Touring Bike
£54 for 3 days
This 4-day pre-cruise extension traces a route from Bolzano through the foothills of the Dolomites and the shores of Lake Garda to Mantua, where you board the Ave Maria Italia or the Ave Maria Portegrandi to begin the Waterways of Venice cruise.
Cycle paths follow the River Adige through orchards and vineyards past Trento, before a scenic ferry crossing on Lake Garda and a final ride along the River Mincio into the Renaissance city of Mantua.
Select the tour you are interested in to view the itinerary.
Individual arrival and overnight in Bolzano, a bilingual city at the crossroads of the Mediterranean and central Europe, with historic arcades and lively squares set against the backdrop of the Dolomites.
A largely flat ride along the River Adige cycle path, through orchards and the vineyards of the South Tyrol wine route (a hillier variant via Lake Kaltern is also available). At Salorno you cross the linguistic border into Trentino, continuing to the historic city of Trento with its Renaissance cathedral and piazzas.
The route follows the Adige to Rovereto, then climbs to Passo di San Giovanni for superb views over Lake Garda before descending to Torbole. From Riva del Garda, a ferry (around 4-5 hours, bike included) carries you down the length of the lake to Peschiera del Garda.
An easy ride along the River Mincio cycle path, part of the Eurovelo network, brings you to the Renaissance city of Mantua, where you embark on your Waterways of Venice cruise.
£54 for 3 days
£141 for 3 days
Included with bike hire
Getting to Bolzano
By plane direct: Bolzano Airport has direct flights with Sky Alps to London, Berlin, Hamburg and Copenhagen. From the airport, buses 10A/10B run to Bolzano train station in around 15 minutes.
Via Verona: for wider flight choice, fly into Verona and take the Aerobus 199 shuttle to Verona Porta Nuova station (around 15-20 minutes), then continue north by train to Bolzano.
Via Munich or Innsbruck: both cities have direct, scenic train connections through the Alps to Bolzano - around 4 to 4.5 hours from Munich, or roughly 2 hours from Innsbruck.
Bikes are not included. You are welcome to bring your own bike or hire one. Please see our bike hire section for details.
Flights are not included. Please refer to the what's included section for full details.
We will confirm your booking within 48 hours of receiving your enquiry. Please wait for confirmation before booking flights or making other travel arrangements.
Most itineraries include cycling on most days, with some rest or shorter days built in. Please check the itinerary for day-by-day details.
The latest you can book is 9 days before departure. This gives us enough time to confirm arrangements and accommodation.
You will receive full travel details, including accommodation, meeting points and local contacts, 3 to 5 weeks before departure.
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