BIKING ALONG THE LAKES


It’s sport time! For all the bike lovers who do not want a "lazy" holiday….discover the Northern Lakes in an unconventional way. Experience a bike journey on Maggiore Lake, with its ancient monasteries, castles, natural parks, enchanted villages and ferryboat cruises.



DAY BY DAY ITINERARY

DAY 1 – MAGGIORE LAKE ARRIVAL AND RELAX


Arrival at Milano Malpensa Airport and private transfer to your accommodation located on near Lake Maggiore. Your accommodation is a beautiful 18th century villa (a former seminary school) built on the foundations of a medieval castle. Free day, pre-tour briefing and stretching in the villa’s park and in the surrounding countryside. Mountain bikes delivered at the hotel. Dinner and overnight.


ESSENCE SPECIALS

 

  • The original and elegant accommodation chosen, a wonderful villa near Lake Maggiore.


DAY 2 - ROCCA D’ANGERA, BORROMEO CASTLE


Cycling tour of Lake Maggiore surrounding area, in the Ticino natural park. Lunch on own. In the afternoon, arrival in Arona, a lovely village on the lake Maggiore shores, check- in at your hotel and balance of the day at leisure to visit the area. Dinner on own and overnight in Arona.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

 

  • Visit the Rocca d’Angera and the doll museum inside the Borromeo castle.

  • Ride along both Ticino riversides and the "Lagoni di Mercurago" natural park.

DAY 3 - ZOOLOGIC PARK AND STRESA


Cycling tour of Lake Maggiore area with arrival in Stresa in the afternoon. Balance of the day at leisure, lunch and dinner on own and overnight in Stresa.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

 

  • San Carlone monument, a statue that can be visited from the inside to admire the impressive panorama.

  • Tour of the zoologic park along the Lake Maggiore.

  • Walk in Stresa, a really suggestive village over the lake.

DAY 4 - STRESA


Today, enjoy a day in complete relax in Stresa, a real pearl over the Lake Maggiore shores. Lunch and dinner on own and overnight in Stresa.

ESSENCE SPECIALS (OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES ON REQUEST)

 

  • A cruise on the lake Maggiore, with stops on the way to visit the main attractions of the surrounding areas.

  • Free visit to Varese, called the garden-city, by train.

  • Free visit to Laveno and his dominant mountain, the "Monte Nudo", reachable by cable-car.

  • Free visit to Milan by train (1 h trip).


DAY 5 - MERGOZZO AND FERRYBOAT CRUISE


Today you will ride along the Lake Maggiore shores and reach a local stone village, which represents one of the quaintest centers of the area. Afterwards, you will reach a wonderful botanic garden and have time to explore it on own. Dinner and overnight in Cittiglio.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

 

  • Visit of Mergozzo, a wonderful fishermen’s village located directly on the lake. The symbol of the town is an elm, a tree that has been living there from centuries: you will be able to admire it and to visit the two Mergozzo museums, the archeological museum and the marble museum.

  • Visit to the Alpinia Botanical Garden, with more than thousand varieties of plants.

DAY 6 - REST DAY, OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS


Rest and free day in Cittiglio. Breakfast and free time. Lunch and dinner on own and overnight in Cittiglio.

ESSENCE SPECIALS (OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES ON REQUEST)

 

  • Bellinzona tour, that includes the visit of Bellinzona castles, part of the Unesco’s world heritage.

  • Free visit to Varese, called the garden-city, by train.

  • Free visit to Laveno and his dominant mountain, the "Monte Nudo", reachable by cable-car.

  • Free visit to Milan by train (1 h trip).


DAY 7- VARESE


Today, you will visit an historical Villa with magnificent rooms and gardens and you will proceed to the most charming attraction of the area: the hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso. A nice ride on a bicycle path along the Lake of Varese’s shores will complete the day. Dinner and overnight in a local hotel.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

 

  • The Hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso, a Roman Catholic monastery, perched on a rocky ridge on the eastern shore of Lake Maggiore. Its construction dates from the 14th century, although the more recent frescos are from the 19th century. It consists of three buildings: the southern convent, the convent and the main church. In 1914 it was declared a national monument.

DAY 8 - VARESE AND COMABBIO


Enjoy a lovely final ride along the Lake of Varese and Lake of Comabbio bicycle paths. At night you will return your mountain bike at the hotel. Dinner and Overnight in a local hotel

DAY 9- CHECKOUT


Breakfast and end of our services.

OPTIONS AVAILABLE FOR THE TOUR: 3*, 4*, 5* HOTELS, VILLAS AND HISTORICAL RESIDENCES, ALL THE TOURS CAN BE PERSONALIZED AND TAILOR MADE PRICE: ON REQUEST AT INFO@ESSENCEOFITALY.IT