Finale Ligure has become a mecca for enduro mountain biking. Since the town's trails opened up to the greater public in the early 2000s and especially since the introduction of capable enduro bikes, we have seen the Finale Ligure trail network expand and develop year on year. Paired with it's location next to the beach on the Mediterranean coast, and the warm, generous Ligurian people it's become a must-visit destination for mountain bikers from across the globe.
What is the best way to experience the area? There are many ways to approach booking a riding trip in Finale, no matter if it's your first time or you're a seasoned veteran, this is a destination like no other and we feel a package bringing all the elements together for you makes sense when you've considered all the details...
Finale gets gnarly
Uplifts
At Atlas we run 2 vans, splitting them by the ability and vibe of each group. We ride every zone in the Finale Outdoor Region, we have adventurous and highly capable guides and drivers that adapt and plan interesting and diverse programs depending on the group. We have innovative ways of getting to and breaking down each zone to make sure you see as much of the area as possible, while having as much fun on the bike as you can. There is some pedalling involved, just enough to make you feel you've earned the descents.
There is water, tools, snacks and. great tunes on all of the vans, vibes are good and you're looked after by pros.
Guiding
Atlas only employs professional, experienced, qualified guides. The least qualified guides we use are owners of the business. Full medical and outdoor training is essential, and we add in our own personal Atlas touches to the way they approach a day on the hill with our clients ensuring each day is memorable.
A key component that makes this work is we get to know you over the course of a week, you get to know your guide and your fellow riders. We're able to build a program for your riding time that best suits what you are looking for. It can take a day to find your feet, the terrain, your group, your guide so having the same group really helps move things along.
You'll also have our team on hand at the accommodation, who are able to relay information to our guides and drivers in a seamless way, to help further the experience.
Some of the back drops are stunning
Accommodation
For Atlas package tours we run our own villa 1 street back from the beach in Finale Ligure, and around 400m from the main square. It's prime location is not the only selling point however, the bike storage and bike wash, tools and workshop area and communal vibe with lounge and kitchen upstairs really set it apart from just booking a hotel or apartment.
Having breakfast each morning in the villa and getting back to a hosted environment brings the best aspects of a hotel and having a self-catered accommodation. Of course you should bear in mind that on 4 of the nights of your stay with us in Finale Ligure, you'll have dinner included.
Washing facilities are on hand, places to dry your kit if needed, somewhere to hang your helmets and stash smelly shoes. Having a team there to make the villa presentable for when you return from the trails, it all counts!
Eating Out
Finale Ligure and it's surrounds have some amazing places to eat out. Representing great value with stunning Ligurian produce and cooking styles on offer. You can find incredible pizza and pasta of course. It's seafood and meat where you'll find sole of the best dining, with Finale's proximity to the sea you'll expect some great fish on the menus, while Piedmont and Tuscany, famous for their cattle are only afew hours away and supply sole incredible steak.
Main courses will set you back anywhere from €10 - €30 depending on where you're eating.
If you can make your way into the hills in the evenings there are some really outstanding osteria's for a special night.
Atlas offers 4 nights catered as part of our week-long tour, with 1 night a welcome pizza and wine evening, getting to know everyone on the tour with you. We then follow that up with 3 further stops in both Finale Ligure and further up into the hills, where we'll drive you to one of our favourite special spots.
Getting to Finale Ligure
Getting yourself to Finale Ligure usually involves a fight to Nice airport, at least it does if you're travelling from outside of Europe, from the UK or live more than afew hours drive away.
Getting yourself from Nice airport can be relatively straightforward on the train, it does make sense if the is one or two travellers. You need to take yourself and your bike from the airport to the station, then change onto a line going to Finale Ligure, nearly always with a change of train in Ventimiglia. So at least 2 changes of train and a walk from the airport to the station, and again to your accommodation. The train takes 3/4 hours including the changes and costs €20 - €30 each way.
Atlas includes transfers from Nice or Genoa Airport as part of your package tour with us.
Booking a Package Holiday
This is without a doubt the most hassle-free way of experiencing Finale Ligure. Hassle-free also means efficient, which also means more time for the actual holiday. The riding, the beers, and the relaxing on the beach just come so easily when you're met at the airport by your driver, taken to your villa with bike storage, bike wash, and tools, with somewhere to store your bike bags. Your accommodation is ready and complete with common spaces to enjoy, a hearty breakfast served and your evenings out pre-booked and hosted by our team, even shuttles in the evening to secret spots in the hills for amazing dining out.
Your shuttles and guides are ready and waiting for you next to the accommodation each morning with a plan for your group, that you've been riding with all week, for the day. Even if groups are mixed on one of our tours, you'll 9 times out of 10 make a new friend or two, but importantly the service is clean and easy because guides aren't getting used to new riders each day, which can happen on public shuttle services.
When it's time to go there's no stress, simply hop on your transfer back to the airport a mix of tired, stoked, refreshed, and checking your calendar to see when you can do it all again.
Yes, we are biased but there is a reason we do it this way, and having hosted so many of our own clients over the years, spoken to others who have not booked with us, or those that have only booked a transfer, it really does seem grouping the key elements together really does make for the best holiday experience.
How to book
Booking could not be easier, simply check the Finale Ligure Uplift Adventure Tour page, read through the offer, and with live availability at the bottom of the page, click on the date you would like travel and go from there.
#ONEPEDALAHEAD