Self Drive - Pearls of the Italian lakes : walking on Lake Orta, Maggiore and Como

Highlights of the trip

  • A complete discovery of the lakes region
  • A condensed natural and cultural wealth: mountains, medieval villages, churches and palaces...
  • The famous Borromean Islands
  • Panoramic hikes on Orta, Como and Maggiore offering magnificent panoramas


    Go Private or go guided ! Customize your holidays with a local specialist here 

    • Self-guided
    • Walking  Easy
      • 8 days
      • From March to October
      • Simple -
      • Comfort -
      • Charming
      • Ref : ITAL35

Pearls of the Italian lakes : walking on Lake Orta, Maggiore and Como - Day By Day

Day 1 - Arrival on Lake Orta

Short holidays in Italy lake region

  • Arrival in Orta on your own : the smallest yet most charming of the Italian lakes. Orta is a small pedestrian village listed as one of the most beautiful in Italy with its old stone houses and impressive mansions.
  • Night in Orta

  • Access: 
    . Flight : Regular flights and low cost airline to Milan : Milano Malpensa Airport (click here ) - Milan Linate Airport (click here ) - Milan Bergamo

Day 2 - Medieval Orta San Giulio

self guided walking holidays italy lake maggiore

  • Loop Walk – Pella > Ronco
    3 hours 30 - Ascent: +400 m / Descent: -400 m
  • You walk to the lake pier and cross the lake by ferry boat to the small medieval village of Pella on the western shore. Panoramic walk with a view of the lake through forests and small hamlets with a semi-mountainous feel. Upon arrival in Ronco at the end of the walk : you can jump into the lake for a well-deserved swim !
  • You then take the ferry boat back to discover the tiny island of San Giulio, home to a basilica and a Benedictine convent. Back to Orta, you visit the famous Sacro Monte, a UNESCO World Heritage site, perched on the hill above the village, nestled in a huge centuries old forest.  It tells the story of the life of St Francois of Assisi  through 20 chapels decorated with colourful frescoes and life-size statues.
  • Night in Orta
  • MEALS included:  Breakfast

Day 3 - Walk towards the Mottarone summit

self guided tours of italy on the italian lakes in orta san giulia

  • 2 walk options : 
    . Easy - Loop Walk – Mottarone > Monte Zucchero > Mottarone
    3 hours 30 - Ascent: +200 m / Descent: -200 m
    . Challenging - Gignese > Mottarone > Gignese
    5h30 - Ascent: +850 m / Descent: -850 m
  • After breakfast at the hotel, you drive with your car (20mn) to the picturesque village of Gignese. On the way,  take a short break in an agriturismo offering homemade local products, ideal for your picnic!
  • Easy hike : Panoramic loop hike from the Mottarone (1491m) to the Monte Zucchero, one of the most remarkable natural balconies of the Italian Piedmont. Unique 360° panorama of the Alps, from Mount Viso to Mount Rose !
  • Challenging hike : From Gignese, you climb through forests and pastures to the Mottarone, considered one of the most beautiful natural balconies in the whole of Piedmont. A breathtaking 360° view of the Po Valley and the summit of Mont Rose. By car, you can go to the Alpino botanical garden, home to a thousand alpine species.
  • After your hike, you drive to Lake Maggiore and the charming village of Cannero Riviera (about 40 minutes ). Located a few kilometers from the Swiss border, Cannero is certainly one of the most pleasant villages on the lake with a beach inviting you for a swim. 
  • Night in Cannero or Cannobio.
  • MEALS included:  Breakfast

Day 4 - Panoramic trail from Cannero to Cannobio

italy hiking tours to lake maggiore in santa caterina del sasso and mottarone

  • Walk - Cannero > Carmine superior > Canobio
    3 hours - 8km / 4.9 miles - Ascent: +400 m / Descent: -400 m
  • Boat transfer from Cannobio to Cannero (Not included - 30 mn ) 
  • You start your walk in the small village of Cannero, a small, pretty village at the foot of Mount Carza. After a lovely stroll on the sea front, you take the old mule path to the medieval village of Carmine Superiore. Here, time seems to have stood still.  Magnificent views over Lake Maggiore and the possibility to visit the San Gottardo church, well worth the detour. We continue on the panoramic path towards the village of Molineggi. After the dairy shacks in Solivo we descend to Cannabio where the walk ends with a charming seafront stroll. 
  • Night in Cannero or Cannobio
  • MEALS included: Breakfast

Day 5 - The magnificent Borromean islands

walking tours of italy on the borromeo islands on lake maggiore

  • After breakfast, you drive to Stresa (40 mn). Today, you take the boat the famous Borromean islands. The boat runs all day between Stresa and the 3 islands : you can take your time and visit each island and discover the history of the family that had a profound effect on the history of France and Italy. 
  •  Isola Bella  with its 17th-century palace, Isola Madre with its famous palaces and botanical garden,  terraced gardens and magnificent exotic garden.  And finally,  Isola dei Pescatori,  a pictoresque little fishing village with narrow streets and lovely restaurants for lunch.  (Borromean islands entrance not included)
  • Boat transfer back to Stresa. In the afternoon, you drive with your car to Lake Como (2h)
  • Night on Lake Como
  • MEALS included:  Breakfast

Day 6 & 7 - Panoramic walks on lake Como

  • Breakfast at the hotel.
    During these two days, discovery of the shores of Lake Como, which is still today a very popular holiday resort. Protected from the northern winds by the Swiss Alps, the temperatures are mild in winter, which allows Mediterranean vegetation (olive trees, laurel, lemon trees...) and subtropical vegetation to develop, especially in the parks of the villas. An amazing contrast with the alpine vegetation of the mountain slopes.

  • You have several choices of walks : 

  • Walk - Lenno > Vila Carlotta
    4 hours - Ascent: +200 m / Descent: -200 m
    You walk on a panoramic trail to discover the shores and hills of the Riviera of the Azaleas with a panorama of the lake and the mountains. Olive groves and gardens, medieval villages and baroque palaces, villas surrounded by mysterious parks and churches mark out your walk to the famous Villa Carlotta (entrance not included).
    Return by boat (15mn - not included) to Lenno or Cadenabbia.

  • Loop Walk - Bellagio, pearl of Lake Como
    4 hours - Ascent: +250 m / Descent: -250 m
    Crossing by boat (30mn - not included) to the peninsula of Bellagio, the "pearl of the Lario". You will reach the picturesque village of Pescallo and cross the park of Villa Giolia to then go up to Perlo. Return to Bellagio through the gardens of Villa Melzi (entrance not included), so praised by Stendhal and Flaubert.
    Boat trip to Lenno or Cadenabbia (30mn - not included).
    Possibility to visit to the gardens of Villa Balbianello in Lenno (entrance not included).

  • Walk - Bellano > Varenna
    3h30 - Ascent: +250 m / Descent: -250 m
    Crossing by boat (30mn-not included) to Bellano, on the eastern shore of the lake. Departure of a panoramic  hike to reach the castle of Vézio and Varenna, a splendid village with colorful houses on the hillside. In Varenna, you can visit the gardens of the Monastero town: rhododendron alley, wisteria and large magnolias.
    Return by boat to Lenno or Cadenabbia (40mn - not included).

  • Walk - Breglia > Monte Grona > Mountain Refuge Menaggio > Breglia
    4h30 - 5h  - Ascent: +750 m / Descent: -750 m
    Drive to Breglia at an altitude of 1,000m (35mn) and climb to Monte Grona (1726m), passing by the small chapel of San Amate and following balcony paths through high mountain pastures. From here the view of Lake Como and the surrounding mountains is spectacular. Descend through the Menaggio refuge (1400m) to Monti di Breglia. Return route to your accomodation

  • Night in Lake como
  • MEALS included:  Breakfast 

Day 8 - Bye Bye Italy

  • End of your trip on Lake Como

  • Return: 
    . Boat: public boat to Como city
    . Train : Regular train lines from Como city to Milan city/ Milan airport on trenitalia. Access information here  
    . Flight : Regular flights and low cost airline from Milano Malpensa Airport (click here ) and Milan Linate Airport (click here )
    • Self-guided
    • Walking  Easy
      • 8 days
      • From March to October
      • Simple -
      • Comfort -
      • Charming
      • Ref : ITAL35
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