Sail & Bike – Tuscany

Sail & Bike – Highlights of Tuscany (8 Days/7 Nights, approx. 210 km , 3300 hm)

Italy – Summertime in the south! 

When you think of Tuscany a myriad of impressions flash through your mind: rolling hills, epic architecture, azure blue sea, the aromatic smell of herbs and citrus fruits, the melodic babble of the locals, and of course the fantastic cuisine and wine. Italy sooths the mind and soul!

Look forward to this sail & bike tour through Tuscany and its breathtaking scenery. Cycle in the footsteps of the Etruscans, and enjoy the Italian ‘Dolce Vita!’. Cypress trees, wine fields and olive trees spread across the rolling hills characterizing the typical Tuscan landscape. Picturesque medieval towns with small cobbled streets and colorful houses invite curious visitors. Kilometer long sandy beaches beckon for a swim in the glistening blue water.

The Atlantis provides the travelling accommodation for a carefree travel experience from one place to the other and with its giant sails, provides a true seafaring ambience. There is nothing better than to jump into the sea directly from the deck of the boat, anchored in a quiet bay. Tuscany by sail & bike is the perfect all round happy cyclist holiday.

Please note: this is a new itinerary and is therefore subject to change. Understanding for flexibility in the tour program is requested.

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Highlights of the tour

• Culture: the Spanish fortress in the picturesque old town of Porto St. Stefano is well worth a visit
  
• Landscape/nature: azure blue sea surrounding Elba – the perfect place for a swim stop
  
• Diversified: the Diaccia Boltrona conservation park at the Bruna river delta
  
• Culinary: a glass of the incredible local wines immerses you instantly in ‘La Dolce vita de Italia’
  
• Souvenirs/shopping: cheese, ham, wine, pasta and linen of all sorts make for great local souvenirs
  

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Itinerary

1. Day (Sat) Arrival in Porto Santo Stefano

Individual arrival in Porto St. Stefano, a wonderful, lively harbor town on the northern side of the Monte Argentario peninsula. Boarding the boat takes place from 6pm onwards. Should you arrive earlier, you are welcome to leave your luggage on board from 2pm onwards. With a short stroll through the medieval old town, painted in a wash of pink and beige, you will quickly realize that you are now on holiday. Additionally we can recommend a walk to the Fortezza Spagnola, built in the 17th century as a means to protect the city, it rests on the hill above the old town. The first evening meal on board is a great way to get to know your fellow travelers, guides and crew. Overnight in Porto St. Stefano.

2. Day (Sun) Monte Argentario Peninsula - Island Giglio (aprx. 25 mi/2788 ft. - 40 km/850 m elevation)

Your first  cycle tour leads you from Porto Santo Stefano along the coast on the Via Panoramica. The name says it all: this road winds its way along Cape Punta Lividonia continually along the coast providing grandios views of the coast and over the sea. Later you arrive in the town of Porto Ercole with its two Spanish fortresses before continuing along the Lagune de Ortobello back to Porto Santo Stefano where the Atlantis awaits your arrival. You board the boat and sail to the island of Giglio.

3. Day (Mon) Island Giglio - Castiglione della Pescaia (aprx. 9 mi/1968 ft. - 15 km/600 m elevation)

The Island of Giglio lies in the south of the Tuscan island world and is a true scenic gem. Mountains, forest, pristine nature, crystal clear water! On today’s more challenging tour you will cycle from the Port of Giglio to the central village of Castello, surrounded by an impressive medieval city wall. A rapid descent will bring you to the other side of the island to Giglio Campese where the long sandy beach invites for a refreshing swim. A winding switchback road leads you back to the Port of Giglio. Relax on board on the crossing to Castiglione where you will spend the night.

4. Day (Tues) Castiglione della Pescaia - Island Elba, Porto Azzurro (aprx. 31 mi/1443 ft. - 50 km/440 m elevation)

After an energizing breakfast on board you start out on a bike tour of great variation. You start on the flat to the Diaccia Boltrona conservation park at the Bruna river delta. The tour continues along vast salt flats and rural countryside. Later in the ride the landscape becomes hillier and you cross a forest before a last climb transports you into a scene of olive groves and vineyards. Back at the harbor in the afternoon, the boat brings you to the island of Elba. The picturesque harbor of Porto Azzurro is where you spend the night.

5. Day (Wed) Island Elba – Punta Ala (aprx. 18 mi/1640 ft. - 30 km/500 m elevation)

The third largest island after Sicily and Sardinia, Elba, is charming and abundant in nature and history. Today our tour leads us from Porto Azzurro, characterized by its past as a fishing village surrounded by beautiful sandy beaches and deep blue waters, along the coast followed by a climb to Capoliveri. Here we have time in the quaint old town center for a nice cappuccino break. We continue on inland to the mountain village of Rio nell’Elba, one of the oldest settlements on the island. After a joyful descent we reach Rio Marina with its old octagonal watchtower and ride the rest of the way to Cavo along the coast. The Atlantis waits in Cavo where we board and sail to Punta Ala. 

6. Day (Thurs) Cape Punta Ala - Talamone (aprx. 18 mi/1410 ft. - 30 km/430 Hm)

From Punta Ala we cycle on a steady climb along a gravel road to the highest point of today’s bike tour before descending on the Via Rio Palma to La Rochette. The beautiful long sandy beach is a great place to stop for a refreshing swim. After, a comfortable ride along quiet side roads takes us to Plan d’Alma. The way back to Punta Ala takes us through a local wetland. In the afternoon we board the boat and set off for Talamone, a hotspot for wind and kite surfers. The night is spent in Talamone.

7. Day (Fri) Talamone – Porto St. Stefano (aprx. 25 mi/1476 ft. - 40 km/450 m of elevation)

After breakfast, today’s tour takes us through rolling landscapes with olive groves and vineyards. Past the Lago Poggio, we reach the medieval town of Magliano, rich in culture and history. Here you can marvel at an olive tree that with an estimated age of 2000 years makes it the oldest in the whole of Tuscany. This picturesque city with its grand city gates invites us to stay a while. On our way back to Talamone the landscapes remind us once more of their epic beauty. Enjoy the last crossing by boat by sticking your nose into the wind and letting the sea breeze ruffle your hair as you cruise back to Porto St. Stefano. A celebratory evening meal together with guests, guides and crew round off an grear week.

8. Day (Sat) Porto St. Stefano

Departure at 9am after breakfast followed either by an extended stay in Tuscany or an individual journey home.

Basic tour price per person in a double cabin

1,690 euro (Tallship Atlantis)

Included in the tour price

• 8-day-trip on a tallship with crew
  
• 7 nights on a tallship in a standard double cabin with shower/toilet
  
• 7 x breakfast & 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 towel (incl. change of towel once a week)
  
• English and German speaking tour guide
  

Additional optional services

• ½ a double cabin (limited, on request)
  
• Surcharge for a single cabin: 500 euro (limited, on request)
  
• Rental bike with Ortlieb pannier: hybrid bicycle: 80 euro/week; e-bike: 160 euro/week (limited, on request)
  
• Insurance against theft and damage of the rental bike: hybrid bicycle: 10 euro/week; e-bike: 20 euro/week
  
• (not insured: grossly negligent damage)
  

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 not mentioned in the itinerary
  
• Tips for tour guides and crew
  

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 your booking reaches us before the 31.01.2019

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Good to know

Language

Due to our international audience all Islandhopping tours are conducted bilingually, in English and German.

Changes to the itinerary

We reserve the right to make changes to the itinerary, depending on wind and weather conditions or organizational requirements. Depending on the direction of the prevailing winds, this tour can also take place in reverse order.

Requirements of the tour: Level 3

The cycle routes require an advanced level of fitness from the participants. The daily routes have a length of 12 – 31 mi./15 – 50 km. They lead through hilly or mountainous areas and will be completed without any time-constraints. The cycle tours consist of up to 1,000 – 2,300 ft/400 – 850 m of elevation collectively. There are also some extended climbs where walking your bicycle is of course permitted. Most of the roads are asphalted although we will also ride on gravel roads. Your tour guide informs you each day about the tour details. Helmet use is mandatory on all cycle tours. You are strongly encouraged to bring your own (well-fitted) helmet. Cycle helmets are available on board in limited number (on request). You are free to set aside a half or full day to swim or spend on board the boat, instead of taking a planned cycle tour.

Bringing children

We believe that only children in a good physical condition and with a minimum age of 10 and previous bicycle tour experience are able to master the cycle tours on their own strength. Please note that the minimum height for a rental bike is 1.30 m (4”3’).

Catering

This tour includes half board. Due to the differing daily programs, some days will have no warm meals included while others will include both lunch and dinner on board. Breakfast is available on board every day.

Luggage

Please bring your personal belongings in foldable travel bags. Please avoid hard protective cases. They will be too large and heavy to store within your cabin.

Payment on board: cash only

Characteristic features of Harbours & Places to drop anchor

Our Tallships mostly do not fit into small fishing harbors and therefore spend the majority of their nights on anchor. This means that a dinghy transfer is necessary to get to land. Surefootedness and a certain degree of agility are required to get on and off the boat. Needless to say, our tour guides will lend you a helping hand. In general: Wind, swell and tidal differences have a significant influence on a Tallship journey.

The barquentine Atlantis was built in 1905 in Hamburg as a lightship. She served as a floating beacon in the Elbe estuary, where building a lighthouse was not possible. After 70 years of service on the Outer-Elbe, she was converted to begin her second life as a sailing ship.

Above & below the waterline, the Atlantis' hull has been built with the characteristics of a classical sailing ship. A thorough restauration in 1984 saw her acquire a barquentine rig: the foremast is square-rigged, the main and the mizzen mast are gaff rigged with staysails.

Mediterranean atmosphere on deck

In 2005, the Atlantis got a new owner. Her interior was converted to the level of comfort and luxury, respecting her traditional atmosphere which makes her so desirable. The saloon is spacious and comfortable, a stylish bar and a well-equipped hotel kitchen make for complete comfort aboard. The Atlantis feels at home in the Mediterranean Sea: her large upper deck with bar offers a wonderful space to lounge and enjoy the warm southern European climate.

Generous space

The Atlantis has capacity for up to 140 guests on board for day-sailings and has berths for 36. Our guests can enjoy the excellent food and drink served by experienced and enthusiastic staff. Along with being on an authentic triple masted barque with an experienced deck crew and all the necessary modern navigational equipment ensure a safe trip, makes this a wonderful nautical experience!

Welcome to the rich history of traditional sailing, welcome to the Atlantis.