Claire Reynolds says...
We had a fantastic trip, though the northern italian weather by mid october isn't quite as balmy as we'd have liked.
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Our undiscovered corner of Veneto, just 60 minutes (but a world away) from bustling Venice, is the perfect setting for a relaxed cycling holiday. Nestled between the art cities of Padua, home to one of the oldest universities in the whole of Europe, and UNESCO-recognised Vicenza, the region is bursting with Patrician villas - built by Venetian nobles to escape the muggy heat of the city - and ancient castles, although it is surprisingly almost entirely untouched by tourism. Palladio was the most famous Renaissance architect and many of his buildings, including the Villa Rotonda, can be visited on day 7 of this interest-packed itinerary.
We take you across the Venetian plain, past cherry orchards and swaying vine terraces, with the outline of the conical shaped Euganean Hills and imposing Colli Berici acting as a constant backdrop. The cycling is wonderfully gentle, over the flatlands of the plain and the low foothills of the Colli Berici, along peaceful canalside paths, cycle tracks and quiet country roads, passing sumptuous villas and historic towns with wine-tasting opportunities on the way.
En route you'll stay with some of the friendliest people we've ever met. There's a warm welcome at Gabriella and Alessandro's Agriturismo il Feudo as you arrive in Cortela, and it's a home away from home at Valfrido and Angelina's charming agriturismo near Vicenza.
Arrive at your friendly agriturismo run by Gabriella and Alessandro, in time for dinner.
You stay at the Agriturismo Il Feudo (breakfast and evening meal)
The day starts along the canalside path to Este. This delightful medieval town with its pastel, arcaded buildings boasts a 14th century castle and an altar piece by Tiepolo in its Cathedral. Your next stop is Monselice. You can visit its mediaeval castle (converted into a sumptuous residence for a Venetian noble in the 15th century). From Monselice you follow the canal past the 19th century Villa Italia, before arriving at your hotel.
You stay at the Sporting Hotel Galzignano (breakfast and evening meal)
It's a lovely circular cycle to Arqua Petrarca, unchanged since the 1370's when Petrarch lived here. Visit his well-preserved house before pedalling off through vineyards to the fabulous Villa Barbarigo at Valsanzibio, the delightfully manicured 17th century Italian gardens here are the best in the region.
You stay at the Sporting Hotel Galzignano (breakfast and evening meal)
Cycling through swaying vines you reach the charming village of Battaglia where there's time for a spot of wine tasting. You must try the local Serprino, a medium dry frizzante wine often compared to Prosecco, before carrying on through the spa towns of Montegrotto Terme to the pre-Palladian villa at Luvigliano. After admiring the elegant villa you cycle upwards to the pretty village of Teolo, home for the next 2 nights.
You stay at Villa Lussana (breakfast only)
A former Roman settlement, Teolo's heyday was in the 15th century when it became the summer home of Venice's doges escaping the heat on the coast. Many palazzi and formal gardens from the period remain. You could take a walk in the encircling Euganean hills (360 degree views from here) or maybe take the bus into Padua to admire the town's Giotto frescoes. Or, for a longer day out, take the bus/train to Italy's most romantic city, Venice. Enjoy a cappuccino in St Mark's Square, take a gondola under the Bridge of Sighs, admire the opulent gold decor of the Doge's Palace or visit the Peggy Guggenheim Exhibition. The list is endless!
You stay at Villa Lussana (breakfast only)
Today starts with a 1km climb from the hotel, followed by an exhilarating freewheel down through the Euganean Hills to the mediaeval castle at San Martino. Then, cycling by the Bacchiglione River you reach Cervarese Santa Croce in time for a relaxed lunch in the square. Onwards, it's into wine country once more to reach your charming farm hotel at Villaganzerla where you'll receive a warm welcome from Valfrido and Angelina. There's time for a dip in the pool (typically open June - early September) before dinner.
You stay at the Agriturismo L'Albara (breakfast and evening meal)
You could laze by the pool but it's a shame to miss out on Vicenza! A cycle path (those feeling lazy can catch the bus) takes you there past the famous Palladian villa, La Rotonda. nicknamed 'Venice of the Terra Firma' for its marvellous architecture, Palladio designed dozens of the city's buildings, from the Basilica Palladiana in the main square to the Teatro Olimpico. There's plenty to explore.
You stay at the Agriturismo L'Albara (breakfast and evening meal)
Today's route follows the Strada del Tocai Rosso (the only area outside of Hungary where the red Tocai is grown). The wine road links a string of pretty villages, each with their own Venetian campanile. Then it's out across the plain to reach Vo Vecchio, criss-crossed with canals. The Euganean hills are spread out in front of you as you cycle through the vineyards to Gabriella and Alessandro's farmhouse for your last dinner.
You stay at the Agriturismo II Feudo (breakfast and evening meal)
During your holiday you stay at the following hotels. If you'd like to extend your time at any of these or, if you'd like to enhance your stay with an upgraded room, just let us know at the time of booking.
To find out more call our sales team on 0044 1606 720199, use our live webchat or email sales@headwater.com
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Room upgrades: Superior room with balcony .
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Extra nights: Please contact us for details.
If you'd like to extend your trip with extra nights at the start or end, or if you'd like to arrange a stop off point en-route, then we recommend the following hotels.
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Transfers can be arranged at a supplement from Montegrotto train station at 14:17 and back to Montegrotto train station at 12:45.
Call now to speak to our specialist team at 0044 1606 720199 or email us at sales@headwater.com for enquiries or to book your trip.
Everyone who goes on a Headwater holiday will be emailed a link to our post-holiday questionnaire where they can give us an honest assessment of all aspects of their holiday - everything from how quickly we answer the phone to how clean the hotels were - plus an overall rating and comments about their holiday.
Any feedback collected is posted to our website, so that people can make an informed decision based on past experiences before heading off on holiday. We donโt edit the reviews, the only thing we do is proofread them and alter any typos, where necessary, to ensure they are easy to read for everyone. All reviews will be published (except in certain extreme circumstances), and a member of the Headwater team will respond to any constructive criticisms/comments under the reviews, at their discretion. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of our holidays, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers.
We had a fantastic trip, though the northern italian weather by mid october isn't quite as balmy as we'd have liked.
Had a wonderful time although it would be useful for HW include market days + opening times of places to visit along the way to help choose departure date. We missed all markets and a lot of places of interest are closed Monday or Tuesdays which coincided with our journeys. There are quite a few sections of cycling with industrial backgrounds in view but the scenery other than this was excellent in places. Bikes are great, (not electric) lovely and comfortable, cycling app is a must ....... so much easier than stopping to read route notes. Food was good on the whole. Villa Lussana in Teolo was a disappointing breakfast, tinned fruit salad and fruit straight from a very, very cold fridge, they appear to be concentrating on their restaurant next door. However, the larger of the Pizzeria's behind the village provides excellent food and you need to book or be prepared to wait .... best pizza's for 40 years mmm! Pretty good value too. Be sure to set off early to visit Vincenza, it's a beautiful place and takes around an hour to cycle to using the app. Lots of places closed in Padua on Monday's but an interesting place although not as beautiful as Vincenza **travel by train for this one. Agrutorismo L'Abara is unique with a fantastic humorous host (Frediricco) who will ensure you mingle with other guests at meal times. We met and enjoyed 2 evenings with 2 different Belgian couples who both spoke excellent English. Interesting to fine our countries have much in common.
We thoroughly enjoyed our cycle tour of Veneto which was an area previously unknown to us. It is unspoilt, easy cycling, with enough points of interest on the way to give you a break from the bikes. We found it amazing value and made us want to go back to explore more of northern Italy. The Headwater app worked great and there was plenty of information in the tour notes which encouraged us to take a train to Padova and to cycle on our 'rest' day to Vicenza, both of which were fascinating places. The bikes were excellent and we had a really good briefing from the local agent. Th only slight gripe was the first and last stop, Il Feudo, where we left our car, which was in a delightful spot but a bit too basic for us - we felt we needed aircon in the bedrooms (temperature was into the high 30's at end June) and a decent shower. Also be warned: take plenty of mosquito repellent!
Overall a really enjoyable holiday although some of the accommodation experience could have been better given the price paid for the holiday. The experience at Villa Lussana was extremely poor due to the attitude of the management. While the management at Il Fuedo were very nice, the quality of the accommodation was quite poor (felt like 2 stars when were expecting 3/4 star level). Consideration should have been given to location on a Sunday. We had no real options to easily do day trips from Teolo without a major cycle again given no public transport available on a Sunday.
We rate Headwater and all its staff very highly. The sales team, mainly Andrew Palmer, were helpful from start to finish, always sorted out any problems or queries efficiently. We had to rebook flights after our airline cancelled but this was sorted out by Sara at Headwater UK very quickly. The local Headwater staff were similarly helpful when we wanted to make changes to our itinerary, this was sorted out with minimal hassle. In short, we have had an excellent experience with HW and we ended up having an absolutely brilliant holiday, just what we had hoped for.
A wonderful way to see the true Italy. You are independently exploring, with the freedom to roam but have the โsafety netโ of the company if needed. Giving you a sense of security and peace of mind.
The extension in Venice was somewhat spoiled by the cancellation of the return flight and the lack of help available. I related the events of the day in an email to Joanne the day after our return. Easyjet were no help whatsoever and we felt let down by Headwater, especially when we eventually got a call back from the Emergency Cover staff and the person said she had no record of what we had said in our earlier calls. From then on, we were on our own. A later email said H/W was exceptionally busy and calls were dealt with 'on a priority basis'. If two 76-year-olds stuck in Venice without help on their 7th H/W holiday isn't a priority, then I don't know what is! Fortunately, Paula (and maybe others) helped us to get our extra expenses refunded which we are very grateful for and has somewhat redeemed the situation: otherwise, this would have been our 7th and last H/W trip.
We had a great time on this cycling trip, particularly enjoying staying in both the agriturismos, the one at Villaganzerla having the most convivial atmosphere at mealtimes, while 'il Feudo' was a more intimate family farmstead.
Whilst my husband is a regular cyclist for whom the (relatively rare) 'hills' and hair-pin bends were as to be expected, I as more of an occasional cyclist would have found them a challenge without the e.bike! We loved Este and Montelice, but didn't have enough time to see all the attractions, so if doing again would perhaps have built in an extra day. Similarly the canal boat museum at Battaglia was a gem. Our highlight in Teolo was being able to listen to a concert in the art gallery literally across from our accommodation (a once-a-month 'friends of' event). While October is clearly turning 'end of season', for us September was a perfect time as the weather was like a nice summer day in Britain.
The team also excelled with our extra night in Verona.
A relaxing holiday, in a mix of beautiful country & small towns & villages. We were made to feel welcome by hoteliers & locals alike. Grape harvest was underway whilst we were in area & we found that very interesting!
Excellent route through pretty villages, vineyards etc with stops at some wonderful Palladian villas. E bikes were a must in July as it reached 35 most days. Good route with reliable back up transport of bags etc
Very enjoyable rides with a range of scenery and interesting places to visit. Vicenza and Padua which we visited on bike free days were particularly beautiful.
The bikes were fantastically maintained by our rep James - in contrast to Headwater agent holidays that we've been on before.
Beautiful area of Northern Italy - it was a total feast for the senses. Our rep was the best ever and our first cycling holiday in Italy was a lovely experience overall.
GREAT HOLIDAY. ALL TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS WENT TO PLAN. THE VENETO AREA IN ITALY IS SUPERB FOR CYCLING AS THE ROADS ARE VERY QUIET AND THE CYCLE TRACKS ALONG THE CANAL WERE LOVELY. GPS WAS REALLY GOOD AS WE DIDN'T HAVE TO KEEP STOPPING. THE WRITTEN ARRANGEMENTS WERE ALSO VERY GOOD WITH EXTRA INFORMATION ON VISITING PLACES ON FREE DAYS. WE WERE A GROUP OF FOUR WHICH WAS PERFECT AS WE COULD KEEP TOGETHER MOST OF THE TIME. WOULDN'T HESITATE TO BOOK ANOTHER CYCLING HOLIDAY WITH HEADWATER AND AM ALREADY LOOKING AT THE BROCHURE FOR NEXT YEAR!
My friend and I had a great holiday. I had previously been on cycling holiday with Headwater, about 7 years, ago level 2 ish - from Auxerre in France. Comparing the two, the ride was not significantly harder than this one at level 1.
The cycling routes were good and quite varied with some hills and beautiful scenery. Sometimes it was difficult to hear the GPS in traffic but most of the routes were on cycle paths or quiet roads. I came home feeling very relaxed.
We enjoyed this holiday in this lovely Veneto region which seemed unspoilt and with few tourists. Particularly enjoyable were our visits to Padua (by bus) and to Vicenza by bike. Particular highlights in these cities were the stunning Scrovegni Chapel in Padua (book on line the day before), and the ancient indoor theatre in Vicenza. The weather was particularly hot (early July) for the duration of our holiday and we were glad to have booked a couple of extra days of relaxation at the L'Albara which had an excellent pool. It also had air conditioning which we considered an essential feature during our stay. Unfortunately we were moving on on a Monday when a couple of the best reviewed villas were closed. Cycling was generally easy and flat apart from the climb up to Hotel Lussana with four hairpin bends, and the final day with a climb up and down hills before our last stop at Il Feudo. Generally we were very impressed by the very many cycle paths in this area.
Superb a real sensory experience.
Enjoyable, well organised
James was the best Headwater representative that we have ever encountered. His knowledge & summary of the area was excellent. The bikes, bag collection & transfer excellent. He could run the company! Thank you for one of the best holidays ever. We will be back for another Headwater holiday.
Well planned holiday. Cultural notes and cycling instructions excellent. Picture book countryside, very high standard food offerings everywhere. Our rep James was lovely and helpful.
Memorable holiday. Will definitely travel with Headwater again if still able to . Had a splendid holiday with HW also about 15 years ago cycling through Umbria.
This was a very relaxed holiday, all the hotels were in the countryside where the views were lovely, the air clean and the environment quiet and peaceful.
Although graded as "easy", there was a particularly "challenging" prolonged uphill stretch to reach Teolo, where I had to get off and push but Teolo was so worth it. The Villa Lussana provided the best accommodation and vegetarian food on the trip. It was good to have a variety of individual styles of accommodation.
We are not into Apps and downloads, so our Rep provided us with excellent detailed written route instructions, having just recently cycled the route himself. We enjoyed meeting up with other cyclists for the 2 nights spent at Villaganzerla and with 2 walkers at Galzignano. I am not a competent cyclist and it had been some time since I was on a bike, so there was a certain sense of achievement at having completed the route unscathed!
Cycling through the Veneto area allowed us to get a feel for rural Italy and the people who live there, as well as to experience the history of the area. The route takes you primarily through farmland and, since our trip was in October and after harvest time, many of the fields were plowed so we missed some of the greenery that probably characterizes the area in summer. We enjoyed visiting Vicenza on one of our non-cycling days and also had the opportunity to take a bus to Padova, a larger and more modern city than we thought. Sarah was attentive to our needs throughout the trip.
Venetian Villas and Vineyards Cycling lived up to its name as there is an opportunity to visit many villas in this area. We travelled during the grape harvest season and it was interesting to see both hand picking (especially around Cortela) and mechanical harvesting and to taste wine near Cortela. Sarah Hall is an excellent rep with 10 years experience and knowledge of the area and the routes. She keeps the bicycles in immaculate condition, and provided a comprehensive briefing and was always available if needed. The Villa Lussana Hotel was our favourite with wonderful views and delicious meals. We should have done more research on sights to see in Padua and Vicenza to make more use of the day trips. We added 3 nights at the Hotel Kette in Venice which was in a good location but very touristy compared to the relatively quiet and non-tourist cycling. Great trip overall and easy to add to the Coastal Croatia Cycling as we did that trip first and caught the ferry from Porec to Venice then on to Vicenza.
Excellent routes through lovely rural Italy. First &I last accommodation very disappointing because we thought we would enjoy basic country accommodation &I enjoy the food & wine of the area - we felt this was not the case at this accommodation. Food &I wine at Il Feudo were very poor - accommodation not good - rooms hot &stuffy - noisy -bed not comfortable & very poor lighting.
A great holiday, virtually traffic free rides, excellent food and lovely scenery. A brilliant combination of cultural cities (if you wish to visit them) and rural isolation. However, consider the best time to go - the temperature hit 42 degrees & humidity was very high which made cycling difficult (4-13 July). We were the only guests at our first three holels and owners told us they consider July to be low season due to the heat. If you were expecting to meet other travellers you could be disappointed. On the other hand places of interest were not crowded & we didn't need to queue with the exception of Venice.
After three outstanding trips with Headwater previously (twice to Italy, and once to Spain), we were wondering whether our 4th excursion, 'Venetian Villas and Vineyards Cycling' could possibly live up to our high expectations. We were looking for an interesting and relaxing break that would immerse us in the Italian culture and suit the mixed cycling abilities of our group (two couples). This holiday managed to satisfy us all. While most of the routes were relatively flat, there were a few more challenging hills and options along the way. Highlights (just to list a few) included exploring the neighborhoods and museums of Vicenza and Padua, getting lost in the maze at Valsanzibio gardens, taking in the view from Villa Lussana after an exhilarating cycle up to Teolo, and the welcoming family atmosphere at L'Albara agriturismo (not to mention delicious meals they conjured up from homegrown produce). To surprise one of our party, we requested a birthday cake along the way. Our rep Sarah wisely chose Villa Lussana as the place for the surprise, and their experienced chef produced an amazing fruit flan right on cue, which helped make the event very special and memorable. There were a couple of slight disappointments - a room 'upgrade' that was of a lower specification than a standard room, and as seasoned Headwater fans we missed the detailed route notes that we've had every other time - but these are only minor niggles that did not detract from what was otherwise an excellent holiday, and great value for money. Thank you, Headwater, and we look forward to our next trip with you - wherever that may be!
This holiday is well organised with reliable backup available if needed. Although we were initially sceptical we found the Ride with GPS system was good when the printed out notes were ambiguous! It would be nice to have more descriptive notes on points of interest on the itinerary. The cycling was varied and on interesting and not too hilly routes often with lovely views to enjoy. We were slightly disappointed with the quality of food, apart from at the Villa Lussana, as it didn't live up to our expectations of what we have enjoyed previously with Headwater. Also breakfasts could be a bit variable in what was offered e.g. in the Belvedere Resort ai Colli there was a 5 Euro extra charge if you wished cheese or cold meat or eggs while in other hotels these were included. On the whole we were made to feel very welcome but I would certainly recommend bringing a travel kettle if like us you enjoy a cup of tea as they clearly do not understand how to make decent tea and also charge a lot for it! Air conditioning is an absolute necessity and it was also of variable efficiency in the different accommodations, actually blowing the lights in the L'Albara Agriturismo when we tried to turn it up a little. However each place had different pros and cons e.g. L.'Albara had wonderful baking and fruit and the freshest lettuce straight from the vegetable garden even thought the main courses were pretty dire! We also had the best Tira Misu I have ever tasted and the pool was a real bonus! In summary a great holiday so long as you are prepared for a variety of accommodation and standards of food,
Despite being in a National Park, this was a less rural holiday than we were expecting. While some of the routes are rural in nature, you are never out of sight of a dwelling and you are on, or next to, or crossing, busy roads quite a lot of the time. Italy is also home to a plague of noisy motor bikes and scooters but I guess this is part of the culture! That said, the hotels and the food were mostly very good. We did an extra two days in Teolo which worked well and gave us two days in Padua (easy bus ride) as well as a pleasant local hike. Rep Sarah was as good as we had been led to believe and gave us a most detailed briefing. Her route notes were also excellent.
A very enjoyable cycling holiday exploring the less known areas west of Venice.
Exercise, fresh air, excellent food and drink and, as ever with Headwater, getting to know a new area pretty well.
Cycling from Slovenia was a great experience. Dependent on flight times though, I would suggest just one night in Ljubljana and an extra night in Bled. I agree with other reviewers, that it would have been good to spend more time in Slovenia. The local agent was very helpful and gave us a full briefing using his computer which was very helpful. This was the best briefing we have had from a Headwater 'agent'.
The cycling spectacular and easily the best scenery we have had on any Headwater trip although the cycling was generally easy (this was good!) - even on the long days. The parts of the cycle on old railway lines were particularly good - and easy, due to shade despite it being hot. I would actually grade the hotel as 1 not 1+
The Veneto cycling was not as spectacular as our previous week. We enjoyed it though. A good opportunity to see a different less touristy part of Italy. We particularly enjoyed staying in the agriturismo which are friendly and welcoming.
This was our first experience with Headwater. We were extremely impressed and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Our local Rep Sarah was helpful and informative. She knew the area extremely well and had clearly worked hard to develop helpful contacts and provide useful and interesting information about the area we were cycling in. She provided excellent notes and maps and obviously had good relationships with the hotel owners which helped us to feel cared for and welcomed. Sarah is literally the best holiday rep that we have ever encountered. We are full of admiration and gratitude and will definitely book with Headwater again.
Very good, but next time would try a higher grade of route
Great holiday. Our rep Sarah was really helpful and ensured everything ran smoothly. Was sick on first day of arrival. Sarah and the people running the hotel helped me straight away so that I was able to get better and enjoy a great holiday. The scenery is stunning and people so friendly and helpful. Also the food was delicious in every place we stayed. You would pay an awful lot for that standard of food in the UK. We went in July so the weather was really hot in the afternoon so make sure you take lots of shade and water breaks.Was a fun holiday.
Great way to explore Italy.
Well planned and organised, good routes accurately described, very helpful staff.
Loved this little known area, which was perfect for easy cycling. Good variety of cycling ; quiet roads, alongside canals and dedicated cycle paths. Sarah our rep couldn't have been better and was always working hard for us to get the most out of our holiday. Loved Albara, which had a pool which was a bonus in our hot weather (30s). There is another holiday option to stay here as a base for week, I would think this would work well , as it was our favourite stopover out of the four we stayed at. Food and wine excellent all the way round and plenty of places to stop enroute.
This was our first cycling holiday, we are both reasonably fit but not regular cyclists so this was an excellent introduction.we found the routes fairly straight forward and enjoyable with the route notes easy to follow as long as we didn't read too far ahead (short term memory problems!). All the hotels were very good in their different ways , we ate well everywhere but the stand out food was at the Villa Lussana in Teolo. unfortunately we missed the ride to Teolo because of an extremely heavy thunder storm but Sarah our Rep picked us up and transfered us. The day wasn't wasted though, we were able to do a lovely circular walk later on in the afternoon to set us up for the first of our fabulous evening meals there. We took a bus into Padua on the rest day, well worth doing, we visited the Scrovegni Chapel and the the University to see the anatomy theatre. The two nights at the Agritourismo L' Albara were very convivial and the pool was lovely. To sum up, we had a great time, Sarah our rep was extremely helpful and helped make our holiday .
This was an interesting area of Italy and our holiday passed all too quickly with the usual Headwater mix of cultural visits and, of course cycling. The routes were well selected and mostly on cycle paths. Food was great. We didnt visit Padua, Vincenza or Venice as we preferred to explore the countryside. Otherwise the holiday was pretty much as described in the brochure.
We were very lucky with the weather and this is important when on a cycling holiday! The accommodation was varied and highly suited to starting and ending a days cycling. We loved the routes which were through beautiful countryside ( isn't this lovely! I kept saying) and which provided us with convenient coffee and lunch stops. The cycling was spot on for a 1 cycle ride but it also offered more hilly routes is we wished to challenge ourselves. We soon found we had total confidence in the route notes and once when we went wrong I said - Sarah would never send us down this road! And I was right. You have to be a little flexible - one of our routes was blocked off by a motorcycling event but we were able to use the notes to rejoin the trail. We thoroughly enjoyed the food and the delicious local wine. I made friends with my bike and always looked forward to the next day's expedition. Great holiday!
This was a fantastic holiday mixing activity through cycling with culture by visiting Vicenza, Padua and Venice. It is great if you want an authentic holiday experience getting the feel of a country independently by cycling along country lanes and canal banks undisturbed by traffic and stopping at local markets or cafes for lunch with the security of knowing that a comfortable bed and good food awaits you at the end of a day. You feel you have earned the glass of wine and the lovely food using fresh local ingredients . The hotels were all different but individual and whilst not needed it is good to know that there is a local rep on hand to sort out any problems. It was 10 years since our last headwater cycling holiday but we were pleased that we still easily coped with the cycling and this holiday was the best mix of scenery, cycle routes, hotels and food out of the other 4 I have had over a 25 year period. Thank you for a great time.
We almost always travel independently and avoid package holidays. However, we wanted to do a cycling holiday and were attracted by the idea of being able to cycle from place to place with our luggage transported. Headwater did not let us down - we felt we had all the advantages of independent travel (getting off the well-worn tourist routes, meeting local people and eating regional food) yet had backup if we wanted or needed it. Our rep, Sarah, was outstanding, friendly and knowledgeable and generous with her time. Cycle routes were clear and had plenty of suggestions for detours to places of interest, or to make the day's trip more or less taxing. We liked all the places where we stayed - the two hotels were polished and comfortable, a lovely complement to the country cooking and warm family atmosphere of the two agritourismi.
Super holiday, loved the area, and all the hotels. Our rep, Sarah, was absolutely wonderful. She found us a taxi at a good price, she knew all about the area, the bag transfer was done most efficiently, what a lovely lady. She even recognised that we felt more comfortable eating as just a couple, and not in a larger group, and without us asking she organised a table for just us two. How perceptive!! Thank you Sarah.
We enjoyed another quality holiday with Headwater. This area of Italy is very pretty, ideal for gentle cycling and sightseeing. All of the hotels provided excellent food, wine and accomodation.
You really get to know a country on a bike - the real people, the flora and fauna, food and customs. Eat like a king and not feel guilty!
You have to accept some discomfort - mosquitos, missing/faulty air conditioning, rain showers, bikes with no suspension at all, miss the odd lunch, but it's got to be better than plonked next to a pool reading a book, and cramming another meal in.
Not sure you'd want to publish these comments though!
Seriously, we enjoyed our holiday, and look forward to our next one - maybe Denmark?
Overall a superb holiday, occasional cyclist managed route, good accommodation, good route and other notes. Good access to other locations for tourist visiting.
Excellent local rep.
This was our 13th consecutive year of cycling holidays with Headwater and was one of the best. This was partly because the weather was so good but mainly because the Veneto is such a lovely area for cycling and hoidaying. The food at all hotels was excellent and the local wines are not only excellent but cheap.
A cycling holiday is an adventure. We started in summer weather and ended in cold and rain which did somewhat marr this experience. This was our 6th cycling holiday, and we felt that the route was somewhat artificial. [Our favourite was the Danube, Passau to Vienna, which was a real journey.]
Wonderful cycling holiday with varied days and experiences. The cycling could be easy or more challenging according to the options. The scenery and architecture was amazing, but very few tourists (except Venice)
The holiday itinerary was well-planned and took us through a delightful and unfamiliar part of northern Italy. The cycling was leisurely but varied, with opportunities to visit a range of very interesting and attractive places and sights. Sarah's advice and suggestions were excellent, and she dealt promptly with a problem with one of the bikes. Accommodation was very good: we particularly enjoyed our stays at Belvedere Resort ai Colle and at Agriturismo l'Albara (where dining alongside the family made for a great atmosphere). Everyone we met was friendly and helpful, the weather was excellent at this time of year, and the local wine a revelation (unfortunately we were only able to bring back 2 bottles from Gabriella at Agriturismo Il Feudo)!
An excellent holiday with the usual high standards of food, accommodation and planning.
Really lovely holiday. We loved Il feudo especially, but variety in the hotels was a positive feature. Would avoid temperatures in high 30s next time by going earlier. Sarah was helpful and knowledgeable. Ideal for family with children, including chance to visit Venice and Vicenza.
Sarah was fantastic- all credit to her. Funny, kind, thoughtful and a wealth of knowledge!
Wonderful opportunity to see some of the lovely Veneto plain, whilst getting exercise, and building up appetite for the evening meals. We have used Headwater twice now and would not consider using another cycling tour company as the variable start dates, knowledgeable and helpful reps, and welcoming hosts make the entire experience enjoyable.
You can be confident that our pricing includes all the standard requirements of your holiday and many additional extras. Always ensure that you are comparing like for like when booking your holiday.
This 8 night self-guided cycling holiday includes:
Hotel-to-hotel accommodation in a mix of , and hotels
All continental breakfasts and 6 evening meals
Bike fitting and briefing at the start of your holiday
Headwater navigation app for your smartphone
Bike hire
Standard transfers at the start/end of the trip (if booking inclusive flights)
Luggage transfers between hotels
How to book:
To book this holidays speak to our sales team on 0044 1606 720199 or click on the appropriate 'book now' or 'check availability' button below.
To book this holiday call our sales team on 0044 1606 720199 or click on the appropriate 'Book now' or 'check availability' button below.
Departing | Tour only | Prices ![]() |
Single supplement | |
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1st Apr 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
Check availability |
Check availability | ||||
3rd Apr 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
Check availability |
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5th Apr 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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7th Apr 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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9th Apr 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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11th Apr 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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13th Apr 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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15th Apr 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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17th Apr 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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19th Apr 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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21st Apr 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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23rd Apr 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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25th Apr 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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27th Apr 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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29th Apr 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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Departing | Tour only | Prices ![]() |
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1st May 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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3rd May 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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5th May 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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7th May 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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9th May 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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11th May 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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13th May 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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15th May 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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17th May 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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19th May 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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21st May 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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23rd May 2024 | US$2470 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2470 Single supp: US$288 |
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25th May 2024 | US$2470 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2470 Single supp: US$288 |
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27th May 2024 | US$2470 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2470 Single supp: US$288 |
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29th May 2024 | US$2470 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2470 Single supp: US$288 |
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31st May 2024 | US$2470 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2470 Single supp: US$288 |
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Departing | Tour only | Prices ![]() |
Single supplement | |
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2nd Jun 2024 | US$2470 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2470 Single supp: US$288 |
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4th Jun 2024 | US$2470 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2470 Single supp: US$288 |
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6th Jun 2024 | US$2470 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2470 Single supp: US$288 |
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8th Jun 2024 | US$2470 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2470 Single supp: US$288 |
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10th Jun 2024 | US$2470 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2470 Single supp: US$288 |
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12th Jun 2024 | US$2470 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2470 Single supp: US$288 |
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14th Jun 2024 | US$2470 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2470 Single supp: US$288 |
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16th Jun 2024 | US$2470 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2470 Single supp: US$288 |
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18th Jun 2024 | US$2470 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2470 Single supp: US$288 |
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20th Jun 2024 | US$2470 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2470 Single supp: US$288 |
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22nd Jun 2024 | US$2470 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2470 Single supp: US$288 |
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24th Jun 2024 | US$2470 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2470 Single supp: US$288 |
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26th Jun 2024 | US$2470 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2470 Single supp: US$288 |
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28th Jun 2024 | US$2470 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2470 Single supp: US$288 |
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30th Jun 2024 | US$2470 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2470 Single supp: US$288 |
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Departing | Tour only | Prices ![]() |
Single supplement | |
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2nd Jul 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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4th Jul 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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6th Jul 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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8th Jul 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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10th Jul 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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12th Jul 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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14th Jul 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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16th Jul 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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18th Jul 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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20th Jul 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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22nd Jul 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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24th Jul 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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26th Jul 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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28th Jul 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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30th Jul 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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Departing | Tour only | Prices ![]() |
Single supplement | |
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1st Aug 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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3rd Aug 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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5th Aug 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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7th Aug 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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9th Aug 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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11th Aug 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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13th Aug 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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15th Aug 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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17th Aug 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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19th Aug 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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21st Aug 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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23rd Aug 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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25th Aug 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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27th Aug 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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29th Aug 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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31st Aug 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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Departing | Tour only | Prices ![]() |
Single supplement | |
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2nd Sep 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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4th Sep 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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6th Sep 2024 | US$2425 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2425 Single supp: US$288 |
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8th Sep 2024 | US$2470 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2470 Single supp: US$288 |
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10th Sep 2024 | US$2470 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2470 Single supp: US$288 |
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12th Sep 2024 | US$2470 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2470 Single supp: US$288 |
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14th Sep 2024 | US$2470 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2470 Single supp: US$288 |
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16th Sep 2024 | US$2470 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2470 Single supp: US$288 |
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18th Sep 2024 | US$2470 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2470 Single supp: US$288 |
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20th Sep 2024 | US$2470 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2470 Single supp: US$288 |
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22nd Sep 2024 | US$2470 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2470 Single supp: US$288 |
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24th Sep 2024 | US$2470 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2470 Single supp: US$288 |
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26th Sep 2024 | US$2470 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2470 Single supp: US$288 |
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28th Sep 2024 | US$2470 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2470 Single supp: US$288 |
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30th Sep 2024 | US$2470 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2470 Single supp: US$288 |
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Departing | Tour only | Prices ![]() |
Single supplement | |
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2nd Oct 2024 | US$2385 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2385 Single supp: US$288 |
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4th Oct 2024 | US$2385 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2385 Single supp: US$288 |
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6th Oct 2024 | US$2385 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2385 Single supp: US$288 |
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8th Oct 2024 | US$2385 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2385 Single supp: US$288 |
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10th Oct 2024 | US$2385 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2385 Single supp: US$288 |
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12th Oct 2024 | US$2385 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2385 Single supp: US$288 |
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14th Oct 2024 | US$2385 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2385 Single supp: US$288 |
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16th Oct 2024 | US$2385 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2385 Single supp: US$288 |
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18th Oct 2024 | US$2385 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2385 Single supp: US$288 |
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20th Oct 2024 | US$2385 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2385 Single supp: US$288 |
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22nd Oct 2024 | US$2385 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2385 Single supp: US$288 |
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24th Oct 2024 | US$2385 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2385 Single supp: US$288 |
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26th Oct 2024 | US$2385 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2385 Single supp: US$288 |
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28th Oct 2024 | US$2385 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2385 Single supp: US$288 |
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30th Oct 2024 | US$2385 | US$288 | Tour only: US$2385 Single supp: US$288 |
Check availability |
Check availability |
The prices quoted for each individual departure supercede those published in our current brochures. Air prices are subject to change and we advise early booking to obtain the best prices. Please see our Planning your holiday and What's included in the price? pages for additional information.
Solo travellers
Please call for details and prices
Children
Please contact us for child prices.
Holiday type
Self-guided cycling Managed by Headwater rep.
Departures
Every two days from 1st Apr 2024 to 30th Oct 2024, for 8 nights. All dates are subject to availability, please contact us to check.
Meals
All continental breakfasts and 6 evening meals
Electric bikes
It is possible to hire electric bikes for this holiday at a supplement of £176 per person. As these are available on a first come first served basis, we recommend early booking to avoid disappointment.
Tour only
Transfers can be arranged at a supplement from Montegrotto train station at 14:17 and back to Montegrotto train station at 12:45.
To book this holidays speak to our sales team on 0044 1606 720199 or click on the appropriate 'book now' button above.
If you need further information before you book simply complete our Holiday Enquiry Form and a member of our sales team will get back to you.
To book this holiday call our sales team on 0044 1606 720199 or click on the appropriate 'Book now' or 'Check availability' button below.