Follow the river back: Venice to Dolomites

Highlights

Venice by kayak,  tour in Padua, hiking in the Dolomites, rafting on the River Brenta, bicycle tour along Lake Garda, guided tour in Verona.

Detailed Program

Day 1: pick-up in Padova
Welcome to Padova! In the afternoon, check in at the hotel and enjoy a welcome drink, while meeting our guide and your travel companions. Over a welcome drink, we discover together the gear and materials that Fun River Travels makes available to all the participants. Afterwards we move to a local “trattoria” for a toast with the original Prosecco Wine and start to sample the regional delicacies. Accommodation in hotel with welcome drink and dinner together.

Day 2: visit of Venice
After breakfast we set off toward to Venice where a guided walk will disclose the main attractions (Rialto Bridge, Saint Mark Square, the Church of Health and more). In the early afternoon we raise the anchor for a kayak tour (lasting a couple of hours). You will surely be enchanted after paddling this unique city, known worldwide for its watery labyrinths. Back on solid ground, we’ll share a refreshing “Aperol Spritz” and a savory dinner in a typical Venetian “Bacaro”. We will shuttle back to the hotel in Padova after dinner.

Day 3: visit of Padova downtown and transfer to S.Vito di Cadore/Cortina d’Ampezzo
Today, we must leave the city and but we will reach a Unesco World Heritage Site: the Dolomites. After a healthy breakfast we visit the main attractions in Padova (Church of the Saint, the Reason Palace, the University, Pedrocchi Caffè). You will surely find tranquility walking through the city center under arcades and past charming coffee shops populated by students from the University of Padua, established in 1222. After lunch, a car shuttle brings us to San Vito di Cadore, at the center of the Dolomites. We have time to settle in at the hotel before a delicious “alpine style” dinner. Whoever desires time to relax can do so later, by admiring the Dolomites on a moonlight walk.

Day 4: Trekking in S.Vito di Cadore/Cortina d’Ampezzo
We get up early today because (weather permitting) we gain some elevation on our way to a hike embraced by the Dolomites. After breakfast, we start our hike to 5 Torri mountain hut (or San Forca mountain hut). We plan to reach the hut around midday, right on time for a local dish tasting, including some homemade “Grappa”. A power nap will recharge us to descend back to town for another interesting experience called “struscio” in Cortina d’Ampezzo town center. And of course, aperitivo is already part of our Italian style routine. Dinner at “Giro Pizza” and some craft beers.
(In the unlikely event of inclement weather we can switch to a thermal bath experience in Sesto).

Day 5: Rafting at Valstagna – Bassano del Grappa
Today we leave the Dolomites for the pretty Valsugana and a rafting descent along river Brenta (about 3 hours). At the end, a light lunch is waiting us at the School of Rafting. Then a short shuttle to our hotel in Bassano del Grappa. In the afternoon we can discover more about “Grappa” production at the famous Ponte degli Alpini Distillery, in a building constructed in structure from 1569 and designed by the architect Andrea Palladio. Then dinner at a local Trattoria in Bassano before we return to the hotel.

Day 6: Biking at Garda Lake
At this point, we have discovered the flats and the mountains but we haven’t yet encountered a lake! That’s why after breakfast we shuttle to the town of Desenzano on the shores of Lake Garda where we take our bicycles for an exciting tour in the countryside that surrounds this town (an easy 30 km). Later, we meet a beekeeper and discover more about his job. For lunch we visit a local family woodfired homemade pizza. Back to Desenzano in the afternoon where we shuttle to our next hotel in Verona. To celebrate together another rich day of discovery, we have dinner in a traditional restaurant right in the town center.

Day 7: Guided tour in Verona and farewell
After a mind-blowing week spent together in the beautiful Veneto region, we finally arrive at the last day. After breakfast, we go for a walk highlighting one of the Europe’s capitals of love: Verona. Then, right before lunch, we say a proper “Arrivederci” and look forward to the next adventure!

 

Arrive/depart

The closest airport is Venice. From there you can get a taxi, bus or train to reach your departure point (further information will be provided once we will have contacted you to specify your day and arrival time). A shuttle service may be available for a small extra fee upon early request).

Our materials

At Fun River Travel we know that in order to have a successful tour, together with our professional guides, we require modern equipment. For this reason, we have tried to make as few compromises as possible. We want to work in a safe environment with the boat that best suits the environment we’ll be traveling in.

In Venice you will paddle in the innovative PackRaft, a type of inflatable canoe which provides a lot of stability and is very easy to handle throughout the narrow canals of Venice.