Just found out that during the time we planned to visit the Castelrotto and Ortesi area the cycling race with 8,000 will be going on. I looked at their route and it looks to be a 138 km circuit West of Selva di Val Gardena and Canazei (www.maratona.it) What are your thoughts? Since we'll be in the French and Swiss Alps and Lake regions should we stay longer in those areas?

Hi Deladeb - It doesn't touch Castelrotto or Ortisei - so it really needn't affect you.

Just don't plan driving the passes around the Sella/ Alta Badia/ Canazei area on that day

It might be a good day to go up to the Alpe di Siusi instead ...

Hope this helps ...

Steve

I think there'll be crowded conditions (in lodging and restaurants, etc) throughout the region and for more than just on that one day.

You might consider the possiblity of reversing the sequence of your itinerary - going to the Dolomites prior to the other regions.

At this point in my planning it would be easier to not reverse but I can consider it.

Hi deladeb,

While I don't know anything about the cycling race, I can suggest an alternative to "reversing" your plans.

The area (Vinschgau/Val Venosta) between the Swiss border and Meran/Merano is very nice. We stayed in Mals/Malles and found it to be a beautiful area. Quite a few very worthwhile places and things to see and do. While there are plenty of castles, Churburg was our favorite.

www.churburg.com/willkommen_engl/index.htm

Glurns/Glorenzo is a very nice (and very small) walled town.

www.gemeinde.glurns.bz.it

http://www.suedtirolerland.it/suedti..._idEQQ346.html

The town/Village of Tirolo/Tirol (near Meran/Merano) is very nice with it's castle Schloss Tirol.

www.schlosstirol.it/content.php?lang=2

The town of Silandro is very pretty. Very nice pedestrian zone, etc.

http://www.suedtirolerland.it/suedti..._idEQQ346.html

The above website is actually very good for the entire area.

Another place we loved was Kloster Mustair, just short drive into Switzerland

www.muestair.ch

We can highly recommend staying at:

http://www.hotel-panorama-mals.it/de...willkommen.htm

Hope this helps.

Paul

If you've already booked your lodgings there's absolutely no need to change it. Late June is still early season ...

Just plan a day in the opposite direction - very easy.

Possibilities?

- Alpe di Siusi
- Lake Braies
- Carezza/Rosengarten/Latemar
- Val d'Ega & Bolzano
- Lake Caldaro & the Wine Route
- Brenta Dolomites

... to name a few

Lots of hiking opportunities away from any traffic ...

Steve

Looking at the website, I see that there's going to be activities all week leading up to the Sunday event. And also, the circuit is in the very scenic heart of the Dolomites - the Gruppa di Sella. This is certainly an area you'd otherwise want to visit.

During our time in the Dolomites, the roads were busy (especially on a Sunday when the endless number of speeding motorcyclists drove us to distraction) and, it seems to me, it'll be even busier during this period of time.