The camp runs Saturday to Saturday, seven nights with six days of cycling. The first three nights are at Hotel Ungheria in Varese, a family-run hotel about 25 km from Milan Malpensa Airport; the airport is a 43-minute train ride from Varese with no change, running hourly. Saturday is for assembling your own bike or taking delivery of a rental, plus a pre-tour briefing.

Sunday and Monday are ridden from Varese. Route options include Campo dei Fiori (45 km with 540 m of climbing, or 61 km with 1,200 m), a loop round the inside of Lake Maggiore (73–74 km), Lake Maggiore and Lake Lugano combined (97–99 km), Lake Como (81 km or 117 km), Sant'Antonio and San Michele (61–75 km), Lake Lugano easy (84–88 km), Lake Lugano up and down (113–135 km), and the UCI GranFondo Tre Valli Varesine route (84–98 km).

Tuesday is the transfer day: you ride from Varese to Colmegna on Lake Maggiore through the Swiss region of Malcantone, descending towards Lake Varese and passing through Ponte Tresa on Lake Lugano. Five versions of the route are offered, from an easy 59 km with 600 m of climbing up to 91 km with 1,600 m via Bioggio and Cademario. Your luggage is collected in the morning and appears at the Relais Villa Porta in Colmegna.

Wednesday and Thursday ride from Colmegna. The list is long: Locarno, Ascona and Brissago (76–86 km), Malcantone, Miglieglia and Astano (55–62 km), a Lake Lugano loop via Ardena (96–112 km), the UCI Gran Fondo Tre Valli Varesine (80 km, 1,550 m), Sant'Antonio, San Michele and Monte Sette Termini (66–90 km), Val Veddasca and Alpe Neggia (56–60 km), Lake Maggiore via Laveno and Arcumeggia (52 km), a northern Lake Maggiore loop (96 km), Valle Canobbina and Centovalli (104 km), Val Verzasca to the Jump Bridge and Sonogno (108 km), Contra to Mergoscia (76 km), Valle Maggia (125 km), Monti Motti (84 km) and Monte Bré (90 km).

Friday you ride back to Varese via Lake Lugano on undulating roads above the lake, with four options from a flat 74 km with 400 m of climbing up to 103 km with 1,500 m via Collina d'Oro, Carona and Arogno. Luggage goes ahead to Hotel Ungheria. Saturday is breakfast and departure.

The guide rides with the bunch every day and gives feedback on technique — climbing more efficiently, cornering, and riding confidently in a group. The programme is a framework: the specifics of each day's distance and elevation can be adjusted to what the group wants. The region is also where Australian cyclists living in Europe train, at the AIS European Training Centre in Gavirate on the shores of Lake Varese, and a visit can be arranged during your stay.

What's included

- 4 nights in a double room in Varese - 3 nights in an apartment room in Colmegna - 7 high-calorie continental breakfasts - 6 packed lunches with protein snacks, bananas and sandwiches - 6 post-ride lunches at the hotel - 6 dinners (no dinner on Sunday) - A skilled female bike guide - Luggage transport between the two hotels - Use of the jacuzzi tub and sauna at Relais Villa Porta in Colmegna - Any travel by ferry or train along the rides - Route information, including digital maps on Google My Maps - Safe bike storage with CCTV at the hotel - Workstand tool bench for basic maintenance - Washing and cleaning area for bikes - Daily laundry service for your cycle clothing - Free Wi-Fi

What's not included

- Bike hire - 1 dinner (on Sunday) - Travel insurance - Medical and physiotherapy services - Transport to and from Varese - Entrance fees to castles, villas and museums - Any extra beverages and other extras at dinner