Canoe or kayak itinerary of 32 km departing from Lovere to discover upper Lake Iseo and the 3 Islands; Loreto, Monte Isola, and San Paolo.

The route starts from the headquarters of the Società Canottieri Sebino in Lovere (Bergamo), via G. Paglia n. 3. Proceed north-west towards the town of Lovere, which you can admire from the lake; after about 750 meters – near the boat docking point in Lovere – reverse the route and proceed south-west, heading towards the tip of the Lucchini RS factory, behind which the village of Castro appears. After passing in front of Castro and the mouth of the Borlezza stream, you find yourself at the Orrido or “Bögn”, with imposing rocky walls looming over the lake; along the shore you come across a small waterfall and a little further on in another fall of water covered with moss and vegetation called “Bear’s Foot”. You skirt the western coast of Lake Iseo, which connects Lovere to Sarnico; the road – very characteristic in this section – is completely carved into the rock overlooking the lake. On the opposite side, there is the Corno dei Trenta Passi (1248 meters above sea level) with imposing rocky walls; here Lake Iseo reaches its maximum depth of 251 meters. Proceeding in a southerly direction you arrive in the locality of Grè, famous for its stump quarries. Pass the SportAction nautical center where, in case of need, you find various useful services, and head towards one of the most beautiful, fascinating, and unmissable hidden corners of Lake Iseo; the Orrido or “Bögn” of Riva di Solto, with its wild natural bay with vertical slabs of rocks overhanging the lake which takes on emerald green colors. Leaving the bay of “Bögn”, leave the coast and cross the lake with the direction of Loreto island, about 7 km from the bay. Now at 12 km from the start, circumnavigate Loreto island, leaving it on the left – for those traveling by kayak – and head towards the coast of Monte Isola. Begin the circumnavigation of Monte Isola- canoeists will find it on their right – passing first from Carzano and then from the characteristic village of Peschiera Maraglio, dominated by the Sanctuary Madonna della Ceriola. After 17 km from the start, go for the private island of San Paolo, which can be seen after passing Peschiera Maraglio’s tip. Leaving the island on the right (always for the canoeists), skirt Monte Isola passing in front of Sensole and the hilly village of Menzino, with a view of the Martinengo fortress, to then reach Siviano where – after 21 km from the start – you abandon the shores of Monte Isola and head towards the eastern shore of Lake Iseo in a north-easterly direction pointing towards the town of Marone dominated by Mount Guglielmo. Immediately after the town of Marone, always proceeding northwards, pass the characteristic hamlet of Vello. 25 km from the starting point, skirt the rocky walls for about 4 km, and head once again towards the tip of the Lucchini RS. After passing the tip of the factory, head straight towards the Tourist Harbor (Porto Turistico) and the hq of the Canottieri Sebino where, after about 32 km, the “HEROIC REMI” route on Lake Iseo ends.

Text and photos: Canottieri Sebino