8-day Lombardy Como & Lugano Lakes Walking Holiday

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.

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

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 Rezzonico. From 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

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

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

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

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

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.