Every weekend from May 9th to June 25th and from August 30th to September 30th, the Punta Ala Trail Center opens its doors to enthusiasts with Gravel-Mania weekends, the new gravel experience offering where bikes, natural landscapes, and local cuisine perfectly combine.

Thanks to the know-how gained in organizing notable events such as Unpaved Roads, Grinduro, and Fiorino Mud, an exclusive adventure proposal is born for all gravel lovers: two days in the saddle to explore the most charming corners of the Maremma, from wild coasts to inland routes. Participants will be able to ride along white roads, tracks, and trails, discovering picturesque Tuscan medieval villages set in a stunning landscape.

Giacomo, Bibo, Francesco, and Raffaele, our expert local guides and deep connoisseurs of the area, will lead you on routes that have marked the major gravel events of the 2023 season, carefully selected for their beauty and diversity.

The weekend program includes two distinct tours, one on Saturday and one on Sunday, to ensure a complete and unforgettable experience.

Saturday features the Grindurito Tour, a medium-length ride covering approximately 60 km with a total elevation gain of 700 meters, on mixed terrain (asphalt and dirt).

Starting from the Punta Ala Camp & Resort, participants will cycle through the rolling hills of the Maremma, passing golden sunflower fields, pink blossoms of fruit trees, and the heady scent of the Mediterranean scrub. The route takes riders through small villages and medieval towns like Caldana and Gavorrano, along the historic mining roads in the Parco delle Colline Metallifere, extensive vineyards, and, of course, the iconic Tuscan cypress-lined avenues.


A stop at Morisfarms allows participants to taste local delicacies with a wine tasting session. The return along the coast then offers the most spectacular part of the route, rejuvenating for both eyes and spirit. It provides wonderful views of the azure sea as you cycle along the Via delle Costiere. The tour inevitably concludes with a well-deserved dip in the sea, followed by a sunset aperitif, with your feet in the sand, at the Chiosco Beach Bar of the Punta Ala Camp & Resort.

On Sunday, participants get back in the saddle for another day of gravel riding with the Unpaved Tour, covering about 60km and 650 meters of elevation gain.

After an initial segment shared with the previous day’s route up to the Tirli junction, the path diverges towards Castiglione della Pescaia, passing through the quiet hinterland of Vetulonia and its archaeological park. Amidst woods, vineyards, and olive groves, the route weaves through the remnants of ancient Etruscan and Roman civilizations, leading to the first stop at the azienda Antinori de “Le Mortelle”. Here, the lunch break includes a tasting of typical wines, platters of cured meats and cheeses, water, and coffee.

With bellies full and taste buds delighted, riders continue on a flat route towards the Diaccia Botrona Natural Reserve, an internationally significant wetland area crucial for the wintering, stopover, and nesting of numerous bird species. Here, it is easy to spot herons, flamingos, cranes, and ospreys. At this point, passing through Castiglione della Pescaia becomes practically mandatory, if only for a selfie and an ice cream by the sea.

During the return journey, riders pass through Pian di Rocca and Val di Nappo, tackling a final uphill stretch followed by a long and enjoyable descent that brings us back to the starting point. There, a final plunge and an aperitif at the Chiosco Beach Bar await before heading home, with dreams of the next adventure already flickering in our minds!

To book the weekend experience, taking advantage of the accommodation + tour package, you can visit the Punta Ala Camp & Resort website at: https://www.campingpuntala.it/offerte/Gravel-experience-in-coppia-un-weekend-da-bikers/.

For more information or to arrange one of the two tours with our guides, please write to: info@visitpuntaala.bike.