Gentle and slow cycling experience around Italian Lake District
We have designed a 7-day guided cycling tour around Lake Maggiore, Lugano and Varese mainly along cycle paths and back roads where you can avoid cycling any big hills and medium sized hills as well.
The Northern Italy's Lake District isn't flat. You might think that this is not the place for more relaxed rides or for gentle and slow cycling. However we can arrange a perfect blend of riding and relaxation for slower cyclists.
The rides are suitable for those who doesn't love to tackle climbs.
Look at the scheduled rides below (distances, elevations).
The Gentle Cycling Tour starts and ends on Saturday in Varese and it's based on two hotels. You will be staying a few days in Varese and a few days in Colmegna on Lake Maggiore. 7 nights and 6 days of cycling.
On day 4 we transfer from Varese to Colmegna by bike and on day 7 we transfer back from Colmegna to Varese by bike.
Your luggage will be transferred for you by the hotels.
Varese is 25 km in a crow flies from Milan Malpensa Airport and can be reached in a 43-minute train ride every hour (no change). How to Get Here
Northern Italy's natural lakes are famous and admired all over the world, nestled between the Alps to the North and the flat lands of the Po Valley to the South, with breathtaking panoramas, ancient villages, and villas on each lake.
In the Northern area of the region the mountains fall steeply into the blue waters of the lakes. These lakes and their mountains have been natural and physical borders for thousands of years.
Today they continue to serve as borders among Lombardy (Italy), Piedmont (Italy) and Canton of Ticino (Italian speaking part of Switzerland).
There's so much diversity environmentally and culturally within this small area.
You can only truly grasp all there is to see by bike.
Learn more about the best tourist attractions around.
Easy cycle routes around Lake Maggiore, Lugano, Varese
Explore Lake Maggiore, Lugano and Varese. Enjoy a deeper exploration of what our area has to offer: ancient villas, parks, churches and hermitages which were built from Sixteenth Century to the Nineteenth Century, exibitions, history, art, culture.
In particular we suggest to visit Villa Panza at Varese, Villa della Porta Bozzolo at Casalzuigno, Hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso on Lake Maggiore, Sacro Monte of Varese (historic site on the UNESCO Worldwide Heritage List).
2025 Gentle cycling tour prices per person in Euro
Start location:
Varese
End location:
Varese
Duration:
7 days, 7 nights, 6 days of cycling
Maximum limit:
8 riders
Minimum:
2 riders
Level of difficulty:
recreational cyclists
Terrain:
flat, undulating with occasional small climbs
2025 scheduled dates
Gentle Cycling Tour
May 17th – 24th 2025
June 7th – 14th 2025
June 21st – 28th 2025
July 5th - 12th 2025
August 16th – 23rd 2025
August 30th – Sep 6th 2025
September 13st – 20th 2025
September 27th – Oct 4th 2025
Other dates are possible and we can create a departure for you.
Please contact us, so we will see how we can help you.
The Gentle Cycling Tour usually starts and ends on Saturday in Varese and it's based on two hotels. You will be staying a few days in Varese and a few days in Colmegna on Lake Maggiore. 7 nights and 6 days of cycling.
On day 4 we transfer from Varese to Colmegna by bike and on day 7 we transfer back from Colmegna to Varese by bike.
Your luggage will be transferred for you by the hotels.
This tour requires a minimum of two riders to run.
Book with confidence with our flexible: Terms & Conditions .
Included in guided bike tour:
- 4 nights in double room in Varese & 3 nights in apartment room in Colmegna
- 7 High-calorie continental breakfasts
- 6 Packed lunches, strengthened and protein content snack with bananas and sandwiches
- 6 Post ride lunches when you go back to the hotel
- 6 Dinners
- Standard double occupancy
- A skilled bike guide
- Luggage transport when you move from the first hotel to the second hotel
- The use of the jacuzzi tub and the sauna at Relais Villa Porta in Colmegna
- Any travel by ferry or train along the rides
- Info about the routes (on Google my Maps as well)
- Safe storage with CCTV for your bike at the hotel
- Workstand tool bench for basic maintenance
- Washing and cleaning area for bikes
- Daily laundry service for your cycle clothing
- Free Internet Wi-Fi
Not included:
- Bike hire
- 1 Dinner (on Sunday)
- Travel insurance
- Medical and physiotherapy services
- Transportaton to and from Varese
- Entrance fees Castles, Villas, Museums
- Any extra-beverage and other extras at dinner
Gentle Cycling Bike Tour
Details / Daily Routes
Expect small groups up to 8 riders with a guide leading the way on the road. The reason is to ensure the best riding. In such a way we can garantee you the best quality and attention. If there are more guests, it is better a split-up in two groups during the daily rides.
We usually meet at the bikes at 8.00/8.30 in the morning getting back to the hotel in the afternoon at 14.00/15.00, so you can enjoy a post ride lunch. The rest of the day is relax time. A coffee stop, stops for lunch along the way and for regrouping are suggested during the daily ride
When you’re riding you’ll always have at least one guide on the road with the group.
The guide leads the way on the road giving you the flexibility to ride at your own pace expecially along the climbs. There is no vehicle support.
Please take a look at others key topics below at the end of the page, so you can ensure you are getting a comfortable and enjoyable cycling holiday.
This is a general program to to demonstrate how the cycling esperience is structured. We can include more distance, less distance or different routes. The riding arrangements can be flexible according to your needs.
Learn more about the best tourist attractions around.
Can't find what are you looking for?
Please have a look at:
FAQS
1 ~ Saturday - Arrival
Assembling your own bike or delivery of rental bike and pre-tour briefing.
Accomodation: Hotel Ungheria Varese
2 ~ Sunday, 3 ~ Monday
We have selected three rides which start from Varese. You can choose from:
- Around Lake Varese (35 km, elevation gain 300 mt),
- Around Lake Lugano (52 km, elevation gain 120 mt),
- Lake Varese and Hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso (57 km, elevation gain 300 mt).
Accomodation: Hotel Ungheria Varese
4 ~ Tuesday
Today we move by bike from Varese to Colmegna on Lake Maggiore , while your luggage will be transfered to Colmegna.
You can choose from:
- Route 1 - via Brinzio and Ponte Tresa (42 km, elevation gain 350 mt),
- Route 2 – via Gavirate and Ghirla (57 km, elevation gain 450 mt).
Accomodation: Relais Villa Porta in Colmegna
5 ~ Wednesday, 6 ~ Thursday
We have selected several rides which start from Colmegna.
You can choose from them:
- Cannero, Ascona, Locarno (63 km, elevation gain 200 mt),
- Lake Maggiore on the inside: Laveno, Villa Della Porta Bozzolo (50 km, elevation gain 230 mt),
- Ponte Tresa, Lake Lugano, Marchirolo (40 km, elevation gain 550 mt),
- Piano Magadino, Bellinzona and Medieval Castels (80 km, elevation gain 200 mt).
Accomodation: Relais Villa Porta in Colmegna
7 ~ Friday
Today we say goodbye to Lake Maggiore and head to Varese again by bike, while your luggage will be transfered to Varese. There are two rides to choose from:
- Route 1 – via valtravaglia and Cuvio (40 km, elevation gain 400 mt),
- Route 2 - via Marchirolo and Bedero Valcuvia (46 km, elevation gain 500 mt).
Accomodation: Hotel Ungheria Varese
8 ~ Saturday - Departure
Breakfast and departure.
Key topics to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable cycling holiday.
Here you can make sure what the vibe is like and you can make sure the rides aligns with your expectations and that you have a safe and enjoyable experience.
These rides are suitable for slower cyclists / recreational cyclists.
Slower cyclists / recreational cyclists
Your typical number of weekly rides at home: 1 or 2
In your typical ride you’re comfortable doing up to 40-60 km (27-37 mi), flat, undulating with occasional small climbs.
Your confortable average speed over flat terrain is up to 15/20 km/hours (9/12 mi/hour).
The pace of the daily rides is a very relaxed pace with plenty of stops. It more about enjoying the ride and the local scenery.
Expect flat and undulating roads, sometimes you have to tackle (not every day) a few slight and short climbs never demanding.
We usually will stick to quite and backroads roads, cycle paths avoiding as much as possible main roads and the cars.
The guide will give you the flexibility to ride at your own pace, regrouping whatever it takes.
We will plan to stop for coffee and cake in the morning if you fancy, for lunch along the way and anywhere you need. We are going to bring our packed lunch.
Around here there are several taps and fountains to fill in the water bottle.
Assuming that a drop of rain is not a show stopper for any cyclist, we always want to prevent dangerous situations. Should the weather conditions cause a risk or simply be so lousy that any fun is out of sight, we will pospone the ride and will find a new solution.
Photographer: Lakes Northern Italy Bike Tours
Copyright: Lakes Northern Italy Bike Tours
Credit: Lakes Northern Italy Bike Tours
