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Dolomites Challenge Bike Tour

High-End at High Altitude: Epic Climbs of the Italian Alps

6 days / 5 nights Level: 4Price From: $5,595Collection: Challenge

Tour Highlights

  • Conquer northern Italy’s greatest, hardest, and most classic climbs, including the legendary Passo dello Stelvio and Passo di Gavia, plus Mortirolo, Passo Fedaia, Passo Falzarego, Passo Giau, and more
  • Stay in two refugio-style Alpine luxury hotels that are typical of the Dolomites, changing accommodations only once
  • Cover an array of technical terrain including the otherworldly Sellaronda loop in Alta Badia, car-free passes like Pampeago, and satisfying switchbacks on Passo Pordoi
  • Clip into world-class Colnago V4 road bikes with Dura-Ace Di2 shifting and Vision carbon wheels and kit up in custom Rapha x DuVine jersey and bibs

Eat

Casunziei and pizzoccheri pasta, speck, polenta, goulash, Puzzone di Moena and Caprino di Cavalese cheeses, warm apple strudel

Drink

Unknown wines from the alpine valleys of the Dolomites (like spicy Traminer and fruity Teroldego); Nebbiolo from Valtellina

Ride Profile

As featured in:
Print Itinerary
  • Pre-tour

    Bolzano Pre-Night

    Arrive on your own to Bolzano, an easy train ride from Venice and a lovely gateway city to the Italian Alps. Get settled at Park Hotel Laurin, a central property within walking distance of the archaeology museum that’s home to Ötzi—the famous Copper Age “Iceman” mummy. The next day, breakfast is included before you’re due to meet your DuVine guides at the train station just down the road. The amount listed is the starting price and subject to availability. 

    Inclusions: Hotel, Breakfast
    Accommodations: Park Hotel Laurin
    Price per person in double occupancy: $205
    Price in single occupancy: $280

    To reserve call +1 888 396 5383 or email your Tour Coordinator

  • Day 1

    Alpe Di Pampeago

    Welcome to the Italian Alps: meet your guides at the train station in Bolzano and transfer to the Tyrolean village of Obergeggen where our bikes are waiting. First things first: we’ll have a coffee and a bike fitting before we start climbing the Alpe di Pampeago—a two-meter-wide slice of tarmac that seems to rise right into the pale, jagged peaks of the Dolomites. As we descend into the valley, it’s common to see local farmers in traditional clothing working the hay with the same scythes their grandparents used. The Val di Fassa bike path brings us to the base of Passo Sella: with 11 kilometers at 7.2%, it’s one of four passes that comprise the Sellaronda loop. Break away from the main road and grind gravel for the next half mile, leading right to our luxurious mountain refuge and home for the next three nights. Tonight we’ll feel like true kings of this mountain range as we dine on the terrace, watching the Dolomites turn orange and pink until the very last ray of sunlight disappears.

    Meals: Lunch / Dinner
    Destinations: Obereggen, Moena, Canazei
    Accomplished: 41 miles / 66 km, elevation gain: 6,420 feet / 1,957 meters
    Accommodations: Rifugio Salei

  • Day 2

    Sellaronda Circuit

    Get dialed in for our biggest day of riding: the Sellaronda loop has become an instant classic thanks to its four passes that feature frequently in the Giro—and they’re tremendously beautiful to boot. First up is Passo Pordoi, an average of 6.1% over a span of 9 kilometers; you know you’ve reached the top when you spot the statue dedicated to Italian legend Fausto Coppi. Take a coffee break in Arabba before some serious rollers that bring us to the foot of Passo Giau, the tougher, bigger neighbor to Passo Falzarego. Keep the momentum going up Falzarego, a road which witnessed some brutal battles between the Italian and Austrian armies during World War I. A cold beer and lunch atop the last climb marks the end of our miles for today, but it’s an ideal afternoon to hit the spa at our hotel or head out and hike the Sella range as a cool down. Our dinner is typically South Tyrolean—hearty and comforting food that’s perfect for recovery.

    Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
    Destinations: Arabba, Pocol, Corvara
    Accomplished: 72 miles / 116 km, elevation gain: 11,949 feet / 3,642 meters
    Shorter Option: 53 miles / 85 km, elevation gain: 8,083 feet / 2,464 meters
    Accommodations: Rifugio Salei

  • Day 3

    Queen of the Dolomites

    The Marmolada is the nearly 11,000-foot massif that asserts a constant and prominent presence wherever we go—but our preferred way to appreciate this gigantic glacier is to ride right up her flatter side. As it happens, this is also the history-making ascent that earned Italian pro Pantani his first Maglia Rosa during stage 17 of the 1998 Giro d’Italia, paving the way for his series of grand tour triumphs. We begin our approach from Canazei via the Passo Fedaia, pausing to admire Marmolada’s reflection in Lake Fedaia’s clear, glacial waters. Relief comes on our descent into the Pettorina Valley, where our route briefly veers into Italy’s Veneto region before we revisit Passo Pordoi. This time, we hit it from the south side for a technical climb up 33 switchbacks all the way to the top of the Sella Pass. Back at our hotel, wind down the day with an al fresco dinner at our hotel on the Sellaronda circuit.

    Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
    Destinations: Canazei, Malga Ciapela, Arabba
    Accomplished: 49 miles / 80 km, elevation gain: 8,245 feet / 2,513 meters
    Accommodations: Rifugio Salei

  • Day 4

    The 48 Switchback of Stelvio

    Arguably Italy’s most famous pass, the Passo dello Stelvio is also the country’s highest as it straddles the border with Switzerland. Leave our refugio in the morning and transfer to the start of the climb: a 25-kilometer feat at a respectable 7.4%. Our homemade energy snacks will keep you from bonking until the glorious descent into Bormio, a town nestled into the Valtellina valley. Our ride ends right at a cable car that lifts us back into the mountains once again to our luxury log cabin in Stelvio National Park—and at an altitude of nearly 9,000 feet, it feels like you could reach out and touch the surrounding mountaintops. We’ve certainly earned tonight’s dinner, which is also our first introduction to the Nebbiolo wines grown in the Valtellina valley.

    Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
    Destinations: Prato allo Stelvio, Bormio
    Accomplished: 42 miles / 67 km, elevation gain: 8,307 feet / 2,532 meters
    Longer Option: 59 miles / 95 km, elevation gain: 11,260 feet / 3,432 meters
    Accommodations: Sunny Valley Mountain Lodge

  • Day 5

    Valtellina Legends

    Call us crazy, but breakfast tastes different when it’s taken on a terrace with views of the Italian Alps. Once we’re well-fueled, ease into the day with a spin down the valley to wake up our legs—after that, it’s strictly business. The mighty Mortirolo is mercifully at the lowest altitude of the week, because it’s also our meanest climb at 12 kilometers with an 11% average. Bomb into Monno before we take on the last pass of the week: the Passo di Gavia is a legendary 17 kilometers at an average of 7.9% with some 16% ramps—now that’s an epic finish! On our last evening, raise a glass and toast to winning some serious Strava segments this week.

    Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
    Destinations: Mazzo di Valtellina, Monno, Ponte di Legno
    Accomplished: 69 miles / 111 km, elevation gain: 11,033 feet / 3,363 meters
    Accommodations: Sunny Valley Mountain Lodge

  • Day 6

    Addio, Dolomiti

    Enjoy one last coffee at Sunny Valley before transferring with your guides to the train station in Lecco. From here, it’s an easy connection to Lake Como, Milan or Venice airports, or wherever your adventure takes you next.

    Meals: Breakfast
    Destinations: Lecco

DuVine itineraries may be subject to slight route changes, hotel substitutions, and other modifications.



Arrival Details

Airport City: Milan or Venice, Italy Pick-Up Location: Bolzano Train Station Pick-Up Time: 8:30 am
Departure Details

Airport City: Milan or Venice, Italy Drop-Off Location: Lecco Train Station Drop-Off Time: 11:30 am

Arrival and departure details for 2025 + 2026 tours may be subject to change.

Travelers Take Note

Upon booking this tour, you will be asked to complete a short form. We use this information to ensure all Level 4 trip participants are adequately prepared for our most difficult riding and have proximate cycling experience to the rest of the group.

Lodging at Rifugio Salei and Sunny Valley Refuge are at 7,300 feet and 8,800 feet of altitude, respectively. Due to this altitude, weather can change quickly. Expect anything from peak summer heat to hail and snow in a single day, and pack accordingly. Helpful hints about dressing for all climates can be found on our blog.

This tour route includes some sections of riding on well-packed gravel. Please note that e-bikes cannot be reserved for this tour.

Any scheduled tour can be made private. Your group, your dates. Go Private

2025

Confirm the hotels on your desired date by speaking with a Travel Specialist.

Single Supplement From: $1,200

See our cancellation policy

Weather by Month
Average Temperature + Precipitation

Average Temperature + Precipitation

Month
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
High (°F)
32°
38°
46°
51°
62°
68°
71°
70°
62°
53°
41°
31°
Low (°F)
18°
20°
27°
33°
41°
48°
51°
51°
43°
37°
28°
19°
Rain (in)
125
125
125
251
4102
4102
4102
4102
4102
376
376
125

Accommodations

  • Thoughtfully selected accommodations that reveal the true character of the region in ideal riding locations
  • Gratuities for baggage, porters, and hotel service
  • Luggage transfers

Meals

  • Daily breakfasts, all lunches, and 5 cyclist-friendly dinners at our favorite local restaurants and renowned culinary establishments
  • Nutritious energy snacks, hydration, and shakes to support endurance and recovery
  • Local wines and beer with every meal

Gear

  • Colnago V4 carbon road bike with Dura-Ace Di2 groupset and Vision carbon wheelset
  • Custom Rapha x DuVine kit
  • DuVine Challenge t-shirt, water bottle, and drawstring bag
  • GPS with pre-programmed route maps

Support

  • Expert bilingual guide with extensive cycling experience and local knowledge
  • SAG vehicle that follows the day’s route, offers support as needed, and carries spare gear and snacks
  • Pick-up and drop-off before and after your tour from predetermined meeting points
  • Laundry service for cycling apparel provided mid-week
  • Daily bike maintenance to ensure optimal performance
HAVE MORE QUESTIONS?

See our FAQs page for answers to common questions.

See FAQs

Manufacturer:
Colnago

Type:
Road

Frame:
Carbon monocoque

Wheels:
Vision 45 Carbon

Tires:
28mm

Shifter:
Shimano Dura-Ace Di2

Crankset:
50/34

Cassette:
11/34

Read more

For technical riding and Europe's classic climbs, only one bike will do: the Colnago V4. This best-in-class bike includes Dura-Ace Di2 shifting and a custom Vision carbon wheelset for a ride that's light, responsive, and unbelievably fun to ride—with design sensibility that looks just as good as it feels on the road. Colnago invested serious research hours and conducted aerodynamic studies to realize the V4's monocoque carbon frame. It's solid yet reactive, with a shorter head tube and longer fork for enhanced rideability—yet it retains the soul of a racing bike. Together, these features make our custom V4s equally well-suited to flat terrain and grueling grades. The Colnago V4 is exclusively available to cyclists on our Challenge tours.

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