Top-notch active tours for small groups of friends
Cortina - The heart of the Dolomites
Cortina d'Ampezzo, long famous for its hiking and climbing, became world famous by hosting the 1956 Winter Olympics.Today, wonderful road cycling and mountain biking make Cortina a "must go" destination for active sports enthusiasts.Picture yourself riding, hiking, and mountain biking among the Dolomites' shear rock faces!
Bormio - Big Giro d'Italia Passes
The Mortirolo, Gavia, & Stelvio–These famous Giro passes challenge you with their long climbs and fast descents!Bormio's picturesque alpine setting is perfect for tackling these passes, and its quiet old town center provides a true "Italian" experience!Less famous, Bormio's hiking and MTB are equally world class!
Bellagio - Lakes and Mountains
There's nothing like the water, sky, and mountains of Lago di Como!Popular with Italians for their summer vacations, countless boats of all varieties dot the deep blue water.After cycling and hiking among the lakeside villas and gardens, we "get out on the water," with a ferry ride back to our hotel!
Massa/Carrara - The Italian Riviera
Wonderful biking and hiking around the Apli Apuane marble quarries of Michelangelo fame!Appearing snow-capped in summer, due to the bright-white marble, we hike and bike trails and roads built over 2000 years!With a scant 5 Km between alpi and mare–and the beach–our apres sport is a nap in the sun, and a dip in the Mediterranean!
Why is Venice pictured above, when none of your tours go there?
A
Venice with its canals–like Pisa with the leaning tower–is the epitome of the Italian experience, that perfect combination of art, history, beauty, culture, and grace!
Venice is also home to Marco Polo International Airport (VCE) which serves our Cortina d'Ampezzo tours, and thus, our guests frequently choose to enjoy a few days in Venice, before or after our tour.
Q
Do you do custom trips?
A
Each of our trips is customized for you and your group to an extent not found elsewhere. Our four Italian locations are chosen based on our specific familiarity and expertise, which permits us to offer you variations and options that truly costimize you experience.
Of course, if you have custom trip destination you would like to experience with us, please let us know, and we'll be happy to discuss the possibilities. Email us
Q
How big are the groups?
A
You select your traveling companions, so you control the size of your own group--most often 1 to 4 close friends or couples.
Small groups of close friends/couples guarantees nicely aligned desires, expections, and travel experience. For example, road cyclist tend to prefer riding with friends of similar strength and speed, so that the group will work well together on the road.
(A couple one faster, one slower, also works well, as both know they will be riding at the speed of the slower rider for part of the ride, after which point the slower rider is shuttled off to another activity, and the faster rider continues with our guide).
Q
What equipment is required?
A
While all our tours are "Active tours," encompassing multiple activities, one sport is usually primary. Our guests feel most comfortable bringing their own equipment for their primary sport, and are asked to do so.
We will provide the equipment for all of the additional activities/sports. Also, you will need clothing and shoes appropriate for the other activities (or you can buy what you need in local shops).
For example, for a summer trip with road biking as primary, you should bring your bike, shoes, and full cycling kit (including foul weather clothing), as well as clothese and shoes for mountain biking and hiking. We will provide everything else for the other activities, e.g. mountain bike, Camelback, MTB tools & tubes, hiking day pack, and hiking poles.
Q
How do I prepare for a trip?
A
While we can easily accomodate the fitness level of your group, the more fit you are when you arrive, the more you will enjoy your trip! So, regular aerobic exercise well in advance of your departure date is the key to a fun journey.
Most of our guests are active on 6 days out of each tour week, so it helps to get some mid-week exercise in preparation, especially if you consider yourself a "weekend-warrior."
(In both Bormio and Cortina we are based above 4000', and our daily activities can take us up to 10,000' and more. In Bellagio and Massa/Carrara hike/bike climbs of 3000' are available)
Cortina d'Ampezzo, long famous for its hiking and climbing, became world famous by hosting the 1956 Winter Olympics.Today, wonderful road cycling and mountain biking make Cortina a "must go" destination for active sports enthusiasts.Picture yourself riding, hiking, and mountain biking among the Dolomites' shear rock faces!
The Mortirolo, Gavia, & Stelvio–These famous Giro passes challenge you with their long climbs and fast descents!Bormio's picturesque alpine setting is perfect for tackling these passes, and its quiet old town center provides a true "Italian" experience!Less famous, Bormio's hiking and MTB are equally world class!
There's nothing like the water, sky, and mountains of Lago di Como!Popular with Italians for their summer vacations, countless boats of all varieties dot the deep blue water.After cycling and hiking among the lakeside villas and gardens, we "get out on the water," with a ferry ride back to our hotel!
Wonderful biking and hiking around the Apli Apuane marble quarries of Michelangelo fame!Appearing snow-capped in summer, due to the bright-white marble, we hike and bike trails and roads built over 2000 years!With a scant 5 Km between alpi and mare–and the beach–our apres sport is a nap in the sun, and a dip in the Mediterranean!