Your trip
With this fantastic bike and boat tour, we offer you the pleasure of discovering northern Italy by bike along and on the Po, the longest Italian river.
From the world-famous lagoon city of Venice, you cycle through the sea up Italy’s longest river, the Po, to the beautiful Renaissance city of Mantua. Thanks to the Gonzaga family, it is a town with a rich cultural heritage of works of art by numerous artists. Your route meanders along the lovely course of the river. It immerses itself in largely untouched rural areas, such as the Po Delta nature reserve with its extensive flora and fauna. During the tour you will get to know cities such as Ferrara, the “city of cyclists”, or the old port city of Adria, which owes its name to the Adriatic Sea. The river flows into the Venetian lagoon and you first visit Chioggia, famous for its fish market, and finally the magnificent Venice, which fascinates thousands of travelers again and again. .
Accommodation
Your ship – the MS Vita Pugna
You travel and stay overnight on the ship . A timeless Italian ship with a length of 36 m and a width of 5.5 m. With up to 21 guests, the good lady has been in action since 2011.
Deck plan
You can look forward to > a sun deck > an air-conditioned lounge with a small 5-table restaurant for up to 23 guests
> Self-service coffee and tea machine > free WiFi in the common areas > Large flat screen in the lounge for videos > a well-secured storage area for bicycles > in the cabins: Hair dryer, soap, shower gel, shampoo, shower cap
The cabins
> 10 double cabins on the lower deck, one of which can be converted into a triple cabin with bunk beds, each approx. 8 sqm > Each cabin has large windows, low beds, shower/WC, air conditioning and a locker.
> In each cabin, under at least one of the two/three beds, there is a storage space approx. 40 cm high for your suitcases.
> The bed size is: 1.90/2 m x 0.75/0.80 m.
Please note: The ship is a ship and not a hotel. Space and comfort are limited. During the voyage you will hear typical ship noises on board.
The route
Your journey leads mainly through flat land. You only climb about 50 meters in total. The daily distances vary between 25 and 55 km. The total distance is around 200 km. Most of the cycle route runs along rivers and canals on asphalted cycle paths or roads with little traffic. 5% on unpaved roads. To make it easier to leave the cities or to shorten the stages, parts of the route are mainly covered by boat in the morning during breakfast. The trip is not suitable for persons with reduced mobility. Please contact us for detailed information if required.
Bicycles
Rental bikes: If you want to rent a bike from us, you will get a very good unisex city bike with Deore Shimano 27 speed derailleur. Also available as a men’s bike. Electric bikes (pedelecs): You can also hire an electric bike for this trip. These are equipped with 9-speed gears and assistance up to 25km/h. Performance: approx. 90 km (depending on riding style) All bikes are equipped with mudguards, puncture-proof tires, waterproof pannier on one side, handlebar bag (1 x per room), bike computer, repair kit (1 x per room) and bike lock. The bikes of sizes S – XL and the corresponding equipment such as repair kit, air pump, spare tube, bike lock, saddle bag, handlebar bag, bike computer are ready for you at the arrival hotel. At the end of your bike tour, simply drop off the rental bike at the last hotel. Return transportation is provided. Models may vary depending on region and availability.
Please indicate your age and height when booking!
Please note: Helmets are not compulsory in Italy. However, we recommend that you always wear a bicycle helmet on all bicycle tours. You are also welcome to hire it for the duration of your trip.
Own bikes
Unfortunately, it is NOT possible to bring your own bikes on this tour.
Arrival
by train:
> Venice is perfectly integrated into the Italian rail network and can be reached by car or plane. > You can travel back from Mantua to Venice comfortably by train in around 2.5 hours. > Information on timetables and tickets can also be obtained from Trenitalia or from the travel information service of Deutsche Bahn. by plane:
> Mantua and Venice are very well connected to many airports in northern Italy: Venice (VCE), Treviso (TSF), Verona (VRN), Bergamo (BGY).
Note on the itinerary
Normally you follow the Fissero / Bianco canals, which flow parallel to the River Po and connect Mantua with the Adriatic. For organizational reasons, due to weather conditions or according to the regulations of the local authorities, changes may be made to the itinerary before and/or during the trip. High and low water as well as logistical obstacles such as (unpredictable) maintenance work on bridges or locks can change the daily routes or mooring points and may even require a bus transfer. The decision is made by the captain alone. Please note: We also offer the same route on a sister ship, the Vita Pugna. Information on dates and prices can be found under the link Tour 25a or in the opposite direction: Tour 24a and 24b.
Country information and tips on package tours
Information on entry requirements for Austria and Italy can be found on our page under country information. Please read our notes on package tours on the ARB page. Please note: This trip is not suitable for people with reduced mobility. We recommend that you take out international health insurance and travel cancellation insurance.
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