Guided bike tours in Naturns: the Ötzi Bike Academy

Guided rides set off from Naturns almost every day, sorted by bike type and skill level. Behind them stands the Ötzi Bike Academy, one of South Tyrol’s oldest and largest bike schools. Its bike center is in the village, just a few minutes from the Lindenhof in Naturns.

The connection between the hotel and the Academy goes back a long way. Joachim Nischler, host at the Lindenhof, is one of its co-founders. Through the partnership with the Academy, guests have access to around 30 guided bike tours a week.

What the Ötzi Bike Academy in Naturns does

The Academy is a bike school, guiding outfit, rental service and workshop all in one. The team consists of 16 certified bike guides, all trained through the professional association. More than 25 businesses across the Vinschgau Valley and the Merano area are partners.

Guiding isn’t limited to mountain biking. The program also covers e-mountain biking, road cycling and leisure rides on e-trekking bikes. On top of that comes riding technique training on a dedicated course at the edge of the village.

Around 90 guided bike tours

The weekly program is organized into five categories: mountain biking, e-mountain biking, road cycling, leisure and e-bike trekking, and riding technique. More than 50 of the featured tours are pure mountain bike rides across a range of difficulty levels.

Groups are split by level. Anyone after a relaxed, scenic ride won’t be paired with those aiming for 1,200 metres of climbing in one go.

From the flat cycle path to the S3 trail

Trails are rated on a scale from S0 to S3. S0 means firm, obstacle-free ground, S3 means steep sections with roots, boulders and tight switchbacks. The Academy runs tours across this entire range.

At the easy end is the Vinschgau cycle path, around 90 kilometres from Malles to Merano, flat to gently sloping. At the other end is the Ötzi Trail, which drops steeply from the mountain into the valley and finishes in the flowing Ötzi Flow Trail. For the way back, the Vinschgau railway takes bikes on board.

Learning technique instead of guessing

The Academy has its own purpose-built terrain on a slope at the edge of Naturns. It’s where riders practise what makes the difference between fun and getting off the bike on a trail: balance while stationary, the first tight switchback, short climbs out of the saddle.

The courses are tiered, from beginner through intermediate to training with video analysis. E-mountain bikers get their own sessions, since a motor-heavy bike with rear-wheel push handles differently from a classic mountain bike. Children and teenagers also have their own sessions on the course.

Back at the Lindenhof after the tour

Anyone arriving without their own bike will find mountain bikes, e-bikes and road bikes at the Lindenhof’s bike rental, along with a Storck test center. Charging infrastructure for e-bikes is available right at the hotel. Find full details on the bike offerings here. After a long descent, recovery matters. The 25-metre sports pool in the garden loosens tired legs, a sports massage at the ArtSPA works more precisely. Warmth from the sauna relaxes the muscles, so the next day of touring starts easy again.