South Tyrol to Cinque Terre

Tour Dates: June 16th - June 23rd, 2025

Duration: 8 days, 7 nights

Distance: 372km

Grading: Intermediate (see below)

  What’s included:

Fully guided trip with experienced guide
Bike supplied - fitted with rack, panniers and repair kit. Electric Bike also available.
7 nights accomodation
Breakfast and snacks each day 
Local transfers
Detailed information pack with maps

Overview

Welcome and thanks for joining us on this cycle tour of the South Tyrol Italian Alps, the stunning north of Tuscany and enchanting Cinque Terre Coastline. This tour follows the famous Adige Cycle Trail and the EuroVelo Via Romea (Francigena) Route 5 Trail, two unforgettable and diverse cycleways linking the Tyrolean city of Bolzano to the Cinque Terre on the Italian west coast. At the start of the tour you’ll get to experience stunning Italian Alps and a real Italian/German mix of culture. Before heading through the iconic city of Parma, where parma ham, parmesan cheese and Lambrusco wines were born and into the famous Tuscan region. Ending this amazing journey in the Cinque Villages, perched on the clifftops. The average temperature in early June is 25°C, lovely weather in a truley magical region for cycling.

Day 1 - Bolzano

You will arrive before the first day of riding on June 16th. You can check in to the hotel from 3pm on the day. We will then all meet later in the afternoon/evening (around 5pm) at the cycle store for your bike fit out. After getting your bike we will later head to a 'Meet and Greet' drinks & dinner in the evening. All the specific details will be provided in your information pack after you book.

Day 2 - Bolzano to Trento

Joining one of the most famous bike paths, the Adige bike path. Entering the beautiful city of Trento you can enjoy sightseeing and city strolling as well as great restaurants in the heart of the German region of Italy. Alternatively, from Caldaro you can take the funicular up to Passo Mendola, from there pedalling the beautiful Val di Non, followed by a fun descent to Trento from the mountains.

Day 3 - Trento to Riva del Garda

A steep climb takes us to Cadine, up above Trento where you’ll begin a stunning ride through the Sarca Valley, cycling through the Arco and its world-famous peaks, eventually reaching Riva del Garda, on the northern shore of the majestic Garda Lake. In Riva del Garda there will be an opportunity to swim in the lake and even try some water sports if you wish and what would be a day in Italy without a visit to one of the many Gelateria's along the lake front.

Day 4 - Riva del Garda to Mantua

Experience Lake Garda by getting on a ferry boat from the boat dock at Riva, for a lovely 3-hour cruise crossing the stretch of Lake Garda. The boat lands in the peninsula of Sirmione on the south shore of the lake, with a very picturesque old town center and the impressive ruins of a Roman villa that are worth visiting. From here, it’s an 8km bike ride to Peschiera di Garda, another beautiful fortified medieval town on the south shore of Lake Garda. After visiting Peschiera, we then wind through the Parco del Mincio following the Mincio River Valley towards the charming village and World Heritage Site, our destination of Mantua.

Day 5 - Mantua to Parma

Leaving Mantua we follow the Oglio and Po Rivers and take in the Unesco World Heritage Site of Sabbioneta, visit the Teatro all’Antica (one of the first purpose-built theatres in the world). Today’s ride then passes through beautiful villages, there will be an opportunity to visit an organic farm for a cheese making demonstration. And then it’s into Parma, the riverside city synonymous with fine food – Parma ham, Parmesan cheese & Lambrusco wines.

Day 6 - Parma to Cassio

Today is the first of our two big climb days. You will cross some beautiful mountain passes and tackle some stunning rolling hills. The rewards with be worth the effort as we settle into the high life staying a top the biggest pass of the tour in a beautiful family run bed and breakfast with amazing mountain and river views.

Day 7 - Cassio to Pontremoli

Dotted with ancient churches and beautiful castles, we join the EuroVelo 5 as it enters Tuscany through the charming Cisa pass, taking us all the way through to Pontremoli, our stop for the night and where you can visit a famous museum featuring megalithic statues. Over a thousand years ago, pilgrims traveled all the way from England to Rome along this trail. After the Eternal City, the route continued to Jerusalem through the port of Brindisi, along the ancient Via Appia. Now, you can follow their footsteps by cycling EuroVelo 5 a 3,200 km version of this legendary route. The route passes through 7 different countries and links both modern and ancient institutions, with many cathedrals, churches, monuments and museums mixing along this route with the major European Institutions in Brussels, Luxembourg, Strasbourg. And we are riding a magnificent part of it!

Day 8 - Pontremoli to La Spezia

Today is the last day of the tour and we venture into the Ligury region. You will enter lovely towns, national archeological sites, before cycling to the famous Cinque Terre.

(Optional) Day 9 - La Spezia to Monterosso al Mare

The optional final day is a stunning leisurely 11km walk along the clifftop between the five villages of the Cinque Terre - Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare! A UNESCO World Heratige Site. Here you will engross yourself in spectacular views, postcard hillside villages and clifftop vegetable gardens. The veggie gardens are right on the cliff making it virtually impossible to use any machinery, which means they are created and attended to by locals using good old traditional farming and growing methods. The day will end in the traditional village of Morterosso el Mare with a drink or two and a beautiful view. A great day to top of an unforgettable trip. We encourage you to research your accommodation options for this night as you can stay in any of the villages. All of which have their own unique charm and all are connected a few minutes apart by train.

  
    Day
    Route
    Distance (Km)
  

  


  

    Day 1
    Bolzano
    0
Day 2
    Bolzano-Trento
    60

    Day 3
    Trento-Riva del Garda
    49

    Day 4
    Riva del Garda-Mantua
    54

    Day 5
    Mantua-Parma
    75

    Day 6
    Parma-Cassio
    49

    Day 7
    Cassio-Pontremili
    38
  

   Day 8
    Pontremili-La Spezia
    47

 

    	
   Total
      372
  

Grading

Moderate/Challenging adventure (4/5). This tour is certainly challenging but you don’t have to be an expert to be able to do it! Days 2 and 6 are the most challenging with big climbs on these days. Day 5 and Day 7 also have some challenges in terms of distance and undulations, but the remainder of the ride is relatively forgiving. Regular cycling, gym sessions or other cardiovascular activity is recommended prior to attending this tour.

Logistics

You can check in to the hotel from 3pm the day of June 16th. We will then all meet later in the afternoon/evening at the cycle store for your bike fit out. You will be provided with two panniers (totalling 25litres) to be fitted to your bike to carry all your belongings for all days. The panniers provide ample space, but please pack light and make sure you bring a soft foldable bag. After getting your bike we will later head out to a 'Meet and Greet' drinks & dinner in the evening.

The riding commences at a designated hotel in Bolzano the following morning. After meeting in the morning we ride south on the famous Adige bike path in and amongst the spectacular South Tyrolean Alps towards Trento. From Trento we ride through the stunning Sarca Valley and down to the majestic Riva del Garda. After taking a morning boat ride on the lake we head south to Mantua. And on day 5 we have the longest ride of the tour into the home of parma ham and parmesan cheese - Parma! Day 6 is a climb up to Cassio, with spectacular views. Before we charge towards the Mediterranian coast and the Cinque Terre, entering the very north of Tuscany, passing through Pontremili on our way to La Spezia. This is officially the end of the tour, however there is an option to join us the next day, at no extra cost, to walk the Cinque Terre 'Five Villages'. Which is a must do and absolutely spectacular!

What to bring?

Travel light! Packing appropriately for this trip could make or break your tour. Personal luggage will need to be carried for every day of the 7 days of riding in panniers provided. One of the challenges with this area in the beginning, can be the weather. Whilst the weather is mostly fine and sunny, we are riding through the alpine region of Italy and the weather can be somewhat unpredictable. Further down south it’s extremely unlikely to get unsettled weather. Appropriate riding gear to suit all conditions are imperative items to bring. A full list of items to bring will be provided after you book and we will be on hand to help you choose the right clothing and gear for an enjoyable trip.

What to budget for?

• FLIGHTS ARE NOT INCLUDED. You will need to arrange a flight to arrive in Bolzano on the day of June 16th. The closest airports are:

- Start point: Bolzano, Venice, Innsbruck or Munich

- End point: Pisa, Genoa or Florence

• Other meals are not included - Budget for around 40 euros per day

• Traveller’s Insurance (compulsory)