Lake garda bike tour

Verona, Brescia, Mantua and Lake Garda by bike

Culture, wine and lakes: a perfect mix! And you will experience the “dolce vita” without having to change your hotel. Welcome to a cycle tour, which will stimulate both your soul and your senses: high art and culture in the cities of Trento, Verona, Brescia, and Mantua – not only the Renaissance palaces of the city of Romeo and Juliet invite you to stay. The cathedral square in Trento and the antique forum in Brescia will enchant you. Enjoy the atmosphere of the Piazza Sordello in Mantua. Lake Garda, a blue-green emerald, invites you to relax on its banks or to cool off in its refreshing waters. Or you relax while drinking a glass of wine, since in this region some of the most famous Italian wines are grown. Valpolicella, Lambrusco, Bardolino, Lugana…as we said…dolce vita“.

Day 1: Arrival in Desenzano

Tour information and bike fitting. We recommend taking a stroll through the old town. Take up residence in your accommodation for the week.

• 4* hotel in Desenzano: near the old port, spacious rooms with balconies/terraces, swimming pool, private pebble beach

Day 2: Trip to Trento approx. 50 km + Boat Excursion and transfer

The day starts with a transfer by minibus to Trento (old town with cathedral, castle Buonconsiglio). Then, you will follow the river Adige to Rovereto. From here, you will cycle westwards in the direction of Lake Garda. In Mori you will try the world famous pistachio ice-cream in the Gelateria Bologna. After a short climb, you will cycle downhill towards the lake in Torbole and further to Riva. From here, a boat will then take you down the entire length of the lake and back to Sirmione or Desenzano.

Day 3: Trip to Verona approx. 55 km + train journey

A minibus or train will take you to Verona. The city of Romeo and Juliet with its Renaissance palaces, the Roman arena and many cosy places invite you to stay for a stroll. Over gently rolling hills, past cypress trees and vineyards, the tour will take you back to the southern shore of the lake – for Goethe the lake was “a delicious spectacle”, for the Roman poet Catull “a shining star”.

Day 4: Trip to Mantua approx. 65 km + train journey

Beautiful trails will lead you along the river Mincio southwards to Mantua. The thousand-year-old town of the royal Gonzaga family impresses its visitors with its art and beauty. The Castello S. Giorgio and the Palazzo Ducale, the Piazza Sordello with the house of Rigoletto, the cathedral, the Piazza Broletto with the old city hall, the Piazza Erbe with the courthouse palace, the clock tower, the rotunda of San Lorenzo, and the Basilica of St. Andrew are worth seeing. The train will take you back to your hotel.

Day 5: Trip into the History of Italy approx. 50 km

Today, you will follow lonely roads, through vineyards, peach orchards and kiwi plantations to Solferino – the place, where Garibaldi united Italy in the famous “Battle of Solferino”. On your way back to Lake Garda, you will cycle through the area where the delicious wines of Lugana are grown.

Day 6: Trip to Brescia approx. 60 km + train journey

Today, you will ride your bicycle along the lake shore towards Cavalgese di Riviera and get some unforgettable views of Lake Garda. Then, you will follow the Naviglio Grande Bresciano (canal with bike path) to Brescia – a city of Roman origin with many more places of interest. The train will take you back to Sirmione.

Day 7: Departure or extension 

General informations :

• 7 days and 6 nights
• Accommodation comfort level: 3* in standard version, 4* in comfort version
• Rates for children: contact us

The dates 

Departures Sundays and Tuesdays 

• Low season: 03/31 to 04/13 and 09/29 to 10/13
• Mid-season: 14/04 to 11/05 and 8/09 to 28/09
• High season: from 12/05 to 7/09

Included :

• 6 nights at the hotel with breakfast
• Bus transfer to Trento (bike included)
• Return by train from Brescia (bike included)
• Return by train from Mantua (bike included)
• Train transfer to Verona (bike included)
• 1 boat trip on Lake Garda (bike included)
• 1 pistachio ice cream!
• Roadbook with practical and cultural information
• GPS track available on request
• Helpline

Not included :

• Anything not mentioned in the "included" section
• Transport to the place of departure
• Dinners and lunchs

The options :

• VTC or VAE rental
• Additional night at the beginning or end of the circuit
• Bike theft insurance (for rented bikes)
• cancellation insurance

Levels:

1 2 3 4 5 6

Ground :

The course sometimes flat, sometimes slightly hilly. You will cycle on cycle paths, secondary roads and sometimes on country lanes. Only short stretches should be traveled on busier roads, especially when entering or leaving towns.

Weather :

Although considered a mountain lake, it is quite warm at Lake Garda and its surroundings. Springs are mild and summers can be hot. The average annual temperature is 15°C. Little rain in general and plenty of sunshine.

Technicality:

Cycling: 50 to 70 km per day or 4 to 5 hours of cycling. From 100 to 700 m of elevation gain.
Partly marked route, useful roadbook and map reading.

Bibliography:

cycling maps of Italy on cartovelo.fr

Additional nights:

An additional night is offered at the start and/or end of the circuit.

Meal :

• Breakfasts: hearty (coffee, tea, chocolate, milk, bread butter, jam, orange juice) or buffet
• Lunch: not included
• Dinner: not included - restaurants nearby on each stage.

The bike :

• Rental bicycle: If you rent a bicycle, it will be given to you on the day of your arrival at the 1st hotel. At the end of the circuit, you must leave this bike at the last hotel and notify the reception. We will take care of his return.
• Personal bicycle: We do not recommend bicycles with small tires. Hybrid bikes and mountain bikes are excellent. Remember to check your bike before leaving. At the end of the circuit, you will have to take care of your own bicycle.

Support:

Assistance in the event of a breakdown (except punctures for which we do not intervene).

Travelogue :

It includes detailed maps and descriptions of the routes, hotel and restaurant vouchers and luggage tags.

Transportation:

• By train: Desenzano station (allow 8-9 hours on average from Paris)
• By car: Desenzano del Garda is about 1000 km from Paris (allow 10 hours)
• By air: Verona, Venice, Treviso or Bergamo airports

Cancellation insurance :

In order to guarantee the reimbursement of costs in the event of cancellation of your stay, you can take out cancellation insurance.