Austrian Alps & Italy's Dolomites Bike Tour
Couples, Friends & Solos
6 days
5 nights
Activity Levels 2-4
Premiere Hotels
Austrian Alps & Italy's Dolomites Bike Tour
Couples, Friends & Solos
6 days
5 nights
Activity Levels 2-4
Premiere Hotels
2026: May-Oct
Mountain Adventures from Salzburg to Venice
We love border-hopping so much, we elevated the concept. As in 8,000 feet of elevation. And as in top-shelf cycling routes. When two wheels carry you across the Alps, it’s all a high.
Highlights
- It’s an international traverse of the Alps as you link Austria and Italy by bike
- Witness the landscape transition from lush forests and Alpine pastures to sun-drenched foothills laced by grapevines
- Cycle in Austria’s Gailtal Alps and along a converted WWI rail trail through the Dolomites
- Unwind in hotel saunas, terraced gardens and grand dining rooms at our old-world hotels
- Before and after your trip, chase some culture in music-loving Salzburg and picturesque Venice
Start Salzburg
End Venice
* Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.
Itinerary
Days 1-2
Begin your trip in baroque Salzburg before traveling to broad blue Lake Zell for your first ride between sparkling waters and towering meadows • Bike alongside rushing waters, keeping your eyes peeled for the towering Kitzsteinhorn peeking through the trees overhead • Sit down to a tavern lunch in an old castle • Settle into our chic retreat nestled amid the pastures of Maria Alm • Circumnavigate the Leogang and Lofer Mountain Ranges • Pedal alongside the hidden lake of Pillersee, whose surface is lush with waving water reeds.
Nights 1-2
Sustainability gets an emphasis at this retreat featuring gourmet dining, a sophisticated spa with infinity pools and sky decks and plenty of views of its namesake mountain, the Hochkönig (High King). The luxury at every turn makes it clear why this stylish abode is the “High Queen.” (pool, spa)
Day 3
Journey south to the Austrian Dolomites, where a distinct climate and geology make for fertile farmland and dramatic stone monoliths • Slip into a slower pace on a valley ride through the relaxing pastoral scenery of the Gailtal Alps • Cycle into romantic Lienz, our home for the night • Craving some R&R in town? Opt to skip biking for an afternoon off in Lienz exploring cobblestoned alleyways • Bottoms up for a tasting of Schnapps from a local distillery • Take a soak in the Old World pool and spa complex of our grand hotel, facing a riverside terrace.
Night 3
Framed by the Dolomites and Austria’s highest peaks, this comfortable hotel features modern comforts yet also exudes old-world charm. (pool, spa)
Days 4-6
Cross the border into Italy • Gleaming meadows and limestone towers await around every turn • Pass villages festooned with laundry, where espresso-sipping locals watch the world go by from shutter-framed windows • Ride along the Via delle Dolomiti, a former WWI train line turned cycling path • Sit down to quintessential Italian cuisine in a converted train depot • Settle into our romantic villa-hotel tucked into a hill town in the home region of Prosecco • Spin through foothills adorned with vineyards • Spend your final morning exploring the village of Asolo on foot and climbing to its hilltop castle.
Nights 4-5
A rambling estate which clings to the edge of a hill town in a fever dream of mottled stone walls, patios, verandas and gardens worthy of a Medici. (pool, spa)
What's Included
See moreStraight Talk
We want to make sure you're on the trip that's right for you. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
The accommodations on this trip are housed in beautiful historic buildings. While they offer outstanding service and amenities, please note that The Hochkönigin and the Grandhotel Lienz are not equipped with air-conditioning. Despite the region’s generally temperate climate and cool nights, guest rooms can occasionally become warm during peak temperatures.
Our routes through the Alps are special places where four seasons can occur in one day. Inclement weather, including snow, can cause sudden closures of some of the high-altitude routes on this trip. While this is most common in May, September and October, it's possible at any time throughout the summer. We're always prepared to adapt our itinerary in case of weather-related closures.
In order to bring you the best of the Austrian and Italian Alps, this trip includes some days with significant shuttle times, particularly our shuttle from Austria into Italy on Day 4. We're confident that this time in the shuttle is worthwhile for the experiences it allows us to offer in the saddle across this varied region.
Hotels
World-Class Hotels
Our hand-selected Premiere hotels offer exceptional hospitality and experiences as special as the regions we explore.
Hotels may vary based on departure. Any variations will be displayed when selecting a departure under Dates & Prices.
Nights 1-2
Sustainability gets an emphasis at this retreat featuring gourmet dining, a sophisticated spa with infinity pools and sky decks and plenty of views of its namesake mountain, the Hochkönig (High King). The luxury at every turn makes it clear why this stylish abode is the “High Queen.” (pool, spa)
Night 3
*Deluxe Hotel
Framed by the Dolomites and Austria’s highest peaks, this comfortable hotel features modern comforts yet also exudes old-world charm. (pool, spa)
Nights 4-5
Premiere Hotel
A rambling estate which clings to the edge of a hill town in a fever dream of mottled stone walls, patios, verandas and gardens worthy of a Medici. (pool, spa)
Gallery
Share Your Adventure!
Tag @backroadstravel or use #MyBackroadsTrip to submit your photos.
Bikes
Choose Your Perfect Bike
Our bikes are designed and built with specific cyclists and riding styles in mind, so we can always offer you a perfect ride. Please note that bike requests are subject to availability and prioritized based on the date they're submitted.
Included in your trip price
- Ideal for avid cyclists
- Redesigned for 2024
- Next gen titanium frame with carbon wheels
- Responsive, efficient and comfortable
- Drop handlebars only
Included in your trip price
- One of the lightest e-bikes available
- Provides plenty of power and more than enough battery
- Lower top tubes for easier mounting and dismounting
- Upright handlebars only
- Limited availability on Unplugged Bike Tours; learn more
Min. age to ride e-bike: 16+
- $400 rental fee
- Hand-built frame features Co-Motion's custom-designed Cro-Moly steel tubeset, powerful Avid disc brakes, Shimano Ultegra drive train
- Custom upgraded wheelset
- Best for riders with some tandem experience.
Dates & Prices
Dates & Prices
Click on dates for pricing, itinerary variations (if any) and to book your trip. Price is per person, double occupancy in USD.
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Group size is required to show per-person pricing. Your group size can be approximate and can change.
