donheff

I just returned from a bike trip to the Dolomites, the Tyrolean Alps in northern Italy. We spent a few days in Venice, rode for a week, and then spent an afternoon in Verona before coming home. We traveled with VBT, so we had great hotels and food and full support. Of course you pay for it, but that is why my wife and I worked hard for 4 decades.

This has to be one of the most beautiful areas I have ever seen. And the biking is fantastic - well maintained bike paths run up and down the valleys and cross the passes. While riding we stayed in Cortina, Brunico, and Merano. The area is more Austrian than Italian with 90% of the locals speaking German as a first language. Here are a few pictures. I'm on the left in the first shot, my wife is next to me and the couple we traveled with on the right. You can enjoy a slide show on my Flickr site.

miss kenton

Donheff,

Your pictures are stunningly beautiful! Just when I thought I'd been whittling down my bucket list, you had to show me this!!!
It looks like the trip of a life time! Good for you! WOW!

Shifty

Bella Bella!! What a great vacation, just breathtaking!

Allegheny Jet

Wow, it is a stunning tour. Wish that I could somehow do the same sometime.

billydonn

Far out! Thanks for posting.

volosong

What I want to know is how the cycling was in Venice?

Just kidding. It looks like it was a wonderful trip. Viewed all your pictures on Flickr. Beautiful area. Pretty neat bike path system. If the price included airfare, it isn't too bad. Are you and your wife happy with VBT? How many miles per day did you ride? The web site really doesn't say.

professorbob

What a great trip! You lucked out with the weather. Most of the times I've been in the Alps, it's been rainy and the views were covered in clouds.

donheff

The prices do include airfare and transportation from to the airports. They always offer optional extensions before and after the basic trip - in this case we took the Venice option but skipped the extra two nights in Verona. This was our 6th VBT trip and we have thoroughly enjoyed all of them. We compared the costs with Backroads and Butterfield and there is no comparison. You can, of course, cobble together a much less expensive tour on your own but then you don't enjoy the door to door sheparding, good food, good lodging, etc. Many people prefer to be on their own, we enjoy ease. The rides varied from 25 miles to 50 miles, all with multiple stops en route and options for longer rides or dropping out and riding in the van. VBT largely attracts a 50+ crowd and aims for easy to moderate rides. My wife and I generally ride every option and that works out just about right for us.

NOS88

Great photos. An it looks like a wonderful place to ride.

Terex

Thanks for posting photos and info!

Barrettscv 

Nice trip and I enjoyed the pictures, thanks for sharing!

sarals 

Oh, my! That would indeed be a trip for the ages! Thank you so much for sharing!!! :~D

jdon

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing!

Ken Brown

Great trip and beautiful photos! I have cycle toured in Austria twice (self-supported) and the Dolomites are even more spectacular. I have wanted to go to the Dolomites for some time but I never thought of it as a cycling venue. Food for thought.

DnvrFox

Great pictures, and a wonderful trip.

Question:

Which side of the bike path do you cycle and pass folks coming in the other direction?

volosong

Thanks for the info on VBT. 6th trip? I'd say you are satisfied with them.

PaulH

This was really, really, great.

Thanks!

Paul

donheff

Right side generally (passing to the left), same as in the US. There were a few spots in towns where one section of the path was reserved for bikes and the other for walkers which had you riding on the left side of the trail in one direction (but still to the right of oncoming bikes).