Lago Maggiore Self-Guided Bike Tour

Today we suggest to take a ferry boat ride to Arona so you have the chance to visit the Piedmont side of the lake. Our route takes you to Orta San Giulio, a delightful little town overlooking the charming Lago d'Orta. From Stresa, you will start climbing towards Gignese, home to the one-of-a-kind Umbrella Museum founded in 1939, boasting over 1,500 different pieces. After an optional visit of this intriguing museum, continue your ride until you reach the fantastic shores of Lago d'Orta, famous for the purity of its water and declared the cleanest lake in all of Europe! As you wander through the cobbled alleyways of Orta San Giulio, we suggest you stop for lunch and order a delicious risotto, the local specialty. Before leaving, take a short walk up to the top of the scenic hill to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sacro Monte, a sacred site devoted to the life of Saint Francis. You'll enjoy unparalleled views of San Giulio Island, which sits in the middle of the lake. When you are ready, saddle up to continue your ride along the panoramic road Alto Vergante back to Arona. From here, you'll board a ferry boat back to the Lombardy shore to reach your hotel. Tonight, make good use of our hand-selected recommendations for dinner as you explore Ranco at your leisure.

Another memorable day awaits you on your Lago Maggiore bike tour, as you'll be reaching the unique village of Arcumeggia, known as "The Painted Town." In 1956, the local tourist board promoted an initiative called "Painters on Vacation," attracting acclaimed national artists to visit the town and paint the external walls of the houses, transforming the village into an open-air museum. If you feel like adding more elevation today, the avid option will satisfy your hunger for a challenge! This route will have you climb Passo del Cuvignone from Cittiglio, a six-mile climb with an average gradient of 8.2%. After exploring the town of Arcumeggia you will reconnect with the "Today's Ride" route, heading to Caldé for lunch. Caldé is undoubtedly the most picturesque lakeside village on the eastern Lombardy shore. The village is comprised of a small center with old stone buildings surrounded by Belle Époque villas, all of which blend seamlessly into lush, verdant surrounds. After lunch, a lovely ride along the lake shore will take you back to Ranco, where you you can relax at the pool before deciding your plans for dinner.

This morning, you will ride on a quiet woodland road that winds through the Regional Park of Campo dei Fiori. Your destination is the quaint hamlet of Santa Maria del Monte, sitting high on the mountain, offering breathtaking views of the Alps, pre-Alps, and the lakes. It is well worth dedicating some time to explore the maze of little cobbled lanes which form this Italian village. If you want, you can take a walk for just over a mile of the pilgrims’ trail, with its 14 chapels, that leads to the shrine at the top of the Sacro Monte, listed among the UNESCO World Heritage sites. The avid option will have you climb an additional six miles to reach a fantastic view point. After enjoying lunch in Santa Maria del Monte, retrace your steps and then follow the road toward the lake of Monate, a smaller lake with crystal clear water that makes it the perfect place for a swim. From here, continue riding to Ispra before heading back to Ranco. Once back at the hotel, take some time for a stroll or a relaxing session in the spa. Tonight, celebrate with one last dinner in great style at the hotel and toast to a fantastic self-guided Lago Maggiore bike tour spent experiencing glittering lakes, endless mountain landscapes, and phenomenal Italian food.

This morning's loop is the perfect final ride and farewell to the lakes and mountains of Northern Italy. If you'd rather skip the ride, you can sleep in, have a leisurely breakfast, and then enjoy a final stroll in town to savor these few last moments and perhaps pick up some souvenirs and gifts. Your Trek Travel host will meet you at the hotel at 11:00 AM to take your bike and say farewell before you depart from your Italian vacation of a lifetime.