Italy: Dolomites, Lakes and Alps

Ten nights through six countries to the Dolomites and the Italian lakes, marketed by the operator as following in James Bond’s footsteps, with a Swiss pass day that is the real reason to book it. Riders bring their own bike, or hire one.

France, Germany and Austria carry the route south, then snow-capped mountains past Lake Idro to Lake Garda, the largest lake in Italy, which gets a rest day: an optional rideout tracing Bond car chase filming locations, island hopping by boat, or the cable car above the water.

The Stelvio follows, at 2,757 metres and with forty-eight numbered hairpins on the northern side, voted the best driving road in the world by Top Gear in 2008 and busy ever since. The Umbrail and the Fluela then carry the route into Switzerland.

Then comes the marathon: the Susten, the Oberalp, the Nufenen, the Grimsel, the Tremola and Gotthard, and the Furka, six named passes inside a single day, which is about as much high Alpine riding as can reasonably be fitted between breakfast and dinner. The Timmelsjoch links Austria and Italy on the way back north. The price is quoted per rider. Ten nights for this much altitude means the transit days at each end are brisk, and the pass day in the middle is the sort of thing riders talk about for years afterwards. Anyone wanting a gentler version of the same country should look at the operator’s lakes-based itineraries instead, since nothing here is made easier by a passenger or a heavily loaded bike.