Giro d’Italia Cycling Tour

Experience the most beautiful grand tour

Illustration displaying a cycling tour duration of nine days and eight nights
Illustration displaying eight days of riding on a cycling tour
Mountain Illustration displaying a cycling tour difficulty rating of nine out of ten

Giro Cycling Tours Overview

The Alps, the Dolomites, the Apennines; they all define the Giro d’Italia and there can be nothing more rewarding than taking on the same challenge yourself, as you conquer many of the iconic climbs of Italy.

Expect amazing days on the bike with jaw dropping mountainous landscapes, thrilling free flowing descents and climbs where you’ll need every bit of your will to keep the pedals turning. Our Giro cycling tour ensures that your experience of the Giro traverses the same mountains and valleys as the pro’s and has you up close with the race at stage starts, finishes and over mountain passes, while also experiencing some time away from the race. It’s the perfect balance.

Join us for a 9-day adventure on our Giro Cycling Tour 2023 that will see you tackle many of the famous climbs of Italy by day, while relaxing into a wonderful food, wine and cultural journey that we’ll take you on each night.

Get ready for the adventure of a lifetime.

NB. As the Giro route for 2024 will only be announced in October/November 2023, here we present you our 2023 itinerary to give you a feel for what you can expect on tour with us. Once the route is announced and we have designed our Giro 2024 Tour, the itinerary here online will be updated.

Tom Dumoulin in the Giro d'Italia Pink Jersey
Two cyclist riding to the top of Passo dello Stelvio
A cyclist riding up to the top of Pass Giau

Giro d’Italia Ride Itinerary

Welcome to the Giro d’Italia and Italy’s Great Climbs

Our Giro route is designed to suit riders who want a comprehensive climbing challenge, taking on many of the greatest climbs in the Italian Alps and Dolomites, and getting a taste for what the peloton of the Giro experience. Our ride guides ensure the needs of different riders are supported on each climb and if riders would like some distance and elevation to be added to 3-4 of the days, this can be arranged as required, and where possible.

Our Giro cycling tour route for 2023 will start in Bergamo, with three nights in the beautiful UNESCO world heritage Città Alta. We’ll then transfer to be lakeside on the northern edge of Lago di Garda for two nights and then enjoy our final three nights in Cortina, in the heart of the Dolomites where we’ll be perfectly positioned for the Giro’s Queen stage. We’ll see stage starts and finishes, and experience the race fly over mountain passes, with some of the famous climbs of our tour including Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Passo Giau, Passo Falzarego, Passo Bordala, Passo di Santa Barbara, and Valcava, Valpiana, Selvino and Dossena in the Lombardian pre-Alps.

We start the week with a loop in and out of Bergamo’s Citta Alta and Citta Basso as we explore some of the cobblestone roads, ancient stone city gates and tiny country back roads that hug the edge of the city, familiarizing ourselves with this beautiful region.

This ride will blow the cobwebs out of your legs after your travels, and also give you the chance to test your bike set-up and make any micro adjustments, as you require.

Highlight: Riding up the cobbles stone ramp and through the ancient stone city gates.
Distance: 25.6km
Elevation: 554m

Today we roll out of Bergamo and pick up the race course for tomorrow’s stage 15, heading directly to Selvino with its 19 hairpin corners. We keep pushing north and take on the climb of Dossena, another climb made famous by the one-day monument, the Giro di Lombardia.

Highlight: Climbing Selvino with it’s 19 beautiful hairpin corners
Distance: 86.1km
Elevation: 1749m

Today is our first taste of the Giro and we will see them at multiple points across the day.

We head out of Bergamo and join the stage route, tackling the combined 17km ascent of Valcava and Valpiana. We’ll settle in on the last hairpin to wait for the arrival of the race.

After the race passes, we’ll keep following the route and enjoy a 20km descent and return to Bergamo to see the race pass by the cobble roads that sit at the edge of the ancient city. We’ll then make our way down to the finish line to be amongst all the action as we watch the finale.

Highlight: Our first taste of the Giro with a sensational finish in Bergamo
Distance: 74.6km
Elevation: 1711m

Today is our first transfer from Bergamo to Lake Garda in anticipation for tomorrow’s Stage 16.

We’ll unload the bikes at the southern edge of the lake and pick up the race route for tomorrow’s stage, which hugs the western edge of the lake.

After the legs have warmed up, we’ll take a quick left turn and head up into the hills that encircle the lake, providing us with a different perspective of the lake and surrounding mountains. A stunning descent follows; short, sharp and spectacular this pops us back onto the race route as we again hug the water’s edge.

Highlight: The stunning combination of a smooth road hanging to the edge of a mountain above the brilliant blue of Lago di Garda.
Distance: 75.8km
Elevation: 1615m

We roll out of our lakeside hotel and very quickly join the route for the day’s stage, with the immediate challenge of Passo di Santa Barbara (average 10% gradient) and Passo di Bordala on the agenda.

We’ll again take up a position on one of the many hairpin corners and await the arrival of the race. Will it be the day’s break or will the gruppo be compatto?

Highlight: Seeing the riders climbing the steep slopes of the pre Alps.

Distance: 72.2km
Elevation: 2374m

Today we are on the move as we transfer across to the Dolomites. However, mid-transfer we will stop in Pergine Valsugana to be a part of the stage 17 start.

We’ll have time to get up close to the pro’s as they sign on, buy a few souvenirs and watch them roll out before another action-packed day.

We’ll continue on our way to the Dolomites, and on our arrival to Cortina d’Ampezzo, you’ll have the choice of a complete rest day or a light spin around the surrounding valleys and hills to keep the legs rolling.

Highlight: Seeing the race start
Distance: 27.4km
Elevation: 665m

Today we get to know the Dolomites well, on what is one of our favourite days on the bike. We roll out of our beautiful alpine village and get straight to work, starting the first of our three ascents for the day, Passo Falzarego.
We all find our own rhythm and set about rolling over the top, where we will join the race course for tomorrow’s stage.
A fast 15km descent follows and then the task of conquering the challenges of Colle Santa Lucia and the amazing Passo Giau (called the Holy Stairs of the Dolomites by the Giro organisers).

Highlight: The beautiful challenge of Passo Giau.
Distance: 63.4km
Elevation: 2104m

Today you’ll conquer another one of cycling’s legendary climbs, Tre Cime di Lavaredo. We’ll start the day by heading out of the village on quiet and tiny roads flanked by tall pine trees, as we circle our way towards Tre Cime di Lavaredo where another spectacular landscape awaits you at the top.
We’ll regroup and stop for lunch at the top before rolling down to the final hairpin corner of the day’s epic stage and await the arrival of the pro’s. Who will have attacked and be at the head of the race?

Highlight: Watching the Pro’s battle each other on the final mountain top finish of the race after, taking on the challenge ourselves
Distance: 54.7km
Elevation: 1550m

Pricing & Dates

7395
per person twin share / Maximum 14 guests

Show Price As

2024

17th May to 25th May 2024

1995 (deposit)

Start Location & Details

City: Bergamo, Italy
Pick Up Location: Bergamo Train Station
Pick Up Time: 12:00pm

Finish Location & Details

City: Venice, Italy
Drop Off Location: Mestre Train Station
Drop Off Time: 12:00pm

Inclusions & Details

venison chanterelle mushrooms and a glass of red wine

Accommodation & Meals

A rider getting their hire bike adjusted on a Italian cycling holiday

Ride Support

Aperitivo with a negroni cocktail

Transfers & Activities

Two piece italian made cycling kit

Ride Kit

Not Included

While airfare, bike hire and travel insurance are not included in the Tour cost, they can be fully arranged for you. Talk to us when booking.

Have More Questions About Our Giro Cycling Tour?

See our FAQs page for answers to common questions.

Bike Hire & Gear

Full Carbon Road Bikes

You can choose to hire a Pinarello or Bianchi  with a compact crankset.

GPS

An easy to use GPS is provided for your use for the duration of the tour with our daily rides pre installed.

Non-Riding Partners

As part of our Giro cycling tour, non-riding partners enjoy a customised travel program, designed to deliver a diverse range of activities and the best experiences that the mountainous regions in the north of Italy have to offer. Whether it’s guided walks and hikes through the Alps and Dolomites, visits to historic, lakeside and alpine towns for picturesque experiences, spa and wellness experiences or cheese tasting experiences with locals, Nancy personally hosts non-riding guests each day with a select range of activities to suit the group.

As our non-riding partner program is an active adventure, there is a minimum walking requirement for non-riding guests for each tour. Please enquire when booking.

Flowers and green fields in the Dolomites
A mountain stream in the Dolomites
Two non riding partners at La Venaria Reale
A non riding partner hiking in the mountains around Bormio
A field of flowers with the Dolomiti in the background

Accommodation

Enjoy our beautiful boutique hotel accommodation in 3 places over 8 nights – our focus is on authentic, family run boutique hotel experiences that will have you truly immersed in the regions we visit. Your nights will be supremely comfortable, with all the amenities and services you need for a great post-ride experience; including saunas and wellness, lounge areas and more.

Flowers in a field in Bormio with the Alps in the background
A room in the style of the Italian Alps
A sitting room in a hotel in Turin
A well appointed bathroom

Food & Wine

The alpine regions of Italy are truly diverse in culture and cuisine

We’ll be enjoying a range of dinner experiences throughout the course of our 9 day Giro cycling tour, celebrating all that the regions we visit of Lombardia, Trentino and the Veneto have to offer; from true artisan, modern style dinners through to traditional home-made food and wine specialities, to very special welcome and finale dinners with meals you will always remember, in incredible surrounds.

Your Giro food and wine journey will be as much a part of your memorable experience as your riding will be.

A plate of porchetta and vegetable with a glass of vino rosso
A dish of grilled beef
A plate of salumi and glasses of red wine
A glass of Italian white wine
A dish of grilled beef

Testimonials

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