Classic Garmisch - Lake Garda

Ideal Transalp beginner tour mainly on marked cycling routes. The stages are, although not technically difficult, a challenge for the condition. A good basic endurance is a prerequisite for this tour.

For landscape fans: Zugspitze massif and Reschenpass, the apple orchards of Vinschgau, the Brenta Dolomites and "last but not least" Lago di Garda. For cult(o)urists: the romantic Fernstein Castle, the medieval Glurns and the Mediterranean Merano. For gourmets: A culinary journey from bacon, cheese and Schlutzkrapfen to delicious antipasti, pasta, tiramisu and cappuccino.

From Grainau near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, we head through the Loisach Valley to Tyrol, where we meet the famous Via Claudia Augusta long-distance bike path in Ehrwald. On the old Roman road we reach the Inn valley via the Fernpass and follow it to a short detour into the Swiss Engadine. In Nauders we already feel the warm wind of the Southern Alps and soon reach the highest point of the route at the Reschenpass. At the Reschensee we reach the Vinschgau and cycle through the famous South Tyrolean apple orchards to the Alpine-Mediterranean Merano. The cultural landscape becomes more varied as we follow the South Tyrolean Wine Road to Lake Kaltern and finally reach Trento. To finish the tour, part of the Giro classic awaits us over Monte Bondone into Val dei Laghi. Through the spectacular rocky landscape in the Valle del Sarca we reach Lake Garda.

6 pm Meeting in Grainau near Garmisch to get to know each other, bike check and dinner. Discussion of the overall tour on the basis of maps.

Today we cross the main ridge of the Alps and enter South Tyrol. The beginning of the stage is initially characterized by the course of the torrential Inn River, which forces its way through an impressive narrow gorge between Pfunds and the Swiss border station Martina in the Engadine. The medieval customs fortress of Altfinstermünz still bears witness to the arduous undertaking of crossing the Alps in earlier times. In numerous serpentines, but with a pleasant gradient, the road winds its way out of the Inn Valley to Nauders and from there to the Reschen Pass. There we have reached the south side of the Alps and the highest point of the tour. The old church tower of Graun rises from the deep blue waters of Lake Reschen and in the background we can see the glacier-covered flanks of the Ortler. In the face of South Tyrol's highest mountain, we roll through seemingly endless apple orchards and magnificent South Tyrolean villages with their unmistakable medieval flair and enjoy the hospitality for which the Vinschgau region is famous.

After two sporty days in the saddle, we can take a more relaxed approach to today. We discover the alpine-Mediterranean Merano, where South Tyrolean traditions merge with the Italian Dolce Vita against the impressive mountain backdrop. A varied mix of bike paths, small side roads and forest trails leads us further through picturesque villages along the South Tyrolean Wine Road. We should definitely stop for a swim at the wonderfully situated Kalterer See lake. We will spend the night in one of the well-known wine villages of the region.

After breakfast transfer back to Grainau.