Lake Como in the Lombardy region is a popular area for walking in Italy. This guided walking holiday lets you sample Italy’s rich history, beautiful scenery and great food.
Widely regarded as one of the most beautiful lakes in Italy, Lake Como has been a popular holiday destination since Roman times. And the many villa’s and mild Northern Italian climate give a the area very Mediterranean air.
During this walking holiday you stay in a villa with beautiful views on the lake. On daily guided walks you visit local vineyards, cheese and chestnut producers and historical villages. With the Southern Alps as a backdrop, the setting of this holiday around the Como lake is just marvelous.
Accommodation at Lake Como
Your accommodation during this guided walking holiday is a newly built luxury villa with panoramic views across Lake Como. All the bedrooms have been designed by a craftsman who created all the traditional wooden furniture by hand. Only natural products are used in the rooms and all bathrooms are en-suite. There are safety deposit boxes and hairdryers in all bedrooms. Tea and coffee making facilities are available on request. As part of your holiday you’ll have free use of the villa’s Turkish bath, sauna, hot tub, and mountain bikes.
If weather allows, you can have breakfast on the villa’s terrace, with beautiful views across Lake Como. Breakfast typically consists of fresh rolls, cheeses, cereals, fruit and fruit juices, tea and coffee, toast and scrambled eggs, jams and marmalades and yogurt.
Lunches are included during the 4 guided walking days. Two evening meals are also included where you will be treated to local pasta or pizza.
Walking around Lake Como
During this holiday you’ll be walking mostly on old mule tracks passing historical sites and pretty Italian villages. Your hosts and guides know a lot about this part of Italy and will give you a fascinating insight into local cuisine, culture and customs.
The walks are of and easy to medium level. Each walking day consists of roughly 3 to 4 hours of walking, and you won’t go too high up the mountains. You will visit local producers and sample some of what they offer. We’ll have lunch in local Osterias (Italian restaurants) on our walking route.
Lake Como walking holiday itinerary
The Lake Como guided walking holiday included 4 days of guided walking. The guided walks are every other day, so you have time to visit a number of the many other tourist attractions in the area as well.
Day 1 – Arrival in Italy. You will be welcomed by your hosts and discuss the walking programme for the week.
Day 2 – The Via St. Miro walk. This walk starts from your accommodation at Lake Como. You’ll pass by the lake front and then head to the St Miro Church up the cobbled stairs, following the route of the old Via Regina – the ‘main road’ for mules along the lake.
You stop at Dascio for lunch, trying one of the local specialities while overlooking the beautiful village on the side of the Mera River with views over the Pian di Spagna nature reserve.
After lunch walking continues to the remote village of Albonico. You’ll be walking via a mule track and then along the quiet country lanes to arrive at Sorico and back to the Villa.
In the evening, an Italian pasta dinner is served for you on the terrace of the villa.
Day 3 – Free day. Today you won’t be walking, so you can visit for example the Temple of San Fedelino, take a boat trip on Lake Como, or to relax at the villa.
Day 4 – The Via del Vino walk. For this walk you will first transfer up the Valtellina valley (famous for its vineyards) to a little village above the valley called Santa Croce. From here there is a brief walk (1.5 hours) over the mule tracks which surround the vineyards. You stop to look at a medieval wine press which has been lovingly restored and then lunch at Osteria Santa Croce, again with wonderful views over the vineyards. You can try the local speciality of Pizzochieri.
Then back to the Landrover and drive down into the medieval town of Morbegno for a tour of the town’s traditional centre. Here you have the chance to see the Ciapponi Cantina and to try wines and cheese.
After some free time to relax you walk to an organic farm nearby to try some homemade ice cream (2 hours walking approx).
Day 5 – The Via Della Regina walk. You’ll be walking from the Villa up to the medieval village above. After going through the village with its underpasses and narrow lanes (only accessible on foot) you’ll walk through the fields and woods to Caino and Vercana along the Via Regina mule track.
Lunch at a small private trattoria (small Italian restaurant with mainly regional recipes). You can try chestnut gnocchi. After lunch you’ll be walking down the mountain along mule tracks with wonderful views of the Lake Como. After walking along the lake front you will be transferred back to the Villa. (4 hours walking approx). A traditional Italian pizza dinner will be prepared for you at the villa in the evening.
Day 6 – Free day. There is no walking planned for today. Instead you could, for example, take the Red train from Tirano into Switzerland, or visit some of the region’s famous villas and botanical gardens, or just relax at the villa.
Day 7 – The Via Panorama walk. You will be transferred from the Villa to a nearby village, from there you’ll walk up the mule tracks passing through a small ‘Borghi’.
Note: Borghi is short for ‘I Borghi più belli d’Italia’, Italian for ‘The most beautiful villages of Italy’. Also see Wikipedia.
Superb views of the lake up to a small village called Peglio. Here you’ll see a church with the most incredible fresco’s. As you are quite high there are breathtaking views of both the lake and up the Valtellina valley.
Walking part of the famous via monti lariani walk, you’ll arrive in Livo and have lunch there. After lunch you’ll walk down another mule track to arrive at the Sorsasso wine producers where the wine making process is explained. You’ll have the chance to try the local wine.
Day 8 – End of this guided walking holiday to Lake Como in Italy. Departure day.
Dates and Availability
The Lake Como guided walking holiday starts on Saturdays, but if you want to arrive on a different day this can usually be arranged. Please contact the holiday provider, through the contact form below, for more information.