Dolomites, Lake Garda & Venice Ride
Dolomites, Lake Garda & Venice Ride
8 Days Starting in Trento and ending in Mestre (Venice)
Visiting: Italy
Tour operator:
Tour code:
MWD
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
6 - 16
Age range:
16-99
Special diets catered:
Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Few landscapes in Europe match the beauty of the jagged limestone Dolomites. The route starts with incredible views of Trentino's dramatic mountains, cycling on relatively easy roads and tracks along the Adige River. On reaching the northern shore of Lake Garda, the views of one of the most famous Italian lakes is unforgettable. A ferry cruise on the lake gives us the opportunity to take in these wonderful vistas before continuing the ride through the beautiful cities of Verona, Padova and finally the canals and waterways of Venice.
Highlights
Itinerary
Fly to Venice; transfer to Trento, province of Trentino-Alto Adige nestled
in the Adige River Valley. A cosmopolitan city and a centre for industry,
education, science and finance, Trento is one of the wealthiest and most
prosperous cities in Italy boasting an atmospheric historic centre adorned by
well preserved Medieval and Renaissance buildings. Depending on the group's
arrival time, there may be time to go into town before we have our evening
meal and trip briefing.
*Comfortable Hotel*
Day 2
After breakfast, we take a short train ride (40 mins) to Bolzano, the
capital city of the South Tyrol surrounded by the region's powerful peaks. In
2012 Bolzano was voted the city with the best quality of life in the whole of
Italy. We have the opportunity to familiarise ourselves with the bikes whilst
taking a short tour around the historic centre. From here we will cycle south
along the Adige River, following quiet undulating roads, with an overall
ascent of approximately 300m. Cycling through orchards and vineyards, we pass
Lake Caldaro and the lovely villages of Ora, Egna and Salorno. This area is
well known for its wine production, which accounts for three-quarters of the
production of the entire South Tyrol. We arrive back in Trento late afternoon
and spend a second night at our central hotel.
Day 3
We continue along the Adige until we reach Rovereto and Mori. From here, we
head west towards the northern shores of Lake Gard. After some short ascents,
we cycle down to Torbole and then onto the elegant resort of Riva del Garda,
offering plenty of bars and restaurants along the lake shore and a lovely
beach. Later in the afternoon we take the ferry to the southern end of the
lake, leaving Trentino and heading towards the Veneto region. The cruise on
the lake gives us the opportunity to enjoy the splendid landscape and relax
before we reach our final destination of the day, Desenzano, where we take a
short walk from the ferry port to reach our hotel for the night.
* *
Day 4
Cycling mainly on quiet roads and cycle paths today, we make our way to the
legendary city of Verona. Located on the river Adige, Verona is arguably the
most beautiful city in Veneto. Its famous arena is one of the many Roman
monuments we can discover there. Other places of interest are the Basilica
San Zeno and of course Juliet's house and the famous balcony!
*
*
Day 5
After a flat start, we reach the hillier region of Monti Berici. There are a
couple of more challenging climbs on today’s route as we cycle over the
undulating terrain, but we are rewarded with fantastic views of our
destination for the day: Vicenza. The old city centre is a jewel of
Renaissance architecture: private palaces, public buildings and the Basilica
are testaments to the work of one of Italy's most renowned architects: Andrea
Palladio. A visit to the best ice-cream parlour in Vicenza is a great reward
after today's ride!
Day 6
Today we have the opportunity to take in some of the greenest and most
stunning views of the Veneto countryside. .Leaving Vicenza, we cycle past
beautiful Palladian villas. En route, time and availability permitting, the
leader might arrange to have lunch in a family-run winery. We continue along
the Bacchiglione River, on relatively quiet and flat roads, to the
fascinating city of Padova, famous for the Scrovegni Chapel, painted by
Giotto, and the Prato della Valle, one of the biggest squares in Europe.
Day 7
This morning we transfer to Venice by train (approx. 30mins). Once in the
heart of the 'Floating City', we can explore the labyrinth of narrow streets,
bridges and waterways. We will see famous sights including Doge’s Palace,
the Rialto Bridge and of course Piazza San Marco. After exploring the city we
can enjoy a relaxed evening and perhaps a gondola ride before returning to
our hotel in Mestre by train.
*
*
Day 8
After breakfast we have most of the day free to further explore Venice before
transfering to the airport and flying to London.
**
What's Included
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Lake Garda ferry
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Local bike hire (Excluding E-bikes)
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All accommodation
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All breakfasts
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London flights (if booking incl. flights)
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Airport transfers
What's Not Included
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Local city taxes (approx. €15)
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Travel insurance
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Visa and vaccinations
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Single accommodation (available on request)
Food
All breakfasts are included on this trip.
For breakfast you can expect a continental style buffet including cold meats,
eggs, cheese, breads, pastries, jam, tea and coffee.
For lunch and dinner our leader will be on hand to recommend his favourite
restaurants based on your budget and preferences. As you would expect from a
holiday in Italy, the standard of food and drink throughout the tour is
extremely high and also very varied as we head from the mountains to the
coast. You can expect plenty of pizza’s and pasta dishes but also lots of
seafood options on restaurant menus too. This trip passes through several
wine growing areas and if possible we will stop to visit one or two during
the week.
Accommodation
We use a variety of three- and four-star hotels throughout with en suite facilities. They may be either in the towns themselves or in the surrounding countryside and are selected based on a combination of service levels, cleanliness, location and value.
Examples of hotels used:
Trento: Hotel America
Desenzano: Hotel Bonotto or Hotel Piroscafo
Verona: Hotel Leon d’Oro
Vicenza: Hotel Cristina
Padova: Hotel Casa del Pellegrino
Check out our Q&As
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Is there a supplement for solo travellers?
If you would like to be paired with a tour member of the same gender, there is no additional charge. A single supplement can be requested if you would like your own room.
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes.
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Do you require a visa for this holiday?
No visa required for British passport holders.
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Are vaccinations required for this tour?
There are no specific health risks.
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What is the maximum group size?
16
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Can you assist with pre or post tour accommodation?
We are happy to assist with pre and post tour accommodation. Please enquire for detailed information.
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Who is Exodus Travels?
At Exodus Travels, we've been exploring the world for nearly 50 years. From Walking and Trekking, Cultural and Cycling, Responsible Wildlife, to Polar and our new Premium Adventures, we are proud to offer award-winning small group and self-guided tours to 100+ countries worldwide.
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
Minimum 16 years old people can go on this tour
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Are flights included in this tour?
International flights are not included with this tour.
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Exodus Adventure Travels allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus adventure travels, 43 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Exodus Adventure Travels requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus adventure travels charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.