This year I don't have to think long about which Team members on Tour trip it should be, the decision quickly falls on our new tour "Around Lake Garda". Lake Garda is simply always worth a trip and I want to see our new cycle tour for myself.
Together with my mum, we start our journey at the train station in Salzburg, as we are travelling by train via Innsbruck to Verona, from where we continue to Desenzano. We use the time on the train to look at our digital travel documents and check our routes for the next few days in the Eurobike & Eurohike On Tour app. Warm summer weather awaits us in Desenzano and after checking in, we set off to explore the historic town centre and stroll along the lakeshore. We are really looking forward to experiencing the regions around Lake Garda by bike over the next 7 days.
After a hearty breakfast, we hop on our hire e-bikes and set off in the direction of our first stage destination, Garda. We make a short stop in the picturesque town of Sirmione to explore the towering moated castle and the winding little streets. The route then takes us through the Lugana wine-growing region to the banks of the River Mincio. We cycle along the riverbank to Peschiera through the flower-adorned, historic fortress and continue for a few kilometres along the lakeshore. After a detour into the hinterland, we come close to the lakeshore again and olive trees lead us to Garda, our destination for today. After a delicious dinner in one of the restaurants recommended in our travel documents, we fall asleep, thinking about the great moments of the first day of cycling.
On the second day of cycling, the first few kilometres start steeply uphill and we enjoy wonderful views of Lake Garda before the cycle path leads us into the hinterland. We cycle past numerous olive groves and vineyards, always heading north. The Adige Valley cycle path takes us through breathtaking orchards and past imposing castles. After the gentle climb near Mori, we reach Nago via the Passo san Giovanni, where we are rewarded with an impressive view of Lake Garda. We then roll down to our destination for today, Riva del Garda.
Two nights are planned in Riva del Garda, so the next day we head into the tranquil Sarca Valley. We follow the River Sarca along the well-maintained cycle path to Pietramurata. We cycle back along the shores of Lake Cavedine towards Riva on country roads with little traffic. Before we finish our cycle tour for today, we make a short stop in the village of Arco and admire the medieval castle, which was built in the centre of a mighty rocky hill in the Sarca Valley.
On our fifth day of cycling, we are picked up from the hotel at 9am and transferred to Lake Ledro. From there we cycle towards Lake Idro, past picturesque villages and an idyllic waterfall in Storo, which is definitely worth a stop. Unfortunately, the weather is not really on our side today, but as they say - there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing. After we leave Lake Idro behind us and cycle downhill, it becomes clearer and the rain slowly subsides. Before we reach our destination for today, Salò, we are treated to a breathtaking view of Lake Garda. The next day, the weather is only marginally better and we decide to set off quite early. Today's stage takes us from Salò into the hinterland through the wine-growing region of the typical Lugana wine. The gently undulating cycle path leads us along mainly tarmac roads to our starting point in Desenzano. Thanks to the luggage transfer, our suitcases are already at the hotel before us and we can change out of our wet sportswear. We enjoy our last evening and toast our eventful cycle tour with a glass of Lugana.
The cuisine around Lake Garda is influenced by the neighbouring regions, including Trentino in the north, Veneto in the east and Lombardy on the western shore. This has resulted in a variety of traditional delicacies that cater for almost every taste. So we don't miss the opportunity to feast our way through the wide range of pasta variations, fish dishes and, of course, pizza. For dessert, we treat ourselves to a typical Italian tiramisu or a delicious gelato.
To round off a successful cycle tour and to reflect on your experiences, I can recommend a small restaurant in Desenzano. The restaurant La Cambusa della Fraglia is located away from the promenade, somewhat hidden at the harbour. It looks a little inconspicuous from the outside, but there is a small terrace at the back with a direct view of the lake. The staff are incredibly friendly and the view is simply spectacular, even if you're just enjoying an aperitif. A glass of Lugana and the incredibly tasty paccheri allo scoglio made our hearts beat faster.
