Lake Garda and the Veneto 8-Day Guided Cycling Tour (Level 2)

by Tour provider https://www.slowtours.com

Region

Veneto,Lake Garda

Duration

8 days

Guided Status

Guided

Difficulty

Easy

D-Score™

N/A - Unknown

Overview

Guided group tour - Mantua, Garda, the Veneto and Venice - 8 days. Pedal across the Veneto through picturesque villages and historic art cities, along cycle paths and down rural country lanes to discover this corner of Northern Italy nestled against the Italian Alps. We'll visit the majestic and beautiful Lake Garda, as well as Verona, Mantova, Vicenza, Padova and Venice - all unique cities that blend history, charm and modernity. In Vicenza, discover the architectural wonders of Andrea Palladio from the 16th century. This is also wine country, home to some of the more important Italian wines, where you can sample Valpolicella and Soave wines from the protected vineyards along the Alps' foothills, as we make our way east toward La Serenissima - the majestic city of Venice. Tour Character: Level 2. This is a great tour for novice cyclists with base fitness level and cycling experience. Bike handling skills are necessary to manage possible starting and stopping, or negotiating bike paths in or near cities and towns. Also ideal for experienced cyclists desiring shorter days on the bike and plenty of time to enjoy the daily destinations and activities. You will ride between 40 and 64 km (25-40 miles) per day, on mostly flat to rolling terrain, and few steep hills, mostly on paved backroads and bike paths with little vehicle traffic. Included in the tour: 7 nights lodging in 3-star accommodations (upgrades are available on request), All breakfasts, Shuttle from Verona train station to starting hotel, 2 dinners with local wine, 1 wine tasting, Train tickets to Venice on day 7, Our exceptional local tour leaders, Bike fitting and welcome meeting at tour start, Support van and driver every day cycling, Reservation and travel assistance (our pre-travel documentation will help you prepare for the bike tour, including arrival and departure details, and much more), Access to smartphone app with routes and digital roadbook (with detailed tour information). Bikes: Aluminum hybrid: €120, Premium Titanium road or hybrid: €150, E-bike (hybrid with straight handlebar): €210, Tandem: €225 (priced per bike, for 2 cyclists), Tag-along or kid trailer: €60. Arrival/ Departure: We recommend flying into and out of Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) or Verona "Valerio Catullo" airport (VRN). Starting point: Meet in front of Verona 's Porta Nuova Train Station, for a group transfer to the starting hotel (you will receive exact meeting point instructions prior to your departure). If flying into Venice Airport: An airport shuttle runs between Venice "Marco Polo" airport (VCE) and Mestre station. From Mestre train station to Verona's Porta Nuova train station, there are frequent departures of regional trains. If flying into Verona "Valerio Catullo" Airport (VRN), the airport shuttle connects Verona "Valerio Catullo" airport (VRN) to Verona's Porta Nuova train station in 15 minutes. Ending point: Padova. We recommend flying out of Venice's Marco Polo Airport (VCE). Notes: Final exact arrival and departure instructions along with other detailed pre-travel documents, will be e-mailed prior to your tour, with information specific to your departure (including the actual hotels used on your tour dates, which may vary from the hotels listed). Private rooms available upon request: please inquire. This tour is available between March 1 and October 31. Please enquire for any private departures.

Daily Ride Schedule

Day 1: Meet in Verona

4 km 62 m

N/A

Meet in Verona

Day 2: Mantua loop ride

69 km 279 m

N/A

Mantua loop ride

Day 3: Lake Garda and Valpolicella

42 km 532 m

N/A

Lake Garda and Valpolicella

Day 4: Pedal through wine country to Verona and Soave

67 km 258 m

N/A

Pedal through wine country to Verona and Soave

Day 5: Vicenza and Palladio’s architecture

37 km 420 m

N/A

Vicenza and Palladio’s architecture

Day 6: Cycle to Padova among the Palladian villas

43 km 86 m

N/A

Cycle to Padova among the Palladian villas

Day 7: Venice

Venice

Day 8: Our tour ends in Padova

Our tour ends in Padova

Accommodation & Services

Accommodation

Hotel

What's Included

Airport transfers

Catering services

Accommodation arrangements

Bike rental

Mechanical support

Support vehicle following all rides

About the Veneto,Lake Garda

A dedicated guide for this region is not available yet.

EUR 2150

per person

Go to Provider

Why Choose This Tour?

Day 1: Meet in Verona.
Highlights: Test ride and welcome dinner.
Meet the group and tour leader at the Verona train station in the mid-afternoon, from where we will transfer to our lodging for the next two nights.
Our quaint inn is located in the small town of Valeggio Sul Mincio, near Mantova (Mantua).
We’ll fit bicycles and enjoy a test ride on the nearby cycle path to Borghetto sul Mincio, a picturesque village located on the river connecting Lake Garda with the lakes around Mantova to the south.
Return to our inn for our welcome dinner together.
Day 2: Mantua loop ride.
Highlights: Palazzo Ducale and Palazzo Te.
Pedal south along the bike path to reach the impressive city of Mantova, with its pretty lakes built around it as fortifications and now a great green area surrounding the city.
Mantova was home to the princely Gonzaga family, who ruled for several centuries between the 1400-1800's and who made Mantova an artistic, musical and architectural centre.
Visit the Palazzo Ducale and Palazzo Te, as well as the Piazza Virgiliana, Castello San Giorgio and Piazza delle Erbe before returning to our small town later this afternoon.
Day 3: Lake Garda and Valpolicella.
Highlights: Peschiera del Garda, Sant'Ambrogio, Hilltop lodging.
Head north today along our delightful bicycle path to reach the shores of Lake Garda, one of Italy’s most famous lakes nestled south of the Italian Alps.
Visit the historic and colorful town of Peschiera del Garda, on the waterfront, before continuing along the eastern shore to climb a bit onto a ridge leading into the vineyards of the Valpolicella wine area.
This area grows the grapes that make Amarone wine, one of Italy’s strongest red wines, which we will enjoy in a wine tasting hosted by the owners of tonight’s lodging, set on a lovely terrace overlooking the vineyards.
A historic home turned into a boutique lodge, Villa San Giorgio is surrounded by vineyards, with a truly amazing view of the hills and Lake Garda in the distance.
Day 4: Pedal through wine country to Verona and Soave.
Highlights: Valpolicella wine country, Verona, Soave castle and historic center.
We continue along rolling foothills today to leave the Valpolicella area and enter Verona, famous for its arena which is still today used for outdoor theatre.
Have lunch in the center of town, visit Juliet and Romeo’s balcony and then continue out of town to arrive in Soave, a lovely medieval town also located in the Veneto wine country.
The medieval castle and its fortifications that dominate the town stand in stark contrast to the softer vineyards that line the hills.
Enjoy the local wine or a stroll through the small town, near our centrally-located hotel.
Day 5: Vicenza and Palladio’s architecture.
Highlights: Home of Andrea Palladio.
We head to Vicenza, another famous art city which prospered under Venetian rule from the early 15th to the end of the 18th century.
Its most famous son is surely Andrea Palladio whose work has been declared the biggest influence in Western architecture since his time.
His architectural designs, based on a detailed study of classical Roman architecture, gives the city its unique appearance and you can see many of his villas and buildings still standing.
Day 6: Cycle to Padova among the Palladian villas.
Highlights: Palladian Villa la Rotonda's gardens.
Leave Vicenza along the foothills of Monti Berici.
We’ll enjoy an optional stop at the famous Palladian Villa la Rotonda's gardens, the best known and most influential of Andrea Palladio’s villas.
Continue riding to reach one of the oldest cities in Italy, Padova (or Padua) also known as the City of St.
Anthony.
Padova’s claim to history is not only being home to Italy’s second oldest (and still vibrant) university, but it also acted as the setting for most of the action in Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew.
Day 7: Venice.
Highlights: Discovering Venice by foot.
We’ll take the train into Venice for the day, where we will explore less well-known areas of the “Serenissima”, as the majestic city is often called.
From the train station, visit the Jewish Ghetto, the Cannaregio neighborhood and the Fondamente Nove before arriving near the Rialto bridge.
From here, you’ll have free time to visit the highlights of Venice.
Regroup later this afternoon to return to Padova together for our celebration dinner in a local restaurant.
Raise a glass of white wine, the traditional Venetian aperitif, or a classic spritz to our journey together across the Veneto region.
Day 8: Our tour ends in Padova.
Highlights: Farewell!.
For those wishing to continue their time in Veneto or Northern Italy, Padova is a great starting point.
Venice is short distance away – a bucket list destination for ending your dream Italian holiday.
The Lakes and Dolomites regions of Northern Italy are also nearby.
If there is further travel in your plans, please let us know and we’ll be happy to provide suggestions.
If your travels end today, we will provide tips for arriving to nearby Venice, Milan, Treviso or Verona airports.