The perfect MTB week in trail heaven – Finale Ligure

Finale Ligure has long been known as the Garden of Eden of the MTB areas among Enduro bikers. Originally famous as a seaside resort, it's a holiday paradise for sun-seeking outdoor enthusiasts. The Ligurian Alps directly hug the sea, making beach visits and biking (or climbing) possible on the same day. After a long day in the saddle, you can tuck into a big plate of pasta or fresh fish, washed back with some gelato or tiramisu – bliss!

The special thing about Finale Ligure is not only its unique location but also its trails. Mountain bikers come back year after year to ride over 100 enduro trails here. However, this area is not for beginners. The terrain is steep and rocky at the least and often blocked, rooty and full of tight curves. There’s also plenty of exposed slopes on some trails. So the saying goes among enduro bikers: ‘the trails are difficult or finale-difficult.’ Biking here is on another level than elsewhere, even compared to the Alps.

You won't find any easy trails in this Collection as there simply aren't any, so come prepared. In addition to a fully-functioning mountain bike with sufficient suspension (I recommend at least 150 millimetres), adequate protective equipment is vital. Many bikers here ride with full-face helmets, knee and elbow pads and back protectors. If you aren’t sure if your bike is up to the finale trails, you can rent one on site.

Finale Ligure is a very large MTB area. The legendary endless descents mean that you will have to pedal uphill a lot. There are no chair lifts here, but there are a lot of shuttle companies that can transport you through the mountainous hinterland for the day. Most of the time there is also a MTB guide on the shuttle who shows you the best trails in the area, but you can also go on your own. Hard-boiled bikers take on the very steep and long uphills themselves. Decide for yourself what you want to do or just change from day to day. And, if you want a day out of the saddle, you can chill on the beach and soak up the sun.

You can get to Finale Ligure either by car (from Munich via Brenner or Switzerland in about eight hours) or by train (about ten hours). Finale Ligure is also easy to reach by plane via Genoa or Milan. Locally, getting around without a car is actually no problem. You can either stay overnight in Finale Ligure, close to the beach, or in the charming medieval Finalborgo. Shuttles run every morning from there, and it's a quick ten-minute cycle to the Finale Ligure from the parking lot.