Lake Como Rambling - Lakeland Walking Holiday in Northern Italy with Sherpa Expeditions

Lake Como Rambling - Lakeland Walking Holiday in Northern Italy with Sherpa Expeditions

Lake Como is a gorgeous blue ribbon of postglacial lake stretching for 50km squeezed within the constraints of its surrounding mountains. The southern end forks into two long 'legs', with the picturesque town of Bellagio situated on the promontory between them. Visitors have been coming to the area for over 2000 years and for good reason: the accessible alpine beauty. The best way to experience the region is to combine walking the trails and using the ferries to access many of the chic and charming villages.

Visit the Sherpa Expeditions Website for more details

From our first hotel perched high above the city of Como the walking programme commences with a ridge walk high above the lake with sweeping views to both sides followed by a descent to the shore of Lake Como at Torno. A short boat ride gets you to Como to visit the historic town centre and stroll along the lake to soak up the tranquil old world atmosphere. Como is renowned for its Romanesque churches, its wonderful cathedral, medieval town walls and impressive villas. From Brunate, travel by cablecar, boat and taxi to the charming village of Breglia. Fill the day with a short walk to Madonna di Breglia, a 'church with a view'. From Breglia a circular walk to a mountain hut provides spectacular views across Lake Como. A short extension to this walk brings you to 'Pizza Coppa' for views as far as Lake Lugano in Switzerland and dedicated walkers can make the summit of Monte Grona (alt. 1736 m.).

Moving on by boat arrive in the charming village of Varenna, deemed 'Italy's most romantic village', (quite a claim). Varenna has inspirational views of the lake and the distant mountains, brightly painted houses adorned with flower-filled balconies, a bustling waterfront and a maze of meandering cobblestone streets. An afternoon visit from Varenna to the small village of Bellano provides a short walk into the canyon of the River Pioverna. From Varenna you can also complete a walk on the northern stretch of the 'Sentiero del Viandante', a relatively easy lakeside path from Dervio or Bellano back to Varenna. Views over the lake from this path are marvellous as you walk through a terraced landscape and visit the abbey of Piona, a most intriguing place. Varenna is a good place to embark on a day's boat tour of the lake. There are several places you could visit or start a walk, including the splendid Villa Carlotta, with its beautiful gardens, and Bellagio, ''the pearl of the lake''. Recommended is an incredibly scenic walk through the delightful countryside, passing the fishing village of Pescallo, climbing to the charming hamlet of Visgnola, then descending to the lakeshore and the wonderful gardens of Villa Melzi.

Inn to Inn 8 days
Duration: 7 nights / 8 days
Tour Code: JCO
Grade: Moderate
Day Stages: Min 5 km, max 17 km

There are some different options for extending or shortening days and increasing the level of difficulty to include some longer sections up or downhill, sometimes on paths with rough surfaces. Most of the trails are well maintained.

SELF-GUIDED Dates 2009
February - November (not during 21-25 April, 5-8 May and 1-14 September due to large conferences in this area).

ESCORTED Dates 2009
Group Size: Min 6, max 15, plus trek leader
EJCO27 Sat 27 Jun - Sat 4 Jul
EJCO19 Sat 19 Sep - Sat 26 Sep

Accommodation
7 nights/8 days - The first two nights are spent at Brunate, just above Como. This recently renovated, welcoming and comfortable 3* hotel has spectacular views of the lake. The third and fourth nights are spent in a comfortable 2* (deserves at least one more star) hotel in the small hamlet of Breglia, high above the lake, in the mountains above Menaggio. The last three nights are spent in a very good 3* hotel in the wonderful little village of Varenna, the 'most romantic village of Italy'. Some people say that Varenna is even more beautiful than Bellagio. Halfway up the Eastern shore this town is a cool spot in the heat of summer with overhanging trees and foliage. Almost devoid of the usual tourist offerings, it does have waterside cafes, with the town located up steep and narrow alleys.

Note: Clients have to carry their own luggage when travellng between hotels by ferry and on the cablecar to Brunate.

Sherpa Notes

Accommodation & Meals
2 and 3* hotels in attractive locations, bed and breakfast on 4 nights, dinner on 2 nights are included.

Way Marks
Only a part of the route is waymarked; elsewhere it is necessary to follow the route descriptions provided together with the maps.

Visit the Sherpa Expeditions Website for more details

Italy - Lake Como Holiday with Hooked on Walking.

Italy - Lake Como Holiday with Hooked on Walking.

This tour leads you through one of the most panoramic areas of the Lake Como region.

Tours start and finish near Como, a beautiful city with a rich history. The walled centre, with its narrow alleys, fine squares and impressive dome, reaches right to the shore of the lake. The tour leads over the summits of the Triangolo Lariano, the triangular piece of land surrounded on two sides by the lake and on the third by the plains of the river Po. This situation guarantees splendid views all around; the snow-topped Alps in the north, the steep Grigna in the east and at sunset the Mon Viso in the west on the French border! Closer by, just beneath, is the lake with its characteristic villages, showing, in sight and sound, the fine examples of Romanic church towers.

The walk goes through ancient chestnut forests, over gentle summits and mountain meadows. ‘Rifugi’, small local inns and resting places, will offer you a sumptuous selection of local specialities, tempting you to a tasty break with an inevitable glass of wine. If you wish you can choose to walk over the highest summit of the area, the San Primo. From here the entire lake with its quaint shore side towns can be seen, including Bellagio, the so-called ‘Pearl of the Lake’’, from where you will take a scenic boat ride back to Como at the end of your tour. From the boat you will have a constant view on the mountain ridge you walked over on the previous days and you will get a close-up glimpse of the lakeside towns.

Day 1 Arrival in Como.
Immediately after the Swiss-Italian border lays Como. Your first accommodation is in Brunate, a small village in Art-Deco style up the mountain above Como. A small road winds up from the city, but the place can also be reached by a little cable-train running up from Como.

Day 2 From Brunate to Alpe del Viceré.
Thanks to the fact that the first lodging is high up, walking upwards is reduced and the view is splendid; on a clear day this first hike offers views on the snow-topped Alps in the north, the flatlands of the river Po in the south and the lake beneath. Walking through beech forests and mountain meadows the track leads to Alpe del Viceré, the meadows where the vice king, (sun of Napoleon) once kept his horses during summer. Walking time from 2.5 to 4 hours. Differences in altitude: up 320m. down 300m.

Day 3 From Alpe Viceré to Pian di Nesso.
Almost every day a choice can be made between day trips of different length or difficulty; today the choice is to go over or around the Monte Palanzone after which it goes downhill to the quiet Piano di Nesso. A varied hike through fields and forests with , of course beautiful views all around. Walking time from 3 to 4 hours. Differences in altitude: up 530m. down 450m.

Day 4 Piano di Nesso.
This little valley is like a kept secret; water is bubbling up from wells, cowbells clink and Giovanni, your host, is making his cheese. A nice spot for a day of rest but if you cannot sit still you can make a roundtrip down to the lakeside or in the mountains around.

Day 5 From Piano di Nesso to Piano Rancio.
Also on this day is a choice which can be made between going over or around the mountain. The mountain San Primo is the highest of the area (1700) so if the whether collaborates , good views are guaranteed. Especially during spring it’s a tour through the seasons, while in summer at the lakeside but near the summit of the San Primo flowers like Helleboris and Crocus are still celebrating the end of wintertime. Walking time from 3 to 5 hours. Differences in altitude: max. up 550m. down 700m.

Day 6 From Piano Rancio to Bellagio / Como / Brunate.
This day the trip goes downhill to the ‘civilised world’. Hiking along meadows, the edge of woods, hamlets and villages, it goes to the village of Bellagio, beautifully situated on the tip of the Triangolo Lariano and therefore called the ‘Pearl of the Lake’. From here a two hours scenic cruise southward brings you back to Como. Walking time 3 +1 hour. Differences in altitude: down 750m.

Day 7 Brunate
Once back in the first lodging you can spend the day in the city; Como has a charming walled centre and is famous for its silk production. Otherwise a last trip by foot can be made, downhill to the lakeside; in the woods enormous stones can be found, caved into mysterious tombs, unknown when made and unknown for whom, Fascinating!

Day 8 Departure
Departure after breakfast on the terrace with a last glimpse on the lake.

For more information visit www.inspiringholidays.com