Our Italian Lakes Hiking Tours

The Italian Lakes are beautiful in every season.

For walking holidays around Lake Como and the smaller lakes, we recommend spring and autumn as the best times to travel.

These seasons allow you to avoid the summer crowds while enjoying spectacular seasonal colours.

Some attractions and local businesses open in spring but close during winter, so it's worth checking ahead.

If you choose to travel during the winter months, we'll always ensure that you stay with welcoming local hosts who can provide all the comforts you need.

For cooler-weather walking, the Italian Lakes are generally a safer option than higher-altitude routes, such as hiking in the Dolomites.

If you're ready to explore the Italian Lakes on foot, you can get started in one of two ways:

1. Send us an email at info@sloways.eu or call us on (+39) 0552 340 736. We'll ask a few basic questions about your trip, including your preferred travel dates, group size, and any special requests, so we can prepare an accurate quote.

2. Use our online calculator available on each itinerary page to receive a provisional price. If you're happy with the quote, contact our office and we'll confirm your booking once accommodation availability has been checked.

We provide accommodation in B&Bs, farmhouses, and 3-star hotels, all with private bedrooms and private bathrooms.

These properties combine comfort with authenticity, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in your Italian walking holiday.

All our Italian Lakes walking holidays are self-guided.

This means there is no organised walking group and no guide accompanying you.

Whether you're travelling solo, with a partner, or with a small group of friends, you'll follow the detailed routes and information we provide.

We also take care of all the logistics, including accommodation bookings and luggage transfers, so you can focus entirely on enjoying the walk.

Absolutely.

Many of our walking holidays around the Italian Lakes follow rural paths leading to charming villages, historic towns, and lakeside communities.

Authentic local experiences are a key part of every itinerary, including cultural attractions, regional cuisine, and opportunities to meet local people.

If you're interested in combining your walk with visits to some of Italy's most famous cities, we also offer a wider range of walking holidays across the country.

No.

Our Italian Lakes itineraries are designed for people who walk regularly, but no technical hiking experience is required.

The Sentiero del Viandante on the Lecco branch of Lake Como, for example, alternates scenic stretches on well-marked trails with short descents into lakeside villages.

For those looking for something even more accessible, the Easy Lake Como version is specifically designed with shorter stages and reduced elevation gain.

We always ask you to describe your fitness level and previous walking experience: we build the itinerary around you, not the other way around.

Average daily stages on our lake itineraries range between 10 and 18 km, with elevation gain depending on the route chosen.

Yes, stages are customisable.

If you'd prefer shorter days to spend more time exploring villages, or would like to add a rest day, we plan that together before departure.

Flexibility is one of the main advantages of a self-guided trip.

Yes.

On all our Italian Lakes walking holidays, luggage transfer from one accommodation to the next is included in the package price.

You walk with a light daypack for water, snacks, and daily essentials while your main bag is already waiting in your room when you arrive.

On a small number of stages with particularly remote paths, the transfer may involve a minor logistical variation, and we always explain this in advance in your travel documentation.

You'll receive detailed documentation with paper maps and stage-by-stage directions.

You'll also have access to our mobile app with offline maps and GPS navigation, which works without an internet connection.

The trails around the Italian Lakes are generally well signposted.

If you have any doubts along the route, our team is reachable throughout the duration of your trip.

Absolutely.

The majority of our guests on the Italian Lakes travel solo or as a couple.

The trails are safe, well signposted, and pass through inhabited villages where help is easy to find if needed.

For solo travellers, we can arrange single-room accommodation (subject to a supplement), and we remain available by phone or WhatsApp throughout the trip.

Yes, and in a meaningful way.

The Lombard lakes have a rich and often surprising culinary tradition, including missoltino (sun-dried agone fish from Lake Como), polenta uncia, mountain cheeses from the surrounding valleys, and the wines of nearby Valtellina.

Along the route you'll find family-run trattorias in lakeside villages, some visited almost exclusively by local residents.

Don't be surprised if the most memorable meal of your trip takes place in a small dining room with six tables and no menu in English.

We always highlight our favourite local spots in your travel documentation.