• ITALIAN ALPS
    LOCATION |
    BORMIO

    DATES | 6-13 JULY 2024

    DIFFICULTY | VELOCE/HIKERS
    PRICE | € 2350

  • DURATION | 8 DAYS / 5 CYCLING/HIKING DAYS

    TOTAL DISTANCE | BIKE: 454KM / 282MI
    HIKE: 57.5KM / 35MI

    TOTAL ELEVATION | BIKE: 13,717M / 45000FT
    HIKE: 4550M / 14685FT

  • THE KING STELVIO

    Not just any tour, but the King of Tours! Where the most beautiful stories of Italian cycling were written. Stelvio the King or Hairpin Heaven as we affectionately call it. Gavia, the Queen with her glacial lake, Mortirolo, the fearless prince, and all his friends are waiting to be conquered.

    Be ready for the delightful pain of climbing and thrilling joy of descents. But not only fatigue and sweat, our days will always be accompanied by good local food, wine and relaxation at the famous spa of Bormio.


    For walkers and hikers, Alta Valtellina, immersed in the Stelvio National Park, is the ideal place to experience a truly "active" holiday where generous nature offers ideas and opportunities to practice your favorite sport.

    The Stelvio National Park covers an area of over 134,000 hectares, in the heart of the Central Alps; guardian of an undisputed environmental heritage, it offers a mosaic of uncontaminated areas alternating with areas shaped by the millenary presence of man. Within its borders you can admire large wooded expanses, cultivated areas, mountain farms habited all year round, villages and towns. Epic and heroic battles have been fought on the borderline. White War, this is the definition coined by virtue of the altitudes in which the formations of Austria and Italy faced each other during the First World War.

    Join this tour to create an unforgettable memory that will last lifetime.

    WHAT’S INCLUDED

    7 Nights luxe accommodation (twin share) | breakfasts | lunches | dinners | full guide and vehicle support | on-road snacks and supplements | daily pack | one-time group airport transfer on arrival and departure and in between destinations.

    WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED

    Flights | insurances | bike hire | alcoholic beverages | coffee stops | personal hotel expenses | single room occupancy supplement




    The King Stelvio 2023 photos

  • Overview

    Day 1 | Saturday | Welcome
    Day 2 | Sunday | BIKE: Fraele towers & Cancano lakes (Bormio 2000 in option)
    HIKE: Top of Monte Scale & Cancano Lakes
    Day 3 | Monday | BIKE: Stelvio or Double Stelvio! 
    HIKE: Monte Scorluzzo Stelvio Pass
    Day 4 | Tuesday | BIKE: Passo Gavia
    HIKE: Valle Rezzalo Gavia pass
    Day 5 | Wednesday | BIKE&HIKE Rest Day Sunset Aperitif
    Day 6 | Thursday | BIKE: Livigno
    HIKE: Val Viola Livigno crossing
    Day 7 | Friday | BIKE: Mortirolo
    HIKE: Cima Varadega Mortirolo
    Day 8 | Saturday | Morning group airport transfer to Milan Malpensa


    RECOMMENDED AIRPORTS

    Arrival | Milan Malpensa
    Departure | Milan Malpensa



  • DAY BY DAY BIKERS

    DAY 1 | SATURDAY | TRANSFER & WELCOME

    Welcome to the Italian Alps! We start our adventure with an afternoon airport transfer to a beautiful alpine hotel in Bormio. After delivery and set up of the rental bikes, we have a welcome drink and a briefing for the next days’ tour.

    DAY 2 | SUNDAY | FRAELE TOWERS AND CANCANO LAKES

    This climb became famous after the 2020 Giro d’Italia and it’s going to be a good training ground for the days ahead. After the initial short steep section we will pedal through a series of gently ascending switchbacks until we arrive at the Towers. Pose for a ritual photo of the valley below and off to the Cancano with it’s beautiful natural lake. Before returning to the hotel the more adventurous can climb up to the famous Bormio 2000 ski resort.
    50KM|31MI  1653MT|5423FT

    DAY 3 | MONDAY | STELVIO OR DOUBLE STELVIO

    The day of all days starts at 9am and we cycle gently uphill to warm our legs. If you didn’t guess yet, there are no flats around Bormio. We ride the legendary Stelvio, the road that many cycling champions left their print on. A cycling heaven through mesmerizing views of natural beauty, look down and breath out! 
    Once we reach the 2757 meter summit we can finally rest and recharge. For the more adventurous of you, who need to conquer the double Stelvio, we continue down the northern side through the famous 48 hairpins to Prato. The support mini bus will be on hand for any who prefer not to take on this challenge. From Prato we briefly pass into Switzerland for the 12km accent along the Umbrail pass with an average gradient of nearly 10%.
    Bon courage to all those who attempt the big mountains. It will be a day of cycling to remember forever.
    46KM|28MI 1550M|5085FT
    100KM|62MI  3422M|11230FT

    DAY 4 | TUESDAY | PASSO GAVIA

    From the first few meters we realize that we are facing the Queen of climbs. A long valley floor takes us to the village of Santa Caterina, where the road narrows and meanders through the woods. Spectacular scenery accompanies us in our climb up to the pass, passing the glacial lake. We have arrived, the Queen is conquered! But it's not the end yet as we face a most beautiful fast descent all way to Bormio that will make this ride even more memorable.
    52KM|32MI  1497M|4900FT

    DAY 5 | WEDNESDAY | REST DAY & SUNSET APERITIF HIKE
    We take an optional day of rest and visit Bormio Thermal Baths
    Experience total relaxation in one of the Europe's most famous centres for wellbeing of body and mind, ideal place to revitalise and recharge for the last two days of your active holiday.
    Alternatively, pedal or hike along beautiful river cycling path in the valley that stretches all the way down to Tirano.
    In the afternoon we set for an alpine walk to watch the most magical sunset in the mountains accompanied by regional food and wine specialities.

    DAY 6 | THURSDAY | LIVIGNO

    Get your money ready! Shopping awaits us in Livigno, a beautiful mountain town nestled in a valley and, since the 1500, it has been a duty-free zone. But first, expend a little energy on the pedal up the Foscagno pass and, shortly afterwards, the Eira pass before diving down to Livigno. Here we will enjoy a delicious lunch in a local brewery and some retail therapy. For those who don't want to pedal back, the minibus is available.
    75KM|46MI  2241M|7350FT

    DAY 7 | FRIDAY | PASSO DELLA FOPPA (MORTIROLO)

    Maybe we think we're tired, maybe we are, but the majestic Mortirolo must be in our trophy cabinet. It’s 13km with gradients of up to 18% make us understand that anything is achievable, if you believe. Pantani made it famous, cycling monuments greet us during the ascent to the summit where a beautiful stele in his memory awaits us for the traditional photo. 
    78KM|48MI  2530M|8300FT

    DAY 8| SATURDAY | GOODBYE / ARRIVEDERCI / AUF WIEDERSEHEN / AU REVOIR

  • DAY BY DAY HIKERS

    DAY 1 | SATURDAY | TRANSFER & WELCOME

    Welcome to the Italian Alps! We start our adventure with an afternoon airport transfer to a beautiful alpine hotel in Bormio. After checking in we have a welcome drink and a briefing with the alpine guide for the next days’ excursions.

    DAY 2 | SUNDAY | TOP OF MONTE SCALE AND CANCANO LAKES

    The Monte delle Scale, with 2500 meters of altitude, is one of the most panoramic peaks of the Alta Valtellina. From the towers of Fraele starts a beautiful mule track, created in the years of the First World War, which in the span of 2h leads up to the summit of the mountain passing along some landslide ridges and spires that are very reminiscent of the Dolomite environments. At an altitude of 2200 the forest gives way to an exposed rocky ridge.The view towards the valley of Bormio is beautiful, from this we can also glimpse in the distance the Stelvio pass and some valleys and mountains around. If we are lucky from the summit it is also possible to admire the flight of some eagles.

    6KM| 3.7MI   580M|1860FT


    DAY 3 | MONDAY | MONTE SCORLUZZO

    At 3095 meters, the monte Scorluzzo dominates the Stelvio Pass, the highest in Europe. The round route to Filon del Mot, starting from the Stelvio Pass, is a decidedly satisfying hike in which the infinite high mountain landscapes and still present signs of the Great War blend in perfect harmony. Precisely on this itinerary, in fact, it is possible to comfortably climb a peak of 3094 meters and at the same time walk on what were the first Austro-Hungarian and Italian lines just over a hundred years ago. Once you reach Passo delle Platigliole, walk along the path that climbs towards the top of Monte Scorluzzo. In this part of the route, a grandiose landscape mixes with the remains of the war including: trenches, dry stone walls, wooden stairs, remains of barracks and barbed wire.

    8.5KM|5.3M 450M|1440FT

      

    DAY 4 | TUESDAY | VALLE REZZALO

    Being a little-known valley, it is not frequented much even in the summer months, making the excursion very pleasant. Along the way, in the right season, it is not uncommon to meet roe deer, chamois and marmots. This valley, within the Stelvio National Park, connects Valtellina with the road that leads to Passo Gavia, crossing wild but fascinating places. The physical effort is repaid by the magnificent rhododendron flowering that colors the valley starting from June.

    13KM|8MI 1220M|3840FT

    DAY 5 | WEDNESDAY | REST DAY & SUNSET APERITIF
    We take an optional day of rest and visit Bormio Thermal Baths
    Experience total relaxation in one of the Europe's most famous centres for wellbeing of body and mind, ideal place to revitalise and recharge for the last two days of your active holiday.
    Alternatively, pedal or walk along beautiful river cycling path in the valley that stretches all the way down to Tirano.
    In the afternoon we set for an alpine walk to watch the most magical sunset in the mountains accompanied by regional food and wine specialities.

    DAY 6 | THURSDAY | VAL VIOLA-LIVIGNO CROSSING

    Starting from Arnoga, a long and magnificent crossing will allow us to discover the marvels of the val Viola with its lakes up to the colle delle Mine. Hence the long descent towards Livigno. A magnificent excursion in wild and little frequented places.
    15KM|9MI 1000M|3280FT

    DAY 7 | CIMA VARADEGA (MORTIROLO)
    Go up from the Valtellina side along a path until you reach the wide military mule track. From here to the summit characterized by the presence of trenches. Descend via a wide mule track to the Mortirolo pass.
    15KM|9MI 1300M|4265FT

    DAY 8| SATURDAY | GOODBYE / ARRIVEDERCI / AUF WIEDERSEHEN / AU REVOIR

    After breakfast and checking out we leave alpine meadows taking great memories back home with us.
    If you are flying out on this day you need to book an afternoon or evening flight departures.

ASK A QUESTION