Best of the Dolomites: 4 day mini-break
Road Cycling Holidays in the Dolomites
- The best cycling climbs in the Dolomites – enjoy the perfect cycling mini-break over four days
- Cycle the beautiful Sella Ronda and Marmolada loops of the Maratona – at your own pace!
- Climb the Passo di Giau and Passo di Falzarego, as well as other hidden gems
- Centre-based cycling tour, staying at a splendid 4* hotel on the shore of Lake Alleghe
- Flexible route choices every day – to suit a range of riding abilities from novice in the mountains to expert
- Two customised support vehicles and two experienced, proactive, and fun guides, focused on making your holiday the best it can be
Days on the bike
Best cycle trip I've been on. Can't wait to do another !
J Hayward
Introduction
This Italian cycling mini-break gives you the chance to experience the best cycling climbs of the Dolomites over four days. Arguably one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in the world, the Dolomites is a landscape of lush green valleys and rugged, towering limestone peaks. It is a cycling paradise, with numerous epic passes featuring regularly in the Giro d’Italia. We’ve crafted this itinerary to also include some lesser-known rides and climbs for you to discover with the full support of our two fantastic guides.
This centre-based minibreak showcases the region from the comfort of a fantastic 4* lakeside hotel in Alleghe, so you have the flexibility to cycle or relax as much or as little as you like, without moving on each day. You’ll have three route choices to choose from daily, so this tour will suit all levels of cyclists: those new to cycling in the mountains as well as those with experience.
As with our other Marmot Classic style holidays, the unique thing about this type of tour is its flexibility – you really can ride as much or as little as you like, at a pace that suits you without fear of holding up or being held up by others in the group. With a typical group size of 20, you can be sure to find someone else on the tour with similar aspirations to you, whether that be riding at a more leisurely pace and sampling a glass of prosecco in a rustic village bar, or ticking off every optional climb on offer.
It’s important to us that you choose the right cycling holiday for you and your aspirations, so please read our Trip Notes for comprehensive details of what this holiday involves; food, accommodation, transfers, and so on.
For the latest travel advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office including security and local laws, plus passport and visa information, check www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.
Departure Dates & Prices
2024
Discount Information
We are pleased to offer some tempting discounts off the basic trip cost (not including extras such as single rooms or bike hire):
- Book & pay your deposit more than 6 months in advance of the start of your holiday for our 5% early bookers discount
- Get a group of 10+ people together for a 7.5% group discount and, as the group organiser, receive a £150 voucher for your next holiday
- Be rewarded for your loyalty by receiving a 10% discount from your 3rd Marmot trip onwards
Please note that there is a maximum 10% discount on any holiday (15% for a non-cycling companion).
Map
Itinerary
Day 0: Arrival day
Included transfers from Venice Marco Polo VCE airport to Alleghe (2hrs). Meet your guides and head to your lakeside hotel.
Full travel advice (essential reading before booking your flights) can be found in our Trip Notes.
Day 1: NW - Sellaronda Circuit
After a brief lakeside warm up to Caprile, you take on the eastern slopes of the Passo Pordoi (2239m), which provides a perfect introduction to the Dolomites. It is a long (28.5km) climb, but in general the gradients are kind and there are even a few short downhill sections! The views from the top are magnificent and there is a great choice of cafes / restaurants at the top. From here all the options are good!
Option 1: 68km with 1430m ascent
Have a big lunch and return back the same way.
Option 2: 75km with 1880m ascent
Head back to the village of Arabba, then ride up the south side of the Passo di Campolongo (1875m).
Option 3: 101km with 2500m ascent
Those who have heard of the Maratona dles Dolomites will be itching to complete the ‘Sella Ronda’ route — one of Europe’s great rides over 4 great cols: Passo di Pordoi, Passo di Sella (2244m) from the south, Passo di Gardena (2121m) from the west and the north side of the Passo di Campolongo (1875m). The altitude drop between the passes is not huge, but it is a big day out!
Day 2: SE - Hidden Gems of the Dolomites
The western side of the Forcella Staulanza (1771m) is a beautiful pass from the door of our hotel with varied gradients as you climb. Again the views from the road are excellent: today it is the pointy limestone peak of Monte Civetta that dominates the horizon.
Option 1: 44km with 935m ascent
Enjoy the view from the cafe and head back to the hotel. You could take in the Colle Santa Lucia (1485m) en route!
Option 2: 70km with 1750m ascent
After a short descent to a village called Don’t (is it trying to tell us something?!) the gradients turn a bit tougher as we take on the Passo Duran (1602m) from the north, another Giro favourite. The descent requires your concentration, then all you have to do is climb gently uphill on a quiet side road.
Option 3: 102km with 2700m ascent
Once back in Alleghe, there is a nice little loop that can be tagged onto the day taking you up the north side of the Forcella Franche (992m) and then the south side of the Forcella Aurine (1297m).
Day 3: NE - Legends of the Dolomites
The vista from Passo di Giau (2238m) is one of the most magnificent in the Dolomites. The western side of the climb is relentlessly steep but it is a quiet road and in the cool of the morning is very pleasant. Yet again there are many options…..
Option 1: 39km with 1270m ascent
Linger at the top of the pass for a few hours and have a leisurely lunch before heading back to the hotel.
Option 2: 64km with 1850m ascent
From the Passo di Giau, head down towards Cortina, but soon join the road to the Passo di Falzarego (2105m) which you climb from the east. After a pause at the top of the pass, it is downhill to the hotel.
Option 3: 116km with 3030m ascent
Keep cycling over the Passo di Giau to Cortina d’Ampezzo, a high-altitude, attractive Italian town that hosted the 1956 Winter Olympics. Next up is the Passo Tre Croci (1805m) which has a few nasty little sections before briefly descending to the well-known and exceptionally beautiful Lago di Misurina. After a pause for lunch, you take on the Passo di Cimbanche (1530m) from the east back to Cortina from where the eastern gradients of the Passo Di Falzarego (2105m) still stand between you and the hotel.
Day 4: SW: Tour of Marmolada
Marmolada (3343m), the highest mountain in the Dolomites, has been dominating the skyline all week and today we enter its shadow!
The climb starts from the door of your hotel, and you’ll be pleased to hear that the road does not go all the way to the top of this mighty mountain. The Passo di Fedaia (2057m) from the east is brutal! The last 5kms average 11% and there is a sneaky section of 15% thrown in a few kms from the top. Fortunately, the views are breathtaking, so there are plenty of photo opportunities (aka excuses to stop for a breather). This is the toughest (but most rewarding) climb of the week. Unlike most of the other climbs, there is no cafe to welcome us, but a vast reservoir that reflects the towering peaks.
Option 1: 37km with 1050m ascent
You would be completely justified if you returned to the hotel for a massage!
Option 2: 88km with 2151m ascent
Once over the other side, there’s no turning back! You drop down into civilisation and the lush green valley floor of the Val di Fassa. This makes for some easy cycling on good tarmac before you turn east to take on the Passo di San Pellegrino (1914m) from the west. This is a lovely climb up into the pine forest and is used often by the Giro. Once over the other side you roll down into the Alleghe Valley and climb gently back up the valley floor.
Option 3: 103km with 2760m ascent
On the descent of the Pellegrino you may (or may not) be tempted to detour up to the Passo di Valles (2033m), where the rugged peaks of the Dolomites give way to rolling green hills to the south.
Day 5: Departure day
All good things must come to an end and we offer transfers back to Venice Marco Polo Airport (2hrs).
Full travel advice and our group airport transfer arrangements (essential reading before booking your flights) can be found in our Trip Notes.
Trip Album
