Itinerary

Day 1 of PRE-TRIP EXTENSION US/Fly overnight to Venice

Depart from the U.S. for Italy. The particulars of your arrival overseas are detailed with your flight itinerary and airline tickets.

Day 2 of PRE-TRIP EXTENSION Arrive in Venice/Begin your Trip Extension

You arrive at the airport in Venice, Italy. Once in the arrival terminal, please proceed to the water taxi and Information desk. The staff of ‘Venezia Taxi' – one of the 3 operators there – will take care of you: they will provide a voucher and show you the way to your water taxi. From the airport pier, you'll transfer (approximately 35 minutes) to your centrally located hotel in Venice. At the hotel, our local expert will be available from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. to answer your questions. The rest of the day is free to discover and dine on your own with your VBT City Information included in your Final Travel Booklet as your guide.

Day 1 of AIR PACKAGE Depart US/Fly overnight to Venice

Depart from the U.S. for Italy. The particulars of your arrival overseas are detailed with your flight itinerary and airline tickets.

Day 3 of PRE-TRIP EXTENSION Exploration of Venice

Today, explore Venice to your heart's delight. Perhaps take a vaporetto to visit some of its islands. Built on 118 islands in a shallow lagoon, Venice is a city like no other. It contains more than 150 canals and 400 bridges, which are delightful to explore by gondola or water taxi. Much of the city can also be seen on foot. Be sure to visit the Grand Canal and the famous Rialto Bridge, as well as St. Mark's Basilica, one of the best examples of Byzantine architecture in Europe. Other spots not to miss include the Bridge of Sighs (said to provide prisoners with their last view of freedom before their incarceration), the Doge's Palace, the Gallerie dell'Accademia and the island of Murano, famed for its glass-blowing. Your centrally located hotel will make it easy to access all the wonderful features this famous city has to offer.

Day 2 of AIR PACKAGE Arrive in Venice

You arrive at the airport in Venice, Italy. Once in the arrival terminal, please locate the water taxi and Information desk. The staff of ‘Venezia Taxi' – one of the 3 operators there – will take care of you, provide a voucher and show you the way to your water taxi. From the airport pier, you'll transfer (approximately 35 minutes) to your centrally located hotel in Venice. The rest of the day is free to discover and dine on your own with your VBT City Information included in your Final Travel Booklet as your guide.

Please note: If you arrive early, your hotel room may not be available until 2 p.m. You may store your luggage with the Reception Desk.

Please note: VBT transfer times and departure points are finalized in advance and cannot be modified for individual guests. If you fly in earlier than the scheduled program dates, transportation from the airport will be at your own expense.

Day 4 of PRE-TRIP EXTENSION Independent Exploration of Venice/Begin Main Tour

Continue your exploration of the city.

Day 1 of BIKE TOUR Meet Trip Leaders/Warm-up ride/Welcome reception

VBT No-Air Package guests: Meet your fellow travelers and Venice Representative at 9:50 a.m. in Venice. The meeting point is the bar called CAFÉ' MARCO POLO DARSENA on the docks of VENICE AIRPORT (address: via Luigi Broglio 8, Marco Polo airport). The bar is easy to find very close to the water transport docks of the airport, where motor taxis park. You will be met by our local Representative, holding a VBT sign. Once the group is formed you will leave to Cortina d'Ampezzo by private coach. If you meet the group earlier at 9:00 a.m at our Venice hotel, you can share our motor taxi. You will be charged about 25-30€ per person. Note that because our Venice hotel assignment is subject to change without notice, and our water taxis are pre-booked for our Air Package guests, we do not recommend that you make plans to join the group at the Venice hotel.

If your arrival at 9:50 a.m. is delayed, please contact our hotel in Cortina d'Ampezzo to advise staff of the delay, and they will pass your message along to your VBT Trip Leaders. In case of delays, also please see page 3 of “For Travel-Related Emergencies.” VBT highly recommends flying to Italy at least one day before the tour begins. This allows you to rest and recover from jet lag before you begin sightseeing and cycling.

VBT Air Package and Pre-Extension guests: Meet your VBT representative at 9:00 a.m. in the main lobby of our Venice hotel; he or she will be holding a VBT sign.

From our hotel, a water taxi will transfer us first to the mainland and the Venice Marco Polo airport, where we meet our private motor coach. We'll continue on to Cortina. The transfer will last about 2 hours and we will make a short stop on the way. Our VBT Trip Leaders will meet you at your arrival point and escort you to our first hotel in Cortina.

All guests arrive in Cortina in time for lunch on own. Our hotel is located in the heart of the city, on the main shopping and pedestrian area, full of life, elegant shops, restaurants and trendy cafés. After lunch we settle in to our historical hotel, managed by generations of the Sartor family with pride and care. Year after year, they have been awarded for the quality of both their accommodations and freshly prepared food.

Later, our VBT Trip Leaders will hold a safety and bike-fitting session, followed by a warm-up ride.

Tonight, enjoy a welcome cocktail reception in the hotel's cozy bar, full of art works. Later, enjoy our special welcome dinner in the hotel's elegant restaurant. A large salad buffet, followed by Ampezzan specialties like casunzei, or crescent-shaped ravioli, will immerse you in the culinary traditions of a region that has inherited influences of both Austrian Tyrol and Italian Veneto kitchens.

Day 2 of BIKE TOUR Cycle to Cadore/Picnic on the Calalzo Lake

After breakfast, we start biking downhill along the Boite River valley on the newly paved Dolomites Bike Path that takes us from a 1250-meter altitude down to 770 in Calalzo. The path was a former railway track that connects the little villages of the Cadore mountain community. The mountain group of Le Tofane marks our progress. Soon we admire the towering pyramidal peak of Antelao to our left and Mount Pelmo to our right, with its saddle-like summit. The latter is now a natural reserve area due to the presence of many fossils and dinosaur footprints.

We are now in the Ampezzan Valley, one of the four historical Ladin valleys. The Ladins - a population evolved from Celtic tribes and Roman soldiers – are the inhabitants of these valleys. Long remote and secluded from the rest of Italy, they remain a proud people whose rare language, Ladin, is closely related to the Swiss Romansh, Surselvan and Friulian. It is also still spoken in nearby Austro-Italian border regions.

The two Italian provinces of Trento and Bolzano are administratively independent from the rest of Italy, meaning they maintain a degree of autonomy. In particular Cortina retains its own legislative system, one that is unique in the Dolomites: a council known as Regole d'Ampezzo. Under the regole and the ancient Celtic structure of property ownership, the 800 original families administer the community's common land which cannot be split or sold to outsiders or other families.

Lunch is a picnic organized on the verdant Lake Calalzo banks. Early this afternoon we shuttle back to Cortina and have the rest of the afternoon to explore on our own. You may want to follow our routes on an easy walk around Cortina, or visit the Ethnography museum that houses a collection of antique tools and cultural artifacts. A thrilling summertime trip (in season only) is a gondola ride up to the slopes of Le Tofane or Faloria to enjoy the breathtaking vistas of surrounding peaks. Or take a taxi ride and a walk to the open-air Museum of the Great War on the high peaks of Rifugio 5-Torri, one of the most exciting and moving itineraries in the Dolomites. Dinner is at our hotel restaurant tonight.

Tonight enjoy a stroll. In the summer, your visit might coincide with a cultural event, folk festival, or classical music concert.

Day 3 of BIKE TOUR Cycle on bike paths to Dobbiaco, San Candido, Brunico

Today we take an optional moderate ride up to Cimabanche Pass through a wooded and scenic area. If you prefer an easier start, you may take a brief shuttle before joining an easy downhill and flat ride on bike paths to Dobbiaco and San Candido. The views on the way are spectacular: we pedal by the Pomagagnon Mountain, the Tre Cime di Lavaredo (the “Three Peaks”), and picturesque Toblacher Lake. En route, we might stop to pay tribute to the war victims of World War I at the intimate cemetery at the foothills of Monte Piana.

As we arrive in Dobbiaco the landscape changes: rocky mountain flanks skirted with green, and roadside alpine lakes give way to open meadows and green pastures dotted with large, isolated houses or masi. Snow-capped peaks rise in the distance. This is the Pusteria Valley, a paradise for bikers with its network of bike paths, bike hotels, and bike shops – aimed at promoting an environmentally friendly lifestyle and healthy discovery of the valleys.

We soon arrive in San Candido in South Tyrol, close to the border with Austria. Here we stop for lunch and a stroll in this little city that is more than a millennium in age. You can visit the ancient, Romanesque style Duomo della Collegiata – the oldest monastery in the Dolomites – and drink at one of the many stone fountains in the cobblestone pedestrian area. The Pusteria Valley is rich in history and legend as it was on the ancient trade route to Aguntum (now in Austria) from Rome.

In the afternoon we continue biking along the Upper Pusteria Valley to Brunico, through open lush meadows, forested woods and charming villages, always following the course of the Rienza River. We're cycling in the heart of South Tyrol and a strong Austrian influence is everywhere, from the language (all signs are first in German and then Italian) to the architectural features and local traditions. Our terrain is paved except in some short stretches in the woods. We also offer an easy/moderate ride. Later we arrive at our hotel in Riscone, beautifully located at the foothills of the Plan de Corones mountain ridge. You're sure to feel comfortable and even spoiled here: our hotel features a large garden, an indoor swimming pool fed by unspoiled mountain springs, in-room waterbeds and sauna options. Dinner is served at the elegant hotel restaurant and includes a large salad buffet.

Day 4 of BIKE TOUR DISCOVERY DAY! Cycle through the valleys Aurina and Tures

After breakfast today, we cycle north to discover the beauty of the valleys of Aurina and Tures. About 90% of our biking today is on easy paths along the Rio Aurino River. After an initial stretch through Brunico's open fields, our path runs by high mountains dotted with slope-hugging castles and cattle farms. Brunico was built in a strategic position at the crossroads of four valleys; castles played the important role of watching and defending the territory. We pass tidy hamlets of wooden houses, high steeples, well-manicured gardens and cattle pens. In Campo Tures, we loop around the village's cobblestone city center. If you get there early, you can visit its castle beautifully furnished with antique furniture, majolica stoves, glass artworks, sculptures, paintings, and an armory gallery. Lunch is included today and is a special barbecue meal of tasty meats and crispy vegetables prepared by our host Mani. From our lunch spot, early this afternoon we start a short easy walk to the roaring Riva waterfalls. In the afternoon you may choose to explore more of these lovely surroundings and maybe walk to the higher waterfall. Bike back to our hotel or hop a shuttle to pamper yourself at our hotel spa. An optional moderate loop is also offered early this morning if you feel energetic and wish to ride more!

If you're riding back to our hotel, pause on your way to discover the city of Brunico and its pedestrian area, full of cafés and gelato shops and boutiques.

Dinner is at our hotel restaurant.

Day 5 of BIKE TOUR The Isarco River Valley, the medieval towns of Bressanone and Chiusa

This morning we leave our beautiful hotel and pedal across the wide Plan de Corones plateau. On the way we can admire the traditional masi farmhouses above Brunico. Soon we rejoin the picturesque Pusteria Valley bike path along the Rienza River and enjoy a beautiful ride though more forests, tiny villages and covered bridges. Before lunch near the ruins of the Rio Pusteria fortress, we have the option to shuttle into Bressanone or continue on a moderate stretch through a thickly wooded, scenic area. Both options end in the medieval city of Bressanone at the confluence of the rivers Rienza and Isarco. Bressanone has been a very important bishop town, evidenced by the duomo and its beautiful frescoed and sculptured cloister, the Hofburg Bishopric, and its stone city gates. The narrow, porticoed streets and multicolored house facades will capture your heart. Lunch is on your own here.

Early this afternoon we cycle on the beautiful bike path down the Isarco River Valley and through the medieval city of Chiusa, another pearl of this valley. There we can stroll along the cobblestone main street and maybe follow the suggestion of one of our local leaders, who say that gelato here is the best of the valley.

From here, we shuttle to the next destination: Merano. Our modern Hotel Delle Terme is centrally located on the pedestrian ‘Kurpromenade' on the River Adige, and opposite the historical ‘Kurhouse.' Relax, perhaps enjoying the wellness center, before dinner on your own.

Like Cortina, Merano is a vibrant cultural city, offering concerts and entertainment on summer evenings.

Day 6 of BIKE TOUR Resia Lake, apple trees and vineyards in Val Venosta

After breakfast, we shuttle up to 1,500 meters to Lake Resia, near the borders with Austria and Switzerland. The lake is famous for the steeple emerging from its waters, submerged after the village of Curon was evacuated, dynamited and flooded following the construction of a dam. More energetic bikers may want to bike the loop around the lake, including an uphill ride. For all our guests our route follows the course of the river Adige and descends gradually. The ride is particularly picturesque with spellbinding landscapes the likes of which we haven't yet seen. Surrounded by mountain peaks, we cycle through dozens and dozens of sprawling apple orchards, for which Venosta valley is particularly famous. We also pass vineyards and castles adorning the slopes. Starting in late August we roll by many tractors and farmers tending to their fields.

Our recommended lunch stop is the Renaissance village of Gorenza. It's sure to be one of your more memorable rides. If you are a very strong biker, you can opt to bike all the way back to Merano, otherwise we have planned to shuttle you by local train (a 20-30 min ride), a very popular and convenient way of transportation for bikers in this area.

Later tonight in Merano raise a glass at Rametz Castle. This is a wine-growing estate dating back to 1227. In 1860 the first Blauburgunder grapevine in South Tyrol was planted here. The owner and host Stanislav Schmid gives us a personal tour of his vineyard, ancient cellars and private museum of ancient tools. We'll taste his best wines and speck – ham smoked with juniper branches in special rooms – and toast our week over a farewell dinner.

Day 7 of BIKE TOUR Free time in Merano/Transfer to Verona/VBT No-Air Package ends

VBT No-Air Package guests: your tour ends at our Merano hotel today. The morning is free for you. You can take a taxi on your own to the Merano train station. Most trains connect in Bolzano. The taxi to Merano train station costs approx. 10-15 euro and the ride is about 5 minutes.

VBT Air Package guests: After breakfast, say ciao to your Trip Leaders and spend the rest of the morning discovering Merano. For only 5.50 euro (a special price for VBT guests) you can visit the amazing Terme Merano, a beautifully designed building with 25 thermal pools, half of which are set in a five-hectare garden (for more information visit www.termemerano.it). A private underground tunnel connects our hotel to this public facility.

If you prefer, shop and stroll the historic city centre. Or take a walk out of the city to visit the Truttmansdorff gardens and castle, where Austrian Empress Sissi lived. The gardens' 12 hectares are beautifully landscaped and were voted in 2005 the most beautiful Gardens of Italy. After lunch on your own, be ready to leave at 1 p.m. with our private motorcoach to our hotel in Verona, where we will arrive at about 2:30. On your arrival, expect to walk about half mile to our hotel, since Hotel Accademia is located in the heart of the city centre. Porters will take care of your luggage from the bus to your room. The bus is exclusively reserved for VBT Air Package and Post-Extension guests. You have the rest of the day to explore or relax in Verona.

If you have chosen the independent Post-Trip extension to Verona, you remain at this hotel for three nights. When you arrive today, you can explore on your own with VBT's City Information included in your Final Travel Booklet as your guide. If you are visiting from mid-June to the end of August, don't miss the opera shows in the Roman Arena, a very short walk from our hotel. A little tip: local opera lovers say the best seats (particularly for acoustics) are the very affordable “Unreserved Stone Steps in Sectors D or E (Gradinata D or E).” You can buy these at the last minute at the ticket office or – best - in advance on the website, http://www.arena.it/en-US/HOMEen.html. An open-air opera in the Arena is an unforgettable experience.

Day 8 of AIR PACKAGE Depart for U.S.

Early this morning, transfer to the Verona Airport for your flight back to the U.S. VBT recommends that you check the transfer time in your “Transfer Reminder” the night before your flight. The transfer is prearranged and prepaid by VBT.

Please note: For guests with early-morning departures, breakfast at the hotel may not be available. Please check with the Front Desk to verify the times that breakfast is served.

Please note: VBT transfer times and departure points are finalized in advance and cannot be modified for individual guests. If you extend your stay beyond the scheduled program dates, return transportation to the airport will be at your own expense.

Day 1 of POST-TRIP EXTENSION Continue your extension in Verona.

If you have chosen the optional Post-Trip Extension, you have another day to discover the city. You may also take a 40-minute train to Padua to explore this beautiful art city. The centerpiece here is undoubtedly the “Scrovegni Chapel” a 14th-century masterpiece reminiscent of a small Sistine Chapel. Its walls are covered with frescoes by Giotto.

Day 2 of POST-TRIP EXTENSION Independent exploration of Verona and surroundings.

Continue your exploration of Verona. If you enjoy natural springs, you might plan a day in the nearby villages of Montegrotto or Abano. Or to the Lake Garda, only 30 minutes away from Verona.

Day 3 of POST-TRIP EXTENSION Depart for the U.S.

Early this morning*, transfer to the Verona airport for your flight home. VBT recommends that you check your transfer time in your “Transfer Reminder.” The transfer is prearranged and prepaid by VBT**.

* Please note: For guests with early-morning departures, breakfast at the hotel may not be available. Please check with the Front Desk to verify the times that breakfast is served.

** Please note: VBT transfer times and departure points are finalized in advance and cannot be modified for individual guests. If you extend your stay beyond the scheduled program dates, return transportation to the airport will be at your own expense.

Italy: Cycling the Dolomite Valleys 2012

Pre and Post Trip Extensions

Pre-Trip Extension

Venice 2012 (Dolomites) - 2 nights for only $345

Venice is not to be missed. During your extension, you will stay in a small boutique hotel located a few steps from St. Mark’s Square and a short walk from all the main sights that this amazing city can offer. Whether you decide to explore the intricate calle maze or travel as locals do, by vaporetto (water bus), you will be astonished by the decorated palaces, museums, picturesque bridges, gondolas, churches and little squares that are so unique to this city. View masterpieces by Titian, Bellini and Donatello. Venture to Murano, the famous glass-blowing center, and relax at an outdoor café at the Piazza San Marco. This historic city is truly a must-see!

Note: Single supplement for this extension is $145.

Post-Trip Extension

Verona 2012 - 2 nights for only $295

Evidence of a bustling Roman metropolis – as Verona was in the first century B.C – are all over in its streets, amphitheaters, doorways, bridges and ancient city walls. In particular the most famous monument, the Arena, so well preserved and used today for unforgettable opera and theatre performances, is the third largest amphitheater in the world. In the 13th century, when medieval Verona was dominated by the powerful and liberal Scaligeri family, it became an even richer hub of trade and commerce as well as a center of culture and art, modeled after Venice. During your independent stay, you might visit the purported houses of Juliet and her famed, fictional suitor, Romeo. Their sad story made famous by William Shakespeare was set here. Explore the Palace of Reason, the lively medieval squares of Piazza Bra and Piazza delle Erbe, or the fine art gallery housed in the Castelvecchio fortress. Verona is a ‘man-sized’ city, easy to stroll and enjoy for its large quiet pedestrian areas and streets, the quiet flow of the river Adige, and its attractive and fashionable population. You’re sure to rub elbows with these friendly Veronese as they linger in a lively café sipping a ‘Spritz’!

Available only with the Air Inclusive package.

Note: Single supplement for this extension is $145.

Accommodations

Hotel Donà Palace

The Hotel Donà Palace is a 14th-century palace and was the ancient residence of the Doge Donà. This elegant boutique hotel faces the Doge's Palace and has a small private garden. The property is bordered by the canal over which the famous Bridge of Sighs crosses, just a few steps away. The hotel is just a minute’s walk from Saint Mark's Square, yet offers a tranquil, private retreat.

Hotel Ancora

Our historic hotel in Cortina has been providing first-rate service since 1826. It’s all thanks to the Sartor family, connected to this lovely alpine city — often called the “Queen of the Dolomites” — and to this beautiful hotel, for generations. Throughout, intricately carved and painted interiors reflect the typical Ampezzano style. Its sunny terrace room overlooks the pedestrian promenade. And its vaulted dining room lends an airy feel to each elegant meal. The hotel has received many awards for their accommodations, and their menu has won international medals. Each room features a telephone, television, safe, minibar, and private bath with shower and hair dryer.

Park Hotel Schoenblick

Our Riscone hotel enjoys a spellbinding setting – nestled at the foot of Plan de Corones mountain and surrounded by sprawling green meadows. It may remind you of a resplendent Austrian chalet, but its Italian hospitality is unrivalled. Beautifully manicured grounds and adjacent walking trails help you drink in the bucolic charm of the Pusteria Valley. After thrilling days of cycling, indulge in a spa treatment or swim in its atrium pool, fed by mountain springs. In its restaurant, savor gourmet meals with South Tyrolean flair and a hearty buffet breakfast. Each room features views of the splendid grounds.

Hotel Terme Merano

Hotel Terme Merano is a wellness hotel located in the center of Merano – a chic health resort -- surrounded by the beautiful Alps of South Tyrol. It is directly connected to Merano’s public Thermal Baths and Park. The unique design was created by star designer Matteo Thun with local furniture. Its Wellness & Spa area offers a considerable range of wellness activities.

Hotel Accademia

The Hotel Accademia is in the center of Verona. Ideally situated on the via Mazzini, the hotel is in the heart of the exclusive shopping area, conveniently positioned between the Brà Square and the Arena. Nearby, you can browse Erbe Square and visit Juliet's House with its legendary balcony.

Rating Level

Easy

This tour offers easy terrain throughout and is ideal for beginning cyclists. Two exciting rides on easy/moderate terrain offer fun for more avid bikers. Our VBT support shuttle is always available for those who need assistance with hills.