Dolomites, Lake Garda & Venice Ride

The trip starts in Trento, a city nestled in the Adige River Valley in the Trentino-Alto Adige province. A cosmopolitan hub and centre for industry, education, science and finance, Trento is one of the most prosperous cities in Italy with an atmospheric historic centre of well-preserved Medieval and Renaissance buildings. After check-in, there may be time to go into town before our evening meal and trip briefing.

After breakfast, we take a 40-minute train ride to Bolzano, the capital city of the South Tyrol surrounded by powerful peaks. We can familiarise ourselves with the bikes on a short tour around the historic centre. From here, we will cycle south along the Adige River, following quiet undulating roads, with an overall ascent of approximately 985ft (300m).

Cycling through orchards and vineyards, we pass Lake Caldaro and the lovely villages of Ora, Egna and Salorno. This area is well known for producing wine, accounting for three-quarters of the output in South Tyrol. We arrive back in Trento in the late afternoon and spend a second night at our central hotel (B).

We continue along the Adige until we reach Rovereto and Mori. From here, we head west towards the northern shores of Lake Garda. After some short ascents, we cycle down to Torbole and then onto the elegant resort of Riva del Garda, which has plenty of bars and restaurants along the lake shore and a lovely beach.

Later in the afternoon, we take the ferry to the southern end of the lake, leaving Trentino and heading towards the Veneto region. A lake cruise allows us to enjoy the splendid landscape and relax before we reach our final destination of the day, Desenzano, where we take a short walk from the ferry port to reach our hotel for the night (B).

Cycling mainly on quiet roads and cycle paths today, we make our way to Verona, which, is arguably the most beautiful city in Veneto. The arena is one of the many Roman monuments we can discover there, while other places of interest are the Basilica San Zeno and, of course, Juliet's house and balcony.

In the evening briefing, the tour guide will discuss tomorrow's route and there will be a group vote on which of the two options to take (B).

Today's route depends on what was decided in last night's group vote. The more challenging route through the Colli Berici covers 47mi (75km) with a total ascent of 2,190ft (667m). It also has a 3mi (5km) climb, the longest of the tour, but you are rewarded with scenic views. The easier route runs along the foot of the Colli Berici, covering 46mi (74km) but with a lower total ascent (1,375ft/419m).

Either way, our destination for the day is Vicenza. The old city centre is a jewel of Renaissance architecture: private palaces, public buildings and the basilica are testaments to the work of Andrea Palladio, one of the most renowned architects in Italy. A visit to the best ice cream parlour in Vicenza is a great reward after today's ride (B).

Today we can take in some of the greenest and most stunning views of the Veneto countryside. Leaving Vicenza, we cycle past beautiful Palladian villas and we reach the hillier region of Monti Berici. We continue along the Bacchiglione River, on relatively quiet and flat roads, to the fascinating city of Padua (Padova in Italian), which is known for the Scrovegni Chapel, painted by Giotto, and the Prato della Valle, one of the biggest squares in Europe (B).

This morning, we transfer to Venice by train (approximately 30 minutes). Once in the heart of the Floating City, we can explore the labyrinth of narrow streets, bridges and waterways. We see famous sights including Doge's Palace, the Rialto Bridge and, of course, Piazza San Marco. After exploring the city, we can enjoy a relaxed evening – speak to your tour leader to organise an optional gondola ride – before returning to our hotel in Padua by train. A dinner is included this evening (B/D).

The trip ends in Padua after breakfast. However, if you would prefer to extend your stay and explore a little more, speak to your sales representative (B).