Start at the cyclists’ chapel on the Ghisallo and finish on the shores of Lake Garda. This self-guided Italian lakes cycling tour links Como, Iseo, Idro and Garda through Lombardy’s quieter valleys, with panoramic passes, a spa town and roads where you will meet more cows than cars.
Italian Lakes Traverse at a glance
| Format | Self-guided, with daily luggage transfers |
| Duration | 7 days / 6 nights |
| Distance | About 365 km (40–76 km a day) |
| Climbing | Around 6,350 m in total |
| Level | Intermediate to advanced |
| Bike | Road |
| Best season | June to September |
| Price | From 1,199 € per person |
Day by day
Day 1 · Lake Como warm-up
40 km · 650 m
A classic loop from Bellagio up the Passo del Ghisallo, with the Madonna del Ghisallo chapel and the Cycling Museum at the top, and back along the lake.
Day 2 · Lake Como to San Pellegrino
68 km · 1,650 m
Ferry to Varenna, climb into Valsassina and over the Culmine di San Pietro, then the traffic-free Brembo valley path to the spa town of San Pellegrino Terme.
Day 3 · San Pellegrino to Lake Iseo
76 km · 1,650 m
Through Dossena to the panoramic Passo di Zambla, then the smooth descent of Val Borlezza to the shimmering shores of Lake Iseo.
Day 4 · Around Lake Iseo to Sulzano
55 km · 900 m
The extraordinary balcony road to Parzanica high above the lake, a ridge ride through Vigolo and a waterfront hotel in Sulzano.
Day 5 · Lake Iseo to Lake Idro
72 km · 1,400 m
Over Passo Polaveno into the hidden Val Sabbia, a valley of forests and old hamlets, to the remote, emerald Lake Idro.
Day 6 · Lake Idro to Lake Garda
57 km · 1,100 m
The wild, almost empty Valvestino above its reservoir, then a flowing descent to Toscolano on Lake Garda.
Day 7 · Departures
Transfer to Milan Bergamo airport.
What’s included
- 6 nights in 3★ and 4★ hotels with breakfast
- Transfers from Bergamo airport to Bellagio and from Lake Garda to Bergamo
- Daily luggage transfers
- Telephone assistance
- Optional: bike rental, private transfers and extra nights
When to go and who it is for
June to September for open passes and swimming in the lakes. Daily climbing is real but distances are moderate, so regular road cyclists will enjoy it; the reward is a different lake almost every day.
Ready to ride?
See full details, dates and prices on the Italian Lakes Traverse tour page.
Need a bike? Rent a road, gravel or e-bike from our Barcelona shop, or bring your own. Want to change the dates, upgrade hotels or ride it as a private group? Get in touch and we will tailor it for you.
