Bravobike Tuscany Bike & Boat Tour

Duración: 8 Days | 7 Nights

Precio: 1690€ : Save 5% Before 31st January 2020

Intro
Biking Itinerary
Ship
Dates
The Fine Print

Tuscany Bike and Boat Tour

Cycle in the footsteps of the Etruscans, and enjoy the dolce vita! Cypress and olive trees, wine vineyards and breathtaking scenery spread across the rolling hills characterizing the typical Tuscan landscape. Picturesque medieval towns with small cobblestone streets and colorful houses invite curious visitors. Beautiful sandy beaches and private bays await us with their glistening blue water.

The Atlantis is our transport and home for the week, providing a truly unique experience, carefree travel from one place to another. With the giant sails and rich history of our tall ship, this week promises to have a true seafaring ambience. Imagine jumping into the sea directly from the deck of the boat after a morning spent cycling and exploring, now anchored in a quiet bay. Tuscany by boat and bike is the perfect cyclist holiday.
Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Porto Santo Stefano (Embarkation)

Individual arrival in Porto St. Stefano, harbor town full of life on the Monte Argentario peninsula. Starting at 6PM the boat is ready to be boarded, you can also leave your luggage from 2PM on. A short walk through the medieval town reveals a wash of pink and beige, you’ll realize that your holiday in Italy has begun. The first evening we’ll enjoy a meal on board, a great way to get to know your fellow travelers, guides and crew. Overnight in Porto Santo Stefano.

Day 2: Monte Argentario – Talamone | 25 mi / 40 km (660 ft / 200 m elevation)

Our first cycle tour leads us from Porto Santo Stefano to Orbetello, an historic old town. WWF natural oasis, the Laguna di Orbetello, offers us spectacular views of flamingoes. Next we’ll visit the ruins of Cosa, an old Roman fortress and town, and on through the Duna Feniglia, another nature reserve with an enchanting pine forest. Upon returning to the ship, the Atlantis awaits our arrival to cross to Talamone.

Day 3: Talamone – Magliano di Toskana – Talamone | 28 mi / 45 km (1000 ft / 300 m)

Rolling landscapes marked by grape vines and olive groves await us this morning. Cycling past the Poggio Perotto Lake takes us to the medieval town of Magliano di Toskana. The picturesque town is home to a 2000 year old olive tree, the oldest in Tuscany, and inviting, walkable city walls. On your ride back to Talamone enjoy the beauty of the landscape once more. Before dinner we’ll invite you to a Tuscan wine tasting.

Day 4: Talamone – Porto Azzuro | 12.5 mi / 20 km (660 ft / 200 m)

In crossing to the island of Elba this morning, you’ll get to experience sailing first hand, if you choose. Elba is the third largest island of Italy, charming, teeming with nature and history. We’ll have a quick lunch and head ashore to tour through Capoliveri along a road with impressive views. Later on we’ll be free to take a leisurely stroll in Porto Azzuro, a small harbor town.

Day 5: Porto Azzuro – Enfola Bay | 22 mi / 35 km (1630 ft / 500 m)

Today we’ll explore the island of Elba, cycling to the northern side. Stopping for coffee in Rio nell’Elba and continuing on, we find a panorama that is possibly the most impressive of the entire trip. Voltereio features the bay of Portoferreio, the island’s capital. We’ll have lunch and then just a few more kilometers to reach our destination, the bay of Enfola.

Day 6: Patresi – Marina di Campo (aprx. 19 mi / 30 km (2300 ft / 700 m)

We cross the island today, visiting the mountain villages of Marciana and reaching the highest point of the trip, Monte Perone. We can enjoy a nice downhill after all that work, to San Piero in Campo, and of course a great lunch in town. Take a dip in the sea afterwards, before we set sail for Island Giglio, in the south of the archipelago. It’s got so much to offer, from mountains and forests to natural reserves and crystal blue waters.

Day 7: Island Giglio – Porto St. Stefano 9.4 mi / 15 km (1650 ft / 500 m)

We’ll go ashore on the western side of the island, at Campese, cycling to a medieval town called Giglio Castello. We’re rewarded with a fast descent which takes us to Giglio Porto. Finally, our last cruise takes us back to where we began just a week ago, to Porto Santo Stefano. A cheerful evening meal on board the Atlantis gives you time to celebrate the success of the week with fellow travelers, tour guides and crew.

Day 8: Porto St. Stefano (or Extension)

After breakfast, departure is at 9AM and followed either by an extended stay in Tuscany or the journey home.
Tall Ship Atlantis

About the Ship

The Atlantis, your home for the week, is a ship full of history, originally built in 1905 and christened Elbe 2. It served in the North Sea and then was later restored as a passenger cruiseship. It’s got 14 sails, measuring 57 by 7.5 m (187 by 25 ft).

The restoration involved the construction of a beautiful salon as well as plenty of space on deck for relaxing and enjoying the ride. There’s even a cocktail bar, and the 16 cozy guest cabins have heating, air conditioning and a private shower and toilet. The ship has a lovely atmostphere, being cared for with much love by the crew and any who come aboard.

Technical Details:

Year of Construction: 1905 | Rebuild and Relaunching: 2005
Length: 57 m (187 ft)
Wide: 7.5 m (25 ft)

Services: daily cabin service and changing of towels mid-week

On Board Features: 3 masts with sails 750 m² (8073 ft²) sail area; quiet generator; deck chairs, big tables on deck; spacious salon/lounge

The Cabins

The 16 spacious rooms feature two ground-level twin beds, private shower/WC and central heating/air conditioning. There’s also space to store your luggage in your maritime home for the week.

The Decks

The large deck of the Atlantis ensures plenty of space to relax in both the shade and the sun. Spread out comfortably and appreciate the scenery as it rolls past. There’s also an outdoor bar, serving fanciful drinks and cocktails, offering a great atmosphere.

We can also enjoy some meals on deck, when weather permits, and properly enjoy the sunset.

The Salon / Lounge

The bar will provide you with cold or warm drinks, and there’s plenty of room at the tables for those who opt to eat inside.

Catering

The cook on board is a member of the crew and prepares the breakfast and one or two warm meals per day. The half board starts with the dinner on the arrival day and ends with the breakfast on the departure day.

Languages On Board

English, German
Dates and Prices 2020

Dates listed in black are open for booking. If marked in red they’re fully booked, in blue there are fewer than 4 bookings available. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us if you have any questions, we’re happy to answer any queries you may have.

(Book a 2020 cruise before 31 January and gain an extra 5% discount)

Departures Start – End City Price p/p

September 19 – 26 / 26 – October 3
Porto Santo Stefano 1690€

October 3 – 10 / 10 – 17
Porto Santo Stefano 1690€

What’s Included in the Tuscany Boat and Bike Tour?

Duration	8 days \| 7 nights
Included Services	8 day trip on a tall ship with crew 7 nights on a tall ship in a standard double cabin with shower/toilet 7 breakfasts, 7 warm meals on board (catering as mentioned in the itinerary) Guided or individual cycling tours as described in itinerary Overview-maps for the daily tours (on board) Bed linen and towels (change of towel mid-week) English and German speaking tour guide
Not Included in the Tour Price	Travel to Porto St. Stefano (Monte Argentario Peninsula) Beverages on board (tally sheet, to be paid to the captain) Meals and beverages ashore Entrances to museums or monuments not mentioned in the itinerary Tips for tour guides and crew
Additional Optional Services	½ a double cabin (limited availability, on request) Surcharge for single cabin 500€ (limited availability, on request) Rental hybrid bike with Ortlieb pannier 80€ for the week Rental E-bike (limited availability, by request) 180€ for week Insurance against theft and damage of the rental bike: Hybrid bicycle: 10€ E-bike: 20€ (not insured against grossly negligent damage)
Difficulty Level	The cycle routes of the Tuscany tour require an advanced level of fitness. The daily routes have a length of 9.4 – 28 mi / 15 – 45 km. They lead through hilly or mountainous areas and will be completed without any time constraints. There is between 660 – 2300 ft / 200 – 700 m of elevation gain each day, for a total of 7900 ft / 2400 m. There are also some extended climbs where walking your bicycle is of course permitted. Most of the roads are paved although we will also ride on gravel roads. Helmet use is mandatory on all cycle tours. You are strongly encouraged to bring your own (well-fitted) helmet. Over the course of the week, cyclists should feel free to set aside a half or full day to swim, explore by foot or spend on board the boat instead of going on the day’s planned tour.
Discounts	Children up to age 16 receive a discount of 25% on the basic tour price Early-Bird discount, receive a 5% discount on the tour base price if booked before January 31, 2020
Travel	Arrival by plane Arrival by plane is the fastest, cheapest and most comfortable way to travel to Italy. Porto Santo Stefano is connected with the following airports: Airport Rome Fiumincino (FCO), 118 km/74 miles; Airport Pisa (PSA): 202 km/126 miles FCO – Porto St Stefano A) Flixbus from Airport FCO – Grossetto (approx. 2 hours and 10 minutes), continue by train from Orbetello (40 min) or local bus from Orbetello – Porto St. Stefano (20 min) B) Train from Airport FCO to Roma Termini (32 min, 10-15€); bus from FCO to Roma Termini (45 min, 4-5€); shuttle from FCO to Roma Termini (1h, 6-8€). Continue by train to Orbetello (2h, 10–25€); continue by local bus from Orbetello – Porto St. Stefano (20 min) PSA – Porto St Stefano Shuttle train from PSA to Pisa Centrale (5 min, from 1.10€), departures between 6:53AM and 9:03PM; continue by train from Pisa Centrale to Orbetello (Monte Argentario, approx. 2 hours, from 16.10€); continue by local bus from Orbetello – Porto St. Stefano (20 min) By private transfer: from 250€ per car, one way, 2 hours travel time
Cancellation Fees	60 days or more before the beginning of the trip: 10% of trip price, 25€ per person minimum 59 – 31 days before: 30% of trip price 30 – 21 days before: 50% of trip price 20 – 11 days before: 70% of trip price 10 – 1 day before: 90% of trip price We strongly urge you to consider contracting travel insurance. Before the trip, it’s advisable to find out about your medical and accident insurance coverage, as well as luggage insurance or travel liability insurance, if necessary.
How to Book This Tour and Payment	To book your place on the tour, we require a 50% deposit of the trip price per person, and the final payment is due 6 weeks before the tour departure. Credit card payments by Visa or Mastercard do carry an additional banking fee of 2.5%.