Saving tips for Alpine crossers: The best way to get home after the Transalp
Gitta Beimfohr
· 20.06.2025
If you haven't yet gained any alpine experience, it's better to join a guided tour - a golden rule that still applies. But after the third route with a guide at the latest, you might get the feeling: now I know what can happen along the way, what to do in bad weather, which stage lengths I can trust and, above all, which GPX data you can follow without hesitation - in other words, you're ready for a self-organised adventure.
However, by being independent and saving money, you not only do without a guide, but also without such amenities as luggage transport, accommodation bookings and, above all, the return transfer.
Many tour operators have already recognised the trend and have been offering their tours as "self-guided" tours for some time now. A package that includes up-to-date and therefore trustworthy GPS data for the route as well as accommodation bookings and return transfers. Disadvantage: Although you are travelling alone, you may have to carry your own luggage and are often still tied to a parallel guided tour group in terms of logistics. Cost savings on a tour that costs around 1200 euros with a guide and full service: 200 - 300 euros.
You can only really save money if you plan your tour yourself. If you do without luggage transport, you can also spend the night in huts at a lower price and have a quick lunch in the supermarket or bakery in the valley. Even luggage transport can be organised spontaneously by local taxi companies if you are staying overnight in the valley.
The only remaining problem is the transfer back home. Theoretically, there are three options - in very different price categories:
1. return by train
It is by far the cheapest option and, due to the current roadworks on the Reschen Pass and Brenner Pass, probably also the fastest (Time and money - this is what the 2025 car-bike trip to the south costs). The direct connection from Rovereto (or Venice) to Munich, for example, takes 4:45 hours with the ÖBB Railjet and Eurocity and costs around 50 euros.
Problem: Firstly, you first have to cycle from Lake Garda to the train station in Rovereto or Trento and secondly, these train connections are already very well booked throughout the summer. Especially the few seats that require a reservation for bike transport. Out of 30 tried dates, we only had one hit on one day at the end of August! For larger Transalp groups, return transport by train is therefore probably not an option.
However, according to ÖBB Italia's luggage transport guidelines, a bicycle that is transported on a Luggage dimensions of 90 cm width x 60 cm height x 40 cm depth can be folded up as hand luggage. In other words, no reservation is necessary and transport is free of charge. Remove the front and rear wheels and put the dismantled bike in a large bin bag - bikers report time and again that they were allowed on board without any problems. Whether the conductors on fully booked Eurocity trains will be so accommodating is perhaps a matter of luck.
Attention: Building site!
From the 11 to 18 August 2025 no trains will be travelling over the Brenner Pass. During this time, the tracks on the Innsbruck-Brenner section will be closed due to the bridge construction work. Trains RJ 82, RJ83, RJ84 and RJ85 will be rerouted via the Tauern railway and Tarvisio.
Info: obb-italia.com
2. private Transalp shuttle company
In summer, they now commute back and forth almost daily between Lake Garda, by far the most frequent Transalp destination, and Germany. But Venice and Lake Como also have fixed departure days. Groups of six people or more can also be picked up from any destination and taken to the car park of their own car or even to their front door. There are now countless companies that specialise in the return transport of cyclists crossing the Alps. Also with special, closed bike trailers that - unlike Flixbus - even transport e-MTBs without scratching.
An offer that more and more cyclists are taking advantage of. A South Tyrolean shuttle operator reported 122 bookings in just one weekend in mid-May - even before the Transalp season really gets going. This includes more and more racing cyclists and gravel bikers.
How much does the journey with the Transalp shuttle service cost?
There is a wide range of offers online. Simply google and find the right offer for the date you need. When comparing prices, you should pay attention to the type of bike transport. Some companies stow the bikes in a large bus together with the suitcases in the luggage compartment. Others have learnt from annoying transport damage and have long since invested in a safe bike trailer. For example, the tour organiser Fahrtwind, which has teamed up with a South Tyrolean transport service.
Price examples for three main routes:
- Lake Garda - Garmisch: from 65 euros per person (incl. 1 rucksack and 1 bike)
- Venice - Garmisch: from 75 Euro
- Lake Como - Garmisch: from 149 euros
For larger groups, it is always worth enquiring about a discount! Individuals may be able to find a place on the return transfer bus with one of the major tour organisers or via the leftover seat exchange: bikeshuttle-lake-garda.com
3. have your own car delivered
Sounds a bit snobbish, and it's not particularly cheap, but this offer has been around for 10 years. So it will probably be used: The Tyrolean company "Transalp-Shuttle" collects customers' cars from their front door and transfers them to their destination by the desired date. The advantage: you can pack the car with clean, fragrant clothes beforehand and enjoy a relaxing holiday at your destination.
Cost point: e.g. Garmisch - Riva del Garda: from 230 euros. But don't forget: The actual return journey (incl. petrol and toll) is not included in this price. Info: transalp-shuttle.com
Still haven't found a suitable Transalp route for 2025? Here are a few suggestions including GPX data:
Gitta Beimfohr
Editor
