Discover the best MTB routes on Elba: 5 mountain bike adventures to discover the island 🚴🏼‍♀️

Elba has always been a much loved destination for cycling and mountain bike enthusiasts, both amateur and the more expert and trained. Thanks also to the advent of e-bikes, it is now an activity suitable for everyone, even the lazy ones 🙂

The island lends itself very well to a holiday (or even just an excursion) on two wheels, thanks to many viable itineraries both in one day and on multi-day tours. This allows you to totally immerse yourself in Elba's natural heritage and fully enjoy its colours, scents, panoramas and unique views.

In fact, there is no shortage of experiences: with different degrees of difficulty and different levels of preparation, there are free ride dirt roads in the middle of the low Mediterranean scrub, paths that run along the sea and wind through the hinterland of dense woods and perched villages, up to to the asphalted coastal ring, a succession of varied and truly exciting panoramic views that allow you to travel the perimeter of the entire island by road.

Easy circular path that winds along the Capoliveri promontory, for a length of approximately 20km in total. Mainly dirt road surface. It starts from the town of Capoliveri, on the south-western side of the island, and descends slightly towards the former mine near Monte Calamita, and then goes up again, first to the Ripalte estate, until it rejoins the town of Capoliveri. The average travel time is approximately 2h30.

Starting from the town of Marina di Campo (Municipality of Campo nell'Elba), famous for its long white sand beach, you travel along the provincial road of the south-western ring of the island. With some sections characterized by important climbs, you go up to the medieval villages of San Piero and Sant'Ilario, from which you can enjoy an exciting view of the gulf of Marina di Campo and various panoramic glimpses of the rugged coast, the sea and the various islands of the Tuscan Archipelago. From Sant'Ilario we proceed in the direction of La Pila, and then return to Marina di Campo. If you are not fit, I suggest taking this route with an e-bike.

Right on the Capoliveri promontory is Il Capoliveri Bike Park: an unmissable destination for mountain bike enthusiasts (but also for outdoor and nature enthusiasts in general), which offers over 100 km of spectacular paths and roads, perfectly organized in 5 routes MTB of different difficulty and length. Each route, distinctly marked with a specific color, is carefully marked through information signs that provide useful details such as the name of the route, directional directions, an identification number to facilitate localization on the map, and the name of the reference location. This structured organization makes the Capoliveri Bike Park ideal for bikers of all levels, eager to explore breathtaking scenery on the Island of Elba, easily navigating between the various routes thanks to a clear and intuitive signage system. Bikes, e-bikes and all the necessary equipment can also be conveniently rented on site.

Ring route exclusively on asphalt and entirely panoramic and of extraordinary beauty. We start from Marina di Campo, traveling along the south-western coastal provincial road of the island, the "Coast of the Sun“. We continue in the direction of Sant'Andrea, in a succession of splendid views of the most beautiful beaches of Elba: Cavoli, Seccheto, Fetovaia. You then reach the small villages of Pomonte and Chiessi, and then climb the promontory overlooking Sant'Andrea. From there we continue towards Marciana, an ancient village on the slopes of Monte Capanne, surrounded by chestnut woods. In Marciana it will be possible to taste an excellent craft chestnut beer, before taking the long descent towards Marciana Marina. From there we take the coastal ring towards Procchio, and then return to Marina di Campo.

For the more adventurous, the tour of the island represents a real challenge: with its over 100 km of length, this circular itinerary allows you to do a complete tour of Elba, touching all the main seaside resorts and points of interest . Although it is technically less demanding than other routes, as it is entirely on asphalt road, it still requires good resistance. The effort is certainly rewarded by the landscape and cultural diversity encountered along the way.

• On the ferries that connect Elba to the continent, it is possible to either get on board directly with your bicycle or board with your car equipped with a special bike rack/tow hook to be able to transport it to the island;
• Alternatively, the Island of Elba has numerous points of interest rental mountain bikes and e-bikes;
• It is possible to carry out excursions independently or with expert guides, either by booking them exclusively or by taking part in guided group tours.

Each itinerary on the Island of Elba offers a unique experience, capable of moving you, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in uncontaminated nature, to explore the rich history and culture of the place and, above all, to enjoy unforgettable views. Whether you are an expert biker or an enthusiast looking for new adventures, Elba will certainly be able to offer you the best itineraries and adventures that will remain in your heart.