Planning a road trip to the Dolomites with MTB. Any tips?
Discussion
September 2026. The destination is Selva Di Val Gardena. Or is somewhere else nicer in the Dolomites?
One night stop somewhere. (Strasbourg?).
Has anyone been to the Dolomites?
The plan is to drive there on my own early and do the Sellaronda tour thing on my hardtail. Anyone done it?
And then kids+partners joining me, picking them up in Innsbruck, seems easier than Venice?
Then hiking, more cycling.
If anyone has any recommendations, places to stay, eating out (my son is a chef so he might help on that front), hikes etc...
We have a posh chalet with views for the week.
One night stop somewhere. (Strasbourg?).
Has anyone been to the Dolomites?
The plan is to drive there on my own early and do the Sellaronda tour thing on my hardtail. Anyone done it?
And then kids+partners joining me, picking them up in Innsbruck, seems easier than Venice?
Then hiking, more cycling.
If anyone has any recommendations, places to stay, eating out (my son is a chef so he might help on that front), hikes etc...
We have a posh chalet with views for the week.
Literally did this in the summer. Got the Friday night eurotunnel then drove to Bruges. Stayed there for Friday and Saturday night and then drove all the way down to dolomites on the Sunday. Was a long drive with an annoying intermittent ecu light meaning it took longer than expected. About 13hrs with a stop for dinner and stop every 2 hrs for our dog. Drice was easy though until you get to Italy where it becomes proper mountain roads.
I took both road and mtb. The sellaronda is a great day out. Well until I got to the last corner before I was meeting my wife and cut the end of my finger off going over the bars... I took my scott spark 29er fs with 2.4s (recon race front and peyote rear) and it was very undedbiked and tyred on some of the sections.
Getting the ticket is easy and it's easy to navigate on your own and plenty of others doing it. If you're down there for multiple days get your ticket early for more days as it works out much cheaper obviously and there looked to be some great lifts up for walking and getting a nice beer or coffee on your rest days.
Anywhere you stay is great. I did the Maratona des dolomites road bike route and went over all the main climbs, and it's all beautiful but be conscious it takes a long time to drive anywhere!
I took both road and mtb. The sellaronda is a great day out. Well until I got to the last corner before I was meeting my wife and cut the end of my finger off going over the bars... I took my scott spark 29er fs with 2.4s (recon race front and peyote rear) and it was very undedbiked and tyred on some of the sections.
Getting the ticket is easy and it's easy to navigate on your own and plenty of others doing it. If you're down there for multiple days get your ticket early for more days as it works out much cheaper obviously and there looked to be some great lifts up for walking and getting a nice beer or coffee on your rest days.
Anywhere you stay is great. I did the Maratona des dolomites road bike route and went over all the main climbs, and it's all beautiful but be conscious it takes a long time to drive anywhere!
Edited by SoliD on Saturday 29th November 18:25
d climbs, Giau is a beast but round the Sella Ronda is much easier and far more scenicI did this in September with my road bike as a spur of the moment trip. Had to use Le Shuttle due to having a pre-existing reservation so decided to go via the B500 in the Black Forest (scenic but slow) and stayed overnight on the German side of Lake Constance. In the Dolomites I based myself at the Hotel Melodia del Bosco in Alta Badia, which is a very bike-friendly place (lots of good advice, workshop etc). Then rode the route of the Supermaratona over three days (and 13 passes). Lots of climbing but the scenery is unbelievable. Loved it.
Drove back through Austria and Switzerland because I wanted to do the D431 / D27 via the Col du Grand Ballon in the Jura (torrential rain and thick fog so called it a day and got off the mountains). I stayed in Thann at the start of that road. So, generally worthwhile driving and cycling trip and September is a good time of year.
Drove back through Austria and Switzerland because I wanted to do the D431 / D27 via the Col du Grand Ballon in the Jura (torrential rain and thick fog so called it a day and got off the mountains). I stayed in Thann at the start of that road. So, generally worthwhile driving and cycling trip and September is a good time of year.
^ thanks Corroded. I am now tempted to stop in the Vosges for a ride instead of Strasbourg and overnight it there. On the way back I will try and detour via Nurburg for a cheeky few TF evening laps as likely to take the M2.
It also looks like the roads for driving around the Dolomites are quite spectacular!
It also looks like the roads for driving around the Dolomites are quite spectacular!
nickfrog said:
^ wow, great minds!
I am planning to stay with friends near Strasbourg to break up the journey in 2. Can you buy a unique pass for all of the lifts?
You want a super Summer cardI am planning to stay with friends near Strasbourg to break up the journey in 2. Can you buy a unique pass for all of the lifts?
https://www.sellaronda-mtb.com/en/prices-sellarond...
Also the Vosges is a great place to stop for a bit ofriding, the roads are so quiet and the area is beautfiul.
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