Bike Tour Munich - Venice

This self-guided hotel-to-hotel tour follows the München-Venezia cycle route, combining relaxed leisure cycling with the adventure of crossing the Alps from Germany through Austria to Italy. Using dedicated cycle paths, signed cycle routes and quiet side roads, it links three countries and a remarkable variety of regions, from Bavarian lakes and Tyrolean rivers to the UNESCO-listed Dolomites and the Venetian plain.

From Munich the route follows the River Isar through forests, past abbeys and Bavarian villages to the picturesque old town of Bad Tölz, then on past Lake Sylvenstein and through the Karwendel Nature Park into Austria and the mountain lake of Achensee. Riders descend to the Inn Valley and Innsbruck, home of the Golden Roof, before the steep, busy climb to the Brenner Pass is covered by an included train or bus transfer. From the Brenner an old railway trail leads into South Tyrol, and the Val Pusteria cycle path follows the River Rienz via Brunico, with its Messner Mountain Museum, to Dobbiaco.

The Dolomites stage follows the old railway trail past views of the Three Peaks to Cortina d'Ampezzo, host of the 1956 Winter Olympics, and down the Boite Valley to Pieve di Cadore. The last two days are mostly downhill and flat, via Longarone and the Prosecco country around Conegliano, then past Palladian villas to Treviso and along the River Sile to Venice's mainland at Mestre. Nights are in 3 and 4-star hotels, with luggage transferred daily.

Highlights:

• Munich's Marienplatz and the Isar valley to Bad Tölz
• Lake Achensee, Tyrol's largest lake, and the Karwendel Nature Park
• Innsbruck's Golden Roof and the Brenner Pass
• The Dolomites railway trail past the Three Peaks to Cortina d'Ampezzo
• Conegliano's Prosecco country and Palladio's Villa Barbaro at Maser
• Arriving at the gates of Venice via Treviso and the River Sile

Surface and terrain:
Cycle paths, signed cycle routes and small side roads, including old railway trails through the Alps. Daily ascent ranges from 120 to 780 m, with the hardest climb (Innsbruck to Brenner) covered by train or bus. The final two days are mostly downhill and flat.

Weather:
Expect cooler, changeable conditions crossing the Alps and in the Dolomites, and warmer weather on the Venetian plain, particularly in summer.

Suitable for:
Reasonably fit riders comfortable with consecutive 60 to 100 km days and some Alpine climbing. Rated Medium by the operator; minimum age 16.