Cycling Holidays - Innsbruck to Venice

Innsbruck to Venice

Austria

From £1,029 P/P

Following ancient trade routes, the bicycle route leads from the Tyrolean capital Innsbruck to the Festival City of Verona. Numerous old railroad tracks and dam pathways have been converted into modern cycle paths. Therefore, you can enjoy the impressive towns and mountain views almost without being disturbed by any traffic. The great cities of Brixen, Bolzano, and Trento provide some cultural highlights on the way!

The landscape at the Brenner Pass at 1,370 meters of altitude appears almost alpine and in Brixen, orchards and vineyards dominate the natural scenery. At the Salurner Klause you will enter the "real" Italy with its Mediterranean flora and fauna. On this beautiful bike tour, you will always find a lot of variety - whether nature, culture, or cuisine, this tour has something to offer for everyone!

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Itinerary
Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Innsbruck

Welcome briefing and bike fitting. For the rest of the day, we recommend visiting Innsbruck’s famous old town with its city tower and its “Golden Roof”.

Day 2: Innsbruck – Brixen approx. 50 km + transfer to the Brenner Pass

After breakfast, we will take you up to the Brenner Pass (by train or minibus). From the small border town Brenner, you will cycle on a newly extended bike path, mostly along the river Eisack, first to the little village Gossensass and immediately afterwards to Sterzing, the once mighty city of the Fugger. You will continue your tour to Thumberg, to the beautiful Reifenstein Castle, and via Stilfes and Mittenwald to Franzensfeste with its famous fortress. The bike path continues to the beautiful and quiet Lake Varna, to Varna and finally to Brixen, today's destination.

Day 3: Brixen – Bolzano approx. 40 km

You will ride your bike through the Dürer town Klausen along the river Eisack to Waidbruck (view of Castle Trostburg). Here, the valley gets narrower and leads into the Bolzano basin. The city where two cultures meet is awaiting its visitors with many attractions (Archaeological Museum with Ötzi, the Iceman – free admission with BrixenCard on day of arrival).

Day 4: Bolzano – Auer approx. 30 km

Today you will pedal through numerous orchards and vineyards in the area of the South Tyrolean wine route, past many castles and ruins, to the wine village Eppan and further to Lake Caldaro. You will stay overnight in the cosy wine town Auer.

Day 5: Auer – Trento approx. 50 km

Today, the route will take you mostly on the beautiful bike path along the river Adige and partially through beautiful orchards to Salurn, where the German speaking South Tyrol ends. The dam pathways lead to Trento with its lovely old town.

Day 6: Trento – Ala/Rivalta approx. 45-60 km

The Adige valley is getting narrower and narrower and the mountain ranges on which for many centuries impressive castles guarded over one of the most important trade routes are coming closer and closer. We recommend a visit to Rovereto and the city of Mozart, Ala. Then you will continue your tour on the bike path to Rivalta.

Day 7: Ala/Rivalta – Verona approx. 50-65 km

On the seventh day, you will cycle on the well-developed bike trail along the river Adige to Verona, with only a few stops.

Day 8: Vicenza - Abano Terme/Padua approx. 45-55 km

On leaving Vicenza, you will see numerous Venetian villas, such as the Villa Rotonda. The route along the river Bacchiglione leads to Abano Terme, one of the famous Italian spa towns. From Abano Terme, you can easily travel by bus to Padua, the city of St Anthony and the scholars. There you will have enough time to enjoy the thermal baths. If you are culturally-minded, you can enjoy Padua overnight for an additional charge.

Day 9: Abano Terme/Padua - Venice/Mestre approx. 40-50 km

With a light wind behind you most of the time, it’s an easy ride towards the sea. The landscape is full of meadows and fields. This stage will take you to the mainland before Venice, with its excellent bus service into the city of lagoons.

Day 10: Departure or extension

Route Overview

You will cycle on beautiful bike paths along the Eisack and Adige river valleys. From Verona you will mainly cycle on quiet side roads. You will be taken up to the Brenner Pass from where you shall descend 1,300 meters in altitude. There are only a few short climbs on Lake Caldaro and before Verona. If you prolong the tour to Venice, the only exhausting part is the Monte Berici before Vicenza (about 400 meters in altitude). This is a bike tour for everyone!

Route Map (for guidance only):

Routes on this bike and brewery tour may be subject to change or alteration. All route notes, maps and information for this cycling holiday will be given to you upon arrival at the first hotel or at the welcome meeting. GPS/GPX files are available for most of the cycling holidays we offer.

Starting point of the cycling holiday: Innsbruck

Stage	Kilometres	Special notes regarding the route
Innsbruck – Brixen	50 km	Mostly tarmac surface, though after Lake Varna (before Brixen) there is a short section with a poor surface. You will follow the official cycle path Südtiroler Radroute to Sterzing and Brixen. Total of 600m descent today, though there are still some short climbs. Before Sterzing you will cycle for approx. 1km on the Brennerstraße (please take care as there may be heavy traffic). After Mittewald the route may be closed due to landslide, if this is the case, cycle along the Brennerstraße to Franzensfeste (approx. 3km)
	Organisation: Today‘s stage starts with a transfer by minibus or train from Innsbruck to Brenner Ort. Your mode of transport for this transfer will be confirmed at the welcome briefing. The train ride takes approx. 40 minutes. You will receive the ticket (bike included) at the welcome briefing.
Brixen – Bolzano	40 km	From Brixen to Bolzano you have a smooth descent of about 300m in altitude difference.
Bolzano – Trento	70 km	There are two route options today, a hilly route via Eppan and Caldaro or a flat route along the Adige River.
Trient – Ala/Rivalta	45 – 60 km	Todays route is entirely on cycle paths.
Ala/Rivalta – Verona	50 – 65 km	Today you mainly cycle on cycle paths. There is one longer climb of approx. 2.5km before Rivoli.
Verona – Vicenza	70 km	Today’s stage is about 70km long and with the Berici hills (ascents lasting about 4 and 300m climb), it is sure to be strenuous. There is the possibility to take a train for the first section until San Bonifacio. In addition to the route description, you can also follow the official “l1”bike path signs.
Vicenza – Abano Terme	45 km	The stage is only 45km long. This leaves you enough time to go to the Abanos thermal springs or for a cultural trip to Padova. It is mainly a flat route. At the 10.7km point the bike path runs parallel with the road. We recommend our route through the villages instead. Those who want to stay on the bike path should be careful of the exit in Ponte di Castegnero
Abano Terme – Venice/Mestre	50 km	Unfortunately there are some sections in Padua with heavy traffic that cannot be avoided. Mainly flat route. It is possible to drive around Padua: at the 10.2km point, turn right and follow the cycle path along the canal. At the 16.8km point, you will return to the original route description.

Getting There

Getting There

Please fly to Innsbruck airport to reach the starting point of this Innsbruck to Venice cycling holiday.

Flights are available with a number of airlines to your required airport, or you can travel to the start of this Salzburg to Passau by bike using alternative methods such as rail or road.

By train:

Disembark at Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof, from here we recommend taking a taxi to your hotel.
Austria Trend Hotel Congress: taxi takes about 5 minutes and costs about €8. Alternatively, it is about a 2 km walk or you can go by bus according to timetable www.postbus.at and get out of the bus at “Haus der Begegnung” which will cost about € 3.
Hotel Central and Zach: taxi takes about 3 minutes and costs approx. €7. Alternatively, it’s about a 750m walk.

By plane:

From Innsbruck Airport, the cost per taxi is approx. € 16. Alternatively, you can catch bus “F” to station Hauptbahnhof for Hotel Central and Hotel Zach or further on by bus according to timetable www.postbus.atand exit the bus at “Haus der Begegnung” to Austria Trend Hotel Congress. The distance from the airport to your hotel is about 5 km.

We recommend using Skyscanner to find the best flight prices by date or Voyages SNCF for European rail travel. There is customer car parking available at most hotels for a supplement. Please contact us for more details.

Please use local transport to arrive at the starting point of this Austrian and Bavarian beer tour and cycling holiday or call us on 0800 755 5385 for more specific travel advice.

You do not need to go back to the starting point of the cycling holiday as all hire bikes are left at the final hotel.

Important: Please book your flights only after the Innsbruck to Venice by bike trip has been confirmed by invoice or email. Flights and transfers are not included in the advertised holiday price.
What’s Included?
What’s Included?

The Innsbruck to Venice cycling holiday includes the daily transfer of luggage to the next hotel and local support if required.

Included Services (subject to confirmation)
- Accommodation as already mentioned
- Breakfast buffet
- Welcome briefing (German, English)
- Luggage transfer between the hotels
- Well developed route
- Detailed travel documents 1x per room (German, English, French with route maps, route description, local attractions, important telephone numbers)
- Bus transfer from Innsbruck - Brenner incl. your bike
- Brixen card (free use of South Tyrolean public transportation, a roundtrip ride with the cable car Plose, free admission to Acquarena water park, free admission to nearly all South Tyrolean museums)
- Routesignposting
- GPS-data is available
- Service hotline
Not Included
- Flights to/from the start and finish
- Evening meals (unless stated)
- Local daily taxes (payable at the hotel)
- Helmets
- Water bottles
- Travel insurance
- Transfers (unless stated)
Bike Hire

Bike Hire

About the Rental Bikes

This cycling holiday uses quality crossbar and unisex hybrid bikes based on KTM frame technology, Selle Royal saddles, Shimano components and puncture-proof tyres to ensure that you have an enjoyable cycle tour. The bikes feature modern V-brakes, aluminium frames with mudguards, comfortable saddles and a rack for a supplied waterproof pannier.

You will also receive a handlebar bag and map holder for easy navigation when riding your daily itinerary. Prices advertised on the website include standard bike hire (unless stated). Colour and specification may vary from the image shown.

Unisex Bike (Colour may vary)

Men's Bike (Colour may vary)

Electric Bike (Colour may vary)

Accessories

If you would like GPX files for a suitable device, please request them at the time of booking. Devices are not provided and please make sure that you bring along with you any fittings required to attach the Garmin (or similar) to the handlebars. You might want to download maps onto your phone to avoid data charges when roaming.

All bikes are provided with standard flat pedals. You can bring your own cycling pedals, but ensure that you have the correct tools to remove the pedals if the tour does not have a welcome meeting. You may also not be able to travel through airports with the tools if you are carrying hand luggage only.

You can rent a men's bike with a crossbar, unisex/female bike with a sloping tube or an electric bike for a supplement.

Gears

7 speed bikes are equipped with a Shimano Nexus gear hub and 21 speed bikes have a Shimano Alivio derailleur. We request 21 speed bikes for all cycling holidays (when available).

Frame Sizing

When you make a booking with us, we take your height(s) and the appropriate bike size is matched up accordingly. Unisex frame 21-gears with freewheel. Sizes: 56 / 51 / 46 / 43 cm. Unisex 7-gears-bikes with back pedalling brake. Sizes: 56 / 51 / 46 cm. Men’s speed bikes 21-gears with free wheel and crossbar. Sizes: 64 / 60 / 56 "sloping" cm. Helmets are not provided and you will need to bring your own to use.

We always recommend wearing a helmet when on your cycling holiday!

Bike Hire Insurance

This cycle tour benefits from bike insurance against rental bike theft and damage in the holiday price. Please make sure you lock up the bike, leave it where told by the hotel and treat your hire bicycle as if the bike was your own. Any negligent treatment of the bike will exempt you from cover. We advise you to ensure that you have adequate travel insurance for your cycling holiday prior to arrival.

Electric Bike Hire

Why not upgrade your cycling experience to an E-Bike (Electric Bike)? Using a power assisted bike is a great way to go on a cycling holiday and will help you smooth out inclines or longer days in the saddle. Each E-Bike features an LCD display, removable batteries for easy charging and assistance up to 25 km/h with a range of around 120 km for each full charge depending on usage.

E-Bike upgrade prices vary per tour, but if you require any more information about bike hire and electric bikes, please get in-touch with us on +44 (0) 800 7555385.

Hotels

This cycling holiday stays in good quality hotels with private facilities carefully selected for their proximity to your cycle route and comfort. If you wish to know specific information about the hotel facilities, Wi-Fi and upgrades used on the holidays, please contact us on +44 (0) 800 7555385 for more information. Please note that the hotel list is subject to change and should be used as a guide only. We will confirm the exact hotels prior to arrival.

Please note that the hotel list is subject to change and should be used as a guide only.
We will confirm the exact hotels prior to arrival.

Innsbruck to Venice	sample hotel LIST
Innsbruck	Austria Trend Congress ****
	www.austria-trend.at
Brixen	Hotel Krone ****
	www.krone.bz
Bolzano	Hotel Scala Stiegl ****
	www.scalahot.com
Trento	Hotel Everest ***
	www.hoteleverest.it
Ala/Rivalta	Albergo Olivo **
	www.albergo-olivo.it
Verona	Hotel San Marco ****
	www.hotelsanmarco.vr.it
Vicenza	Key Hotel ***
	www.key-hotel.it
Abano Terme	Hotel Terme Roma ****
	www.termeroma.it
Venice/Mestre	Hotel Mercure Venezia Marghera****

You will receive your final hotel list approximately 4 weeks prior to your arrival date detailing the hotels used on your cycling holiday. If you wish to know more about the hotels prior to completing a booking form, please contact our Customer Services team via email or by phone.

Date & Prices

You can find out more about this cycling holiday by completing a Contact Form or call 0800 755 5385 to speak to one of the team.

2019 Cycling Holiday Prices:

Season	Date Band	Arrival Day
Season 1:	27.04. to 10.05.2019 \| 28.09. to 05.10.2019	Saturdays
Season 2:	11.05. to 21.06.2019 \| 07.09. to 27.09.2019	Saturdays
Season 3:	22.06. to 06.09.2019	Saturdays

Category A Information:

Season	Prices per person including bike hire
Season 1:	£1029
Season 2:	£1079
Season 3:	£1129
E-Bike Upgrade:	£99
Single Supplement Upgrade:	£269

Hotel Category Descriptions:

Category Type	Accommodation Overview
Category A:	3* / 4* Hotels. 2* hotels in Rivalta

EXTRA NIGHT PER PERSON PER NIGHT PRICES ( YOU WILL STAY IN THE SAME HOTEL AS PER THE CYCLE TOUR):

Location	Price DBL/BB	Single Supplement SGL/BB
Innsbruck:	£69	£30
Verona:	£69	£30
Venice/Mainland:	£69	£40

Reference:AT-ETRIV-10X

Date From	Date To
27 April 2019	05 October 2019

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