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For several years now, the Alta Via del Sale has been synonymous for most with the Limone-Monesi route: a former military road built in the 1930s that runs from Quota 1400 to Monesi, though without including the scenic variants along the ridgeline.
Via del Sale, three words to indicate a route and a historical pairing: salt, understood as a commodity of primary necessity, and the route towards the sea, traced along the ridges of the Ligurian Alps.
A route that crosses the extraordinary karst plateaus of the Carsene, giving way to forests reaching toward the sky, and finally sloping down into a rare amalgam of blue shades stretching all the way to the Ligurian Sea.
The common thread of the entire itinerary is a high-altitude white road and a mule track that intersect at times—one along the slopes, the other touching the scenic ridges of the Ligurian Alps—opening up surprising scenarios destined to be indelibly etched in the eyes of those who choose to cross them at the slow pace of a mountain bike.
This proposal include the accompaniment of
Erik Rolando
Cycle Touring Guide, FCI Master Instructor
National and regional cycling sports guide since the early 2000s, National Instructor of the Italian Cycling Federation, and lecturer in Cycle Touring Guide courses in the Piemonte and Valle d’Aosta regions. A lifelong cyclist and passionate lover of the mountains, mountain biking, and cycling travel. They have authored several guides on MTB and cycle touring, embracing the philosophy of sport and nature as a way of life. After years of cycling trips around the world and training in riding techniques and bicycle culture from a 360-degree perspective, they decided to design experiences for pedal travelers and those looking to improve their cycling skills. Their goal is to combine bikepacking or single-track rides with the warmth of a mountain refuge and the added joy of local cuisine and folklore.
Contact meTravel program
DAY 1: departure from Limone Piemonte-Chalet Le Marmotte towards Colle di Tenda. Ride through 19th-century forts and optional detour on the Strada Cannoniera. Reach Rifugio Don Barbera at Colle dei Signori (2,070 m), with an optional detour to Monte Saccarello, the highest peak in the Ligurian Alps.
Evening arrival, dinner, and overnight stay at a mountain hut/inn.
Distance: 45 km
D+: 1,340 m D-: 1,000 m
Technical Difficulty: UH S1/S2 – DH S1/S2
Type: trail / dirt road / mule track
Max elevation: 2,235 m
DAY 2: breakfast and departure for Monte Frontè, Passo del Garezzo, Galleria Buia and Collardente. Descent, based on timing and route/group assessments, to Triora or Realdo. Lunch, departure for Molini di Triora and descent into Valle Argentina toward Arma di Taggia on the bike path along the coast. Return by shuttle bus.
Distance: 65 km
D+: 730 m D-: 2,200 m
Technical Difficulty: UH S1/S3 – DH S1/S3
Type: trail / dirt road / mule track
Max elevation: 2,175 m
Is it for me?
Adventure
Commitment
Landscapes
Travel factor
Gastronomy
Culture and folklore
LEGEND: based on our personal experience, the evaluations give a subjective, measured and highly reliable value of the elements that make up the travel experience.
Other informations
Departure and return
Limone Piemonte – Elevation 1400m
Duration
2 days / 1 night
Guaranteed departure
Minimum 5 partecipants
Documents
Identity Card
The participation fee includes
- 1 night / 2 days with half-board treatment (breakfast and dinner) in partner accommodations with shared room arrangements
- Assistance and accompaniment by a certified cycling guide from the FCI and the Piedmont region
- Shuttle bus for the return
Price per person
from € 370
Deposit of € 93
Payment Methods and Cancellation PolicyDeparture
- 7 - 8 August 2027 Proceed with registration
Other destinations
Alta Via del Sale: An MTB Adventure with Coastal Terminus
- 5 - 6 September 2026
