Overview
The Sorrentine peninsula, situated between Naples and Salerno’s scenic bays, is an area of staggering natural beauty scattered with many cultural treasures. Best known for its medieval coastal towns and inland villages such as Amalfi, Positano, Ravello and the resort town Sorrento, it is also home to a good amount of hidden gems: small nature reserves, ancient paper mills and wild mountain scenery located only a small distance away from the busy touristy centres.
- Atrani
- Amalfi
- Ravello
- Praiano
- Positano
As the best coastal scenery is on the southern side of the peninsula, we are happy to invite you an exciting cycling adventure along the Costiera Amalfitana. This tour allows you to discover both the popular and the quiet, but no less spectacular, side of the Amalfi Coast. You will start from the little fishermen’s village of Vietri at the south end of the coast and cycle in the western direction towards the very tip of the peninsula, Punta Campanella, taking in all the famous villages – Atrani, Amalfi, Positano, Ravello and Praiano.
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Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Cetara/Vietri I 10km
You arrive at Vietri or in Cetara on your own. In case you have rented a bike, it will be waiting for you at your hotel, and depending on your arrival time you will have the opportunity to go for a short ride to the nearby fishermen’s village of Cetarasul Mare. In the evening you may go for a stroll through the small village’s historical centre, situated at walking distance of your accommodation.
- Cycling for the day (optional): 10km, approx. 1.5h, ↑180m ↓180m
- Accommodation: Hotel la Lucertola or similar in Vietri (if the accommodation in Vietri is not available, you may overnight in Salerno)
Day 2: Cetara/Vietri to Amalfi I 25-35km
On the first day of your trip, you cycle towards the splendid medieval town of Amalfi on one of Italy’s most scenic coastal roads. In case you did not visit it the day before, you can stop at the idyllic village of Cetara, where you can enjoy a cup of coffee or a cappuccino at the little bar near the tiny port of the village, overlooking the colourful fishermen’s boats lying on the white sandy beach. You continue to Capo d’Orso, the highest point of the road that will reveal you the whole of the Amalfi Coast and Capri. You continue cycling down the beautiful winding road through lemon groves, forests and dramatic cliffs until you arrive at Maiori. You soon reach Minori, with its nice little centre and beautiful seaside boulevard, and continue uphill towards Castiglione, where you have the choice of cycling up to marvellous Ravello or continuing to Amalfi where you can leave your bicycles at the hotel and then take a bus to Ravello. Once you arrive at Amalfi, you have some time to rest until the evening, when a private boat will bring you to a nice restaurant located in a beautiful little bay nearby.
- Cycling for the day: 25-35km, approx. 2,5 – 3,5h, ↑300m – 350m ↓550m – 600m
- Accommodation: Hotel Lidomare or similar in Amalfi
Day 3: Amalfi to Sant’Agata sui Due Golfi via Positano I 32km
Today you will explore the second half of the marvellous Strada Amalfitana: from Amalfi to the town of Sant’Agata sui Due Golfi, located on the very ridge of the peninsula and offering wide views of both the Amalfitan and Sorrentinian coasts. As you arrive at Positano, make sure you cycle down into the town towards its beach from where you can explore its scenic and colourful alleyways on foot. After Positano, the coast becomes wilder and more rugged. 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. A short flat stretch brings you to your hotel at Sant’Agata sui Due Golfi. After settling in at the agriturismo, you can relax and enjoy a hearty meal in the hotel’s restaurant.
- Cycling for the day: 32km, approx. 3h, ↑850m ↓600m
- Accommodation: Le Tore Farm House in Sant’Agata
Day 4: Sant’Agata along Sorrento to Positano I 37-48km
On the first stretch of the road after leaving your hotel this morning, you can admire not only the wonderful panorama over the coast towards Capri but also enjoy the view of the plain stretching out towards Naples dominated by Mount Vesuvius. You cycle on the plateau high above the coast towards the very end of the peninsula, Punta Campanella, where you can get a great view of Capri. There is an option to descend towards the delightful beach of Marina del Cantone and then cycle back. You then return along the northern coast through the charming village of Massa Lubrense, enjoying the wonderful views of the Bay of Naples and again Mount Vesuvius. As you get on this stretch, there is an option to make a detour to the seaside resort of Sorrento, perched on high vertical limestone cliffs above the sea. Alternatively, you turn inland again shortly before reaching Sorrento and climb slowly up to Sant’Agata sui Due Golfi again. From Sant’Agata it is then only a short flat ride to the Colle di San Pietro, and then all the way down again to Positano. Once you arrive at your Positano hotel, you can relax and settle in before heading into town for dinner. Dinner is on your own tonight; you have the choice of several different pizzeria and restaurants catering for the most diverse budgets.
- Cycling for the day: 37 – 48km, approx. 3,5 – 4,5h, ↑400m – 450m ↓700m – 600m
- Accommodation: Hotel Villa delle Palme or similar in Positano
Day 5: Positano to Salerno I 40km
During your last day, you head back in the opposite direction from Positano to Salerno. Take your time for a last look at the Duomo of Amalfi, stop for a coffee in Atrani’s marvellous town square, have a pastry at one of Minori’s bakeries or stop for a cold drink on a terrace overlooking Maiori’s ample seaside boulevard. After arriving at Salerno, you may park your bikes and explore the city by climbing up to the medieval castle overlooking it or visiting its surprising botanical gardens. In the evening, you are free to go out and find a suitable restaurant to end your wonderful trip through one of Italy’s most delightful coastal areas.
- Cycling for the day: 40km, approx. 3,5h, ↑700m ↓750m
- Accommodation: Hotel Plaza or similar in Salerno
Day 6: Departure
Departure on your own after breakfast or extension of the tour upon request
What to expect
Accommodation
The accommodation is in nice 3-star hotels, agriturismi* and comfortable B&Bs. All rooms are private and with en-suite facilities.
Click to view default hotels
- Hotel Lidomare (Amalfi)
- Le Tore Farm House (Sant’Agata)
- Hotel Villa delle Palme (Positano)
- Hotel Plaza (Salerno)
*What is an agriturismo? A combination of the words for “agriculture” and “tourism” in Italian — It is a farm-stay, but it’s also much, much more. Typically, an agriturismo is an independently-owned farm that the owners have decided to use partially for accommodation purposes, in a way similar to English or American bed and breakfasts. One of the best parts of staying in a traditional agriturismo? The food. An Italian agriturismo will usually serve guests food that was prepared from raw materials – vegetables, fruit, eggs, meat, and often wine and olive oil – produced on the farm or from other local merchants.
**Hotels are subject to availability. In case a particular hotel is fully booked for your desired 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 every day. Dinners are included for 3 nights. No picnic lunches are included in the tour price, but these can be prepared for you by the accommodation holders, or products for picnics can be purchased in the villages where you stay. On some days, you have the option of having your lunch in a restaurant along the way. There are plenty of options where you can have your dinners in Positano and Salerno; you can also choose to eat at the hotel’s premises.
Difficulty and terrain
The cycling sections are not long; however, there are some steep climbs on the way so a good general physical condition is necessary for enjoying the trip to the maximum. You should be able to cycle for several hours a day also in hot dry weather conditions. All roads are well paved and mostly quiet with limited traffic except for some periods during summer and holidays. Average cycling time: approx. 3 – 5h each day as extensions are possible on most of the sections (read more about difficulty grades). Upon arrival, we will provide you with detailed road notes and maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed info on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This trip is available from the beginning of March until mid-November; you can start on any day of the week; the period 1-18 August 2023 is sold out. Late spring, the whole summer and early autumn are beautiful on the Amalfi coast. It may become scorching in July and August, and some of the resort towns may become overcrowded in these months, although the trails along the mountain slopes above the coast are far from the tourist crush. The best time to see the Amalfi Coast is from April to June when the spring flowers are in bloom, the weather is just warm enough, and the Mediterranean temperature allows for the first dips of the season. September and October and early November, are also an excellent time to visit the Amalfi Coast, while the temperatures are still mild.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended arrival airport for this holiday is Naples. Other Italian airports are also well-connected to the area.
By train or bus
The tour starts in Cetara/Vietri, only a few kilometres from Salerno which can easily be reached by train from Naples or Rome. From Salerno, there are regular buses to Cetara/Vietri. The tour ends after breakfast on day 6 in Salerno, from where you can take the train for your way back.
Inclusions
Included
- Detailed pre-departure holiday information pack including GPS-checked and regularly updated route descriptions, road notes and maps – all delivered on the spot (1 set per room)
- 5 breakfasts and 3 dinners (Days 1-3)
- 5 nights in private ensuite rooms
- Luggage transfers on all cycling days – 1 piece per person up to 20kg (65 x 50 x 40cm). The driver may refuse to take your luggage if heavier, larger and more than one piece. It is NOT allowed to tie any bag or other object to the luggage!
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative in Salerno
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Lunches, 2 dinners, drinks and snacks
- Additional luggage
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist tax and entrance fees (payable on the spot)
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
Options, extras and supplements
- Supplement applies to members of a group who require a single room / single use of a double room
- This holiday is available for solo travellers; a supplement will be charged as accommodation and luggage transfer costs are not shared (we never mix and match – solo travellers will be accommodated in single rooms)
- Bike rental: hybrid bikes or e-bikes for 5 days – bikes are delivered in the afternoon on day 1
- Private airport transfers
- Extra nights
- Welcome meeting at the first hotel – on request and with a supplement
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