NORTH ITALY TOUR 2022 - VINEYARDS CUISINE SPECTACULARLAKES - ALLTRAILS BICYCLE TOURS
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NORTH ITALY TOUR 2022
Vine ya rds • Cu is ine • S pe cta cu la r Lakes
Join AllTrails in 2022 on our legendary Annual European Expedition. Showcasing the best of North Italy, this tour is a feast of
Italian culinary delights, combined with the spectacular Lakes District. Book now to secure our generous Early Bird savings!
The first half takes us through renowned food and wine regions that have influenced not only Italian cuisine, but world cuisine.
Drink Piemonte wines in Piedmont, try truffles in Alba, feast on Ferrero Rocher in Ferrara, eat amaretto cookies in Mombaruzzo,
tear into some torrone from a pasticcerie in Cremona, munch in Modena - the home of the famous balsamic vinegar, and let’s
not forget to have bolognese in Bologna and a parma in Parma with extra parmesan cheese.
The second half from Bologna leads us through UNESCO World Heritage sites to the beautiful Po River delta, the lovely town of
Comacchio ‘Little Venice’, and provides an optional Venice day trip (to the ‘real’ Venice). Take in some Shakespearean settings
(Taming of the Shrew’s Padova, Romeo & Juliet’s Verona), then finish in the Lakes District with its’ spectacular scenery for some
lake-side cycling around Lake Garda, Lake Iseo, Lake Como and Lake Maggiore.
The Tour at a Glance
Stage One Dates: 28 Jul – 9 Aug 2022, Milan/Cuneo to Bologna (12 nights)
Stage Two Dates: 9 Aug – 21 Aug 2022, Bologna to Lake Maggiore/Milan (12 nights)
Duration: Full tour 24 nights. Short tour options 12 nights each
Bike Type: Road Bike (BYO or hire) BOOK NOW
Distance: 1500 km approximately OR
Average Daily: 80km approximately MORE INFO
Accommodation: 3 to 4-star hotels and quality lodging
Group Size: 12 - 20
E-bike: Welcome (2 max)
Terrain: Good bitumen roads and cycle paths
Difficulty Rating: 7/10 (some hills and a few 100km+)
Join AllTrails in 2022 on our annual adventure to a new European destination The combination of two contrasting but complimentary stages results in a tour around North Italy that will inspire and be remembered for many years to come. It’s an easy start and finish point flying in and out of Milan and being located in a single country for the full tour makes things that bit easier for managing Covid-19 requirements and regulations. We spend three wonderful rest days in the thermal spa town of Acqui Terme, culinary mecca of Bologna, and on the shores of lovely Lake Garda respectively. With an optional fourth rest day in Padova, allowing a side-trip to Venice, this tour offers the perfect balance of sight-seeing on and off the bike. Add in some great tasting inclusions in the culinary and wine regions, some outstanding dinners and lovely accommodation with a cycling group held together by that famous AllTrails camaraderie… If you have ever been interested in cycling in Italy, this tour is for you. Some of the Highlights • Culinary delights: • Wine tastings • Food experiences - learn about truffles and parmesan cheese • Optional cooking classes on rest day • Chocolate, nougat, candy & biscuit visits • Culinary capitals of Parma and Bologna • Scenic and cycling delights: • UNESCO heritage sites, and locations full of Italian history • Three rest days in contrasting and intriguing destinations • Optional Venice day trip • Start and finish in the thriving city of Milan • The spectacular Italian Lakes District • Wonderful local Italian-speaking guides plus AllTrails Australian owners host the tour for you
Pricing and Payment Information All prices in AUD Early Bird Until 31st Dec 2021 From 1st Jan 2022 Milan/Cuneo to Lake Maggiore (24 nts) - FULL TOUR Save $500pp Twin share $11,740 pp $12,240 pp Single room $13,740 $14,240 Milan/Cuneo to Bologna (12 nts) - STAGE 1 ONLY Save $250pp Twin share $6,280 pp $6,530pp Single room $7,230 $7,480 Bologna to Lake Maggiore (12 nts) - STAGE 2 ONLY Save $250pp Twin share $6,530 pp $6,780pp Single room $7,650 $7,900 Included: • All accommodation • Snacks, water and fruit on the road • Two local wine-tasting events • Tour Guides, maps, directions & luggage transfer • Tasting visits: parmesan cheese, truffles, amaretto cookies • All breakfasts, 11 dinners • Support & safety vehicle • AllTrails cycling jersey • Bike mechanical assistance Optional: • Tour Leader gratuities and tips already included in price • Day trip to Venice (30 mins by train) Payment Schedule: • Non-refundable* deposit upon booking ($800) • Progress Payment 30 days after deposit (40% of package cost less deposit paid) • Balance 29 Apr 2022 (3 months before the tours begin) Minimum numbers There is a minimum number of participants required to enable this tour to proceed. We suggest that participants wait until the tour is confirmed to depart before booking flights and confirming other travel arrangements. Progress payments will be due after minimum numbers are reached. * In the event that minimum numbers are not met, deposits will be reimbursed in full. Travelling on your own You may choose to pay the ‘Single Supplement’ price to have your own room, or you can put your name on the ‘Twin Share Request List’ and we will pair you up with another solo traveller of the same gender in twin share accommodation if we have another similar request. There is a good chance that we will be able to match you however if we cannot, the single room price will apply, and you will have your own room for the full tour. Contact us anytime to check twin share availability - we may already have a match for you. Optional Extras Bike hire A great option for those who prefer not to take their own bicycle to Europe. Our local European team has a great fleet of rentals including titanium frame touring-specific bikes. Single Stage: AUD $350. Full Tour: $595 E-bike hire A little bit hesitant on the daily distances? Looking to make the ride a little easier? Try an e-bike. Single Stage: AUD $650. Full Tour: $1090 ‘AllTrails Group Transfer’ from Milan to Cuneo Transferring from Milan to Cuneo is best done by train and can easily be booked direct through ItaliaRail to suit your personal itinerary requirements. Alternatively, we recommend transferring from Milan to our Cuneo Hotel with the ‘AllTrails Group Transfer’ option which can be purchased as an optional extra through us. AllTrails will meet at 9.30am to catch the 10am train from Milan on Thu 28 July, arriving in Cuneo around 12.30pm. Our Cuneo Hotel is a 1.3km walk from the station and our local team will transfer luggage and bikes to the hotel which will be available to you at our 2pm check-in time. AllTrails Group Train Transfer Price: AUD $60 Bike bag/case freight/storage: We will need to store/freight all empty bike bags and cases to the end of your stage. Cardboard boxes will not incur a charge. Costs will be kept as low as possible and assessed at registration, be paid direct to Tour Leaders. Estimated cost: EUR 50-75
Getting To and From the Tour / Pre and Post Tour Accommodation START: Flights arrive and depart daily from both of Milan’s International airports (Malpensa or Linate). We suggest arriving in Milan by Wed 27 July at the latest. AllTrails staff will be staying at a hotel close to Milano Centrale Station on 27 July and riders are welcome to stay here also if wishing to travel with our staff via rail to Cuneo the following day. The AllTrails Group Transfer option can be purchased as an optional extra ($60AUD pp) when booking your tour with us. This includes the train only – we will provide hotel details for you to book your hotel stay directly. AllTrails staff will meet at 9.30am to catch the 10am train from Milan on Thu 28 July 2022, arriving in Cuneo around 12.30pm. Our Cuneo Hotel is a 1.3km walk from the station and our local team will transfer luggage and bikes to the hotel which will be available to you at our 2pm check-in time. Alternatively, you can make your own way to Cuneo – easily done from Milan or Turin via rail, booked direct through ItaliaRail to suit your personal itinerary requirements. Pre-tour accommodation: We have included one night pre-tour in our Cuneo tour hotel as part of the tour cost (Thu 28 July). We suggest booking any extra pre-tour nights in Milan or Turin, then catching the train to Cuneo on Thu 28 July. MIDDLE: For single stage cyclists, arrive or depart Bologna via train or air. Our Bologna tour hotel is under 10km from the airport. Mid-tour accommodation: The tour group will be staying in Bologna on Mon 8 Aug and Tue 9 Aug. Each stage includes ONE of those nights. If you are on a single stage and wish to stay longer in Bologna than the one included night, see the ‘How to Reserve Extra Hotel Nights’ section in our ‘Pre Tour Departure Info’ PDF for rates and contact details. END: We will cycle into Verbania on Sat 20 Aug and accommodation is included that night. Our local team highly recommends staying on 1-2 nights after the tour in Verbania to visit Stra, and the islands of Lake Maggiore if you have the time. If not, you can catch a simple bus transfer to Milan Malpensa Airport (65km) or catch a train to Milan city or any other European destination on the train network on Sun 21 Aug. Tour Leaders will help with advice on how to get to where you need to go. Post-tour accommodation: We have included one night post-tour in our Verbania hotel located on the shores of Lake Maggiore (Sat 20 Aug) as part of the tour cost. If you wish to stay longer in Verbania than the one included night, see the ‘How to Reserve Extra Hotel Nights’ section in our ‘Pre Tour Departure Info’ PDF for rates and contact details. What to Expect These European ‘expedition’ rides are different to our AllTrails rides in Australia. Due to the unique nature of these trips and in order to set clear expectations please review our list of some of the differences between our European tours and AllTrails Australian tours below and let us know if you have any questions at all. DISTANCE – Be sure to check the tour map and itinerary to make sure that you are comfortable with the distances and terrain of this ride. Your aim in training should be to cycle at an average speed of 20-25kph on flat terrain, and also do some training on hills, in which case we expect that you will finish your day’s ride between 1-4pm. LODGING – Most hotels have been inspected and used on previous tours by our local guides, however there may be some that have not been inspected other than online investigations. Hotels are generally of a good 3-4 star standard however can be of varying quality depending on the location and what’s available in the region. While creature comforts such as air-conditioning are sought, and most often found, we cannot guarantee this on every night of the tour as air-conditioning is not the norm in many parts of Europe. ROUTES / ROAD CONDITIONS – We have planned this route on bitumen roads and bike paths however surface conditions cannot be guaranteed. Over the length of the tour you will almost surely hit some construction, and possibly some short gravel or dirt roads along the journey. Though we have local guides, they may or may not have ridden the route in advance on a bike. There may be occasions where tour leaders will need to adjust the day’s route on the fly. VAN SUPPORT – Van support will be less than on our Australian rides. The crew will often be stopped at the rest places helping riders with water, snacks, bananas or information. You will usually see a support vehicle 2-4 times a day, but not at pre-specified times so you should plan to be self-sufficient to a certain degree. This also gives cyclists more flexibility to ‘go at their own pace’ compared to our Australian rides. If you are far ahead of other cyclists in the group you may not see the van at all. If you should need a ride, van support is usually within the vicinity, but know that if close to the end of the route, you may have to wait until after the van has arrived at the hotel, deposited the luggage and doubles back for you. Phone numbers for Tour Leaders will be provided if you get stuck or need assistance. FOOD & MEALS - We will not have set times for snack & lunch stops as we generally do in Australia. Cafes and restaurants in Europe often cannot handle a group all arriving at once. We will give you recommendations on where to stop for lunch & snacks. Dinners together may be buffet style to make meals quicker and will not include alcoholic drinks. While we do our best to accommodate dietary preferences know that in some areas variety will be limited or unavailable. You may wish to bring supplemental food/snacks from home.
Itinerary Meals and Accommodation inclusions. Breakfast = B, Dinner = D, Accommodation = A Location Distance Date B D A Cuneo Arrival Day NA Thu 28 Jul 2022 - D A Cuneo Loop to Vinadio 77km Fri 29 Jul 2022 B - A Cuneo to Monforte 69km Sat 30 Jul 2022 B D A Monforte to Alba 55km Sun 31 Jul 2022 B - A Alba to Acqui Terme 66km Mon 1 Aug 2022 B D A Loop ride from Acqui Terme 42km Tue 2 Aug 2022 B - A Rest Day in Acqui Terme NA Wed 3 Aug 2022 B - A Acqui Terme to Pavia 109km Thu 4 Aug 2022 B D A Pavia to Cremona 93km Fri 5 Aug 2022 B - A Cremona to Parma 75km Sat 6 Aug 2022 B - A Parma Torrechiara to La-Razza 74km Sun 7 Aug 2022 B D A La Razza to Bologna 100km Mon 8 Aug 2022 B D A Rest Day in Bologna - End Stage 1 / Start Stage 2 NA Tue 9 Aug 2022 B D A Bologna to Ravenna 105km Wed 10 Aug 2022 B - A Ravenna to Ferrara 107km Thu 11 Aug 2022 B D A Ferrara to Padova 99km Fri 12 Aug 2022 B - A Options: Loop ride, Venice train excursion or rest day 50km Sat 13 Aug 2022 B - A Padova to Verona 95km Sun 14 Aug 2022 B D A Verona to Saló 65km Mon 15 Aug 2022 B - A Rest day in Salò (Lake Garda) NA Tue 16 Aug 2022 B - A Salò to Sulzano (Lake Iseo) 73km Wed 17 Aug 2022 B D A Sulzano to Lecco (Lake Como) 96km Thu 18 Aug 2022 B - A Lecco to Como via Bellagio 79km Fri 19 Aug 2022 B - A Como to Verbania (Lake Maggiore) 78km Sat 20 Aug 2022 B D A Verbania - End of tour (bus to airport / train to other destinations) Sun 21 Aug 2022 B - - Total Distance Cycled 1633km 24 11 24 Average Daily Distance 81km
Itinerary Milan / Cuneo Arrival Day - NA - Thu 28 Jul 2022 Day 1. (arrival day). Gather today in Cuneo, south of Turin and Milan. It is an easy 2.5 hr train ride from Milan or 1.5 hr from Turin (Torino). You may wish to spend a day or two in either of these two attractive cities before heading to Cuneo. We'll fit bicycles this afternoon, then you will be free to explore the town and to take a warm-up ride. Be sure to look up the Arione Bar and Confectionary, famous for its "cuneese al rhum" a chocolate rum candy (Hemingway stopped by here to pick up some of these on a trip to Italy in 1954, the year he won the Nobel Prize.) This evening, we'll celebrate the beginning of our tour with a traditional Piedmontese dinner together. Cuneo Loop to Vinadio - 77km - Fri 29 Jul 2022 Day 2. Your ride today follows the Stura di Demonte River valley to the fortress of Vinadio along an historic military road that has now become mainly a bike path. The Vinadio fortress was built by King Carlo Alberto of the house of Savoy in the 1830s and '40s to protect the Piedmont from possible invasions from France. You'll be back in Cuneo late afternoon to enjoy a stroll through town. Cuneo to Monforte - 69km - Sat 30 Jul 2022 Day 3. Your ride today takes you through the small town of Bene Vagienna as you follow an ancient Roman road. You might want to stop and peek inside the archaeological sites along our road, where you’ll find the remains of a theatre, an amphitheatre, and other buildings. From Cuneo the ride is an easy constant downhill until you reach the feet of the Langhe hills. Tonight we will be in Monforte d'Alba, one of many picturesque wine villages in the Langhe region of Piedmont.. Monforte to Alba - 55km - Sun 31 Jul 2022 Day 4. Your ride today takes you through some of the most beautiful vineyard landscapes in Italy. You can stop in Mango for lunch or a break under the castle shade before continuing on through Neviglie and Trezzo Tinella, villages of less than 500 inhabitants, on the way to Alba. We are in the heart of truffle land, so anybody wanting to learn about truffles can join us for an optional tasting this evening before dinner. Alba to Acqui Terme - 66km - Mon 1 Aug 2022 Day 5. You'll want to take time to visit Alba before leaving this morning. Not only is Alba the capital of the Langhe wine region it is also home to Ferrero Rocher, the chocolate maker that manufactures Nutella and Kinder chocolate. Shortly after Alba, we'll recommend a detour to the small town of Barbaresco, where the famous Barbaresco wine gets its name. Loop ride from Acqui Terme - 42km - Tue 2 Aug 2022 Day 6. Acqui Terme has been a spa town since Roman times and you'll be here three nights! If you wish to take the day off to enjoy the thermal spa this is your chance. Otherwise hop on the bike and head to the hill town of Mombaruzzo, home to one of Italy's famous "amaretto" makers. Amaretto is a delicious cookie made from a base of almond paste. We’ll enjoy a unique visit to a biscuit maker before pedalling back to home base. Take time this afternoon for a walk in town or to enjoy the spas. Acqui Terme Rest Day - NA - Wed 3 Aug 2022 Day 7. A beautiful place to spend a rest day, Acqui Terme is famous for its thermal springs that reach the surface in Piazza Bollente. Here a marble edifice has been built and you can see the steam rising from the waters. Take time to wander through the narrow streets and markets as the friendly vendors offer tastings of the local cheeses and meats. Cobblestone streets lead through the old town which are lined with elegant shops, homeware stores, fabulous food shops and inviting restaurants. Piazza d’Italia sits on the edge of the old town and is a central meeting point where cafes overlook beautiful flower gardens and the steps of water that flow from the waterfall. Acqui Terme to Pavia - 109km - Thu 4 Aug 2022 Day 8. Flat riding today as you exit Piedmont and its vineyards and cross the Po River. Arrive at Pavia, a famous art city and home to the centuries-old University of Pavia and the Visconti Castle, now home to Pavia’s civic museum. Pavia was built on the Ticino River and you can visit the Ponte Coperto (covered bridge), which was rebuilt based on its original 1350’s design after being badly damaged in WWII. Pavia to Cremona - 93km - Fri 5 Aug 2022 Day 9. Your ride today parallels the Po River, Italy's longest river, as it takes you to Cremona, home of the noble tradition of violin making. Visit the Museo del Violino to learn how Antonio Stradivarius raised violin-making to an art form and taste some torrone (the creamy nougat made from honey, nuts, and egg white) in one of the several pasticcerie in town!
Itinerary cont. Cremona to Parma - 75km - Sat 6 Aug 2022 Day 10. Today we pedal through opera composer Giuseppe Verdi’s homeland Polesine Parmense. We’ll leave the city cycling along the Po River bike path and wind our way through a rural area to the small town where Verdi was born, raised, and started his music career at age 8 as the official organist. We then head south to Parma, one of the undisputed culinary capitals of Italy, through pleasant country roads where you can catch a glimpse of our local farm life. Our journey takes us to the ducal palace of Colorno. While it passed through the hands of many rulers, today, it houses the headquarters of ALMA, the International School of Italian Cuisine. We continue on to Parma, a city where your taste buds will not be disappointed. It is a city where the arts have flourished as Parmigianino, Correggio, and Giuseppe Verdi are some of the most famous citizens. Parma Torrechiara to La-Razza - 74km - Sun 7 Aug 2022 Day 11. Today's ride will take us to the breath-taking castle of Torrechiara. Dominating the Val Parma, the castle was built between 1448 and 1460, devised as an instrument of defence as well as a distinguished home for the count and his lover. We will then continue to Montecchio, before heading to Reggio Emilia (also known as the Tricolor town because it was here that the future Italian flag was first adopted in 1797). We'll ride on along back roads and bike paths to reach our agriturismo, a country house/hotel with a working farm, where we'll stay tonight. La Razza to Bologna - 100km - Mon 8 Aug 2022 Day 12. Begin the morning with a fascinating parmesan cheese tasting visit at our working farm accommodation. Today's ride will take us to Modena (home to the famous balsamic vinegar and to Ferrari) and its beautiful historic centre, before heading toward the capital of the Emilia-Romagna region - Bologna. This evening a sumptuous dinner finishes the first leg of the tour. Bologna Rest Day - NA - Tue 9 Aug 2022 Day 13. On the final day of the first stage of your expedition, take your time to explore this vibrant city. Bologna is a university town, home to what's said to be the oldest university of the Western world (founded in 1088). Another source of pride for the people in Bologna is the local food - home-made pasta, Bolognese sauce, mortadella, etc. Make sure you taste some of the delicacies the city has to offer! Bologna to Ravenna - 105km - Wed 10 Aug 2022 Day 14. You will pedal today toward the Romagna area, reaching the art city of Ravenna, once the capital of the Western Roman Empire. Your centrally located hotel allows you to walk to Dante's Tomb and the UNESCO World Heritage mosaics of San Vitale, Sant'Apollinare Nuovo and the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia. Don't miss these early Byzantine churches with their colourful mosaics that draw travellers from around the world. Ravenna to Ferrara - 107km - Thu 11 Aug 2022 Day 15. You head north today, passing through the Po River delta (a beautiful area known, among other things, for birdwatching), before reaching the lovely town of Comacchio. With its canals and bridges, Comacchio is also known as "little Venice". Your destination for today is Ferrara, a great bike-friendly art city. Ferrara to Padova - 99km - Fri 12 Aug 2022 Day 16. You will be riding to the Veneto region today, to reach one of the oldest cities in Italy - Padova (or Padua), also known as the City of St. Anthony. Padova’s claim to history is not only being home to Italy’s second oldest (and still vibrant) university, but it also acted as the setting for most of the action in Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. Make sure you take a walk around Prato della Valle, one of Italy's (and Europe's) largest squares. Padova Options: Loop ride, train trip to Venice or rest day - 50km - Sat 13 Aug 2022 Day 17. Today you can take a spin on the bike south into the Euganean hills and loop back to Padova. Alternatively, take a 30-minute train ride into Venice to visit this enchanting water city, either independently or with the AllTrails crew who will be getting lost in the maze of laneways for the day, following no set agenda. Or simply enjoy a rest day in this fascinating university city and spend some time ambling through its arcaded streets or sit and watch the world go by in one of its many stylish cafes. Padova to Verona - 95km - Sun 14 Aug 2022 Day 18. You will head west today and skirt the northern edge of the Colli Euganei (Euganean hills), before heading toward Soave, a small town known for the namesake wine, as well as its Scaligero castle. Keep pedalling to reach famed Verona, city of Romeo and Juliet, and whose arts still delight on a nightly basis with operas and concerts in the Roman theatre. Enjoy a wine tasting of the Soave wines at dinner this evening.
Itinerary cont. Verona to Saló - 65km - Mon 15 Aug 2022 Day 19. Head west from Verona, the city of Romeo and Juliet. You will reach iconic Lake Garda and get on a ferry to cross to the other shore before hopping on your bike again to reach Salò, located on a natural inlet on the Western side of the lake. Saló Rest Day - NA - Tue 16 Aug 2022 Day 20. Today you can take the day off the bike and explore Salò. You will find plenty to do on the long lakefront promenade and in the small but attractive old town, or you might want to take a ferry for a cruise on the lake. Salò to Sulzano - 73km - Wed 17 Aug 2022 Day 21. Once again you head west today, this time toward Lake Iseo. Bordering the lake to the south is the densely cultivated Franciacorta region, famous for its sparkling white wines. The dense network of vineyards, church-topped hills and scattering of cypress trees here remind some people of Tuscany. As an option you can enjoy more lake views by taking the ferry to Monte Isola with your bike, a massive mountain that emerges 1200 feet from the lake surface. On Monte Isola, you'll enjoy car-free cycling around the island and stunning views of the surrounding mainland. Sulzano to Lecco - 96km - Thu 18 Aug 2022 Day 22. The first part of your ride today will let you enjoy views on Lake Iseo, before heading toward the city of Bergamo and its "Città Alta" (literally "High City"). Bergamo is one of the few Italian cities to escape destruction during the World Wars, so its architectural history is well preserved. In particular, Bergamo Alta which is known for its 16th century Venetian walls. Your destination for today is the city of Lecco, on Lake Como. Lecco to Como - 79km - Fri 19 Aug 2022 Day 23. The majority of today's route runs along the shores of Lake Como, heading North toward Bellagio (where you will take a ferry to cross the lake) and then back south toward Como, your final destination for the day. Anybody wanting an extra challenge can ride the Madonna del Ghisallo ride from near Bellagio, paying homage to the Madonna of cyclists after a tough climb! Como to Verbania - 78km - Sat 20 Aug 2022 Day 24. On the last day of cycling, we pedal along three lakes - Lake Como, Lake Lugano and ending on Lake Maggiore, which is shared between Italy and Switzerland. You'll also spend a half day pedalling through Switzerland! We will catch a ferry toward the end of the ride and pedal the last couple of km to reach the final destination on the top of Lake Maggiore. Celebrate with Italy’s famed Champagneois wine toast! Verbania - NA - Sun 21 Aug 2022 Day 25. Our local team highly recommends staying on 1-2 nights after the tour in Verbania to visit Stra, and the islands of Lake Maggiore if you have the time. If not, you can catch a simple bus transfer to Milan Malpensa Airport (65km) or catch a train to Milan city or any other European destination on the train network on Sun 9 Aug. Tour Leaders will help with advice on how to get to where you need to go.
Frequently asked Questions Feel free to contact us at any time through our website ‘Contact Us’ page, phone or email at alltrails@alltrails.com.au. We love what we do and want to get you on the best bike ride for you. Speak to us about what’s on your mind and we’ll help you make your decision. Twin Share Request List for Solo Travellers We often have cyclists come on our rides who are travelling alone. If so, you may pay the Single Supplement price to have your own room, or you can put your name on our ‘Twin Share Request List’ and we will pair you with another solo traveller of the same gender in twin share accommodation if we have another similar request. There is a good chance that we will be able to partner you up with somebody else. If not, the ‘single supplement’ price will apply which will give you your own room for the entire tour. Contact us anytime to have a chat and check twin share availability – we may already have a match for you. Snorers can enjoy their own room If you are a chronic snorer or have other habits that may affect your fellow roommates we suggest booking your own room (single supplement cost). This is not just a courtesy to your fellow travelling companions but will also give you the space & privacy you need to enjoy your sleep after a long day on the bike. Bike Hire in Europe Yes, you can hire a bike in Europe. Hiring a bike will help you avoid hassles that arise on occasion with travelling on airlines with bicycles and also leave you free to enjoy pre and post tour travel without a bicycle as luggage. For those bringing their own bike, note that we may need to transfer and/or store bike bags and hard case bike boxes to the end of your ride at your own expense – contact us for more info. Our local operators have a great range of light weight titanium Van Nicholas hire bikes, which are high quality road bikes with drop down or flat handlebars along with a small rack on the back for camera, jacket and any other personal items. You can also bring your own seat to give you that little bit of ‘home comfort’ and/or pedals if you wish. Safe cycling in Europe? European motorists have a great reputation for being cyclist-considerate. We at AllTrails have a great safety record however cyclists must play their part in keeping well over to the side of the road where possible. You will also be briefed before each day’s ride pointing out parts of the road that may get narrow or have any known hazards. Meals and food in Europe Always a big part of any cycling holiday! Our emphasis is on fresh local food and a balanced diet with plenty of carbohydrates, proteins, fruit and veggies catering for a cycling holiday. We always try to include as many local specialties, delicacies and flavours as possible. Our local team can cater to most dietary requirements, however please be aware that this can sometimes be a little more challenging in Europe and you may need to exercise some patience in this area – feel free to contact us if you wish to discuss further. We provide daily quality breakfasts and many dinners. You will generally purchase your own lunches and some evening meals however there are plenty of great bakeries and cafes along the way for you to pick up lunches and snacks as you wish (our team will give you recommendations). Accommodation in Europe Most hotels have been inspected and used on previous tours by our local guides, however on these expedition trips there may be some (very few) that have not been inspected other than online investigations. Hotels are generally of a good 3-4 star standard however can be of varying quality depending on the location and what’s available in the region. While creature comforts such as air- conditioning are sought, and most often found, we cannot guarantee this on every night of the tour. All rooms have ensuite facilities. In the smaller villages or more rural areas we often get lovely and interesting accommodation full of character and personality. We choose accommodation that is bicycle friendly, with good restaurants and near to town centres. What sorts of people join our tours? People from all parts of Australia and some overseas guests. Ages generally range from 35 – 75 with the average age about 50-60 years old. Adventurous cyclists usually about 40% women & 60% men with a mix of singles, friends and couples. Travel insurance for international rides Yes, yes, yes. Make sure that you are covered for every country that you are travelling to and ensure that you are covered from and including the day you leave and arrive back home. Due to the nature of our tours we are sometimes in remote areas – ensure that you have medical insurance that would cover the cost of a helicopter ambulance to transport you to the nearest hospital. We recommend getting your travel insurance in place immediately after you book your ride so that you are covered for unforeseen events which may lead to you having to cancel your trip.
Frequently asked Questions cont Is a Visa required for Europe? We will send you a ‘Pre Departure Info’ document upon booking with more details on all aspects of your travel including visas – let us know if you would like us to send you the document before you book. In general, if you are on an ordinary Australian passport with no special circumstances (eg. criminal convictions) no visa is required when travelling for holiday purposes for a length of time under 90 days to the countries that we will visit. Our tour in 2022 is based almost entirely in Italy, besides a small section in Switzerland. Both countries are in the European Schengen Area. This means that entry to one country gives you entry to them all. Be aware that the 90 day limit runs concurrently across the whole of the Schengen zone and the countdown begins when entering any of the signatory countries. It does not reset when travelling into another country covered by the Schengen agreement. This is important if you are considering staying in Europe before or after the ride for more than 90 days total. A visa is a form of permission for a non- citizen to enter, transit or remain in a particular country. We do not issue visas for overseas travel and cannot provide definitive information on visas. Only the representatives of the countries you plan to visit can provide up-to-date information about their visa requirements. For all countries, contact your nearest embassy or consulate of the country you intend to visit well in advance of travel. For Australian passport holders, additional advice can be found on the Smartraveller website www.smartraveller.gov.au. Weather Average high temperatures along our route range between 25-29 degrees Celsius. Previous years’ experience in Europe over this same period suggests that some days will be very hot, and you may get the odd day of rain, however most days are beautiful cycling weather in the mid 20’s. Of course, we can’t control the weather but at least this year if it gets hot we have some nice cool lakes to swim in and of course we request airconditioned rooms wherever possible. Packing for Europe Limit your luggage to two medium-sized pieces. The best combination is a medium-sized suitcase on wheels and a small or medium carry-on bag, such as a backpack or a small duffel bag. Your baggage should be clearly labelled and kept to a reasonable minimum. Luggage limits on airlines are strictly enforced and space on vehicles is limited. Most economy class flights booked through Travel Agents (domestic and international) have a luggage limit of 20 kilograms per person and usually this can include your bike if you are not renting one in Europe. You will be required to carry your own luggage at times so you should be capable of carrying your own bags up and down stairs. A good guide is to try to keep it under 15kg. If you are doing lots of shopping during your travels, it may be necessary for you to forward any excess to the city where your journey concludes, or ship purchases directly home. Speak to a past client We will be happy to give you the names and telephone numbers of people who have participated in the ride or a similar ride to the one which you are considering. Where possible we will provide you with the details of someone within your city or state. Another good place to look is our ‘Testimonials’ page. Changing or cancelling a tour Should you wish to change your booking with AllTrails to a different tour, there will be a very reasonable service charge. We try to keep this figure as low as possible to allow flexibility where we can as we want to make sure that you get on the right tour for you. For cancellation and refund policies for your tour click the ‘book now’ tab on the relevant tour page of our website to see the T&Cs. If you need to cancel your tour, a travel insurance policy will cover cancellation fees due to most unforeseen events. This is why we provide links to travel insurance options and highly recommend that you investigate and purchase travel insurance for all our rides (including Australian domestic tours) at the time of deposit and ensure that it includes coverage for cancellation fees if for some reason you are not able to travel (see Travel Insurance FAQ). For our international tours we require all participants to have Travel Insurance to assist you in the event of a medical emergency, lost baggage, cancelled tour or other trip related issues. Training for a long-distance tour You really need to be a reasonably keen cyclist - not necessarily fast, but consistent. If you can sit on an average speed of 20-25 km/hr on the flat, and build your kilometre total distance in training to gradually attain about 100km + a day for 2 days straight, that will usually put you in a good position to be ready for most of our long distance tours. We have a training schedule specific to each ride which we send to you after you place your deposit, however we are more than happy to send this to you earlier when you are considering the tour – just ask us for a copy and we will get it out to you straight away. Why book with us? We only run approximately 10-15 tours per year. This makes every tour as special to us as it is to you because we are not repeating the same rides over and over again, week-in week-out. Every tour is meticulously planned, and we are just as excited to be there as you. On most occasions the owner-operators of the business will be on tour with you looking after everyone on the ride. The safety and confidence that comes with that is one of many great reasons to book your cycling holiday with us. AllTrails is a proud Australian owned company with a great reputation in the bicycle tour industry. We have earned that reputation through hard work and dedication and we sincerely care about every person on every tour. Our large community of loyal AllTrails riders that keep coming back year after year are testament to the high standard of tours that we provide. We consider ourselves the best in the business and we only use the best local operators when we travel beyond Australia, to assist us in providing a tour, up to the AllTrails standard.
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