Innsbruck to Lake Garda

Today you arrive at the wonderful compact city of Innsbruck. Famous for its old town with city tower and medieval “Golden Dachl” – the Golden roof constructed by MaxMillan. Late afternoon we shall have a welcome meeting and distribution of cycles. If you decide to stay an extra night there is plenty to do in Innsbruck such as taking the cable car up to Hafellekarspitze, stopping at the Alpine Zoo on the way.

Today you cycle on the old bridle path along the river Inn, at the foot of Martin’s wall and through little villages and hamlets to Stams. Stams has a wonderful Baroque Cistercians monastery. You will then continue via Haiming to Imst, the “Merano of North Tyrol”.

Today you cycle along the River Inn a little further, passing Monastery Zams to Landeck. Then you will have a bus transfer to Nauders. About 100 m climb up to Reschen Pass. After this short climb, you have the wonderful downhill to Lake Reschensee and on minor roads to Mals or Burgeis on the foot of fortress Marienburg.

At first, you cycle to Glurns with its fully intact medieval city wall. Then it is past the ruins of Montani and through Schlanders down to Merano. Along the way, you will see fortresses and castles (castle Juval of famous alpinist Reinhold Messner) that stand guard on the route. Impressive views of the Ortler massive and Stilfserjoch occupy the eyes on this stage. If you feel like shortening the route you can use the little Vinschgau train that was revitalised in 2004.

Today see the famous landmark of the Schnatterpeck altar in Lana and cycle through many fruit orchards and vineyards of the South Tyrolean wine region, past fortresses, castles and ruins such as Hocheppan with its famous frescos. You shall make your way by bike to Lake Caldaro for your overnight in Auer.

Today you are mainly on the river Adige, sometimes through vineyards to Salurn where the language border between German and Italian runs. Famous Trentino vineyards cover the hills left and right of the dyke-cycle path. Visit the famous old town of Trento with the dome and castle Buonconsiglio.

You continue to cycle on river Adige to the old Tyrolean border town Rovereto to Mori. Here the tour leaves the river and turns west to Lake Garda. After a brief climb on Passo S. Giovanni (150 m) you head down to the lake and reach Torbole or cycle on to Riva if staying there overnight.

Individual departure either north by train back to Innsbruck or south by boat across the Lake and then by train to Bergamo or Venice.