From Garda Lake to Lake Maggiore by bike

Day 1: Peschiera del Garda
In Peschiera there is the Fortress, surrounded by the Mincio river, a small architectural jewel, enclosed in a mighty pentagonal wall dating back to the sixteenth century, with beautiful ramparts and imposing access doors.

Day 2: Peschiera del Garda – Brescia (53 or 63 km)
If you choose the long, quieter and hilly route, cycle along the Mincio cycle path, and then pass by San Martino della Battaglia, with its monumental tower that recalls the wars of independence and Desenzano. The short route passes closer to Lake Maggiore and takes you to Desenzano and Sirmione, one of the most beautiful places on Lake Garda. Arrival in Brescia, a city rich in Roman and medieval remains, dominated by the ancient castle.

Day 3: Brescia – Sarnico/Lago d’Iseo (35 km)
Today a short and relaxing itinerary that takes you to pedal in Franciacorta, a land of excellent wines. The route takes you to Rodengo Saiano, home to a Benedictine abbey where the monks still live. It passes between the castles of Passirano and Clusane and the Sebino peat bog Nature Reserve (a protected area rich in birdlife), and then ends on the shores of the beautiful Lake Iseo.

Day 4: Sarnico/Lago d’Iseo – Bergamo (35 km)
You cycle along the Oglio river, which comes out of Lake Iseo; in a short time you reach Grumello, a pretty village with stone houses of Sarnico and then again, a few kilometers further on, past a small bridge, you enter the beautiful medieval old town of Montello, all in stone. The day on the bike ends in Bergamo, the pearl of northern Italy, where you will arrive early enough to visit both the elegant lower city, but above all the splendid upper city, reachable by funicular.

Day 5: Bergamo – Garlate/surroundings(45 km)
Today we reach the branch of Lake Como, which takes its name from the city of Lecco. The route takes you to Mapello, where there is a beautiful sanctuary dedicated to the Madonna di Prada (of the meadows); another place of great spirituality is Sotto il Monte, the town where Pope John XXIII, known as the good Pope, was born; his birthplace is a nice free museum; another experience that will remain with you is the crossing of the Adda river on a Leonardo cable-operated ferry. In this way you will reach Garlate pedaling in the green of the beautiful cycle path along the Adda.

Day 6: Garlate/surroundings – Lake Como (40 km)
This is the day in which you will see the greatest number of lakes, all very small: Annone, Pusiano, Alserio, mostly cycling on dirt roads in the middle of the green. The final part of the route is the most beautiful; in Solzago take the Voltiana Walk, which takes its name from Alessandro Volta buried nearby and then, an exciting descent, first through the woods and then along a beautiful road, will take you to the center of Como and on the shores of its beautiful lake .

Day 7: Como – Varese – Ranco/Lake Maggiore (60 km)
On the last day we start along the lake, surrounded by splendid villas, in particular Villa Olmo, towards Cernobbio; you pass the border with Switzerland and then reach Varese and immediately after its lake, with the cycle path; further on you skirt the Lake of Monate, with its clear waters, where it is possible to swim in the locality of Cadrezzate; finally, in Ispra Lake Maggiore is finally reached by bike, where it will be possible to swim. The green Quassa cycle path takes you to Ranco, where you will end today’s day in style.

Day 8: Ranco
End of services after breakfast. Individual departure.