Munich to Venice

Welcome briefing and bike fitting. The capital city of Bavaria is awaiting you and invites you to visit its many attractions (English Garden, Town Hall, Hofbräuhaus,…)

Cycling along river Isar you leave Munich. On your way you will pass monasteries, authentic Bavarian villages as well as the beautiful area along the river Isar until you reach Bad Tölz, which was renowned for building rafts in former times. Especially the historic centre of the city is worth seeing.

Starting in Bad Tölz along the river Isar again until you reach lake Sylversteinsee. This tour leads you through the national park Karwendel where you cross the Austrian border. You will reach lake Achensee, where you could go on a boat ride.

You cycle on well constructed cycle paths along the River Inn towards Tyrol’s capital, Innsbruck. Stroll through the historical old town, check out the famous Golden Roof or take a trip to the Isel mountain where there is a ski jump or Tyrol Panorama museum about the battles that took place under Andreas Hofer’s supreme command as a freedom fighter. The demanding section of today’s ride from Innsbruck to the Brenner pass, which is the border between Austria and Italy will be done via transfer by train or bus. Nowadays there are only some buildings to remind us about the former border. From Brenner you cycle along the old railway track to get to Sterzing followed by Franzensfeste and then Mühlbach .

From Mühlbach there is a good cycle path running through the Puster valley and past the Mühlbach pass, a former border post. In former times this formed an ancient gateway between the provinces of Rätien and Norikum. You will arrive in Bruneck by cycling along the River Rienz. We recommend a visit to the Folklore Museum in Dietenheim, an open-air museum documenting rural life, culture and customs in South Tyrol, the Messner Mountain Museums at Kronplatz or Bruneck Castle. From Bruneck you cycle along a bike path running along the River Rienz until you get to Niederdorf/Toblach, which is today’s destination.

Today you will cycle along the former Dolomite railway track, which is now a cycle path, through the Höhlenstein valley. It will take you past Lake Toblach and the war cemetery: this is a WW1 memorial of the front which you cross. Shortly after this you will get a fantastic panoramic view of the rock formations of the ‘Drei Zinnen’ mountain peaks before you arrive at Lake Dürren. You now cycle slightly uphill towards the border of the two provinces Bolzano and Belluno. After this, you can free wheel along the former railway downhill.

The valley opens up towards the South and you arrive in Cortina d’Ampezzo, which is a town in the Dolomites and that is located amongst wonderful scenery. You then cycle continuously downhill mostly along the former railway. To your left you get a view of the Sorapis massif and to the right the right formation of the ‘Cinque Torri’ - the five towers. You then continue cycling through the Boite valley to the junction of Pieve/Calazo die Cadore.

You cycle along the newly built cycle path to Longarone. This town was rebuilt in a very short time after being flooded by a tidal wave in 1963 caused by a rockfall at the former Vajont dam. You then continue to today’s destination, Conegliano.

Today you leave the Alps behind you and have a relaxed cycle ride along the flat to Treviso, which is the town of waterways and fashion. On your way you will keep spotting villas designed by the Italian architect Palladio. These are magnificent buildings that he completed here really close to the influential sphere of Venice.  Along the home straights of this tour, you head towards the Adriatic Sea.

The River Sile will be your main companion for this last section as the bike path to Venice/Mestre runs alongside it. Venice is of course the final destination of your tour and is a great place to end it with all of its gorgeous buildings.

The tour ends after breakfast. We recommend spending extra days in Venice to explore the famous lagoon city.