Austrian Alps & Italy's Dolomites Luxury Bike (Mountain Adventures from Salzburg to Venice) 6D5N, Fully Guided

THREE BIKING OPTIONS:
Level 2, Approx. 31 km (19 miles), Elevation gain: 701 m (2300 ft)
Level 3, Approx. 48 km (30 miles), Elevation gain: 975 m (3200 ft)
Level 4, Approx. 63 km (39 miles), Elevation Gain: 1097 m (3600 ft)

Today, you will meet with your trip leaders at 9am in front of Salzburg Train Station.

Please arrive dressed in your biking clothes and bring your luggage and a daypack with your rain gear and anything else you may want for today’s adventure (your luggage will be transported to our first night’s accommodation)

Following this brief meeting, we will head for the German border using a shuttle service. Across the border, and entranceway to Berchtesgaden National Park, your trip leaders will prep you for the adventure by fitting your bike and giving a brief orientation on biking techniques and safety. The magnificent Berchtesgaden National Park in South Germany was established in 1978 to preserve the Berchtesgaden alpine landscapes that include Germany's third-highest peak and two of its five glaciers. The park is also close to Adolf Hitler's summer fortress, which sometimes precedes the park in fame and reputation for the Americans. Cycling on this alpine terrain feels like coursing through the paths of history, on a route that has remained unsullied through time despite being old as the Germans.

Our route trails after the Klausbach river valley of the Austrian Alps, winding through a luxurious forest that features neighboring peaks and traditional wooden huts, appearing between the trees in near-perfect sequence. Warming your legs is advisable at this point because the adventure goes up a notch as we climb the Hintertal Pass to meet the border between Germany and Austria.

At noon, we cycle back across the Austrian border to a small village on the fringes, where we feast on a family-style tavern lunch. After the hearty lunch, we ride downhill on a path that seems like a rollercoaster before venturing off it and into a more relaxed pathway leading to the beautiful resort town of Zell am See. Alternatively, you can take a shuttle down to this lovely town after lunch, or avoid the chaotic roads towards the town, by taking a bus, kilometers before the end. However you choose to arrive here, the Grand Hotel Zell am See will warmly absorb you into its luxury confines.

The hotel is as grand as its name suggests. Perched on the shores of Lake Zell and framed by the glorious Alps, the environment already sets the pace for an intriguing experience. Settle into your room that oozes alpine coziness, and is equipped with all necessary amenities such as Wifi, TV and more. The spacious balcony showcases arresting views of the azure waters of Lake Zell and mountains right from the room. Tonight, we converge and toast to our successful arrival, while our first dinner of marvelous Austrian delights finds its way down your gullet.

THREE BIKING OPTIONS:
Level 2, Approx. 24 km (15 miles), Elevation gain: 701 m (1600 ft)
Level 3, Approx. 48 km (30 miles), Elevation gain: 640 m (2100 ft)
Level 4, Approx. 80 km (50 miles), Elevation Gain: 1097 m (3600 ft)

Freshen up for a delectable hearty breakfast as our cycling expedition on the majestic Alps hits the gas fully today.

After breakfast, we face the iconic Hochalpenstrasse also known as the Grossglockner High Alpine Road. This scenic road is the main pathway that links Salzburg province to Carinthia, its southernmost counterpart in Austria, and doubles as the highest surfaced mountain pass in the country. The road is named after Austria's highest mountain Grossglockner, which is beyond a mountain but a climatic differentiator. The mountain's proud peaks impose their presence on many parts of the snaky road while separating the cool, wet, and evergreen climate of Northern Europe, from its warm and dry southern Alps colleague on the other side. The adventure hits a spot on your pleasure senses with a panoramic shuttle drive over the top of the mountain pass. How high you can go depends on your zest for adventure and wits this morning as you engage your two-wheeler on this remarkable High Alpine Road.

Meanwhile, a shuttle will be stationed across different sections of the road to convey you to the top of the mountain pass for lunch at your instruction. We will then assemble at a convenient and gorgeous spot for lunch with striking views of the landscape. Afterward, a descent ensues with our bikes, following stilly paths in the countryside through Apriach village. Next is a short excursion on a bike-only route that ascends to the second pass, which will be more challenging but fortunately shorter and rewarding, with views of the Gaitailer Alps. If you decide to embark on the longest biking option of the day, ensure to park your bike at the door of the Grand Hotel Lienz, our accommodation for the next two nights.

The Grand Hotel Lienz in East Tyrol, Austria, is a five-star luxury retreat against the backdrop of the Dolomites and Austria's highest peak, with the Isel River nearby. You may want to relax at the sauna or pamper your body with a spa treatment (at own expense) while an indoor and outdoor relaxation pool beckons you for a dive.

Dinner is at your discretion tonight, and you can venture into the gorgeous resort town of Lienz to explore its beauty and have dinner at any excellent spot or perhaps some recommended by your trip leaders.

THREE BIKING OPTIONS:
Level 2, Approx. 43 km (27 miles), Elevation gain: 305 m (1000 ft)
Level 3, Approx. 56 km (35 miles), Elevation gain: 762 m (2500 ft)
Level 4, Approx. 79 km (49 miles), Elevation Gain: 1097 m (3600 ft)

Proceed into the day with a hearty breakfast and straddle your bike. Today's biking adventure will be a watered-down version of the previous day as we will enjoy a laid-back cycling, down the Drava or Drautal Valley, overlooked by the Gaitaler Alps. Drautal is the longest stretch of the valley of the Alps, flanked by the Drava River that flows from Italy. The valley was the main entryway of invaders from the east into the alpine countries.

The flexibility of today's expedition gives you more freedom to explore this wondrous-looking region at your pace. Embark on a quick out-and-back ride or brave up the loop by ascending to the side of the valley's wall, where your reward comes in the astonishing views of the fearless Carinthia Alps. Whichever you choose, you will surely course through pastoral village scenery and traditional farms, soaking in the sights and sounds of complacent villages where time seems idle.

You can decide to sit out all the biking options for a more unique tour of this beautiful town nestled in the intersection of the Drava and Isel Rivers. Engage in shopping for souvenirs, promenade its streets for sightseeing, and return to the hotel, where you can indulge in the spa offerings and other leisurely pursuits, such as fishing and golfing. However, these optional activities are not included in the trip price.

After an exhilarating day of preferential adventures, we converge for dinner at our hotel's deluxe dining room, where meals capture the region's true culinary essence and pampers our taste buds. Following the night's dinner, we rest in our cozy rooms, anticipating the magic that awaits at sunrise.

THREE BIKING OPTIONS:
Level 2, Approx. 29 km (18 miles), Elevation gain: 305 m (1000 ft)
Level 3, Approx. 69 km (43 miles), Elevation gain: 792 m (2600 ft)
Level 5, Approx. 89 km (55 miles), Elevation Gain: 914 m (3000 ft)

After a delicious breakfast that strikes the right spot, we depart the landscapes of Austria on a shuttle across the Italian border. The ride will be picturesque as we breeze past inviting scenery and the magnificent peaks of the Tre Cime National Park. We enter the South Tyrol region of Italy, which lies in the country’s northernmost part, sharing a robust cultural and historical bond with its Austrian neighbor, East Tyrol. The route screams of Italy across its length and breadth, with creamy yellow houses harboring locals who gaze at the world from their shuttered windows, savoring their rich espressos, unbothered by the pace of civilization.

Arriving at the luxurious mountain resort of Cortina d'Ampezzo in Veneto, warm your legs before embarking on the exhilarating biking tour through the Via delle Dolomiti route, a former World War 1 rail line, now a cycling path. This route is one of Italy's most scenic cycling paths, and is almost traffic-free. Keep an eye out for some old stations along the way and expect mesmerizing views as we cross the main Dolomite towns in their ravishing beauty, with the peaks of the Pale Mountains gazing at us from afar.

At noon, we settle down for lunch in one of the old stations converted to a restaurant, and savor some Italian cuisine classics. If you choose to cycle onward, proceed on the historic Via Alemagna, once a critical trading route that connects the Tirol states to the Venetian republics, also plied by travelers heading to the Mediterranean beyond Veneto. The magical scenery endures across this route as the vegetation transforms into fresher and greener options, with wider fields showcasing the rich pastoral heritage of this region.

Truly the countryside; hanging laundries and shuttered windows are common sights here. The route also bypasses the borders of Belluno, an entrancing town in Veneto, perched on a hill above the Piave River and framed by the dramatic snow-capped Dolomites, that rob it of a place in the Tuscany region. Capture the scenery of rarified Renaissance-era buildings if you have a camera handy.

At the end of the ride, another shuttle is on standby to convey you deep into Veneto, where our hotel for the last two nights, Hotel Villa Cipriani, can't wait to engulf you. Lodged on a hill, this 5-star hotel is surrounded by a charming ambiance of greenery while its interiors feature elements from a bygone era and modern details. There's a pool to ward off the heat after cycling, and a spa to relax your frayed nerves. Settle in your room, take a well-deserved nap, or indulge in the invitations of a pool and spa. We shall convene in the evening to venture into the town for a tantalizing, hearty, Trattoria dinner.

THREE BIKING OPTIONS:
Level 3, Approx. 45 km (28 miles), Elevation gain: 610 m (2000 ft)
Level 4, Approx. 60 km (37 miles), Elevation gain: 701 m (2300 ft)
Level 4, Approx. 72 km (45 miles), Elevation Gain: 975 m (3200 ft)

This morning, a delicious breakfast opens the day for a whole new fascinating experience. Having had enough of the Alps, we will enjoy our penultimate day cycling through the Italian foothills. Our field of play is the commune of Valdobbiadene, a wine and grape growing region and UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Treviso province, Veneto. Since we are in the region of wines, our paths will be flanked by vine-covered hills, and each turn spoils us with lovely views of either Renaissance-era palaces, local wineries, or hilly towns in their quaint glory. One of the wineries will host us for lunch this afternoon, with bewitching views, and you have two options; cycle back to the hotel or relax and be shuttled there for R&R. Spend the rest of the afternoon however you choose, it could be an energetic plunge into the pool to blow off steam or a spa treatment to relax like royalty (at own expense).

Tonight, we assemble at the hotel's porch to unwind over celebratory drinks and signature refreshments with the Bellini from the region's culinary depot. The hang-out takes a step further as we toast to our journey that has been so far, memorable in the background of golden-hour views. We cap it off with an emotional farewell dinner featuring signature Italian cuisine.

Level 1, Approx. 16 km (10 miles), Elevation gain: 396 m (1300 ft)

Level 1, Approx. 5 km (3 miles), Elevation gain: 91 m (300 ft)

Wake up to your last breakfast and decide how best you want to spend your last day, and say farewell to the breathtaking landscapes of Italy and Austria. If you are still in the mood to cycle one last time, straddle your bike for a loop around the local village, traversing streets shaded by cypress trees.

Perhaps you've had enough of the wheels, and your legs are craving expression on the ground, there's an option to meet that need. Engage your trainers and wander into rigorous alleys, olive groves, and parklands leading you to Rocca di Asolo fortress at the summit of Mount Ricco, where the center of Asolo reveals itself in glaring panoramic views. Of course, there's the last option where you don't have to do anything but relax in your hotel room or stroll around its beautiful confines. Pack your bags and say goodbye to your trip leaders before joining a late-morning shuttle to Venice which ends the trip.

NOTE: This itinerary is provided as an example only – prevailing conditions and local arrangements may cause variation.