Dolomites Explorer
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Location
Crotina d'Ampezzo to Valdobbiadene, Italy
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Duration
7 Days | 6 Nights
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Length
64 - 99km daily
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Climb
1,260 - 2,600m daily
12 Jun 2022 - 18 Jun 2022 / 4 Sep 2022 - 10 Sep 2022
The Dolomites: one of the most popular cycling destinations in the world ... and for good reason! A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Dolomites are a mountain range which takes its name from the carbonate rock dolomite provide the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable holiday.
Firstly, there is the wonderful hospitality offered by the Ladin people. The Ladin people in the Dolomite region distinguish themselves from their neighbours not only through their own language (Ladin) but also through a self-confident culture which has grown for centuries and has its roots in mountain farming and craftwork.
Then there is the mouth-watering food. Traditional cuisine is characterized by the simplicity of its ingredients: Barley soup, Turtles (fried pastries filled with spinach or sauerkraut), Schlutzkrapfen (Ravioli filled with spinach) or Furtaies (a spiral-shaped, fried dessert) remain some of the most popular specialities of Ladin cuisine today.
And... not to mention the cycling! Many pages of the glorious history of the Girod’Italia were written in the Dolomites. Fausto Coppi, Eddy Merckx, Felice Gimondi, Alberto Contador battled on prestigious passes such as Passo Pordoi, Passo Gardena and Passo Giau.
Our tour takes place during the weekdays, when it is quieter on the roads. We avoid the weekend crush of traffic when everyone comes to see and experience adventures in this beautiful landscape, and when motorcyclists and sports car drivers come to play on the serpentine roads.
Riding in the Dolomites is truly one of the best cycling experiences one can have and we look forward to sharing it with you!
Total price: FROM €3,450
- Climb iconic Giro d’Italia passes, including Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Valparola, Campolongo, Pordoi, Gardena, Falzarego, Sella and Monte Grappa
- Ride in a UNESCO World Heritage List site
- Get a taste of the unique Ladin culture and cuisine
- Fully supported tour with local guides
- Maximum group size: 14 riders
- Bike rental (carbon frame and Shimano Ultegra or equivalent) available
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Day 1 - Sunday
Benvenuto in Cortina d’Ampezzo
Hotel Europa ****, Cortina d'AmpezzoAfter we meet you at Venice Airport, a two-hour drive will take us to our hotel in Cortina d'Ampezzo.
Located in the heart of the Dolomites, the town is famous for its winter sports; hosting the 1956 Winter Olympics and will be co-hosting it's second for the 2026 Winter Olympics with Milan. Cortina is a beautiful town surrounded by incredible Dolomiti and is popular in the summer with outdoor sports lovers. Upon arrival, our team will help you unpack and build your bike, you are free to visit the town, have an apple strudel or join us for a short ride and stretch your legs. In the evening we will enjoy a traditional Sud Tyrolean dinner.
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Day 2 - Monday
TRE CIME DI LAVAREDO & PASSO FALZAREGO
86km / 2,300m
Hotel Melodia del Bosco***, BadiaForget those Monday blues... this is hands down one of Italy's most spectacular climbs... Tre Cime di Lavaredo. Why? The last 4km are very steep, with an average of 11% and a maximum of 19%! The great Eddie Merckx called it one of the hardest climbs he had ever done AND he won the Giro stage there in 1968. More recently, Nibali rode out of the snow in his pink jersey to win the 96th Giro in 2013.
Tre Cime means Three Peaks and until 1919 they formed part of the border between Italy and Austria. Now they lie on the border between the Italian provinces and still are a part of the linguistic boundary.
A long descent will take us to the second and final climb of the day; Passo Falzarego. On the other side of the climb is Badia, where we will check into our favourite bike hotel - the Melodia del Bosco!
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Day 3 - Tuesday
Sella Ronda Loop
65km / 1,940m of climbing
Hotel Melodia del Bosco***, BadiaToday's ride is only 65km. We climb 4 prestigious passes: Passo Campolongo (1,875m), Passo Pordoi (2,239m), Passo Sella (2,244m) and Passo Gardena (2,136m). This is THE famous Sella Ronda Loop, and which is also part of all three Maratona dles Dolomites courses.
On Passo Pordoi, we will ride by the memorial to Fausto Coppi, the legendary Italian champion who won some of his most famous victories in the Dolomites.
We'll return to the hotel, enjoy an après velo pasta and then you are free to relax at the spa, book a massage or have a look around the pretty nearby town, Corvara.
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Day 4 - Wednesday
BADIA TO PREDAZZO
64km / 1,550m of climbing
Ancora Active Hotel ****, PredazzoToday we will enjoy a rolling warm-up to Corvara, where we will start to climb the other side of the beautiful Passo Gardena. From the top of Gardena, you can appreciate the power of the majestic Dolomites and look over to Passo Sella, our next climb.
At Passo Sella, take a breather and be wowed by the magnificent landscape, take some photos (if you haven't already!) and then enjoy the long descent to the pretty town of Canazei.
From there we will ride a a gentle road to our next hotel in Predazzo. Our hotel is located in the old town, where you will have time to explore and enjoy a post ride gellato!
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Day 5 - Thursday
PREDAZZO - FELTRE
79km / 2,260m of climbing
Hotel Doriguzzi***, FeltreEpic day alert! On today's menu, Passo Rolle and Croce d'Aune - both have featured in the 2019 Giro d´Italia.
We will enjoy a flat warm-up passing the beautiful lake of Paneveggio and then the climbing begins. Passo Rolle is a steep and long climb... but it's worth it. At the top, we will enjoy views over the famous "Tre Palle'', three tower-shaped mountains that are emblematic of that region. A descent down to the valley will take us to the foot of Croce d'Aune and our final climb before reaching Feltre. Once showered and rested in the evening, we will visit the famous 'Birrieria Padavena' brewery and you will have the opportunity to explore the old town of Feltre.
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Day 6 - Friday
Feltre - VALDOBBIADENE
95km / 2,600m of climbing
Hotel Castel Brando****, ValdobbiaeneYour last day of the holiday must be a memorable one! And after five epic days in the Dolomites, this is no mean feat! Today we will ride Monte Grappa. Another legendary climb where history has been written both in war and cycling.
There are 10(!) possible ways to climb to the top. We will be ascending through the forest from Seren del Grappa and then riding a technical descent to Semonzo. Another short ascent will take us to Valdobbiadene, where our castle hotel awaits us and an evening of celebration.
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Day 7 - Saturday
Arrivederci Italy
All good things have an end. After your final apple strudel and espresso (or cappuccino, or macchiato), the shuttle will take you back to Venice Marco Polo Airport. Time to go home and share stories from your Dolomites adventure (and photos) with your family and envious cycling friends!
We trust the Dolomites has impressed you and you will return for more cycle climbs with Grand Tours Project.
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With international travel regulations causing continued uncertainty, we have made it our priority to implement COVID-19 hygiene procedures to ensure you a safe and worry-free holiday. Here's what you can expect when you choose to travel with Grand Tours Project.
Hygiene Consideration on your trip:
- Hand sanitizer will be available at all times and located in convenient areas to ensure the possibility of regular disinfecting and washing of hands.
- All guests and staff will be provided with face masks that must be worn where necessary. (for example in vehicles, where a distance of 1.5m can not be obtained between guests etc.)
- The anti-bacterial spray will also be readily available to be used to sanitise physical equipment such as surfaces, boxes, bottles etc.
- Staff will disinfect all vehicles daily on tour and bikes will continue to be cleaned daily.
- Staff will prepare and serve any food with gloves and face masks.
Pre, during and post-trip measures:
- All staff will be tested 24 hours before each tour departure.
- Guests must comply with government rules set by the host country (This may include quarantine upon arrival).
- Regular temperature checks will be taken by staff and guests throughout the trip.
- If a guest or member of staff displays symptoms of COVID-19 they will immediately be put into an isolation point and a medical test will be organised at the earliest convenience.
- A track and trace system will be in place to ensure that if any guests display symptoms up to 14 days after the trip, all guests and staff on the trip will be notified.
