Venice: Islands and Beaches by Bike and Boat

Day 1: Venice

Board the barge in Venice at 5:00 pm. At 6:00 pm, meet your tour leader, crew, and fellow travelers for an introductory briefing and welcome aperitivo. After dinner, enjoy your first evening in Venice, when the streets and canals become quieter and the city takes on a different atmosphere after the daytime crowds thin out.

Day 2: Venice | Lido di Venezia Beach

Start the day with a walk through some of Venice’s less-traveled streets with your tour leader, then spend the rest of the day exploring on your own. Visit favorite landmarks, wander through quieter neighborhoods, or take a vaporetto to the Lido, where a long stretch of sandy beach offers the chance for a swim in the Adriatic. Dinner is on your own tonight.

Day 3: Venice - Pellestrina Island | Pellestrina Beach
16 mi / 25 km | Elevation gain: 377 ft

Cruise to Murano and visit a historic glassworks to see a demonstration of the island’s centuries-old glassblowing tradition. From there, begin cycling across the Lido, known for its Belle Époque hotels, beach clubs, and annual Venice Film Festival. A 15-minute ferry transfer brings you to Pellestrina, a narrow fishing island lined with colorful homes and small waterfront communities. The beach is just steps from the barge, making it easy to finish the day with a swim.

Day 4: Cavanella d'Adige - Chioggia | Albarella Beach
34 mi / 55 km | Elevation gain: 623 ft

Cruise to Cavanella d'Adige and begin riding toward Albarella, where there is time for a beach stop and swim. A short boat transfer takes you to Moceniga for the next cycling section along the Via delle Valli, a striking route across embankments surrounded by wetlands and fishing areas. Along the way, look for traditional casoni fishing huts and cavane boat shelters before continuing to Chioggia, a lively fishing town crossed by canals and bridges. After time to explore the historic center, return to Pellestrina for the night.

Day 5: Punta Sabbioni Loop | Cavallino Beach
28 mi / 45 km | Elevation gain: 492 ft

Cruise to Punta Sabbioni at the end of the Cavallino-Treporti peninsula and begin a ride through the small waterways and agricultural landscape surrounding Lio Piccolo, where vegetable gardens and fish farms still shape local life. Continue along a distinctive cycle path built over the water before reaching Cavallino Beach for time to swim and relax. Later, cruise toward Burano, where the barge moors on or near the island.

Day 6: Sant'Erasmo Island Loop | Bacan Beach
6 mi / 10 km | Elevation gain: 164 ft

Today’s short ride explores Sant'Erasmo, an agricultural island long known as the “vegetable garden of Venice.” Cycle past fields, orchards, and vineyards producing the local Orto di Venezia wine, and learn about the island’s celebrated purple artichokes. Stop at Bacan Beach, a spot popular with local residents, before cruising to Burano, known for its brightly painted homes and traditional lace-making.

Day 7: Portegrandi - Treviso
28 mi / 45 km | Elevation gain: 705 ft

Begin with an approximately one-hour cruise to Portegrandi, then set out along the Sile River toward Treviso. Depending on the schedule, there may be time to swim at the public pool in Casale sul Sile. Continue through Casier to the Cimitero dei Burci, where the remains of wooden cargo boats lie partly submerged along the riverbank, a reminder of the Sile’s former role as a transportation route. Finish the ride in Treviso, a welcoming city of canals, waterwheels, arcades, and historic streets.

Day 8: Treviso

After breakfast, disembark in Treviso and continue with your onward travels.

Please note: Itinerary changes may be necessary due to weather, water levels, local regulations, or navigation issues such as lock or bridge closures. Routes, overnight stops, or transfers may be adjusted at the captain’s discretion.