Cycling tour from South Tyrol to Lake Garda
Bike tour for connoisseurs along the rivers Rienz, Eisack and Etsch
From the north east of the Dolomites the bike path takes you through the valley Pustertal to Brunico and then on to the bishop’s town of Bressanone. From here you cycle to the capital town of South Tyrol, Bolzano, to visit the oldest Tyrolean, the Ice Man. After a short visit to the spa town of Merano with its mediterranean flair you cycle along the river Etsch through orchards and fields to Lake Garda, the most popular lake in Italy.
Easy tour for connoisseurs; you cycle alongside rivers on a slight descent – mostly on cycling paths. Between the valley Etschtal and Lake Garda there is only one long ascent. There is plenty of time to look at cultural places of interest or relax along the way.
TRAVEL ITINERARY
7 days / 6 nights
Day 1: Arrival in Brixen/Bressanone
Individual arrival at the hotel in Bressanone.
Day 2: Brixen - Dobbiaco/Toblach - Brixen
(approx. 65 km)
In the morning transfer from Bressanone to Dobbiaco. Bike delivery in Dobbiaco. Today’s tour takes you along the cycle path past the well-known valley Pragsertal, which stretches to the south. Following the river Rienz, the bike path goes past the Olang dam and onto the Michael Pacher town of Brunico. Continue on through the Pustertal Valley, pass the Mühlbacher Klause ruins and enter into the Eisacktal Valley. Shortly before Bressanone, you can visit the Neustift Abbey, and the historical centre in Bressanone is well worth a visit too.
Day 3: Bressanone/Brixen – Bolzano/Bozen
(approx. 40 km)
Starting in Bressanone, you follow the Eisacktal Valley bike path alongside the river Eisack and cycle through the many vineyards which mainly produce white wine, past the picturesque town of Chiusa which is worth stopping to look at, and onto the capital town of Bolzano. Bolzano itself has much to offer, the arcades, the lawns by the river, a visit to the Ice Man in the Archaeological Museum or sitting and drinking a coffee in one of the many cafes in the town.
Day 4: Bozen/Bolzano - Meran – Bozen/Bolzano
(approx. 45 km)
In the morning transfer by train from Bolzano to the spa town of Merano with its Mediterranean flair. After a stroll and along the Passer promenade or after a visit to the unique gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle. Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle, you can cycle leisurely along the Wine Road through orchards and famous wine-growing areas to Bolzano. wine-growing areas to Bolzano.
Day 5: Bolzano/Bozen – Trento/Trient
(approx. 65 km)
Here you have two options for continuing from Bolzano to Salurn: either via the old railway line to Überetsch to Überetsch and on to Kaltern to the Kalterer See lake or through the wide Etschtal valley on the river dam. You now leave the German-speaking part of South Tyrol at the Salurner Klause and cycle through the famous Trentino wine-growing regions to the wine-growing areas to the bishop‘s town of Trento.
Day 6: Trento/Trient – Riva del Garda
(approx. 50 km)
Passing the old Tyrolean border town of Rovereto, you now leave the Adige Valley and reach the Garda Lake via the Passo S. Giovanni (387 m above sea level) to Lake Garda.
Day 7: Departure
Individual departure or possibility to extend your stay at Lake Garda.
General information
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By car: On the Brenner/Brennero motorway (A22) to Brixen/Bressanone. Drive along the Felbertauernstraße to Lienz in Eastern Tyrol (Austria) and then further into Italy through the Pustertal/Valle Pusteria.
By train: Take a train from Innsbruck to Brixen/Bressanone. Arriving from the south over Verona and Bozen/Bolzano to Brixen/Bressanone. Arriving from east over Lienz to Brixen/Bressanone. Timetable available on: www.deutschebahn.de, www.oebb.at, www.trenitalia.com.
By plane: Nearest airports are Innsbruck airport (approx. 83 km), Verona Villafranca airport (approx. 191 km), Treviso airport (approx. 228 km), Venice Marco Polo airport (approx. 313 km).
Hotels 3*** and 4**** category;
Attention: Tourist tax – if requested – has to be paid on the spot!
Parking facilities at Brixen/Bressanone at the hotel of your arrival:
hotel garage: approx. € 60.00/week; € 10.50/day,
parking place Residence Gasser: approx. € 40.00/week;
Reservation not possible; to be paid directly in the hotel.
Transfer by shuttle-bus every Sunday from Riva del Garda to Brixen/Bressanone at the cost of € 59.00 per person (bicycle included – reservation and payment upon booking).
Alternatively you can return by train. Take the bus from Riva del Garda to the train station of Rovereto and the train to Brixen/Bressanone at the cost of approx. € 15.00 - € 25.00 per person. (Timetable on www.oebb.at or www.trenitalia.com).
• 21-gears women‘s or men‘s bicycle
• Rental bike TOP
• E-bike (unisex bike, 500 W battery, range up to 100 km)
• Accommodation in hotels 3*** and 4**** category
• Breakfast buffet or full breakfast
• Personal tour information
• Luggage transfer from hotel to hotel
• All transfers according to the programme: Bressanone – Hochpustertal, Bolzano – Merano (bicycle included)
• Well planned routes
• Detailed documents (maps, route description, places to visit, important telephone numbers)
• Telephone service hotline for the entire tour
• Navigation app, GPS data
• Arrival to the starting point of the tour
• Departure at the end of the tour
• Drinks, tourist tax and all extras
• Lunch, Dinner
• Not mentioned entries
• Rental bikes and travel insurance
• All not expressly mentioned under the item „Included services“
FAQ
Questions and answers
In the morning of the second day there will be a transfer to Alta Pusteria. The distribution of the rental bikes takes place in Dobbiaco.
Transfer by shuttle-bus every Sunday from Riva del Garda to Brixen/Bressanone at the cost of € 59.00 per person (bicycle included – reservation and payment upon booking).
Alternative: Alternatively you can return by train. Take the bus from Riva del Garda to the train station of Rovereto and the train to Brixen/Bressanone at the cost of approx. € 15.00 - € 25.00 per person. (Timetable on www.oebb.at or www.trenitalia.com).
