Italian Lakes Discovery

Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrive Milan | Transfer to Garda Town on Lake Garda

Meet at Milan Mapensa Airport at 10:00am and transfer to Lake Garda. You'll have time for a short afternoon exploratory walk in the area before an orientation and welcome dinner. Overnight in Garda (SD)

Day 2 – Lakeside and Olive Grove Hike | Prehistoric Rock Carvings

We start our hike at the town of Garda right along the lake and then climb up into the area’s attractive olive groves, passing some fascinating prehistoric rock carvings before descending to pretty Torre del Benaco and its 15th century fortifications. Ferry back to Garda town. (BSD)

Ascent: 900 feet | Descent: 900 feet | Distance: 7 miles (may vary)

Day 3 – Cable car to Monte Baldo for a Panoramic Hike

We take Malcesine’s panoramic cable car up to 5500 feet to the Monte Baldo ridge which dominates the lake, for views right across it and into the Alps and Dolomites. Our hike takes us down into the verdant Lessini hills along pasture footpaths on a circuit hike on rocky paths and pastures back to our starting point. (BSD)

Ascent: 1800 feet | Descent: 1800 feet | Distance: 8 miles (may vary)

Day 4 – Transfer to Lake Iseo | Lake View Hike

We leave Lake Garda for lesser-known, tranquil Lake Iseo and a pretty high hike with stunning and varied views over the lake. Overnight in Riva di Solto above Lake Iseo. (BSD)

Ascent: 1500 feet | Descent: 1200 feet | Distance: 7 miles (may vary)

Day 5 – Transfer to Lake Como | Varenna Lakeside Walk

We drive onto historic Varenna on Lake Como, a picture-perfect, stylish village, getting acquainted with the lake on a pretty lakeside walk through some of the characteristic villages along its shores. before getting a boat back to Varenna. (BSD)

Ascent: about 1200 feet | Descent: about 1200 feet | Distance: 5 miles (may vary)

Day 6 – Ferry across Lake Como | Panoramic Hike on the Monte San Primo Ridge

We take a ferry across the lake and drive up high into the hills above the lake for a hike along pasture paths to a high grassy ridge with spectacular views over all three branches of Lake Como and the Swiss Alps beyond., before taking the ferry back to Varenna. (BSD)

Ascent: 1800 feet | Descent: 1800 feet | Distance: 9 miles (may vary)

Day 7 – Lake ferry to Bellagio | Circuit Hike In and Around Bellagio

We ferry across Lake Como to famous historic lakeside village, Bellagio, for a hike through and above the town before ascending to its hamlets for commanding views of the lake and the surrounding hills. We conclude in one of Lake Como’s historic botanical gardens before hopping on a ferry back to Varenna. (BSD)

Ascent: 800 feet | Descent: 800 feet | Distance: 5 miles (may vary)

Day 8 – Ferry Across the Lake and High Ridge Hike on the Lake’s West Bank | Return to Milan

We take a ferry over to the western shores of Lake Como and drive up to a high ridge at 4000 feet for a bucolic hike through Alpine meadows giving us breathtaking views of the Italian and Swiss Alps and down onto both Lake Como and Swiss Lake Lugano. We then drive onto a Milan airport hotel. (BSD)

Ascent: 1700 feet | Descent: 1700 feet | Distance: 8 miles (may vary)

Day 9 – Depart Milan

Depart Milan on return flights or onward travel. (B)