Lake Garda & the Veneto

Day 1: Arrival in Verona and transfer to Valeggio sul Mincio, 2 mi. (4 km)
Day 2: Mantova loop ride, 43 mi. (69 km)
Day 3: Lake Garda and Valpolicella, 26 mi. (42 km)
Day 4: Pedal through wine country to Verona and Soave, 41 mi. (67 km)
Day 5: Vicenza and Palladio’s architecture, 23 mi. (37 km)
Day 6: Cycle to Padova among the Palladian villas, 28 mi. (44 km)
Day 7: Venice
Day 8: Departure from Padova

All distances are approximate. Due to circumstances beyond control, weather conditions, or provisions issued by local authorities, the itinerary may be subject to some changes before and/or during your holiday. For example, along the way, you may find temporary deviations/detours caused by roadworks. In this case, please follow the directions posted on the site.

Day 1: Meet in Verona, 2 mi. (4 km) | Elevation gain: 203 ft / 62 m
Individual arrival to Verona. Meet the group and tour leader at the Verona train station in the mid-afternoon, from where you will transfer to your lodging for the next two nights. The hotel is located in the center of Valeggio sul Mincio and offers cozy rooms, furnished in a simple yet elegant way. You will be fitted for your bike and then take 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. In the evening, you will enjoy a welcome dinner with your fellow travelers. (D)

Accommodation: Al Cacciatore Hotel and Restaurant or similar

Day 2: Mantova loop ride, 43 mi. (69 km) | Elevation gain: 920 ft / 279 m
Today, you will pedal south along the bike path to reach the impressive city of Mantova, with its pretty lakes built around it as fortifications and now serving as a great green area around the city. Mantova was home to the princely Gonzaga family, who ruled for several centuries between the 14th and 18th centuries and who made Mantova an artistic, musical, and architectural center. Visit the Palazzo Ducale and Palazzo del Tè, as well as the Piazza Virgiliana, Castello San Giorgio, and Piazza delle Erbe before returning to your accommodations. (B)

Accommodation: Al Cacciatore Hotel and Restaurant or similar

Day 3: Lake Garda and Valpolicella, 26 mi. (42 km) | Elevation gain: 1745 ft / 532 m
The route leads north today along a 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. Enjoy a wine tasting this afternoon and end the day in a historic villa, surrounded by vineyards! (B)

Accommodation: Villa San Giorgio or similar

Day 4: Pedal through wine country to Verona and Soave, 41 mi. (67 km) | Elevation gain: 846 ft / 258 m
You 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, another small wine village. The medieval castle and its fortifications that dominate the town stand in stark contrast to the softer vineyards that line the hills. This evening, meander through the small town as your hotel is centrally located. (B)

Accommodation:  Locanda ai Capitelli Residence or similar

Day 5: Vicenza and Palladio’s architecture, 23 mi. (37 km) |Elevation gain: 1411 ft /430 m
The route leads to  Vicenza, another famous art city that 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, give the city its unique appearance, and you can see many of his villas and buildings still standing. (B)

Accommodation: Key Hotel or similar

Day 6: Cycle to Padova among the Palladian villas, 28 mi. (44 km) | Elevation gain: 498 ft / 152 m
Leave Vicenza along the foothills of Monti Berici. You will 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 university and still a vibrant university city, but it also acted as the setting for most of the action in Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. (B)

Accommodation: Casa del Pellegrino or similar

Day 7: Venice 
You will take the train to Venice for the day, to explore the less well-known areas of the “Serenissima”. From the train station, visit the Jewish Ghetto, the Cannaregio neighborhood, and the Fondamente Nuova before arriving near the Rialto Bridge. From here, you’ll have free time to visit the more famous parts 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. (B, D)

Accommodation: Casa del Pellegrino or similar

Day 8: Tour ends in Padova
For those wishing to continue their time in Veneto or Northern Italy, Padova is a great starting point. Venice is a 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 at nearby Venice, Milan, Treviso, or Verona airports. (B)

You will be accommodated in unique 3-star hotels and inns. On the detailed day-to-day itinerary, you will find a sample hotel list. Final hotel list will be based on availability.

Bicycles

Aluminum standard touring bike

• Aluminum touring frame
• Continental Contact 700×35 tires with an anti-puncture layer
• Solid rear rack for panniers or trunk bag,
• Fenders
• Chain-guard and kickstand
• Ergon GP2 grips
• 3×10 Shimano Deore drivetrain
• Step-through frame available

Titanium standard or road bike

• Van Nicholas Amazon 3AL/2,5V titanium standard/mixte frame and VN Slx carbon fork
• Continental Contact 700×25 tires with an anti-puncture layer
• Solid rear rack for panniers or trunk bag
• Fenders
• Chain-guard and kickstand
• Ergon GP2 grips
• 3×10 Shimano Deore drivetrain (standard)
• Shimano 2x11 or Gear Sram Rival 1x 42 drivetrain
• Step-through frame available (standard)

Electric Touring Bike

The e-bike fleet is made up of mostly Cannondale Mavaro and Tesoro, and Fantic 7 Days Living Easy models, with 625Wh batteries providing plenty of kilometers. With state of the art technology, our pedal-assist bikes are a fantastic option for cyclists who desire a little extra push. Although you still have to pedal, the e-bike drive gives a nice boost for your efforts – when your pedal stroke increases to go up a hill, for example, so does the amount of power the electric motor outputs. Less effort on your part translates to less power assist. The ladies/unixex version has step-through frame for easy mounting/dismounting. Equipped with rapid-fire shifters that operate the gears the just like a regular bike.

• Frame: Aluminum frame and front suspension fork
• Gearing: rapid fire Shimano Deore with 10 speed drivetrain
• Tires: e-bike specific Schwalbe Delta Cruiser Plus, 47-622 Bosch Performance Line, 250W, 65Nm, 25km/h Bosch PowerTube 625Wh

Accessories & other rental options

All bikes are equipped with the following:

• A pump
• Rear rack (depending on model)
• Lock
• Under-seat pack (containing a spare tube, tire irons, and patch kit)
• Helmets
• Rear rack packs
• Cell phone holder