PROPOSED BY THE GUIDE
iWhat does it mean?
Gravel or e-bike loop ride through golden rice fields and the Casalbeltrame Marsh
Casalvolone, Novara · Piemonte•1 day · Saturday•Hiking · 166 m
Experience
Day hikes
Difficulty ?
EASY PLUS
Where?
Novara, Piemonte
On your own?
No problem
Points
+11
Overview
The experience
Difficulty
What's included
Itinerary
Carpooling
What to bring
Your guide
Reviews
Questions
WHY THIS HIKE
Cycling through the Novara Baraggia
Endless rice paddies, crisp autumn air, a marsh that feels like another world. Hop in the saddle: let's go.
Group chat a couple of days before
Come alone, leave with new friends
The experience
We ride e-bikes or gravel bikes along a gentle loop between Casalvolone and Casalbeltrame, in the heart of the Novara countryside. Dirt tracks and back roads lead us through golden rice paddies during harvest time, with the autumn light setting everything ablaze in yellow and amber. The highlight? Crossing the Casalbeltrame Marsh, where we may witness bird ringing carried out by volunteers from the Ticino Piemontese Park. We'll also stop at the Abbey of Santi Nazario e Celso, the Sanctuary of Madonna della Fontana, and skirt past the Isolone di Oldenico, one of Italy's largest heron colonies.
Why ride with us: - A gentle gravel loop, perfect even if you're new to e-biking - The Casalbeltrame Marsh, a treasure trove of autumn biodiversity - Stops among abbeys, sanctuaries, and nature reserves along the Sesia River - The right pace to ride and chat together
Get your helmet ready (mandatory for the entire route) and pack a lunch: the Guidders are waiting for you for this autumn ride.
GOOD TO KNOW
Group chat
It opens a couple of days before: that's where the meeting point is confirmed and carpooling is arranged.
Free cancellation up to 3 days before
For the selected date: by 13 October, 23:59. You pay nothing when you book.
Guiddy accident insurance
Included in the price.
+11 Guiddy points
Your points grow with every outing, level you up and unlock discounts, exclusive outings and goodies.
Guiddy Coordinator (runs the group, Telegram included)
Included in the price.
Not suitable for dogs
This time your dog stays at home.
How hard is it, really
Guiddy scale
EASY PLUS
F
F+
I
I+
D
D+
161 m D+ · 35 km · 6 h
WHAT YOU NEED BEFORE YOU GO
✓
BEFORE YOU GO
Try the bike before setting off: saddle at the right height and battery at 100%. You don't need to be a cyclist, the motor helps uphill, but take care on the descents: follow your guide's pace
✓
IN YOUR BACKPACK
Helmet (required, provided with the rental), gloves, glasses, a windproof jacket, 1 litre of water and a snack, all in a small backpack: you feel the weight on a bike. Always with you: a plaster, an antiseptic wipe and a small bag for rubbish
What's included in the price
✓INCLUDED
✓Qualified hiking guide
✓Guiddy Coordinator (runs the group, Telegram included)
✓Guiddy accident insurance
✕NOT INCLUDED
✕E-bike
✕Packed lunch
✕Travel to Casalvolone
To get there, there's Guiddy carpooling, below.
Itinerary
One day, approximate times. The final details come in the group chat.
Elevation gain
161 m
Max altitude
166 m
Distance
35 km
Duration
6 h
Saturday
17 Oct
35 km · D+ 161 m · 6 h
Apple Maps09:00WATER
Departure from Casalvolone
We're meeting up with the Guidders in Casalvolone (NO), ready to hop on our e-bikes for an autumn ride through rice paddies and marshland.
09:30WATER
Casalbeltrame Marsh — bird ringing
We arrive at the heart of the marsh, amid reed beds and thickets painted by autumn in shades of ochre and copper: here we stop to watch the volunteers of the Piedmont Ticino Park as they carry out bird ringing activities.
12:00WATER
Abbey of San Nazario e Celso - picnic
The Abbey of Saints Nazario and Celso. Founded in 1040, it welcomes you with its imposing Romanesque bell tower and its 15th-century cloister frescoed with the stories of Saint Benedict. A thousand-year-old place, powerful and silent, that rewards every pedal stroke. A perfect stop by bike: you arrive, lean your bike against the wall, and immerse yourself in a thousand years of history. A great spot for a picnic too.
13:00WATER
Madonna della Fontana
Continue your ride along the road leading from San Nazzaro Sesia towards Villata and, amid fields stretching as far as the eye can see, you'll spot an oasis of greenery: the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Fontana. Built starting from the end of the sixteenth century above a spring believed to be miraculous, this small sanctuary – remodeled in the eighteenth century – is a true treasure chest holding frescoes, stories and devotion
14:00HIDDEN POINT
Est Sesia - Lame del Sesia Nature Park
Let the dirt road carry you along the left orographic bank of the Sesia River, deep within the Parco Naturale delle Lame del Sesia, and get ready for one of the most surprising moments of your itinerary. Here, amid a floating woodland of poplars, willows and black locusts at the heart of the river, lies the Isolone di Oldenico: a special 52-hectare nature reserve home to one of the largest and most populous heronries in Italy, with 1,300-1,800 breeding pairs of waterbirds.
15:00WATER
Back to the e-bikes
We close the loop back in Casalvolone with the golden light of the autumn afternoon: once the ride is over with the Guidders, we enjoy a cold beer or a coke together by the cars.
How do you get to Casalvolone? By carpooling.
You say so when booking, then you get organised in the Telegram group. Contacts and costs are agreed between you: a seat isn't guaranteed.
WHO'S ALREADY GOING
for the selected date
Offering a seat Looking for a seat
Cars are added in the last few days, once the group is confirmed.
What to bring
A list made for this hike. No technical gear: just good shoes and a well-packed backpack.
Backpack
REQUIRED
Water supply
REQUIRED
Windproof
REQUIRED
Packed lunch
REQUIRED
Your guide
Guide for this date · Saturday 17 October
Manuel M.
We'll email you when they have a new outing on the calendar.
Italiano
Inglese
Guida Ambientale Escursionistica
Upcoming outings with Manuel M.
Same guide, same path to grow.
PICKED FOR YOU BY IBEX
Right for you
Based on this page: same area, similar level.
Reviews
Only from people who completed the outing.
—
no reviews yet
Itinerary—
Organisation—
Overall experience—
The first reviews come after the outing
We only ask for feedback from people who were really there.
You'll be among the first to share your story.
Questions?
I've only done easy trails, can I come?
⌄
Paths, mule tracks or wide trails requiring little physical preparation. You need to be fit enough to walk for 6 h with 161 m of ascent. If in doubt, message Ibex on WhatsApp.
Can I join on my own?
⌄
How does carpooling work?
⌄
What happens if the weather is bad?
⌄
What if the group doesn't reach the minimum?
⌄
Until when can I cancel?
⌄
Book now, pay only if it goes ahead
MOST POPULAR
✓No charge now: the amount is only held on your card
✓Free cancellation up to 3 days before (for this date: 13 October, 23:59)
✓You're only charged once the group is confirmed, at 7 pm the evening before departure
✓Minimum not reached? No charge, nothing to do
Or pay straight away by card, PayPal, Satispay or Revolut. With Klarna you can also pay in interest-free instalments.
Still have questions? Message Ibex
Ibex is Guiddy's virtual ibex: it answers everything, 24/7. In two messages it tells you whether this outing is for you, how to get there and what to pack.
Message Ibex on WhatsApp
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