Self-guided: Cycling the Majestic Dolomites! Cortina to Bolzano

Highlights: Welcome to Cortina; Bike fitting

Arrive in Cortina and pick up your bikes and equipment. An online pre-travel briefing and introduction, in English, can be scheduled – we’ll introduce the tour in detail, show you how to use your gps and navigation tools, and answer all your questions, getting you ready for the adventure ahead. Among the renowned ski resorts in the Italian Alps, Cortina hosted the 1956 Winter Olympics and still draws big crowds in the winter seeking great snow. This beautiful town, with a stone church and pleasant piazzas is also an outdoor paradise in the summertime, surrounded by mountains, forests and Alpine greenery.

Accommodation: Hotel Regina, or similar.

Highlights: Cycling through the Pusteria Valley

Leave behind the “Queen of the Dolomites” today to climb a gently graded rails-to-trails bike path through lovely forests and along small mountain lakes, reaching the small pass of Cimabanche. From here, the same path takes you gently downhill to one of the quintessential views of the Dolomites, the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, before continuing to our destination in Dobbiaco or San Candido, in the Val Pusteria.

Daily distance: 35 km (22 miles)
Elevation gain: + 372 m (1220 ft)

Accommodation: Hotel Garnì Letizia, or similar.

Highlights: San Candido, the Drau River, bike path, Austria

Spend a relaxing day bicycling toward (or into!) Austria, along the wonderful Drau River bike path. A tributary of the Danube several hundred kilometers downriver, the Drau is born here and is the setting for one of Italy’s most well-traveled bike paths. Pedal as far as you would like heading northeast before cycling back, or catch a train from one of the stations along the way to return to Dobbiaco/San Candido (local trains are designed for cyclists to very easily board and use the train with bikes).

Today, you can choose between two different options for your ride:

Short option: 87 km (54 miles), with + 830 m (2722 ft) elevation gain
Long option: 145 km (90 miles), with + 2097 m (6879 ft) elevation gain

Accommodation: Hotel Garnì Letizia, or similar.

Highlights: Spectacular views of the Pusteria Valley; Brunico

Pedal along one of the Dolomites’ most important valleys into the heart of Trentino Alto Adige, one of Italy’s few autonomous regions. A gentle bike path takes you to Brunico (Bruneck), a delightful city and worth the visit with its two castles, city gates and Alpine architecture.

Daily distance: 50 km (31 miles)
Elevation gain: + 575 m (1886 ft)

Today we offer an extra ride to Campo Tures from Brunico: 30 km (18.5 miles), with + 168 m (551 ft) elevation gain.

Accommodation: Hotel Corso, or similar.

Highlights: Brenner Pass bike path; Novacella abbey

Continue west today to then veer due south along the Brenner Pass bike path (heading down valley!), once one of the most important passes crossing into southern Europe and a long-time trading route down the Eisack Valley. We highly recommend stopping to visit the 12th century Novacella Monastery, which was the largest monastery in all of Tyrol and is still in function today – you can even visit their vineyards and sample their wine. Enter the small and vibrant town of Bressanone (Brixen) – as the oldest town of the province there are plenty of interesting sights in this picturesque city.

Daily distance: 46 km (29 miles) Elevation gain: +576 m (1220 ft)

Accommodation: Hotel Traube, or similar.

Highlights: The Eisack Valley; Bolzano

Continue pedaling south along the Eisarck Valley, stopping for a break in the town centre of medieval Chiusa and enjoying the cycling through chestnut forests and the first vineyards which will accompany you today and tomorrow on your rides. Pause to admire Castel Forte (Trostburg Castle in German), one of the most striking castles of all of Sud Tyrol, as it dominates the valley from its rocky promontory. Once in Bolzano, the largest city of Sud Tyrol region and the capital of the namesake province, you can explore the lively centre and town market where Italian daily life naturally flows. We highly recommend visiting the archaeological museum with the famous Otzi the Iceman, a Neolithic mummy found in the nearby peaks and one of the most important archaeological finds to understand this region’s prehistory.

Daily distance: 43 km (27 miles)
Elevation gain: + 236 m (774 ft)

Accommodation: Hotel Figl, or similar.

Highlights: Caldaro lake and wine region

We recommend this lovely loop ride into the wine region of Caldaro, a great place to relax and enjoy the scenery (and perhaps a wine tasting in one of the many family-run wineries along the way!). If you prefer a day off the saddle today, enjoy Bolzano and the many sights and activities the city has to offer. Or, take the train into the Venosta Valley (just west) to see some of the towns and sights along that valley, or take a taxi into the nearby Caldaro wine region to enjoy wine tastings and lovely scenery (we are happy to provide recommendations).

Daily distance: 38 km (24 miles)
Elevation gain: +445 m (1460 ft)

Accommodation: Hotel Figl, or similar.

Highlights: Arrivederci!

Tour ends after breakfast.

PLEASE NOTE: The final itinerary, including hotels and/or activities described here, are subject to changes according to availability. City hotel taxes are not included.