Cycle Dolomites, Lake Garda and Venice

Our trip begins at Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) at 4.15pm in the arrivals hall. If you would like to join the complimentary airport transfer today, the latest your flight can arrive is 3.45pm. Your Tour Leader will be waiting in the hall with an Explore signboard at the exit doors from the immigration/luggage retrieval area. Please be aware that they may be waiting to greet both customers whose flight has just arrived as well as those who arrived earlier, so they may be looking in a different direction to the one you're approaching from. To help us monitor flight arrivals, if you have not booked your flights through Explore, you must let us know your flight details at least 30 days before the start of your trip. If you don't tell us these details, and you do not make the fixed joining time of 4.15pm at Venice airport, we will be unable to ascertain if this is because of a flight delay. This makes it very difficult for the Tour Leader to decide whether to delay the group transfer for you. If you don't tell us your flight details and miss the joining time through flight delay, we expect you to make your own way to the hotel in Merano. A taxi for this three hour journey will cost in the region of €550.00. After meeting up we will then travel together as a group (260 kilometre/161.5 miles, approximately 3 hours) to our hotel for the night in the Alpine town of Merano. After check in the Leader will organise timings for the welcome meeting, bike fitting and a group meal for those interested. Located in the South Tyrol, Merano enjoys a fine setting sat in a basin at an altitude of 325 metres/1155 feet surrounded by mountains over 3000 metres/9843 feet high. It has been famed as a spa town since the 9th century and only became part of modern Italy after the First World War. Prior to this it formed part of the Hapsburg Empire which explains the prevailing Germanic culture, language and food in this region. This evening there will be a short briefing by our Tour Leader about the week ahead.

After breakfast and ensuring everyone is happy with their bikes we commence our first cycle ride, much of which is flat, as we make our way to Bolzano on a bike path amidst alpine meadows. We leave Merano then make our way down the scenic Adige Valley cycle path past endless vineyards and apple orchards, against a backdrop of Alpine mountains. We ride on this cycle path all the way to the town of Bolzano, the capital of South Tyrol. After arriving in the late afternoon there is free time to explore Bolzano and perhaps visit some of the museums or take the Funivia Renon (cable car) up the mountainside to enjoy spectacular views over the valley. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 35 kilometres/21.7 miles (Total 100 metres/328 feet ascent, 200 metres/656 feet descent).

This morning we continue our journey by bike from Bolzano to the impressive setting of Lake Caldaro on a longer ride. From the crystal clear waters of Lake Caldaro the ride follows the beautiful 'Strada del Vino' (wine road) leading through numerous wine-producing villages and along the way we plan to stop at a vineyard for an optional wine tasting. We then descend into the Adige valley and enter a bike path that takes you all the way to Trento. Along the way we may make a stop at one of the 'Bici Grills' (cyclists bar) and visit century-old villages such as Egna and Salorno. Please note that although the route is largely on the flat, it is not unusual to encounter headwinds that slow you down. For this reason there is the option to reduce today's ride by 24 kilometre/14.9 miles by taking the train from Mezzocorona to Trento (approx 15 Euros per person depending on numbers, this must be arranged previously with the Tour Leader as the bikes need to be transported separately). We should arrive into Trento in the late afternoon. The town has an impressive setting in the Dolomites and within the town itself there are several interesting sites including Buonconsiglio castle, museums and other historical buildings. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 72 kilometres/44.7 miles (Total 100 metres/328 feet ascent, 150 metres/492 feet descent). There is the option to reduce today's ride by 24 kilometres/14.9 miles.

We start the day with a very short bus ride from Trento to Cadine. Our cycle route leads us up and out of the Adige Valley, taking in superb views and a number of smaller lakes such as Toblino Lake which is dominated by a small castle. We continue on to the village of Arco - a famous rock-climbing mecca. The cycling today is nearly all along dedicated bike paths and towards the end of our ride we are rewarded with stunning views of Lake Garda. Upon arrival into Torbole in the mid- to late-afternoon we check into our hotel. The rest of the day is left free and we recommend a walk through the historic village of Torbole. In the early evening and for dinner you may consider walking or taking a taxi to the historic town of Riva del Garda, some 3 to 4kilometre/1.8 to 2.4 miles away, along the lake shore. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 42 kilometres/26.1 miles (Total 300 metres/984 feet ascent, 660 metres/2165feet descent).

We start the day with a relaxing and beautiful public ferry ride (2.5 hours) south across Lake Garda to the town of Bardolino. From the port we ride through town on regular roads for about 2 kilometres/1.2 miles, after which we continue on small country roads which lead us to a bike path that we follow for the last section of cycling into Verona. Although we continue mostly along urban cycle paths the traffic levels inevitably increase on the ride into the city of Verona. We spend the next two nights in the beautiful city of Verona; the setting for Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Over the next couple of days you will have time to visit the city's Roman amphitheatre, the Duomo, see Ponte Scaligero and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere in one of the several piazzas. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 29 kilometres/18 miles (Total 250 metres/820 feet ascent, 245 metres/803 feet descent).

Today we cycle to Soave mainly along quiet country roads, with sections of dedicated bike path and an interesting section alongside old irrigation channels (fossi) built in Roman times. The ride is generally flat with one steep hill (for about 1.5 kilometres/0.9 miles) just before we reach the village of Colognola ai Colli. From here we cycle into the beautiful wine growing region of Soave, known particularly for its fresh, fruity and light-bodied white wines which are made mostly with the local Garganega grapes. The town of Soave grew up around its imposing medieval military castle, one of the best examples of castle architecture in Veneto. For a long period of time it suffered feudal quarrels, invasions and defeats and as a result has a rich history. The final kilometre or so of the ride, from Soave to the train station in Bonifacio, encounters unavoidable busier sections of road. We return to Verona by train then cycle once again through the city to our hotel, leaving some free time in the afternoon to explore the city. There is the option of a two hour guided tour. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 35 kilometres/21.7 miles (Total 200 metres/656 feet ascent, 235 metres/771 feet descent).

After breakfast we catch the train to Venice where we enjoy a full day for sightseeing. The Explore Leader will provide an orientation tour and can arrange an optional two hour guided tour of the city for those interested. The rest of the day is free to explore at leisure. At the end of the day we make our way back to Mestre by bus where we spend the night. Mestre is located on the mainland and connected to Venice by a short bus ride. No cycling today.

The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Mestre. There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you would like an airport transfer today, you need to depart from Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE), which is around 20 minutes from the hotel.