Guided Road Cycling Holiday - Grand Traverse - South to North - 17 Days

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31 May to 16 Jun - ONE space left for a female! Join us on the ultimate Italian adventure...

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TRIP NOTES

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Holiday Highlights

Riding down the backbone of Italy on a stunning route which takes in some of the best road cycling that Italy has to offer
Cycling through 10 UNESCO World Heritage sites and 5 National Parks
Visiting some of the most important historical and artistic cities in Italy: Lucca, San Gimignano, Pienza, Assisi and Lecce
The camaraderie of your fellow cyclist who’ll be joining you on this incredible tour
Immersing yourself in Italian culture – meet the friendly locals, experience delicious culinary specialties and taste the wines of each region
Cycling to the most southerly point of Italy, having ridden nearly 1,100 miles and climbed over 21,000 metres!

View Holiday Schedule

Day	Description	Distance	Ascent	Meals
1	Arrival: Pisa Airport	Non Riding Day
2	Cinque Terre to Carrara Riviera	56 Miles / 90 Kms Approx.	1,500 Metres Approx.	B L
3	Carrara Riviera to San Gimignano	75 Miles / 120 Kms Approx.	1,500 Metres Approx.	B L
4	San Gimignano to Pienza	78 Miles / 125 Kms Approx.	2,100 Metres Approx.	B L
5	Pienza to Assisi	80 Miles / 130 Kms Approx.	1,600 Metres Approx.	B L
6	Assisi to Monteleone di Spoleto	65 Miles / 105 Kms Approx.	1,500 Metres Approx.	B L
7	Monteleone di Spoleto to Sassanio Santo Stefano	80 Miles / 130 Kms Approx.	2,800 Metres Approx.	B L
8	Sassanio Santo Stefano to Pescocostanzo	75 Miles / 120 Kms Approx.	2,300 Metres Approx.	B L
9	Pescocostanzo to Campobasso	70 Miles / 115 Kms Approx.	1,700 Metres Approx.	B L
10	Campobasso to Termoli	55 Miles / 85 Kms Approx.	750 Metres Approx.	B L
11	Termoli to Peschici	75 Miles / 120 Kms Approx.	1,000 Metres Approx.	B L
12	Peschichi to Manfredonia	65 Miles / 105 Kms Approx.	2,000 Metres Approx.	B L
13	Manfredonia to Altamura	95 Miles / 150 Kms Approx.	1,100 Metres Approx.	B L
14	Altamura to Alberobello	62 Miles / 100 Kms Approx.	800 Metres Approx.	B L
15	Alberobello to Lecce	77 Miles / 125 Kms Approx.	575 Metres Approx.	B L
16	Lecce to St Maria di Leuca	64 Miles / 102 Kms Approx.	1,000 Metres Approx.	B L
17	Departure: Bari Airport	Non Riding Day		B

Key: B - Breakfast, L - Lunch, D - Dinner

For more information download our trip notes

For what seems like years we've been planning our 'perfect' route down the length of Italy. Ideas scribbled metaphorically on napkins, suggestions from friends and input from locals with knowledge of the amazing roads hidden away from the tourist gaze have all been combined to produce this epic route. We've fitted an incredible amount into the itinerary, and you should be able to head home at the end of the tour having seen the very best that Italy has to offer.

What better location to start than magical Cinque Terre - this stunning region famed for its dramatic landscape and villages perched on the side of the coastal cliffs. As we leave our accommodation and start riding, our first day is a true taster of what is to come, stunning scenery, great roads and full-immersion into Italian culture. Staying on the coast for a further night, we then say farewell to the Tirrenean sea to head south west towards the southern end of the Apennines, famous for the Carrara marble. Riding though nature reserves and small Italian villages and towns this is a great introduction to northern Italy.

Taking quiet roads and small mountain passes, we cross into Tuscany: from beautiful Lucca we carry on south through the green hills of Chianti, onto the rolling clay and chalk landscapes of the Crete Senesi and the UNESCO site of Val d'Orcia. Here we start picking up momentum as we head into the Apennines again, exploring Umbria: a land of small and beautiful medieval villages perched on limestone hills. Following the Apennine range south, we ride through a part of Italy that is truly authentic with few visitors, so has kept its genuine character and natural beauty. Riding through the regions of Abruzzi and Molise, we go from one National Park to another: Park of Gran Sasso, Majella Park and the Park of Matese.

From the Apennines we head next towards the Adriatic coast, then south towards the Gargano Puglia (the heel of Italy) through the soft clay hills and sunflower fields of Molise. More surprises are in store for us as we enter Puglia, riding though small towns of picturesque Baroque architecture and indulging in its renowned regional cuisine. Our journey is coming to and end as we follow the coast on the heel of Italy, enchanted by the crystal clear waters of the Strait of Otranto, finally reaching the very end of Italy.

Throughout the trip we will have the opportunity to visit and ride through several World Heritage sites recognised by UNESCO: Cinque Terre, the historic centre of Lucca, the historical centre of Siena, Val d'Orcia, the historical centre of Pienza, the castle of Frederick II of Swabia in Andria (Castel del Monte), the Sassi and the Park of the Rock Churches of Matera and the trulli of Alberobello. With a combination of superb riding, incredible scenery, fantastic Italian food and wine and plenty of opportunity to experience La Dolce Vita (the good life), this trip could well be the perfect way to experience the best that Italy has to offer.

For more information download our trip notes

Holiday Feedback

The service was second to none

Great Ride! Fantastic guides, awesome routes.

All of the days in the Appenines were great – the right balance between challenging, rewarding and doable at this grade of holiday. The Sibillini route up Monte Prata across Castellucio and descent to Arquata, Gran Sasso and Majella are superb routes and some of the best routes and descents I have seen (and that includes St Malo Nice, Colombia and Grand Tour of the Med by comparison). Monte San Angelo is a spectacular climb and descent. South Italy includes some amazing and scenic cities along the route.

How can I fault Skedaddle picnics? Italian food and restaurants a massive step above any others highlights were the Tre Archi Di Castoro Guisep in Altamura, the ‘food challenge’ in Osteria Del Castello in Arquata and Residence Il Palazzo (Santo Stefano) but pretty much all the others hard to fault!

Massimo is a great tour leader, and was well supported by Tim and Guiseppe. Really knew the area and route well, loves the job and you could see a lot of preparation had gone in to this. Not a chance of keeping up with him on any race up the climbs either!!

Nick, Bristol
Perfectly perfect

We have mourned the end of this wonderful trip. Excellent routes, fantastic cycling, perfect organisation, lovely companions, great food …. But it was the icecream which clinched it!! Keep up the good work. You cleared our stressy heads and toned up our tired bodies, made us laugh (some hills made us cry!) and took us out of ourselves – basically looking after our every need and ‘parenting’ us – but allowing us freedom to just do what we love – pedal our tandem in glorious surroundings. Thank you so much.

Every day was so different. It’s hard to give a favourite. The Apennines were overwhelmingly beautiful and we enjoyed the satisfaction of making the climbs. But, in honesty, every day was joyful.

Andrew, Oxford
First class!

Massimo was excellent and his choice of route from Venice to St Maria de Leuca was first class. A lovely mix of quiet roads and some very nice cycle tracks. Our 3 other guides did a great job. Favourite days were Vieste to Manfredonia through the Gargano National Park where I was able to enjoy the wonderful scenery, and the mountain days in the Appenines – stunning scenery and beautiful autumn colours.

Mary, Ross-Shire

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Trip Notes

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Give us a call on:

+44 (0)191 2651110

Drop us an email on:

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DOWNLOAD
TRIP NOTES

Duration:	17days
Return:	16/06/2018

Departure Dates: Prices From:

£2,885 p.p.

Ask about our private departures and group bookings

Grade

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Holiday Summary

Duration:: 17 days
Prices From:: £2,885
Estimated flight price: £150

Optional

Bike Hire: £245
Single Room: £485
Insurance - Europe 17 day:: £53
Insurance - Europe 17 day:: £53

Holiday Details

Place to place

16 nights hotels & agriturismi

15 days riding

Breakfast and lunch

Guided and vehicle support

Group airport transfers

Luggage transfers

GPS device inc pre-loaded routes

Customer Photos

Skedaddle News, Views and Holiday Stories

Double fun on Italy’s Grand Traverse

With her tandem in tow Skedaddler Jill Buzzard headed to Italy earlier this year to take on our 1,000 mile challenge, the epic Italian Grand Traverse. Here’s how she got on… Prelude “A tandem” said our guide. “Well … we shall see”, and he looked at the Skedaddle van to check the roof rack was ...

Last Updated: 06/09/2016