Finale Ligure: Inferno flow tour

If you are a serial single track rider looking for a perfect trail and you believe that discovering and exploring is the only way to make a mountain bike ride truly unique….If you are fascinated by the idea of riding your mountain bike over a few days but you are put off by the thought of a bag mounted to your frame or a heavy rucksack…If, as well as enjoying the trails, you would like to taste local delicacies and you think that a good glass of red wine is the perfect ending of a tour with your friends…  ….then this is exactly what you have been waiting for!

Inferno Flow Tour is a mountain bike tour in the spirit of All Mountain supported by a van with a bike trailer.  

The presence of the support vehicle allows the riders to travel light and still be able to ride with all the proper mountain bike kit and equipment; it also allows quick transfers uphill on paved road, in order to maximise the time spent in the saddle off-road.

The tour is organised OVER TWO DAYS and covers a long loop that starts and finishes on the western side of the Ligurian coast, nearby Finale Ligure (in the province of Savona); the furthest point of the tour is Valcasotto (in the province of Cuneo) at the foothills of Bric Mindino mountain. The whole loop is about 80 km long with 2000 metres of climbing and 4000 metres of descending.

At the heart of the itinerary we will discover Alta Val Tanaro, in particular Valdinferno, a fascinating valley known for its wild and challenging sections; it was named by Napoleon Bonaparte on his difficult journey back to France. The main purpose of the tour is to explore, therefore the details of the itinerary are usually defined according to the guests’ preferences and needs. As there is no need to rush, we will have all the time to appreciate the charming natural and historical context, away from the usual tourist destinations. And then, of course, the trails: natural, long, unexpected and fun…. enough to keep you smiling right into the following week!

On the FIRST DAY we will leave Finale Ligure and we will travel up Colle Melogno in the van; afterwards, we will begin our journey riding both on exciting trails and through old historical hamlets, such as Calizzano, Garessio e Valdinferno. An adventure which will lead us to the discovery of the Ligurian outback, still unknown to many, and the southern parts of Piemonte with its wonderful trails. Once we reach Valcasotto, we will stop for the night; the accommodation is an old restored mill where we will find our luggage and have the opportunity to taste some delicious local specialities (https://www.occelli.it/en). The overnight stay is arranged in cosy and comfortable double rooms. On the second day, we will climb up to Colla di Casotto in the van and we will ride the long trail through Garessio 2000, Zuccarello village and Monte Croce Sanctuary (Madonna di Balestrino) before reaching the end of the itinerary in Toirano and transfer to Finale.

The level of riding difficulty varies between S1 and S2; it is therefore not a suitable tour for beginners. The itinerary is totally rideable with a mountain-bike, preferably full-suspension with 140 / 160 mm of travel.

The rider should have a good level of fitness (roughy 1000 mts to climb per day, in part on steep rough terrain). In order to limit the amount of physical effort required and maximize the pleasure on single tracks climbs, you may consider using an e-bike.

THE PACKAGE INCLUDES

• A professional Guide for the entire duration of the tour

• A van with trailer along the entire itinerary

• Uphill transfers in the van on paved roads

• Luggage handling

• Half board accommodation (beverages not included)

• Mountain Bike hire available at preferential prices 

The duration of the tour is normally 2 days; however, it can be easily extended to 3 days by adding an extra activity half way through. The activity will be defined at the time of the booking. The groups will be able to decide between an all mountain loop - either a shuttle assisted or a pedal tour - or a ride in one of the two local bike parks (depending on the opening times of the facility)