Biking The Boot
TOUR DATES: 4 MAY – 24 MAY 2024
TOUR COST: AUD$9,500 per person twin share (Single Supplement AUD$950)
““The scenery was jaw-dropping, the food fantastic, the organisation was impeccable and the accommodation perfect. And to top it off, the group was a really fun bunch to ride with. It truly was the trip of a lifetime.” ”
Ancient culture, an ever-shifting political landscape, Latin temperament, fine food and wine, design flair, gorgeous countryside, big mountains, great trails…Why wouldn’t you want to mix it all up with some fun and at times challenging mountain biking?
Biking the Boot is an incredible 3-week trip that starts with an 11 day MTB tour crossing the country from near Roma in the west, to Romagna in the north east through the Apennine hill country. We ride through Umbria, Tuscany, and finish in the Emilia-Romagna region. Then we head up into the Alps and spend 6 days traversing the magnificent Dolomites from Cortina to finish in the mountain bike town of Riva Del Garda at the head of Italy’s largest lake. In total we ride some 800km.
I’ve been running Biking the Boot since 2012 but, like all international tours in the pandemic, we had to press the pause button. But it was so good to be back there in 2023 and I’ve little doubt again that you won’t find a better mountain bike tour anywhere.
Want to know more? Check out an article on the 2023 tour on the Ground Effect blog here or you can read Matt Walker’s 2017 Biking the Boot review here.
Or read through what other Biking the Booters had to say…
“Great route, brilliant group, seamless logistics and fun all the way. An astounding mountain bike holiday by any measure. I’m already clearing the diary for next time!”
“This was my 2nd time doing the Biking the Boot tour. I thought it would be hard to beat the 2013 experience, but with 3 weeks of perfect weather the trip was even more amazing. The people I got to meet on both tours were like friends I have known for decades. I will definitely be back again.”
“The formula of riding scenic and often challenging back country areas, staying at small hotels in the company of a like-minded group, drinking beer and prosecco, enjoying food, and the banter is all very appealing!”
TOUR ROUTE DESCRIPTION
“The route the tour took showcased the spectacular scenery of Umbria, Tuscany, and Emilia-Romagna and then the mighty Dolomites. Great riding, terrific people, spectacular country made for a totally unique opportunity to experience Italy.”
Stage 1 – The Apennines - Roma to Romagna
After meeting in the ancient city of Roma, we’ll leave and head to the actual geographical centre of Italy, to start our ride from the Umbilicus in the town of Rieti. We ride the next 10 days from Lazio, across Umbria, into Tuscany and on into Romagna; 500km of spectacular riding through the mountainous spine of Italy, the Apennines. We visit old towns and villages, staying in comfortable hotels and agriturismos. You might have heard of some of the places we overnight: Assisi perhaps, Gubbio too. But Monte Santa Maria Tiberina? Campigna? We finish the 500km stage at the little town of Brisighella, a favourite place of ours.
Our bags will be carried each day by a minivan. You’ll just need to ride with what you need each day.
Our route will take us on singletrack, doubletrack and dirt roads through forests and mountains. Each day will see us enjoying some 5-7 hours on the bikes over distances of 45 to 65km. We will have a day off the bikes in the middle of the route in a magical hilltop village. We finish this stage with a ride into Brisighella, where the Appenines flow out into the Po Valley.
Stage 2 – The Dolomites – Cortina to Riva
From Brisighella we will shuttle bikes and bodies on a 4 hour drive up into the heart of the Dolomites, to the town of Cortina D’Ámpezzo. The soaring rock walls and plateaux of the Dolomites are some of the most spectacular Alpine scenery anywhere in the world – home to skiing, climbing and ingenious mountain bike routes. Cortina hosted the 1956 Winter Olympics and, 70 years later, will do the same in 2026.
As we ride up to and down from these Alpine passes they will be sure to test legs and lungs. And a sore neck is pretty much guaranteed from looking up, up, up at the scenery
After a night in Cortina, we get amongst it for the next 6 days, threading a 300km route through valleys and over passes to eventually arrive on the shores of Lake Garda, the largest lake in Italy.
We finish at Riva del Garda, at the head of the lake, a place renowned as a real mountain biking town.
TOUR INCLUSIONS
What’s not included:
International Flights to/from Italy
Transfer from airport in Rome to hotel
Transfers from Riva to airport for return flights*
Lunches on non riding days
Drinks
Travel & Medical Insurance
* We can advise on or organize airport transfers from airport in Rome or from Riva del Garda to Milan Airports or elsewhere. Riva is also only 20km from the main Italian train network.
BOOKINGS
TOUR DATES: 4 MAY – 24 MAY 2024
TOUR COST: AUD$9500 – per person twin share (Single Supplement AUD$950)
A non-refundable deposit of AUD$500 is required on booking a tour. Full payment is required 60 days before the departure date.
CANCELLATIONS
60 days + before departure – Full refund minus deposit
15 days to 59 days before departure – 50% of tour price refund
14 days or less before departure – nil refund
You are advised to take out Travel Insurance. We reserve the right to cancel any tour prior to departure in which case you will receive a full refund. The tour will go ahead based on minimum number of participants.
FAQ
What’s included:
Australian Leaders – Huw Kingston and Trent Moore will again be leading the tour in 2024
Italian Connections – we liaise with a fantastic group of friends over in Italy who help with the tour and ensure we find the best places to eat and drink!
Transfers from Rome to Rieti and from Brisighella to Cortina.
1 night Dinner, Bed & Breakfast in Rome
11 nights Dinner, Bed & Breakfast in 2-3 Star Hotels and Agriturismos during Stage 1 of tour (Rome to Brisighella)
8 nights Dinner, Bed & Breakfast in 2-3 Star Hotels during Stage 2 of tour (Cortina to Riva)
Minibus support vehicle with driver
Lunch, Snacks, soft drinks, fruit etc during ride days. Lunch is at own cost on non ride days
Can I join for Stage 1 or Stage 2 only?
This may be possible depending on availability. Please contact us to discuss.
How hard is the riding?
Biking The Boot is first and foremost a tour. We are in Italy to enjoy the riding and everything else that Italy offers. The route we follow is absolutely a mountain bike route with a real mix of tracks and trails. The Apennines and Dolomites are mountainous and thus there is plenty of up (and plenty of down!). Each day we ride between 45-65km with 1000-1800m of ascent. As a generalisation, the riding gets harder as the tour progresses. The Dolomites are spectacular, big mountains and there is no easy way to travel through them by mountain bike.
Fitness is important and the fitter you are the more you will enjoy the delights of Biking the Boot. Make sure you get plenty of kilometres (including those ones that go uphill!) in the months before the tour. There is the option on occasions to hop in the van for all or part of a day.
What sort of mountain bike would you recommend?
You will obviously take the bike that you like to ride, that you will be comfortable on for the best part of 3 weeks. And remember, we are riding all manner of trails and surfaces. A hardtail or duallie would be the weapon of choice, with perhaps 120-140mm travel up the front. A dropper seatpost will be appreciated by many riders. Tyres in the 2.20-2.40 range are ideal. And ensure your bike is in good repair and recently serviced.
Can I hire a bike?
We have certainly organised bike hire in the past and can investigate that option again.
