s-cape
phone: +34 985 846 455 / UK call free 0800 707 44 35
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9:00am – 6:00pm (CET)
Varenna
Facebook
Instagram
Youtube
Find your perfect trip!
 
 
Find your perfect trip!
Duration?
8-day Lombardy Como & Lugano Lakes Walking Holiday
style :
Level :
Duration :
8 days
Comfort :
period:
Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct
Code:
ITSW020
Walking
price in double room from: € 953
8-day Lombardy Como & Lugano Lakes Walking Holiday

8-day Lombardy Como & Lugano Lakes Walking Holiday

Self-guided Italian Lake District walking tour

  • Discover the mountain trails high above the Lakes of Como and Lake Lugano 
  • Experience the rich culture and art of the Lombardy region including lavish villas and  beautiful gardens
  • Menaggio,  a beautiful town with fabulous views of the lake
  • The ancient “Antica Strada Regina”
  • Lake Lugano and the village of Porlezza 
read more >>
s Lake Lugano Lake Como route map
View map
ROUTE

The walks are along well trodden footpaths, forest trails not always well marked, cobbled paths and small sections on small country lanes.

Start: Menaggio                Finish: Porlezza

Day 1: Arrive on Menaggio, Como Lake
Day 2: Walk from Varenna to Dervio (12.4 km / 8 mi)
Day 3: Selection of walks (9 - 15,5 km / 5,5 - 9,5 mi)
Day 4: Selection of walks on Lake Como
Day 5: Selection of walks on Lake Como
Day 6: Walk from Cavargna to Porlezza (16.5 km / 10 mi)
Day 7: Walk from Porlezza to San Mamete via Alpe Vecchio (11 km / 7 mi)
Day 8: Arrivederci Porlezza!

Day 1:    Arrive on Menaggio, Como Lake

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.

Day 2:    Walk from Varenna to Dervio (12.4 km / 8 mi)

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. 

 Challenge: 5 hours, 12.4 km / 8 mi, 637m ascent, 624m descent

Day 3:    Selection of walks (9 - 15,5 km / 5,5 - 9,5 mi)

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

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.  

Challenge: 5 hrs, 15.5km / 9,5 mi, 696m ascent, 695m descent 

WALK B – From Breglia to Monte Grona and Monte Bregagnino

The walk starts in Breglia, a small village above Menaggio reachable by bus. The path reaches two of the most significant peaks of the western side of the Lake: Monte Grona and Mote Bregagnino. From the top of Monte Grona (1736m) 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. 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”.

Challenge: 6-7hrs, 14km / 8,5 mi, 1000m ascent, 1000m descent

WALK C – : From Menaggio to Rezzonico on the Antica Strada Regina

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 RezzonicoFrom the top of the hill there are great views of the lake and the surrounding mountains. After the walk return to Menaggio by local bus. 

Challenge: 3 hours, 9 km / 5,5 mi, 330m ascent, 350m descent

Day 4:    Selection of walks on Lake Como

 Today you walk along one of the route described on Day 3.

Day 5:    Selection of walks on Lake Como

Today you walk along one of the route described on Day 3

Day 6:    Walk from Cavargna to Porlezza (16.5 km / 10 mi)

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. You pass through Monti, a typical mountain hamlet reachable only by a land rover track. Going down to Molzano you pass next to very striking mountain walls and open views on both Lake Como and Lake Lugano.

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. 

Challenge: 5 hours, 16.5 km / 10 mi, 600m ascent, 1300m descent

Day 7:    Walk from Porlezza to San Mamete via Alpe Vecchio (11 km / 7 mi)

Today’s optional walk takes you to the mountains above Lugano lake, a beautiful terrain of forest, waterfalls and tiny villages onthe shore of the lake. The start is quite challenging sice you areclimbing up the steep side of the mountain, but once you make itto the Alpe Vecchio, a really beautiful mountain hut on theplateu, you can relax and admire the landscape. The way down tothe village of San Mamete is downhill, through forest and paths,to the village of San Mamete. Here take the bus back to Porlezza.

Challenge: 5 hours, 11,3 km / 7 mi, 1100m ascent, 1100m descent

Day 8:    Arrivederci Porlezza!

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

STANDARD HOTELS

All accomodations are carefully selected because of their location, atmosphere and/or unique services. All rooms are en-suite.

You can find below the standard hotels of this trip. If a hotel is fully booked, then we will book a similar one for you and inform you about the alternative booked. 

Extra overnight: You can book additional night(s) at any of the accommodations along the way.

 

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 some of these have a view on lake (under request). There is free Wi-Fi, 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 the lake. 

www.hotel-bellavista.org

Hotel Europa (Porlezza)
Hotel Europa*** (Porlezza)

Hotel Europa is in Porlezza, on Lake Lugano and 5 minutes from the beach. The property has a private garden and pier, a fitness center, a swimming pool and a restaurant with a panoramic terrace. Rooms are furnished in a classic style but a little dated, they are equipped with TV, private bathroom and free Wi-Fi. Breakfast buffet is good and varied.

www.hoteleuropa.co.it

PRACTICAL INFO

You can start on any day of the week, subject to availability, between April and October.

Lugano (LUG) and Milan’s Linate (LIN)/Malpensa (MXP)  Airports are the closest ones and are served by many flights. Anyway, you can also fly to Bergamo Orio al Serio (BGY).

Arrival in Menaggio

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

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

Departure from Porlezza

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

GPS tracks are available on request.

INCLUDED

Included

  • 7 nights' accommodation with breakfasts
  • Private transfer from Menaggio to Cavargna + luggage to Porlezza on DAY 6
  • Digital detailed route notes and maps in English
  • Access to the trip on our navigation app
  • 24-hour telephone assistance

Not included

  • Travel insurance
  • Travel to Menaggio and from Porlezza
  • Trains or busses wherever necessary
  • Lunches & Dinners
  • Drinks and snacks
  • Personal equipment
  • Tourist taxes

Extras

  • Additional nights before, during or after the walk
  • Single Room Supplement(s)
  • Solo Traveller Supplement
  • Transfer from airport to Menaggio
  • Transfer from Porlezza to airport
  • Shipment of trip docs to your home address
REVIEWS

There are no reviews for this trip yet.

Recently viewed:

S-Cape Travel uses cookies to manage the website, to show you personalized content and to manage business goals. Below you can find more information on how we use cookies. You can accept all cookies, select them individually or reject them all. To learn more about our cookie policy, you can visit the dedicated page at any time.

extraSmallDevice
smallDevice
mediumDevice
largeDevice