The azure lake of Como amid the mountains
 The azure lake of Como amid the mountains

Lake Como: mountains to the lake

Level
2
Distance
52 km
Duration
5 days | 4 nights
period
Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct
price from
€ 498
CO2 footprint
44 Kg/person
  1. Italy
  2.  | 
  3. Self-Guided
  4.  | 
  5. Tourcode ITSW028

Glistening and glamorous, Lake Como is inevitably associated with imposing villas and their lush gardens suspended on the lake, rich holiday makers and movie stars: the Lario - another name to call it - we know and love has a lesser known, much more adventurous side to be explored on foot, through its woods and forests, up on its peaks to enjoy incredible views on the lake and surrounding mountains. 

This trip offers the best of both words - you'll sleep in Menaggio, the perfect base to explore everything the lake has to offer, with different walks of variable difficulty to choose among: from the mountain paths to the coastal ones, this trip explores all sides of this magical place, whose waters and peaks has a lot to tell to those who will listen. 

Highlights

  • Discover the mountain trails high above the Lakes of Como;
  • Walk in Menaggio, a beautiful town with fabulous views of the lake ;
  • Experience the rich culture and art of the Lombardy region including lavish villas and beautiful gardens;
  • Travel along the spectacular ancient “Antica Strada Regina”.

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive in Menaggio

Arrive in Menaggio

On arrival at the lakeside town of Menaggio on the shores of Lake Como, make your way to the hotel. The rest of the day is free to explore the town and take in the views of the rugged mountains across the lake. During the following days, take time to explore the small towns, viewpoints, forests on either side of Lake Como, the beautiful gardens of Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo and Villa Melzi in Bellagio. Dinner on your own in one of the many restaurants in town.

Day 2

Walk from Varenna to Dervio, 12,4 km

Walk from Varenna to Dervio, 12,4 km

Start the trip with an easy lake side warming-up walk. After breakfast take the boat that crosses the lake to Varenna. Following the East side of the lake take the “Sentiero del Viandante” (the Wayfarer’s path) and experience a rich and ancient cultural landscape with traditional architecture and outstanding views of Lake Como and its surrounding mountains.  Just above Varenna, make a short detour to visit the castle in Vezio. It’s worth it! Return to Menaggio by boat. 

Distance: 12,4 km

Elevation gain: +620/-600 m

Day 3

Walk from Cavargna to Porlezza and bus to Menaggio, 16,5 km

Walk from Cavargna to Porlezza and bus to Menaggio, 16,5 km

A morning private transfer takes you to the hill top village of Cavargna from where a spectacular climb takes you to the Church of Saint Lucio, right on the border between Italy and Switzerland. A superbly panoramic footpath leads you through woods and meadows 1550m down to Porlezza, situated at the northeast end of the Lake Lugano, and very close to the border. This rural farmland and forest walk with imposing views is one of the area’s highlights. Return to Menaggio by public bus.

narrow alleyways winding through the stone walls.

Distance: 16,5 km

Elevation gain: +528/-1319 m

Day 4

Selection of walks on Lake Como

Selection of walks on Lake Como

Walk on the Monti Lariani (Lario being the ancient name of Lake Como) with a variety of suggested walks of differing lengths and difficulty. Dinner is on your own. 

Walk A: From Menaggio through the Val Sanagra Nature Reserve, 14 km
A loop walk starting in Menaggio takes you to the Val Sanagra, an unknown area rich in historical and cultural traces. From Menaggio you reach Loveno, a noble village with many Villas, then on to Pianuro a vast pastures still used now by livestock. Then the trail follows the Sanagra stream, a typical alpine water course, with several ancient mills and iron foundries that through time has formed impressive gorges. The walk passes through Barna, a lovely hamlets where time seems to have stopped. 

WALK B: Esino Lario - Rifugio Bietti Buzzi - Esino Lario, 20 km
Take the ferry from Menaggio to Varenna from where you take a local bus or a taxi to the start of the walk in Esino Lario. Walking through the Regional Park of Northern Grigna is an experience. This very particular mountain range has a unique orography with spectacular pinnacles and steep cliff sides that precipitate into sheer valleys carved deep into the rock and  The itinerary brings you to “Porta di Prada”, a striking rock arch caused by the natural erosion of the limestone.

WALK C: From Breglia to Monte Grona and Monte Bregagnino, 13 km
The walk starts in Breglia, a small village above Menaggio reachable by bus. From the top of Monte Grona (1.736 m) you have one of the best views of the Pre Alps; from here you can see the three lakes (Como, Lugano and Piano), and the peaks of Monte Bregagno, Legnone, Pizzo di Gino, Grigne. On clear days you can see the Alps from Monviso to Bernina. The route passes from Rifugio Menaggio, one of the most famous mountain huts in the area, situated on a natural terrace from where you have an exceptional view on the southside of Lake Como. There are three different ways to get to the top of the Monte Grona from the Rifugio Menaggio, including an alpine ascent using the “via ferrata”.

WALK D: From Menaggio to Rezzonico on the Antica Strada Regina, 9 km
Morning walk on the Antica Strada Regina that leads along the west coast of Lake Como, was built by the Romans. It was an important road connection between Como and the alpine passes. The old trail was used till the end of the 18th century when the current lake road was built. This stretch starts at Menaggio and runs along cobblestoned paths to the characteristic village of Rezzonico.  From the top of the hill there are great views of the lake and the surrounding mountains. 

Day 5

Arrivederci Menaggio!

Arrivederci Menaggio!

The trip and our services end after breakfast and you bid farewell to the beautiful lake as you depart for the airport with public transport unless you have pre-booked a private transfer with us.

Details

Is this for me?


On this trip you will explore the mountains around Como Lake and the hiking paths bordering its glistening waters. It's a center based trip - you will sleep in Menaggio and choose everyday among different hikes of variable difficulty - or to spend your day relaxing and exploring Como and its surroundings.This is a great trip to make everyone agree if you are traveling with friends with different training levels.

Included


What is included

  • 4 Nights in double room in *** hotel with breakfast
  • transfer Menaggio-Cavagna
  • maps and detailed description of the itinerary in digital form, app
  • Medical and luggage travel insurance
  • 24h phone assistance

What is not included 

  • Transfers to the starting location and from the arriving location of the tour
  • lunches and dinners, if not otherwise stated
  • visits and entrance fees - tips
  • personal expense
  • possible sojourn taxes
  • everything that is not mentioned in the "What is included" section.

Optional Services

These services can be added to the ones included in the base price of the tour:

  • Single room supplement
  • cancellation insurance
  • Transfers to reach the starting location or to leave the arriving location of the tour, which will be quoted on request.
  • travel documentation in printed form (maps and detailed description of the itinerary), shipped to the first hotel

Accommodation


Hotel Bellavista Menaggio
Hotel Bellavista - Menaggio

Hotel Bellavista is centrally located in Menaggio and has a very beautiful view of Lake of Como. Rooms are comfortable and clean and some of these have a view on lake. Furniture is a little bit old, there is free Wifi, private parking, restaurant and in summer season the swimming pool is free. Staff is gentle and courteous. Breakfast is served in veranda in front of lake. 

www.hotel-bellavista.org

When to travel


The Italian and Swiss Lakes district experience warm summers with afternoon thunderstorms common. July is the warmest month with an average temperature of around 20 °C with maximum reaching the low 30°C. Snow can still be found on the high peaks until the beginning of summer.
It is recommended to inquire about the weather expectations before you set out for the day, especially in mountainous surroundings. 

What to bring


 

Clothing and other items
You will need your regular walking/cycling gear, including some sort of reflective garment. For the evenings, smart outdoor style trousers (or shorts) are invaluable, as are quick-dry t-shirts. These can be washed easily and will dry overnight and still look good for sightseeing or having a drink in town.

Take as little as possible to avoid potentially lugging a heavy suitcase up three flights of stairs at the end of the day. Please be aware that laundromats (“Laverie”) are not common in rural areas, so plan to do handwashing of small items.

Lightweight walking shoes/ trainers
For wearing around towns & villages. They can also be a back-up pair.

Socks & underwear
Take only good quality socks with quick-dry and insulating qualities. Road test them before you go on the trip. Take a suitable quantity of underwear as washing facilities are limited.

Warm jacket, hat, gloves
Bring a fleece, Polartec or warm layers for the evenings especially in spring or autumn; be sure it is totally suitable for your needs.
A fleece jacket which blocks the wind (Wind-stopper) is the most preferable. In the summer months a lightweight jacket is suitable for evenings.
If you are cycling/walking in mountainous or coastal areas, even in the height of summer, the weather can change very quickly and unexpectedly and you should be prepared for fog, mist, rain, snow or hail at any time. Always take an extra layer with you, as well as a warm hat and gloves.

Waterproof jacket & trousers
If you are caught in heavy rain, with good waterproof clothing you should remain dry. Remember that most garments will lose their properties over time. Few will remain waterproof for more than five years and many deteriorate in three years or less. We recommend a rain jacket with a good hood and collar and waterproof or thermal walking/cycling trousers or tights.

Dress code
In general, you should wear suitable clothing when entering a church (in many places, it is considered unacceptable to go inside wearing shorts or a tank-top). We suggest that women carry a shawl to cover up bear shoulders or low-cut tops. It also comes in handy when your shoulders get sunburned!

It is considered inappropriate for men to go without a shirt / T-shirt (other than at the beach).

Trekking poles (adjustable)
Highly recommended. A pair works best, depending on what you are comfortable with. If you suffer from back or knee pain this should be considered essential. Remember to practise walking with your pole(s) on different types of terrain in the months preceding your trip.

Walking boots
The importance of good footwear cannot be stressed enough. Your boots should be sturdy and of good enough quality to handle all types of terrain. Lightweight boots, (cordura/leather boots) which have Gore-Tex or sympatex water-proofing are most suitable for this trip. They should provide good ankle protection and be well broken in. Waxing leather boots regularly prolongs their life.

Walking tops & trousers
We recommend walking trousers and shorts and quick-dry wicking t-shirts. These can be washed easily and will dry overnight and still look good for sightseeing or having a drink in town. Wicking T-shirts are fast drying, keep moisture away from your skin and are available at outdoor stores. You should also bring one pair of loose-fitting trousers to wear in cities and for evenings out, etc. Shorts or zip-off trousers are useful in warmer weather.

Practical info

How to arrive


From any airport, take the local bus or train to Milano Centrale. Therafter, to reach Menaggio you need to take a local train from Milano Centrale to Como San Giovanni. For further information please visit www.trenitalia.it.

If you are landing at Bergamo Orio al Serio (BGY), then you need to take the Airport Bus to the train station in Bergamo. From there, you have to reach Milano centrale or Monza by train, to catch the connection to Como San Giovanni.

Check times on http://www.asfautolinee.it/content/it/orari-rete-extraurbana.

As an alternative, you can take a local train from Milano Centrale to Varenna and then take a boat to Menaggio.

On departure from Porlezza, you always have to change either in Menaggio ro in Lugano to reach Milano or Bergamo aiports.

Mobile App


Use the SloWays APP for iOS and Android smart phones in combination with the written documentation provided.

The App has the detailed tracks and maps that you can use offline and without roaming. Thanks to the phone’s internal GPS, you can check your exact position on the map, so you always know exactly where you are. It also helps you self-navigate you way while travelling. More information on how to use the App inside the roadbook documents.

The navigation features include:

  • Offline navigation. Mobile data not required after initial download
  • Accurate GPS tracks
  • Autorotation of the maps
  • Daily route summary and elevation chart
  • Panorama of the track and at street level
  • Alarm and vibration that alerts you in case you go off track.
  • Emergency SMS button with position coordinates
  • Possibility to record and take georeferenced photos of problems on route alerting fellow travelers
  • Hotel information
  • Points of interest along the way
  • Historical background

Wanderlust Nominee Best Specialist Tour Operator 2023
Wanderlust
Nominee Best Specialist Tour Operator 2023
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Touroperating
S-Cape Countryside Travels srl
Borgo Allegri 16R
50122 Firenze FI
P. IVA 05227330486

 
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Touroperating S-Cape Countryside Travels srl Borgo Allegri 16R 50122 Firenze FI, Italy
VAT Nr 05227330486

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