Nice-Pisa; Liguria & CinqueTerre Itinerary Highlights
UPDATES COMING MID-NOVEMBER 2009
Day 1 – Arrival after meeting your flight into the Cote d’Azur airport we will help get you settled into our gateway hotel in nearby Vence. Riding, reading, resting or roaming the Old Town; you decide, we are here to help. Welcome dinner will introduce you to the flavors of Provence.
Riding: optional
Meals: dinner
Accommodations: 3 star hotel with pool
Attractions: Historical Vence and St Paul-de-Vence – art, architecture, shopping
Day 2 – San Remo
We ride on quiet roads to the outskirts of Nice, then follow the newly designated bike lane along the Promenade des Anglais to the Port of Nice. The easier-climbing route continues on the coastal road and offers a close-up view of the yachts moored in the bays, harbors and marinas between Nice and Monaco. The climbers' route traverses over the Col d’Eze to join the Grand Corniche road where we have panoramic views of the Cote d’Azur coastline. We descend to the lower road as we leave France and enter Italy at Ventimiglia. The road along the coast passes thru numerous old towns with red tile roofs, numerous bike shops and gelato shops. The climbers route rides up a river valley, then traverses the ridge-tops between villages perched high above the ocean. We finally descend into San Remo for a well deserved post-ride refreshing beverage. Dinner will feature seafood and fresh pastas. Italians love to walk after dinner, so we invite you to stroll along the marble “boardwalk” and sample gelato the Italian way.
Riding: 93, 114, 141km options available
Meals: B,D
Accommodations: 3 star hotel near the center of town and close to the beach
Attractions: Nice, Monaco, Eze, Cote d’Azur vistas
Day 3 – San Remo
The World Rallye Car drivers and professional cyclists from around the world all know about the roads near San Remo, so we will explore many of these wonderful roads leading to hilltop villages. Of course, we must ride over the Poggio to better understand the terror of the peloton as it approaches this final obstacle on the way to the finish of the annual Milano-San Remo Classic each spring.
Riding: 36, 78, 109km options
Meals: B,D
Accommodations: Same as Day 2
Attractions: Hilltop villages, tiny roads, red-tiled roofs, shopping in San Remo
Day 4 – Alassio
We start the day riding along the Mediterranean before climbing into the hills to enjoy another day of quiet roads linking tiny villages, vineyards and olive groves. This is a great day of riding where the local cyclists like to ride and the views are ever changing. Alassio is a much smaller version of San Remo and we will enjoy a nice quiet location near the marina.
Riding: 55, 101, 127km options
Meals: B,D
Accommodations: Old world elegant refurbished hotel near the promenade.
Attractions: Great roads, seaside riding, quiet roads into the Ligurian Mountains
Day 5 – Alassio
The roads are so much fun to ride near Alassio that we are compelled to linger another day for great rides into the high meadows of Liguria. You will return to our seaside hotel wondering why you have never heard of riding in Liguria until now. We will be home with ample time to wander, shop and relax. Dinner is on your own tonight at one of the delightful outdoor restaurants.
Riding: 76, 147km sensible or epic, you decide
Meals: B
Accommodations: Same as Day 4
Attractions: same as Day 4
Day 6 – Sassello
Not exactly a household name in cycling circles around Seattle, but this little town nestled high in the Ligurian hills is very popular among local Italians. Along the way we criss-cross the Alta via dei Monti Liguri, the MTB and hiking route that traverses the entire length of the Ligurian Mountains. It is funghi season here, so we can expect to savor delicious mushroom-flavored meals. Sassello is also famous for a delicious soft pastry called Amaretti—enjoy!!
Riding: 114km
Meals: B,P,D Grand Picnic at the crossing of the Alta via dei Monti Liguri
Accommodations: Modern family operated hotel conveniently located a short walk from town
Attractions: fresh mushroom sauces and Amaretti (soft pastry)
Day 7 – Sassello
Today is simply a riders treat as we take a loop ride that includes a one of the smoothest, twisty, roads that you will wish you could do again and again. We descend into the wine-producing region of Piemonte as we pass thru Ovada, before climbing small roads leading back over the ridges to Sassello.
Riding: 77km
Meals: B,D
Accommodations: Same as Day 6
Attractions: long winding road
Day 8 – Montoggio
We leave our delightful hosts with fond farewells and retrace the start of yesterdays ride on our way to another great roadway. This time we are nearly suspended in the sky as we traverse the coastal side of the high ridges separating the interior from the sea. We ride where birds soar and sheep graze, while looking toward the sea 800-900m below. We will ride thru a tunnel that almost seems like we are going back in time on the other side, but it is just the relaxed and remote nature of the interior of Liguria. Climbing over a final ridge before descending to Montoggio we see bustling Genoa far below us.
Riding: 97km
Meals: B,P,D Grand Picnic high above the surf.
Accommodations: 2 star family operated small town hotel
Attractions: the dramatic views riding along the ridges of Monti Liguri
Day 9 – Sestri Levante
We continue riding over hills connecting remote valleys and descending dramatically to the sea at Ricco. Here we MUST sample the local specialty, focaccia of Ricco. After this, we ride from Camogli to Portofino to enjoy a more leisurely lunch on the stone walks that form the “docks” of the marina. Following this meal we continue along the shore and thru Santa Margherita into Rapallo, where we must decide between the coastal road or a strenuous climb into the Ligurian interior. Finally, we arrive in picturesque Sestri Levante and the Bay of Silence.
Riding: 114km
Meals: B,D
Accommodations: 3 star hotel near the center of this seaside town
Attractions: Focaccia of Ricco, Portofino, Rapallo, Santa Margherita
Day 10 – Monterosso
The ride from Monteross to the top of Passo del Braco is one of the most popular routes for local cyclists because of the great pavement, stunning views, and thrilling descents. From Passo del Braco it is not all downhill to Monterosso, but we do have a lot of descending today as we enter the Cinque Terre region. The Cinque Terre is one of the more famous regions of Italy; the picturesque villages perched above the sea, the terraced vineyards and olive groves, the delicious seafood and the quaint villages all form the backdrop of our next few days. We arrive early enough to wander the and relax on the beach.
Riding: 60km
Meals: B,D
Accommodations: 3 star centrally located hotel
Attractions: CinqueTerre views
Day 11 – Monterosso
Today is a “rest day” for riding, but there too many choices for activities to really rest. The famous trail that connects the 5 villages is certainly high on the list of to-do’s. Or, take a more leisurely approach to exploring the Cinque Terre and go by boat; regularly scheduled boats connect all of the villages. Dinner is on your own to allow total freedom of schedule and adventures.
Riding: optional, hiking suggested
Meals: B Dinner on your own.
Accommodations: Same as Day 10
Attractions: The CinqueTerre
Day 12 – Marina di Carrara
We climb up to a road that traverses above all of the Cinque Terre villages for a birds-eye view of the villages perched above the water. Passing thru the last tunnel of our tour, we leave the Cinque Terre behind and descend to La Spezia. La Spezia has a long tradition of boatbuilding that continues today. Before we enter this bustling port town we take a short diversion to Portovenere for mid-ride café and snacks. From Portovenere we look across the Poets Bay to Lerici, our next destination. Lerici is a fitting stop for lunch amid old villas, large fortresses and fishing boats in the marina. After a ride thru a regional park, we descend to sea level for an easy spin to our hotel in Marina di Carrara.
Riding: 98km
Meals: B,D
Accommodations: 3 star beach resort hotel
Attractions: CinqueTerre vistas, Portofino, Lerici
Day 13 – Lucca (Pisa)
Riding along from beach-resort to beach-resort is a favorite among local cyclists and the local drivers are amazingly cooperative. As one local bike shop owner said, “this is Italy, we don’t need bike routes….we share” And share they do along this road from Marina di Carrara to Lucca. Lucca is probably the most intact of all the walled cities of Italy—and we arrive in time to take a spin along the top before settling into our hotel within the walls. We are in Tuscany now and will enjoy fine Tuscan cooking at a special restaurant.
Riding: 70km mostly flat,
Meals: B,D
Accommodations: 3 star old world elegant hotel
Attractions: Lucca
Day 14 – Nice (Vence)
We ride to Pisa for a morning of seeing the sights and shopping for last-minute Italian gifts. Then we van transfer back to Nice for bike packing and our farewell dinner.
Riding: 25km
Meals: B,D
Accommodations: Same as Day 1
Attractions: Pisa