5 Great Walking Holidays in the Italian Lakes

The Italian Lakes have long attracted British hikers who enjoy the combination of stunning scenery provided by the rugged mountains above and emerald waters of the lakes below, along with the relaxing and friendly dolce vita lifestyle of the region. 

The great climate and stunning beauty of the area was well known to the locals long before the brits arrived though, the lake shores were once lined by Roman villas, a favoured retirement spot two millennia ago.  With the advent of resort type tourism from Victorian times, hotels were built for wealthy European and American tourists who promenaded around the lake shore and into the surrounding hills

Exactly how strenuous you’d like your hiking (or should that be ‘promenading’) holiday to be is very much up to you, with a whole host of companies offering a whole range of options from gentle strolls through relatively benign woodland, meadows and perhaps vineyards to serious multi-day overnight expeditions over mountain peaks and across terrain that may still be snow covered in mid-summer for the most experienced.  You can opt for guided or self-guided hikes with a tour operator or just do it yourself.

The three best known of the lakes are Lake Garda, Lake Como and Lake Maggiore in northern Italy but there are many other more off-the-beaten track options.

These include Lake Levico, one of Italy’s cleanest lakes, a peaceful Alpine lake encircled by lush forests, hiking and cycling trails or Lake Garda’s tiny neighbour Lake Ledro.  There’s also the alluring Lake Orta or tranquil Lake Iseo.  The difficulty is always choosing which one to visit first.

Wanderwalks

Inghams offer a choice of eight different Italian lakes as bases for their summer mountain holidays.  New for 2017 the company is featuring Lazise, a pretty town set on the eastern shore of Lake Garda, to the south of Bardolino, and Como, the historic and bustling city and the capital of the province.

Inghams exclusively offers what it calls ‘Wanderwalks’ a guided walking programme of up to three varied walks per week during your stay, guided by either your Inghams Rep or a professional English-speaking guide.

The walks vary from one to five hours and may be easy, moderate or ‘slightly challenging’ in nature meaning more demanding hikes over varied terrain, sometimes at altitude, and where trails may be less defined in parts, so reasonable health and fitness is required and a minimum age of 14 years.

Self Guided Hiking Holidays

Inntravel’s walking holidays in the Italian Lakes are meticulously researched, and you walk at your own pace guided by detailed notes provided by the company. You can base yourself in one place or your luggage can be transported between hotels whilst you’re out hiking, so you travel light and carefree.  The company also offers walks with a guide and has an option for families where you stay at family friendly hotels.

“Our notes provide so much information in addition to the basic directions that you don’t need a guide,” a company spokesperson said, “The maps that we provide along with our walking notes are usually 1:25,000 or, in some cases, 1:50,000.”

The company divides their walking holidays in to three main levels, but offers two intermediate stages meaning overall there are five main options (Level 1, pretty easy; level 1-2, level 2, level 2-3, and level 3.  The latter is described thus, “…challenging hikes, featuring long days with significant ascent / descent on challenging terrain. Compass skills may be required.”  So something for everyone…

Rambling Around Lake Como

Sherpa Expeditions offer a self-guided, moderate-difficulty walking-tour of Lake Como, one of the ‘big three’ Italian lakes.

Como is a splendid blue watery ribbon carved between the adjacent mountains for a length of 46km.  It branches into two legs at a junction between the attractive villages of Bellagio, Varenna and Menaggio on opposing lakeshores.

Most of the hiking trails in the area are well maintained and Sherpa offers flexible routes so you often have the option of taking a shorter route if you want to hike less, or as longer one of you want to do more – but generally you’ll need to be a reasonable level of fitness and should be able to walk for up to 4½ hours during a day for easier options and longer for moderate grade walks. The company note that snow may be encountered especially early in the season and up to late June at the highest levels.

Lake Levico – Italy’s Cleanest lake

All of the Italian lakes appear pristine but Lake Levico has a reputation as one of the purest of the lot.

It’s located in the wonderful Trentino region of Italy and within the UNESCO-protected Dolomite Mountains.

Thomson Lakes & Mountains holidays offer holidays to several of the Italian Lakes but rate Lake Levico as having some of the country’s best walking.

If you want to keep it simple you can circumnavigate the lake itself in a couple of hours and perhaps walk through the arboretum in the town centre, or strike off in to the hills on a more strenuous adventure.

The Via dei Pescatori, the fisherman’s path, is a particularly lovely wooded walk and takes around half an hour. The mountains above town offer more challenging hikes for those with more energy. Pick up a map from the Tourist Office, with details of 12 routes ranging from 1-4 hours long – these include walks to forts and ruins, as well as paths to Tegazzo castello and the highest viewpoint in the area.

Among many benefits, the local guest card, free to those staying in Levico, provides free bus and train travel in the region and Thomson guests also get a free vineyard and wine tasting tour and free boat trip on the lake.

On Your Bike

Of course just because you’re in the hills above the Italian Lakes you don’t have to hike. Headwater offer a nine-night, self-guided cycling tour from the Alps to Lake Garda that can be booked any time between May and October this year.

The ride through the famously sunny (300 days per year average) Trentino-Alto Adige region, which, according to Goethe, is also ‘the most beautiful wine garden in Europe’ begins in the traditional Italian mountain village of Silandro, in the heart of the unspoilt Val Venosta.

The route follows a linear route south passing Alpine meadows, pretty wine villages, historic spa towns and ancient art cities before a final downhill whizz brings you to the shores of Riva, ‘Pearl of Lake Garda’, famed for its pine-fringed beaches, sailing and stunning sunsets.

You can of course stop and do a bit of hiking along the way if you wish.