Holidays
Self-Guided Cycling in Italy - The Prosecco Tour

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Holidays

Self-Guided Cycling in Italy - The Prosecco Tour

Italy

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E-Bike Available

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Cycle

Self-Guided

LEISURELY

Enjoy a week of self-guided cycling in Veneto, the 'Land of Wine and Villas'

Trip Code: SGPC

Our Holiday Grades Explained

To show the relative difficulty of our holidays, each trip is graded on a scale of 1 to 12, with 12 being the most challenging. Although we have tried to make our grading system as clear as possible, it cannot take into account your personal interests, abilities or experience. If you have any questions about the nature of a particular trip or its suitability for you, please read the 'Is this holiday for you?' section or contact us.

1 - 3 LEISURELY

Suitable for most people in good health, holidays at this grade include only limited amounts of activity.

View leisurely holidays

4 - 6 MODERATE

Suitable for reasonably fit individuals, such as weekend walkers and cyclists. There can be the occasional more difficult day.

View moderate holidays

7 - 9 CHALLENGING

Physically challenging holidays, where you need to be prepared before you go.

View challenging holidays

10 - 12 TOUGH

Our toughest holidays, involving many long days, often in isolated areas. A high level of fitness and previous wilderness and mountain experience is essential.

View Tough holidays

Section:

Self-Guided Cycling in Italy - The Prosecco Tour

Highlights

Cycle through the stunning UNESCO listed landscape of the ‘Prosecco Hills’
Centre-based at an elegant 4-star restored 19^th Century Venetian villa
Included wine-tasting and an included visit to Andrea Palladio’s Villa Emo
Enjoy the good life, ‘la dolce vita’ in a beautiful part of northern Italy
Option to extend your trip with a Venice city break

At a Glance

Self-Guided
5 days cycling and sightseeing
Luggage transfer
Bike hire included
E-bike upgrade available
Thursday and Saturday departures
Join In / End in Ponzano Veneto

Accommodation & Meals

6 Breakfasts
6 nights Hotel with swimming pool

Overview

Just inland from Venice at the northern end of the Adriatic Sea, the Italian region of Veneto, between the Piave and Sile rivers, is the perfect place for a self-guided cycle tour. This charming corner of Italy is famous for wine growing and for its wealth of historical and architectural heritage. Prosecco is one of the most important wines produced here and as recently as 2019 the picturesque ‘Prosecco Hills’ in the vicinity of the small towns of Valdobbiadene and Conegliano were granted UNESCO World Heritage status in recognition of the importance of this sparkling and popular drink. From your comfortable hotel in Ponzano, you will explore the ‘heart of the Veneto’ during five days of leisurely cycling. You will be able to enjoy wonderful views of a verdant and vineyard-clad region surprisingly little-frequented by tourists and marvel at the architectural highlights of Treviso, Castelfranco Veneto and other towns. These highlights include the creations of the Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio (such as the handsome Villa Emo) which have a separate UNESCO World Heritage listing. Taking each day’s ride at your own pace and cycling on quiet farm roads, cycle paths and riverside tracks, there will be lots of time to explore, to stop for a cappucino and to take in the sights,

Staying at the 4-star Relais Monaco Country Hotel and Spa you will be sure to have everything you need to relax after a day exploring on your bike, including a pool, a terrace perfect for relaxing with a good book and a glass of the local produce and a great restaurant to sample the local specialities too.

Is this holiday for you?

A leisurely tour of Veneto with mainly flat stages, there’s a total of up to 245 kilometres cycled in 5 days. Only the stage through the Prosecco Hills (Day 5) has a couple of short climbs of between approximately 1 and 2 kilometers in length. Most of the cycling is on quiet side-roads with little traffic and there are also stretches of unsurfaced farm roads and cycle paths. On the approaches to Treviso and at a couple of locations when crossing bridges, you can expect to encounter more traffic. With very comfortable centre-based 4-star accommodation, you will have everything you need to relax on the completion of each day’s activities. E-bikes are available at supplementary cost and will make this quite leisurely holiday even more of a breeze.

Why KE?

We have put together this excellent cycling holiday to show off the best of the delightful Prosecco-producing Veneto region of northern Italy. Staying at a wonderful 4-star country hotel and spa, what better way to experience ‘la dolce vita’.

Bike hire is included on all of our self-guided cycling holidays. E-bikes are also available (at additional cost) for anyone wanting to make the trip even more leisurely.

Itinerary

Download Trip Notes

Day 1

Arrive at your hotel in Ponzano Veneto and relax.

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Check in at your hotel in Ponzano Veneto just a few kilometres north of Treviso. The hotel staff will provide you with your travel documents and your rental bikes. Depending on your time of arrival you can choose to do some local exploring or simply take advantage of the hotel's facilities. There are extensive gardens and a welcoming spa.

Accommodation

Hotel with swimming pool

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Day 2

Discover the splendour of Treviso, the regional capital of Treviso Province.

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Today's journey of discovery is a short one. So there's no rush and we recommend you enjoy a leisurely breakfast and set a mid-morning departure from the hotel to allow what little morning traffic there is to subside. Your route today will take you on a loop through the beautiful provincial capital of Treviso, a city still relatively unknown among tourists. Your route notes will guide you alongside the city's fortified walls, before entering the city itself. Known as the 'Citta delle Aque' (city of water) on account of its numerous canals, Treviso has a number of impressive piazzas where you can stop for a coffee and a lunchtime snack. There is also a wealth of important historical buildings, including the Romanesque Loggia dei Cavalieri, the Duomo di Treviso (the cathedral complex with 7 domes) and the Gothic 13th century Palazzo dei Trecento. Leaving the city and returning to the countryside on the way back to the hotel you'll pass a number of impressive patrician villas which date back to the 17th century.

Accommodation

Hotel with swimming pool

Meals

Ascent

100 M

Descent

100 M

Distance

25 KM

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Day 3

Rural cycling to the Piave River and then on the 'Wine Route' back to the hotel.

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Your day's ride starts out towards Treviso (as yesterday) for the first 5 kilometres before heading east though a patchwork of agricultural land, small villages and isolated villas. You'll cross the Piave River at the small town of Ponte di Piave, a good place for a coffee stop to watch the world go by. Here you'll turn north to follow the 'Strada del Vino del Piave' (Piave Wine route) and for the next 15 kilometres you'll be cycling through vineyards dedicated to the production of Pinot Grigio. There will be opportunities to sample the local produce. At Cimadolmo, with its impressive church and tall, free-standing belltower, you'll turn to cross the Piave River again and make your way back to your hotel in Ponzano along peaceful lanes and lush green landscapes.

Accommodation

Hotel with swimming pool

Meals

Ascent

150 M

Descent

150 M

Distance

60 KM

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Day 4

Explore westwards from Ponzano to the beautiful medieval town of Castelfranco Veneto.

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The focus of today's ride is the charming small town of Castelfranco Veneto which sits at the intersection of trade routes dating back to Roman times between Vicenza, Padu and Asolo. The town was founded much later, in medieval times (around the year 1200AD), when the imposing fortress and town walls that still stand today were built. You'll enjoy a 30 kilometre ride out to Castelfranco through the pretty Veneto countryside. Arriving in the the town you will find a lovely central square, the Piazza Giorgione, with elegant shops and a choice of cafes for a relaxing lunch. We recommend taking time for a tour around the city walls and for a visit to the Duomo, the Civic Tower and the Academic Theatre. When you have finished exploring Castelfranco you will return to your hotel along an alternative route. Along the way we've arranged for you to visit the country estate Villa Emo, one of the masterpieces of the famous medieval architect Andrea Palladio (entrance fee included).

Accommodation

Hotel with swimming pool

Meals

Ascent

150 M

Descent

150 M

Distance

60 KM

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Day 5

Cycle from Valdobbiadene through the beautiful UNESCO-listed 'Prosecco Hills'.

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After breakfast at the hotel you'll be picked up and taken to the small town of Valdobbiadene, the capital of the Prosecco region. The transfer takes just 45 minutes. Valdobbiadene has a small and welcoming piazza and many coffee bars - you should try a cappuccino here before setting off on today's ride. Your route starts out with a short climb and the reward for this is a simply gorgeous view across an apparently never-ending sea of grapevines. As you cycle along your way you'll pass through several wine villages where the world-famous sparkling Prosecco Superiore wines are produced. There's another short climb (and a 12th century fort) at the pretty village of Collato, before a long, level ride, crossing the Piave River at Ponte della Priula and back to your hotel. On your return to the hotel we have included a a short Prosecco-tasting session on the sun terrace.

Accommodation

Hotel with swimming pool

Meals

Ascent

420 M

Descent

620 M

Distance

50 KM

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Day 6

Cycle to Treviso and explore the Nature Park of the Sile River.

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Today you'll cycle once again to nearby Treviso and have the chance to do some more sightseeing in this picturesque and historic city. Then, heading west, at one point on a former railway track which has been converted to a cycle path, you will find yourself at the heart of the Nature Park of the Sile River. The Sile is the longest spring-fed river in northern Italy and here it flows through a rich patchwork of lakes, marshes and woodland. In this verdant reserve area, you will be able to see many species of aquatic birds, as well as windmills, farms, aristocratic villas, churches and belltowers. Looping around to the north via the twin villages of Casacorba and Cavasagra, you'll return to spend a final night at your hotel and toast to a great week in Veneto.

Accommodation

Hotel with swimming pool

Meals

Ascent

110 M

Descent

110 M

Distance

50 KM

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Day 7

Departure Day.

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Enjoy a relaxed breakfast and perhaps a final stroll around the grounds or another visit to Treviso before making your onward journey. VENICE CITY BREAK Why not extend your trip with a city break in Venice? Explore the maze of narrow streets and canals, take a gondola down the Grand Canal under the Ponte de Rialto, relax with a glass of Prosecco in Saint Mark's Square or get off the main tourist track and enjoy cicchetti (small snacks similar to tapas) in a bacari bar; a delicacy unique to Venice! Our sales team will be happy to assist you in booking accommodation in Mestre (mainland Venice) before or after your trip so you can enjoy your Italian experience a little longer.

Meals

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The Route

Point

Direction

Transfer

Bike

Essential Information

We've compiled some of our Frequently Asked Questions to help you learn more about this amazing trip.

Holiday

General

Equipment

What's Included

All accommodation as described
Welcome pack on arrival
Meals as described in the Meal Plan
Entrance to the Villa Emo
A transfer to Valdobbediane after breakfast on Day 5
A Prosecco tasting experience at the hotel on Day 5
Bike hire

What's not Included

Tourist tax if due is not included in the price
Travel insurance
Travel to and from the hotel in Ponzano Veneto
Visas (if applicable)
Some meals as described in the Meal Plan
Personal equipment
Any additional activities/excursions indicated as optional

Your Self-Guided Pack & Route Notes

Each self-guided holiday comes with comprehensive route notes and a map or pocket guidebook of the area you are exploring. The route notes contain information about the places you will visit and the local transport you might need, along with the detailed route notes for your daily walks or cycle rides. We even include some tips for the best places to stop for lunch.

You can expect to receive your Self-Guided Pack containing your route notes, a map or guidebook, and all your relevant documents, no later than 3 weeks before your holiday start-date. We will send your documents using a signed-for courier so that you can track your package and know that it is safely on its way to you. For bookings of more than 4 people we will send an additional Self-Guided Pack. If you do not need this additional pack please inform our Sales Team. Your pack will be sent to the lead booker, so please remind them to pack it before setting off.

Should your self-guided trip be part of a longer adventure requiring you to leave home more than three weeks before your holiday start-date, please inform our Sales Team so that we can make alternative delivery arrangements.

Self-Guided Families

Our Self-Guided Holidays are perfect for your next family holiday and are suitable for children of all ages.

Our partner hotels and accommodations are able to provide cots for young children, and some offer family rooms. We can also arrange hire of children’s bikes and tag along bikes for most of our self-guided cycling trips and with trips such as Lake Constance and the Danube offering routes on designated cycle paths you can rest assured in keeping your family safe.

As a parent we trust that you know your own child’s capabilities, so please read the itinerary details to ensure the distances covered each day are suitable for your family. If this is a first time walking holiday for your family, a centre based trip is a fantastic option as it allows you to easily opt out of a days walking if a day of building sand castles, swimming in the pool or visiting museums is calling instead.

Please discuss this further with our sales team who will be happy to assist in picking the best trip for your family.

Joining Arrangements & Transfers

This trip starts and ends at Ponzano, Veneto. All of our self-guided holidays are sold on a land only basis allowing you the flexibility to choose the travel method which best suits you. The most convenient airport for this trip is Venice Marco Polo Airport with many departures from regional UK airports.

If you are flying into Venice Marco Polo Airport, take the shuttle (Autobus Blu) to Mestre railway station (costs approx. €10/ person http://www.atvo.it/it-venice-airport.html Then take the train to Treviso (approx. travel time 20 - 30 minutes, costs approx. €5/person). From the Treviso Centrale railway station you can take a taxi to the hotel which takes approx. 10-15 minutes and costs approx. €40.

EXTEND YOUR TRIP
If you which to explore Venice before or after your trip we are able to arrange additional nights accommodation in Mestre (Venice mainland) for you so you can combine your trip with a city break and experience all this lovely city has to offer.

Meal Plan

This trip is arranged on a bed and breakfast basis to allow you the opportunity to choose between dining in the excellent hotel restaurant or to go out to one of the local restaurants.

Food & Water

Water from the taps is perfectly drinkable on this holiday - please use this to fill your personal bottles for your daily activities. We do not encourage the purchase of single-use plastic bottles.

In Italy food is a way of life; it brings families together, gives friends a reason to sit down and laugh and showcases local produce. The Veneto region is no different with many local dishes to sample. Rice and pollenta (as well as pasta) are popular staples in Veneto and the local red form of chicory known as ‘radicchio rosso’ as well as the hard cheese Gran Padano feature prominently. Lamb and chicken and a distinctive local salami, as well as seafood and fish from the nearby Adriatic are also commonly used. The popular dessert, tiramisu, originated in Treviso as recently as 1970 and can be found on many Veneto a la carte menus. This trip has been designed on a bed & breakfast basis to allow you to dine out and sample these delicacies and many more.

Accommodation

We have chosen to use the excellent Relais Monaco Country Hotel and Spa as your base for this holiday. Located in Ponzano Veneto, in the quiet of the countryside just a handful of kilometres north of Treviso, the hotel offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere, combined with a high standard of service. With well-tended grounds, a swimming pool and spa, it is the perfect place to relax after your days on the bike. The Relais Monaco offer a great breakfast buffet to fuel you for the day ahead and the hotel's La Vigna restaurant serves region specialities and wines. It is possible to arrange additional nights accommodation if you would like to extend your time in Veneto. Please speak to our sales team for more information.

Bike Hire

The bikes we provide have 21 gears and come equipped with a pannier and handlebar bag for your daily essentials plus a milometer, a bike lock, pump and repair kit. There are two different frame types – ‘Unisex’ or ‘Men’. Unisex bikes are provided for riders up to a height of 185cm and ‘Men’ bikes for those above 185cm. You can also choose to ride one of the ‘Men’ bikes you are under 185cm - please request this with our sales team.

You also have the option of upgrading to bike plus hire on this trip for a supplement of £70. The bike plus option provides a slightly sportier sitting posture and comes with upgraded items such as 27 gears, hydraulic brakes and a front suspension fork. This is a great option for those looking for a slightly comfier ride without upgrading to an e-bike. E-bikes are also available at a supplement of £260. We are also able to arrange children’s bikes, trailer-bikes and child seats. Please ask our sales team for details.

We strongly recommend that you wear a helmet at all times when on the bike. We also suggest you consider packing a gel seat for extra comfort or a pair of padded cycling shorts, whilst you will be riding at your own pace and there will be plenty of opportunities to stop and explore, it is always nice to have some padding for a comfortable ride.

Baggage Allowance

For this holiday one piece of luggage and a daypack should be sufficient for most people. Luggage with wheels is useful for this holiday. You will need the daypack to carry your daily essentials with you whilst you are riding.

Passport & Visas

The information that we provide is for UK passport holders. A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required, and you should have at least 2 blank pages for each country that you visit.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Please ensure that you check for the latest advice before travel. For the most up to date information on entry requirements, please visit the UK Government website.

Health & Vaccinations

Vaccinations

You should contact your doctor or travel clinic to check whether you require any specific vaccinations.

GHIC / Medical cover

UK residents should carry a free Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). This entitles you to state provided medical treatment when you're visiting an EU country or Switzerland. This is not a substitute for medical travel insurance which is vital when travelling overseas.

Currency

The currency for part or all of this holiday is the Euro.

Preparing for your Holiday

The advantage of a self-guided cycling holiday is that you decide the pace. This trip is designed for leisure cyclists and does not require you to be in peak fitness. Having said this it is always sensible to get some additional exercise before going on an active holiday. After all, the fitter you are the more enjoyable your cycling will be. You should be comfortable with cycling an average of 50 km a day mostly on quiet roads and we advise you to dust off your bike and head out on a few rides before your holiday.

Climate

Northern Italy has a mid-European climate with cold winters and warm summers. Average daily temperatures in the lowland part of Veneto close to Venice range from around 18 degrees centigrade in April and October to 27 degrees centigrade in July. Throughout our season from April to the first week of October this is a predominantly sunny region with just a little rain each month.

Travel Aware

As a reputable tour operator, KE supports the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's ‘Travel Aware’ campaign to enable British citizens to prepare for their journeys overseas. The 'Travel Aware' website provides a single, authoritative source of advice for all kinds of travellers and we recommend that before travel, all KE clients visit the official UK Government website at travelaware.campaign.gov.uk and read the FCDO Travel Advice for their chosen destination. North Americans can also check out the U.S. Department of State website: www.travel.state.gov for essential travel advice and tips.

KE treat the safety and security of all clients as the most important aspect of any trip we organise. We would not run any trip that we did not consider reasonably safe. Should the FCDO advise against travel for any reason, we will contact everyone booked to travel to discuss the situation. We receive regular updates directly from the FCDO and are in constant touch with our contacts on the ground. If you have any questions about government travel advice, please call our office.

Single Use Plastic

KE do not encourage the use of single use plastic items. We are ensuring that our agents all over the world are working together to reduce the problem and educate those around them. We are leading by example in our KE office by reducing our plastic use.

Books

Venice and the Veneto. Lonely Planet
Venice and the Veneto. DK Eyewitness Travel Guide

Travel Insurance

It is an essential condition of joining a holiday with KE Adventure Travel that you have a valid travel insurance policy to cover the cost of medical treatment and to protect the value of your holiday in the event of cancellation. When taking out insurance please ensure the policy you choose covers you for the activities and altitude included in your itinerary.

For appropriate insurance cover we recommend Campbell Irvine Direct. Please go to our Travel Insurance page for further information and to get a quote.

Equipment List

Cycling shorts
Cycle helmet
Functional base layer
T-shirts
Scarf
Hat
Windproof jacket
Fleece / extra layer
Rain protection
Rucksack (approx. 20 l)
Small first aid kit for your rucksack
Sunscreen
Water bottle or hydration pack
Camera (batteries/memory card)
Mobile Phone (ensure your data package covers your destination)
Handlebar mount that is compatible with your smartphone
Sun glasses
Personal wash kit
Reusable cloth bag for shopping to avoid the use of plastic bags

Recommended Outdoor Retailers

Many of the equipment items listed above are available from Cotswold Outdoor - our 'Official Recommended Outdoor Retailer'. When you book a holiday with KE you will receive a 12.5% discount with Cotswold Outdoor, Snow+Rock and Runners Need. The discount code can be downloaded from your MyKE account and you can use this code at the checkout, either in store or online.

Reviews

5 out of 5 from 1 review

Lovely week of cycling, eating and wine ★★★★★

This was a lovely week of cycling in the Italian countryside, we really enjoyed riding through the pretty rural landscapes with the backdrop of the Tyrolean foothills, eating lots of delicious Italian food and sampling the local wines.
We changed the days around a little from the itinerary as described, to factor in the weather forecast and also the limited opening times of Villa Emo (entry included - totally worth the visit!). This worked really well, it was great to have the flexibility to do this. The only day of cycling that was set was the day when we were transferred with our bikes to Valdobbiane for the ride from the Prosecco Hills. We were thankful for having upgraded to e-bikes for the couple of climbs on this day!
We found a great winery very close to the route on the Piave River day - the family-run Anna Spinato Winery (www.spinato.it) - here we were welcomed by Anna and had a great time sampling some of her produce! Our panniers were a little heavier with a couple of bottles of their excellent Prosecco after this visit... we didn't book in advance, but it would be worth checking out their opening times online to time your visit (we found that many places shut around lunchtime so didn't manage many other winery visits over the week).
The hotel Relais Monaco was lovely, staff were friendly and welcoming, and we enjoyed the included tasting of the wines from their own vineyard! We also opted to enjoy the hotel spa one evening for a spot of relaxation.