Italy: The Dolomites, Bolzano to Ora
Self-Guided Biking
- Daily Mileage: 27-46 miles|
- Biking: 3-5 hours|
Starting From
9-day Air Package
$4,995
6-day Bike Tour Only
$3,795
Per person, double occupancy
Italy: The Dolomites, Bolzano to Ora
If you’ve ever dreamed of cycling the Giro d’Italia’s Pordoi Pass, this is your chance! Of course, we’ve planned it so you won’t have to do all the work: a shuttle to the top lets you coast down, navigating the switchbacks that have thrilled Giro d’Italia fans for years. Here, you’ll feel the awe-inspiring presence of the Queen of the Dolomites—the mountain’s highest peak. During your orientation meeting, your VBT Local host sets you up for independent exploration, fitting you with a well-maintained bike, a navigation app with route notes, and a number you can call 24/7 if you need support. Along the way, you’ll spin along quiet bike paths through the high mountain valleys of Val di Fassa and Val di Fiemme—staying at quaint local hotels suffused with South Tyrol’s famous culture, cuisine, and cycling.
Tour Highlights
- Cycle from one small alpine city to another, taking in rich cultures steeped in remarkable histories.
- Ride the diverse landscapes of the Dolomites, from vineyard-blanketed hills, emerald-green valleys, and sylvan forests to dramatic foothills and a 7,000-foot mountain pass.
- Coast down a mountainside from Pordoi Pass, navigating 33 switchbacks as you descend for six miles along roads made famous by Italian cyclist Fausto Coppi.
- Revel in some of Europe’s best-maintained bike paths, stellar routes that comprise 90% of this itinerary.
- Sample the culinary delights of South Tyrol, from alpine cheeses and speck (cured ham) to pinot noirs along the Wine Route.
Positive Impact
VBT is proud to support Wine to Water with a donation on behalf of each guest on this tour. Wine to Water is an international organization providing access to clean drinking water and emergency supplies in water-challenged regions. We believe in giving back to the places that have enriched the lives of our guests. We’re committed to identifying and supporting sustainable initiatives in a variety of areas including education, world health, economic equality, safe drinking water, the environment, and the preservation of cultural traditions.
What to Expect
This tour offers a combination of easy terrain and moderate hills and is ideal for beginner and experienced cyclists. Rides are mostly on well-paved dedicated bike paths that are well maintained, well-marked, and very scenic. Expect riding gradually uphill for the first three days. On the day you bike down the mountain pass, expect 10 km (6.2 miles) of downhill on a large road that can be busy with cars in the summer. Please verify your bike selection for this tour as it is not always possible to change bikes once you arrive on tour. Travel with your friends and family—we can accommodate multiple guests on this self-guided vacation. Our 24/7 support system is available if needed.
- Daily Mileage: 27-46 miles|
- Biking: 3-5 hours|
Cyclists
System
Average High /
Low Temperature (°F):
May74º/49º
Jun80º/55º
Jul85º/59º
Aug83º/59º
Sep77º/52º
Oct66º/42º
Average
Precipitation:
May3.2 in
Jun3.2 in
Jul3.6 in
Aug3.6 in
Sep2.6 in
Oct2.2 in
Air Package |
Tour Only |
|
---|---|---|
Roundtrip international airfare |
||
Detailed information for your independent travel to/from arrival and departure airports |
||
One night in Bolzano and one night in Verona in conveniently located hotels with breakfasts included |
||
5 nights in town-center boutique hotels and one spa hotel |
||
5 meals: 5 breakfasts |
||
Transportation from Brunico to Pordoi pass (one-hour drive) |
||
Train tickets from Brunico to San Candido and from Ora to Bolzano |
||
Puncture-protected tires |
Electric-Assisted Bicycle (E-bike)
See More >Road Bicycle (Carbon frame)
See More >Road Bicycle (Aluminum alloy frame)
See More >Step-Through (Mixte Hybrid) Comfort Bicycle
See More >Step-Over (Diamond) Comfort Bicycle
See More >Self-Guided Biking Packages Include:
Custom VBT bike with puncture-protected tires
Welcome orientation and bike fitting
Luggage transportation
Ride with GPS and daily route notes
VBT Road Book with destination information
24/7 emergency support from local host
Helmet, bike bag, and tool kit
Your choice of VBT branded gear for your adventure
Accommodations (Please Note: Days are based on the Air Package Itinerary. Accommodations may vary depending on departure date. )
We thoroughly enjoyed the Dolomites and the biking. The hotels were very nice especially the La Roccia in Cavelese. The scenery is outstanding. We liked the self guided aspect since it was all of our immediate family. I was not crazy about my e-bike. It was hard to get on and off because the bar was high. Also the bike is very heavy.
Biking in the Dolomites
We had a great time on our tour. The scenery was spectacular, and the Ride With GPS routes were generally well done, so that any navigation problems can be blamed on us. The accommodations were also great. But, the bicycles, especially their maintenance, were a disappointment. There were six riders on our tour, and three of them had substantial problems; including a broken chain, wobbly wheels and derailleurs that malfunctioned (probably because of poor adjustment). (As it happens, neither my wife nor I had problems with our bikes, but the riders who did have them were quite frustrated. I would like to believe that these problems were an unusual breakdown in the system, but if I were to take another tour with VBT, I would come better prepared to fix any problems that arose. I would also say, as someone with quite a bit of experience with and knowledge of bikes, the general quality of the bikes was not all that great, especially given the cost of VBT tours.
Great rides and hotels, not so great bicycles
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