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).