Cycle Cilento & the Amalfi Coast

This was my first experience of travelling solo and my first experience doing an organized cycle tour. So I had a few concerns about whether I would like the group, would the cycling be interesting and challenging enough, would I meet people that I could become long term friends with. Well I should not have worried. The group dynamics were fantastic with a range of ages and professions from all corners of the world and we all got on wonderfully. The cycling was beautiful - I had heard so much about the Amalfi coast so was very surprised that the Cilento coast was even better to cycle with a little less traffic and a lot less touristy. And it was certainly challenging - not ever so much that you think you can't make it but even the fittest of us felt some of the long hills. And we did develop friendships that are enduring - even looking at more trips together. Two thumbs up to Paolo the guide - absolutely brilliant. Accomplishes everything with a smile on his face. He really did an outstanding job keeping us all on track and making sure we were all looked after. But the most pleasant surprise for me was how relaxed you become so quickly. Everything is taken care of for you so the 100 decisions you normally make on holiday such as "where shall we have lunch?" or "what time should we have breakfast or dinner?" are all taken care of for you. In fact by day 3 you didn't have to care about where you slept that night or how far you were going to cycle - you just got on the bike and knew everything would be taken care of. A really relaxing experience!

As the oldest member of our group I was slightly apprehensive about cycling the Amalfi coast before we started but Paolo, our guide, put us all at ease straight away. Every day was hugely enjoyable and Paolo was very informative about the local area and the Mediterranean diet. Breathtaking views around every corner!

The Cilento/Amalfi cycling trip was wonderful. Alessandro our guide went above and beyond to make it a great experience. He was outstanding.The countryside was beautiful and the rides were great!

This early season ride was great as we were out of the hot weather period and no crowds and very little traffic on the roads, Paolo choice of luncheon spots where local food and wine were grown and produced were spot on at very reasonable prices, as were the superb evening meals. The riding was not as hard as I expected and the grades were easily climbed without too much effort, which made for a very scenic and photographic experience of southern Italy

This was the first cycling trip I've ever taken and while it was tough (I did zero training which was my own fault), I really enjoyed it. It made me want to explore more of southern Italy. I thought the itinerary was nicely laid out with the first, third and last days featuring long (but stunning) rides and the days in between featuring more sight-seeing (which I hadn't expected based on the trip notes). Cilento was lovely and a nice counterpoint to the craziness of the Amalfi coast. Paolo was an excellent guide and we had a great group of people who were a lot of fun to hang out with.

An amazing trip with some brilliant fellow travellers. Never would have made it up some of those hills without the support of Paulo and the rest of the team. The cycling was tough at times but I think that was partly due to the heat. We had average temps between 30 and 35 degrees. There are some challenging climbs but what goes up must come down and everyone in the group made it through. I would recommend putting some time in on the bike before the holiday. Paulo is a great leader with excellent knowledge about the area as well as knowing all the best places to eat! On the final day we found a tour of the lemon groves in Amalfi which I would hugely recommend. It was advertised in the hotel and we had a great time learning about the history of lemon growing in the area as well as sampling some of the lovely food and drink they create! (www.amalfilemonexperience.it) Accommodation was all nice and the dinners were great-you definitely won't go hungry. Pools at all hotels except the last one but the beach was 2 minutes walk away. Take some insect repellant for the agriturismo.

This was a truly lovely trip with a range of experiences and highlights. Starting in the quieter and underrated region to the south and finishing in the much more touristy area of Amalfi, the scenery is – of course – beautiful throughout, the hotels are good and the food delicious. Paulo is a superb guide. He and his assistant Emilio (and other members of the local team when needed) worked tirelessly to make sure we had the best possible holiday – nothing was too much trouble. Everything was super-organised and well-communicated with a briefing each evening about what to expect the next day. And we learned lots about Italy - from its ancient past to the issues it faces today, with insight about plants, agriculture and tourism - and anything we wanted to know or discuss - along the way. It’s an undulating route and there are some long hills – but the gradient is steady and (mostly) reasonable and there’s no shortage of rewarding views. The final day from Minori to Sorrento and back comes in at around 1,500m elevation (according to Strava), although there’s the option to go in the van for the long steep climb out of Sorrento. However, this trip is not for the faint-hearted – the Amalfi Coast road is stunning, but very busy with traffic (even for someone that cycles in London); cars, buses, lorries, scooters, etc pass constantly and often pretty close. In some ways it’s all part of the vibe, but it’s potentially unnerving for less experienced riders.

I had a such a great time. It was the first time I had been on holiday on my own and I'd been worried about having to meet perfect strangers and spend a week together but I met a group of really lovely people and felt I was amongst friends from the first evening. Paulo, our guide and Rafielle (apologies for the spelling) our mechanic were really helpful and went out of their way to ensure we were all well looked after and had a good time. I would definitely go on another trip.

A lovely tour through beautiful countryside. Challenging climbs rewarded by stunning views and downhills. Pity that both the olive oil tasting and the visit to the museum of the Mediterranean diet (film crew took precedence apparently) did not happen and the bad sea conditions cancelled the boat trip. The visit to the buffalo mozzarella farm was a bit of a disappointment for us as farmers. I had hoped a worker would show us round rather than Paolo who knew less than I did. Also we were not allowed to see any cheese being made or see inside the dairy, all rather frustrating. Amalfi itself is just one big tourist trap but Ravello is really worth the climb and an enchanting place, the garden there is magical. All together a great holiday, but a bit more attention could be paid to the attractions en route.

Although I had previously visited this area I had never cycled here. This was a fabulous experience through some lovely countryside and dramatic coastal scenery. It was made even more enjoyable by the superb enthusiastic group!