Lake Garda & the Adige River

Overview

This beautiful bike tour in Italy offers stunning mountain scenery of the Dolomites, green landscapes, and gently flowing rivers. From the Austrian border through the Italian South Tyrol, you will bike on paved cycle paths or quiet country roads, past ancient fortresses, and through peaceful villages, soaking in the art, architecture, and history along the way. Lake Garda, with its exquisite crystal clear water, can only be described as breathtakingly beautiful! The mountains seemed to loom right out of the water. The 100 km of shoreline is dotted with delightful lakefront towns with medieval centers and picturesque waterfront promenades. The tour is considered easy to moderate, taking place on mainly flat roads with excellent bike-friendly infrastructure in the South Tyrol region. It offers predominantly well-maintained, asphalted bike paths, many along the Adige River. Some routes offer the possibility to shorten the ride by taking a train. Accommodations are in comfortable 3 to 4-star hotels and a guesthouse for the 8-day tours, and 3-star hotels for the 5-day family tour. All rooms have en suite facilities. Most hotels have air conditioning, though some smaller ones in mountain areas may not. Bicycles provided are 24-speed unisex touring bikes or 7-speed men's touring bikes, both ideal for an upright and relaxed riding position, equipped with comfort saddles, water bottle cages, flat pedals, rear racks, mudguards, and Schwalbe anti-puncture tires. Hybrid bicycles are also available for a sportier ride. Unisex electric bikes with Bosch motors are offered as an upgrade. Included in the tour are 4 or 7 nights of accommodation with breakfast buffets, luggage transfer (1 piece per person, max 20 kg), a 27-speed city touring bike with accessories, bike protection, transfer from Bolzano to Resia Pass, a 4-hour ferry cruise on Lake Garda (for Variation 1), an app with maps, roadbook, points of interest, GPS tracks, and 7-day service hotline support. Not included are remaining meals, beverages, bike helmet, and local taxes. Travel insurance is recommended. The skill level is described as Easy-Moderate, with mainly flat roads and an excellent bike-friendly system in South Tyrol. There's an option to shorten routes by train. Towards Lake Garda, there is a more challenging climb. The tour also offers a variation ending in Lake Garda with a free day and a 5-day family-friendly option. Flights can be booked to Munich International Airport (MUC) with Air Dolomiti to Bolzano, or to Innsbruck, Verona, Venice, or Milan with train connections to Bolzano. The hotel is close to Bolzano train station. The climate is semi-continental in Bolzano and sub-Mediterranean around Lake Garda, with hot summers. Rain is possible throughout the year, so packing rain gear is advised. An extra night in Verona/Lake Garda after the tour is recommended. Electric bicycles are available, and this tour can be combined with the Mantova to Venice bike & boat tour. Important information includes checking passport and visa requirements, and staying informed about the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). Extra nights are available in Bolzano, Verona, Mantova, and Lake Garda. The tour is operated by Girolibero, with a focus on strong relationships with local partners and a philosophy of 'travelers helping travelers'.

Daily Ride Schedule

Accommodation & Services

Accommodation

Hotel

What's Included