Great Italian Lakes Cycle

From Venice to the Great Lakes

This exciting and beautiful route is so much more than a journey between two iconic Italian cities – on the way it takes three of the great Italian lakes: Garda, Como and Iseo, as well as the Romeo and Juliet city of Verona.

With a route that takes you from Venice on the Adriatic Coast, through flat plains and forested hills to the famous lakes-and-mountains scenery of Lombardy, there’s enough variety to please any cyclist. Each day offers a great climb to test your legs, but with our highest point at 754m – the famous Madonna del Ghisallo with its cyclists’ chapel – these aren’t the high cols, and it’s an achievable ride for anyone willing to train.

Add in small terracotta-roofed villages, overnight stops in picturesque lakeside towns, good roads, and plenty of opportunities for recharging on Italian coffee and gelato – this is the ultimate Italian cycle challenge!

Summary

• Flights: Return flights from a London airport to Portugal
• Date: Wednesday 1^st October to Monday 6^th October 2025
• Activity Duration: 6 days
• Challenge Duration: 4 days
• Distance: Approximately 520km
• Accommodation Type: Comfortable 2-3* star hotels
• Challenge Grade: Intermediate – it is designed to be a challenge, and it is vital that you train sufficiently for it.

Sign up options

1 – Full Payment
Pay £199 at the time of booking, followed by £1,150 approximately 8 weeks before the challenge. With this option, these payments cover the challenge costs, and any fundraising you do will go directly to the hospice.

2 – Part-payment
Pay £199 at the time of booking and £250 to the challenge operator approximately 10 weeks before the challenge. Additionally, you will need to meet a minimum fundraising target of £1,800, which should be paid to the hospice 10 weeks prior. With this option, 50% of the fundraising target is used to cover challenge costs, while the remainder and any additional fundraising go directly to the hospice.

3 – Fundraising
Pay £199 at the time of booking. You will also need to meet a minimum fundraising target of £2,300, which should be paid to the hospice 10 weeks prior. With this option, 50% of the fundraising target is used to cover challenge costs, while the remainder and any additional fundraising go directly to the hospice.

What’s included

• 5 nights hotel accommodation on a twin-share basis
• All meals except where specified
• Snacks and water provision on cycle days
• Discover Adventure crew
• Full vehicle support throughout the trip
• Maps and route information
• Optional bike transfer from Venice airport at start of trip

What’s excluded

• Flights and transport to/from start/finish point of ride
• Any meals specified ‘not included’ in the itinerary
• Travel insurance
• Bicycle and cycle helmet (compulsory) and water bottles
• Personal spending money, souvenirs and drinks
• Fees for any optional sites, attractions or activities
• Any applicable surcharges as per Terms and Conditions

Support from the hospice

A dedicated member of the team from PPWH will be on hand from the moment you register to help you with your fundraising! You can find further information and register for this incredible challenge here.

Take on the challenge of a lifetime!

You will amaze yourself at what you can achieve when you put your mind to it.

For more information, please contact Heather Lister on 0141 429 9858 or email heather.lister@ppwh.org.uk.

Be part of one of the world's most incredible cycling experiences –