Lakes and Mountains of Northern Italy Based in Eco Bike Hotel – 8 Days
Type of tour: Guided
Level: 4
Duration: 7 Nights
Distance: 49 Miles/day average
Dates: Apr 25; May 9, 23; Jun 6, 20; Jul 11, 25; Aug 15, 29; Sep 12, 26, 2015 (minimum 4 participants)
Tour price: €1450
Start city: Varese, Italy
End city: Varese, Italy
Tour Description
The Province of Varese is truly a cycling paradise from mid-March until the end of October and an area steeped in cycling history. The Giro d’Italia almost always visits the region. The Tour of Lombardy, or “the race of the falling leaves,” the Autumnal one-day classic which, each year, marks the end of the UCI World Tour calendar. Other cycling events are the Tre Valli Varesine and the Coppa Bernocchi in August, one-day road races included in UCI Europe Tour calendar, and Trofeo Binda in March, one-day road races included in UCI Women’s Road Cycling World Cup calendar.
On this tour you will experience undulating and peaceful roads among gently rolling hillside with little traffic, valleys and mountains and challenging climbs. There are 10 lakes that surround Varese. You will mainly follow small and panoramic roads with our native skilled bike guides in our wonderful area.
This tour is based in one hotel, the Eco Bike Hotel Ungheria Varese, with daily ride options.
Highlights: Guided Daily Program: Guided Day 1: Individual arrival Day 2: Monte Campo dei Fiori, option Rancio, Sacro Monte, and Monte Campo dei Fiori (main route: 24 miles/38 km, 1476 ft/450 m ascent; long route: 39 miles/62 km, 4413 ft/1345 m ascent) Day 3: Tre Valli Varesine, option Brezzo di Bedero, Sette Termini (main route: 60 miles/96 km, 3412 ft/1040 m ascent; long route: 60 miles/96 km, 5184 ft/1580 m ascent) Along our route there are the Alfredo Binda cycling museum, one of the greatest Italian cyclistchampions of Varese, the Abbey of Ganna and Villa Della Porta Bozzolo at Casalzuigno that, if you want, you can visit. There are two options in the long route: Brezzo di Bedero climb (length 1.1 mile – 1,8 km, average gradient 8%, maximum 10%), and Sette Termini climb (length 7 miles – 11,2 kms, average gradient 6%, maximum 8%). Day 4: Lake Lugano, option Malcantone, Colmegna, Luino (main route: 51 miles/82 km, 1,608 ft/490 m ascent; long route: 66 miles/107 km, 45,28 ft/1380 m ascent) The long route of Malcantone, Colmegnino, Luino offers great landscapes in Switzerland. It will take in some climbs and offer spectacular views across Lake Lugano, the swiss region of Malcantone and the surrounding mountains: Monte Generoso and Monte Lema. You may meet professional cyclists training in this area. Then the route flattens along the shores of Lake Maggiore, Tresa River and Lake Lugano. There are two options in the long route: Vernate climb (length 2.6 miles – 4,2 kms, average gradient 6%), and Cademario climb (length 5 miles – 8 kms, average gradient 7,5%, maximum 12%). Day 5: Arcumeggia, San Michele, option Passo Cuvignone (main route: 38 miles/61 km, 4003 ft/1120 m ascent; long route: 43 miles/70 km, 4442 ft/1,354 m ascent) There are three climbs in the main route: Arcumeggia climb (length 2.2 miles – 3,6 kms, average gradient 7%), San Michele climb (length 1.5 mile – 2,4 kms, average gradient 10%) and Brinzio climb (length 5.1 miles – 8,2 kms, average gradient 3,5%, maximum 8%). There is a challenging climb in the long route: Passo del Cuvignone (length 5.9 miles – 9,5 kms, average gradient 8,2%, maximum13%). This climb however offers rewarding views across Lake Maggiore, Lake Varese and Monte Rosa. The Passo Cuvignone is many cyclists’ favorite training ground. Day 6: Castiglione Olona, Azzate, Fortress of Angera, Castrum Sibrium Castelseprio (main route: 58 miles/94km, 2592 ft/790 m ascent; long route: 72 miles/116 km, 3615 ft/1,102 m ascent) If you want we can ride toward Castrum Sibrium at Castelseprio, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This option includes a climb starting at Castiglione Olona (length 1.1 mile – 1,8 km, average gradient 8,0%, maximum 10%), and an another softer one known as the “Sasso di Gavirate” (length 3.4 miles – 5,4 kms, average gradient 3%, maximum 6%). Day 7: Loop of 7 Lakes, option Alpe Tedesco, Cuasso, Ardena, Marzio (main route: 56 miles/90 km, 2953 ft/900 m ascent; long route: 73 miles/118 km, 5748 ft/1,752 m ascent) If you choose long route there are challenging climbs and exhilarating descents in a pristine and well preserved natural environment. If you want we can climb towards and over Alpe Tedesco ridge (length 2.9 miles – 4,7 kms, average gradient 8%) that separates Valganna from Valcuvia. After 2.5 miles – 4 kms of flat along the shores of Lake Lugano, we climb again towards Ardena (length 2 miles – 3,2 kms, average gradient 6%, maximum 8%) and we finally arrive in the village of Marzio (length 2.4 miles – 3,9 kms, average gradient 8,2%, maximum 10%). Day 8: Departure day Included Services: Guided Bike Rentals: Guided Bike specs: Pedals: Seats: Helmets:
After your arrival in our Bike Hotel Ungheria there will be evening pre-tour briefing.
This is a warm-up ride. Our route today follows the loop around the Regional Park Monte Campo dei Fiori. If you are able to climb, you have the choice to go straight up Sacro Monte of Varese, UNESCO Worldwide Heritage Site. We continue to the summit of Monte Campo dei Fiori. The climb is challenging (length 5.2 miles – 8,2 kms, average gradient 8%, maximum 13%). From here enjoy a magnificent panoramic view of the Alps and of Monte Rosa on one side and flatlands on the other. Monte Campo dei Fiori is known as the “balcony of Varese”.
Today’s ride crosses the valleys Valcuvia, Valganna, and Valmarchirolo in the upper region of Varese. The route is very undulating and fun. You will find peaceful roads and lakes with panoramic views with some short climbs. The Ardena climb is the longest (length 2 miles – 3,2 kms, average gradient 6,0%, maximum 8%). We will ride along Lake Maggiore, Lake Lugano, Lake Brinzio, Lake Ganna and Lake Ghirla.
The main route today is a beautiful flat ride around the Lake Lugano, almost completely in Switzerland. We cross the Valcuvia valley, and then our ride unwinds along Lake Lugano, with views of Monte Generoso and of Monte Lema.
Today we ride in Valcuvia valley again. Along our route there are Villa Della Porta Bozzolo at Casalzuigno, the quaint village of Arcumeggia, known as “Painted Village”, and the small village of San Michele.
Our ride unwinds through the gently rolling hillside, among Lake Varese, Lake Comabbio, Lake Monate and Lake Maggiore: Italy’s second largest lake. We see the historic village of Castiglione Olona, known as “Tuscan Island in Lombardia”, the panoramic view from Azzate and then we reach Angera, a medieval town on the shores of Lake Maggiore, where you can visit the Fortress of Angera.
The ride in the upper region of Varese is undulating and there are some short climbs. We reach Lago Maggiore and follow its shores between the towns of Luino and Laveno. Woods surround most of the route. Next we reach the hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso, on the banks of Lake Maggiore, that, if you want, you can visit. After a winding and panoramic road we come back following a climb known as the “Sasso di Gavirate”( length 3.4 miles – 5,4 kms, average gradient 3%, maximum 6%).
Breakfast and departure.
Bikes available to rent on this tour (reserved in advance at the time of booking):
We request that you bring your own pedals, and we will install them on our bikes for you. We do not provide additional bike equipment, so please be sure to pack your own shoes.
Tour saddles are included, but you may bring your own seat. Please let us know if you intend to bring your own seat, so we can ensure the post will fit the bike.
Helmet rental is not available on this tour. For safety and hygiene purposes, we recommend that you bring your own helmet or plan to purchase one upon arrival.
