Next dates 3 - 5 May and 21 - 23 June 2024, scroll and find out more!
A full Tuscany enduro adventure.
A three-day backcountry trip, from Calci to the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines to fully discover the beauty of Tuscany on an enduro bike.
There will be three days shuttle assisted, always with an expert guide and where the difficulties will be progressive. The tour is designed for medium/advanced level riders, with good training and a desire for adventure.
There will be trails for all tastes: worked, natural, technical, super flow, with jumps and without jumps, long and short. There will be a bit of pedaling but the shuttle will do the majority of the effort for us.
There will also be a short section of portage, because it’s really worth getting to that peak to do that trail, trust us!
Next dates
3 - 5 May and 21 - 23 June 2024
3 days. The tour begins on Friday morning with the meeting at Bike Village and ends on Sunday in the late afternoon again at Bike Village.
This is a tour for medium/advanced level riders. We will tackle difficult enduro trails with obligatory passages and some sections of portage and alpine trails. Experience and excellent trail riding technique are required. The trails will mainly be of Black Diamond / S4 difficulty.
The average distance of the bike tours will be approximately 35km and 800 meters of elevation gain every day by pedal and and around 3000 meters of descents every day. A good physical condition and good training is therefore required for these distances.
The accommodation is in Social Garden, a guest house managed by a young couple in the small village of Calci, in the center of Val Graziosa and the network of trails that we take care of and on which we will ride on the first and partly on the last day.
Stay here is pleasant and relaxing, thanks to the beautiful garden, the relaxed climate and the small stream that flows next to the house and where you can cool off on the hottest days.
There is a kitchen for common use where we will be happy to prepare an all-Tuscan dinner for you on your first evening together!
- Day 1 – Friday: Meeting of participants at the beginning of the morning at the Bike Village. Free and optional breakfast, presentations and technical briefing. Pocket lunch collection. Followed by departure with shuttle service to reach Calci and start of the excursion. After lunch, conclusion of the excursion, return to the Bike Village and transfer independently to the overnight stay. Check-in procedures, room accommodation. Aperitif, tuscany dinner prepared by the guide, overnight stay. The first day’s excursion will take place in Calci, a small town enclosed in a natural amphitheater east of Pisa, the Valgraziosa, full of trails. This is our home, we ride here all year round, we take care of the trails and we have a lot of fun. We call this area “the best well hidden enduro Mecca in Italy”! We will start from the easier trails until we approach the more difficult trails, which are also the scene of national level competitions. The trails are truly many and varied but thanks to the constant presence of an expert local guide you will find it easy and satisfying to tackle all the lines. There will be time to take photos and videos of the most beautiful passages and to try jumps and technical passages. The difference in altitude is important, consider that Monte Serra, from the top of which a spectacular trail starts, is 917 meters high: for this reason we will use the shuttle to go up when possible. Obviously we like to ride but we want to give you a complete experience and therefore you won’t miss a good Tuscan dinner prepared by the guide in the evening directly at Social Garden.
- Day 2 – Saturday: Breakfast at Bar Andreoni (a must in Calci), and transfer by shuttle to La Doganaccia in the Tuscan – Emilian Apennines. Free lunch in Fanano, on the advice of the guide. After lunch, shuttle transfer to Rifugio I Taburri (Fanano, MO), and start of the second part of the tour towards the Colombino Pass. At the end, further transfer to Rifugio Capanno Tassoni (MO) for the last part. At the end, return to the shuttle, and then to the facility for shower and change. The day will end with a dinner with friends at the Bike Village (included).
Today’s excursion will take place in the heart of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, in a true backcountry adventure. It will be a challenging day, but the view and above all the beauty of the trails will repay every effort. In fact, we will go along a trail that starts from 1799 m above sea level at Cima Tauffi and takes us down to 640 m above sea level at Fanano (MO) in 9 km of natural and varied descent. From Fanano the shuttle will take us back to Rifugio Taburri, from where 300 m of altitude difference on trail, up to the Colombino Pass (1520 m above sea level); from here we will descend, with another spectacular trail surrounded by centuries-old beech trees, to Ospitale, and then go back up with the Shuttle to Rifugio Capanno Tassoni. A splendid panorama will accompany us on another 300 m of altitude difference up to the Croce Arcana, followed by a beautiful descent to Cutigliano, 800 meters and 7 km lower! It goes without saying that here too there will be all the time needed for a good typical lunch in Fanano, and for taking photos, videos and studying the most fun passages. - Day 3 – Sunday: Breakfast at Bar Andreoni and departure. Transfer with shuttle service to Ciapino (San Giuliano Terme). Start of the morning excursion and at the end return to the Bike Village for lunch (agreed menu). In the early afternoon, farewell and return to your homes independently.
Last day! We return to base for a super fun and relaxing half day, also including the trails of the Molina di Quosa area (San Giuliano Terme), a lot of flow and rhythm are the leitmotif of these trails. Here, although we are just a few kilometers from Calci, the terrain changes and everything becomes softer and smoother, perfect for a last day of fun together. Obviously we won’t miss out on some more exciting trails if we feel like it, deciding all together. The shuttle will assist us so as to rest our legs tired from the day in the Apennines and conserve energy only for the descent. We have lunch together and say goodbye, hoping to share some more adventures in the future and to have given you some beautiful memories to take home!
This trip is for a minimum of 4 people and a maximum of 8.
During excursions it is mandatory to always wear a helmet.
Knee protectors and a back protector are recommended.
The bikes must be in perfect order and functioning in all their parts. The tires must be in excellent condition.
- 2 nights at Social Garden.
- 3 days Shuttle service.
- Guide for the entire trip
- 1 pocket lunch.
- 1 Typical Tuscan dinner prepared by the guide at Social Garden.
- 1 dinner and 1 lunch at Bike Village
- Bike shelter.
- E-bike charging station.
- Off-the-line insurance coverage registration fee.
- Medical and baggage insurance.
- Bike transport and loading trolley.
- Photo / video.
- Cancellation insurance.
- Breakfasts
- Lunch on the second day.
- Bike / e-bike rental.
- Drinks with meals.
- Tourist tax to be paid directly at Social Garden.
- Tips and extras.
- Everything that is not explicitly indicated in “Included”.
Starting from €525.00 per person VAT included, in a double room.
Single room supplement €40.00 per person VAT included
E-bike rental €170.00 per person VAT included.
30% deposit at the time of booking. Balance 30 days before the start of the trip. The activation of the tour is confirmed when the minimum number of 4 people is reached. If this number is not reached ten days before the event, a refund will be issued to all participants already registered.
Where?
Meeting point
Accomodation
Do you want more information or do you want to book?
fill out the form and we will contact you as soon as possible.
FAQ and more infos
The ideal bike for tackling the trails of Tuscany is a good full suspension bike with a travel of 150-160 mm, a telescopic seat post with 27.5″ or 29″ wheels.
No. You will have to bring only what is strictly necessary, and have some space for your pocket lunch.
The essential minimum is however composed of 1 chain link, 1 inner tube, 1 tubeless repair set, 1 waterproof shell.
The guide will have with him various tools and spare parts.
Your guide will be very happy to give you some bike skills help during your trip to help improve your confidence and your enjoyment of your mountain bike tour.
If there is a section that you would prefer not to ride, then you can simply hop off your bike and walk. You won’t be the only one to walk certain sections and it’s not a competition in biking ability; it’s a mountain bike holiday!
- You are generally comfortable riding most types of terrain in different conditions: singletrack, double track, muddy, dry, loose, bedrock…
- You’ll have a go on moderate technical features, such as rock gardens, drops and steeper sections, but may get off and walk certain very technical features
- You mountain bike two or three times a week throughout your biking season
- You are comfortable mountain biking up to six hours a day at a moderate pace, with snack and photo stops, for four or more consecutive days
- You can tackle several serious climbs a day, up to 600 metres each
- typically you ride your bike on dirt roads, dirt tracks crossed with roots and sometimes very narrow through the trees, purpose-built and natural singletrack with jumps and difficult features, rock gardens and steep sections.
Your guide for the trip will be Matteo, a professional and experienced guide, born and raised in Tuscany.
He will be at your disposal on and off the trails, to best guide you through the experience.
Your safety is his number one priority, closely followed by your enjoyment of your mountain bike tour. He will always be on-hand to answer any questions or requests you may have throughout your trip.
He is qualified in first-aid, and have the knowledge and experience to lead a group safely through the island.
Our guides have years of experience in the saddle on the trails of Tuscany and will be able to enhance your holiday with facts and fables on local history, flora and fauna. They’re also genuinely nice people and will do their best to make sure that everyone in the group has a great time.
In Calci there are large public car parks a few steps from Social Garden. The area is quiet and safe, it is a small village and tourists are always welcome.