Lake Garda (based in one hotel)

4.4/5 (9)
6 nights
35 miles/day
Self guided from EUR € 999
Bike tour in Italy
Rider Level: Recreational Electric bike tours Family-friendly bike tours

Lake Garda (based in one hotel)

4.4/5 (9)

Rider Level: Recreational Electric bike tours Family-friendly bike tours

6 nights
35 miles/day

Self guided from EUR € 999
Bike tour in Italy

Tap above to jump to different sections of this tour

  • Lake Garda

    Culture, wine, and Lake Garda are the perfect ingredients for "La Dolce Vita." Welcome to a cycle tour that will spoil your senses with high arts and culture in the cities of Trento, Verona, Brescia, and Mantua. Not only will you cycle by the palaces in the city of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, but you will also cycle by Trento's Cathedral, Brescia's Roman Capitolium, and Mantua's Piazza Sordello.

    Then there is Lake Garda - the enchanting blue-green lake ideal for resting, relaxing, or enjoying a refreshing swim. Enjoy the local flavor with regional wines, including Valpolicella, Lambrusco, Bardolino, and Lugana, which grow in the surrounding area. Experience all of this without having to pack a suitcase every day, as you stay in one hotel that serves as the base for this breathtaking bicycle tour of Lake Garda.

    • Verona, Italy. Alessandro Carrarini@Unsplash
    • Lake Garda, Italy. Luca Cassani@Unsplash
    • Sirmione, Lombardy along Lake Garda, Italy. CC:Jakub Buza
    • Italian red wines! Daniel Stockman@Flickr
    • Vineyards in Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, Italy. Manuel Venturini@Unsplash
    • Palazzo Pretorio, Trento in Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, Italy. CC:Greymouser
    • Biking the Lake Garda, Italy Bike Tour!
    • Verona, Veneto, Italy. Tom Podmore@Unsplash

    View more photos

    Highlights

    • Trento's old town, dome and Buonconsiglio Castle
    • Verona, the city of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
    • Mantua's Piazza Sordella, clock tower and old city hall
    • Solferino, where Garibaldi won the famous Battle of Solferino that united Italy
    • The historical port of Desenzano
    • Boat ride on Lake Garda across the length of the lake
    • Vineyard areas: Lugana and Custozza
    • Cycling around Verona's arena

    Learn More

    Learn more about our self-guided tours or see more bike tours in Italy.

  • Traveler photos

    • Lake garda (photo by Jane Fletcher)
    • The pistachio gelato stop (photo by Jane Fletcher)
    • Verona (photo by Jane Fletcher)
    •  (photo by Jane Fletcher)
    • Our group in Brescia (photo by Jane Fletcher)
    •  (photo by Jane Fletcher)
    • Photo 1 (photo by Addee)
    • If you have a chance to take a ferry ride in Lake Garda, DO IT! (photo by Addee)
    • Beautiful and quiet countryside ride to Brescia (photo by Addee)
    • LakeGarda2012 (photo by Pekka60)
  • Daily program

    Day 1: Individual arrival to Desenzano
    Welcome briefing and distribution of bikes. You can spend the evening strolling through the old town.

    Day 2: Trento (31 miles/50 km + boat tour and transfer)
    The day begins with a minibus transfer to Trento, famous for its old town, cathedral, and Buonconsiglio Castle. From Trento, you cycle along the Adige River via Rovereto to Mori. At Mori the route leaves the river, cycling west to Lake Garda. In Mori, you will try the world-famous pistachio ice cream in the Gelateria Bologna. After a brief climb, you cycle down to the lake and on to Torbole and Riva. The day ends with a boat tour across the lake and back to Desenzano.

    Day 3: Verona (35 miles/55 km + train trip)
    You will take the train to Verona in the morning. The city of Romeo and Juliet with its Renaissance palaces, the Roman arena and many cosy places invite you to stay for a stroll. Over gently rolling hills, past cypress trees and vineyards, the tour will take you back to the southern shore of the lake – for Goethe the lake was “a delicious spectacle”, for the Roman poet Catull “a shining star”.

    Day 4: Mantua (41 miles/65 km + train trip)
    Today's route follows wonderful paths along the Mincio River southwards to Mantua. The thousand-year-old city of the royal Gonzaga family will impress you with its fabulous art and beauty. Visit such sites as the Castello San Giorgio, Palazzo Ducale, Piazza Sordello with the house of Rigoletto, the cathedral, the Piazza Broletto with the old city hall, the Piazza Erbe with the courthouse palace, the clock tower, the rotunda of San Lorenzo, and the Basilica of St. Andrew are worth seeing. You return by train to your hotel.

    Day 5: Excursion into the history of Italy (31 miles/50 km)
    Today you follow solitary roads through vineyards, peach orchards and kiwi plantations to Solferino. It is at Solferino that Garibaldi won the famous "Battle of Solferino" that united Italy. On the return journey, you cycle to Lake Garda through Lugana, a well-known wine area.

    Day 6: Brescia (37 miles/60 km + train trip)
    Today, you will ride your bicycle along the lake shore towards Cavalgese di Riviera and get some unforgettable views of Lake Garda. Along Naviglio Grande Bresciano, a canal cycle path, you continue to Brescia, a city of Roman origin. You return by train to Desenzano.

    Day 7: Departure
    Departure or extra days on Lake Garda.

    Surface and terrain

    The terrain of this tour ranges from flat to slightly hilly. The route follows primarily cycle paths, minor roads and some country lanes. Only short sections are on roads with more traffic, especially when entering and exiting the cities.


    Hotels

    4-star hotel

    Hotel Lido International, Desenzano
    This hotel of the Ferrari family is equipped with every comfort of a 4-star hotel. The historic port town of Desenzano is not far from the hotel, where many small squares, beautiful promenades, and winding alleys invite you to stay for a while. All of the spacious rooms have balconies/terrace from which one gets a direct view of the lake. The beautiful terraces, the lawn for sunbathing, the wonderful swimming pool, and the private pebble beach make for a great stay in a relaxed atmosphere after your cycling tours.

    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 in visiting other areas before or after your tour? Visit our hotels page to learn more about lodging options.


    How to get there

    Tour Start and End
    Nearest airport: Verona, Venice, Treviso, or Bergamo, Italy
    Nearest train station: Desenzano del Garda

    You can arrive by train via Verona to Desenzano.

    Tips on getting to and from your tour

  • Dates

    Sundays and Tuesdays: Mar 31 - Oct 13, 2024.

    Season 1: Mar 31, 2024 - Apr 13, 2024, Sep 29, 2024 - Oct 13, 2024

    Season 2: Apr 14, 2024 - May 11, 2024, Sep 8, 2024 - Sep 28, 2024

    Season 3: May 12, 2024 - Sep 7, 2024

    Prices

    Tour Package

    Season 1 Season 2 Season 3
    Per person, double occupancy €999 €1099 €1249
    Single use room (1 person/1 room) €1548 €1648 €1798

    Bike Rentals

    Standard touring bike, 21-speed unisex frame €99
    Standard touring bike, 21-speed men's frame €99
    Bike rental plus, 27-speed, upgrade €169
    Electrically-assisted bike €259

    Extra Nights, Hotel Lido International

    Per person, double occupancy €115
    Single room (1 person/1 room) €180

    Discounts

    Child, ages 0-5 sharing a room with 2 full paying adults (on base package price) 100%
    Child, ages 6-11 sharing a room with 2 full paying adults (on base package price) 50%
    Child, ages 12-14 sharing a room with 2 full paying adults (on base package price) 25%
    Person, ages 15 and older sharing a room with 2 full paying adults (on base package price) 10%

    Included services

    • 6 nights in 4-star hotel
    • Breakfast buffet
    • Detailed documentation (1 set per room; maps, route description, places of interest, and telephone numbers)
    • 7-day service hotline available in case of problems or questions
    • Welcome briefing
    • Bus transfer Lake Garda to Trento, including bike
    • Train transfer from Brescia – Desenzano, from Mantua – Desenzano and from Desenzano – Verona, including bike
    • Boat excursion on Lake Garda, including bike
    • 1 pistachio ice cream or freshly squeezed fruit juice on the way to Lake Garda
    • App for Navigation and GPS-data

    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.


    Bike rentals

    The bikes available for rent on this tour are:

    • Standard touring bike, 21/24-speed, unisex
    • Standard touring bike, 21-speed, men's frames, crossbar (upon request only)
    • Bike rental plus, 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

    Bike Protection:
    Bike protection can be purchased at the time of booking. You can read more about that HERE. 

    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. We recommend, for safety and hygiene reasons, that you bring your own 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


    Tour Company

  • Route Map

    Maps are for information purposes only and reflect typical routes between overnight locations. They may not reflect your actual route.

    • Jane Fletcher 5 months ago

      Great to have one hotel as a home base

      Lake Garda was beautiful and we enjoyed staying in Desenzano. Our hotel in Desenzano was in the perfect location, right on the water and close enough to the old town to walk to dinner.

      The day trips for biking out of Desenzano were variable in terms of how much we enjoyed them. We really liked Verona but the biking back from Verona was not very enjoyable because of the traffic and a lot of not very scenic areas. However, the day we rode to Brescia, another city, was a good biking day as the route we were on had pretty good cycling infrastructure that kept us separated from cars even though we were entering the city. There was, however, on that day a closed road that we had to navigate around. Luckily with both google maps and ride with gps we were able to find a good alternate route to get around the closure. We used rides with gps to navigate the routes provided by the tour company rather than their app as rides with gps allowed us to enter our individual hotel and ride directly there. It was also better with turn by turn directions. The tour literature said that their app would work on airplane mode if you downloaded the maps ahead of time, we didn’t find that to be the case. Also, their app tended to lose where we were while rides with gps did not lose us.

      Our favorite riding day was the day we rode a loop route in the countryside without a city destination. Lots of nice scenic views without having to negotiate city traffic.

      One day I had a problem with my e-bike, it wouldn’t change power levels, so I called the emergency number and they wanted me to call the guy who manages the bikes but since we were out on the tour I asked if she could call him for me. She said she would and that he would call me back. He never called back. The next day one of our group decided not to ride so I used her bike. However, there were several other bikes that had been delivered. I called the emergency number again later that day to say that I had not gotten a call back but that several bikes had been delivered and was one of them for me. She didn’t know but again told me to call the guy who manages the bikes. This time I did call him and he seemed to imply that the bike that said reserved was for me. We had a little bit of a language barrier. So, the next day I rode the reserved bike and all was good. All of that to say it would be great if the tour company could work on their communication with customers. The replacement bike for me was apparently there the morning after I called but I didn’t know that.

      All in all it was a good trip and we saw some wonderful sites from Lake Garda to Verona to Brescia and in the countryside.

      What was the date of your tour?
      September 2023
      How many tours have you completed?
      20+
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      Somewhat easier
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • Lake garda (photo by Jane Fletcher)
      • The pistachio gelato stop (photo by Jane Fletcher)
      • Verona (photo by Jane Fletcher)
      •  (photo by Jane Fletcher)
      • Our group in Brescia (photo by Jane Fletcher)
      •  (photo by Jane Fletcher)
      • 4/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 4/5 Hotels or boat
      • 3/5 Scenery
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 3/5 Tour documents
      • 3/5 Local tour company services
      • 4/5 Route selection
    • Meg Bates 6 months ago

      Riding Lake Garda

      It was a great trip and the hotel and local setting were wonderful.
      Our experience in getting assistance from the local partner, however, was not satisfactory. We had to contact them a couple times about bike needs and malfunctions. The "hotline" is merely place that tell you who else to call. Their communication to resolve issues was horrible.

      There should be more detail about some aspects for the ride. One thing is the availability of public toilet facilities. On at least one ride, there were none.

      Also, the route info was often a problem. It was at time not accurate. You should sonderusing using Rides with GPS, which was a better option.

      What was the date of your tour?
      September 2023
      How many tours have you completed?
      4
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 3/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 2/5 Local tour company services
      • 3/5 Route selection
    • Osmo S 10 months ago

      Beautiful Garda landscapes, but some discomforts

      Having had many tours with daily changing hotels, I liked this time this one based on one hotel. The daily tours were mostly beautiful landscapes, and also some very attractive human creations, especially Verona. Some problems still: the quality of bike lanes varied from very well made and clearly marked to muddy dirt roads and at some places within hard traffic. On the first day there was a mess on returning from Riva del Garda, most of the group missing the boat because of problems with bike transportation.
      The EuroBike app was really good and showed clearly the way and its quick turns.

    • Addee October 29, 2019

      Gorgeous Lake Garda!

      Disclosure: I went on a small portion of this tour as a BikeTours.Com Staff Member.

      I was lucky enough to arrive to the start of my tour in Sirmione by a relaxing 4-hour ferry ride from town of Riva. Since this tour is based out of one hotel, you have ultimate flexibility in spending your cycling vacation in Lake Garda the way YOU want to! The daily rides are fairly short and will give you plenty of time to experience the local cuisine and culture. Since I only had one day to cycle in Lake Garda, I was recommended by the tour company staff member at my welcome briefing to cycle to Brescia. The ride to Brescia took me through quiet cycle paths to beautiful and picturesque countrysides. Just from this day’s ride, I would say 90% of this day’s ride was on cycle paths, with 10% being on quiet roads. This tour was Level 2, but being a first timer, I had no issues cycling the few hills I encountered during my ride to and from Brescia. For those who want a more relaxed ride, I’d highly recommend the eBike as it gives you power when you really need it! The one provided on this tour was in top condition and well-constructed. I took this tour at the beginning of October and it was perfect weather to cycle in the cool morning yet still enjoy the warm water of Lake Garda during the day. I would recommend this tour to first-time travelers and those who’d like to spend a few days exploring beautiful Lake Garda!

      What was the date of your tour?
      10/3/2019
      How many tours have you completed?
      0
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      Somewhat easier
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • Photo 1 (photo by Addee)
      • If you have a chance to take a ferry ride in Lake Garda, DO IT! (photo by Addee)
      • Beautiful and quiet countryside ride to Brescia (photo by Addee)
      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 4/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 5/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • Sheba August 14, 2019

      Great trip

      We had an amazing time on our Lake Garda trip. We were two people who have never done something like this before, but once we got the hang of things it was a dream. The first day (Trento) was tough because we got caught up with the spectacular scenery and forgot to take breaks and refuel. But the following days we got better at stopping at certain intervals to drink and eat.
      We also did not understand at first from our contact person what the signs look like. They are stickers on signposts, and looking out for those helped at more complex intersections. We did not use the written directions at all - we just brought with us two bike mounts, put our phones there, and followed along on the app. You just follow the pink line on the map, and most of the time the bike path is very clear and straightforward anyways.
      A final tip: we skipped Solferino and went to Sirmione for a day (we were based in Desenzano). Sirmione is a must-see for sure, so we were glad we did that. It is a very short ride (around 8-9 km).

      What was the date of your tour?
      July 2019
      How many tours have you completed?
      None
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 5/5 Value
      • 4/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 4/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 4/5 Tour documents
      • 4/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
      • 4/5 Guides (if applicable)
    • TriaT September 17, 2018

      This was our fourth family European cycling holiday with Bike Tours and our first in Italy. We loved being based in the same hotel so could settle in for the week. The location on the shore of Lake Garda was beautiful and it was so pleasant in the evening to be able to stroll into Desenzano for dinner, with lots of restaurants 5-10 mins walk away.
      The cycling itself wasn't as scenic as we'd experienced in Austria and Slovenia, and we missed the stunning views of the mountains we'd had in those countries (while still on relatively flat routes). The day cycling from Trento to the north of Lake Garda was the exception. That day was the best, though take a book for the very long ferry ride back to Desenzano. And make sure you know where the ferry departs from in Riva before you settle in for lunch. It's a long way from where you first reach the lake.
      We found the printed directions frequently inadequate and relied heavily on our phones for accurate navigation so make sure you have a data plan that covers Europe.
      If you want to have time to explore Verona properly then build an extra day into the itinerary, leave the bikes behind and take the train round trip.
      We sacrificed the ride to Brescia, opting instead to have a full day cycling to and exploring Sirmione, which was definitely worth it. The castle has great views. The small town is swarming with tourists but few venture beyond the vicinity of the castle. There are amazing Roman ruins and swimming areas on the north tip of the peninsula so take a towel.

      What was the date of your tour?
      July 1st 2018
      How many tours have you completed?
      four
      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
      • 4/5 Value
      • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 4/5 Hotels or boat
      • 3/5 Scenery
      • 2/5 Ease of navigation
      • 3/5 Tour documents
      • 3/5 Local tour company services
      • 3/5 Route selection
    • love to bike europe July 17, 2018

      Loved our bike tour in Lake Garda, Italy!

      We had the best time on our bike trip! It is based out of one hotel (which is on the lake and we swam everyday after biking). We did 3 of the 5 tours due to a limited amount of time. The guy that brought our bikes was friendly, and on the first day one of the bikes broke so he brought another bike without any problem. The only problem was the first day and 1 1/2 we were lost all the time because we couldn't find the signs and the written instructions were bad (and the "app" is just a map, it doesn't give instructions). But once we started finding the signs, it was a blast. The scenery is gorgeous (vineyards, lake, towns, etc etc). Such a great trip!! We also were able to purchase helmets which we kept as a fun momento.

      What was the date of your tour?
      June 2018
      How many tours have you completed?
      two
      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
      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 4/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 2/5 Ease of navigation
      • 4/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • Gudrun58 September 28, 2017

      Group of friends

      Hotel was very good and the staff also. Italy is so beautiful and charming.

      What was the date of your tour?
      14.09-19.09.2017
      How many tours have you completed?
      5
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 4/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 2/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 4/5 Hotels or boat
      • 4/5 Scenery
      • 5/5 Ease of navigation
      • 2/5 Tour documents
      • 4/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • Pekka60 January 5, 2016

      Hot hot hot

      We knew that things can get very hot in Italy on august, so in 2012 me and my wife decided to book a Tour, where it is possible either cycle, or just spend time on the beach, if its too hot. We have heard that Lake Garda, and the hole area is very nice, so this Tour seemed perfect.
      We flew from Helsinki to Milano, then we had a train, approximately 2 hours, from Milano to Lake Garda. Our hotel was nice little family hotel in Desenzado, with a nice little own beach. On the first day our tour-operator came to meet us and brought our bicycles, maps and other equipment.
      As you know, it can be very hot, but its never too hot to cycle. Every morning we started from the hotel, and we had a nice cycling in the area. One day we took a train to Torino, and we cycled back, 80 km, temperature was 38 C, 100 F.
      Best day we had, was when our tour operator took us with a van to Trento. From Trento we cycled to Riva, in the north part of Lake Garda, and in Riva we took bicycles to a ferry, witch took us back to Dezensano.
      This is very easy Tour to recommend for anyone. If you don"t want to cycle, you can just relax and enjoy your holiday, good food and wine, and atmosphere.

      How many tours have you completed?
      6
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • LakeGarda2012 (photo by Pekka60)
      • 5/5 Value
      • 4/5 Included meals
      • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 4/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 4/5 Tour documents
      • 4/5 Local tour company services
      • 4/5 Route selection

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