is a challenging ride but it is a fantastic way to see and experience Southern Italy in the company of a great and knowledgeable guide. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The very different terrains that we went through and the food we were able to experience. Apart from the great scenery we travelled through the Greek ruins in Paestum were great to walk around and the cave dwellings in Sasso at Matera were very interesting. The vast monastery at Padula was well worth visiting and gave us time away from the bikes. Going in May meant that the wild flowers were at their best. What did you think of your group leader? Our group leader was very keen to show us the countryside and to help us savour the food of the area so he organised some great meals for us along the way. He was well supported by the mechanics who followed the ride and they ensured that the bikes were in good condition throughout the trip. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? The distances may not look very long but after the first day it becomes more challenging with long climbs. However they are all great fun and you see some fantastic scenery. There was a great array of food at all the stops so this is not a trip if you are trying to loose weight! Is there anything else you would like to add? All the hotels used were comfortable and of good quality. We had a great time and enjoyed it all!
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