From the Dolomites to Venice

ON THE ROUTE OF THE OLD DOLOMITES TRAIN TO VENICE
(approx. 250-270 KM; easy tour; 08 days / 07 nights; individual, self guided tour)

Description
From the north east of the Dolomites, you cycle through the Höhlenstein Valley passing by the famous “Drei Zinnen” (Three Peaks), and onto the Olympic town of Cortina d’Ampezzo. Following the old railway track, continue to Pieve di Cadore, the birth town of Titian. After a short transfer through the valley of the ice cream makers, you will reach Ponte nelle Alpi (“Bridge in the Alps”) and then onto Belluno nestling in the Dolomites. The tour takes you on to Bassano del Grappa where the countryside starts to level out. After a short visit to the town of Asolo you carry onto Treviso. Following the River Sile, you finally reach Mestre/Venice.

Characteristics of the route
Easy touring
The first two days you mainly follow the old Dolomites railway track. From the third day, the tour encounters slight ascents and descents on quite side roads through idyllic landscape and typical Italian villages until reaching the plains on the last day. The tour is suitable for children from the age of 14.

Highlights and places of interest along the route
Cycling path along the old Dolomites railway track
The Dolomites with a view of the famous “Drei Zinnen“– “Three Peaks”
Cortina d’Ampezzo, the pearl of the Dolomites
Pieve di Cadore, the birth town of Titian 
Belluno
Feltre and Lake Corlo
Bassano del Grappa
Asolo
Treviso
Lagoon city of Venice

 

A day by day account of the route

Day 1: Arrival at Toblach/Niederdorf/Welsberg
Arrive at the hotel in the Alta Pusteria. Car park in close proximity to the hotel, is included in the price.

Day 2: Alta Pusteria – Cortina d’Ampezzo (approx. 35-45 km)
From Toblach you start on the bike path into the Höhlenstein Valley, past Lake Toblach and the war cemetery. This area was used as the front during the 1st World War. You carry on past Lake Dürren (on the left you can see the famous “Drei Zinnen”); the cycle path ascends slightly before the border of South Tyrol and Italy, «Gemärk — Cimabanche» where you enter the province of Belluno.
From here you cycle down into the valley, which opens up before entering towards the south, before arriving in Cortina.

Day 3: Cortina d’Ampezzo – Calalzo (approx. 36 km)
Today the path is steady going slight downward, for the most part on the old railway track; you will see the Sorapis on the left and located on the right the “Fünf Türme”- Cinque Torri (Five Towers). You continue on to the south through the Boite Valley towards Pieve/Calalzo.

Day 4: Calalzo – Ponte nelle Alpi/Belluno – Feltre (approx. 39-49 km)
In the morning you go by train from Calalzo to Ponte nelle Alpi/Belluno. From Belluno, the small capital of this province (80.000 inhabitants), the tour follows tree lined avenues and hilly landscape until the end of this day in Feltre. A stop in Cesiomaggiore to visit the bicycle museum „Museo della Bicicletta“ is highly recommended. The museum shows the development of the bicycle from the beginning to the present day.

Day 5: Feltre – Bassano del Grappa (approx. 50 km)
Shortly after Feltre the route passes Lake Corlo and then descends to the Brenta Valley. Where the river Brenta joins the plains, is the town of Bassano del Grappa. The name of the town comes from the Monte Grappa. Here you can enjoy a well earned “Grappa” on arrival. There are many place of interest to visit in the town such as San Francesco, the «Museo Civico» (Museum) or the Piazza della Libertà.

Day 6: Bassano del Grappa – Treviso (approx. 57 km)
On leaving the dolomitic Alps, you occasionally see various villas designed by the renowned architect Palladio. The town of Asolo is ideal for a rest before continuing along to the plains to Treviso, the town of the water striders. Along the canals there are many wonderful houses and shops to admire. This is a centre for Italian fashion.

Day 7: Treviso – Venice (Mestre/Marghera) (approx. 35 km)
Follow the River Sile, you cycle towards the Adriatic Sea straight to Venice (Mestre/Marghera) where the impressive “Serenissima“ can be admired.

Day 8: Departure
Departure. There is a possibility to extend your stay in Venice (Mestre/Marghera).

Starting dates 2012; individual, self guided tour:
Arrival every Saturday from 05/05/2012 (first available date) to 29/09/2012 (last available date)
Minimum number of participants: 2
With a minimum of 5 pax we can organize a start of a tour on every other day (only on request and depending on the availability)

 

General information:

Classification of the cycle-tour:
Individual, self guided tour

Duration:
08 days / 07 nights

Distance:
Approx. 250-270 km

Accomodation:
Hotels of a 3*** or 4****star category
Attention: Possibly calculated visitor’s taxes are payable directly on the spot

Starting point:
Pusteria Valley (Toblach, Niederdorf or Welsberg)

Arrival:
By car:
By car on the Brenner motorway (A22) to Brixen/Bressanone – take the exit Franzensfeste, Pustertal then through the Pusteria Valley (SS49) to Welsberg, Niederdorf or Toblach, depending on the location of your hotel
Or
Drive along the Felbertauernstraße to Lienz in Eastern Tyrol (Austria) and then further into Italy through the Pusteria Valley to Toblach, Niederdorf or Welsberg, depending on the location of your hotel.

By train:
Take the train from Innsbruck over the “Brenner/Brennero” to Franzensfeste. Change trains for the Pusteria Valley and disembarking either at Welsberg, Niederdorf or Toblach depending on the location of your hotel

By plane:
Low cost flights are available to “Sant’ Angelo — Antonio Canova” airport in Treviso and to the Marco Polo airport in Venice which offer an excellent airport shuttle to and from Mestre / Marghera
Upon a request, we even organize transfers from the airport to the starting point of the cycle tour

Parking:
Free unattended parking facilities included for the duration of the bicycle tour at the hotel of your arrival or at the public parking area

Transfer:
Return-transfer by shuttle-bus every Saturday from Venice to Pusteria Valley (Toblach/Niederdorf/Welsberg) at a cost of € 59,00 for person, including bicycle (to be paid during the initial briefing); a reservation is necessary as there are limited places
On every other day transfers are available on request (with a minimum of 4 pax)

Rental bikes:
21-gears women's or men's bicycle: € 65,00
7-gears unisex bicycle with back pedal (on request, limited availability): 65,00
Electro bike (unisex bike, on request, limited availability): € 150,00
Deposit for GPS devices (Garmin Geko) with GPS data about the tour: € 100,00

Information material available in:
German — English

Accommodation in hotels in a 3*** and a 4****star category Breakfast buffet or full breakfast Personal tour information Luggage transfer from hotel to hotel Well planned routes Train ticket Calalzo – Ponte nelle Alpi/Belluno Detailed documents (maps, route description, places of interest, important telephone numbers) Telephone service hotline for during the entire tour Free parking in the Alta Pusteria

Rental bikes (payable directly on the spot) Attention: Possibly calculated visitor’s taxes are payable directly on the spot

For cancellation up to 3 days, a full refund will be given. For cancellation up to 1 days, 50% refund will be given.