Difficulty Rating : 4 Start: Lake Garda Finish: Lake Maggiore Terrain: Mainly low lying with a few climbs Daily Average: 57km Weekly Average: 285km Tour Type: Self Guided Teaser: This northern Italian cycle runs from east to west mainly in the hillier areas south of the big Alpine lakes in the Lombard region.
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This northern Italian cycle runs from east to west mainly in the hillier areas south of the big Alpine lakes in the Lombard region. The cycle also takes in the Cycling Route del Sole and with Eurovelo routes including "La Via dei Pellegrini".

The cycle takes you from the wonderful harbour fortress of Peschiera by Lake Garda as you follow fragments of an ancient Roman road, towards Lake Como. An overnight stay in Como is included in the trip, whose magnificent cathedral testifies to the ancient strength of this city, with a myriad of pedestrian streets leading to the central Piazza Cavour overlooking the lake. Our trip finishes up by Lake Maggiore with the Alps magestically in our horizon.

Being well connected with the main international tourist cycling routes, the beautiful scenery of the areas and the rich artistic sights make this an wonderful route. You will generally find little traffic on these roads with some sections where cars are not allowed.

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A downloadable version of the itinery is available from the Resources Tab

Itineraries

Day 1

Arrival Peschiera del Garda

After your arrival you can check in to your accommodation and enjoy the town or relax.
Peschiera is surrounded by the river Mincio, a small jewel of architecture, enclosed in a mighty sixteenth-century pentagonal wall with beautiful ramparts and imposing access doors.

Day 2

Peschiera del Garda ~ Brescia 53km

You cycle downstream on the Mincio River through a terrain of peaceful rolling hills to the enchanting Castellaro Lagusello, surrounded by a medieval a wall. Through the vineyards you arrive at the tower of San Martino and after the lakeside town of Desenzano, a short climb takes you to hilltops overlooking Lake Garda. Following fragments of an ancient Roman road, you traverse the moraine hills from the Abbey of Maguzzano to arrive at the Romanesque Parish of Pontenove with its romantic 1700s bridge. Arrival in Brescia, a city rich in Roman and medieval remains, surmounted by the ancient castle

Day 3

Brescia ~ Lake Iseo (35km) 35 km

Today is a short and relaxing cycle that leads you into Franciacorta, a land of wines of excellence. The route takes you to Rodengo Saiano, home to a Benedictine abbey where monks still live, passes near the castles of Passirano and Clusane and at the Sebino Nature Reserve, a protected area rich in water birds, and then ends on the banks of the lovely Lake Iseo. Your destination today is Sarnico on the banks for the Oglio River.

Day 4

Lake Iseo ~ Bergamo (35 km)

You cycle along the Oglio river that comes out from Lake Iseo; in short you reach Grumello del Monte, a pretty village with the stone houses; then, 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 town, but above all the splendid upper town, accessible by a funicular.

Day 5

Bergamo ~ Lake Garlate (40 km)

Today you arrive at the branch of Lake Como called Lago di Lecco. The route takes us to Mapello, where there is a sanctuary dedicated to the Madonna of Prada; another place of great spirituality is Sotto il Monte, the town where Pope John XXIII was born; his birth place is a nice free museum. A memorable experience is the crossing of the river Adda on a Leonardesque ferry pulled by cable. You reach Garlate by pedaling through the green of the beautiful cyclepath along the Adda

Day 6

Garlate ~ Como (40 km)

This is the day when you cycle past the largest number of lakes, all very small: Annone, Pusiano, Alserio, partially riding on dirt roads. The end of the path is the most beautiful part; in Solzago you take the Passeggiata Voltiana that takes its name from Alessandro Volta, buried nearby; with an exciting descent first through the woods and then along a beautiful road you will arrive in the centre of Como and then on the shores of the beautiful lake.

Day 7

Como ~ Ranco (Lake Maggiore) 60km

The last day you set off along the lake surrounded by splendid villas, in particular Villa Olmo, in the direction of Cernobbio. You cross the border with Switzerland and then you reach Varese and immediately after its lake with the bike path; along the Monate lake from the clear waters where it is possible to swim. Finally you are in Ispra on the Lake Maggiore and passing through the green Quassa cycle path you arrive to Ranco, where you will enjoy a splendid view of the lake.

  • 7 nights in 3* and 4* hotels,  including breakfast
  • Luggage transfer ( one piece of luggage per person ) 
  • Road book, maps, information  ( one book per room ) 
  • 7 Day service hotline

Bike rental is not included in our 2024 tour price. This is an additional:
€140.00 Hybrid Bike
€290.00 Electric Bike
€    5.00 Helmet rental

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2024 SELF GUIDED TOUR                                     

€1120.00 per person sharing for 2 or 3 pax
€  910.00 per person sharing for 4 or more pax                                                               
€  265.00  single room occupancy

Bike rental is not included in the tour price:
€140 hybrid bike
€290 e-bike

Self Guided Tour Information

Self guided tours start every Saturday from 23 March to 28 September; other dates available for 4 pax or more

How to get to the start point: 

Airplane:
The closest airport is Verona; there is a shuttle bus from the airport to the train station of Verona Porta Nuova, from there there’s a direct train to Peschiera del Garda.
From Milano Airports (Linate and Malpensa) take the bus to Milano central station and then the train to Peschiera
From Bergamo Airport take the bus to Brescia train station and then the train to Peschiera
Train:
Peschiera del Garda is linked directly to the train stations of Milano (1 hour), Brescia (25minutes) and Verona (15 minutes)
Car:
From Austria/Innsbruck take Highway A22/E45, exit Affi/Lago di Garda sud, then follow direction
“Peschiera” on SR450 until Peschiera.
From Austria/Villach take Highway A23/E55 until the end, then A4/E70 direction Venezia/Padova/Verona/Milano and exit PESCHIERA
From Switzerland/Chiasso take Highway A9/E35 until Milano, then A4/E70 direction Verona and exit PESCHIERA
The first hotel is located near the train station.

For more details please have a look at the tour dossier.  As always please contact us in the office for more information (info@cyclingsafaris.com).

PESCHIERA DEL GARDA

Day 1: Hotel Bell Arrivo***

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BRESCIA

Day 2: Hotel NH Brescia****

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BERGAMO

Day 3: Hotel NH Bergamo***

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GARLATE

Day 4: Hotel Nuovo***

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COMO

Day 5: Hotel Tre Re***

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RANCO

Day 6: Hotel Belvedere

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Tour Date Options

Red = booked out / not available, Blue = Limited Availability, Green = available

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Booking Form

Primary Contact Details.

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Insurance

We require you to have Travel Insurance when you book the tour. It is important that you are covered in case of cancellation due to injury as the deposit is non refundable

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Please indicate below how many people are in your group including yourself.

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Acommodation

For single travellers, we organise accommodation on a twin sharing basis. Please note it may not be possible on all our tours and a single supplement will be applied.

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Other Information

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Payment Information

If you have been on a previous tour, there is a €50.00 discount on our week long tours in Ireland (unfortunately this discount does not apply to other European trips)

A €250.00 deposit is required for each person booking on a holiday. The Balance payment is required two month prior to the starting date. The deposit is forfeited in the event of a cancellation of your booking. The balancing payment is also non-refundable in the event of the cancellation occuring within 14 days of the tour starting date. All transactions are taken in Euro.

We will contact you to confirm your booking and payment details.

Please ensure that you have read the terms and conditions before proceeding.

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Booking Conditions

Irish Cycling Safaris Ltd (“the Company”) accepts bookings subject to the following conditions:

  • The contract is between the Company and the client, being any person travelling or intending to travel on a tour operated by the company. The contract, including all matters arising from it, is subject to Irish law and the exclusive jurisdiction of the Irish courts. A booking is accepted and becomes definite only from the date when the company sends a confirmation. It is at this point that a contract between the company and the client comes into existence. Before your booking is confirmed and comes into existence the company reserves the right to increase or decrease brochure prices. The company or their agents reserve the right to decline any booking at their discretion.
  • To secure a booking the Company or their agent requires a completed booking form and the necessary deposit. (Full payment if travel within 60 days). The first named client must be over 18 years of age. Clients booking by telephone, by website/E-mail or fax will be deemed to have signed the booking form and read and accepted our terms of booking. The person signing, or being deemed to sign, the booking form warrants that he/she has full authority to do so on behalf of all persons whose names appear thereon, and confirms that all such persons are fully aware of and accept these conditions.
  • The balance of all monies due, including any surcharges applicable at the time, must be paid to the company or their agents not later than 60 days before departure. In the case of non-payment of the balance by the due date the Company reserves the right to cancel your booking and cancellation charges will apply. If any cheque is dishonoured we reserve the right to charge €25 to cover administration costs.
  • Travel Insurance is mandatory for all clients whilst on a tour organised by the Company. Clients are wholly responsible for arranging their own insurance. Clients are responsible for ensuring that they are in possession of private Travel insurance with protection for the full duration of the tour in respect of at least medical expenses, injury, death, repatriation, cancellation and curtailment, with adequate cover.
  • An administration fee of €25 per booking plus any additional costs incurred will be charged if a confirmed booking is changed or transferred to a different departure date or tour, up to 60 days prior to departure. Thereafter all changes will be treated as cancellations and subject to the relevant charges. Changes are subject to availability. For an administration fee of €25 you may request a credit voucher. This must be redeemed within 12 months of issue and must be used against a new booking. The voucher is non transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash. In certain circumstances, which the Company considers reasonable, the booking may be transferred to another suitable person; however the tour arrangements must remain the same and will only be allowed if all suppliers agree to accept the name change. If a transfer is allowed an administration charge of €25 per person will be charged plus any extra charges levied by suppliers.
  • Should the client wish to cancel, cancellation charges will be imposed. These are calculated from the day written notification is received by the company or their agent as a percentage of the total tour price, including surcharges as follows:

    > 60 days before departure – retention of deposit

    60-14 days before departure – 50%

    < 14 days before departure – 100%

  • Clients are responsible for arranging, and must be in possession of, a valid passport and any visas and vaccination certificates required for the whole of their journey. Information about these matters or related items (climate, clothing, baggage, personal items etc) is given in good faith but without responsibility on the part of the company.
  • Should the client have a reason to complain, you must immediately notify our representative and the relevant supplier. If the client’s complaint is not dealt with satisfactorily at the time, they must write to us with full details of the complaint within 28 days of the end of the tour. Failure to notify complaints entirely within accordance of this clause will diminish or extinguish the client’s ability to claim compensation.
  • The company provides all services on a “ground only” basis. The client is responsible for arranging their own travel to the designated start points of each tour. The company cannot accept any liability for any delay/cancellation in your transportation and cannot offer any refunds for lost holiday time.
  • Clients agree to accept the authority and decisions of the Company’s employees, tour leaders and agents whilst on the tour with the company. If in the opinion of such persons the health, level of fitness or conduct of a client at any time before or after departure appears likely to endanger the safe, comfortable or happy progress of a tour the client may be excluded from all or part of the tour without refund or recompense. In the case of ill health the company may make such arrangements as it sees fit and recover the costs thereof from the client. If a client commits an illegal act the client may be excluded from the tour and the Company shall cease to have responsibility to/for them. If you are affected by a condition, medical or otherwise, that might affect you or affect other people’s enjoyment or active participation of the tour, you must advise us at the time of booking. No refund will be given for any unused services.
  • The Company will use its best endeavours to operate all tours as advertised. However, it reserves the right to change any of the facilities, services, prices or itineraries described in our brochure/website. If a major change is necessary or deemed advisable, the company will advise the client as soon as reasonably possible, if there is no time before departure. A major change does not apply to a change of transport or named accommodation, but is usually considered a major change in itinerary or change in duration of a client’s holiday. If advised of a major change before departure, the client will have the choice of accepting changes (at additional cost if applicable), purchasing another available tour from the company, or cancelling the tour with a full refund.

    Provided that the major change is not as a result of situations outside the company’s control or consolidation, compensation will be paid as follows:

    Notification Period Given / Compensation Per Person

    More than 30 days: Nil

    14-30 days: €40

    Less than 14 days: €50

     
  • Force Majeure. We regret we cannot accept liability or pay any compensation where the performance or prompt performance of our contractual obligations is prevented or affected by reasons of circumstance amounting to “force majeure”. In these conditions “force majeure” means any event which we the supplier of services in question could not, even with all due care, foresee or avoid. Such events include war or threat of war, riot, civil strife, industrial dispute, terrorist activity, natural or nuclear disaster, fire or adverse weather conditions, epidemics or health risks and all similar events outside our control.
  • The company reserves the right to cancel a tour in any circumstances but will not cancel a tour less than 4 weeks before departure except for “force majeure”, consolidation, or the client’s failure to pay the final balance. Unless the client fails to pay the final balance, the company, upon cancellation will return all monies paid to it, or offer the client an alternative holiday of comparable standard if available (if less expensive than original we will refund the difference, if more expensive, the client will have to pay the difference). Compensation will not be payable (1) where the company is forced to cancel as a result of unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, the consequences of which we could not have avoided even with all due care or (2) where an insufficient number of people book the clients chosen holiday and we notify we are cancelling for this reason not less than 28 days before departure. In all cases our liability is limited to offering the above choices and the compensation payments (where applicable) set out in clause 11. No compensation is payable if we notify you of cancellation more than 8 weeks before departure. We cannot be held responsible for any costs or expenses you may have as a result of cancellation.
  • Client’s bookings are accepted on the understanding that they appreciate the risks inherent in adventure travel and that they undertake the tours featured in our programme at their own volition. Our obligations, and those of any suppliers providing any service or facility involved in any travel arrangements you book with us, are to provide services and facilities with reasonable care and skill. Facilities will be provided to the realistic minimum standard recommended by the regulatory authorities responsible.
  • Bike Hire: The equipment including all accessories supplied is let out on hire. The equipment remains the property of the company and the Client will not sell, hire out or otherwise part with the possessions thereof.

    The Client undertakes not to misuse the equipment and to return it with all accessories in the same condition as when received (ordinary wear and tear accepted). The company shall be entitled to charge the client for any damages caused to equipment during the period of hire. In event of a breakdown, other than a result of the Clients misuse, the company will use its best endeavours to repair or procure repair of the equipment.

    The company will not be liable for any damage or loss whatsoever, through breakdown or other defect in the equipment or other circumstances beyond the company’s control. The Client shall indemnify the company with respect to all costs, claims, expenses and demands suffered or incurred which arise directly or indirectly out of the use of the equipment during the period of hire. The company reserves the right to charge the client for partial or full settlement of any claim. In the event of the equipment being stolen or lost, the company reserves the right to call upon the client to indemnify the company the replacement of the equipment. However, should the equipment subsequently be returned in a satisfactory condition, the company undertakes to refund the clients indemnity within 14 days.

    The Client will ensure that the equipment is adequately secured when not in use, will not use the equipment whilst under the influence of drink or drugs and will immediately notify the company in the event of breakdown or loss of equipment.

  • Clients bringing their own bikes do so on the proviso that their equipment is in a suitable condition for participation in a tour. Responsibility for maintenance of bicycles brought by clients rests with the client. The company will endeavour to accommodate such clients, but cannot guarantee that correct tools and spares will be available, given the wide range of possibilities that exist.