Alternatively, this can be run as a private guided tour, in which case you choose your own dates, as well as the levels of hotels and number of meals included. Ask us for a quote!
Rome, Sardinia, Piedmont's vineyards, Liguria’s Cinque Terre, Tuscany plus a hint of Umbria: a nice slice of beautiful Italy!
12 Unesco world heritage sites on our itinerary: Etruscan Necropolises of Cerveteri and Tarquinia, Florence, Genoa, Pienza, Pisa, Portovenere & Cinque Terre, Rome, San Gimignano, Siena, Su Nuraxi di Barumini, Val d’Orcia, Villa d’Este (Tivoli)
from the 20th of May to the 04th of June 2023
from the 16th of September to the 01st of October 2023
A grand tour on the west coast and, far offshore, on the beautiful island of Sardinia. A journey through the Renaissance, the Middle Ages and the Prehistory dotted with authentic medieval burgs, elegant postcard views, suggestive monasteries, amazing coastal panoramas, delightful hilly landscapes and pristine nature … An extract of the best of what Italy has to offer!
| Start / end place | Duration | Riding days | Hotels | Included meals |
| Rome | 16 days 15 nights | 14 | 4 stars 2 ferry cabins | 13 breakfasts 6 lunches 9 dinners |
| Rest day | Total distance | Min-max /day | Tour /day | Route grading |
| 7: Arbatax 13: Florence | 2590 km 1610 mi. | 160-300 km 100-185 mi. | 6 – 8 hours | Moderate |
Tour program details
Day 1: Meeting in Rome (Roma)
We meet in the afternoon in our hotel in Rome and go together to pick up the rental bikes. We all meet up before dinner for a short but important briefing, the time to explain a few simple rules for organizing and synchronizing things, thus ensuring that everyone has a safe holiday that is unforgettable for all the right reasons. Then we’ll break the ice and start forging some group spirit over a classic Italian pre-dinner aperitivo.
Overnight stay in a 4-star hotel in Rome; included meals: D.
Day 2: 215 km
Our tour begins at 9am bound for Civitavecchia, the port of Rome, where we’ll embark for Sardinia in the evening. Things get off to an interesting start, as we visit our first UNESCO World Heritage treat, the beautiful renaissance Villa d’Este, then a stretch along Lake Bracciano where we’ll have lunch in a typical Lazio trattoria with some traditional local flavors. Our journey continues with a visit to one of the most important Etruscan necropolises followed by a ride on the Tolfa mountains.
Overnight stay on board in double en-suite cabin; included meals: B, L. Neither dinner, to be taken on board, nor breakfast on the next morning are included.
Day 3: 215 km
After disembarking at Olbia bright and early, we have a quick break in a bar-cum-cake shop for those who prefer breakfast on terra firma (not included in the package). Then we head for the beautiful Catalan town of Alghero on the other side of the island, visiting the prehistoric “Giants’ Tombs” and marveling at the moonscape scenery of Valle della Luna on the way. We’ll also visit one of the two most interesting nuraghe of Sardinia. After dinner, a stroll among the charming lanes of Alghero old town makes a lovely way to end the day.
Overnight in 4-star hotel in Alghero; included meals: D.
Day 4: 185 km
Today is about savoring the biking paradise that is Sardinia in all its glory. We take in some classic routes with an archaeological theme before making a break southwards. It’s all a feast for the eyes, with the splendid hinterland and a wander around some picturesque seaside villages with houses adorned by characteristic murales depicting scenes of everyday life. And the icing on the cake is a visit to a UNESCO World Heritage Site: the most important nuraghe in the world. Very different from the one seen the day before. But what’s a nuraghe? Come along and you’ll find out.
Overnight in 4-star hotel in Guspini; included meals: B, D.
Day 5: 200 km
A packed day awaits with visits to two of Sardinia’s most unmissable sights: one of the most important Phoenician-Punic settlements and a cave with crystalline formations that are virtually unique in Europe. There are some great riding roads here, as used by the leading bike manufacturers (including Aprilia and BMW) to test their machines and film their TV adverts. Lunch is a traditional affair at a roadside restaurant. The climax of the day is the Sardinian capital, Cagliari, a city of rare allure. Explore its fine bastions, the lively old Castello quarter, the salt marshes with the flamingos, Poetto’s beach and buzzing nightlife, the myriad bars and nightspots in the lanes around the harbor …
Overnight in 4-star hotel in Cagliari; included meals: B, L.
Day 6: 210 km
Get ready for another feast of glorious views, breathtaking landscapes, ups, downs, and bends, bends, bends … while heading over to the eastern coast.
Overnight in 4-star hotel in Arbatax; included meals: B, L, D.
Day 7: 0 – … km
It’s time for a well-earned rest. Today is yours to fill, preferably with as little saddle time as possible, doing something really relaxing, such as:
- stay in our seaside hotel and enjoy the beach, the pool, the sauna … whatever takes your fancy
- taking a boat trip to the Bue Marino Grotto (named after the monk seal or “sea ox”) and having a dip in Sardinia’s most famous coves, all reachable only by water
- marvelling at the unique creations by motorcycle-sculptor-cum-engineer Giordano Loi, before taking a guided tour of a Sardinian goldsmith’s studio (with a demonstration of the islanders’ masterful filigree work) and exploring the villages painted with murales, another typical Sardinian feature, like real open-air galleries.
Overnight in 4-star hotel in Arbatax; included meals: B. No main meal is included today in order to let you completely bound-free from the early morning till late night.
Day 8: 300 km
Suitably refreshed, we really get the bit between our teeth today. We press on towards Porto Torres on the north coast along another classic riders’ road, the Orientale Sarda, stopping at the delightful seaside enclave of Cala Gonone. With a last fantastic twisty road we’ll cross the inland and reach enchanting Castelsardo on the seaside, before heading for Porto Torres where we board ship in the evening to return to the “mainland”, in Liguria.
Overnight stay on board in double en-suite cabin; included meals: B, L. Neither dinner, to be taken on board, nor breakfast on the next morning are included.
Day 9: 230 km
After arriving in Genoa early in the day, we pause in a bar / cake shop for those who prefer to breakfast on solid ground (not included), then we leave for the Ligurian Alps to enjoy a splendid view over the entire Ligurian Gulf. Our trip continues with a ride along the Alpine ridges to the outskirts of Piedmont. There starts a fantastic tour rocked by the gentle bends in the middle of the vineyards and the UNESCO World Heritage landscapes of Langhe and Roero, wandering among medieval villages like Barolo, Monforte d’Alba … and their world famous cellars before arriving at our hotel. Excellent Piedmont cuisine awaits for lunch.
Overnight in 4-star hotel in the Langhe area; included meals: L, D.
Day 10: 160 km
We leave enchanting Piedmont, roaring away to explore the stunning Ligurian Riviera. A stop in Portofino, the heart of Italian dolce vita, is de rigueur, then we take in another beautiful stretch of coastline – the Cinque Terre National Park. This UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its cute coloring-book houses, provides the backdrop for a seaside lunch, before we roll in to our hotel in the heart of the park.
Overnight in 4-star hotel in Sestri Levante; included meals: B, D.
Day 11: 220 km
From here on in, we head southwards into Tuscany via the Apuan Alps and Carrara, where the world-famous marble that gave birth to antiquity’s most important sculptural masterpieces is quarried. Then we cross the Garfagnana area, bound for the fabulous city of Lucca (another on the UNESCO list). Food-wise, lunch is in a traditional restaurant in the mountains, while in the evening you can choose your own restaurant amid Lucca’s magical mediaeval walled atmosphere.
Overnight in 4-star hotel in Lucca; included meals: B, L.
Day 12: 220 km
There are no less than 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites on the menu for you today. First up is Pisa and its magnificent Italian renaissance heritage. After exploring Piazza dei Miracoli and the famous Leaning Tower, the cathedral, baptistery and monumental cemetery, we step back in time into the stunning mediaeval town of San Gimignano before ending the day with a spin through the enchanting Tuscan hills to the incomparable Florence.
Overnight in 4-star hotel in Florence; included meals: B, D.
Day 13: 0 – … km
By now, you’ve earned another rest day. What you do with it is up to you; you really are spoiled for choice. Here are some ideas for a great bike-free day:
- First, obvious option: visit Florence, one of the world’s most beautiful cities ever! Siena is also well worth it; it’s easy to reach by train.
- You could take a tasting tour in Chianti, to partake of some fine wines, cheeses and charcuterie (without the bike, of course; advance booking required).
- Or you could take a Tuscan cooking class (you’ll need to book that, too).
Overnight in 4-star hotel in Florence; included meals: B. No main meal is included so this rest day is your oyster from early morning until late.
Day 14: 220 km
We have another superb day for you. Today we buzz through the Chianti valley, with its wooded and vine-clad hillsides up heading for magnificent Siena (Unesco world heritage). We then continue through the undulating, postcard-perfect Val d’Orcia (another UNESCO site) and its little mediaeval towns, such as Renaissance-styled Pienza (UNESCO again). We end the day on a high in the heart of wine country in Montepulciano before reaching our hotel.
Overnight in 4-star hotel in the area of Bagni San Filippo; included meals: B, D.
Day 15: 230 km
On our final day in the saddle on this grand tour of north-western Italy, another beautiful ride among the woods and hills brings us along some road carved into the rock to the incredible village of Pitigliano, perched over the cliff edge, the beautiful Umbrian city of Orvieto and eventually an amazing dying town. All this before wending our way back to the hotel in Rome where our odyssey began and taking the hire bikes back. A lavish lunch in the capital provides a fitting end to our adventure together.
Overnight in 4-star hotel in Rome; included meals: B, D.
Day 16: Farewells in Rome
We say our goodbyes after breakfast, leaving you free to go home or explore further the magic of Italy on your own. If you’d like to see more of Italy, let us know, and we can organize a tailor-made extension to your holiday!
Included meals: B.
Price per person for this 16-day and 15-night tour:
FROM 5,050.00 Euro with your own motorcycle
FROM 5,535.00 Euro with a rental BMW G310GS
Prices for minimum 4 motorcycles/bike teams signed up by departure time.
Yet we guarantee all departures, even for one person only (with a supplement).
All our guided tours are limited editions for a maximum of 7 bikes to guarantee a major pleasure in riding as well as the safety of the group. An Italian Tour Leader (who speaks English and French) will accompany you all along this PREMIUM trip, thus granting you the carefreeness of a real holiday. Specifically, the personnel traveling with the group is:
- tour leader on his own motorcycle who leads up the way
- luggage van with a minimum of 8 participants.
The price also includes:
- registration fees, branded tee-shirt, pictures and videos of the tour
- basic assistance, medical and luggage insurance that covers both rider and passenger
- 1 typical Italian style aperitif the first day
furthermore:
- overnight ferry crossing Civitacchia – Olbia for people and bikes
- overnight ferry crossing Porto-Torres -Genova for people and bikes
- 2 nights onboard in double en-suite cabin
- 13 nights en-suite accommodation in classy 4-star hotels or prestigious locations picked up for their charms and position, with fantastic buffet breakfasts
- 9 delicious dinners the which menu is specifically chosen to guide you through a voyage into the the authentic Italian cuisine, in hotel or external restaurant at walking distance
- 6 super lunches in typical restaurants or trattoria renowned for their local specialties
The price does not include:
- motorcycle operation costs
- all not specifically mentioned meals and drinks at meals but water
- extras and tourist tax in hotels
- entrance tickets in monuments/natural sites, etc – all visits are optional
- transfer to the first hotel upon arrival and from the last hotel when departing – available on request
- anything not specified in “The price includes”
ON REQUEST vast choice of motorbikes for hire of brands Ducati, BMW, Harley Davidson, Moto Guzzi, etc … with top case + 2 side cases
ON REQUEST shipment of luggage via express forwarder
Click on picture to view gallery.
Sardinia
Liguria
Tuscany
Latium
Piedmont
Umbria
Technical direction: Lab Travel Srl – Corso di Santarosa, 19 – 12100 CUNEO – I
VAT code IT03795120108 – licensed under Decree No. 21 of 26 July 2004 in Cuneo
