Overview
A seven day, self-guided cycling holiday, by e-bike, that starts and ends in the Renaissance town of Ferrara, and follows trails through the heart of the Po Delta’s UNESCO-listed wetlands. Ferrara Province proffers the prettiest of trails, crossing traditional pastoral landscapes, raised embankments across wetlands and waterfront towns and villages. Including Comacchio, sometimes called Little Venice, but definitely without the crowds. Another highlight is the narrow Argine degli Angeli cycling path through Valli di Comacchio lagoons. This part of Italy is a biodiversity hotspot, home to over 370 bird species, including iconic pink flamingos.
- Ferrara
- Delizie Estensi villas
- Ostellato
- Comacchio and Valli di Comacchio lagoons
- Pomposa Abbey
- Argenta
- Po Delta
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Ferrara
Arrive in Ferrara. The city is located in the Emilia-Romagna region and is known for the Renaissance layout of its streets and squares. Depending on time of arrival, we recommend exploring the historic centre with landmarks such as the moated fortress of Castello Estense.
- Accommodation: Hotel de Prati or similar in Ferrara
- Optional hotel upgrade: Hotel Annunziata or similar in Ferrara
Day 2: Ferrara – Ostellato | 38km
Collect your e-bikes in front of Estense Castle. Leaving Ferrara, the cycling holiday begins on a trail through a flat, pastoral landscape with poplar windbreaks and irrigation canals. Heading north-east towards Ostellato, the landscape gradually shifts into Valle del Mezzano, one of Italy’s largest wetlands. Along the way, the countryside that you cycle through is dotted with the majestic villas called Delizie Estensi, a symbol of the vast power of the D’Este family in the region during the Renaissance. Spend the night in Ostellato, in the heart of the lagoon-lands of Po Delta Regional Park, a place that’s definitely worth waking up to hear the dawn chorus.
- Cycling for the day: 38km, 3h, ↑23m ↓34m
- Accommodation: Sacripante or similar in the Ostellato area
Day 3: Ostellato – Comacchio | 62km
Cycle through Valli di Comacchio, a vast lagoon system in the Po Delta, where the trail clings to raised embankments that run straight through the water, with views on both sides. Flamingos, egrets and cormorants are commonly seen along the route. Rising 48 meters above the Po Delta flatlands, the bell tower of Pomposa Abbey is the only thing that stands out across the scenery. Arriving in Comacchio, the town features canals, arched bridges and colourful buildings reflected in the water.
- Cycling for the day: 62km, 5h 30mins, ↑53m ↓65m
- Accommodation: Ponticello Comacchio or similar in Comacchio
Day 4: Valli di Comacchio loop | 55km
Today’s cycling trail follows the perimeter of Valli di Comacchio, one of Europe’s largest coastal lagoon systems along raised embankment roads. The terrain is flat, passing through areas of open landscape, reed beds and stretches with water on either side. The cycling trail then crosses the Argine degli Angeli, a narrow gravel embankment through the lagoon, before returning to Comacchio.
- Cycling for the day: 55km, 4h 30mins, ↑25m ↓25m
- Accommodation: Ponticello Comacchio or similar in Comacchio
Day 5: Comacchio – Argenta | 45km
Leaving Comacchio, head west through a peaceful rural landscape, where roads are straight, lined with traditional drainage ditches, and there are a few villages along the way. The village of Longastrino offers a convenient stop with a bar on its main square – perfect for a quick espresso break. The route continues to Argenta, a riverfront town dating back to Roman times, surrounded by one of the largest freshwater wetlands of Italy. The nearby marshes are a real treat for bird-watching and an important destination for any nature lover.
- Cycling for the day: 45km, 4h, ↑19m ↓14m
- Accommodation: Agrilocanda Val Campotto or similar in Argenta
Day 6: Argenta – Ferrara | 45km
Heading north-west along quiet cycling paths and rural roads, the landscape changes from delta terrain to more typical Ferrara farming terrain, with broader fields, larger farmhouses and canals. Ferrara’s skyline gradually appears in the distance, with landmarks such as Castello Estense, the cathedral tower and the city walls. The route passes through one of the city gates and returns to the starting point, completing this Ferrara Province cycling holiday loop.
- Cycling for the day: 45km, 4h, ↑40m ↓39m
- Accommodation: Hotel de Prati or similar in Ferrara
- Optional hotel upgrade: Hotel Annunziata or similar in Ferrara
Day 7: Departure
Departure after breakfast.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation includes agriturismos, small family-owned B&Bs and well-established hotels. They have been carefully selected based on various criteria, including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food, and commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms.
Click to view sample hotels
- Hotel de Prati (Ferrara)
- Sacripante (Ostellato)
- Ponticello Comacchio (Comacchio)
- Agrilocanda Val Campotto (Argenta)
Accommodation is subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel or guesthouse being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Click to view upgraded hotels
- Hotel Annunziata (Ferrara)
Accommodation is subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel or guesthouse being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included on all days. When no restaurant location is available en route, lunches and snacks can either be bought from local shops or packed lunches can be pre-ordered from your hotel the night before. Dinner is available either at the accommodation or from restaurants in the local area.
Difficulty and terrain
This tour is rated easy to moderate and is suitable for cyclists with a basic level of fitness, with most days offering 3-6h of cycling. The routes cover a variety of terrain, including dirt roads, gravel and asphalt.(read more about difficulty grades). Previous experience with e-bikes is strongly suggested.
We strongly advise you only to follow marked trails and never try to shorten the path through unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed route notes and maps and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime.
More detailed information on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This trip is available from April to October.
The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates and you can start your trip on any date within the season.
The Emilia-Romagna region generally experiences mild to warm weather. Spring and autumn temperatures range between 10–20C, with occasional rain. Summer temperatures typically range between 30–35C, with plenty of sunshine, so it’s advisable to start cycling early to avoid the midday heat. There is little to no shade throughout the tour, except for Day 6, which is shaded for most of its length.
For more information please read our Best time to go to Italy blog.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended airport for this tour is Bologna Airport (BLQ)
By train or bus
- If you are able to travel to Italy without flying, this holiday is reachable by rail, with a train station in Ferrara. For more details, see the national rail operator Trenitalia, or use the Omio planner above
- From Bologna Airport, take the Marconi Express bus (15mins) to Bologna railway station, where you can take a train to Ferrara (1h). For more details, see the national rail operator Trenitalia, or use the Omio planner above. Once in Ferrara, you can walk (10-15mins) to your accommodation
- Transfers: private transfers to and from the airport can be arranged on request
Inclusions
Included
- 6 nights accommodation
- 6 breakfasts
- Daily luggage transfers (one piece per person, max 15kg)
- Digital tour materials: detailed roadbook including maps a navigation app for smartphones and GPS tracks. Please note that no printed documents will be provided on-site.
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- International flights and land transfers
- Lunches and dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Additional travel-related changes in the programme due to bad weather
- Entrance fees for attractions and museums
- E-bike rental
- Personal expenses
- Any items not specifically mentioned as included in the programme
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- This holiday is available for solo travellers. However, a supplement will be charged as the cost of rooms and also luggage or private transfers (when applicable) is not shared. Please note that solo travellers are always accommodated in their own room. For logistical reasons, we don’t offer an option for solo travellers to share rooms with other solo travellers.
- E-bike rental
- Hotel upgrades in Ferrara
- Airport transfers from any major airport in the area on request
- Local private transfers
E-bike rental
All e-bikes come with a repair kit and bottle cages. Pedals are free of charge. It is highly recommended that you bring a spare bike phone holder specifically designed for your device, as this will be crucial for your tour.
XP City SUV
- Model: full carbon frame and full suspension (160mm front and rear)
- Engine: XP motor with a 720Wh battery
- Brakes: hydraulic disc brakes
- Additional features: the bike is equipped with a dropper post and tubeless tires
- Transmission: Shimano Altus M370, 1×9 speed groupset
Sample picture shown above, please note that the exact models may differ depending on availability, but the standard will be the same.
