When
This trips is available from March to October
Stay
8 nights in 3-star hotels, in twin rooms, all en-suite. The hotels are normally situated within 1 km of the town centre, but at certain busy times it may be necessary to use a hotel up to 3.5 km from the centre. The earlier you book the better situated the hotels. A list of hotels will be sent with your tickets shortly before departure.
Price
Trips start from £525, (land only), and from £670, with Easyjet flights from London to Venice.
(Airport transfers are not included.) Bike hire is £35 (six days) paid on booking. Single supplement is £140.
Allow 30 euros for entry fees to the many monuments and museums. Lunches and dinners are not included. This is quite an expensive part of Italy so to eat well you should allow 35-45 euros per day.
Transport costs: transfers to Lake Garda or Bolzano at the start and from Mestre to the airport at the end are not included in the holiday price. Allow 45-60 euros for bus/train/taxi options, or 100-200 euros for taxis all the way. These amounts are for both transfers. Transport into and around Venice will be approximately 25 euros
Itinerary
- Day 1 - Fly to Verona Villafranca; make your own way to Verona railway station, then by train to Sirmione/Desenzano.
- Day 2 - Free day. Today is free to relax and enjoy the spectacular scenery from the lakeside, take a walk or a boat trip (all optional).
- Day 3 - Cycle to Verona. Leave Lake Garda and follow the Mincio river through the village of Sommacampagna, ending the day in the historic city of Verona. The compact area of narrow streets, ancient squares, mediaeval palaces and the vast Roman arena are easy to explore by cycle and on foot.
- Day 4 - Cycle to Soave. The route climbs gently out of the Adige valley and skirts the southern hills of the Soave wine growing district until we reach the impressive castle and walls of Soave itself.
- Day 5 - Cycle to Vicenza. Continue through the Soave vineyards and rural landscape of the region with a hill coming after the village of Brendola. The reward is stunning views and a blissful 8km descent to the town of Vicenza, with its superb Palladian buildings.
- Day 6 - Cycle to Abano Terme. There is time to see more of Vicenza before starting the ride to the spa town of Abano Terme, popular since the 7th century. The route is gentle to rest any tired limbs but there are plenty of spa treatments using the thermal waters just in case.
- Day 7 - Cycle to Mestre. Follow the Battaglia canal to the ancient city of Padua and the chance to see the university, established in 1222, the Basilica of St Anthony and Giotto’s frescoed chapel. Join the Brenta canal system and enjoy a level route past some of the gorgeous villas of the Veneto before reaching Mestre/Marghera.
- Day 8 - Free day. Today is free to explore incomparable Venice. Sip a coffee in St Mark’s Square by the magnificent Basilica or take a gondola on the canals. There are literally hundreds of churches, sights, shops and restaurants to fill the day.
- Day 9 - Make your own way to Venice airport; fly to London.
