Dolomites Bike + Adventure Tour

Your guides will pick you up in Bolzano and transfer you to a small farm outside of Bressanone, where we’ll enjoy a warm welcome to the region over a traditional lunch. Afterward, get fitted to the bikes then set out along a scenic bike path that winds through the small towns of the Val Pusteria. Our destination is our first hotel, an 11th-century castle set high above the Puster Valley. Explore the property, with its frescoed walls, lush gardens, and ancient chapels—the oldest which dates to the year 1030—or enjoy the pool and spa. This evening we’ll regather for dinner, soaking up the history and atmosphere of this special place.

Just south of the Val Pusteria lies Alta Badia, an enchanting high-alpine region in the larger Val Badia. Today’s loop ride takes us along quiet farm roads at the base of the valley, past steeply pitched fields where locals still hand-harvest hay with scythes. Pause for a coffee and strudel in a quaint mountain village then continue cycling down to the valley floor for lunch. Back at the hotel, the afternoon is yours: unwind at the spa or head into Brunico to wander the cobbled streets of its medieval town center. Tonight we’ll gather for dinner at one of our favorite local restaurants.  

This morning we’ll set out from the picturesque village of San Lorenzo, pedaling along the valley floor to the typical Tyrolean towns of Villabassa and Dobbiaco, the latter known for its Baroque church. Along the way, we’ll stop to meet our friend David at his farmhouse, where we’ll have the chance to sample some fresh cheeses. After lunch in Dobbiaco, we cross the linguistic border to enter Italian-speaking territory. From here, you may transfer or opt for a longer ride over a gradual mountain pass to Cortina—queen of Italian mountain resort towns—and our next boutique hotel. Tonight you are free to dine at the hotel or in town; your guides are happy to recommend the perfect restaurant.

From 1915 to 1918, the peaks above Cortina became the center of a desperate battle between the Italian and Austro-Hungarian armies. Our hike from Passo Falzarego leads us to the remaining tunnels, bunkers, and traces of this incredible history. The combination of natural beauty and historical interest makes for a fascinating excursion. At the top of the mountain, stop for lunch at a refuge well-known for its gourmet fare before continuing the loop back down to the road. Spend the afternoon relaxing at the hotel’s rooftop spa or take a stroll through Cortina before regrouping for dinner. 

Today we venture back into the striking limestone mountains above Cortina. Our point-to-point hike crosses a series of alpine saddles before reaching the Mondeval Plateau, a stunning, pasture-filled basin where a 7,500-year-old Cro-Magnon burial site was discovered in the late 1980’s. From here, continue around the Croda da Lago massif to Lago Federa, arriving in time for lunch at a charming mountain rifugio. Afterward, descend back to the road through a magnificent fir forest with views that stretch across the Ampezzo Valley. This evening we’ll gather for a final farmhouse dinner, where the focus is on locally sourced and foraged ingredients. 

This morning you can choose to relax at your hotel or take a final ride down the valley to Calalzo di Cadore. From Calalzo or the hotel, we will transfer you to Venice as you continue on to your next destination.