In Transit: Overnight flight from the U.S.A. to Zurich, Switzerland.

Note: Transfer to St. Moritz approximately 2 hours. Cycle path: well developed paths which are partly gravel, tarmac and dirt trails.

Arrive To: Meet your group at 10:30 AM at Zurich airport for the group transfer by private coach to St. Moritz (approx. 3 hours).

Lunch: Explore local fare on your own in St. Moritz.

Afternoon: After check-in pick up your "flyer" bike and proceed to take a test ride. A brief orientation with a welcome drink prior to dinner.

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel.

Lodging: HOTEL SOLDANELLA

Meals Included: Dinner

Note: Approximately 38 kilometers/24 miles of biking today. Cycle path: well developed paths, partly tarmac and partly gravel. Snacks are available throughout the morning while biking.

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Set out on your "flyer" for Zernez. The luggage will be loaded into a van, which will follow you throughout the program. Bike ride along the Inn River down to the Unterengadin, or Lower Engadine, into the Swiss national park.

Lunch: Stop en route to explore local fare on your own.

Afternoon: Arrive in Zernez and check in at the hotel.

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel.

Lodging: Hotel Il Fuorn

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Note: Approximately 52 kilometers/33 miles of biking today. Snacks are available throughout the morning while biking.

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet at the hotel.

Morning: In the morning "fly" across the Ofen Pass to Muestair (5325 feet) with a lunch stop in the Muenstertal. Biking northeast through Switzerland to the South Tyrol of Italy. As you bike, stops will be made and you will hear field lectures regarding details of the land, people, culture of the area you are riding through.

Lunch: A stop will be made to explore local fare on your own in Muenstertal.

Afternoon: Afternoon excursion and field trip to the convent of St. John. Continue on across the border into Obervinschgau (5000 feet) in the South Tyrol. Hear a lecture by a docent at the convent regarding this ancient Benedictine Monastery in Mustair village of Val Mustair, Switzerland. The convent is an exceptionally well-preserved heritage of Carolingian art and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983. Continue on to Vinschgau for an overnight.

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel.

Lodging: Bio-Hotel Panorama

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Vinschgau to Meran - Biking through the South Tyrol, in Italy known as the Alto Adige

Note: Bike approximately 62 kilometers/39 miles. Snacks are available throughout the morning while biking.

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet at the hotel.

Morning: The constant companion on today's route is the River Etsch and the target, Meran (1100 feet), a town of Mediterranean flair. From asphalt surfaces to gravel roads, the cycle tracks lead through beautiful forests, green meadows, orchards and numerous keeps and castles. Hear a field lecture about the history of Vinschgau and the culture of the this Alpine region.

Lunch: A stop will be made to explore local fare on your own along the River Etsch.

Afternoon: Continue along the River Etsch to Meran. Meran offers cultural, musical and sporting events along with traditional celebrations making this town a unique experience. Enjoy some free time in Meran to discover the small avenue, art, history, nature and culture of this town.

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel.

Lodging: Kolping hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Note: Bike approximately 40 kilometers/25 miles. Snacks are available throughout the morning while biking.

Breakfast: Buffet breakfast served at the hotel.

Morning: Cycle along the old wine route through the Etsch valley, along numerous orchards and vineyards to the village of Bolzano (860 feet), the chief town of the Alto Adige. Together with Innsbruck, Bolzano is officially the capital of the Alps, and of course is known as the home of "Otzi," the iceman. Today's field lectures will explain the agriculture of the Etsch Valley and the economics of the numerous orchards.

Lunch: A stop will be made to explore local fare on your own in Bolzano.

Afternoon: Enjoy free time this afternoon to explore the old market town, and the world famous Museum of Archaeology with the Iceman and the Messner Mountain Museum. Bolzano is a city full of mountaineering history and culture.

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel.

Lodging: Garden Hotel Premstaller

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Note: Bike approximately 62 kilometers/39 miles. (Bolzano to Kaltern is approximately 17 kilometers/10.5 miles.) Snacks are available throughout the morning while biking.

Breakfast: Buffet breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Bike today on an unused stretch of railroad through undulating countryside, past numerous farmsteads, keeps and castles to Kaltern am See (1394 feet), one of the best known wine villages in South Tyrol. Learn about the history of this area and the vineyards and how important the wine is to the economics of this area. You will also learn why Kaltern am See is one of the best known wine villages.

Lunch: A stop will be made to explore local fare on your own in Kaltern am See.

Afternoon: In Kaltern there is plenty going on in the market square or the quaint side streets and there is always a wine tasting at one of the many venues. There will also be enough time to visit the Tyrolean Wine Museum (on your own) or just enjoy exploring the village before continuing on to Trento (630 feet). Upon arriving in Trento learn the history of the "old town" where in the 16th century it was the site of the Council of Trent. Trento is a major educational, scientific, financial and political center in Trentino-Alto Adige. Modern day Trento is a cosmopolitan city with highly-developed and organized modern social services.

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel.

Lodging: America Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Note: Bike approximately 30 kilometers/19 miles. Snacks are available throughout the morning while biking.

Breakfast: Buffet breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: In the morning explore the picturesque provincial town of Trento, and visit the Trento Cathedral "Duomo di San Vigilio," the most important religious edifice in northern Italy. Duomo was built in the Gothic style in the 6th century over a pre-existing temple with a rose window as the facade.

Lunch: Explore local fare on your own in Trento before continuing the bike route to Rovereto.

Afternoon: After lunch "fly" through the hilly vineyards of Trentino. Travel through the Etschtal (valley), which becomes increasingly narrower as we head south. A field lecture introduces "then and now" of the Etschtal valley. Trails end for today at the second largest town in Trentino, Rovereto (669 feet).

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel.

Lodging: Rovereto Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Note: Bike approximately 75 kilometers/47 miles. Snacks are available throughout the morning while biking.

Breakfast: Buffet breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Due to the topography of the valley, today's path follows the Etsch canal. Cycle on a predominantly flat route via Belluno to Verona, the home of Romeo and Juliet. Belluno (2300 feet) is located about 100 kilometres north of Venice, the capital of the province of Belluno, one of the 15 municipalities of the Parco Nazionale delle Dolomiti Bellunesi. During today's field lectures, learn why Belluno is the most important city in the Eastern Dolomite region, along with the legend of Romeo and Juliet and about the historical sights of Verona.

Lunch: Explore local fare on your own in Belluno before continuing on to Verona.

Afternoon: Continue on to Verona. Upon arrival there will be an excursion of Verona (223 feet). Discover all the interesting historical sights. A main attraction in northern Italy - due to the artistic heritage, shows, and operas in the Arena - is the Roman ancient amphitheatre. This town is positioned close to Lake Garda, one hour from the sea and two hours from the Dolomites, and it has a long-standing tradition of kindness to their guests.

Dinner: Enjoy a special farewell dinner.

Lodging: Hotel Victoria

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Breakfast: Buffet breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Departure to Verona airport for your flight home.

Meals Included: Breakfast