The Skedaddle team will meet you at Verona Airport, after which we will transfer together to our accommodation in the town of Cavalese. The journey will take approximately 1h 45 mins. On arrival we build bikes and/or fit bikes before spending what is left of the day relaxing and getting to know our fellow riders.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1,340 Metres Approx.

Our first stage is a fantastic introduction to the region and it isn’t long before we find ourselves surrounded by the domineering 3,000m peaks.

It’s a comparatively easy start, which breaks us in gently for what lies ahead. After a short warm up along the valley road, leading to Moena, we get our first taste of climbing in the Dolomites as we head for Passo San Pellegrino (1,918m). The climb itself is also relatively gradual and leads us along a dense forested valley which eventually opens up into an expansive pasture. After taking some time to rest at the summit we’ll head down the other side towards Falcade before taking the valley road to the idyllic lakeside village of Alleghe where we will spend the night.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Ascent: 1,500 Metres Approx.

Today things will become a little more serious as we tackle Passo Giau (2,236m), one of the most important passes in the Dolomites, and a regular inclusion in the Giro d’Italia which sometimes features as the Cima Coppi – (the highest point reached during any particular Giro).

We continue along the valley toward Caprile where the road begins to rise gradually through a dense forest, a short section of rolling downhill from where we can clearly see the high mountains ahead, then delivers us to the start at Giau. The early stages of the climb are a shock to the system with gradients quickly ramping up into the low teens. Things do settle down after the first few kilometres, although the gradient rarely dips below 9% all the way to the summit where we are rewarded in spades for our efforts with magnificent 360 degree views of the surrounding mountains.

The thrilling descent from the summit brings us back down to earth in Cortina which will be our home for the next two nights.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 900 Metres Approx.

Considering the rigours of yesterday, and with a much shorter day ahead of us, we’ll allow ourselves a relaxed start. Today’s loop ride takes us gently upwards into the National Park of Ampezzo where we head for the Misurina Lake. From the lake there is an option to take a detour to the Tre Cime di Lavaredo – Adding a 7 km to the ride, it’s a steep and challenging climb to get the best view but well worth the effort to see this most iconic, dramatic and unmistakable of all Dolomitic landscapes in all of its glory.

After taking in the views and resting for a while we will turn around and roll generally downwards to Passo Tre Croci (1,809m) before heading back down to Cortina where we can spend the rest of the day relaxing or exploring some of Cortina’s many cafes, restaurants and bars.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Ascent: 1,790 Metres Approx.

We leave Cortina heading west today, with two important passes separating us from our destination near the Dolomites of Sella. The route out of Cortina rises gradually through a forested valley and an alpine prairie landscape scattered with numerous pretty villages and hamlets.

Later, as we proceed up and over the Passo Falzarego (2,109m), we find ourselves surrounded by the majestic pinnacles of Lagazuoi. After a visit to the café at the summit we set off again to enjoy a wonderful 10km multi-switchback descent followed by a further undulating 10kms along the Arabba Valley before we reach the start of Passo Pordoi (2,239m) our second and highest climb of the day.

We’ll take a breather at the summit where we can take obligatory photos in front of the Fausto Coppi memorial before beginning the long and thrilling descent and on to Campitello di Fassa along the Val di Fassa valley.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 2,100 Metres Approx.

A real challenge awaits those who opt to ride today, with the opportunity to sample a section of the route taken by the thousands of cyclists who participate each year in the Maratona delle Dolomiti, the country’s biggest and most famous Gran Fondo event.

With four major mountain passes ahead of us we set off to explore the roads around the Sella Ronda Massif in the shadows of its enormous grey and orange craggy pillars. We’ll be presented with breath-taking views and jaw-dropping scenery as we take on Passo Sella (2,244m), Passo Gardena (2,121m) Passo Campolongo, and Passo Pordoi (2,239m) in succession, before making our way back to Campitello di Fassa.

For those looking for a less strenuous day we also have an equally impressive option to take a cable car to a mountain hut high into the mountains, where you can enjoy a leisurely Alpine lunch surrounded by stunning peaks. Alternatively some may opt to simply take it easy and relax in Campitello di Fassa.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1,470 Metres Approx.

Our last day in the saddle will offer yet more great riding, beautiful scenery and classic passes to conquer. We start the day gently again as we head out along the Val di Fassa to reach the start of the Passo Costalunga, by Dolomitic standards a moderately challenging 5km climb which tops out at 1,745m above sea level before a rolling plateau leads us to the fantastic 18km descent down the other side.

The road twists and turns through dense forest and past pristine alpine lakes until we the final challenge of our tour, Passo Lavaze (1,807m). After enjoying our final picnic lunch beside the lake at the summit we’re left only with the thrilling descent to Cavalese to complete our journey through the Dolomites.

• Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast we head back to Verona for our return flights. Those with later flights and who wish to spend the day exploring Verona can easily leave luggage at the airport and hop on the bus into the centre of the city.