Enjoy the lakes
Varenna, Lago Como
Lago Como
Trenino Rosso
Italian Alps
Passo Stelvio
Kaltern
Passo di Costalunga
Maratona dles Dolomites
Maratona dles Dolomites
Passo Tre Croci
Valdobbiadene B&B
Monfumo roads
Group dinner
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| Day 1 Pallanza
We’ll meet at the hotel at 2 p.m. for a brief orientation, then you’ll have the remainder of the afternoon to assemble/fit bikes and relax at one of the many outdoor cafés. Enjoy the view from our lakeside hotel, a stroll along the shoreline promenade or join us for a short ride along Lago Maggiore. Welcome dinner together.
Pallanza, located on Lago Maggiore, is unmistakably Mediterranean in atmosphere, with palms and oleanders lining the lakeside promenades, and has one of the mildest climates on the lake. Pallanza is home to the famous botanical gardens of Villa Taranto, which has over 20,000 species of plants.
Day 2 Varenna, Lago Como
Ride 59 miles/2,500 feet
We’ll ride along the shorelines of three of the most beautiful Italian lakes. We’ll begin with a short spin to where we’ll board the ferry across Lago Maggiore. We’ll follow the eastern shoreline before riding east into Switzerland—please bring your passport.
We’ll ride along Lago Lugano to the ferry across Lago Como and to our nearby lakeside hotel in Varenna—there’s a great view from our hotel terrace overlooking the lake. Varenna is arguably the nicest village on Lago Como, shaded by pines and plane trees and almost completely free of souvenir shops. Dinner on your own.
Ride Option: 13 miles/1,500 ft. Ride to the famous Madonna del Ghisalo chapel—a shrine devoted to cycling with mementos of the most famous riders of the Giro (jerseys and bikes) overlooking Lago Como. From Bellagio, it’s a very scenic climb (7 miles/1,661 ft.) along very steep switchbacks along a beautiful mountain road.
Day 3 Bormio
Ride 37 miles/2,500 feet
Our ride today is 75% downhill! We start the day with a short, one-hour transfer by train or van to Tirano where we again enter Switzerland and board the Trenino Rosso del Bernina (Red Swiss Train-the steepest cog railway in Europe) as it winds its way along a stunning route through the mountains on the way to St. Moritz.
We’ll disembark at Passo Bernina at 7,638 feet. Following a three-mile descent, we head back for Italy via Passo Forcola di Livigno (7,595 ft.) before descending nine miles down the valley to Livigno and onward to our next two short cols, the Passo d'Eira (7,244 ft.), lunch at the café at Passo Foscagno (7,516 ft.) and then a glorious descent of 15 miles/3,491 feet to Bormio. Tonight, we’ll enjoy the local Valtellina cuisine at our dinner together.
Day 4 Bormio Loop Ride/Spa
Ride Options: 0-32 miles/4,563 feet
Climb the famous Passo Gavia (16 miles/4,563 ft.) or Bormio 2000, both of which were ridden in the 2004 Giro d'Italia, or take an easy ride to some of the scenic mountain villages lining both sides of the valley. Hike in the nearby high alpine valleys, enjoy a massage or wellness treatment at the thermal baths near our hotel or simply relax—the choice is yours! Dinner on your own.
Bormio, located at the base of Passo Stelvio and Passo Gavia, hosted the 1985 World Alpine Ski Championships and is now one of Europe's largest summer skiing areas. It’s a thermal spa center and offers opportunities for thermal baths and massages. Bormio still retains cobblestone streets and frescoed palaces from the 15th and 16th centuries.
Day 5 Kaltern
Ride Options: 62-84 miles/5100-6,304 feet
Today is the day you’ve been training for, the Passo Stelvio (12 miles/5,304 feet)—one of the highest mountain passes in Europe and part of the 2005 Giro d'Italia! Enjoy descending the switchbacks (17 miles/5,993 ft.) to the valley floor in Prat as you enter the Sud Tyrol, where German is the prominent language.
We’ll continue down the valley on bike paths along apple orchards and take in views of hillside castles, including Reinhold Meissner Castle, before ending our day with a final easy climb to Appiano, dotted with more than 40 castles and manor houses. It’s only a few more miles to our hotel in Kaltern, a charming village on the famous wine road of the Alto Adige region. Dinner together.
Day 6 Kaltern Loop Ride/Wine Tasting
Ride Options: 0-20 miles/2,789 feet or more
Relax by the pool at our hotel or enjoy a walk or leisurely ride along the vineyards. If you still have the legs, enjoy a ride up Passo Mendola and/or a loop ride along Alto Adige's famed Weinstraße (wine road) along apple orchards, vineyards and the shores of Lago di Caldaro. If you’re interested, join us for wine tasting in the afternoon. Dinner together.
Day 7 Corvara
Ride: 41 miles/5,000 feet
The day starts leisurely as we glide along a bike path through forests and along the Adidge River as we approach the bustling historic center of Bolzano, a good opportunity to "fill the tank" with a cappucino or gelato prior to continuing up the narrow Val d'Ega. From Bolzano the road starts gradually up a narrow, deep, red-colored gorge, "Mother Nature's sore throat." At the Passo di Costalunga we pass between two magnificent mountains, the craggy peaks of the Latemar group loom up to the right, while the rosy pinnacles of Rosengarten soar up to the left. Descending, we pass beneath the even more spectacular eastern face of the Rosengarten, on our way to our Inn in Alba, a few kilometers after Canazei on the road to Passo di Fedeia.begin a long ascent to the Passo Gardena, the gateway to the Dolomites.
Dinner together.
Canazei, a classic European ski station in winter, is full of hikers and cyclists in summer since it is a perfect base for exploring the Dolomite Region. Ladin is the local language here. From the village you can view the Marmolada , the Sella Group, and the Rosengarten peak.
Day 8 Corvara-Maratona dles Dolomites
Ride Options: Choose from three courses below:
Join 9,000 cyclists as you participate in the Maratona dles Dolomites, one of the most popular cycling events in Europe. The event includes the classic climbs of the Giro d'Italia and offers a rare opportunity to ride these wonderful roads with no cars. The route includes the classic passes of the Gardena, Sella, Campolongo, Pordoi and Giau.
- Short Event: 35 mi & 5,740 ft climbing
- Medium Event: 68 mi & 9,940 ft climbing
- Long Event: 91 mi & 14,300 ft climbing
You’ll earn a finisher certificate for the best ride of your life, as well as a complimentary Maratona Event Cycling Jersey. You’ll enjoy access to all the racer-only benefits, including the huge post-event celebration. Post-race celebration dinner together.
Day 9 Cortina D'Ampezzo
Ride Options: 39 miles/5,382 feet or a light recovery ride
After a quick shuttle up Passo Sella, we’ll begin with a ride up to the Marmolada, at 10,968 feet, the mightiest mountain in the Dolomites. We begin the steep seven-mile climb up the Passo di Fedaia (6,880 ft.) and then descend eight miles on our way to the final climb up the Passo di Falzarego (6,906 ft.), where we can enjoy a cool drink while enjoying the views of Cortina D'Ampezzo. We’ll finish our ride with an enjoyable 10-mile descent to our hotel in Cortina D'Ampezzo. Dinner together.
Cortina D'Ampezzo lies at the intersection of two valleys and is surrounded by a ring of extraordinary mountains. Cortina enjoys the best location of the Dolomites and offers a variety of shops, biergartens, restaurants and gelatorias, not to mention the nightlife—there’s plenty to keep you busy in town!
Day 10 Cortina D'Ampezzo Ride/Spa
Ride the Tre Cime di Lavaredo Loop: 37 miles/5,000 feet
Relax, hike or ride today, it’s up to you! We’ll begin with a climb up the Passo Tre Croci and ride to Lago di Misurina, a shimmering, deep blue lake surrounded by the jagged peaks of the Cristallo group. There’s an optional five-mile climb to the base of the remarkable triple-peaked mountain, Tre Cime di Lavaredo (7,612 ft.), where we can enjoy a well-earned lunch in the refugio at the top. Our loop continues mostly downhill through beautiful alpine scenery over the Passo Cimbanche back to Cortina. Dinner on your own.
Day 11 Valdobbiadene
Ride: 78 miles/4,479 feet
Our last day in the Dolomites will not disappoint, as we head south all the way back to the Veneto lowlands. We'll climb 10 miles/3,312 ft. up one of the lesser-traveled passes above Cortina, Passo di Giau (7,293 ft.), the last Dolomite col. We’ll reward ourselves and enjoy a break at the café with the best view of the Dolomites. Next is a breathtaking 11-mile/3,929-foot descent to the valley below to the base of the imposing Monte Civetta, one of the most unusual and striking peaks of the Dolomites.
Valdobbiadene, a small village nestled in the foothills and surrounded by vineyards, is the home of prosecco, one of Italy's finest sparkling wines. We’ll stay at a wonderful B&B located in the vineyards where you’ll enjoy local prosecco tasting. Dinner together.
Day 12 Castelfranco Veneto
Ride Options: 25 miles/1,000 feet or climb Mt. Grappa!
We’ll enjoy a well-deserved leisurely ride on our last cycling day as we ride the beautiful rolling hills of the Monfumo region on our way to Asolo, a medieval hill town. Have lunch in one of the numerous chic cafés in Asolo before descending to the plains of Veneto. We’ll ride along quiet farm roads to our final destination, Castelfranco Veneto, and relax in our comfortable 4-star hotel built into the clock tower of this 12th century walled town. Final celebration dinner tonight!
Day 13 Tour Conclusion
Our tour ends after breakfast, when you’ll transfer for your mid-morning train or plane departure home, or you may choose to extend your stay. Castelfranco offers frequent train service to Venice (one hour) or the Marco Polo Airport, so it’s a convenient place to stay if you want to extend your trip.
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