Few tread the paths of the Orobie Alps, cradled between Lombardia's urban sprawl and the towering Alps. Yet, for us Bergamo natives, these peaks hold a cherished significance. They're our playground, where we first learned to pedal and where we now roam daily on our bikes.
We Bergamaschi are forged by centuries of toil. We're artisans at heart, crafting everything from fine cheeses to sturdy iron beams. Our hands are calloused from hard work, our spirits humble. Unlike our flashy neighbors in Milan, the city of fashion, ostentation and commerce, we prefer the quiet pride of craftsmanship. And how does this philosophy translate to a biking trip? Simple: it's a journey designed with Bergamaschi sensibilities. Practical, authentic, and focused on the breathtaking vistas of the Orobie Alps—scenery we've kept close to our chests, away from the tourist spotlight.
In an era where only a handful of cycling destinations draw attention, we've fashioned a route—a loop—that winds through our beloved mountains. We're confident that our thoughtful itinerary, paired with Bergamo's convenient connectivity to major European cities, will transform you into an honorary Bergamasco.
Our proposed four-stage trip spans 80 to 100 kilometers each, each stage featuring a single, monumental ascent: Passo San Marco, Mortirolo, Passo del Vivione, and the awe-inspiring Strada Verde. Except for the renowned Mortirolo, these climbs epitomize Bergamo's ethos—functional, enjoyable, and blissfully off the beaten path.
While our journey veers away from tourist hubs, fear not—we've handpicked four cozy overnight accommodations, each bike-friendly and surrounded by small restaurants serving delectable local specialties. Upon your return, immerse yourself in Bergamo's lively ambiance, where an array of restaurants and bars eagerly await to toast your epic alpine adventure
This self-guided travel is a 4 stages ride running clockwise from Bergamo, heading north to the ancient imperial town of Morbegno through the majestic Passo San Marco; second stage is heading east to Aprica and you will climb the infamous Mortirolo (that’s the only “commercial compromise" we have added). But what an addiction with its sharpening slopes!
Third Stage is another die-hard ride going through the 25 steady km to the Passo del Vivione; today stage is finishing to the hidden jem of Lago Moro, which is a little alpine water renowned for its stunning natural beauty, surrounded by rugged mountain peaks and lush forests. The lake's crystal-clear waters are fed by mountain streams and are often used for swimming and recreational activities during the warmer months!.
Laste Stage 4 is a breath-taking ride going from Lago Moro, Lago Iseo, up to the verdant and uncontaminated Strade Verde (the green road), by far the best climb in our region, with it narrow and twisty road snaking up from the shore on the Lake to the 1075 meters of San Fermo and finally a long descent awaiting before riding your way back to Bergamo with its spectacular finish in the medieval old town uphill: the magic of Boccola and 15th century walls will be your finishing line.
Arrival at Milan airport (MXP) or Milan Bergamo, transfer to accommodation and bike-fitting, .
Accommodation: 4-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast |
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First day of the journey is almost a 100km ride, with a 2200 in elevation, taking the route to the highest point, nearly reaching the 2000 meters of the historic Passo San Marco. This ascent is one of the many hidden gems of this trip. On the way out of Bergamo the route follows a secure and scenic cycle path along the old railway proceeding through picturesque galleries and spectacular canyons along the Brembo River, ascending the waters up to Olmo, where the 20 km climb to Passo San Marco begins. The old railway line, now transformed into a bike path, not only provides a vehicle-free environment but also takes you through ancient stone tunnels, adding a touch of history to your ride The road up to Passo San Marco it's an old road built in the 17th century to facilitate the trade of goods between the Republic of Venice and the Swiss cantons. Following in the footsteps of those ancient trade routes, you tackle this fascinating alpine-style ascent with very challenging gradients and 15 hairpin turns, marked by signs placed along the roadside. At the summit, you reach an altitude of 1990 meters, and if the ascent is long, the descent is even more thrilling: 26 endless kilometers descending towards the ancient imperial city of Morbegno
Accommodation: 4-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Good-bye to Morbegno and ride north-east towards the Alps. First part of the stage it’s on a very nice cycle lane which follows the Adda river. We are in Valtellina.
The cycle lane along the Adda river goes on for 40 km up to Mazzo in Valtellina, that is exactly where the world famous killer climb named Mortitolo: 12 km at over 10% on a narrow and twisty road. We take the Mortirolo from Mazzo: the classical climb made famous by Pantani during the 1994 Giro d'Italia. The Italian audience didn't know either Pantani or Mortirolo. Since that day Pantani and that climb broke into the Italian cycling imaginary: everybody wanted to be Marco and everybody wanted to climb that road. At the top of the pass, climbing is not over as instead of going down to the other side the route keeps on rolling to Trivigno, which is another unknown side of Mortirolo and finally down to Edolo for the last 20 km downhill.
Accommodation: 3-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Nestled amidst the majestic mountains of northern Italy lies the picturesque village of Edolo, a tranquil haven just a stone's throw away from renowned ski resorts like Aprica and Ponte di Legno.
Surrounded by mountains, it should come as no surprise that the departure is immediately uphill. We leave Edolo by ascending a small and winding side road that climbs for 7 km along the mountainside to the small village of Lorico. We continue along the slope through the woods, thus avoiding the main road at the bottom of the valley until Forno Allione.
There you are at the start of Passo Vivione, one of the lesser-known and wild passes. It is a 20 km climb, the road is narrow, winding, and always winding through forests and pine trees, not very suitable for motorized traffic. It is one of our favorite climbs: you will hardly run into another human being until the pass! The great thing is that from the pass to the finish, it's practically all downhill! If it's a beautiful day, a dip in the cool waters of the Lago Moro is mandatory.
Accommodation: 3-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast | Dinner
From the shores of Lake Moro, the road ascends for a stretch and then extends halfway up the slope: the view is spectacular, practically a terrace overlooking the valley, and there, in the distance, you'll catch a glimpse of Lake Iseo. Once at the small village of San Vigilio, a very fast descent begins. It's 9 km where you'll lose 700 meters in altitude: a wide road, long straight sections: hold onto your bike because if you let it go, you can reach speeds of up to 80 km/h.
After finishing the descent, in just a few kilometers, you'll reach Lovere, a beautiful urban center where Lake Iseo begins: I recommend a short stop for coffee or continuing along the road carved into the rock that runs alongside the lake until Riva di Solto: there's another beautiful lakeside bar there: coffee on the terrace, let yourself be kissed by the sun under the spires of Mount Guglielmo that descend straight into the lake.
After a break, another 15 kilometers of road along the coast, always facing the lake, and then begins the spectacular ascent of the Green Road that takes you up to 1075 meters to San Fermo. The climb is divided into two: the first part is 8 kilometers winding along the lake with a 180-degree panorama where with just one glance, you embrace the entire lake from south to north. Once you reach Parzanica, you descend for a few kilometers and there begins the wildest part: it was an old mountain road with a dirt surface: it has been asphalted in recent years to allow connection and to create a pass back towards Bergamo. It's a fantastic road, called the Green Road, winding through meadows and pastures, resembling alpine meadows, and it feels like being in Switzerland, with the lake gradually moving away, going up to San Fermo, a mountain village.
From there another pretty fast and steep descent to the valley and then the last 20 km back to Bergamo with finishing uphill to Città Alta, the medieval old town.
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Accommodation: 4-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast |
Last Breakfast with a view to the marvellous sight in front of us Bergamo Alta, the old town, As evening descends, the cobbled streets of Città Alta come alive with the bustle of tourists and locals seeking the conviviality of bars and restaurants.
Drop of the bikes and farewell to next time.
While Lombardy is predominantly recognized for Milan, a global hub for finance and fashion, the region, in truth, has deep-rooted agricultural origins.
Northern Lombardy boasts some of the highest European mountains, shaping a distinctive mountain economy. In these rugged terrains, the culinary tradition aligns with the demands of mountain work—offering simple yet flavorful recipes with a high caloric content to fuel the demands of the challenging environment.
One wonderful example are Pizzoccheri: a traditional flat buckwheat pasta cooked with potatoes, cabbage, and layered with cheese and garlic-infused butter. And what about Risotto and Polenta? Once working class food, nowadays a delicacy. Lombardy is also renowned for its cheeses, such as Gorgonzola and Taleggio, which find their way into many dishes.
Indulging in rich dishes on our active trip is guilt-free, justified by the effort we put into every pedal stroke.
As we have one of the largest and best bike fleets in Italy, we are proud to give our guests the freedom to choose the bike that suits them best.
This brutal Mortirolo is conquered from Mazzo: the climb made famous by Pantani, the last Italian hero, who attacked and broke away for the first time on the hairpins of this mountain. It was the 1994 Giro d'Italia and The Italian audience didn't know either Pantani or Mortirolo. Since that day Pantani and that climb broke into the Italian cycling imaginary: everybody wanted to be Marco and everybody wanted to climb that road.
The Great Orobie Loop kicks off in Bergamo and arrives in Bergamo, so we suggest, guess what, to get to Bergamo. Airport in Bergamo (often referred to as Milan Bergamo airport) is a hub well connected with several flights a day with major airports all over Europe/UK.
Milan Malpensa (Mxp) and Milano Linate Airports are also optimal choices for arrivals and departures. Both airports are well connected to Bergamo with regional trains. We can anyway arrange private transfers to/from the airports.
The routes of the four stages are crossing a number of villages but each of the four long climbs are pretty isolated and in the wild. Which is an asset of this trip. But this involves that depending on the days or hours of the day, bars and restaurants might be closed.
We suggest to plan food stops in advance or make sure your food and drinks supply is sufficient. All the major climbs are pretty long, average climbing time dwells 1h45 to 2h15: better one more stop before than running short of food/drinks during the ascent.
Our guests will get a pre tour info kit that gives useful suggestions on how to enjoy our trips in full. Here is a quick selection that might be useful at this stage.
We suggest renting a bike with us. But feel free to bring your own bike. Just consider bringing along a selection of model specific spare parts (ie. derailleur hangers).
The hotels have a room for the bikes, and we will have a selection of tools to perform basic maintenance.
Bring along a wide selection of clothes, including some full arm jackets, rain coat, leg and arm warmers, overshoes: it's the Alps and the weather is never completely predictable.
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