Sud Tyrol Roll A leisurely spin through the Italian Alps to Lake Garda A unique combination: cycle from Tyrolean farm villages to old Roman cities on bike paths meandering among the southern Alps the hills are optional! Both leisure cyclists and those who love mountain climbs will enjoy this culturally and scenically diverse tour that glides (mostly downhill) through apple orchards, affording stunning views of the Dolomites to the east and the Alps to the west. The first six days will be spent in an area that belongs to Italy but is predominantly characterized by a strong Tirolian culture where German is the official language. Capture the best of the lush Alto Adige and Trentino regions: fill each day with magnificent scenery, natural parks, delicious mountain cuisine, and fascinating encounters with locals and with Ötzi, the 5300-year-old iceman. For a change of pace, enjoy a day of hiking through lush mountain meadows. The tour ends near Lake Garda, Italy s largest lake, an area famous for its mild climate and multi-sport activities. ITINERARY OUTLINE Trip Essence / Page 2 Daily Itinerary / Page 3-5 Arrival & Departure / Page 6 Bike Information / Page 6 Terms & Conditions / Page 7 Reserve Your Space! / Page 7 Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 info@ciclismoclassico.com www.ciclismoclassico.com 1
TRIP ESSENCE Stunning alpine cycling in the Venosta Valley and hiking on the Renon Plateau Discover the rustic mountain cuisine, crisp local beer and wine Explore Bolzano and Trento and some of the best gelato in Italy Overnights in elegant mountain lodges and historic hotels Pedal along the quiet and scenic Ciclopista del Sole Discover the northern part of Lake Garda, with its bustling cycling & surfing atmosphere Traditional beer garden dinner at Forst Brewery Lunch at a llama farm WHAT S INCLUDED Bike rental, see page 6 for details TRIP DETAILS 2018 Trip Dates Jun 19 - Jun 24 Jul 10 - Jul 15 Aug 7 - Aug 12 Sep 4 - Sep 9 Ability Level Easy Summary of Daily Distances Day 1: 8/10 miles Day 2: 34 miles Day 3: 29/50 miles Day 4: Hiking Day Day 5: 26/42/46 miles Day 6: Arrivederci! Optional extra loops available Trip Price $3,895 Single Supplement: $600 Service of local, professional guides throughout the program Ciclismo jersey and water bottle All accommodations 5 dinners & 2 picnics or lunches 2 wine tastings Cycling clinics Walking tours of Bolzano and Trento with local guides Mountain hike Shuttles at the beginning and end of tour The scenery was spectacular and the bike paths fantastic. - Betsy S. Winchester, MA Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 info@ciclismoclassico.com www.ciclismoclassico.com 2
DAY 1 MALLES WARM-UP AND HIGHER VENOSTA VALLEY Daily Mileage - 8/10 miles Riding Terrain - Mostly flat Hotel - Hotel Garberhof Location: Malles Duration: 1 Night www.garberhof.com/en/ DAY 2 MALLES AND THE MID VENTOSA VALLEY TO MERANO Daily Mileage - 34 miles Riding Terrain - Downhill and flat Hotel - The ImperialArt Boutique & Design Hotel Location: Merano Duration: 1 Night http://www.imperialart.it/en/ home DAY 3 MERANO TO BOLZANO Daily Mileage - 29/50 miles Riding Terrain - Generally flat, climbs on longer route Hotel - Hotel Greif Location: Bolzano Duration: 2 Nights www.greif.it/en/ Welcome to Sud Tyrol! Today we meet you at 12 pm at Bolzano s train station for a 1.5 hour shuttle ride to our hotel in Malles. At 1:30 pm we meet at the hotel for a light lunch and intro meeting followed by a warm up ride to the towns: Glorenza, Clusio, and Laudes. The valley is wide and open, the air clean with the scent of flowers. You ll enjoy fantastic views of the Ortles mountain to the south and Monte Maria s abbey to the north. This 4-star Hotel Garberhof is a beauty and wellness resort in the heart of Sud Tyrol. You ll have lots of space to relax and unwind in your wellness suite. On today s ride we go from Glorenza at about 3000 ft, to Merano at 1700 ft in the beautiful Val Venosta /Vinschgau along the River Adige. With high mountains and ancient castles watching over us, we ride in the wide, open valley through a magical alpine atmosphere. Most of the ride is on country roads free from traffic, winding through apple orchards, pastures and forests. We will have lunch close to the historical center of Silandro then in the afternoon we arrive near the romantic town of Merano, a traditional stop for travelers, a former capital town, rich with history and culture. The Boutique & Design Hotel is a small, beautiful place filled with fantastic art and a chic design that s sure to impress. Not one of their 12 rooms is the same, all designed by three local artists. The 4-star hotel has an incredibly attentive staff to make your stay as enjoyable as possible. Enjoy modern luxury! We will have a relaxing day today heading through the wide Lower Venosta Valley downhill to the regional capital of Bolzano. Along the ride you ll notice how gradually vineyards replace orchards, a sign that you re now on the wine roads of Sud Tyrol. Here, the Gewurztraminer and Sauvignon blanc rate at the top of the World. We ll stop along the way to visit the Mountain Museum that Reinhold Messner, legendary climber, set in his castle of Firmiano. In the afternoon take time to wander around the bustling town center of Bolzano with a local guide. Set in the center of the city overlooking Piazza Walther and the Dolomites, the 4-star Hotel Greif is an experience in itself. Every room has been designed by contemporary artists who have integrated their own works. A joy to behold was the unifying theme. Rooms of the Greif include a comfortable living area and private marble bathrooms. Free WiFi available. Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 info@ciclismoclassico.com www.ciclismoclassico.com 3
DAY 4 HIKE ON THE RENON PLATEAU Hike - 2.5 hours Riding Terrain - Rolling Hotel - See Day 3 DAY 5 BOLZANO TO TRENTO Daily Mileage - 26/42/46 miles Riding Terrain - Flat Hotel - Grand Hotel Trento Location: Trento Duration: 1 Night www.grandhoteltrento.com/ en-home.html DAY 6 ARRIVEDERCI! We ll take a cable car from Bolzano to reach the Renon Plateau, which we ll then traverse through wide fields and splendid forests, with views of the Catinaccio, Rosengarten, and Latemar ranges of the western Dolomites. On our way back an unforgettable experience awaits us: our first Ciclismo Classico picnic in Oberbozen in the company of beautiful Avelignesi horses and Tibetan llamas! In the afternoon we ll visit the Archaeological Museum that houses Otzi, the 5300-year-old mummy found nearby in Val Senales, then we ll celebrate together with our first wine tasting, sampling some local vintages. Slowly savor a long, flat ride past vineyards, orchards, rivers and the lovely Lake Caldaro on the Ciclopista del Sole (bike path of the sun). After lunch we ll enter into the regional capital of Trento and have a guided tour of this ancient Roman town. In the enchanting Grand Hotel Trento, admire its finest qualities: the ancient vaults, the garden in the inner court and the terrace overlooking the roofs and the towers of the old city. Free WiFi is available throughout. This hotel values its refined customer service and elegant design. After breakfast, at around 9 am, we bid you a fond farewell and shuttle you to Rovereto train station (25 minutes) where you can connect to other Italian cities. Why not spend a couple of days in Verona, the fair city of Romeo and Juliet? Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 info@ciclismoclassico.com www.ciclismoclassico.com 4
ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE GETTING TO MALLES Recommended: Meet our 12:45 pm group shuttle* on day 1 at Bolzano/ Bozen s train station for a 1.5 hour drive to the hotel. You can get to Bolzano by train through Milan Malpensa (MXP), Verona V. Catullo (VRN), or Venice M. Polo (VCE). There is also a small airport in Bolzano that has flights connecting through Rome and Munich. For up to date train schedules visit http://www.trenitalia.com and http://www.trenord.it * Please inform the office if you plan on taking this scheduled group shuttle at least one month in advance via this form: www.ciclismoclassico.com/travel-plans DEPARTING FROM TRENTO OTHER INFORMATION For Flight Reservations Valerie Wilson Travel Call: 1-855-780-2022 or E-mail: ciclismoair@vwti.com Travel Insurance MH Ross Call: 1-800-423-3632 http://bit.ly/mhross_insurance Transportation Rome2rio http://www.rome2rio.com Around 9 am there is one group shuttle to the Rovereto train station (25 minutes). From Rovereto you can reach Verona (50 minutes), Milan (2.5 hours), or Venice (2.5 hours). BIKE INFORMATION Bianchi Via Nirone 7 Bianchi carbon fork, Shimano 105 triple groupset, an adjustable stem, and a wheel set laced with 32 spokes and 25mm tires. Included on all tours. Aluminum Hybrid More relaxed riding at a look-around-you pace, this is our custom-built, highperformance aluminum hybrid bicycles with straight handlebars. We also have a woman-specific frame. Included on all tours. Bianchi Intenso and Vertigo The carbon frame guarantees maximum performance with minimum stress for the riders, thanks to Bianchi s special C2C (Coast to Coast) frame design/ geometry and different material combination. Carbon bikes are equipped with compact crank and 11/32 cassette. Available for $250. Bianchi Intenso or Vertigo with Shimano included on all intermediate and advanced tours at no extra charge. Tandems Cannondale road or hybrid: racing posture with 700c wheels, or a more straight up position and 26 inch wheels. Available for $400. Co-motion Periscope: accommodates smaller team or even children. Available for $400. Honey tandem: light and responsive and perfect for experienced tandem riders. Available for $400. ebikes Available on all easy and athletic beginner tours, some intermediate and advanced tours. Please contact us for more information. Available for $400. ON THE BIKE Included Ciclismo Classico water bottle Two water bottle holders Map holder on handlebars and Garmin Edge GPS Handlebar bag Tire pump Combination bike lock Gel-padded saddle Choice of pedals Card with your tour leaders mobile phone numbers Garmin Edge GPS Included on all bikes Pedal Options Flat pedals Half-toe pedals (without straps) Toe cage pedals Things to Bring Helmet Optional: clipless pedals with shoes Optional: your own saddle Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 info@ciclismoclassico.com www.ciclismoclassico.com 5
INSURANCE, TERMS & CONDITIONS Insurance Ciclismo Classico will not assume responsibility or liability for any loss or damage of personal effects or for any injury or loss during the duration of the tour. Therefore, we highly recommend that you obtain travel insurance. Information on travel insurance will be sent to you via email once trip deposit is received. We recommend MH Ross, but travelers may choose the insurance carrier of their choice. Cancellations and Refunds All requests for refunds must be submitted in writing as soon as possible to Ciclismo Classico. Exceptions to their cancellation policy cannot be made for any reason, including weather or personal emergencies. There is no refund for unexpectedly leaving a trip early or arriving late. The purchase of short-term travel insurance policy is strongly recommended. Cancellation fees are determined as follows: Days before departure Cancellation fee 121+ days - 50% of the deposit* 91-120 days - 100% of the deposit* 61-90 days - 30% of the trip price 31-60 days - 60% of the trip price 0-30 days - 100% of the trip price *You may transfer your trip deposit to another departure in the same tour season up to 90 days before your original departure with payment of a $100 per person transfer fee. Prices quoted are subject to adjustment without prior notification. OR your deposit (currently $600) may be carried forward to the following year as a credit toward the final balance of a tour. At the time of booking, we will ask for another $600 deposit to secure your spot. Carried-forward credits expire at the end of the year to which they are applied. Alterations to the tour itinerary Sometimes modifications may be made to the itinerary. We will notify you of any changes that may affect your arrival, departure or lodging. Any changes to the program are made in the best interest and safety of the group. To review our policies, please visit http://www.ciclismoclassico.com/plan-your-trip/policies/ RESERVE YOUR SPACE! To reserve a space, call Ciclismo Classico at 800-866-7314. Or, mail your deposit and contact information to: Ciclismo Classico attn: Rosa 30 Marathon St Arlington, MA 02474 At the time of registration, a deposit of $600 per person is due, payable by Visa, MasterCard, American Express or check, made payable to Ciclismo Classico, along with your full name, mailing address, phone number(s) and email address. We cannot confirm reservations without a deposit. Final payment is due 90 days before departure payable by check, credit card, wire transfer or money order. All travelers must review and sign a terms and conditions statement and a waiver form. Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 info@ciclismoclassico.com www.ciclismoclassico.com 6