(No availability) 7 Days Cycling Holiday in Abruzzo National Parks, Italy

Day 1: Arrival in L'Aquila

Abcycle will pick you up in L'Aquila and take you to Santo Stefano di Sessanio starting point of the bike tour (45 minutes' drive). Transfer from Roma Airport (RMA) is available as an optional service. Santo Stefano di Sessanio (1,300 meters, population 120) is a charming hamlet in the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park. Strolling its stone-paved alleys it's like being transported in the past by a time machine. Abcycle will give you the route maps and a briefing about the tour. Then, you will have a memorable welcome dinner based on the organic ingredients grown here.

Day 2: Santo Stefano di Sessanio (Gran Sasso loop)

The mountain range of the Gran Sasso features the highest peaks in the Appennini. Don't forget to charge your camera as during the ride you can appreciate its pristine beauty from various angles. A few easy kilometers takes you to Calascio. Here, Abcycle suggests that you take a detour to visit the Rocca. Perched on a high cliff, it has been set to "Lady Hawke" and other movie productions. Passing through Castel del Monte, the main town this side of the Gran Sasso, the first climb of the tour takes to the pass of Monte Capo Serre. During the following downhill, the magnificent scenario of Campo Imperatore unveils.

Soon, you will ride in the moonscape of an open highland, flanked on a side by the clear peaks of the Gran Sasso. A short and easy climb will take you to Guado Portoni. Here, starts the long downhill back home. The road sneaks through meadows in full blossom until the towered hamlet appears in all its ancient beauty.

• Distance: 50 kilometers
• Total climb: 850 meters

Day 3: Santo Stefano di Sessanio - Fontecchio

A long, twisted downhill dotted by old villages takes you down from the Gran Sasso and into the Sirente Park. Down in the valley, you will follow the paved road that once was the path of a sheep-way. At the end of summer, flocks were taken some 300 kilometers south to spend the winter in Puglia. This yearly exodus of men and animals, called ‘transumanza’, was the main motor of the local economy for two thousand years. Today, abbeys and castles still preside over the path. The only climb of the day allows you to visit the villages of Caporciano and Bominaco before descending to the Aterno river valley and to Fontecchio (altitude 670 meters, population 400), the charming setting of the next two days.

• Distance: 40 kilometers
• Total climb: 560 meters

Day 4: Fontecchio (Aterno river valley loop)

The ride starts following the Aterno river upward. Quiet backroads winding through farming land will lead you to the footstep of L’Aquila. A pretty steep one-mile climb will get you into town. L’Aquila (altitude 720 meters, population 70,000), the capital of Abruzzo, has been devastated by a tremendous earthquake in April 2009. A little detour in the town’s ‘centro storico’ let you witness the slow but very well made reconstruction of this beautiful art-town. Then, the ride back to Fontecchio presents a three kilometers climb to the castle of S. Panfilo d’Ocre and a breathtaking dive down to Fossa.

• Distance: 59 kilometers
• Total climb: 870 meters

Day 5: Fontecchio - Sulmona

Today’s ride follows the Aterno river downward. It’s an easy and very pleasant ride. The green of this valley is a perfect background to the medieval architectures of the villages. On these roads cars are rare and bird songs are often the only sound you hear. Only an easy incline in the rugged S. Venanzio gorges before arriving at Sulmona (altitude 400 meters, population 25,000). Here, you will spend the final two days in a 4-star hotel in the ‘centro storico’ of this fine town.

• Distance: 44 kilometers
• Total climb: 380 meters

Day 6: Sulmona (Abruzzo National Park loop)

The last ride is entirely set in Abruzzo National Park, the oldest park ever established in Italy. Without great efforts, you will reach Anversa degli Abruzzi. This stone-built village marks the entrance to the wild Sagittario gorges. The road clings to the rock with breathtaking views of the emerald creek far below. You will have plenty of photo opportunities in the long, but never steep climb to Villalago.

You will circle around the Lake of Scanno, its still waters mirroring the mountains around and arrive in town. Thanks to its landscapes, Scanno has been a favorite hang-out of photographers and painters. If you like a little shopping, the town is also celebrated for its fine jewellery and laces art-works. The ride back is mostly downhill on the same route. The last dinner is not included in the tour price so you’re free to choose among Sulmona’s many fine restaurants.

• Distance: 63 kilometers
• Total climb: 1,000 meters

Day 7: Departure from Sulmona

Sulmona is well connected to Roma by train (the journey time is two hours 30 minutes). Van transfer is also available.

This safari holiday will take place in various locations in Italy. You will visit Santo Stefano di Sessanio, Calascio, Caporciano, Bominaco, Fontecchio, L’Aquila, Sulmona, Anversa degli Abruzzi, and Abruzzo National Park.

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• 5-day bike rides
• Daily cue sheets and maps (GPS tracks also available)
• Assistance on call
• Service of cycling guide
• Van support
• Transfers of luggage
• 6 breakfasts and 5 dinners
• 6 nights' accommodation
• Transfer from L'Aquila to Santo Stefano di Sessanio

• Beverages at dinner
• Van transfer from and to the airport

Recommended Airports

• A reservation requires a deposit of 30% of the total price.
• The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
• The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.