Verona + Lake Garda Bike Tour

Your guides will meet you in Verona, and then we’re off to the fairytale village of Borghetto on the banks of the Mincio River. Here, get fitted for your bike and head out on a warmup ride through rich local farmland. Pedal through the vineyards of the Custoza wine region to lunch at a hip local restaurant in Valeggio. After lunch, spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing at our hotel and exploring Borghetto’s boutiques and footbridges, or opt for a longer ride to the fortified village of Castellaro. Tonight, we’ll taste the Veneto’s best pumpkin tortelli—the hand-stuffed pasta that’s a regional specialty—on the riverside terrace of our favorite local restaurant.

Meals: Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Borghetto sul Mincio, Custoza
Accomplished: 16 miles / 26 km, elevation gain: 951 feet / 290 meters
Longer Option: 30 miles / 49 km, elevation gain: 1,640 feet / 500 meters
Accommodations: Corte Regia

Wake to the peaceful sounds of the Mincio River and enjoy breakfast on the terrace. Today, we follow the winding course of the river through this famously fertile land to reach Mantua, home to one of Italy’s greatest concentrations of Renaissance art. Admire the Renaissance architecture of the town before meeting our friend Antonia who will welcome us into her family’s palazzo for a home-made lunch. After lunch, opt to complete the ride back to the hotel or take a lift in the van. Tonight, our chef friend Serena will show us true Italian hospitality as we make pasta and share Italian cocktails at a cooking class that feels more like an intimate dinner party.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Mantua, Goito, Falzoni
Accomplished: 21 miles / 34 km, elevation gain: 338 feet / 103 meters
Longer Option: 41 miles / 66 km, elevation gain: 774 feet / 236 meters
Accommodations: Corte Regia

Today we’ll ride along the southern shores of Lake Garda. The idyllic terrain belies the historic summer of 1859, when Italian, French, and Austrian armies clashed here in a battle that set Italy on a path to unification. Soak up this history at the monumental tower of San Martino before continuing to Sirmione, the quaint lakefront town where we’ll board our private boat for a lunchtime cruise on Lake Garda. Take in the mountain scenery and cool down with a dip in the brilliant blue waters of Italy’s largest lake. We’ll disembark in Bardolino where you can challenge yourself with an extra ride or transfer right to our stunning Relais & Châteaux accommodations. This evening, meet a local winemaker for a private vineyard dinner.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Castellaro Lagusello, Sirmione, Bardolino
Accomplished: 23 miles / 37 km, elevation gain: 958 feet / 292 meters
Longer Option: 31 miles / 50 km, elevation gain: 2,027 feet / 618 meters
Accommodations: Villa Cordevigo 

Travel from one wine region to the next today as we pedal from Bardolino to the Valpolicella. Tracing the route of Napoleon’s armies, we’ll ride to the battlefield of Rivoli and past a vast gorge carved by the Adige River. A leafy bike path leads to lunch at a chic locanda nestled within the vineyards before arriving at Byblos Art Hotel, one of Italy’s most unique five-star properties. This re-interpreted 16th-century villa is filled with modern works by acclaimed contemporary artists, such as Damien Hirst and Anish Kapoor. Spend your free night immersed in the impressive permanent collection of esteemed art or head to Verona, just a short transfer away. Explore the cobbled streets, monumental Roman amphitheater and renowned dining scene before heading back to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
Destinations: Cavaion, Rivoli, Corrubbio
Accomplished: 24 miles / 39 km, elevation gain: 1,181 feet / 360 meters
Shorter Option: 20 miles / 33 km, elevation gain: 1,082 feet / 330 meters
Accommodations: Byblos Art Hotel

Today we’ll enjoy a scenic drive up into the Lessini Mountains for a short walk through the mountain pastures to visit historic WWI trenches. The panoramic views of the Dolomites and valleys above Verona are worth the trip alone! Afterward, we’ll hop on our bikes for a long, gradual descent along the ridgelines of the Valpolicella. Enjoy a glass of Amarone with the winemaker himself at a picnic lunch before pedaling through the vineyards and back to Byblos. Tonight, after an aperitivo, we’ll bid farewell to this beautiful region with dinner at our favorite trattoria.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Lessini Mountains, Sant’Anna d’Alfaedo, Fumane
Accomplished: 29 miles / 47 km, elevation gain: 774 feet / 236 meters
Longer Option: 33 miles / 53 km, elevation gain: 1,837 feet / 560 meters
Accommodations: Byblos Art Hotel

If you would like to ride this morning, you can do a final loop through the surrounding vineyards. Your guides will then transfer you to the Verona train station to say goodbye as you head on to your next destination.

Meals: Breakfast
Destinations: Verona