
Holiday Highlights
- Cycling from the Austrian border to Lake Garda
- Winding your way through Val Venosta along the Adige river
- Taking a holiday snap in front of the Resia church tower
- Stopping for Italian gelato in the medieval hamlet of Glorenza
- Having an adventure with the kids on Lake Garda
- Refueling with real Italian pizza after a day on the bike
We loved the whole trip and are busy deciding where to go cycling next! Thank you so much for your organising skills, help and advice.
Itinerary
After your arrival at Verona airport, we will transfer you to your hotel in Nauders (approx 3 hours). There will be time to stop off on the way for a break and to stretch your legs!
On arrival, your local representative will chat you through the week to come and will provide you with your route notes, maps and hire bikes (if hiring). You’ll have plenty of time for your first meal of the trip, as the excitement begins.
- Meals: Breakfast
Buon Giorno Italia! Following a hearty breakfast you’ll start your cycling adventure on the cycle path along the lake side. Enjoying the landscape you’ll cycle downhill into the Vinschgau Valley. Stretching from the Reschen Pass to Kastelbell/Tschars, the valley is on the border with Switzerland and Austria and is a beautiful basin of sparkling lush meadows, gigantic glaciers and glittering lakes. Our path heads through apple plantations, which supply European markets and, from here, you’ll see Juval castle (now a mountain museum) belonging to the famous Alpine climber Reinhold Messner.
Your first stop for today is Glorenza, located at 907 metres/2975 ft above sea level. Characterised by its medieval walls, Glorenza is perfectly preserved and is the smallest town in South Tyrol. Take a break and try some Italian gelato, before carrying on towards your final destination of Prato allo Stelvio. Here you’ll have time to stop and visit the Aquaprad Centre, an acquarium showing river and lake species, belonging to the Stelvio National Park.

- Meals: Breakfast
Leaving Prato, you’ll follow the Adige Valley, passing expanses of apple plantations and vineyards. The riding is mostly downhill and lots of fun can be had on the sections that follow the Adige river, weaving in and out of wooded areas and meandering through agricultural land, with towering mountains surrounding you. In Lasa, the adventure park is open for kids of all ages and is a fun way to break up the cycling, enjoying swings and tree-bridges through a fun adventure course.
After a snack, you’ll continue following the cycle path again, this time with an option to stop off and visit Castelbello, a short detour from the route. With plenty of picnic spots on the way, small villages in true Tyrol style and icecream stops, the day is a perfect balance of family fun. Your destination today is Lagundo, a typical Tyrol village on the outskirts of Merano.
- Meals: Breakfast
Leaving Lagundo, the cycling continues along the Via Claudia route, entering the wine-making region of Tramin. From here you’ll continue making your way through vineyards, taking in superb panoramic views, small villages with market squares and historical sites along the way. This part of Italy is German speaking, with the famous Gewuerztraminer white and Kalterersee red wine originating here, so the route you’ll be riding is actually called “La Via del Vino”.
We will point out a few good places to stop – it’s not all about the kids after all! Your final destination for today is Appiano, a small Tyrolean village with welcoming places where you can enjoy a pizza, or a spot of wine tasting for the parents.

- Meals: Breakfast
Setting off from the accommodation in Appiano, the first part of the day will take you to idyllic Lake Caldaro, an ideal place to stop for a dip in the cool water or to hire a rowing boat and enjoy a lap around the small lake; the location is idyllic. Cooled down and moving on from here, the terrain is very easy going following the Adige river and so you’ll cover the distance quickly. You will notice that the mountains have now become rougher on the side of the Adige Valley as you ride closer to Trento.
Trento is a bustling city bursting with Italian flair, with gelaterias, capuccino bars and trendy boutiques all ready to lure a few Euros from your grasp! A place full of history, there is plenty to see for the kids too, as you can explore the underground Roman Tridentum beneath the cathedral square, visit the Buonconsiglio Castle and still have the remaining afternoon to explore the many other points of interest.
If you’d like to take today a little easier, there is the option of catching a train to Trento, from one of the many train stations that wind their way along the Adige Valley.

- Meals: Breakfast
We will arrange a pick up for you today to take you over the pass on the last leg towards Lake Garda. After dropping you off, the route follows the stunning Sarca river, with towering limestone mountains all around you. Riding towards Lake Garda, the cycle path meanders past mountain lakes and rocky outcrops.
Cycling past Pietramurata, there is an idyllic place amongst shady vineyards to take a break and grab a bite to eat before moving further south. The kids might enjoy a refreshing stop on the Sarca river, where local children have created pools of water to play in. From the Dro Roman bridge, the last section to Arco is below the towering limestone cliffs, where you might spot some rock climbers roped up to the wall face.
After an ice cream stop in the main church square of Arco, time to ride the last few kms to Lake Garda, where the kids can celebrate their sense of achievement with a well-deserved plunge in the lake!

- Meals: Breakfast
There‘re plenty of things to do on Lake Garda! We can arrange some fun family canyoning or a Via Ferrata for children – supervised by qualified instructors it is a fun day of activities for the children!
Canyoning for families: Ideal for those just getting started with canyoning, alternating dives, slides and falls; adventure and excitement combine for an unforgettable experience. Mountain guides have the IFMGA certificate – minimum age 10
Via Ferrata for kids: Drena Castle – Sallagoni for families: Situated below the castle of Drena, the route develops through a beautiful canyon hidden in vertical walls. The landscape is impressive as the Via Ferrata winds itself through the gorge. Mountain guides have the IFMGA certificate – minimum age 10
Alternatively, a pleasant and relaxing way to explore Lake Garda is by boat; you can enjoy the peace and quiet of the lake on one of the slower pleasure boats that connects the idyllic towns around the lake, such as Limone and Malcesine.
- Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast it’s time to say arrivederci to this beautiful region and jump in the support vehicle for your transfer to Verona airport (approx 1 hour).
Gallery
The Cycling
Terrain
This trip has been designed to follow the cycle paths of the Val Venosta and Adige valleys. The routes meander along river sides (traffic free!) with facilities along the route, including toilets, cafe stops, picnic tables and occasionally a children’s park. For some very short sections, the cycle paths become part of country roads, but since cycling is well accepted here the riding is safe. Most paths are paved but you can expect some short sections on gravel. Since you will be following two valleys, you will find that while there are some climbs, they aren’t large or steep. For Day 6 we will arrange a transfer to take you over a pass, from where you will cycle the remaining section to Lake Garda. The majority of the route (98%) is traffic free, on easy-to-navigate cycle paths. This means that, although some of the distances and ascents better reflect a grade 3 ride, the route is graded a 2 – 3 to reflect the ease of cycling on such routes. We recommend hybrid bikes for this tour, however road bikes are suitable if preferred.

Family Cycling Grade
Aspects of both our grade 2 and 3 holidays
Suitable for those looking for some cycle friendly routes
Some modest climbs
Possibly sections of varying terrain (eg. forest tracks, gravel paths etc)
Our grading guidelines have been carefully created based on our many years of cycling experience, as well as customer feedback from our trips. Of course, if you're still struggling to figure out where you fit on the scale, do feel free to give us a quick call and we'll be more than happy to help!
For more information about our grading system click here.
Is this suitable for you?
Holidays that are graded as a 2-3, will have aspects of both our grade 2 and 3 holidays. These tours are still suitable for those perhaps who have recently got into cycling, and offer an array of accessible, cycle friendly routes, cycle paths and quiet roads, however there will be some days / sections where you may have to tackle some ups and downs, the occasional steeper climb and perhaps some varying terrain (forest tracks, gravel paths etc). Suitable for those with a decent level of physical fitness, looking for some leisurely rides with occasional (achievable!) challenges along the way.
Dates & Prices

Season 1 For trips starting between (and inclusive of) the 01/05 and 30/06 and the 05/09 and 31/10: £1295 per adult. Season 2 For trips starting between (and inclusive of) the 01/07 and the 09/08 and the 24/08 and the 04/09: £1465 per adult. Season 3 For trips starting between (and inclusive of) the 10/08 and the 23/08: £1555 per adult.
We have the following children’s discounts available. 35% discount for any child (under the age of 18) travelling with 2 fully-paying passengers. 40% discount for any child (under the age of 18) sharing a room with 2 fully-paying passengers
Contact us on +44(0)191 265 1110 or info@skedaddle.com to check availability for your specific date.
Whats Included 
A) Accommodation (shared twin / double en suite rooms) in 3* hotels and guesthouses
B) Meals as per the itinerary (B-Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
C) Local representative (with bike delivery and welcome meeting)
D) Detailed route notes and maps
E) Luggage transfers
F) Pre-loaded GPS unit (1 per group)
G) Airport transfer on scheduled arrival day from Verona airport (VRN)
H) Airport transfer on scheduled departure day to Verona airport (VRN)
What's not Included 
A) Bike hire (available if required)
B) Flights and charges for travelling with your bike
D) Travel insurance
E) Meals not stated in the itinerary
F) Personal clothing and equipment
G) Personal expenditure (souvenirs, bar bills etc.)
H) Optional activities on day 7 (approx €60 per person)
I) Possible city tax to be paid in cash locally (amount varies)
J) Airport transfers on days other than the scheduled arrival / departure days
The Essentials
News, Reviews & Stories
Reviews
Julia, London, UKWe loved the whole trip...We just flew back to the UK today and wanted to say thank you very much for organising such a great trip for us cycling from Nauders to Lake Garda last week. We really loved the Via Claudia and the beautiful Austrian and Italian countryside we cycled through on the way. The bikes worked out brilliantly for everyone, so thank you for putting the effort into finding the right bikes for us.
We loved the whole trip and are busy deciding where to go cycling next year! Thank you so much for your organising skills, help and advice. We knew it was going to be a great trip and were really excited in the build up to going – but it actually managed to exceed our expectations.