Dolomites + Lake Garda Chef on Wheels Bike Tour

Culinary Memories and Local Ties with Chef Stefano Righetti: Food and Wine of the Italian Alps

6 days / 5 nights Level: 2Price From: $5,995Collection: Specialty

Tour Highlights

  • Experience northern Italy alongside a local chef and enjoy insider access at restaurants, wineries, farms, and producers
  • Pedal in peace on a traffic-free network of local bike paths, crossing three regions from the Italian Alps to Lake Garda
  • Forage for wild ingredients in the Dolomites, then prepare a sunset dinner in an alpine chalet
  • Taste the authentic flavors of regional cuisine at three Michelin-starred restaurants and meticulous family-run trattorias
  • Discover sophisticated wines from DOC appellations—including the Amarone production at boutique Valpolicella wineries and beloved producer Elisabetta Foradori

Eat

Risotto, handmade gnocchi and ravioli, trout, roasted meats, mountain cheeses, wild herbs and mushrooms

Drink

Amarone and Ripasso from the Valpolicella; lighter reds from Bardolino; Gewürztraminer; deep red Teroldego and world-class sparkling wine from the Trentino DOC

As featured in:
Print Itinerary
  • Day 1

    Nonna’s Trattoria

    Meet your guides in the city of Brescia for a transfer to Capovalle, a very special place for Chef Stefano Righetti. Since 1901, the mountain village has been home to his grandmother’s trattoria—the place where he first learned to cook and where the table is set for a nostalgic lunch that introduces us to the region’s cuisine and Stefano’s culinary roots before we meet him tomorrow. After lunch, we’ll get fitted to our bikes and begin riding through the narrow valley. The mountainous slopes eventually give way to olive groves and a view of Lake Garda that guides us to its shores. Embark on an easy boat cruise across the lake, then get back on our bikes and pedal to our 16th-century villa hotel in the heart of Bardolino. Taste the best vintages from this DOC wine region during dinner at the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant.

    Meals: Lunch / Dinner
    Destinations: Capovalle, Toscolano-Maderno, Bardolino
    Accomplished: 16 miles / 26 km, elevation gain: 712 feet / 217 meters
    Longer Option: 23 miles / 37 km, elevation gain: 1,696 feet / 517 meters
    Accommodations: Villa Cordevigo

  • Day 2

    Visiting with Friends

    Meet Stefano this morning as we ride to the town of Rivoli out along the Adige River Valley. Perhaps the Rue de Rivoli shopping street in Paris comes to mind—in fact, it was named for Napoleon’s 1797 victory over the Austrians that took place right here. It’s not the only notable moment this valley endured: as the geographic link between Italy and northern Europe, it was a hotbed for invading armies and enterprising merchants. History is echoed in the fortifications that dot the valley, and we’ll visit one such castle before continuing our ride to the town of Rovereto. Meet our friend and Michelin-starred chef, Alfio Ghezzi, for a private lunch at his newly opened culinary project inside the Modern Art Museum, then ride or transfer to tonight’s accommodations outside Trento. The boutique farmhouse and winery is a familiar name on Chef Stefano’s wine lists, and the tasting dinner he’s prepared for us tonight is paired with his best-loved bottles.

    Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
    Destinations: Rivoli Veronese, Rovereto, Trento
    Accomplished: 37 miles / 59 km, elevation gain: 1,784 feet / 544 meters
    Longer Option: 61 miles / 98 km, elevation gain: 2,722 feet / 830 meters
    Accommodations: Cobei or Maso Grener

  • Day 3

    The Journey Home

    Today we transition from the vineyard-rich Adige Valley to the alpine gem of Campiglio, nestled in the Brenta Dolomites—a UNESCO World Heritage site and home of Italy’s largest glacier. Beginning from our hotel, we’ll pedal across the valley to visit our friend Elisabetta Foradori, a well-respected and iconic Italian winemaker. Afterwards, a classic mountain train takes us up to the Val di Non, passing apple orchards, castles, and mirrored mountain lakes en route to the beginning of a bike path. Ride through farming villages to lunch at a traditional family-run maso, then opt for an extra climb all the way to our sustainably-minded hotel in Campiglio (or choose a transfer for some extra time at the spa). Tonight we are the special guests of Alessandro Nocella, an up-and-coming chef who has worked all over the world—including the three-Michelin-star Fat Duck in London—and has brought his talents back home.

    Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
    Destinations: Mezzolombardo, Dimaro, Madonna di Campiglio
    Accomplished: 20 miles / 32 km, elevation gain: 1,692 feet / 516 meters
    Longer Option: 33 miles / 54 km, elevation gain: 4,763 feet / 1,452 meters
    Accommodations: Chalet del Sogno

  • Day 4

    The Chef’s Backyard

    Trade the road bikes for mountain e-bikes as we set off to meet Daniel, a young local chef, and discover the alpine bounty above Campiglio. Visit the malga (mountain dairy) where Daniel sources his butter and cheese, then forage in the meadows and pastures for wild herbs and greens—we’ll put it all together for a picturesque mountain picnic. Spend the afternoon however you prefer: head back to the hotel for some downtime, enjoy some additional time on the mountain bike, or fit in a bit of hiking. This evening, we join Daniel as he prepares a hearty meal, dining together at sunset in a private chalet.

    Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
    Destinations: Carlo Magno, Monte Spinale, Madonna di Campiglio
    Accomplished: 3-5 hours of e-mountain biking; hiking
    Accommodations: Chalet del Sogno

  • Day 5

    The Kitchen Larder

    Say goodbye to Campiglio as we hop on a bike path in Pinzolo and pedal towards Lake Garda. These valleys are an abundant heartland of small farms that supply high-quality ingredients to top local restaurants. Continue to one of the most beautiful sections of bike path above the Sarca River, which springs directly from the Italian Alps, then ride or transfer the final few kilometers to Riva. Check into our palatial hotel, located on private shores of Lake Garda, then take a swim or stroll around town. On our final evening together, a private boat delivers us to dinner at the Michelin-starred restaurant where Stefano spent the first several years of his career.

    Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
    Destinations: Pinzolo, Stenico, Riva del Garda
    Accomplished: 28 miles / 45 km, elevation gain: 1,814 feet / 553 meters
    Longer Option: 54 miles / 87 km, elevation gain: 2,230 feet / 680 meters
    Accommodations: Lido Palace

  • Day 6

    Departure in Verona

    Take an early morning dip in Lake Garda or head into town for coffee before your guides transfer you to the Verona train station. Buon viaggio to wherever your journey may take you next!

    Meals: Breakfast
    Destinations: Riva del Garda, Verona

DuVine itineraries may be subject to slight route changes, hotel substitutions, and other modifications.



Arrival Details

Airport City: Milan or Venice, Italy Pick-Up Location: Brescia train station Pick-Up Time: 9:30 am
Departure Details

Airport City: Milan or Venice, Italy Drop-Off Location: Porta Nuova train station, Verona Drop-Off Time: 12:00 pm
Meet the Chef: Stefano Righetti

Born and raised in the mountains above Lake Garda, chef and cyclist Stefano Righetti got his start in the kitchen of his grandmother’s trattoria in the Italian mountain village of Capovalle. At 16, he entered the restaurant world in and around Lake Garda. After six years at the Michelin-starred Vecchia Malcesine, Stefano left to work in high-end kitchens across the world—from Abu Dhabi to Ibiza. He returned to Italy in 2017 and assumed the role of Head Chef at Chalet del Sogno, Ristorante Due Pini in Madonna di Campiglio. He is currently the head chef at the Cucina di San Francesco in the heart of the Franciacorta wine region.

Travelers Take Note

Accommodations on Day 2 are simple farmhouse lodgings in order to have a more intimate family-style evening with Chef Stefano.

Due to his commitments in the kitchen, Chef Stefano will not join the group on every ride (though he wishes he could!)

Any scheduled tour can be made private. Your group, your dates. Go Private

2023Single Supplement From: $1,200

See our cancellation policy

Weather by Month
Average Temperature + Precipitation

Average Temperature + Precipitation

 
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
High (°F)
41°
46°
55°
63°
72°
79°
84°
82°
75°
64°
52°
43°
Low (°F)
28°
32°
37°
45°
52°
59°
64°
63°
57°
46°
37°
30°
Rain (in)
125
125
251
251
376
376
251
251
376
376
376
251

Accommodations

  • Thoughtfully selected accommodations that reveal the true character of the region
  • Luggage transfers

Meals

  • Daily breakfasts, all lunches, nutritious snacks, and après velo cocktails
  • 5 gourmet dinners at our favorite local restaurants and renowned culinary establishments
  • Carefully selected local wine, beer, or spirits with every meal

Activities

  • Wine tastings and activities as outlined in the tour itinerary
  • Entrance fees to historic sites, museums, parks, and all other exclusive events
  • Gratuities for baggage, porters, and hotel service

Gear

  • Top-of-the-line bicycle selection
  • Bike helmet
  • Complimentary DuVine gear, including a custom cycling jersey, DuVine t-shirt, water bottle, and drawstring bag
  • GPS in most destinations

Support

  • Expert bilingual guides with extensive local knowledge
  • Support vehicle that follows the day’s route, distributes refreshments, and offers lifts
  • Pick-up and drop-off before and after your tour from predetermined meeting points
  • Daily bike maintenance to ensure optimal performance
HAVE MORE QUESTIONS?

See our FAQs page for answers to common questions.

See FAQs

Synapse 2 RLE

Manufacturer: Cannondale

Type: Road

Quick 1 Disc

Manufacturer: Cannondale

Type: Hybrid

Roadmachine AMP TWO

Manufacturer: BMC

Type: Road E-Bike

Turbo Vado SL 4.0

Manufacturer: Specialized

Type: E-Bike