E-Bike Tour around Three Lakes and Idyllic Mountain Life
Description
This fantastic route delivers it all: hidden villages, rustic charm, spectacular lake views, and a stop on Lake Lugano beach. Pass evocative stone houses and old water mills. Weave through charming village squares untouched by time and tourism. Enjoy a glorious downhill ride on an original medieval road. Stunning views guide us onto the shores of Lake Lugano before we cycle along the old railway line to complete our loop back in the Renaissance hamlet of Cardano. The ride is a mini adventure including gravel roads, uphills, downhills & narrow village roadss - General agility and confidence on a bike are required. An e-bike is a normal geared bicycle with battery assistance.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We start our tour from the Renaissance hamlet of Cardano. Ride the narrow cobbled alleyways past the Bagatti Valsecchi villa that stills belongs to this noble Milanese family. The small agricultural villages we visit are composed of narrow paths with tight turns requiring agility and confidence on a geared bike.
Ride a relatively steep downhill section into the Val Sanagra nature reserve to discover the valley stream that gave life to a number of mills and is home to gorgeous stone houses and ancient stone bridges.
Ride uphill into the hamlet of Velzo, surrounded by grape vines and immersed in mountain scenery. Traverse the village following the original narrow alleyways including a few tight turns.
We enter Naggio, another typical mountain village with a beautifully preserved square, before preparing for a gorgeous, panoramic downhill ride (at times steep) to get our first glimpse of Lake Lugano.
We ride the back roads to find hidden frescoes and continue on the original medieval road which includes downhill sections of easy gravel.
Cycle through the historic centre of this lakeside town with it's speciality food stores. Stop right on the beach and have a coffee or ice-cream in the area. The homeward journey passes the scenic nature reserve of Lake Piano. Follow the old railway line passing expansive green fields, stables and farmsteads until we reach Cardano where the tour ends. This stretch of cycle path is the only flat section of the tour.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Minimum age 14, minimum height 150cm, maximum height 194cm (under 18yrs accompanied by an adult).
- Suggested maximum age 65. Participants age 65+ need to be recent, confident riders on varied terrain.
- Intermediate skills on a geared bicycle on mixed terrain are needed. Lake Como is mountainous - there are significant uphills and downhills; sections of easy gravel and narrow village paths requiring general athleticism, agility and confidence on a bicycle.
- Suitable activewear is obligatory - No sandals or open shoes, no loose-fitting long skirts or trousers. Guests wearing flip flops will not be allowed to ride for safety reasons.
- Pick up from Menaggio/Cadenabbia ferry station available on request only and paid on-site
- Not recommended for travelers with mobility impairments, injuries, bad hips and lack of agility.
Reviews(141)
Absolutely beautiful , very well organized . Very kind and sweet owner guide and his wife. They had all prepared bikes ready labeled bags in, radios ready-water- beautiful landscape- very recommended. Weather 80s but fresh on e-bike.
Very beautiful estate in the heart of nature with the sounds of birds singing and frogs croaking. You feel good here.
Grazie mille
We had a wonderful first-time-e-mtb-bike ride! Great tour-guide, with local connections and knowledge. We enjoyed the ride through desolated villages and some bits more into nature and over cobblestones. The e-bikes (Cube) were fantastic, durable and stable. Totally recommend this if you want to get around in a different way.
This is so much fun I've gone back twice! The views are amazing, Luigi is a ton of fun and it is overall a wonderful experience. We stopped in a little village for coffee and to interact with the sweet locals. So memorable! The bikes are fairly easy to use if you are a confident biker. Be ready to climb the mountains at the start (Turbo mode! : ), on a paved road. Not much traffic, but a little. You can see the Alps, Switzerland, mountains, lakes - it's such a an amazing way to see the area and experience locals. I highly recommend!
Grazie mille
We just rode the “Tour Three Lakes…” with Luigi and had a great time! The e-bikes were very simple to use and just perfect for our ride through numerous small towns, seeing some great views of Lake Como, Lake Lugano and the surrounding area. Luigi is a great guide, very personable, very knowledgeable—so fun to be with! Our time went by too quickly. If you want an activity that is memorable and away from crowded tourism, while visiting Lake Como—don’t miss this. Thank you Luigi—I highly recommend!
Thank you for the review - we really appreciate it. It was a pleasure riding with you
We had an amazing morning with Luigi. He is so much fun!!! Both he and his wife Emily made the tour fantastic. We saw the beautiful lakes, enjoyed some time at the beach and an opportunity to for a delicious cappuccino during a stop. The E-bikes were fabulous making the tour incredibly manageable. Don’t book with anyone else!!!
Grazie mille!! We really appreciate it! It was a pleasure to meet you
Was a great experience, very knowledgeable guide. Went through villages that were not highly populated so it made it much more enjoyable because it was a not lot of people on our bike tour around. Highly recommend…
Grazie mille we appreciate it
This is a great tour. The ebikes were great so not too much effort required over the hills. Scenery was magnificent and the guide great. This is a really great experience. Overall a great day out. If you are contemplating a bike tour, This is the one.
Grazie mille, we appreciate the review
Just a great experience. Welcoming, good exercise and natural beauty. Fun and well planned Thanks Luigi. Ciao!
Grazie mille - It was a pleasure
Great guide - fun ride. We saw some beautiful scenery and met some local people at a cafe where we stopped for a coffee.
Thank you!
