Max group size: 10

Itinerary

Days 1 & 2: Fly from home to Pisa, then transfer to Elba Island, Porto Azzurro.
Our guides will meet you in Pisa at the airport on June 5/ September 4 and take you for a short visit to the Piazza dei Miracoli, in the heart of Pisa, where you can see the massive Duomo and its campanile, the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. Once on Elba we go by minibus to Porto Azzurro, located on the east coast of the island. This charming town surrounds a natural harbor which has served as a port since the days of the early Etruscans. After you have settled into our hotel, we will gather over a tasty opening dinner and go over the plans for the next days of adventure.

Day 1: in transit

Day 2: D... Hotel Plaza (4 star hotel)

Day 3: Marina di Campo – Lido di Capoliveri.
After a leisurely breakfast and a short drive to Marina di Campo, our guides will give us paddle instructions and help us get settled into our boats. We are then ready for paddling east along the wild and sinuous southern coast of Elba. The paddle is about 24km and will take about 4-5 hours, but there will be plenty of opportunities to stop on the way and explore the rugged coastline. In the afternoon we reach the long sandy beach at Lido di Capoliveri, then transfer back to the Hotel Plaza at Porto Azzurro. Next, it's on to a wine tasting at the vineyards of La Chiusa.

(24 km, 5 hours of paddling)
B,L,D... Hotel Plaza (4 star hotel)

Day 4: Lido di Capoliveri – Porto Azzurro.
We paddle around Punta Delle Ripalte and break for a tour at Ginevro mines at midday. After a picnic lunch and a rest on the beach, we kayak on until we reach Porto Azzuro. Located in the deep inlet of the Mola Gulf, Porto Azzurro is overlooked by the impressive Spanish fort of San Giacomo on one side and Fort Focardo on the other. Porto Azzurro means azure blue in Italian, and when you enter the narrow cove where the town is hidden, you will see why! The town itself has a pretty main square, picturesque alleys lined with shops, hilly streets of pastel painted houses, and its own white sand beach, famous for its rock formations. In the late afternoon you can relax or visit the nearby sanctuary Madonna di Monserrato by walking through a wild and scenic valley.

(25 km, about 4 to 5 hours of paddling)
B,L,D... Hotel Plaza (4 star hotel)

Day 5: Porto Azzurro – Cavo.
After breakfast we set out for the small town of Cavo and arrive after lunch. Cavo is surrounded by green pinewood and a lush maquis. Its history goes back thousands of years. One of the first urban areas of Elba, its original inhabitants were Etruscans. In fact, an Etruscan workshop has recently been found in Cavo. The village was later inhabited by the Romans who built a Patrician villa in Capo Castello. Cavo was destroyed by barbarians during the first millennium AD. This hamlet has a small lovely port with a seafront. Time permitting, you can take an afternoon walk to the Capo Castello Promontory where there are remains of an old Roman Villa.

We settle in for the evening at our four star hotel in the lovely and exclusive gulf of Biodola. From the fine sand beach you can see the islands of Corsica and Capraia on the horizon. Fresh sea breezes stir the air. Clear, bright water creates a magical palette of colours that change with the lazy movement of the sun. This is truly a paradise for bathers.

(21 km, 4.5 hrs)
B,L,D... Hotel Biodola (4 star hotel)

Day 6: Cavo- Magazzini

After a leisurely breakfast, we begin our journey west and south. Stopping now and again to explore secluded beaches, we will reach our destination, the maritime village of Magazzini. A popular holiday resort, the pebbly beach affords dramatic views of the nearby town of Portoferraio. In the evening, we return to our hotel.

(18 km, 4 hrs)
B,L,D…Hotel Biodola (4 star hotel)

Day 7: La Ghaie (Portoferrairo) – Marciana Marina.
Nestled along a beautiful arc of beach, the ancient village of Marciana Marina is a popular resort. Its harbour is dominated by the famous and historic Tower Medicea, also known as "Torre Saracena", part of a warning system to sound the alarm and alert the population of Marciana Marina when Saracen warships were spotted. The marina forms a beautiful promenade decorated with a row of tamarisk, and the gardens of Mediterranean plants and flowers make this one of the most famous seaside resorts throughout the Island. We check into our hotel in the late afternoon.
(17 k, 4 hours)

B,L,D... Hotel La Perla del Golfo (4 star hotel)

Day 8: Marciana Marina – Pomonte.
Our hotel lies on a panoramic spot over the Golf of Procchio only a few steps from shopping and a wonderful bay, one of the most striking of the island. A long fine sandy beach with softly declining depth and clear waters make it perfect for an early morning swim. Right after breakfast we set out for Pomonte.

After some brisk kayaking we arrive at the little town bordered on the sea by pebbly beaches. In front of one of these (that of Quartiere), near Ogliera Rock, at a depth of 9 m (plainly visible from the surface) lies a cargo ship sunk in 1972. Don't lose the opportunity to make a visit: see the huge wreck, by now the habitat of numerous species of fish, which will give you great pleasure.

Return in the mid-afternoon to relax in the hotel.
(20 km, 5 hours)
B,L,D... Hotel La Perla del Golfo (4 star hotel)


Day 9: Pomonte – Marina de Campo.
Our final day of paddling begins after a late breakfast. Our paddle is 4 hours long today and takes us back where we started at Marina De Campo. Here is an opportunity for some sight seeing and shopping for little gifts and souvenirs. In the evening we celebrate and toast our successful circumnavigation of Elba.
B,L,D…. Hotel La Perla del Golfo (4 star hotel)


Day 10: Transfer to Portoferraio.
After breakfast we transfer to the harbor of Portoferrairo for the onward journey to the mainland by Hydrofoil boat.
B… Return home

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