Cycling tour in Tuscany and hiking in Cinque Terre

Day 1Arrival Day Lucca

From the airport in Pisa, take the PisaMover to Pisa Centrale train station, and from there take the train to Lucca in Tuscany. Estimate approx. 1.5 hours in total from the airport to Lucca, depending on the train connection.

If you want pre-booked transport to Lucca, this can be ordered through us in connection with registration.

After arrival, you check in at the hotel in Lucca. The rest of the day is at your leisure – perhaps you will manage a first stroll within the old city walls.

Day 2Cycling tour along the heights around Lucca

The day starts with a short walk to the bicycle shop, where you pick up your rental bike. The bike is individually adapted, and you will receive an orientation (in English) about the bike, the routes, and the week's program.

Today's cycling stage is approx. 80 km and takes you through the landscape of Tuscany, between vineyards and green olive groves. Along the way, you pass, among other places, Collodi, known as Pinocchio's hometown, the medieval town of Montecarlo, and the area around Monte Pisano, before cycling back to Lucca.

The afternoon and evening can be spent getting better acquainted with Lucca. The old town is surrounded by an impressive, well-preserved renaissance city wall – today a popular place to walk and cycle with views over the city.

Day 3Lucca - Forte dei Marmi

Departure after breakfast. Luggage must be delivered to the hotel reception no later than 09:00.

Today you set course for the Versilia coast, with long sandy beaches along the Tuscan Riviera. Before you reach the coast, you cycle over the heights at Pieve Santo Stefano and further along Lake Massaciuccoli, known for its rich birdlife and wetland area.

After a few kilometers along the coast, the tour continues through Camaiore and Pietrasanta, before you arrive at the hotel in Forte dei Marmi.

Today's cycling stage offers a nice mix of hilly terrain and easier cycling along the coast.

Day 4Cycling tour Alpi Apuane

After breakfast, you set course for the Alpi Apuane, the dramatic mountains rising just inland from the coast in northern Tuscany. Here, a completely different cycling day awaits compared to the beaches the day before – today there will be long climbs, mountain roads, and great views along the way.

The route goes past Monte Cipollaio on the way up to today's highest point, Passo del Vestito. Here, you have finished most of the climbing and can look forward to long descents on the way back towards the hotel in Forte dei Marmi.

This is one of the tour's more demanding cycling stages, but also a day where the effort is rewarded with views of the distinctive mountain landscape of the Alpi Apuane. Take some time for a few stops along the way – both your legs and your camera might benefit from it.

Day 5Forte dei Marmi - Monterosso

After breakfast, you leave Forte dei Marmi and set course for Cinque Terre. Today's stage takes you high up, on winding roads with ever-improving views of the coast and the Mediterranean Sea.

After many kilometers at high altitude, the long descent towards the sea begins. The road winds down the mountainsides, and eventually Monterosso al Mare comes into view – the northernmost of the five villages in Cinque Terre.

Here, the cycling part of the trip ends. The bike is returned, and the rest of the stay will be spent using your legs in a slightly different way. For the next few days, hikes await along the coast and between the beautiful, small villages that make up the Cinque Terre.

Day 6Hiking in Cinque Terre

Today, hiking awaits between the five villages of Cinque Terre: Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. The paths lead through the hilly coastal landscape, with terraced vineyards, small villages, and views of the Mediterranean Sea for much of the way.

The total hike is approx. 17 kilometers in hilly terrain, and you should estimate around 7 hours including breaks and lunch stops if you walk the entire distance. Which paths are open may vary, so today's route will be adapted to current conditions.

You also do not have to walk the entire way. Trains run between the villages and back to Monterosso, making it easy to shorten today's stage if desired.
From the village that is furthest away, the train ride back takes approx. 20 minutes. When weather and schedules permit, you can also take the boat back along the coast – a lovely way to see Cinque Terre from the sea.

For today's hike, we recommend good and comfortable shoes, clothing according to the weather, a potential rain jacket, and a small daypack.

Day 7Free day - sun & sea, hiking or cycling

After an active week, a quieter day might suit you well. Find yourself a spot by the sea in Monterosso, take the train to one of the other villages in Cinque Terre, or settle down at a café and give your legs a rest.

If you still have some energy left in your legs, there are several hiking opportunities in the area. You can also rent a bike and explore more on your own – but be prepared for hilly terrain and some solid uphills.

This is the day without any fixed schedule. Sun and swimming, a new hike, a little more cycling – or simply nothing. You decide.

Day 8Departure Day

After breakfast, it is time to check out of the hotel in Monterosso and start the journey home.

The easiest and most affordable way to get from Monterosso al Mare to the airport in Pisa is by train. Check current train schedules in advance, and allow plenty of time for any train changes and onward transport to the airport.

Thank you for the trip – and have a safe journey home!

The program is preliminary, changes may occur.