Innsbruck to Lake Garda

Welcome briefing and bike fitting. For the rest of the day, we recommend visiting Innsbruck’s famous old town with its city tower and its “Golden Roof”.

You will cycle on the former towpath along the river Inn, along the foot of the Martinswand (mountain face) and through little villages and market towns to Stams (baroque Cistercian convent). Then, you will continue your tour via Haiming to Imst, the so-called “Merano of North Tyrol”.

Today, you will cycle along the river Inn, past the Zams monastery to Landeck. A bus will take you to Nauders from where you will cycle just under 100 metres in altitude uphill to the mountain pass called the 'Reschenpass'. From there, you will cycle downhill to Lake Reschensee and continue on minor roads to Mals (many towers in the centre) or to Burgeis at the foot of the castle Marienburg.

Your day starts with a trip to Glurns, which has got perfectly preserved medieval city walls. Then, you will cycle via the Montani ruins, through Schlanders, down to Merano. On your way, you will come across some pretty castles (mountaineer Reinhold Messner’s castle Juval) and you will get marvellous views of the impressive mountain massif Ortlermassiv and the mountain pass Stilfserjoch. Since 2004, the Venosta train (Vinschgaubahn) has been operating again between Mals and Merano. You can almost always take this train as part of your journey.

Today’s stage will take you via Lana (Schnatterpeck Altar) and through numerous orchards and vineyards in the area of the South Tyrolean Wine Road, past many fortresses, castles, and ruins such as Hocheppan (famous frescos), to Lake Caldaro. You will stay overnight in the cosy wine town, Auer.

On the sixth day, you will mainly cycle along the river Adige. At times you will cycle through orchards to Salurn, where the German speaking South Tyrol ends. The famous Trentino vineyards are located next to the dam ways. These ways lead you to Trento, which has a lovely old town, a cathedral and Buonconsiglio castle.

Today, you will cycle on bike paths along the river Adige via the old Tyrolean border town of Rovereto to Mori. From here, the route leads westward to Lake Garda. In Mori you will taste the world-famous pistachio ice-cream in the Gelateria Bologna. After a short climb onto Passo S. Giovanni (150 metres), you will head down to the lake to Torbole or  Riva.

End of tour or extra nights.