Ultimate Dolomites

The Most Spectacular Scenery Of All The Mountains Across Europe

The stunning view back to Corvara

Five irresistible Dolomites trip highlights.

  • Ride the iconic climbs of the Dolomites including the Giau, Pordoi, Tre Cime di Lavaredo and Gardena.
  • Imagine the Giro d’Italia as you discover some of the best mountain scenery you’ll ever see from your bike.
  • Experience the Maratona dles Dolomites course with a flexible itinerary.
  • Benefit from experienced guides, coaches and vehicle support every day.
  • Stay, relax & refuel in one great traditional hotel perfectly located for the climbs.
June 2018
photo of Gareth Riddell

I have to say that the trip was of the highest standard in every department.

Gareth Riddell
 

Dolomites Cycling Trip

Dolomites Cycling Holiday Overview:

Dolomites cycling provides some of the most spectacular scenery of all the mountains across Europe, with its unmistakable peaks and amazing lighting that illuminates the landscape it’s much deserving of its UNESCO world heritage site status. 

During our Ultimate Dolomites cycling holiday, you’ll take on challenging climbs such as the Passo Giau, Pordoi, Gardena, Fedai and Passo delle Erbe along with the unforgettable climb to the Refuge Auronzo and views of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo following in the footsteps of the Giro d’Italia. 

The finale of the week-long trip is to ride the course of the Maratona dles Dolomites, one of the most stunning bike sportives in the world. Follow in the tracks of some legendary cyclists over these iconic climbs via the long or medium course. 

Every aspect of our Dolomites Cycling Challenge is hand-picked by the team at Colconquerors to ensure your time with us on and off the bike is memorable and rewarding. You can enjoy the local Ladin experience and really connect with the area, relaxing for the night in a stylish, family-run hotel. 

It’s not all hard work either, we encourage you to utilise the spa and wellness centre throughout the week to unwind and relax.

 

Dolomites Cycling Itinerary:

Day 1 – Sella Ronda Tour

At the summit of the Pordoi pass mid way round the Sella Ronda
Four iconic passes & breath taking scenery
  • Climb the Campolongo, Pordoi, Sella & Gardena passes all frequented by the Giro d’Italia.
  • See striking views of the unmistakeable Sassolongo peak and valleys below as you make your way around the circuit.

We use the first day to let you get the lay of the land and guide you through four classic passes in the Sella Ronda loop. Bask in the shadows of iconic mountains, luscious firs and ride alongside streams over the Campolongo, Pordoi, Sella and Gardena passes.

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Day 2 – Tour of the Marmolada

A perfect view from the Passo Gardena
Ride around the Marmolada, the highest peak in the Dolomites.
  • Climb the Gardena & Fedaia passes. The Passo Fedaia has featured 17 times to date in the Giro d’Italia
  • Ride beneath the Marmolada glacier before a superb descent towards Caprile.

Today we first climb from Corvara to the beautiful Passo Gardena as we navigate our way around the Marmolada, the highest peak in the Dolomites. The second challenge of the day is the Passo Fedaia which has been climbed many times by the Giro d’Italia. It’s a climb that presents a real challenge and the stunning scenery and glacial views across the lake to the Marmolada Glacier at the summit are rewarding indeed.

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Day 3 – Cortina and the Tre Cime di Lavaredo

Lisa climbs the Passo Valparola
High Mountain Passes and superlative views.
  • Climbing the Passo Valparola and Tre Croci on route to the stunning lake at Misurina
  • The unforgettable climb to the Tre Cime di Lavaredo and well deserved views from the summit.

The first climb of the day, the Passo Valparola at 2200 meters takes us away from Badia in the direction of Cortina d’Ampezzo. The views along the climb, especially on the long descent to Cortina, are glorious but the best is yet to come. 

After the short climb to the Passo Tre Croci and the lake at Misurina, the climb to the Refuge Auronzo with its summit at 2320 meters presents a magnificent challenge with views to match. The day is rounded off with the climb back to the Passo Valporola from Cortina before a sweeping descent back to the hotel.

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Day 4 – Recovery Day

The hotel spa is perfect for recovery day
A recovery ride or take time to enjoy the local area.
  • Enjoy the hotel spa and take a massage to ensure a strong finish to the week.
  • Morning coffee and cake in a superb cafe just a stones throw from the hotel. Perfect!

For your day of rest, our team will be available to organise massages and give advice on the best wellness and recovery routines. We always encourage you to get out and experience the local area. We have been coming to this area for a long time and can always advise you on local cafes and where to go for lunch. 

If you prefer a recovery ride, we usually head out on a less demanding morning ride and will give you some tips on recovery ready for your next big day of Dolomites cycling. 

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Day 5 – Passo delle Erbe & Val Gardena

Duncan climbs the Passo delle Erbe
One of the finest climbs in the Dolomites
  • Climb the challenging Passo delle Erbe from the Badia Valley.
  • The stunning descent through the Valle di Furnes and its surrounding jagged peaks and illuminated pastures.

On our fifth day of Dolomites cycling, we start with a descent from Badia to the foot of the Passo delle Erbe, a climb of just under 15km in length. A steep first couple of kilometres propels you to an altitude that provides spectacular vistas of snow-capped peaks in the distance, even in mid-summer. 

Our route over the Passo delle Erbe passes pastures and farms and features lots of changes in scenery, including forests, high peaks and stunning panoramas. Once over the summit mid-way through the descent, it’s as if time has stood still as you pass through the Funes valley. It’s virtually impossible not to want to pause to take in the backdrop of high peaks and amazing illumination of the pastures below.

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Day 6 – Maratona dles Dolomites (Long or Medium)

Fidel climbing the Campolongo on our Maratona day
Be a part of Cycling History
  • Conquer the full, medium or short Maratona course. It’s your holiday and your choice.
  • Which ever your choice congratulate yourself on your achievements of the week.

On the final day we have the fantastic opportunity to ride the Maratona dles Dolomites long or medium course, fully supported and on quiet roads. 

We love concluding the Dolomites cycling trip with this final, amazing ride. You can choose the route depending on your personal goals; The medium course follows the path of the full course but cuts out the Passo Giau and instead climbs the equally spectacular Falzarego pass to reduce the distance and altitude gain for the day. 

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Dolomites Cycling Accommodation:

Hotel Gran Ander

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Location: Alta Badia, Dolomites

Why chosen: Great location, Genuine Ladin hospitality & superb cuisine

We have selected the perfect base for our week of Dolomites cycling, steeped in Ladin culture, our hotel is ideally located in Badia with stunning views of the surrounding peaks. 

Throughout your stay, we are confident you will love the Ladin culture and hospitality. Rooms at the hotel are comfortable, spacious and furnished in the traditional style of the Valley. Each room is individually styled and perfect for a great night’s sleep after a hard day of Dolomites cycling. 

We have carefully designed every aspect of our Dolomites cycling week and we know that the trip wouldn’t be complete without a spa and wellness centre. Equipped with a Finish sauna, hydro-massage pool, massage shower, herb sauna, Turkish bath and relaxation area that includes water and hay-beds to promote relaxation after a challenging ride, it really does hit the spot. Massages are also available in the dedicated massage room.

Another highlight during the Dolomites cycling trip is the locally sourced, traditional cuisine. The relaxed, modern dining room is the perfect setting to sit down for a fantastic evening meal prepared by chef and hotelier, Andrea. 

The stylish wine cellar is well-stocked with over 300 wines from both the local region and the best labels from further afield. A room is set aside for tasting some of the fine regional wines.

Our Badia based hotel
A great dining experience
The stylish hotel terrace perfect at the end of a day cycling
Individually styled rooms
Andrea has a real passion for food
The hotel spa - Perfect for post ride relaxation
The stunning well stocked wine cellar

Lisa Bowyer

What a fantastic week! Excellent support and encouragement on the road.

Richard Shaw

Nothing could prepare us for the blue skies, the green meadows and dramatic snowy tops – simply stunning

Fidel Gonzalez

We had an amazing base hotel to stay in with the most incredible food cooked by a very talented chef

Ross McArthur

The hotels and food have been excellently chosen - a reward for hard days on the bike. A great experience once more!

Richard Maconigal

Amazing surroundings with all of the logistics taken care of and fantastic food

The Holiday Includes

  • 7 Nights Half Board accommodation on a twin share basis.
  • A superb gourmet 5 course evening meal & high quality breakfast.
  • 6 days guided and vehicle supported cycling with an experienced team.
  • Fresh fruit each day and top up sports nutrition for the ride.
  • GPX files for each ride & detailed daily ride road books.
  • Private airport transfers to and from Venice airports.
  • Access to British Cycling Level 3 coaching throughout to help improve any aspect of your cycling.
  • Daily photos shared post trip.

Not Included

  • Flights.
  • Lunches.
  • Travel or bike Insurance.
  • Any drinks or incidentals at the hotel.
  • Spa or Massage services (Available as extra).
  • Bike Hire.
  • Single occupancy (on request & subject to room availability).

Trip Cost

Double Occupancy Single Supplement Deposit
3rd June 2023 2150.00€ 550.00€ 400.00€
16th September 2023 2150.00€ 550.00€ 400.00€

Bike Rental

Prices from : 40.000€ / per day

Bike hire is available for this trip from our local partner in the Badia valley. A wide variety of models and specifications are available depending on your needs. Bikes always have a set up suitable to the terrain you'll find when riding in the Dolomites.

On arrival we’ll accompany you to the shop in either Badia or Corvara to collect your bike and make sure it’s set up perfectly. If you've had a recent bike fit bring this details along as well to make the fit even better.

If you would like to rent a bike in the Dolomites just let us know and we’ll make sure the right bike is waiting for you on arrival.

High Quality Bike Rental

3 Month Pre Trip

Prices from : 180.00€ / per month

Investing time and energy in a private cycling coach for 3 months is a great way to tune your fitness and gain all of the one to one coaching benefits ahead of your holiday. There’s still time for performance gains even if you’ve had to leave things late because life’s taken over.

The British Cycling Level 3 coaching qualification is the highest recognised coaching certification in UK cycling and working with a Level 3 coach will:

  • Optimise performance gains from the realistic time you have available to train ahead of your holiday
  • Ensure you focus on areas that will really improve your cycling in the build up to your trip.
  • Improve not only physical but also tactical and psychological awareness & strength all of which contribute to you having a fantastic holiday.

6 Month Pre Trip

Prices from : 180.00€ / per month

If you are serious about making significant long term improvements to your on bike performance, investing time and energy in a private coach for 6 months is one of the most effective ways to increase your cycling performance, stay motivated and achieve your goals.

The British Cycling Level 3 coaching qualification is the highest recognised coaching certification in UK cycling and working with a Level 3 coach will:

  • Maximise performance benefits from the realistic time you have available to train
  • Ensure you focus on areas that will really improve your cycling and allow you to realise (often exceed) your goals

Before Trip

Venice - Extend your stay

St Mark’s Square, the Doge’s Palace, the Basilica di San Marco, the Grand Canal and the many famous bridges including the Bridge of Sighs and the Rialto Bridge are just some of the reasons to visit Venice, the floating city.  Take a leisurely ride in a gondola through the quaint canals passing many historical sights.

Ride the water bus from St Mark’s Square and visit Burano Island, a small colourful fishing village located in the Venetian lagoon.

Venice
Hotel Splendid

Visit hotel
Hotel L'Orologio

Visit hotel
Hotel Canaletto

Visit hotel

After Trip

Venice - Extend your stay

St Mark’s Square, the Doge’s Palace, the Basilica di San Marco, the Grand Canal and the many famous bridges including the Bridge of Sighs and the Rialto Bridge are just some of the reasons to visit Venice, the floating city.  Take a leisurely ride in a gondola through the quaint canals passing many historical sights.

Ride the water bus from St Mark’s Square and visit Burano Island, a small colourful fishing village located in the Venetian lagoon.

Venice Lagoon
Hotel Splendid

Visit hotel
Hotel L'Orologio Venice

Visit hotel
Hotel Canaletto

Visit hotel

Ultimate Dolomites FAQ's

How do you provide support?

Our guides and support vehicle will be with you every day that you ride to ensure that you just have to focus on your riding. Staff to guest ratio is 1:4 to ensure a very personal experience especially when you need help or advice about any aspect of the ride. Full GPX routes and high quality daily road books are provided for every day.

What type of fitness do I need for a Dolomites cycling trip?

The Dolomites are a challenging and fun environment to ride your bike and are accessible to most keen riders with some good preparation before arrival, the training is part of the fun of a holiday after all. You don’t have to be cycling a hundred plus miles per week but consistently following a good training programme that includes plenty of intensity and variety will ensure you’re on the right track for one of our Dolomites cycling trips. Fitness gained from other sports quite often crosses over as well from our experience.

We always have British Cycling Level 3 coaches available during this holiday putting us in a good position to assist you with fitness or riding questions you might have. We also offer coaching packages that will help you prepare for this Dolomites Cycling holiday and future trips

Can the itinerary flex if I want to do more or less?

The itinerary is designed to allow some flexibility by either adding more or less challenge into a day. The support vehicle ensures that you can always cycle with knowledge that help is never far away. We are always happy for you to ask us for options on any given day.

What type of weather can I expect in the Dolomites?

We run our trips at the times of year when we feel you will have the best experience. The weather is usually good (it’s summer after all) but the mountains can always throw up surprises so it’s always best to come equipped with a selection of kit to cover most eventualities.  Temperatures in the Dolomites as with all major mountain ranges vary from the valley floor to the summits of the climbs, typically we find this to be a decrease of around 1 degree for every 100 meters gained. If you are unsure of what to bring you can always talk to us before you arrive, we’re always here to help.

What if there are others faster than me?

Our best advice is not to worry about this. There will always be people slower and faster than you during a trip and we have years of experience in managing diverse groups. We go to great lengths to make sure everyone in the group gets exactly what they need from each and every day.

Can I join the Dolomites cycling trip solo?

You are more than welcome to come on the Ultiamte Dolomites cycling trip alone. There are several options available to you; You can either share a twin room with another rider or where one is available pay an additional single supplement for sole occupancy.

How do the Dolomites differ from the main Alpine ranges?

Typically the climbs are shorter than those found in the French or Italian Alps and due to the nature of the roads in the region it’s possible to climb more passes each day. Gradients vary as always in the mountains but in general are a notch below those found in the main Italian Alps.

Is more information available to help me plan my trip?

Help is always on hand. We have tried to answer many questions on our FAQ page but are always around pre, during or post trip to help with any questions.

Travel Information

All you need to know about getting in and out.

Arrival

Airport: Venice (Marco Polo)
Meeting Point: Rustichelli & Mangione Cafe (Arrivals)
Transfer Departure: 2.30pm

You will be met at the airport in person by ourselves ready for your private transfer to your accommodation in Badia.

We aim to leave the airport at Venice (Marco Polo) by 2.30PM. When planning your Dolomites holiday please make sure flights land well in advance of this time and check with us before booking them.

If you are flying in from outside of Europe it’s best to arrive the day before to ensure any flight delays don’t impact the start of your holiday.

After the transfer to your hotel the welcome meeting outlines the plan for the week and there’s then plenty of time to put the bikes together and take an easy spin to make sure everything is ready for the first day of riding.

Departure

Airport: Venice (Marco Polo)
Hotel Departure Time: 9am
Airport Drop off: Midday for flights after 1.30pm

It’s sad your holiday is over but you’ve had a fantastic week of riding and we’re sure your memories of the trip will keep you motivated until the next time.

We will leave the hotel after breakfast at 9am for the transfer back to the airport in plenty of time for your flights.