SELF GUIDED WALKING PACKAGE
Lake Como is the most sophisticated and interesting of the Italian lakes, it is also the most beautiful. A deep glacial lake surrounded by soaring mountains, Lake Como stretches from the Swiss Alps to the Po River and has drawn visitors since Roman times. Wooded mountain slopes protect the lake from extremes of temperature and lush gardens abound. Regular ferries buzz across the water linking the small towns and ports.
You’ll spend the first four days based in a delightful little town on the shores of the lake, with views up towards Switzerland. From here you’ll take a ferry ride to spend two nights in Bellagio, the jewel of Lake Como and considered the most beautiful town in Italy.
This is a Grade 3 Walk. It follows marked routes along a combination of paved stone paths and unsealed roads. As the paths are above the lakes there are long climbs to get to the start of each one. The walks are three and half to four hours but all of them can be shortened by using the very efficient local transport (ferries or buses).
Each walk reveals a different side of this fascinating area’s history and traditions: a beautiful lake side route that follows a stone medieval trading path through forests and villages above the eastern shore; a loop walk that follows an old smugglers’ routes above the western side of the lake up through oak forests to open farmlands with breath-taking views into Switzerland; an interesting walk through the villages that surround Bellagio; and, as a grande finale, an extraordinary walk in the mountains above Bellagio with endless views.
Hidden Italy uses the best accommodation available. On Lake Como this means excellent centrally located, family-run, romantic hotels, with whom we’ve been working for years. All rooms have en suite bathrooms, air conditioning and generous breakfasts served on the hotels’ terraces overlooking the lake.
Generous breakfasts are included each day (you’ll need them for your walks). With notice, the hotels wil be able to prepare a cut lunch for the walk. Dinners are not included in the standard tour, however, if you select the ‘Dinners option’ (which we recommend) this will include three 3 course meals alla carte (ie free choice) in some of the lake’s finest restaurants (Days 1,5 and 6). The dinner option also means you’ll have a guaranteed bookings.
