Etsch bicycle path Innsbruck-Bozen

Start in Innsbruck, the „treasure vault of the Alps“, visit the monastery Stams and go to the pass Reschen easily by bus. Now the pleasure is just about to start! You enjoy a wonderful ride through the fruit orchards of the lower Vintschgau, follow the river Etsch into the charming small town Meran and through the wine area of the Trentino. The silence of the Lake Kalterer and the lively old town of Bozen with the famous access balconies are a phantastic end of your journey. The route leads mainly along real bicycle paths and small tracks across the fields. Although there is a gradient of 1200 m on the bicycle path from the lake Reschen to Bozen , you have to cope with small gradients every now and again.

1. day  Innsbruck arrival

You must see the famous „Goldene Dachl“ and the Hofburg of Innsbruck! Welcome/briefing for the tour and handing out of the bikes.

2. day  Imst 65 km

Discover the mountains of Tyrol along the Inn valley - it is a fascinating feeling to cycle on flat paths amongst the majestic mountains. After recommendable visit of the monastery Stams you roll to Imst.

3. day  Burgeis–Mals 60 km

Follow the river Inn until Landeck. Afterwards you go by bus (40 km) upwards onto the Reschen pass. What a wonderful panorama! You cycle past the sunk, much photographed church in the Reschen lake to Burgeis–Mals on smallest byways.

4. day  Meran 65 km

Today you can admire many palaces, castles, ruins and monasteries, which stick to the rocks or sun theirselves amongst rolling wineyards like the mountaineer Reinhold Messner ´s palace Juval. The highlight is Meran with the beautiful city, the famous access balconies and the ethnic patios. If you want to be very early in Meran you may cut the biking stretch short by using the Vinschgau train.

5. day  Meran stay 40 km

A marvellous day lies ahead! What do you like most? A biking roundtrip to the birthplace of Andreas Hofer, the hero of freedom of Tyrol, in the valley Passeier, a walk at the famous Tappeiner path or a shopping spree in Meran?

6. day  Lake Kalterer 50 km

Today you can see the change of the countryside from the „fruit orchard of the Vintschgau“ into the „wineland of the Trentino“. You cycle along countless grapevines past noble villas and elegant country estates to the Lake Kalterer. Accommodation in the snug wining villages Kaltern or Tramin.

7. day  Bolzano 35 km

You cycle to the centre of Bolzano either easy-going through the flat valley of the river Etsch or sporting via the lakes Montiggler and Sigmundskron. Look forward to historical buildings with Italian flair, access balconies and the Ötzi-museum.

8. day  Bolzano departure

Transfer back to Innsbruck by bus possible (40,00 Euro per person, payable at the spot, reservation necessary). Continuation Bolzano – Venice by bike possible.