Dolomites to Lake Garda Cycling Holiday

7 days

Duration

Easy

Difficulty

Italy

Location

April – September

Availability

Easy cycling amid rugged mountain peaks, pristine lakes and alpine meadows

Discover the traditional village life of the Venosta and Adige valleys

The landscape becomes ever more Mediterranean as you cycle south through vineyards and orchards

Enjoy delicious local cuisine based on hearty mountain dishes

Relax at the thermal baths in the spa town of Merano

Cycling holiday in the Dolomites: Passo Resia to Lake Garda

Cycle through the magnificent glacial valleys of South Tyrol and Trentino and discover the traditional lifestyle in the quaint old towns along the way.

Your cycling trip begins just south of the Austrian-Italian border at the Resia Pass (Reschen Pass in German). From the high alpine Passo Resia at 1455m you descend all the way down to the sub-Mediterranean shores of Italy’s largest lake, Lake Garda. En route you will take in grand views of the Alps and Dolomites while enjoying leisurely cycling through premium vineyards and lush apple orchards. Visit charming towns such as Silandro, with the highest church tower in South Tyrol, and elegant Merano boasting a still very traditional atmosphere. In Bolzano you can savour a creamy cappuccino while enjoying magnificent views of the surrounding vineyard-covered hills with the rugged spires of the Dolomites as a dramatic backdrop. In Trento, don’t miss the Piazza Duomo with its beautiful fountain, as well as the imposing impressive Buonconsiglio Castle. Your cycling holiday ends in the glamorous town of Riva del Garda situated on the north shore of gorgeous Lake Garda.

7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS

From €830 per person sharing*

*A high-season supplement will apply in the busy summer months.
*Discounts available for groups of 3 in triple room. Please enquire for prices.
*A single supplement charge will apply for solo cyclists.

BIKE RENTAL

If you don’t bring your own, you can rent a bicycle from us. You will find it waiting for you at your first hotel. Our adult hybrid-bikes are provided with comfortable seats, reliable components, 21 gears and Shimano Alivio components. All bikes are cleaned and overhauled before delivery.

All bikes are equipped with 1 rear side bag, a repair kit and a padlock.

*Odometer can’t be put on trekking bikes, it is integrated in the computer only on e-bikes.

PRICES FOR 5-DAY BIKE RENTAL

Hybrid/Trekking bike (21-gear): €95
E-bike: €120
Bike helmet: €8

Prices include bike delivery, collection and theft insurance.

ACCOMMODATION

All accomodations are carefully selected because of their location, atmosphere and/or unique services. All rooms are en-suite.

We choose comfortable 3* hotels where all rooms have private en-suite bathroom.

You can find below the standard hotels of this trip. If a hotel is fully booked, then we will book a similar one for you and inform you about the alternative booked.

Extra overnight: You can book additional night(s) in Silandro or Riva di Garda.

Silandro: Hotel Goldene Rose***
Merano: Hotel Garni Zima***
Caldaro: Pension Remichhof ***
Trento: Hotel America***
Riva del Garda: Hotel Portici****

AVAILABILITY

You can start on any Saturday, subject to availability, only from April 22^nd to September 23^rd

If you are at least 4 participants, you can start any day of the week, subject to availability, with no extra cost. Supplements will apply for less than 4 people starting any other day of the week (price on request)

INCLUDED

6 x overnight stays in selected hotels
6 x breakfasts
Luggage transport between hotels
Day 2: private transfer (with bikes) to Passo Resia
Detailed route notes and maps with tracks on
GPS tracks
Pre-departure information pack
Bike theft insurance (if renting a bike)
24/7 telephone support

NOT INCLUDED

Flights & travel insurance
Lunches or dinners
Travel to Silandro or from Riva del Garda
Anything else not mentioned in the Included section

OPTIONAL EXTRAS

Bike rental
Additional nights at start or end of trip
Single room supplement
Transfer from Bolzano station to Silandro

DIFFICULTY

The difficulty level of this tour is rated as easy overall. The route is gently downhill almost all of the way, with some small climbs. You will be cycling almost entirely on dedicated cycle paths. Suitable for families with children ages 10 and up.

Day 1: Arrival in Silandro

Arrive in Silandro (Schlanders in German), the chief town of Venosta Valley. The town is dominated by the soaring 90 metre-high steeple of its parish church, the tallest church tower in South Tyrol. Settle into your welcoming family-run hotel before taking a leisurely afternoon stroll around this pleasant town.

Overnight: Silandro (Schlanders)

Day 2: Transfer to Passo Resia and cycle to Silandro

Distance: 50 km | Ascent: 350 m | Descent: 1,300 m

Start off with a one-hour transfer to Passo Resia, where you can have your bike adjusted before hitting the road. Cruising past Lake Resia, a strange steeple juts out of the water. This is the submerged chuch steeple of the old settlement of Curon Venosta, which was flooded to create the reservoir. Your route then snakes downhill past quaint villages like Burgusio and Clusio. This panoramic bike path leads next to fabulous fortified Glorenza (Italy’s smallest walled town), which makes an ideal and incredibly scenic lunch stop. Pedalling along the peaceful River Adige, your route meanders among apple orchards. Linger in Lasa at the marble museum and end your day with a short stretch to Silandro.

Overnight: Silandro (Schlanders)

Day 3: Cycle from Silandro to Merano

Distance: 38 km | Ascent: 150 m | Descent: 470 m

Roll down the Venosta Valley beneath snowy peaks and pedal into pine woods for a bit of shade. Lively Naturno makes an ideal spot for a coffee break and some people-watching. The next scenic section leads down a narrow gorge, before emerging into an immense glacial valley.

Historic Merano dates back to the 9^th century and is a green and pleasant town with spacious parks and exotic botanical gardens. This vibrant spa town is renowned for its mild microclimate. You can rest and relax or stretch your legs as you amble the pretty promenade and discover surprising hidden corners.

Overnight: Merano

Day 4: Cycle from Merano to Caldaro via Bolzano

Distance: 48 km | Ascent: 340 m | Descent: 475 m

Today you will first cycle past rows upon rows of apple trees to majestic Bolzano, the capital of South Tyrol. Your route takes you past Europe’s biggest apple plantation before winding south among rolling vineyards and finally past Caldaro (Kaltern in German) to your lakeshore hotel.

Overnight: Lake Caldaro (Kalterer See)

Day 5: Cycle from Caldaro to Trento

Distance: 53 km | Ascent: 295 m | Descent: 325 m

From the crystal-clear waters of Lake Caldaro the ride follows the beautiful Strada del Vino (Wine road), leading through numerous small wine villages. You then descend into the Adige valley and connect to the bike path that will take you all the way to Trento. You can take a breather along the way at one of the ‘Bici Grill’ (cyclists bars) and visit ancient villages like Egna and Salorno.

Finally you arrive in Trento, where you will find your accommodation among the Renaissance fountains and medieval frescoes of the old city centre.

Overnight: Trento

Day 6: Cycle from Trento to Riva del Garda

Distance: 48 km | Ascent: 150 m | Descent: 500 m

The first part of the route follows a bike path along the blue-green waters of the Adige River to reach the town of Rovereto. Then a gentle ascent leads west to a small pass, where you are rewarded with stunning views over Lake Garda. Round your day off with one final section downhill and follow Riva del Garda’s narrow and twisting medieval alleys all the way to your hotel.

Overnight: Riva del Garda

Day 7: Departure Riva del Garda!

Your bike adventure comes to an end this morning after breakfast. Departure is from Riva del Garda, by bus or taxi. An optional private transfer can be booked in advance. There are easy connections from Rovereto train station to your airport of departure.

Optional extra route

If you would like some more cycling, it is possible to book an extra night in Riva del Garda and take a spectacular 45 km loop ride into the ‘Valle dei Laghi’ (Valley of the Lakes). Please enquire for info and prices.

Travel to Silandro (Schlanders)

The best airports to fly into are Innsbruck (INN), Verona (VRN) and Venice (VCE). All three are serviced by both major and low cost international carriers.

From Verona Airport take the public Aerobus shuttle to the central Railway Station (Verona Porta Nuova). The Aerobus shuttle runs every 20 minutes and reaches the central station after 10 minutes. You can find timetables here.
From there, you can take a train to Silandro. This takes about 4 hours with a change in Bolzano and in Merano.
From Innsbruck Airport you first take a 20-minute bus or train to Innsbruck Central Station (Hauptbahnhof). From there, you can take a train to Silandro (change in Brenner, Merano or Bolzano).

Check train timetables on www.trenitalia.com.

If you come with your own car, please note that the hotels we use in Silandro do not have a private car park of their own, but there are free parking areas in the town.

Departure from Lake Garda

On departure, you always have to take a public bus in Riva del Garda to reach the train station in Rovereto. Trains connect Rovereto to Verona Porta Nuova and Venezia Mestre or Santa Lucia train stations.

If flying from Innsbruck airport (INN), take a train from Rovereto to Innsbruck.

You can check train timetables on: