Cycling in Italy - Cilento to the Amalfi Coast

Arriving at Naples Airport (NAP), we provide two separate transfers to our hotel in San Severino, one at 11 am and one in the evening at 6 pm. The drive usually takes around two and a half hours.

San Severino is a small village located in Cilento National Park at the foot of Monte Bulgheria. Still largely off the tourist radar Cilento NP is the second largest in Italy and its isolated location has left the beautiful countryside unspoilt and local traditions preserved. Over the next few days we will explore by bike the rugged coastline and pine-forested mountainous interior dotted with historic villages.

The hotel has an outdoor pool that is usually open from June to October but can vary depending on weather conditions each year. It is possible to arrange a vehicle to the beach of Palinuro through reception; cost varies according to number of passengers. Another option for free time this afternoon is to visit the village of San Severino - a 2 km / 1.25 miles walk or taxi ride from the hotel.

The Tour Leader will arrive in the evening and the introductory briefing to the whole group will happen on day 2 straight after breakfast at 8 am.

No cycling today. Stay: Borgo Antico Hotel (Comfortable)

After breakfast we spend some time getting comfortable with our bikes and making any necessary adjustments. The first ride starts off by heading around the foot of Mt. Bulgheria, towards the village of San Giovanni a Piro. We then climb up to the grassy plateau of Ciolandrea where we gain terrific coastal views looking south. A very scenic downhill section then leads us to picturesque fishing village of Marina di Camerota. After a break for ice cream we cycle inland again, climbing up to Camerota village. The final part of today's ride is along the Mingardo river canyon back to San Severino. Please note that there is the option to ride in a support vehicle today for 6kilometre/3.7 miles of the climb, thus avoiding 300 metre/985 feet of ascent from Marina di Camerota to Camerota.

Our total cycling distance today is approximately 54 kilometres/33.5 miles (1100 metres/680 miles total accumulated ascent and descent). Stay: Borgo Antico Hotel (Comfortable) (B)

Today we leave San Severino behind and ride north through this land of myth and legend. Our route leads us firstly to the coastal village of Palinuro, named after the helmsman of Virgil's Aeneid who fell overboard. We continue along the jagged coastline to the medieval village of Pisciotta, picturesquely situated with commanding views along the coast. The tiny port of Marina di Pisciotta has kept centuries-old fishing techniques alive, using the moon and the stars to determine where the anchovies will surface. We plan to break here for lunch before continuing along the coastal road past olive groves and Mediterranean macchia or shrubland. Finally we descend to the tranquil coastal village of Marina di Ascea and our hotel where we spend the next two nights.

Our total cycling distance today is approximately 40 kilometres/25 miles (700 metres/2300 feet total accumulated ascent and 800 metres/2625 feet descent). Stay: Victoria Resort (Premium) (B/L/D)

We start the day firstly riding uphill along the slopes of Monte Stella past vineyards and olive groves to reach Pollica village. From here the undulating road passes inland through chestnut forests and wide-open areas with superb views over the surrounding mountains and the bay below. We pass through a number of charming villages and will no doubt stop in one or two for a rest, lunch and perhaps a coffee. The last part of the ride descends to the coastal plains where we find the archaeological site of Velia. The ancient ruins of the Hellenistic town of Elea, founded in 540 BC, are much less intact than Paestum and this port town was once home to one of the Eleatic school of philosophy. We have included the entrance ticket but for those who prefer to relax at the hotel it is short ride back.

Our total cycling distance today is approximately 48 kilometres/29.7 miles (720 metres/2360 feet total accumulated ascent and descent). Stay: Victoria Resort (Premium) (B/D)

We leave Marina di Ascea this morning and continue our cycle journey north following the coast to Agropoli. We pass through the small fishing village of Pioppi and later visit Acciaroli - a favourite of Ernest Hemmingway who came here in 1952 after he'd completed his novel The Old Man and the Sea, passing time in the café-bars along the seafront promenade. Later we ride along Punta Licosa peninsula through more Mediterranean shrub lands and often on gravel tracks, where we end up at a local vineyard to learn about local wine production and to sample some wines. The local grapes of Fiano (white) and Aglianico (red) were originally introduced by the Greeks and are still used today to produce some of the excellent Cilento wines. Finally we cycle around Punta Tresino to reach our final stop, and base for the next two nights, in Agropoli.

Our total cycling distance today is approximately 60 kilometres/37.2 miles (850 metres/2790 feet total accumulated ascent and 780 metres/2560 feet descent). Stay: Hotel Mare (Comfortable) (B)

After breakfast this morning we start our final cycle ride. We cycle north from Agropoli through a slightly more built up environment now that we are outside of the National Park and after 12 kilometres/7.4 miles we reach Paestum. Ancient Paestum (originally founded as Poseidonia in the 7th century BC) boasts some of the best-preserved Greek temples in Europe and we have planned a guided visit to make the most of this wonderful UNESCO site and museum. It was colonised by the Romans in 273 BC but later abandoned for centuries, which helped its preservation, and rediscovered in the 1740 amid thick forest, after which it was firmly established on the Grand Tour and writers, poets and artists from Goethe to Shelley flocked here for inspiration. Highlights include the 'Diver Tomb' fresco - a rare example of Greek funeral painting. After our visit we cycle south back through the Piana del Sele - a vast plain south of Salerno where most of the region's buffalo graze. We will stop at a local mozzarella di bufala farm to learn about the cheese and have a taste before cycling back to the hotel. The afternoon is left free for you to explore the old town of Agropoli, relax on the beach or cycle into the hills for an optional self-guided loop ride (25 kilometre/15.5 miles , +/-500 metre/1640 feet).

Our total cycling distance today is approximately 25 kilometres/15.5 miles (150 metres/500 feet total accumulated ascent and descent) with a further optional 25 km/15.5 miles. Stay: Hotel Mare (Comfortable) (B)

Leaving Agropoli after breakfast we drive north along the stunningly beautiful Amalfi Coast corniche road to Sambuco. We leave our bikes behind for a change and stretch our legs on a short hike along a section of the Sentiero dei Limoni (Path of the Lemons), an ancient scenic trail among the lemon groves with stunning sea views, connecting the settlements of Maiori and Minori. The two-and-a half kilometre hike is expected to take around an hour. Along the trail we'll call in on a local lemon grower where lemon juice and the famous limoncello liqueur are made.

In the afternoon your time is left free to explore. The popular coastal towns of both Amalfi and Positano can be reached by public ferry and your tour leader will be able to help with information on the current timetable. A poor fishing village until the 1950s, Positano has grown into a chic town and is understandably a tourist hot spot. The stunning harbour town of Amalfi reached its pinnacle during the Middle Ages, when it vied with Venice, Pisa and Genoa as an one of Italy's great Maritime Republics. You may choose to look around the impressive Duomo di Sant Andrea (St Andrew's cathedral), with its remarkable bronze doors and baroque interior dating back to the 11th century. The beautifully restored ancient Roman basilica is another highlight. Please note that the ferry may occassionally be cancelled due to weather conditions, in which case you can travel by local bus. No cycling. Today's leisurely-graded walk will take approximately two hours and will cover a distance of 6 kilometres/3.7 miles. Stay: Hotel Miramare (Comfortable) (B)

The trip ends today at Naples International Airport (NAP). Two transfers are provided today from our hotel on the Amalfi Coast. The first is timed to arrive at the airport at 8 am. If you wish to join this transfer the earliest time your flight can depart is 10 am. The second transfer is timed to arrive at the airport at 4 pm and the earliest time your flight can depart is 6 pm. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel.

Arrivederci Campania! (B)