Bike Tour from South Tyrol to Milan

This self-guided hotel-to-hotel tour links the lush green landscapes of South Tyrol with the vibrant heart of Milan, Italy's financial capital. Riders follow scenic bike paths, peaceful country roads and well-marked cycle routes through small villages and idyllic countryside, discovering a wealth of natural beauty and cultural treasures across three northern Italian regions.

From Brixen the route follows the vineyard-lined Eisack Valley to Bolzano, where Italian flair meets German tradition, then takes the South Tyrolean Wine Road towards the Mendel Pass and Caldaro, known for its warm swimming lake and fine wines. An included cable car ride up to the Mendola Pass sets up the Alpine stage through the Val di Non, famous for its apple orchards, medieval castles and views of the Brenta Dolomites, crossing the Tonale Pass to Ponte di Legno. A long descent then follows the Camonica Valley, a UNESCO biosphere reserve with more than 300,000 prehistoric rock carvings, to the spa town of Darfo Boario Terme.

Riders continue past Lake Iseo and the pre-Alpine lakes of Gaiano and Endine to Bergamo, entering the walled Città Alta, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The final stage follows the Serio River past the castles of Cavernago and Malpaga and the moated village of Cologno al Serio, then crosses the Adda to the Naviglio Martesana canal, partly engineered with Leonardo da Vinci's input, which leads straight into Milan. Nights are in 3 and 4-star hotels, with luggage transferred daily.

Highlights:

• Brixen's cathedral and the Eisack Valley vineyards
• The South Tyrolean Wine Road and Lake Caldaro
• Val di Non orchards, the Brenta Dolomites and the Tonale Pass
• Prehistoric rock carvings of the Camonica Valley
• Lake Iseo and Bergamo's UNESCO-listed Città Alta
• The Naviglio Martesana into Milan, with its cathedral, Sforza Castle and Navigli canals

Surface and terrain:
Bike paths and very quiet side roads. Mostly valley and lakeside riding, with one big Alpine day over the Tonale Pass (approx. 1,750 m ascent) followed by a long descent. The final stage is flat through the Po Valley.

Weather:
Expect cooler, changeable conditions in the Alps and around the Tonale Pass, and warm to hot weather on the Lombardy plain, particularly in summer.

Suitable for:
Reasonably fit riders comfortable with 60 to 90 km days and one demanding Alpine pass. Rated Medium by the operator; minimum age 16.