FROM THE DOLOMITES THROUGH THE VENETO TO VENICE (APPROX. 350-500 KM; SPORTY RACING BIKE TOUR; INDIVIDUAL, SELF GUIDED TOUR)

From the north east of the Dolomites you cycle over the most famous mountain passes. Lake Misurina, the “Three Peaks” (Drei Zinnen – Tre Cime di Lavaredo) and the Olympic town of Cortina d’Ampezzo are only some of the highlights you will see during this tour.  The tour takes you on to Bassano del Grappa where the ground starts levelling out. After a short visit to the town of Asolo you carry on to Treviso. Following the River Sile you finally reach Mestre/Venice.

Character
Sporty racing bike tour for bikers in good condition. The tour is designed so that you can chose between two versions, one easier than the other. All details will be given to you at the information evening.

1st day: Arrival in Hochpustertal
Individual arrival at starting hotel in Hochpustertal with car parking available and
included in the price. Information evening with handing over of all travel documents.  

2nd day: Hochpustertal – Hochpustertal
 a) Easy Version: Hochpustertal – Bruneck/Reischach – Maria Saalen – Enneberg im
Gadertal – Furkelpass – Hochpustertal ( 65 km – 1000 m difference in altitude)
You cycle through the green Pustertal Valley to the town of Bruneck and then on along the Panorama Road past the pilgrimage village of Maria Saalen and on to the Ladin Dolomites. You cross the famous ski area of the Kronplatz, over the Furkel Pass before returning to our stating point.

b) More Demanding Version: Hochpustertal – Lake Antholz – Stallersattel – Lienz in East Tyrol – Toblach (115 km – 1600 m difference in altitude) Through the Pustertal Valley to the Antholz Valley passing the famous Biathlon Centre at Lake Antholz. You cross the Defregger Alps and the Stallersattel to reach East Tyrol in Austria. Back in the Pustertal Valley you have the challenge of the last 50 km / 600 m difference in altitude to get back to your starting point.

3rd day: Toblach – Cortina d’Ampezzo
 a) Easy Version: Toblach – Lake Misurina – Tre Croci Pass – Cortina d’Ampezzo (60 km – 800 m difference in altitude) From Toblach you cycle through Höhlenstein Valley, past Lake Toblach and the War Cemetery reminding us of the 1st World War which took place here. From here you carry on past Lake Dürre (view of the famous Three Peaks on the left) and ascend slightly up to the border “Gemärk – Cimabanche“ and the province of Belluno. Those who want can cycle up to the Three Peaks at 2400 m above sea level. 

b) More demanding Version: Toblach – Sextental – Kreuzberg Pass –  Padola – Passo San Antonio – Auronzo –  Tre Croci Pass - Cortina d’Ampezzo (80 km – 1650 m difference in altitude) Our tour takes you from Toblach through the Sexten Valley, a side valley of Hochpustertal in the heart of the Dolomites, over the Kreuzberg Pass into the province of Belluno and then over two other Dolomite passes to the Olympia town of Cortina d’Ampezzo.  

4th day: Cortina d’Ampezzo – Belluno   
 a) Easy Version: Cortina d’Ampezzo – Passo Giau – Selva di Cadore - Alleghe – Belluno (approx. 90 km – 1000 m difference in altitude) You leave Cortina (on the right the Sorapis and on the left the Five Towers – Cinque Torri). The Dolomites accompany you on your way to Belluno.  

b) More demanding Version: Cortina d’Ampezzo – Falzarego Pass – Corvara – Arabba - Alleghe – Belluno (approx. 125 km –  1500 m difference in altitude) The famous Dolomite passes interchange with the unique mountain views on this trip.

5th day: Belluno - Feltre
 a) Easy Version: Belluno – Passo San Boldo – Valdobbiadene – Feltre (approx. 73 km – 700 m difference in altitude) From the southern foothills of the Dolomites you cycle through untouched side valleys to the Roman town of Feltre, sometimes following the “Via Claudia Augusta“, the Roman Road. 

b) More Demanding Version: Belluno – Ponte nelle Alpi – Alpago – Lago Santa Croce – Valdobbiadene – Feltre (approx. 100 km – 900 m difference in altitude) Your tour takes from the stronghold of the ice cream makers to the famous Italian prosecco (sparkling wine) area of Valdobbiadene before reaching Feltre.

6th day: Feltre - Bassano del Grappa
a) Easy Version: Feltre – Pederobba – Bassano del Grappa (approx. 60 km – 250 m
difference in altitude) You go round the Monte Grappa along the River Piave and reach the foothills of the Alps by Bassano. Before tasting the Grappa that Bassano is famous for, you can admire the view which stretches down to Venice. 

b) More Demanding Version: Feltre – Monte Grappa - Bassano del Grappa (approx. 70 km – 1500 m difference in altitude) Before you finally reach the plains, you still have the Monte Grappa to cross. During the 1st World war this was one of the many areas of the battles between Austria, Hungary and Italy.  

7th day: Bassano del Grappa – Venice/Mestre (approx. 110 km)
Route (for both versions): Bassano – Asolo – Montebelluna – Treviso – Venice (approx. 110 km – 150 m difference in altitude) You leave the Alps and can immediately see the first villas of the famous Italian architect Palladio. You stop for a rest in the idyllic town of Asolo before we carry on to Treviso, the town of the pond skaters. The many sights in the town, such as the arcades, buildings, shops are worth taking time to see. Treviso is also the seat of Benetton as well as many shoe factories. You then follow the River Sile towards the Adria to Venice/Mestre with all its wonderful sights.

8th day: Departure
Individual departure or possibility to stay for a few more days either in Venice.

Starting point:
Niederdorf/Villabassa or Toblach/Dobbiaoc

Arrival:
By car on the Brenner motorway (A22) to Brixen/Bressanone and then through the
Pustertal Valley (SS49) to Niederdorf/Villabassa or Toblach/Dobbiaco.
Or along the Felbertauernstraße to Lienz in Osttirol (Austria) and then further to Italy 637,00 through the Hochpustertal.

By train to Innsbruck over the “Brenner/Brennero” to Franzensfeste/Fortezza. Change
train for the Pustertal Valley getting off at either Niederdorf/Villabassa or
Toblach/Dobbiaco depending on the hotel you are starting from.

By plane:
- Low cost flights to Treviso
- Venice, Marco Polo airport
Upon request we even organize transfers from the airport to the starting point of the bicycle tour.

Parking:
Free unattended car park at the first hotel (included)

Transfer:
Return-transfer by shuttle-bus every Saturday from Venice to Hochpustertal at the price of € 48,00 for person, included bicycle (to be paid directly on the spot); reservation necessary; limited places
On every other day transfer on request (min. 4 pax)