Elba is the third-largest Italian island and the largest one that does not begin with the letter S; only Sicily and Sardinia are larger. In the 8th century BCE, the Etruscans discovered iron and semi-precious stones on the island. Because of the ore-smelting activity, the Greeks called it “The Smoky Island.” Although the last mine closed in 1984, the connecting roads, numerous footpaths, and huge slag heaps remain, providing an excellent playground for mountain bikers today.
Elba is where trails meet the sea.
SHORT HISTORY LESSON
From May 1814 to February 1815, Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled to the island of Elba. During his “soft exile,” he reorganized the island’s economy, all the while thinking about how to return to France. If he had had a mountain bike, he probably would have stayed on Elba.
In September 2021, the southern part of the island, just behind the town of Capoliveri, hosted the World Mountain Bike Marathon Championships. That year, we began exploring the area with the MahMTB team and were thrilled. In 2022, we guided our first group of mountain bikers to Elba, followed by more groups in following years. Last year, we spent 30 days there! Our last visit was during the New Year holiday.
We don’t know every trail on the island, but we’re experts on the area where we’re about to ride!
WHERE WILL WE RIDE?
Elba has an area of 224 km² / nearly 90 square miles. The island has a network of trails and hiking paths, which are of course also (very often only!) intended for cyclists. We will spend a few lovely spring days on the eastern part of the island, on the trails between Capoliveri and Innamorata (look up what this means in the dictionary) on one side, and Rio Marina and the northernmost point of the island, Capo Vita, on the other. We will ride our mountain bikes through the mines of Calamita, Ginepro, and Tignitoio.
South of Capoliveri, the slopes of Mt. Calamita are crisscrossed with a network of cycling trails. These are fairly smooth and designed for climbing, but above all, they are designed for descending. The trails are well maintained and groomed because the UCI Legend Cup marathon takes place there every autumn. The trails in the north below Cima del Monte are more rugged but still enjoyable.
Elba is pure mtb joy!
HOW WILL WE RIDE?
The trails are fairly flowy. Although Monte Capane is the highest peak at 1,018 meters (3,350 feet), we won’t be going that high. However, with the sea on one side and the hills on the other, each day will offer just the right amount of elevation for an early season riding. During the activity, tours can be shortened or prolonged as needed. While no part of the trail will be extremly difficult, a solid mountain biking skill set and experience with the terrain will be necessary. Some short sections may require hiking our bikes. Our group will be small, with a maximum of eight riders and a guide.
However, our daily tours are flexible, so we will adapt them to the group.
A licensed mountain bike guide will ride with you on all MTB tours. If the weather and other conditions are fine, we will complete six cycling tours. Of course, you can take a day (or more) off to do something else.
We will pedal our bikes. We will not do “shuttle tours,” but for at least one tour, we will make a van transfer to a remote starting point. Our tours start and end in the same place. All photos were taken during our tours of Elba and best illustrate where and what we will be riding.
THE LOGISTICS
THE LOGISTICS:
We will head to Elba on Saturday morning, April 25. From Slovenia to Piombino, there is about 650 kilometers (400 miles) of highway. In Piombino we will board a ferry. After an hour’s sail, we will arrive in Portoferraio, on the island of Elba. Less than 20 km (some 10 miles) of island road will take us to Capoliveri.
Capoliveri is the ideal starting point for all our tours because it is located in the middle of the cycling area. We usually rent a house or apartments there, but we will discuss your wishes and preferences before taking any action. Of course, you can also arrange your own transportation to the island.
We will leave Elba on Saturday, May 2nd.
ABOUT BIKES AND EQUIPMENT
For our tours on Elba, you will need a mountain bike with proper rough terrain tires. A full-suspension bike is ideal, but a front-suspension bike is sufficient if you are confident riding it on rough terrain.
All tours are suitable for regular, organic, and electric-assisted mountain bikes.
A bike helmet is mandatory, and glasses and gloves are recommended. You will also need a bike backpack, a water bottle or hydration pack, at least one spare inner tube, and appropriate cycling clothing. Knee and elbow protectors are not mandatory, but feel free to bring them if you are used to riding with them.
We can provide you with rental bicycles or some equipment to reduce the amount of luggage you need to travel with. I will have a large toolbox containing tools for basic bike servicing. If any major problems come up, I know some good people at a local bike rental and service shop who are always willing to help.
It’s not about the bike; it’s about the friendship.
PRICE
The price is €450 per person and includes guided mountain biking tours and full trip organisation.
Transportation, ferries, accommodations, and meals are not included in the cost. If you travel with us and stay with us, the estimated basic costs for a week are 400–500 EUR per person.
If you prefer to stay on your own, we can help you with logistical advice, including finding a place to stay.
For registration and more information, contact Matej at matejmah@gmail.com
or mobile/WhatsApp +386 41 413 323
Organization and guiding:
Mah, Hartman Matej s.p.
Podlubnik 1c, Skofja Loka, Slovenia
VAT Nr: SI78674328
Licence Nr: 046 UIAA
EXTRA
We have completed all of the planned tours, but changes may occur due to natural or human factors. All photos published on this page and in the gallery were taken during our cycling tours on Elba between 2021 and 2025.
What you see is what you get!
Click to view a large photo gallery of our last group on Elba from the end of October 2025.
