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Lago Maggiore Self-Guided Bike Tour

The allure of northern Italy's lakes and mountains

Tour Duration

5D / 4N

Trip Style

Self-Guided

Activity Level

3

Hotel Level

Explorer

Bikes

Trek Domane SL 7 Gen 3
Trek Electric-Assist Verve+

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Starting from

$1,599.00 per person

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Discover Italy's lake district on a self-guided bike tour, combining picturesque landscapes, medieval towns, outdoor art, and deep-rooted traditions.

Just an hour from Milan, Lago Maggiore offers a serene escape into a cycling paradise, away from the city's hustle. This self-guided bike tour invites you to explore at your pace: cycle along tranquil lake shores, climb to medieval villages, and enjoy sweeping descents with the majestic Alps as your backdrop. The lake's mild climate and lush Mediterranean flora set the stage for the perfect ride. This area, once a retreat for Milan's nobility, features lavish villas and the enchanting Borromean Islands. Choose your adventure—pedal the picturesque routes, or perhaps take a boat tour from Stresa for a different perspective. Fall in love with this lesser-known gem, where every day is yours to design, surrounded by breathtaking views and deep traditions. Learn more about Self-Guided trips and if they're right for you »

Trip Wows
  • Delight in a week of relaxation at an elegant property overlooking the magnificent Lago Maggiore

  • Take a boat excursion to the stunning Borromean Islands and explore their picturesque villas and lush gardens

  • Admire a breathtaking panorama that stretches from the Alps and the Monte Rosa Massif to the seven surrounding lakes

  • Discover the picturesque village of Arcumeggia, known since 1956 as the “Painted Town” with fresco-covered houses created by the greatest contemporary Italian artists

  • Explore the narrow cobbled alleyways and terracotta roofed houses of Santa Maria del Monte, a UNESCO World Heritage Site sitting at 800 meters above sea level

Narrow village street in Italy

Narrow village street in the Lago Maggiore region of Italy


What Guests are Saying
stone cross overlooking lake in italy

We appreciated the flexibility of the self-guided trip. I loved that the rides incorporated historical and other sites so we felt like we got to see the interesting sites in the area while still riding much of the day.

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Vanessa, Trek Travel Guest

Cyclist riding with rolling hills and vineyards in the background

Our host Wiebe was amazing, providing great insight into each day's ride. Gearing on the bikes were perfect for the challenging terrain. I really could have ridden all day there.

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Jason, Trek Travel Guest

Belvedere is in an excellent location. Their on site restaurant, another hotel restaurant across the street, a third restaurant a very short walk away, plus a small market on the same corner gave us plenty of options for food and drink.
Breakfast at the hotel was fresh and delicious every morning. The room, pool, and poolside bar were very nice.
We especially enjoyed getting to meet the owners dog, Fiona.

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Brian, Trek Travel Guest

TABLE SET FOR MEAL BY THE LAKE

High quality meals. Guido was able to help with bike setup. When I lost a screw in one of my cleats he was able to quickly help me out to replace it and get back on the road

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Michael, Trek Travel Guest

village perched on a hill surrounded by green trees

Everything about the trip was perfect. Our guide for the trip was incredibly knowledgeable and very helpful. The routes that we were able to choose from were wonderful and when we asked how to add on, we were given east to follow directions to another loop. The accommodations were perfect. The whole trip was a wonderful experience. And the bikes…wow.

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Greg, Trek Travel Guest

front of hotel belvedere

Guido (owner) and his entire staff have treated us initially like guests, but we became better acquainted with the staff, we felt more like the hotel’s extended family. It is fun to be on a first-name basis with such good and helpful people!

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Jim, Trek Travel Guest

Wiebe was EXCELLENT! He was encouraging and so helpful, a delight to converse with. The routes were phenomenal, too.

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Lori, Trek Travel Guest


Hairpin bend on a mountain pass

Great Ride

Ranco to Santa Maria del Monte Loop

Experience a challenging ride up to the hamlet of Santa Maria del Monte at the top of the mountain and witness breathtaking views of lakes, Alps, and Prealps.


Dates & Pricing

Book early for the best price

  • Guaranteed

  • Join Waitlist

  • Private

  • Limited Availability


Itinerary
Rider Information

Hotels
hotel pool by the lake
front of hotel belvedere
three red cocktails
`double bed by the window inside a hotel room
TABLE SET FOR MEAL BY THE LAKE
Ranco, Lago Maggiore, Italy
Hotel Ristorante Belvedere
Explorer

Originally a tavern when it first opened its doors back in 1865, the Belvedere is now a stylish hotel with stunning views over the Lago Maggiore. Located on the Lombardy side of the lake in the charming town of Ranco, you will find all the comforts and services you expect from a bike hotel. The Belvedere is also a celebrated restaurant: the dishes have a local flavour offering a ‘taste of the lakes’ complemented by seasonal fare. This cozy 3-star hotel features an outdoor pool right by the lake, along with a sauna and a panoramic terrace with solarium.

...

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Bikes & Gear
Ride the Best Bikes in the Industry
Trek Domane SL 7 Gen 3 Road
Trek Domane SL 7 Gen 3

Trek’s continuous innovation has led to one of the best bikes on the road – a light weight, stable, and technologically advanced machine to make even the hardest roads seem easy. The Domane SL 7 Gen 3 is a beautiful high-performance endurance road bike with wireless electronic Ultegra Di2 12-speed drivetrain for lightning-fast precision shifting in any conditions. The combination of the carbon frame with front and rear IsoSpeed, carbon wheels that come stock on the bike, and hydraulic disc brakes keep it smooth, safe, fast, and most importantly, fun!

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Verve+ electric assist lowstep bike E-Bike
Trek Electric-Assist Verve+

Fun from the first pedal stroke, our e-bikes give you the boost you want to venture further on your bike tour. With its low-step frame design, hopping on and off the Trek Verve+ is super easy. The front suspension will take the edge off any bumps in the road and the Bosch system will keep you smiling from ear to ear. The integrated battery keeps this bike looking sleek as you pedal through amazing terrain, with energy to spare.

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Additional Gear
  • Trek Travel water bottles to keep
  • Bontrager saddle
  • Bontrager helmet
  • Bontrager front and rear Flare R lights
  • Garmin Edge 830 or 1030 GPS computer with pre-loaded routes
  • Shimano SPD-SL road style pedals, Shimano SPD mountain style pedals, caged, or flat pedals
  • A flat pack containing a tube, levers, and a CO2 cartridge with inflator
  • For the most comfortable ride, we recommend you bring your own saddle. If you prefer, you can bring your own pedals and helmet on the trip and our guides will install your gear on the first day during your bike fit.
A collage of cycling gear guests will use on a Trek Travel Self-Guided Bike Tour.

Trip Inclusions

Additional Details

Your Day. You Decide.

Our self-guided vacations are designed to fit all types of travel styles. Whether you like to spend your time relaxing or on a non-stop adventure, you get to decide what your day looks like. Choose your mileage, itinerary, and experience level and leave the rest to us!

Your Trip Need to Knows:

  • We do our best to avoid busy roadways as much as possible, however, urban riding and sections of busy roads are unavoidable for some segments of your rides.
  • Good fitness and good bike handling skills are required to ride bikes in this region because the terrain varies from hilly to mountainous, with some sustained climbs and long technical descents. The use of an e-bike requires excellent bike handling skills. As this trip runs in high season, people must also be comfortable riding in traffic, especially in the town centers. This trip is recommended for our Level 3 and Level 4 riders only.
  • Hotel Belvedere is a “bike hotel” with a great service and an excellent onsite restaurant. Parking is free at the hotel and you can also take advantage of their free laundry service for cycling gear.

Before and After Your Trip

Weather

Average monthly temperature and precipitation

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
High (°F) 45.0° 48.0° 57.0° 65.0° 71.0° 78.0° 83.0° 81.0° 73.0° 63.0° 54.0° 47.0°
High (°C) 7.2° 8.9° 13.9° 18.3° 21.7° 25.6° 28.3° 27.2° 22.8° 17.2° 12.2° 8.3°
Low (°F) 27.0° 28.0° 35.0° 42.0° 50.0° 57.0° 60.0° 59.0° 53.0° 46.0° 37.0° 28.0°
Low (°C) -2.8° -2.2° 1.7° 5.6° 10.0° 13.9° 15.6° 15.0° 11.7° 7.8° 2.8° -2.2°
Rain (in) 3.55° 3.9° 3.17° 6.08° 6.13° 4.74° 4.67° 4.39° 4.62° 3.92° 6.92° 3.85°
FAQs

The climate of Lago Maggiore is temperate, with cold, damp winters and warm summers characterized by plentiful sunshine and occasional thunderstorms. Location at the foot of the Alps, the climate remains pleasant even during the warmest months of the year (July and August) with highs that don't exceed 80°F (27ºC). Rain is always a possibility any month of the year, so be prepared with wet-weather gear just in case. The water temperature of the lake is a comfortable 68-72ºF (20-22ºC) in July and August. View our Packing List

To reserve your space on a trip, you can either call us at 866-464-8735 to speak with an expert Trip Consultant or book online any time by clicking the “BOOK THIS TRIP” icon near the upper right of each destination’s overview page.* Once you have submitted your reservation online, a Trip Consultant will contact you within one business day to answer any questions you may have and to confirm space, bike, and room availability on your desired trip. Your booking will be finalized once your no-risk deposit is paid. If you make a reservation more than 90 days prior to the trip, a $750 no risk deposit is due at the time of booking.** If you reserve your trip less than 90 days prior to the departure, the full balance is due at the time of booking. Once your booking is complete you will receive an email confirmation with important information pertaining to your trip.

*Please note that select trips cannot be booked online at this time. For those trips, please call a trip consultant at 866-464-8735.

**Deposit amounts vary for all Race, Cross Country, Special Edition, Ride Camp, Discover, and Self-Guided tours. Please confirm deposit amounts for all trips with your Trip Consultant at time of booking.

When a trip is booked, a guest confirmation letter is immediately sent out. One week prior to the trip start, you’ll receive an email containing your trip start meeting location reminder and any last-minute information that you’ll need to know before you go. Once you arrive at your destination, your Trek Travel host will brief you on the day-to-day plan for the trip and give you an overview on the daily route information and detailed maps within the Ride with GPS app. Your host will also review with you the preloaded Garmin GPS computer that allows you to ride with complete confidence and independence.

We understand things happen in life and sometimes you have to cancel or change your self-guided bike tour. We want to make it as easy as possible to do so and below you’ll find our timeline.

Have a question? Just give us a call, 866-464-8735.
Read our Cancellation Policy

Trek Travel recommends that you purchase a travel protection plan to help safeguard you and your travel investment against the unexpected. We offer a travel protection plan through Arch RoamRight that provides coverage for unforeseen events that could affect your ability to travel with us. Learn more about our Travel Protection

We've collaborated with a specialized travel agency committed to delivering tailored vacation planning, ensuring your entire Trek Travel journey is nothing short of unforgettable. Learn more about our Travel Services

Your Self-Guided trip price is per person based on two guests sharing a room. If you are a solo traveler or if you want to stay in your own private room while traveling with other people, you will have a Single Supplement Fee added to your trip price at the time of booking.

Didn't find what you were looking for? Check out our General FAQs section. You will find answers to the most common questions that don't necessarily pertain to a specific trip. See Self-Guided FAQs


Guaranteed Trips

Our trips are guaranteed to run once we have one confirmed booking on the trip. Click here to view our full guarantee policy.

Trek Travel reserves the right to cancel trips with zero guests, therefore you must book with Trek Travel before making travel arrangements for the trip. We are not responsible for travel arrangements made prior to confirming your Trek Travel Trip. Select trips are not guaranteed.

Sold Out/Waitlist

This trip is currently sold out, but you may be added to the waitlist in the case of availability.

Limited Availability

If a date is marked with Limited Availability, there are few spots left to book. We will secure additional rooms from our hotels before confirming your reservation.

Looking to travel with a small group? Ask our trip consultants about private trips and learn more.

What are your trip styles?

Classic - Reserve:

Savor the finer things as you relax in luxurious 5-star accommodations and wine, dine, and ride in some of the most unforgettable destinations around the world.

Classic - Signature:

Explore beautiful destinations by bike, enjoy extra inclusions, savor delicious local cuisine, and enjoy the perfect mix of accommodations.

Classic - Discovor:

Enjoy a casual cycling vacation with fantastic routes and comfortable accommodations.

Ride Camp:

Train like the pros in some of their favorite riding destinations.

Pro Race:

See the pros in action at the biggest cycling events of the year.

Cross Country:

Tackle an epic adventure that takes you point-to-point across mountains, countryside, and more.

Self-Guided

Enjoy a bike tour on your schedule with just your chosen travel companions.

Private

If a date is marked as Private, it is reserved for a private group.

Looking to travel with a small group or looking for a custom date?
Call our trip consultants at 866-464-8735

What is the Difference?

Ultimate Luxury:

Savor some of the most spectacular, 5-star properties in the world. Exuding luxury and elegance, these one-of-a-kind accommodations offer the chance to rejuvenate at award-winning spas, dine at Michelin-starred restaurants, and more.

Luxury:

Enjoy luxurious accommodations handpicked for a refined experience. From signature spa treatments to delicious local cuisine, you’ll be more than provided for; you’ll be pampered.

Explorer

These handpicked hotels provide relaxation and fun in a casual and comfortable environment. Delicious cuisine and great service mix perfectly for a memorable stay.

Combined

On select cycling vacations, you’ll stay at a mix of hotel levels, from Explorer to Luxury to Ultimate Luxury. Rest assured, no matter which level of hotel you’re at, our trip designers carefully select every accommodation.

Activity Level

Level 1:

Road: 1-3 hours of riding. Up to 25 mi (40 km). Up to 1,000 ft (300 m).

Gravel: 1-3 hours of riding. Up to 20 mi (35 km). Up to 1,000 ft (300 m).

Hiking: 1-3 hours of hiking. Up to 5 mi (8 km). Up to 1,000 ft (300 m).

Level 2:

Road: 2-4 hours of riding. 20-35 mi (35-60 km). Up to 2,500 ft (750 m).

Gravel: 2-4 hours of riding. 15-30 mi (25-45 km). Up to 2,000 ft (300 m).

Hiking: 2-4 hours of hiking. 4-8 mi (6-12 km). Up to 1,500 ft (450 m).

Level 3:

Road: 3-5 hours of riding. 25-55 mi (40-85 km). Up to 4,500 ft (1,500 m).

Gravel: 3-5 hours of riding. 20-40 mi (35-60 km). Up to 3,000 ft (900 m).

Hiking: 3-5 hours of hiking. 6-10 mi (9-16 km). Up to 2,000 ft (600 m).

Level 4:

Road: 4+ hours of riding. 40-70 mi (60-110 km). Up to 8,000 ft (2,400 m).

Gravel: 3-5 hours of riding. 30-50 mi (45-80 km). Up to 4,000 ft (1,200 m).

Hiking: 4+ hours of hiking. 7-15 mi (11-24 km). Up to 4,000 ft (1,200 m).

What are your trip styles?

Classic - Reserve:

Savor the finer things as you relax in luxurious 5-star accommodations and wine, dine, and ride in some of the most unforgettable destinations around the world.

Classic - Signature:

Explore beautiful destinations by bike, enjoy extra inclusions, savor delicious local cuisine, and enjoy the perfect mix of accommodations.

Classic - Discovor:

Enjoy a casual cycling vacation with fantastic routes and comfortable accommodations.

Ride Camp:

Train like the pros in some of their favorite riding destinations.

Pro Race:

See the pros in action at the biggest cycling events of the year.

Cross Country:

Tackle an epic adventure that takes you point-to-point across mountains, countryside, and more.

Self-Guided

Enjoy a bike tour on your schedule with just your chosen travel companions.

Single Occupancy

Sometimes it’s more convenient and comfortable to have your own room while on vacation. We understand and that’s why we offer a Single Occupancy option. The additional price guarantees a private room all to yourself