Tuscany Bike Tour: Apuan Alps, Lucca & Tyrrhenian Coast

Art & Culture

Bivacco Viaggi

A cycling journey through northern Tuscany connecting the Apuan Alps, Lucca, and the Tyrrhenian coast, featuring mountain landscapes, coastal scenery, historic villages, and authentic Tuscan culture.

Tuscany

Apr – Oct

5 nights / 6 days

Difficult: 4.0

ABSTRACT

The Tuscany Bike Tour explores the landscapes between the Apuan Alps, Lucca, and the Tyrrhenian coast, revealing a diverse region shaped by mountains, countryside roads, historic villages, and Mediterranean scenery.

This itinerary connects natural landscapes, cultural heritage, panoramic cycling routes, and authentic Tuscan traditions, offering a balanced experience of history, gastronomy, nature, and relaxed riding through northern Tuscany.

From the elegant city of Lucca and the mountain scenery of the Apuan Alps to the coastal environments overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, travellers experience Tuscany through places where local identity, nature, and everyday life remain deeply connected to the territory.

The journey reveals a slower and more authentic side of Tuscany, combining scenic rural roads, coastal landscapes, traditional villages, and Tuscan hospitality in one of Italy’s most geographically varied regions.

This tour is ideal for:

Travellers interested in Tuscany’s natural landscapes and cultural heritage
Leisure cyclists looking for a balanced mix of mountains, coast, and countryside
Couples, small groups, and FIT travellers seeking authentic Tuscan experiences
Clients wanting scenic cycling routes through villages, forests, and coastal roads
Travellers looking to discover Tuscany beyond the region’s most traditional tourist routes

Bivacco Viaggi and it’s affiliated agency Self-Guided Toscana, is a pioneering tour operator based in Tuscany. Operating since 2015, the agency is first of its kind, specializing in hiking, biking and outdoor adventures …

Tour Start

Lucca

Tour End

Marina di Pietrasanta

Best start day

N/A

Tot. distance

TBD

DETAILS

DAILY PROGRAM

Upon arrival to Lucca, meet a Bivacco Viaggi representative for your bike fitting and briefing.

The first day is a gentle introduction to the city where your tour begins and will end. The city's historic walls offer a perfect route to test your bike setup. This scenic tour will highlight key features of Lucca, with a special visit to its Botanical Garden. This peaceful and scientifically important garden serves as a great introduction to the landscape you’ll explore on your bike in the coming days.

Distance: 3.7 mi / 1.6 km
Accommodations: TBD
Begin your journey into Garfagnana, riding along the Serchio River, where the landscape gradually becomes wilder. You'll pass from cultivated fields to olive groves, then ascend into oak and chestnut forests. Small villages dot the landscape, leading you to Macea, where vineyards greet you. Spend the night at an agriturismo, enjoying local wine and a delicious dinner.

Distance: 30 mi / 48 km
Elevation Gain/Loss: +3510ft/-3117ft | +1070m/-950m
Accommodations: TBD
Meals: Breakfast
This shorter, yet scenic day offers an excellent chance to immerse yourself in Garfagnana’s landscape. Ride through chestnut forests, cross the Serchio River, and head toward Barga, one of the most beautiful and historic towns in the valley. Barga is known for its noble charm and rich history.

Distance: 19 mi / 30 km
Elevation Gain: +4134ft/-3412ft | +1260m/-1040m
Accommodations: TBD
Meals: Breakfast
Leave Barga with a gentle downhill ride towards the Serchio River in Campia, then continue uphill through the countryside. Pass through the villages of Fiattone, Perpoli, and Monteperpoli, offering stunning views of the Apuan Alps. Stop for a lunch break in Castelnuovo Garfagnana before tackling the final uphill stretch along the Turrite River, ending in La Ceragetta for a well-deserved rest and panoramic views of the Apuan Alps.

Distance: 20 mi / 33 km
Elevation Gain: +3182ft/-2001ft | +970m/-610m
Accommodations: TBD
Meals: Breakfast

OPTIONAL EXTENSION:
Add an additional night in Ceragetta and include another 26 mi / 42 km loop ride with a stunning mix of sea to the mountains landscapes.
On this final full day of the tour, ride through the Apuan Alps, crossing the Vestito pass before enjoying a thrilling descent to the Tyrrhenian coast. As you ride through marble quarries and picturesque villages, the stunning views will accompany you all the way to the coast. Choose to stop in Massa, Cinquale, or Marina di Pietrasanta for a relaxing moment at the beach.

Distance: 32 mi / 52 km
Elevation Gain: +2822ft/-5151ft | +860m/-1570m
Accommodations: TBD
Meals: Breakfast