Austrian Alps & Italy's Dolomites Bike Tour
Mountain Adventures from Salzburg to Venice
We love border-hopping so much, we elevated the concept. As in 8,000 feet of elevation. And as in top-shelf cycling routes. When two wheels carry you across the Alps, it’s all a high.
We rate our trips based on a range of activity levels from 1-5.
See this trip's Activity Options & Terrain for more details.
From $6,199 - $6,549/person
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Snapshots from the Trip
Trip at a Glance
Highlights
- It’s an international traverse of the Alps as you link Austria and Italy by bike
- Witness the landscape transition from lush forests and Alpine pastures to sun-drenched foothills laced by grapevines
- Cycle in Austria’s Gailtal Alps and along a converted World War I rail trail through the Dolomites
- Unwind in hotel saunas, terraced gardens and grand dining rooms at our old-world hotels
- Before and after your trip, chase some culture in music-loving Salzburg and picturesque Venice
Sample itinerary. Trip details may vary by departure.
Start Salzburg Airport & Travel Details
- Begin your trip in baroque Salzburg before traveling to broad blue Lake Zell for your first ride between sparkling waters and towering meadows
- Bike alongside rushing waters, keeping your eyes peeled for the towering Kitzsteinhorn peeking through the trees overhead
- Sit down to a tavern lunch in an old castle
- Settle into our chic architecture-forward retreat nestled into rolling pastures
- Circumnavigate the Leogang and Lofer Mountain Ranges
- Pedal alongside the hidden lake of Pillersee, whose surface is lush with waving water reeds.
Nights 1-2
Luxury Hotel
This spectacular modern oasis designed by star architect Hadi Teherani blends into the landscape with sinuous lines, sod roofs and fantastical water features, including an infinity pool embedded in a natural lake. (pool, spa)
Hotels may vary on select departures. Click View Dates and choose a departure to see any variations.
- Journey south to the Austrian Dolomites, where a distinct climate and geology make for fertile farmland and dramatic stone monoliths
- Slip into a slower pace on a valley ride through the relaxing pastoral scenery of the Gailtal Alps
- Cycle into romantic Lienz, our home for the night
- Craving some R&R in town? Opt to skip biking for an afternoon off in Lienz exploring cobblestoned alleyways
- Bottoms up for a tasting of schnapps from a local distillery
- Take a soak in the Old World pool and spa complex of our grand hotel, facing a riverside terrace.
Night 3
Deluxe Hotel
Framed by the Dolomites and Austria’s highest peaks, this comfortable hotel features modern comforts yet also exudes old-world charm. (pool, spa)
Hotels may vary on select departures. Click View Dates and choose a departure to see any variations.
- Cross the border into Italy
- Gleaming meadows and limestone towers await around every turn
- Pass villages where espresso-sipping locals watch the world go by from shutter-framed windows
- Ride along the Via delle Dolomiti, a former WWI train line turned cycling path
- Sit down to quintessential Italian cuisine in a converted train depot
- Settle into our romantic villa-hotel tucked into a hill town in the home region of Prosecco
- Spin through foothills adorned with vineyards
- Spend your final morning exploring the village of Asolo on foot and climbing to its hilltop castle.
Nights 4-5
Luxury Hotel
A rambling estate which clings to the edge of a hill town in a fever dream of mottled stone walls, patios, verandas and gardens worthy of a Medici. (pool, spa)
Hotels may vary on select departures. Click View Dates and choose a departure to see any variations.
End Venice Airport & Travel Details
This trip has an activity level range of 2-4
All breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners
All accommodations on your Backroads trip
All gratuities at hotels and restaurants
Expertise and services of Backroads Trip Leaders
Fully equipped Backroads titanium bike, Wahoo GPS device, helmet and accessories
Bike fitting and equipment support throughout your trip
Backroads On Trip App with route maps, elevation profiles, daily snapshots and more
Additional local guides and experts, plus equipment for included activities as detailed in your itinerary
Exclusive activities, tours and cultural experiences, as detailed in your itinerary
All luggage transfers and porterage during your trip
Snacks and beverages between meals
Private cocktail and wine receptions on the first and last nights of your trip
Choice of Backroads cycling jersey, t-shirt or hat, plus water bottle and luggage tag
Detailed Travel Planner with destination tips and pre-trip information
