Hiking and Sailing to discover Elba on foot and by sea

8 intense days discovering the marvels of the main islands of the Tuscan Archipelago by land and sea

We will walk for 4 days along the most beautiful footpaths of the Island of Elba, crossing completely from one side to the other.

We will touch the principle summits enjoying the marvellous views; discover fascinating archaeological sites rich in surprises; find ruined mills, ancient medieval forts, second world war military positions along the way.  All surrounded, naturally, by a thick and perfumed Mediterranean maquis.  Every night we will return to our sailing boat to sleep and during this pleasant cruise in the “Cetacean Sanctuary”, we will also get to know the Island of Capraia with its volcanic cliffs.

dates on request for groups of a minimum of 6 people

The package includes: Cruise in sailing boat with 7 overnights, ferry ticket, welcome at the harbour, visit of  Portoferraio (Medicean fortifications), transfer to the sailing boat, 4 days guided hiking, overnight and 3 cruise’s days, insurance and technical assistance during the excursions, all transfers within the island (until 8 person).
The package does not include: the return journey from your place of departure to Piombino, any return ferry passage for cars, all meals, any entrance tickets to museums, parks or similar even if scheduled in the programme, extras and anything not specified in the entry “The package includes”.

It is always possible to get off the boat for dinner.  You can book a hostess/cook for an added cost of Euro 30.00 per person per day which includes breakfast and dinner.  Individual booking available  for groups of 8 people it is possible to book individually.  Our boat has 8 bunks divided among 5 separate cabins, all have a toilet and shower and a separate crew area..  Skipper on board.
 

Programme for the hiking and sailing excursion on and around Elba:

1st day: saturday

Arrive on Elba disembarking at Portoferraio, transfer of luggage on board the sailing boat,  meeting with the skipper, evening at Porto Azzurro, overnight stay.

2nd day: sunday

Leave from Porto Azzurro, sail to the town of Cavo, departure for the first leg of hiking (Cavo – Porto Azzurro) 17.6 km, overnight stay in port.

3rd day: monday

Departure for second leg (Porto Azzurro – Marina di Campo), overnight stay.

4th day: tuesday

Departure for third leg (Marina di Campo – Fetovaia), overnight stay in the charming Barbatoia bay.

5th day:wednesday

Departure for the fourth leg (Marciana Marina – Cavo), overnight stay.

6th day: thursday

Cruise round Elba (Marciana Marina – Cavo), overnight stay.

7th day: friday

Cruise round Elba (Cavo – Porto Azzurro), overnight stay.

8th day: saturday

Departure from Porto Azzurro for Piombino.

Description of the hiking route

1st leg – the Eastern Dorsal
Route: Cavo – Porto Azzurro
Time: 8 hours
Distance: 17.6 km.
Highest point 516 m
Total height difference: 878 m
Interest: geological, historical, panoramic

Leave Cavo ( 2 m asl), the Elban town nearest the mainland,  we start the ascent of Monte Grosso surrounded by Mediterranean vegetation.  Arrive on the summit (348 m asl).  Here there is a well preserved signal station (“Il Semaforo”), an important military lookout post during the last world war, there is a superb view.  We cross the Valle delle Fiche (Fig Valley) then up Monte Strega (425 m asl) and along a spectacular crest path, touching Monte Capanello (406 m asl) and Cima del Monte (516 m asl): from here we overlook all of eastern Elba and Portoferraio bay.  Descending we get to the Piana (plateau) della Principessa  (339 m), an important archaeological site. We continue and the leave the striking red rocks of the eastern dorsal.  Passing through olive groves and vineyards we get to Porto Azzurro.

Second leg: The Central Spine
Route: Porto Azzurro – Marina di Campo
Time: 8 hours
Distnace: 15.5 km
Highest point: 377 m
Total height difference: 859 m
Interest: historical, panoramic

On leaving Porto Azzurro we ascend to Capo Galletti (250 m asl), then over the hill into the Buraccio Valley.  We go down the valley past olive groves then up again, surrounded by broom and rosemary plants, as far as the summit of Monte Orello (377 m asl), with its splendid view.  After admiring an old windmill we continue walking in the middle of Elba touching the summit of Monte Barbatoia (368 m asl) and Monte San Martino (360 m asl).  Our route continues under big strawberry trees and tree heath to the summit of Monte Tambone (377 m asl) which presents us with one of the most beautiful views on the Island.  The trip finishes at Marina di Campo.

Third Leg: Thousands of years of Elban secrets
Route: Marina di Campo – Fetovaia
Time: 8 hours
Distance: 18.3 km
Highest point: 645 m
Total height difference: 700 m
Interest: archaeological, historical, naturalistic, landscape.

From Marina di Campo we follow the old footpath to San Piero (217 m asl), on leaving this town we cross by the granite quarries and walk, surrounded by Mediterranean maquis, until we reach a mill ruin and water at Moncione (366 m asl).  Then we cross one of the most interesting archaeological areas of Elba where, apart from a Villanovan necropolis, there are the ancient granite quarries from the Roman era, and  numerous more or less complete columns are still visible today, some are more than ten metres long.  We go up hill again to Pietra Murata (548 m asl) and then we arrive at Macinelle (600 m asl), to find old igloo shaped shepherds’ refuges.  Then, surrounded by the dry Mediterranean vegetation that is found on the south of Elba, we get to La Grottaccia (645 m asl) and Mura (631 m asl), where there is evidence of the most important Villanovan village in the Tuscan Archipelago, with the remains of the spectacular defensive wall often more than two metres high.  During the descent we pass Monte Cenno (529 m asl) and, after passing the plain of Sughere with its fascinating prehistoric tombs surrounded by dolmen, we arrive on Fetovaia beach.

Fourth leg: The summit of Elba
Route: Fetovaia – Marciana Marina   Time: 8 hours
Distance: 19.500 km
Highest Point: 1019 m
Total height difference: 1040 m
Interest: historical-archaeological, naturalistic, landscape.

We leave from Fetovaia beach and follow an old coastal mule track as far as the village of Pomonte, then, surrounded by vine terraces, we go up Pomonte valley to L’Terra (576 m asl).  Then we ascend the spectacular granite peaks of Elba, touching Monte di Cote (950 m asl), La Galera (968 m asl) and Monte Capanne (1019 m asl), the highest point of Elba.  As we follow these footpaths we can see, from on high, all the minor islands of the Tuscan Archipelago, Corsica and a good part of the Tuscan coast.  Going down the north east slope of Monte Capanne, we visit the picturesque borough of Poggio (330 m asl), and following a cool footpath, under the shade of holm oak and chestnut trees, we get to Marciana Marina.

 Info: +39 0565 978005 -  info@ilviottolo.com