Italy · Alps
Trans Alp
Gravel
Hotel to hotel across the Alps. The Stelvio Pass awaits.
per guide
About this tour
Trans Alp Gravel runs hotel-to-hotel with guides and a support vehicle — built on the same proven concept behind our MTB tours. Eight days, five riding stages, one intro ride and one rest day in Merano, Tyrol. You start in Füssen, cross Austria and Switzerland, and finish at the shores of Lake Garda in Riva del Garda — an Alpine gravel cycling holiday built on tested routes and know-how.
The routes are designed for gravel cycling in the Alps, connecting the most iconic areas via a varied mix of surfaces: gravel roads, forest tracks, military roads, double-track, dedicated cycle paths and a handful of well-chosen asphalt connections. The result is long, continuous stages with good flow, genuine variation and views that earn every metre of climbing.
As you ride south, the landscape changes around you. Southern German countryside gives way to Tyrolean valleys, then Swiss alpine passes, then the warmer, more Mediterranean light of Trentino. Each afternoon you arrive at a comfortable hotel where dinner, a briefing and a shared evening wait before tomorrow’s stage.
This is not a training camp or a race. It is a gravel cycling holiday where adventure, comfort and good company travel together. The support car is always nearby — carrying luggage between hotels and ready with tools and spare parts — so you can focus entirely on riding.
Gravel Trans Alp runs with two riding groups: Explore for riders who want a strong gravel experience at a pace that leaves room for views, pauses and the social side; and Adventure for those who want more challenge, a higher pace and are comfortable with long days and serious elevation. If you are unsure which fits you, a quick call with Michael will sort it out.
Routes combine gravel roads, forest tracks, military roads, double-track and selected asphalt to create connected, rideable alpine stages. Surfaces change constantly — that variety is part of what makes a guided gravel bike tour through the Alps different from anything you can plan yourself. All routes are tested and selected by our guides.
Lago di Garda.
The last kilometres you cruise down through the Sarca gorge. The valley narrows, the mountains close in — and then, without warning, it opens.
Lake Garda appears in front of you. Wider than you expect. Still. Blue. The cliffs fall straight into the water.
The air changes first. Warmer. Something Mediterranean. Olive trees replace the pine. You ride all the way to the lakeside and celebrate the end of the adventure with the water beside you.
The Alps are behind you.
We handle the logistics so you can focus on the mountains. GPS routes, support vehicle and hotel-to-hotel luggage transfer — everything is in place from the first climb out of Füssen to the final descent to Riva del Garda.
Route overview
380–440 km · 8,500–10,500 m total elevation · Füssen to Riva del Garda
What you get
Stelvio & beyond
Alpine passes, high forestry roads, and valley tracks on both sides of one of Europe's great mountain crossings.
Alpine hotels
Seven nights in South Tyrolean and Lombard hotels — from valley-floor townhouses to hillside mountain hotels.
Riva del Garda
The last kilometres descend through the Sarca gorge. The mountains close in — then open to Lake Garda. The crossing is complete.
Day by day
Stages
From the Bavarian foothills to Lake Garda in five stages. The route crosses into Italy via the high alpine passes — including the iconic Stelvio on the Explorer route. Füssen to Riva del Garda: 380–440 km and around 9,000–10,000 metres of climbing.
Individual arrival in Füssen. Many choose to come a day early — if you need extra nights, we can arrange them so you don't have to change rooms. In the afternoon, a warm-up ride takes you into the lake country at the northern foot of the Alps.
Welcome meeting at 18:30 — mandatory. Group dinner afterwards is optional and on your own account.
We leave Füssen and work into the alpine landscape via a mix of cycle paths, forest roads, gravel and quiet asphalt. Long rideable climbs, big views, and the kind of varied terrain where the gravel bike genuinely earns its keep.
Adventure
78 km · 1,700 m
Explorer
78 km · 1,700 m
Valley floors and alpine plateaux — a good mix of gravel, forest road and cycle path. The day builds steadily, finishing with a clean climb up to Nauders and views across the three-country corner where Austria, Switzerland and Italy meet.
Adventure
75 km · 1,980 m
Explorer
75 km · 1,980 m
High-alpine mood and an iconic view over Reschensee — below the waterline, a submerged church steeple marks a village flooded in the 1950s. From there, a long descent where you feel the advantages of gravel: stability, flow, speed across variable terrain.
The Explorer route adds the Stelvio Pass. As the altitude drops and temperature rises, you roll into Merano on the Italian side of the Alps.
Adventure
90 km · 1,000 m
Explorer
125 km · 2,200 m
The day is yours. Merano is a handsome spa town in a valley bowl surrounded by peaks — café culture, thermal baths, good food and, if you want it, an extra local ride arranged with the guides.
The goal is simple: legs recover, head clears, and you're ready for the final stages to Garda.
South through Trentino — valley passages, vineyards and alpine road sections linking the best terrain via gravel, forest roads and quiet connections that don't show up on road maps. The shift in culture and landscape becomes unmistakable as you cross into Italian riding country.
Adventure
71 km · 1,900 m
Explorer
71 km · 1,900 m
Through the Brenta area and on towards Lake Garda — long connected stretches, varied surfaces, and the particular feeling of closing in on the finish. When we hit the waterfront at Riva del Garda, the crossing is complete.
Adventure
88 km · 1,400 m
Explorer
88 km · 1,400 m
A chartered bus with bike trailer leaves in the morning, returning your bike and kit to Füssen. There's an optional early descent to the lake shore before departure for those who want one last kilometre.
How We Ride
Across the Alps, stage by stage
Seven riding stages from Füssen to Riva del Garda. Every stage follows a defined GPS route. You choose how you ride it — with the group or at your own pace.
Guided stage
Ride with the group
Follow the guide across high passes and long descents. The support vehicle is positioned at key points throughout each stage. Navigation and logistics are handled — you focus on the riding.
GPS self-guided
Your own pace
Download the day's route and set off when you're ready. You control the breaks and the stops. The crew is positioned along the route and meets you at the hotel each evening.
What's included
Riding & support
- check 5 riding stages — intro day, 5 stages, rest day
- check Experienced Danish guides
- check GPS routes for Garmin, Wahoo and Komoot
- check Daily briefing with route overview and key points
- check Support vehicle with service and spare parts
- check Mechanic help from guides — spare parts only at cost
- check Luggage transfer hotel to hotel
- check Return bus transfer from Lake Garda to Füssen
- check Energy powder from PurePower — complimentary
Accommodation & food
- check 7 hotel nights in shared double room
- check 7 × breakfast, 6 × dinner
What makes it memorable
- check Gala dinner in Riva del Garda
- check Shared online photo album
- check Gravel-Adventure jersey
- check Lifetime membership of the Gravel-Adventure RIDERS network
Not included
- remove Flights to/from Germany
- remove Lunches
- remove Drinks
- remove Dinner on arrival day in Füssen
- remove Parking during the tour
- remove Airport transfers
Common questions
Before you book
The Adventure route suits riders comfortable with 3–4 hours in the saddle over consecutive days. You don't need to be a racer — but you should be genuinely at home on a gravel bike in hilly terrain.
The Explorer route asks more: 5–6 hour days, significant elevation (up to 2,000m per stage), and the confidence to navigate loose gravel and forest tracks independently.
If you're unsure which suits you, a short call with us will settle it quickly.
A gravel bike — mechanical or e-assist — is required. A light MTB with appropriate tyres and gearing also works. Road bikes and hybrids are not suitable.
The bike must be freshly serviced before the tour: drivetrain, brakes, tyres and bearings all in working order. Minimum tyre width 38mm — wider is better, especially for the Explorer route. Tubeless setup is strongly recommended given the alpine terrain, high mountain passes and loose gravel on the upper sections.
Gearing: a maximum ratio of around 0.9 (smallest front chainring ÷ largest rear sprocket) is the practical minimum for the steeper climbs.
Yes. We can arrange a gravel bike or e-bike through a local partner in Pisa. The bike is ready at the airport on arrival and returned at the end of the tour.
Rental is an additional cost — see the optional extras in the booking section. Contact us if you'd like to discuss specifications before booking.
Both — depending on how you want to ride. A guide leads a group each day on the standard route.
If you prefer to ride at your own pace, GPS routes are loaded before departure — Garmin, Wahoo and Komoot files all included. Most riders use a mix: some days with the group, others at their own speed.
The support vehicle follows the route and is available to all riders regardless of how they choose to navigate.
The support vehicle carries tools, spare parts and a spare bike. Guides provide mechanical assistance, and local bike shops are accessible for anything more specialised.
You pay only for spare parts if needed — mechanical labour from the crew is included.
Explorer route riders should be able to handle basic repairs independently (punctures, chain issues), as they may be further from the vehicle at any given time.
Most of our riders are in the 45–65 age range. The Adventure route is designed for experienced riders who are fit but not racing — sensible daily distances, a genuine rest day mid-tour, and the option to take the support vehicle if a stage isn't working.
The daily route choice means you can calibrate difficulty to how you feel each morning.
What matters more than age is cycling fitness and experience with multi-day riding.
Yes. The tour runs as a group of up to 10 riders per guide, and many participants come alone. The group typically includes riders from Denmark, Sweden, Norway and occasionally further afield.
Accommodation is in shared double rooms by default. A single room supplement is available if you prefer your own room.
Flights to/from Munich
Dinners on free evenings, drinks and wine tastings, bike rental, single room supplement, and luggage transport from your home country to Italy can all be arranged separately.
The Trans Alp routes cross alpine gravel passes, forest roads and four-wheel tracks through the Bavarian, Austrian and Italian Alps. Surfaces range from compact gravel on well-used mountain roads to loose stone near the passes — expect the full range.
The Chianti stages (days 3–5) include the most iconic sections. In dry conditions they're fast and firm; after rain they can be sticky.
Either way, they are what makes gravel cycling in Italy unlike anywhere else.
The tour starts in Füssen, Germany. Long-term parking is available approximately 1 km from the start hotel — around €40 for the week.
By air: Fly to Munich, then take the train or bus to Füssen. Return flights from Munich, Verona or Milan Bergamo all work well.
By train: Direct connections run via Hamburg to Munich and onward to Füssen.
Departures
When to go
| Dates | Availability | Price per person |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | ||
| 27 Jun – 4 Jul 2026 | Open | €2,695 |
| 18 – 25 Jul 2026 | Open | €2,695 |
| 22 – 29 Aug 2026 | Open | €2,695 |
| 2027 | ||
| 26 Jun – 3 Jul 2027 | Open | €2,830 |
| 21 – 28 Aug 2027 | Open | €2,830 |
Per person, shared room. Single supplement on request. €500 deposit secures your place. You choose your preferred date when booking.
Private & group tours
Travelling together? Six or more riders, we'll plan it around you.
If you have a group of six or more — a cycling club, a group of friends, colleagues — we can arrange a private departure on dates that suit you. Same route, same support, entirely your own group.
We also offer fully custom private tours for smaller groups who prefer to travel without other participants.
Prefer to write directly
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Before you go
Practical information
Fly to Munich (MUC) — several airlines operate direct services from Copenhagen and Billund. The tour starts in Füssen, approximately 1.5 hours from Munich by train. On the final day a transfer brings the group to Riva del Garda. Return flights work well from Verona (VRN) or via Trento and the train network north.
Most riders bring their own bikes as checked baggage — a hard case is recommended. Gravel bike rental can be arranged at extra cost; let us know when you book.
Recommended tyres: 38–45mm gravel tyres. The route crosses alpine gravel, forest tracks and mountain roads — tubeless setup is worth it. Carry a spare tube regardless.
Personal travel and accident insurance is not included. We strongly recommend valid cover for cycling and medical evacuation before arrival in the Alps. Ask us if you need a recommendation.
Temperatures vary significantly between valley stages and high passes — prepare for 5–25°C in a single day. A lightweight packable waterproof is essential. Arm warmers, a light thermal and gloves are worth carrying every stage.
High alpine stages can see sudden weather changes even in July and August. Sunscreen at altitude matters more than most people expect.
This is a demanding tour. Daily elevation typically exceeds 1,500m and reaches 2,400m on mountain stages. Riders should be comfortable riding back-to-back days in alpine terrain — not necessarily fast, but capable of sustained effort.
If you have questions about whether this tour fits your current level, get in touch before booking.