Boasting 300 days of sunshine a year, bright Trentino-Alto Adige is a timeless bilingual region at the crossroads of Italy and Austria.
As its double-barrelled name suggests, the region is made up of two areas: Trentino, in the south, is 98% Italian-speaking, whilst the mountainous terrain around Bolzano - known both as the Sudtirol (South Tyrol) and Alto Adige - has a unique mix of Italian and German landscapes, languages (German is the first language) and architecture. The architecture is that of the Austrian Tyrol: onion-domed churches stand in Alpine villages, where quaint wooden houses enjoy a mountain backdrop.
Offering a stunning yet dominant backdrop to the region is the UNESCO Dolomites, their jagged rock walls overlook the deep green meadows, acres of fragrant apple orchards and, further south, the lush vineyards of Trentino below.
Pedalling on well-maintained cycle tracks from your starting point in the mountain range in Sudtirol, you'll head through the emerald Val Pusteria valley, passing three rivers (Rienza, Isarco and Adige) en route to Riva on the lemon-lined shores of Lake Garda - a lively town with a mix of sun-worshippers and activity-seekers.
Along the route you'll stay in some wonderful towns. Distinctively Germanic, Dobbiaco, Brunico and Bressanone boast wooden buildings, beautiful squares and riverside settings. Bolzano is the turning point where Italy creeps upon you, its large piazzas, linked by porticoed streets, all shadowed by the mountains. Onwards into Trentino, and to the town of Trento where Italy arrives with a bang, the volume rises, as you wander within the old walls, admiring the mix of buildings from the 13th century castle, to Renaissance and Venetian piazzas and grand buildings.
The local food is a splendid blend of the Austro-Italian cultures, where you'll easily find a traditional German beef pancake soup (Fladlesuppe) or a meat schnitzel being served alongside a sliced steak salad (tagliata), or apple strudel (apfelstrudel) next to panna cotta. Two staples of the region are pizza and cured meat, which are perfect washed down with a fruity red or fresh dry white wine or a beer. They seem to take the best food from both cultures, so large buffet breakfasts come with good fresh Italian coffee.
En route you'll stay in 4 star hotels located in the centre of the towns - offering the chance to sample the local food in a simple pizzeria or even a high-end restaurant. The accommodation styles vary from quaint Tyrolean-style hotels to a relaxing spa hotel in Riva. Four have swimming pools.
Arrive at your hotel and spend some time relaxing by the hotel's pool or spa area.
You stay at the Hotel Santer (breakfast included)
Take some time to explore the beautiful church in Dobbiaco before setting off along the Val Pusteria following the milky blue Rienza River, passing deep green meadows, whilst mountains loom above. You'll admire a series of quaint Austrian-style towns, where there are plenty of opportunities to stop and have refreshments. Arriving in Brunico, take the time to walk up to its castle and enjoy wonderful views of the town.
You stay at the Hotel Corso (breakfast included)
Make your way to the head of the Val Pusteria today, continuing along the Rienza river, passing castles and lovely towns. You could wander around Chienes, with its Baroque church and the parish church with the best-preserved altar in the Tirol. Just before Rio Pusteria you'll see the impressive ruins of the Chiesa di Rio Pusteria, and heading onwards, the biggest fort in Alto Adige, the Forte di Fortezza. Then it's on a forested track to meet the Isarco River and into Bressanone, perhaps stopping at the Abbazia di Novacella (or return on your day off).
You stay at the Hotel Krone (breakfast included)
You could easily spend the day exploring the stunning town of Bressanone. Visit the 10th century cathedral, rebuilt in Baroque style in the 13th century, the Renaissance Bishop's Palace, which houses several artworks, including a nativity scene with more than 5,000 figurines, and the interesting Pharmacy Museum. Or cycle back to visit the Abbazia di Novacella or take a trip on the Plose cable car from nearby Sant' Andrea.
You stay at the Hotel Krone (breakfast included)
The Isarco River leads you out of Bressanone. The cycle tracks today hug the river, at times you are almost above the river, as you meander along the edge. Take time to stop in impressive Chiusa, the medieval town with narrow streets and little art and craft shops. Standing above the town is the impressive Castel Sabbiona. Enjoy the downhill ride as you criss-cross the river on perfect cycle tracks. At the exit of the village of Blumau, perhaps stop for lunch in their lovely beer garden before heading into Bolzano for your next two nights.
You stay at the Parkhotel Laurin (breakfast included)
Bolzano is a treat of a city to walk round; it was in 2017 voted as having the 'best quality of life in Italy'. It is where Italy really begins, despite still being in the German-speaking region, 75% of its inhabitants now speak Italian as first language. Aside from wandering around the city's piazzas and porticoes, there are some interesting monuments and museums. The big attractions are the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology, which houses a mummy of Otzi the Iceman, the Gothic cathedral, modern art museum, or the Dominican Church housing a series of 14th century gothic art. There are also three castles and a cable car that takes you out of the city to the small town of Ritten, where there are some nice walking routes. Alternatively, you can take the train to the spa town of Merano, and cycle back along the Adige River for 32km.
You stay at the Parkhotel Laurin (breakfast included)
The longest day of the holiday is a lovely flat ride following the Adige River, and the narrow Adige valley, passing beautiful cliffs as you cross into Trentino and out of German-speaking Italy. Apples turn to vines as you cycle alongside vineyards. Maybe take time to stop in Egna, once a Roman village, you can still see one of the old Roman houses and pass the old arcades in the old town. Follow the river through a lovely relaxed nature reserve before arriving in bustling Trento with its stunning architecture.
You stay at the Grand Hotel Trento (breakfast included)
Highlights today include the Piazza del Duomo where the magnificent late Baroque fountain is framed by the 12th century Romanesque-Gothic cathedral and the frescoed Museo Diocesano Tridentino, home to one of the most important ecclesiastical collections in the country. Don't miss either the Castello del Buonconsiglio, residence of the Prince-Bishops of Trento between 13th to 18th century, and the Via Prepositura, where beautifully restored pastel buildings date back to the ancient Roman City.
You stay at the Grand Hotel Trento (breakfast included)
You'll have a real sense of achievement today as you complete your final leg, with the option to visit Rovereto en route, down from the mountains to the shimmering waters of Lake Garda. Writers and artists, inspired by the wild beauty and vibrant Mediterranean-style colours, have been coming here for centuries, with Goethe calling it 'a marvel of nature, an enchanting place'.
You stay at the Astoria Park Hotel Spa Resort (breakfast included)
If you've booked your inbound travel with us, we'll take you to Rovereto for your train to Verona or onwards, or maybe spend a couple of extra nights relaxing on the lake.
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
Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
NEARBY:
The Hotel Santer lies just south of the train station of Dobbiaco and just outside the new part of town. It sits just below the mountains and is an alpine style hotel offering large luxury rooms and a wellness Spa with indoor pool. The hotel’s restaurant offers Tyrolean specialities with much of the produce coming from the two farms owned by the hotel.
Extra nights: Please contact us for details.
Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
NEARBY:
This award-winning, family-run hotel maintains the highest standards of South Tyrolean hospitality with a refined personal touch. The hotel itself combines the traditional with the modern and, following this ethos, the rooms and suites all have their own individual and sometimes eclectic style, and are all furnished to a very high standard. The hotel's restaurant offers tasty Tyrolean fayre, Mediterranean dishes as well as international specialities.
Find out more on the hotel website.
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NEARBY:
The hotel Corso is superbly located in the centre of lovely Brunico. Sitting on the main boulevard, the hotel is traditionally decorated with a lovely facade, the hotel dates back to more than 300 years. The rooms are large and airy with traditional decor. The hotel has it's own restaurant and pizzeria, and offers a turkish bath and sauna with beautiful views of Brunico castle.
Find out more on the hotel website.
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NEARBY:
The Hotel Krone is located in the attractive pedestrian zone in the heart of Brixen. With wonderful views overlooking the Alpine Plose Ski and Hiking resort, the hotel also offers a rooftop wellness centre with spa for relaxation and treatment areas, sauna and a panoramic terrace. A great hotel for all sports enthusiasts, especially cyclists.
Find out more on the hotel website.
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NEARBY:
The Parhotel Laurin is set in the heart of Bolzano, 200 yards from the cathedral. The hotel began as a Grand Hotel in 1910, and combines informal elegance with a dash of luxury in every detail. Each room features designer furniture and original artwork by contemporary artists.
Find out more on the hotel website.
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NEARBY:
Close to Piazza Dante, the elegant and refined Grand Hotel Trento, is centrally located over the road from the public gardens and the train station beyond. The hotel offers spacious and comfortable rooms with excellent facilities including LCD TV, Wi-Fi, minibar and ensuite facilities (shower or bath). Each different floor of the hotel has its own colour scheme.
Find out more on the hotel website.
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NEARBY:
The Hotel Astoria Park provides an oasis just 1km from the old town of Riva. The hotel boasts 15,000 square metres of park, which includes a large outdoor swimming pool. There is also a large Spa with a small indoor pool. For those who don't want to venture into town for dinner, the hotel also has an a la carte restaurant.
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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Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
The Hotel Kette is set in the heart of Venice, a short distance from Teatro La Fenice, from via XXII marzo, the elegant shopping street, 2 minutes from piazza San Marco and only 10 minutes from Ponte di Rialto. So this is an excellent base for exploring the many delights Venice has in store.
Find out more on the hotel website.
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The Giulietta e Romeo hotel, named after the town's most famous lovers, lies in a quiet side street just yards from the Arena. The hotel is fairly modern in style and very comfortable. There is a large lobby area, which leads onto the breakfast room, which is decorated in white with subtle lighting and art deco friezes on the windows.
Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
NEARBY:
The Hotel Astoria Park provides an oasis just 1km from the old town of Riva. The hotel boasts 15,000 square metres of park, which includes a large outdoor swimming pool. There is also a large Spa with a small indoor pool. For those who don't want to venture into town for dinner, the hotel also has an a la carte restaurant.
Extra nights: Please contact us for details.
Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
NEARBY:
The Hotel Santer lies just south of the train station of Dobbiaco and just outside the new part of town. It sits just below the mountains and is an alpine style hotel offering large luxury rooms and a wellness Spa with indoor pool. The hotel’s restaurant offers Tyrolean specialities with much of the produce coming from the two farms owned by the hotel.
Extra nights: Please contact us for details.
Transfers can be arranged at a supplement from Venice Airport at 13:05 (12:05 20th May, 20th Sep & 7th Oct departures), and back to Rovereto train station at 07:00.
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.
Here at Headwater we thrive on feedback and pride ourselves on our excellent customer service. Below is a small selection of reviews we've received from our satisfied customers.
Excellent. I liked the call back service. It saved time hanging on the phone
Helpful, friendly, efficient
I dealt with Megan Wyatt: she was extremely polite, responsive and efficient. I wanted a more customised holiday than advertised and as such had several questions / requests - she dealt with them all extremely well.
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 9 night self-guided cycling holiday includes:
Hotel-to-hotel accommodation in a mix of hotels
All buffet breakfasts
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.
We do not currently have departure dates and prices available on-line. The season may have ended for this tour, or we are still in the process of adding these details to our website. Please contact us for further details.
Minimum group sizes
No minimum group size, however transfers are subject to at least 2 people (in total) booked on each departure.
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
Meals
All buffet breakfasts
Electric bikes
It is possible to hire electric bikes for this holiday at a supplement of £126 per person. As these are available on a first come first served basis, we recommend early booking to avoid disappointment.
Other details
Arrivals 18th May, 3rd August; 10th August; 17th August; and 5th October the first 2 nights are spent in Brunico. A private transfer is included on day 2 to take you to Dobbiaco.
Tour only
Transfers can be arranged at a supplement from Venice Airport at 13:05 (12:05 20th May, 20th Sep & 7th Oct departures), and back to Rovereto train station at 07:00.
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.