Dolomites to Lake Garda: Picturesque Cities and Stunning Scenery
6 nights from €669
4.75*This itinerary will not be available for the 2023 season
This bicycle tour starts at the foot of the Dolomites, at the highest point of the Pustertal valley. Beautiful and partially new bike paths lead along the rivers Rienz, Eisack, and Adige to Rovereto. From there, you will cycle to the northern shore of Lake Garda.
Some towns with their arcades still show the typical Tyrolean style. In Trentino, the Tyrolean style is mixed with Italian influences. Monasteries, cathedrals and castles are located along the way. In Bolzano the oldest Tyrolean, Ötzi, the man from the ice, is waiting for your visit. Lake Garda offers not only an impressive view, but also many opportunities for relaxation after this comfortable cycling tour.
Daily Program
*This itinerary will not be available for the 2023 season, please contact us for alternative tour suggestions.
Day 1: Brixen
Individual arrival in Brixen. Spend some time in the evening exploring the beautiful old city, and Episcopal city since the 10th century. The town's arcades and cathedral are worth visiting. The city is located in the middle of picturesque vineyards.
Overnight in Brixen.
Day 2: Niederndorf/Toblach – Brixen
41 miles/65 km
Today, you will take the train from Brixen into the Pustertal valley to Bruneck or Toblach. Following the river Rienz, you will cycle mostly downhill, past the accumulation lake Olanger Stausee to Bruneck (ethnographic museum).
On comfortable ways, you will continue your journey in the lower Pustertal valley, through the Mühlbacher Klause into the Eisacktal valley and return to Brixen (arcades, cathedral, the monastery of Neustift).
Overnight in Brixen.
Day 3: Brixen – Bolzano
25 miles/40 km
You will cycle through the town of Klausen, along the river Eisack to Waidbruck (view of the castle Trostburg). Here, the valley narrows and leads you to the Bolzano basin. The city of two cultures is waiting for you (archaeological museum with Ötzi, the Iceman) – access into the museum with a Brixen card is included in the tour cost.
Overnight in Bolzano.
Day 4: Bolzano – Auer
19 miles/30 km
Through numerous beautiful orchards and vineyards near the South Tyrolean wine route, you're passing various castles and ruins while cycling to the Lake Kalterer See and to the charming wine town of Auer.
Overnight in Auer.
Day 5: Auer – Trento
28 miles/45 km
You will ride your bike from Auer on the Adige river dam bike path. At the Salurner Klause, the German-speaking South Tyrol ends. The bike path will lead you through famous the wine regions of Trentino to the old Episcopal city of Trento (old town, cathedral, castle Buonconsiglio).
Overnight in Trento.
Day 6: Trento – Torbole/Rive
28 miles/45 km
Shortly after the old Tyrolean border town Rovereto, you will leave the Adige Valley. In Mori, you will taste the world-famous pistachio ice cream in the Gelateria Bologna. After the only more significant climb (approximately 150 meters) over the small Giovanni pass, you will head down to the lake. Your bicycle tour will end in Riva or Torbole.
Overnight in Riva/Torbole.
Day 7: Departure
Departure or extra days on Lake Garda.
Hotels
These are sample hotels and may vary based on availability.
Hotel Goldene Krone, Brixen
www.goldenekrone.com
Stiegl Scala, Bolzano
www.scalahot.com
Hotel and Residence Kaufmann, Kaltern/Tramin/Auer
www.hotelkaufmann.it
Grand Hotel Trento, Trento
www.grandhoteltrento.com
Hotel Caravel, Riva/Torbole
www.caravelbikehotel.com
Local hotel taxes are not included in the tour price. These taxes typically range from €1-5 per person/night and must be paid at hotel reception upon checkout.
Interested visiting other areas before or after your tour? Visit our hotels page to learn more about lodging options.
Bikes
The bikes available for rent on this tour are:
- Standard touring bike, 21-speed, unisex
- Standard touring bike, 21-speed, men's frames, crossbar (upon request only)
- Standard touring bike, 27-speed, upgrade
- Electrically assisted bike, Pedelec, unisex*
*More about electrically-assisted bikes >
Equipment included with the bike rentals:
- Saddle bag (water repellent), rear
- Handlebar bag (water repellent), with clear cover on top for map viewing
- Tools
- Pump
- Repair kit (with extra bicycle tube)
- Combination lock
Pedals:
The bikes will have flat pedals. If you want to bring your own pedals, please bring your own shoes and the necessary equipment to change the pedals.
Helmets:
Helmets are not included with the bike rentals. You can buy a helmet from the tour company for €40 (reserve in advance; payable in cash upon arrival). It will be a high quality, brand new UVEX I-VO helmet. You must let us know your helmet preference upon booking. If you do not buy a helmet through the tour company, we recommend you bring your own well-fitted helmet.
Specifications on standard touring bikes
- Modern, high-resistant aluminum frame
- V-brakes
- Aluminium-rims
- Reliable tires, which ensure high duration
- Shimano Alivio derailleur on 21-speed
- Selle Royal Saddles
*Posture for 21-speed standard bikes will be upright for comfort
Upgraded components on 27-speed standard bikes
- Hydraulic Magura HS 11 brakes
- Shimano Deore XT derailleur on 27-speed
- High-quality Suntour suspension fork
*Posture for 27-speed upgraded standard bikes will be upright and forward
Dates
Saturdays and Sundays: Apr 30-Oct 8, 2022
*This itinerary will not be available for the 2023 season, please contact us for alternative tour suggestions.
Low Season: Apr 30, 2022 - May 06, 2022, Oct 01, 2022 - Oct 08, 2022
Shoulder Season: May 07, 2022 - Jun 03, 2022, Sep 10, 2022 - Sep 30, 2022
High Season: Jun 04, 2022 - Sep 09, 2022
Prices
Tour package
| Per person, double occupancy | € 699 |
| Shoulder season surcharge | € 70 |
| High season surcharge | € 130 |
| Single room surcharge (1 person/1 room) | € 229 |
Bike Rentals
| Standard touring bike, 21-speed unisex frame | € 89 |
| Standard touring bike, 21-speed men's frame | € 89 |
| Standard touring bike, 27-speed, upgrade | € 139 |
| Electrically-assisted bike | € 199 |
Extra Nights, Brixen
| Single room (1 person/1 room) | € 124 |
| Per person, double occupancy | € 79 |
Extra Nights, Riva/Torbole
| Single room (1 person/1 room)
Low Season | € 124 |
| Shoulder Season | € 124 |
| High Season | € 140 |
| Per person, double occupancy
Low Season | € 79 |
| Shoulder Season | € 79 |
| High Season | € 95 |
Discounts
| Child, ages 0-5 sharing a room with 2 full paying adults (on base tour price) | 100% |
| Child, ages 6-11 sharing a room with 2 full paying adults (on base tour price) | 50% |
| Child, ages 12-14 sharing a room with 2 full paying adults (on base tour price) | 25% |
| Person, ages 15 and older sharing a room with 2 full paying adults (on base tour price) | 10% |
Included services
- 6 nights accommodation
- Breakfast buffet
- Luggage transfer from hotel to hotel
- Detailed travel documents (1 set per room; maps, route description, points of interest, directional signs posted along route, and important phone numbers)
- Service Hotline available in case of problems or questions
- Brixen Card (for many free admissions and discounts)
- 1 pistachio ice cream on the way to Lake Garda
- Train journey from Brixen to Toblach, including bike
- GPS data available upon request
Local hotel taxes are not included in the tour price. These taxes typically range from €1-5 per person/night and must be paid at hotel reception upon checkout.
Surface and terrain
You will cycle on beautiful bike ways along the rivers Rienz, Eisack, and Adige, down to Rovereto. On your way from the Adige valley to Lake Garda, you will find the only more significant climb. This tour allows for easy cycling with a lot of time for culture, relaxation, and enjoyment.
How to get there
Tour Start
Nearest airport: Innsbruck and Klagenfurt, Austria; and further away Munich, Germany and Vienna, Austria
Nearest train station: Brixen, Italy
If you arrive by train, you go through Innsbruck and Brenner before arriving in Brixen.
Tour End
Nearest airport: Innsbruck, Austria
Nearest train station: Rovereto, east of Riva
By bus you can go from Riva to Rovereto (on the line Verona to Munich), or by train to Brixen.
There is a transfer offered on Saturday mornings. It costs €65 per person (including bike), payable on site. Must be reserved in advance at the time of booking.
Tips on getting to and from your tour
Reviews
- ★★★★★ Joseph Lutkenhaus
Great scenery
This was a great trip mostly on bike paths and mostly downhill. The scenery was great and and we had gorgeous weather (end of Sept 2022). Two of the hotels were 4 star (in Brixen and Trento) and were fantastic. The other three were fine and all were bike friendly. The picture included above is typical of the scenery - apple orchards in a valley surrounded by mountains. We were surprised by the number of great looking apple orchards everywhere on the trip. The average distance was about 30 miles per day. On the first day we took the train only about half way which was maybe a mistake because they scenery on day 1 is the best in our opinion as it is higher up in the valley. We were surprised how little meals cost so that was great. Would like to do it again.
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 2022
- How many tours have you completed?
- 6
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- ★★★★★ Margareta Hefti
Great scenario! Biketrails where very good
Perfect way to experience Italy!
Tirol was our favorite ! - ★★★★★ Dwight Chapman
All on bike trails
Seriously. First two days were outstanding forest and river stretches. Last couple of days were a bit more urban and flat, but still nice riding. And the towns were all beautiful.
- What was the date of your tour?
- July 2022
- How many tours have you completed?
- 15
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- ★★★★★ TimHam
A spectacular trip - best yet with Bike Tours!
What a beautiful trip! The scenery of the Dolomites and Lake Garda was otherworldly, each day better than the day before. The town's and hotels were charming. The well marked dedicated paths and instructions were great, and traffic free most of the way. The Eurobike leader was fabulous, going out of her way to retrieve my backpack with passport that I'd left on the train in Austria. This was my 6th Bike Tours tour...they have all been great, but this one was tops. Oh by the way, we used e-bikes here which I'd highly recommend!
- What was the date of your tour?
- October 2021
- How many tours have you completed?
- 6
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- ★★★★★ Addee
Breaktaking Mountains and Scenic Lake Garda!
Disclosure: I went on this tour as a BikeTours.Com Staff Member.
I had no idea how beautiful both the Dolomites and Lake Garda would be until I arrived just as the leaves were changing and the weather was cool. Having the chance to cycle on quiet countrysides and towns while being surrounded by mountains constantly gave me an intimate connection between me and the gorgeous Italy. Lake Garda was crystal blue and was the perfect ending to this cycling vacation. The route was 95% on cycle paths, with 5% being on small roads as you enter the towns you'll be spending the night in. This tour was definitely a Level 2, however, being a first-timer, I had no issues cycling the few hills on this tour. I chose to do this tour with an eBike since I wanted a more relaxed cycling vacation, however, it is entirely possible to do this tour with hybrid bikes with no issues. Speaking of, the eBike I had on this tour was phenomenal and gave me power when I really needed it. The daily milage of this tour is low and can b cycled rather quickly, giving you more time to explore the local culture and cuisine. Taking this tour at the end of September was perfect for its cooler weather and autumn-colored leaves. I would recommend this tour to first-time travelers and cyclists who want to experience gorgeous Lake Garda and the Dolomites.
- What was the date of your tour?
- 09/29/2019
- How many tours have you completed?
- 0
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Much easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- ★★★★★ JDMM
- What was the date of your tour?
- July 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- 20
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with young kids, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- ★★★★★ ChuckHughes
Most Beautiful Bike Tour so far.
This is by far the most beautiful bike tour we have had the opportunity to take so far. We have been on may great tours with BikeTours.com, but this was our favorite. Every day was spectacular, biking through the mountain passes of the Dolomites, and each stop featured a very beautiful and memorable historic town with shopping, sights and more adventure. The paths along the way were paved and very safe, dedicated to cyclists only, with many signs and markers to help with navigating to the next location. We were so pleased with this tour that we are planning to do it again on our next visit to Italy. For Italy, this is bike tour is our recommendation.
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- 4
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with young kids, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
Video: Dolomites Italy via BikeTours.com
- ★★★★★ hbth
Great tour from Dolomites to lake Garda
We chose self guided tour which was perfect for our group. We biked through amazing landscape and beautiful villages with nice restaurants and friendly people.
The travel documents were very helpful and the luggage transfer was perfect. It was
just a great tour!- What was the date of your tour?
- 3.-10. July
- How many tours have you completed?
- This was the first
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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