Dolomites, Lake Garda & Venice Ride

22 Reviews

• 

  Anonymous
  Written on September 16, 2013

  4.0 - Good

  Culture,history,nice scenery(particularly Days 1&2) interesting accommodation and pleasant company made this an enjoyable trip. Except for the traffic and urban business the cycling itself was also enjoyable.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?On day 2 "flying" down the hill,heading for the northern end of Lake Garda.Following several hours cycling,  strolling around Padua's Prato della Valle, possibly the biggest town square in Europe. What did you think of your group leader?He did a very good job getting a disparate group of 16 people ftrom Bolzano to Venice safely.He had an impressive knowledge of the area, it's architecture and history. Perhaps some of the stops could have been briefer or eliminated to allow more exploring time at our destination points.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Ensure that you are "cycling fit" and learn a few (or maybe more than a few") words of Italian, partly because after this tour you are likely to want to come back to Bella Italia and partly because you will feel happier about getting the food you want in the places you fancy ! Is there anything else you would like to add?Lightweight mountain bikes or hybrids would have made life easier.
• 

  Anonymous
  Written on September 16, 2013

  4.0 - Good

  Culture,history,nice scenery(particularly Days 1&2) interesting accommodation and pleasant company made this an enjoyable trip. Except for the traffic and urban business the cycling itself was also enjoyable.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?On day 2 "flying" down the hill,heading for the northern end of Lake Garda.Following several hours cycling,  strolling around Padua's Prato della Valle, possibly the biggest town square in Europe. What did you think of your group leader?He did a very good job getting a disparate group of 16 people ftrom Bolzano to Venice safely.He had an impressive knowledge of the area, it's architecture and history. Perhaps some of the stops could have been briefer or eliminated to allow more exploring time at our destination points.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Ensure that you are "cycling fit" and learn a few (or maybe more than a few") words of Italian, partly because after this tour you are likely to want to come back to Bella Italia and partly because you will feel happier about getting the food you want in the places you fancy ! Is there anything else you would like to add?Lightweight mountain bikes or hybrids would have made life easier.
• 

  Anonymous
  Written on September 2, 2013

  5.0 - Excellent

  We did not want this holiday to finish! The scenery is excellent and the towns visited are really interesting. We loved the local food and our tour leader arranged for us to stop in excellent cafes and restaurants. Our group covered both seasoned cyclists and first timers and we all got on very well. The route mainly follows quiet local roads and cycle paths, and when we did encounter traffic, we found the Italian drivers to be very considerate of cyclists. I wished UK drivers were the same!What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Lake Garda is so beautiful and Venice is magnificent. All of the towns we stayed in were historic and interesting.What did you think of your group leader?Michele Quaresimin was an excellent tour leader and went out of his way to make this such a good holiday for all our group. He ensured that the holiday ran smoothly and quickly sorted out any problems that arose. He grew up in this area and knows it so well.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?This trip is a very good introduction to both Italy and cycling holidays.Is there anything else you would like to add?We are already looking through the Exodus brochure for our next holiday!
• 

  Anonymous
  Written on September 2, 2013

  5.0 - Excellent

  We did not want this holiday to finish! The scenery is excellent and the towns visited are really interesting. We loved the local food and our tour leader arranged for us to stop in excellent cafes and restaurants. Our group covered both seasoned cyclists and first timers and we all got on very well. The route mainly follows quiet local roads and cycle paths, and when we did encounter traffic, we found the Italian drivers to be very considerate of cyclists. I wished UK drivers were the same!What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Lake Garda is so beautiful and Venice is magnificent. All of the towns we stayed in were historic and interesting.What did you think of your group leader?Michele Quaresimin was an excellent tour leader and went out of his way to make this such a good holiday for all our group. He ensured that the holiday ran smoothly and quickly sorted out any problems that arose. He grew up in this area and knows it so well.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?This trip is a very good introduction to both Italy and cycling holidays.Is there anything else you would like to add?We are already looking through the Exodus brochure for our next holiday!
• 

  Anonymous
  Written on July 3, 2013

  5.0 - Excellent

  This was an excellent trip. There is a fascinating range of landscapes, vegetation and locations through which you pass. I would recommend it to anyone. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Emerging from the foothills of the Dolomites into the plains of northern Italy was magical, complemented by the vistas over two lakes in the first two days. Trento and Padua were surprisingly attractive (not to detract from Verona and Vicenza -- but their charms were predicted); and the food and drink were remarkably good value throughout. Ours was a wonderful, diverse group of people.What did you think of your group leader?Ricardo was a star. He was clear, good-humoured and tirelessly energetic through the whole week, dealing capably with any problem that popped up. He mastered a complicated route although this was the first time he had travelled along it.  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?There was more dust and grit coming at your face than I had expected, partly because there were some stiff headwinds in the week we did the trip. So, with hindsight, I should have brought a pair of wrap-round shades.  
• 

  Anonymous
  Written on July 3, 2013

  5.0 - Excellent

  This was an excellent trip. There is a fascinating range of landscapes, vegetation and locations through which you pass. I would recommend it to anyone. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Emerging from the foothills of the Dolomites into the plains of northern Italy was magical, complemented by the vistas over two lakes in the first two days. Trento and Padua were surprisingly attractive (not to detract from Verona and Vicenza -- but their charms were predicted); and the food and drink were remarkably good value throughout. Ours was a wonderful, diverse group of people.What did you think of your group leader?Ricardo was a star. He was clear, good-humoured and tirelessly energetic through the whole week, dealing capably with any problem that popped up. He mastered a complicated route although this was the first time he had travelled along it.  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?There was more dust and grit coming at your face than I had expected, partly because there were some stiff headwinds in the week we did the trip. So, with hindsight, I should have brought a pair of wrap-round shades.  
• 

  Anonymous
  Written on June 27, 2013

  5.0 - Excellent

  We booked this trip as a present to ourselves for our 50th birthdays and could not have chosen better. Michele was fantastic and very passionate about his job, the information he gave us and our safety, but most of all that we enjoyed ourselves. I can recommend this trip to anyone, almost regardless of their cycling level.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?The countryside and the people. I had never been to Italy before but had been told it was beautiful, and once you get there you see why. Our ride through the country from Bolzano (so beautiful) to Mestre was fantastic. The friendliness of the people in the small towns and villages was warming and welcoming. A few words of Italian had us buying bread and cheese, meat and fruit. It was actually fun to go to the markets each day. Sampling the speciality of each region was great and Michele made sure that we ate in good restaurants and even organised some ‘off the menu’ dishes for us.   What did you think of your group leader?Michele made a great trip fantastic. He showed a level of professionalism I hadn’t expected and a level of care for each and every one of us that we’ll remember for the rest of our lives. He explained the individual aspects of every region we rode through and made each of us feel like we were the sole reason he was there. I can’t rate him highly enough. He allowed us to see things that we would have had no idea about had we not had a tour guide. Thanks Exodus for hiring him, he's a real asset to your company.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Just do it. Go, and you’ll be glad you did. Have faith in your guide and just have a good time. Allow a few days at the beginning and end as Bolzano is so beautiful, and Venice was nice too.Is there anything else you would like to add?This was our first cycling holiday, we have been back 2 weeks and are already planning our next trip. Thanks Exodus for the chance to see Italy.
• 

  Anonymous
  Written on June 27, 2013

  5.0 - Excellent

  We booked this trip as a present to ourselves for our 50th birthdays and could not have chosen better. Michele was fantastic and very passionate about his job, the information he gave us and our safety, but most of all that we enjoyed ourselves. I can recommend this trip to anyone, almost regardless of their cycling level.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?The countryside and the people. I had never been to Italy before but had been told it was beautiful, and once you get there you see why. Our ride through the country from Bolzano (so beautiful) to Mestre was fantastic. The friendliness of the people in the small towns and villages was warming and welcoming. A few words of Italian had us buying bread and cheese, meat and fruit. It was actually fun to go to the markets each day. Sampling the speciality of each region was great and Michele made sure that we ate in good restaurants and even organised some ‘off the menu’ dishes for us.   What did you think of your group leader?Michele made a great trip fantastic. He showed a level of professionalism I hadn’t expected and a level of care for each and every one of us that we’ll remember for the rest of our lives. He explained the individual aspects of every region we rode through and made each of us feel like we were the sole reason he was there. I can’t rate him highly enough. He allowed us to see things that we would have had no idea about had we not had a tour guide. Thanks Exodus for hiring him, he's a real asset to your company.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Just do it. Go, and you’ll be glad you did. Have faith in your guide and just have a good time. Allow a few days at the beginning and end as Bolzano is so beautiful, and Venice was nice too.Is there anything else you would like to add?This was our first cycling holiday, we have been back 2 weeks and are already planning our next trip. Thanks Exodus for the chance to see Italy.
• 

  Anonymous
  Written on June 25, 2013

  5.0 - Excellent

  A great cycling holiday through some wonderful scenery with a guide who ensured you got to see everything along the way.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Sailing down Lake Garda and the cycle tours of each town that we rode into each night, oh and not forgetting the group meals at some very nice restaurants that Michele picked out for us most evenings together with the evening tour of Venice, quite magical.What did you think of your group leader?Michele was an excellent group leader, friendly, loved Italy (understandably as he was Italian) and basically couldn't do enough for everyone on the trip. You certainly saw many things that a self guided traveller wouldn't have noticed.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?This ride was rated moderate and that was about right for anyone who likes weekend road and trail riding. The pace was a little brisk at times but the cycleways were mainly flat so it wasn't a problem. Also the whilst the rental bikes at first sight looked a little stade, you soon discovered that they were well built and rolled extremely well. A great week's cycling.
• 

  Anonymous
  Written on June 25, 2013

  5.0 - Excellent

  A great cycling holiday through some wonderful scenery with a guide who ensured you got to see everything along the way.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Sailing down Lake Garda and the cycle tours of each town that we rode into each night, oh and not forgetting the group meals at some very nice restaurants that Michele picked out for us most evenings together with the evening tour of Venice, quite magical.What did you think of your group leader?Michele was an excellent group leader, friendly, loved Italy (understandably as he was Italian) and basically couldn't do enough for everyone on the trip. You certainly saw many things that a self guided traveller wouldn't have noticed.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?This ride was rated moderate and that was about right for anyone who likes weekend road and trail riding. The pace was a little brisk at times but the cycleways were mainly flat so it wasn't a problem. Also the whilst the rental bikes at first sight looked a little stade, you soon discovered that they were well built and rolled extremely well. A great week's cycling.