Innsbruck-Bolzano

Welcome briefing and bike fitting. For the rest of the day, we recommend visiting Innsbruck’s famous old town with its City Tower and its “Golden Roof”.

You will pedal on the former towpath along the river Inn, at the foot of Martinswand (mountain face) and through little villages and market towns to Stams (baroque Cistercian convent). Then, you will continue your tour via Haiming to Imst, the so-called “Merano of North Tyrol”.

Today, you will cycle along the river Inn, past the monastery Zams to Landeck. A bus will take you to Nauders from where you will cycle less than 100 metres in altitude uphill to the mountain pass Reschenpass. From there, you will cycle downhill to Lake Reschensee and continue on minor roads to Mals (many towers in the centre) or to Burgeis at the foot of the castle Marienburg.

Your day starts with a trip to Glurns (perfectly preserved medieval city walls). Then, you will cycle via the Montani ruins, through Schlanders, down to Merano. On your way, you will come across some pretty castles (mountaineer Reinhold Messner’s castle Juval) and you will get marvellous views of the impressive mountain massif Ortlermassiv and the mountain pass Stilfserjoch. Since 2004, the Venosta train (Vinschgaubahn) has been operating again between Mals and Merano. You can almost always take this train to travel a part of your journey.

On the fifth day, you will have the opportunity to ride your bike into the Passeiertal valley to the Sandwirt inn (birthplace of the Tyrolean freedom fighter Andreas Hofer). Alternatively, you can hike on the famous Tappeiner trail or go shopping at the famous arcades of Merano.

Today’s stage will take you via Lana (Schnatterpeck Altar) and through numerous orchards and vineyards in the area of the South Tyrolean Wine Road, past many fortresses, castles, and ruins such as Hocheppan (famous frescos), as well as the “Cathedral in the Country” in St Pauls, to Lake Kalterersee. You will spend your night in one of the cosy wine towns of Kaltern, Tramin, or Auer.

Leaving the charming wine towns behind you, you will cycle on flat routes through the Adige valley or via the Montiggler lakes (scenic, but more demanding route), past Sigmundskron to Bolzano (arcades, “Ötzi” museum).

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to add a couple of days to your holidays? You have the possibility to combine this tour with another one to Venice or Verona.