A’qto, Australia’s leading provider of boutique Italian cycling tours, has announced the launch of two new ‘Adventure Tours’ for 2026: the Sardinia Adventure Tour (29 June–5 July) and the Cilento Coast Adventure Tour (8–15 September). These seven-day, small-group experiences are designed for active travellers who want to explore Italy through a more diverse and immersive lens.
Blending cycling, hiking, sea kayaking, and curated cultural experiences, the tours offer a richer way to move through the landscape, with flexibility built in. Each itinerary is capped at just 14 guests and offers a carefully balanced mix of challenge, rest, and connection.
“These new Adventure Tours are about welcoming a broader audience. They have been created for travellers who are looking for more than a cycling holiday,” says A’qto co-founder Nancy De Losa. “They might love riding, but also want time off the bike to immerse themselves in local food, art, nature, and wellness. These itineraries reflect that balance.”
Why Sardinia and Cilento?
A’qto’s founders chose Sardinia and the Cilento Coast for their wild natural beauty, rich traditions, and slower pace of life. Both regions are unspoilt paradises where the mountains meet the sea, offering the ideal terrain for varied outdoor activities and meaningful cultural immersion. Each destination brings its own flavour: Sardinia leans into the arts, history, and rugged adventure, while Cilento, home of the Mediterranean diet and a UNESCO World Heritage-listed national park, invites a deeper exploration of slow food, tradition, and wellness.
“Interestingly, both regions are known for longevity,” says Damian Hancock, A’qto’s co-founder. “There’s something inspiring about travelling in places where people live simply, move naturally, eat well, and stay connected. These are places where you feel healthier just being there.”
Adventure Beyond the Bike
Unlike A’qto’s Classic Cycling Tours, which focus on road cycling, these new itineraries invite guests to choose their own rhythm. Strong riders can still enjoy 300–350km of cycling, while others may mix it up with hikes, sea kayaking, boat tours, artisan visits, cooking classes, or even an afternoon of spa and relaxation.
Highlights of the Sardinia Adventure Tour include:
- Riding, hiking and kayaking around Isola La Maddalena
- Sea Kayaking in the Gulf of Orosei
- Hiking Gorropu Canyon and Sardinia’s Gennargentu mountains
- A dinner in the mountains with local shepherds
- Optional hands-on art experiences such as mosaic or ceramics
Highlights of the Cilento Coast Adventure Tour include:
- Multi-sport exploration of the Cilento Coast, a UNESCO National Park
- Riding, hiking and kayaking around medieval Maratea
- A local cooking class with a renowned chef and his nonna
- A visit to a buffalo mozzarella producer and slow food tastings in the home of the Mediterranean diet
- Paddling into the mesmerising blue grotto of Palinuro
A Natural Evolution for A’qto
These tours reflect the growing appetite for highly personalised, small-group adventures that combine movement, mindfulness, and meaning. A’qto has noticed rising demand from solo travellers, couples with different cycling abilities, and small groups looking for more flexibility and variety in their daily activities.
“These tours are a natural progression for us. They bring together everything we love – active days, slow food, authentic connection and offering guests the chance to explore Italy beyond the saddle.”
With the freedom to tailor their own adventure, guests can challenge themselves physically while also engaging more deeply with places, people, and culture. The result is a rich, balanced Italian experience – on and off the bike.
