The RiDE three-day tour of the Italian Lakes and Alps
A three-day motorcycle tour from the highest peak to the highest pass, past the playground of he stars in the Italian Lakes.
Passo San Marco: an unexpected treat
This three-day tour takes in some of the most astonishing high-mountain riding in Europe - as well as the elegant sophistication of the Italian Lakes. Our starting point for this motorcycle tour of Aosta is easily reached from the UK in a comfortable two-day ride from Calais (see Getting to Italy) or even one long motorway day if you’re short of time… but it’s meant to be a holiday - take two days and enjoy the ride.
From Aosta, the first day heads over the Gran San Bernardino Pass into Switzerland. Those prepared to buy a Swiss motorway Vignette at the border can save about an hour on the day’s ride, but we’ve plotted both motorway and non-motorway routes to the Simplon Pass. This leads to Lake Lugano and we hug the shore to return to Italy, heading for an overnight stop in Menaggio on the shores of Lake Como.
The second day starts with a ride around Lake Como to the millionaire’s playground of Bellagio. Our route includes part of the course of the old Bellagio hillclimb road race on the way to Lecco, where we head into the hills. Through the quiet roads of Val Tallegio and over the unspoilt San Marco Pass, the route leads to Bormio.
The final day starts with the mighty Stelvio Pass, before sweeping into the Dolomites, passing through Cavalese and crossing Passo Manghen to reach Riva del Garda. If you want to spend more time in Italy, the tour can easily be extended by adding out day trips around Aosta, Bormio or Riva.
MAPS AND DOWNLOADS FOR THE RIDE MOTORCYCLE TOUR OF THE ITALIAN LAKES AND ALPS
Day 1: La Thuile to Menaggio. 240 miles. 7.5 hours (6.5 hours with a Swiss vignette)
Suggested stops: AM coffee: Grand St Bernard pass, lunch: Simplon pass, PM coffe: San Bartolomeo
Day one map (no tolls), Day one GPX file OR Day one (with Swiss vignette), Day one GPX File (with Swiss vignette)
Day 2: Menaggio to Bormio. 220 miles. 8 hours
Day two map, Day two GPX file
