Walking at Lake Como

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8 Days from

USD 2,549

Walking & Trekking

Ways to Travel :

Self-Guided Holidays

Activity :

Walking & Trekking

Activity Levels :

3 out of 7 - Moderate

Trip Code :

W07CM

Picture perfect Lake Como - one of the deepest in Europe - is set in the foothills of the Italian Alps.

Its glitzy Hollywood reputation precedes it, but few people realise the striking contrasts a visit here can offer. Beyond exquisite villas, colourful villages and landscaped gardens gracing the shore, walkers can find hidden sanctuaries, remote 12th century abbeys and breathtaking viewpoints linked by centuries old pilgrim paths and muleteers' tracks. Stone built mountain villages set high in wild terraced valleys boast stunning vistas of sky-scraping high mountain ranges, like the Alpine peak of La Grigne (2400m), usually snow-capped well into spring.

This twin centre, self guided walking holiday captures both the glamour and majestic beauty of Lake Como perfectly. Using the frequent and easy to use ferry services, we take you to Como's eastern and western shores to access our varied and rewarding walks which showcase the very best of Lake Como.

Key Information

7 nights twin centre walking in 3 star accommodation
8 day land only/flight inclusive
6 days walking (5 optional)
The walks are on mountain paths and lakeside tracks. All walks involve steep ascents and/or descents and traverse steep hillsides. Walkers should be confident and relatively fit. Walking boots and poles are strongly recommended.
Countries Visited: Italy

Countries visited: Italy

What's Included

7 nights hotel-to-hotel accommodation in a mix of 3-star hotels
All continental breakfasts
Management by your local Headwater-appointed agent
GPS route directions and maps
Headwater navigation app
Luggage transfers between hotels
Walk transfers on day 4

What's Not Included

Travel insurance
Single accommodation (available on request)
Any Solo traveller supplements (where only one person is travelling on a departure date)
Visas or vaccinations
Local city tax
Ferries - Expect to pay approximately 55€ per person locally for the ferries throughout the week and the funicular on day 2

6 Days of Walking & Trekking

Terrain:

The walks are on mountain paths and lakeside tracks. All walks involve steep ascents and/or descents and traverse steep hillsides. Walkers should be confident and relatively fit. Walking boots and poles are strongly recommended.

Day 2

8 km / 5 miles

Day 3

10 km / 6.2 miles

Day 4

7 km / 4.3 miles

Day 5

10 km / 6.2 miles

Day 6

7 km / 4.3 miles

Day 7

11 km / 6.8 miles

Itinerary

Arrive in Como. Your hotel is ideally located in central Como, within easy reach of an excellent choice of restaurants, shops and bars. Como's railway station, marina and Old Town, with its white marble Duomo and medieval town walls, are all a short walk away.

Take the funicular up to the tiny hilltop village of Brunate, 700m above Como town, for incredible views over Como lake, town and the surrounding mountains. Then make your way across the hillside through birch forest and past tumbling streams to the narrow, cobbled streets of lakeside Torno. Ferry (20 mins) back to Como.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Ferry to Torno. From Torno's winding alleyways, head uphill along an ancient mule track past colourful peach terraces, glittering waterfalls and ancient stone carved tombs for a glorious lake panorama. A stepped trail up to a shaded mossy valley brings you to Monte Piatto village, perched high above the water. A steep descent under wild cherry trees takes you back to Torno. Ferry to Como.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Private transfer (1hr) up to 1000m on Monte San Primo. Climb to a 1680m high saddle, enjoying superb vistas over to the rugged limestone peaks of the Grigne mountains, before you descend through lush beech forest, past the source of the river Lambro, to the village of Magreglio. Visit the famous chapel dedicated to the Madonna del Ghisallo, the patron saint of cyclists, before we meet you and take you to Bellagio (15 mins), known as the 'Pearl of Como'.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Set off from Bellagio's picturesque water front promenade up a series of stepped trails to the hill top villages of Brogno and Chevrio, where Alpine chalet-style farms with great views into Switzerland sell homemade cheese and honey. A panoramic picnic maybe before returning via Pescallo's charming waterfront to Bellagio. In the afternoon, there's time to visit the famous lake side gardens at Villa Melzi before dinner.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Ferry (10 mins) to beautiful Varenna, arguably the prettiest of all of Como's villages with its flower bedecked balconies and vibrant botanical gardens. Then follow the age old Sentiero del Viandante as it undulates through terraces of olives and chestnut trees to Bellano, sitting on a picturesque promontory overlooking Lake Como's eastern shores.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Ferry to Lenno (10 mins), then set off along the wonderful Via Crucis, an ancient path of pilgrimage lined with frescoed shrines and neo classical statues en route to the 16th century Madonna del Soccorso Sanctuary. From here continue uphill to the evocative ruins of the 12th century Abbey of St Benedetto, perched high above the Perlana valley. Descend past isolated farms back to Lenno via the Abbey of Acquafredda. Explore the terraced gardens at nearby Villa Balbianello, before returning to Bellagio for your final night.

Meals Included: Breakfast

The tour ends in Bellagio.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Essential Info

Visa

Italy

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Italy. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/italy
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/italy
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/italy/entry-requirements
• USA:  www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Italy.html

Please note: it is compulsory to carry ID with you at all times in Italy.

Vaccination

Italy

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, rabies and tick-borne encephalitis. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Weather

Like much of the Mediterranean, Italy has a hot, dry climate in summer and cooler but sometimes wet spring and autumn periods. Unseasonable cold spells and rain are possible at any time of year, so we recommend bringing some warm clothes, especially useful where evening temperatures can be lower than expected. Summer can be very hot with daytime temperatures in July and August reaching up to 34-37°C on the coast.

Is this trip for you?

Average daily distance on move on days:
No. of days Walking: 6 (Including 5 optional walks)
Terrain: The walks are on mountain paths and lakeside tracks. All walks involve steep ascents and/or descents and traverse steep hillsides. Walkers should be confident and relatively fit. Walking boots and poles are strongly recommended.

Vehicle Support: This is a self-guided trip for those who prefer to walk independently, but with our assistance to take out the stress of the logistics and planning. We arrange your accommodations, provide you with a map and route notes so that you can walk at your own pace.

It is important that you are happy reading maps and following route notes, we make these as accurate as possible and they are regularly checked.

As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. There may be others on the same departure date as you, but you will not be organised together. The route notes contain a 24-hour emergency assistance telephone number should you need it and in emergencies, the local representative is normally able to dispatch a taxi or pick you up themselves. They may wish to charge for this service.

Covid-19 refund commitment

You will get a refund if you have to cancel your trip due to COVID-19.

Availability

This departure is guaranteed to go ahead and is now fully booked, although we may have people holding spaces without payment. Please contact our Sales team for further information.