MUNICH TO VERONA: TOP GUIDE TOUR 2019 Munich to Verona Connect the cultures of three nations on two wheels Wind your way through some of Europe s most charming regions to see nature and history unfold. The journey begins in Bavaria along Germany s Romantic Road. From beer gardens and half-timbered houses to fairytale castles, you ll appreciate the best of the quintessential German region. From here, we ll pass into the charming countryside of Austrian Tirol and continue on to Italy s Sud Tirol. We then make our way to romantic Verona, stopping in small medieval and Roman towns along the path. Palaces, castles, churches and other historic architectural masterpieces punctuate a week full of quaint country rides to unveil the continent s cultural heritage. Ciclismo Classico P E D A L Y O U R P A S S I O N ITINERARY OUTLINE Trip Essence / Page 2 Daily Itinerary / Page 3-6 Arrival & Departure / Page 7 Bike Information / Page 7 Terms & Conditions / Page 8 Reserve Your Space! / Page 8 1-800-866-7314 info@ciclismoclassico.com www.ciclismoclassico.com 1
TRIP ESSENCE Travel from jovial beer gardens to picturesque vineyards Experience unique natural wonders and cultural heritage Ride past majestic villages and castles, like Hohenschwangau Castle Visit the world-famous Neuschwastein Castle, which was built for King Ludwig II in the 19th century Cycle through Germany s highest peak, Zugspitze Conquer the Brenner Pass, a swath of mountainous farmland that forms the border between Austria and Italy WHAT S INCLUDED Use of a carbon road bike (see page 7 for details) Service of two Ciclismo Top Guides throughout the program Ciclismo jersey TRIP DETAILS 2019 Trip Date July 4-14 Ability Level Intermediate Summary of Daily Distances Day 1: Wilkommen! Day 2: 42/48 miles Day 3: 44 miles Day 4: 26 miles Day 5: 48/60 miles Day 6: Rest Day Day 7: 38 miles Day 8: 47 miles Day 9: 43 miles Day 10: 62 miles Day 11: Arrivederci! Total: 350/368 miles Trip Price $6,495 Single Supplement: $1,000 All accommodations 10 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 8 dinners Guided visit of Munich, Innsbruck, and Verona Beer and wine tastings 1 cooking class Ticket for the Nordkettenbahnen Cable Car Group shuttle at the end of the tour Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 info@ciclismoclassico.com www.ciclismoclassico.com 2
DAY 1 MUNICH: WILKOMMEN! Daily Mileage - 8 miles Elevation - 249 ft Hotel - Platzl Hotel Location: Munich Website: platzl.de/en Meals - L, D DAY 2 DIESSEN AM AMMERSEE Daily Mileage - 42/48 miles Elevation - 1,923/2,346 ft Riding Terrain - Rolling Hotel - Hotel Zum See Location: Dießen am Website: hotelzumsee.de Wilkommen and welcome to Germany! Munich or Munchen in its native Deutsch tongue is the capital of Bavaria and perhaps one of the most quintessentially German cities. We ll meet in the hotel lobby at 12:30 pm to have an intro lunch and then a bike fitting. Afterwards, we ll do a short ride to Nymphen Palace. We ll come back for a guided visit of the town center, and then we ll dine with beer in one of Munich s famous beer halls. We recommend that you arrive a day or two early, since Munich is a very large city and there s so much to see. This traditional four-star hotel and its two popular restaurants the Pfistermühle and Wirtshaus Ayingers are located in the heart of Munich s old city, right beside the famous Hofbräuhaus. And just a short walk away are the Marienplatz, Bavarian State Opera, Maximilianstrasse and Viktualienmarkt. Today the ride begins as we venture into Bavaria, passing stunning forests, lakes, and mountains. We ll stop at the Andechs Monastery at lunch. We ll end our ride in Dießen am Ammersee a peaceful setting and a nice change of pace from Munich. If you have some energy to spare, consider visiting the Carl Orff Museum, which is in honor of a musician and educator who promoted elementary music education. Hotel Zum See is located in the middle of Dießen, just a stone s throw away from the popular Lake Ammersee. DAY 3 NEUSCHWANSTEIN Daily Mileage - 44 miles Elevation - 2,802 ft Riding Terrain - Rolling Hotel - Hirsch Hotel Location: Füssen Website: hotelfuessen.de/en/ Leaving Diessen, we pass the beautiful church and Augustine monastery, Sankt Marien. We ll start climbing into the hills of the pre-alps, criss-crossing on the Claudio Augustus, Romantischer and Konig cycle routes. We end the day in Füssen, the medieval gem situated near the Neuschwastein Castle, which we will visit in the morning. Take some time to visit the old center of Füssen. The Hirsch Hotel enjoys a convenient location in the very heart of Füssen on the edge of the picturesque old town. The town of Füssen is situated at the southern end of the Romantische Straße tourist route and beside Via Claudia Augusta, the ancient Roman road. Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 info@ciclismoclassico.com www.ciclismoclassico.com 3
DAY 4 EHRWALD Daily Mileage - 26 miles Elevation - 1,959 ft Riding Terrain - A few climbs and then flat Hotel - Der Grüne Baum Hotel Location: Ehrwald Website: gruenerbaum.com Meals - B, L Our journey today is to an extra-special destination. Neuschwastein Castle is known as the fairytale castle and rumored to have inspired Walt Disney himself. Built for King Ludwig II between 1869 and 1886 on a rugged cliff against a scenic mountain backdrop, this castle was intended to embody the true spirit of the medieval German castle, as the king wrote in a letter to Richard Wagner. Trust us: enjoying this scenery firsthand is a once-in-a lifetime experience! After, we bid farewell auf wiedersehn and goodbye to Bavaria to enter the Austrian Tirol. This charming country region was the setting for The Sound of Music, and your ride will surely prove these hills are alive! We ll pass Germany s highest peak, Zugspitze, and the Wetterstein mountain chain, as well as many lakes and waterfalls. Before our final stop in Ehrwald, we ll take a break to savor local milk and cheese. Der Grüne Baum Hotel is a mountain-boutique hotel in the center of Ehrwald in Reivzoller at the foot of the Zugspitze. It also includes a sun terrace in the courtyard, and guests can relax in the spa area with a range of saunas, steam baths and relaxation areas with water beds. DAY 5 INNSBRUCK Daily Mileage - 48/60 miles Elevation - 2,625/3,182 ft Riding Terrain - Rolling Hotel - Grand Hotel Europa Location: Innsbruck Duration: 2 Nights Website: grandhoteleuropa.at Today s route is a big long, but provides amazing scenery! We zig-zag through Germany and Austria until we make our final descent into the Inns Valley. Continuing along the Inns River our journey today ends in the region s capital: Innsbruck. This city is especially well known as a winter sports destination, and has hosted the Winter Olympics in 1964 and 1976. Ludwig II, King of Bavaria called it the finest hotel in Innsbruck : Grand Hotel Europa is the historic 5-star hotel in the Austrian city. Founded in 1869 by Schreiner & Klausner and recently refurbished, it stands a few steps from the famous golden roof, the Imperial Palace, the ski slopes and golf courses. DAY 6 REST DAY Hotel - See Day 5 Meals - B Take a break from cycling as we spend a full day and second night in Innsbruck. For a spectacular view of the Austrian Alps, we recommend taking the famous Innsbrucker Nordkettenbahnen Cable Car to over 6,500 feet in altitude, which is included on this Top Guide tour. Another option for your rest day is to take a 25-minute shuttle to the Swarovski factory to admire the coveted jeweler s crystal works. In the early evening we ll have a walking tour of Innsbruck with a local guide. Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 info@ciclismoclassico.com www.ciclismoclassico.com 4
DAY 7 VIPITENO Daily Mileage - 38 miles Elevation - 3,937 ft Riding Terrain - Hilly Hotel - Steindl s Boutique Hotel Location: Vipiteno Website: hotelsteindl.it DAY 8 BOLZANO Daily Mileage - 47 miles Elevation - 3,011 ft Riding Terrain - Rolling Hotel - Hotel Greif Location: Bolzano Website: greif.it/en/ Get ready for the biggest climb of the tour! Today we ll conquer the Brenner Pass, a swath of mountainous farmland which forms the border between Austria and Italy and was often a battleground in the 19th century. Today, it s a part of the Italian Sud Tirol region. Our reward for making it over the pass is a pleasant stay in Vipiteno. Originally a Roman military camp, the town is now one of the most beautiful cities in Italy it s also become quite famous for its yogurt. Steindl s Boutique Hotel is ideally situated at the beginning of the town s pedestrian zone in the middle of the town park, and the Rosskopf cable car station and toboggan-run are only a few minutes walk away. The nationwide cycle route Munich-Gardasee also passes directly in front of the hotel. Today we ll move further into Italy as we follow the Eisark River south to Bolzano. The hilly farmland of the Brenner Pass gives way to the gently rolling vineyards of Sud Tyrol. 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 have a cooking class and lovely dinner in Bolzano as well. At the 4-star Hotel Greif, discover the stories its rooms have to tell and immerse yourself in the world the artist has conjured up for you. At Grief, each room is an experience in itself: each has been designed by contemporary artists who have integrated their own works. DAY 9 TRENTO Daily Mileage - 43 miles Elevation - 1,053 ft Riding Terrain - Flat Hotel - Grand Hotel Trento Location: Trento Website: grandhoteltrento.com The terrain begins to flatten out today as we make our way past vineyards, orchards, and rivers toward Trento. The scenery of Lake Caldero is a definite highlight of our time on the Ciclopista del Sole the bike path of the sun. We ll arrive in Trento after lunch, leaving plenty of time for a guided tour of this Roman town. In the enchanting Grand Hotel Trento, you ll admire its finest qualities. As soon as you step foot inside, you ll notice that this accommodation values its refined customer service and elegant design. Meals - B, L, D Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 info@ciclismoclassico.com www.ciclismoclassico.com 5
DAY 10 VERONA Daily Mileage - 62 miles Elevation - 1,640 ft Riding Terrain - Flat Hotel - Grand Hotel Des Arts Location: Verona Website: grandhotel.vr.it DAY 11 ARRIVEDERCI Our final ride of the tour brings us to Verona, the undeniably romantic town of Romeo & Juliet. Our ride will consist of rolling through the vineyards of Amarone and Valpolicella, crossing the Adige Valley. Though the world s favorite star-crossed lovers are fictional, that hasn t stopped countless visitors from flocking to this charming Italian city. Verona has embraced the tradition, building attractions like Juliet s balcony, a statue of Juliet, and a wall for the lovelorn to leave letters for Shakespeare s ill-fated daughter of the Capulets. Uncover all of Verona s romance and charm before a final farewell dinner with the group. The Grand Hotel Verona was built in the Liberty style in the 1920s at the request of a noble Austrian family, the Reichenbach. It was their elegant city residence and was subsequently turned into a hotel without changing the architectural quality. It s time to say arrivederci! There will be a group shuttle after breakfast that will take you to Verona Airport or Verona Porta Nuova railway station to make your connections. Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 info@ciclismoclassico.com www.ciclismoclassico.com 6
ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE GETTING TO MUNICH Fly to Munich Airport (MUC). Meet at the first hotel in Munich in the lobby at 12:30 pm for an intro lunch, followed by a bike fitting. DEPARTING FROM VERONA There will be a group shuttle after breakfast that will take you to Verona Airport (VRN) or Verona Porta Nuova railway station to make your connections. OTHER INFORMATION For Flight Reservations Valerie Wilson Travel Call: 1-855-780-2022 or E-mail: ciclismoair@vwti.com Travel Insurance World Nomads Call: 1-816-905-3963 (Direct/Collect) Call: 1-844-207-1930 (Toll-Free USA) Website: worldnomads.com Transportation Rome2rio Website: rome2rio.com BIKE INFORMATION Bianchi Intenso and Vertigo The carbon frame guarantees maximum performance with minimum stress for the riders, thanks to Bianchi s special Coast to Coast frame design/ geometry and different material combination. Carbon bikes are equipped with compact crank and 11/32 cassette. Bianchi Vertigo included free on all Easy and Athletic Beginner tours. Bianchi Intenso included on all Intermediate and Advanced tours. Bianchi C-Sport 2.5 More relaxed riding at a look-around-you pace, this is a high performance aluminum hybrid bicycle with straight handlebars. It has a sloping design for superior comfort and bigger tires and hydraulic disc brakes. Included on all tours. Tandems Cannondale RT 2: Racing position with 700c wheels. Available for $400, limited availability. Honey bicycles: Racing position with 700c wheels. Available for $400, limited availability. Co-motion Periscope: Racing position with 700c wheels. Accommodates smaller team or even children. Available for $400. Cannondale Hybrid MT800: Upright position with 26in wheels and straight handlebars. Available for $400. ON THE BIKE Included: Ciclismo Classico water bottle Two water bottle holders Map holder on handlebars and a Garmin Edge GPS Handlebar bag Tire pump Combination bike lock Gel-padded saddle Choice of pedals Card with your tour leaders mobile phone numbers 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 E-Bike: Bianchi Manhattan Available on all easy and athletic beginner tours, some intermediate and advanced tours. Please contact us for more information. Available for $400. Bike type outside of Europe may vary, please contact us at 800-866-7314 for more information. Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 info@ciclismoclassico.com www.ciclismoclassico.com 7
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 World Nomads, 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 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 8