Como, Stelvio & Dolomites Cycling Tour

Ride your bucket list of Italian climbs to challenge the body and inspire the mind
Illustration displaying a cycling tour duration of nine days and eight nights
Illustration displaying eight days of riding on a cycling tour
Illustration displaying a total riding distance of 510 kilometres for our Como, Stelvio and Dolomites cycling tour
Illustration displaying a total riding elevation of 13665 metres for our Como, Stelvio and dolomites cycling tour
Mountain Illustration displaying a cycling tour difficulty rating of nine out of ten

Tours Overview

If your bike bucket list includes many of the famous climbs of Italy, then this tour is for you.

Test yourself across the north Italian lakes and mountains. After a warm up on the climbs of the Muro di Sormano and Ghisallo on the shores of Lake Como, you’ll take on the iconic Passo dello Stelvio, Gavia and Mortirolo before heading to the Dolomites to tick off Passo di Gardena, Passo Sella, Passo Pordoi, Passo di Campolongo, Colle Santa Lucia, Passo Giau, Passo Falzarego and Passo Valparola.

Taking on these legendary passes and soaking up the incredible scenery and vistas that are in every direction you ride, is the perfect way to test yourself both physically and mentally, across this incredible 8 days of climbing.

The majestic rugged peaks of spectacular shape and colour provide the perfect backdrop for you to complete the challenging ascents and superb descents of climbs made famous by the Giro d’Italia.

Expect challenging days on the bike, surrounded by warm Summer mountain air and lush green scenery that is a feast for the eyes and heart in equal measures, followed by a food, wine and cultural experience that takes in the best of the regions produce and cuisine, and its magnificent wines.

Join us for this bucket list adventure of a lifetime.

Two riders on the edge of Lake Como
Climbing out of Bormio
Riding up to the top of Passo Sella
A group cycling in the Dolomites
Lake Como

Como, Stelvio & Dolomites Cycling Tour Itinerary

Welcome to Lago di Como, Stelvio & the Dolomites

On our Stelvio, Dolomites & Lake Como cycling tour, you’ll revel in daily rides that take us over the incredible mountainous landscapes and climbs of the Alps and Dolomites, and through the rolling hills that surround one of Italy’s iconic lakes.

Challenging rides will be met with amazing post ride rewards for an overall experience that is a feast for the senses.

We start this week with a light spin to Argegno as our first ride and it’s the perfect introduction to Italy and the Italian lakes. You make your way out of the quintessential Lombardian town of Como and along the small road that hugs the iconic lake, with its spectacular surrounding mountains.

With undulating terrain the whole way, this ride should blow the cobwebs out of your legs after your travels and also give you the chance to test your bike set-up and make any micro adjustments to the bike as you need.

Highlight: Rolling along the edge of the lake with the alps in the background.
Distance: 40km
Elevation: 600m

Ride profile of Lake Como

It’s time for you to enjoy a full taste of the Lombardian country side. As we roll out of town and through the little villages and into the forest, we head towards the tip of the peninsula and the town of Bellagio, where we’ll stop for a caffe and take in the postcard perfect view. We’ll then take on the main challenge of the day, the 10.6k climb with 5.2% average up to the church of Madonna di Ghisallo, the patroness of cyclists, where we’ll stop for lunch and visit the church, the Museo del Ciclismo.

We’ll then take the mostly downhill backroads back into Como, and our hotel.

Highlight: The little church dedicated to the patron saint of cyclists sitting on top of a hill overlooking the lake below.
Distance: 92km
Elevation: 1680m

Ride Profile of Madonna di Ghisallo

Today you’ll conquer another one of cycling’s legendary climbs, the Muro di Sormano. We’ll start with an undulating warm up along the edge of the lake, before a right hand turn starts the hairpins, climbing and utterly sunning vistas. We keep climbing through the bosco (forest) until we reach the summit. We’ll regroup here for a coffee and panino, before a fast and fun descent for the return journey, heading directly to Como.

Highlight: Tackling the steep sections of the Muro
Distance: 65km
Elevation: 1550m

Ride Profile of the Muro di Sormano

We say goodbye to Como today as we undertake our first transfer to Bormio. We will stop in Tirano for a light snack, as we unload the bikes and then take on Passo Mortirolo, with its mercilessly steep gradients that hit 18% and average 10.4% for the duration. Once reaching the top, we will regroup and then descend and ride into Bormio and our home for the next two nights.

Highlight:
Distance: 59km
Elevation: 2180m

Ride profile of Passo Mortirolo to Bormio

After an early start and transfer to Bormio, it’ll be time for you to take on the iconic Passo dello Stelvio, sitting at an imposing 2750m. This is a climb like no other. With its 34 switchbacks, and at one point a 14%, it will challenge the mind and the legs, and open your heart. After passing the waterfall, you enter the Valle del Braulio and the expanse of open melting white, surrounded by two peaks. On a quiet day, you’ll encounter marmots waking up after a long winter and scurrying out of your way, as you press on past the Umbrail Pass and up another ramp to get to the top of the pass. We’ll stop for a coffee and take in our surrounds, as we peer down in the direction of Prato and it’s 48 switchbacks, deciding if today’s the day to go long. This is a long and technical descent.

Highlight: Conquering the epic Stelvio
Distance: 50km or 95k
Elevation: 1560m or 3455m

Ride Profile of Passo Stelvio

Today you’ll conquer another one of cycling’s legendary climbs, starting by heading towards Santa Caterina, which rises 600m before we even reach the base of the climb. You’ll have a few switchbacks to take care of early, before you ride along the edge of the mountain that sharply drops away before dramatically rising on the other side of a ravine.

Highlight: This is a truly spectacular landscape and possibly our favourite.
Distance: 60km
Elevation: 1800m

Ride profile of Passo Gavia

This is one of our favourite days on the bike. We roll out and start the first of our three ascents for the day, Passo di Campolongo. We all find our own rhythm and set about rolling over the top, before a fast 15km descent and the task of conquering the challenges of Colle Santa Lucia, Passo Giau, Passo Falzarego and Passo Valparola. After stopping to regroup and take in the amazing view of the valley below, we have a final 14km’s of utter joy left, as we descend into the valley and our villa below.

Highlight: The imposing peaks as you reach the top of the Passo Giau and Passo Falzarego.
Distance: 83km
Elevation: 2496m

Ride profile of Passo Giau and Passo Valporola

This is a superb day of climbing and descending on our Sella Ronda cycling experience, with spectacular landscape everywhere you turn.

Today we are either going up or going down, with four distinct passes. We start with a short and slight descent to the south, before our first challenge of Passo di Gardena, followed by Passo di Sella, Passo Pordoi and finishing with the beautiful, free flowing descent of Passo di Campolongo.

Highlight: The feeling of complete contentment after completing the truly beautiful iconic Sella Ronda cycling experience.
Distance: 61km
Elevation: 1800m

Ride Profile of Sella Ronda

Pricing & Dates

7995
per person twin share / Maximum 14 guests

Show Price As

2024

10th July to 18th July 2024 – 3 Places Available

1995
(deposit)

2025

10th July to 18th July 2025

1995
(deposit)

Map of Lake Como, Bormio and the Dolomites

Start Location & Details

City: Como, Italy
Pick Up Location: Train Station, Como
Pick Up Time: 11:30am

Finish Location & Details

City: Venice, Italy
Pick Up Location: Mestre Train Station, Venice
Drop Off Time: 11:30am

Inclusions & Details

A beautiful dish of pasta

Accommodation & Meals

A rider getting their hire bike adjusted on a Italian cycling holiday

Ride Support

The wines of Piemonte

Transfers & Activities

Two piece italian made cycling kit

Ride Kit

Not Included

While airfare, bike hire and travel insurance are not included in the Tour cost, they can be fully arranged for you. Talk to us when booking.

Have More Questions About Our Como Cycling Tour?

See our FAQs page for answers to common questions.

Bike Hire & Gear

Carbon Road Bike with Electronic Shifting

You can choose to hire a Wilier Cento 10SL carbon road bike with Sram Rival Etap, a compact crankset, with a 32 rear cassette & disc brakes.

Carbon Road Bike with Mechanical Shifting

You can choose to hire a Bianchi Sprint with mechanical Shimano Ultegra groupset, a compact crankset, with a 32 rear cassette & disc brakes.

Non-Riding Partners

As part of our Stelvio, Dolomites & Lake Como cycling tour, non-riding partners enjoy an active and dedicated travel program, designed to deliver a diverse range of activities and the best experiences that the regions of Lombardia and the central Dolomites have to offer. Whether it’s guided hikes and photographic tours in the magnificent Dolomites, cheese making experiences, or visits to picturesque lakeside towns and villas, non riders experience the majestic beauty, scenery and culture of each area we visit. With an itinerary curated by Nancy and delivered together with a range of partners and guides whom she personally selects, It’s sure to be a holiday in the lakes, alps and Dolomites you’ll never forget.

As our non-riding partner program is an active adventure, there is a minimum walking requirement for non-riding guests for each tour. Please enquire when booking.

Wild Flowers in the Italian Dolomites
A mountain stream in the Dolomites
Non riding partners on a guided tour of a palace
Non riding parter hiking in the Dolomites
A cheese tasting in the Dolomites
Green fields in the Dolomites filled with wild flowers

Accommodation

Our selection of boutique family run hotels all boast rooms that are perfectly located and have spectacular views of the surrounding landscapes. You’ll enjoy resting in tranquillity and waking up in heaven, with all the amenities available to you for a superbly comfortable stay, pre and post ride.
Accommodation in Bormio
accommodation in the Dolomites
A room in Como
A room in a family run hotel in the Dolomites
An alpine bathroon
An alpine room

Food & Wine

As we travel through Lombardia, the Alps and the Dolomites, our food and wine journey will see you experiencing diverse alpine cuisine, both with superb Milanese quality and style, through to traditional Ladin and Venetian influences. From the kitchens and dining rooms of locals with spectacular views to the chic style of alpine resort osteria’s and restaurants, you’ll experience the true character and diversity of northern Italy.
A rustic plate of antipasto
First course of ravioli
A salumi plate and red wine
A glass of red wine and an antipasti plate
A glass of white wine and a small antipasto plate
An Italian side dish of vegetables

Testimonials

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