BACKCOUNTRY CASTELVECCHIO: The Heritage Tour 

Castelvecchio: The Heritage Tour 

"A true journey through time, blending the charm of Ligurian history with the thrill of technical and natural riding. We’ll start our adventure in our legendary Land Rover Defender 4x4, heading toward the 1,000-meter peaks of the Melogno Pass. From there, we’ll enter the majestic Barbottina Beech Forest: after about 30 minutes of pedaling through one of Europe’s most beautiful forests, we’ll reach the trailheads.

The terrain here is pure magic: deep forest loam, incredibly flowy, and packed with natural compressions. In the afternoon, the landscape changes dramatically as we enter the Castelvecchio di Rocca Barbena area: you’ll find a perfect mix of technical sections on solid rock and berms designed to elevate your riding. This unique experience concludes in Zuccarello, among ancient porticoes and legends. As always, our guide will capture your best moves on photo and video, ready to be enjoyed together over a cold beer at the end of the day!"

Our "Quality, Not Quantity" Philosophy

At MTB Italy, we believe the group makes the adventure. That’s why we guarantee small groups of maximum 7 riders + the guide, ensuring continuous assistance, safety, and an authentic experience away from the crowds.

Technical Details & Requirements

• Ideal for: All Mountain / Enduro bikes (recommended travel: 140-160 mm).

• Required Skill Level: Intermediate/Advanced riders. You should feel comfortable on S2/S3 (Single Trail Scale) terrain or Red Trails in European Bike Parks. The terrain here features more technical and rocky natural sections.

  • North American Riders: This tour is ideal for riders comfortable on Blue Square / Black Diamond trails.

• E-bikes: E-bike riders are welcome! As this is a group tour, it is required to maintain the group’s pace to share the best possible experience with your fellow riders.

• Tour Pace: This is not a race! We take the time to enjoy the technical sections and the views.

Daily Schedule

• 08:30: Meet at our headquarters in Finale Ligure.

• 09:00: Departure in the Land Rover Defender 4x4. The shuttle follows us all day (approx. 30 min of pedaling through the forest to reach the first trailhead; other starts may require 5–15 min of pedaling).

• Morning: Crossing the Barbottina forest and flowy descents.

• 13:00: Lunch break at a typical local farmhouse or restaurant to taste the flavors of the backcountry.

• Afternoon: Exploring the rocky trails toward Castelvecchio and final descent into Zuccarello.

• 16:30 / 17:00: Return to Finale Ligure for the final beer and photo/video exchange.

The Trails We Will Ride:

• Morning (Barbottina/Bardineto): Appendaun, Super Canaletta, Tobogazzo.

• Afternoon (Castelvecchio): Cà du Campo, Euforia.

If the group is fast, the guide may add variations to the program. (In case of closures due to maintenance, weather, or hunting, the guide will adapt the program to the best daily options available).

Useful Info & Gear

• Lunch: Approximately €18–20 per person (not included). Vegetarian and gluten-free options are available.

• Protection: Helmet is mandatory (open-face or full-face). Knee pads are highly recommended.

• In Your Pack: Every rider must carry a spare inner tube. We recommend a windproof/waterproof jacket: the temperature difference between the 1,000m altitude of the forest and the coast can be significant!