Northern Italy's lakes are not only stunningly beautiful but also rich in history and culture. This 7-day guided hiking tour takes you to three of them: Como, Maggiore, and Orta. Lake Maggiore offers a great mix of stunning gardens, jaw-dropping views, and spectacular islands. Lake Como, with its lush hills and elegant villas, embodies timeless class. And Lake Orta, the smallest of the three, is a true hidden gem, known for its peaceful, almost magical atmosphere. Surrounded by charming villages, lush vineyards, and majestic mountains, these lakes have inspired artists, writers, and poets for centuries.
Arrive at your accommodation in Stresa (by direct train from Milan). Once settled in, you can have a swim in the lake, before meeting your guide at the hotel at 7pm.
(Our suggestion: if you arrive in Stresa in the morning, you can take a boat (not included) to the 13th-century hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso, clinging to the cliff, and offering an exceptional view of the lake).
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: 3-star hotel Primavera/Meeting in Stresa
We’ll take a boat and visit the famous Borromean Islands (the entrance ticket for the 3 islands is around 35€ per person). We’ll visit Isola Bella and Isola Madre, with their famous palaces and Italian terraced gardens, and Isola dei Pescatori, with its picturesque fishing village with narrow streets. The end of the day might be a great time to have a swim in the lake and to wander around Stresa.
Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
Hiking/walking: 3-4 hrs from one island to the next
Accommodation: 3-star hotel Primavera/Meeting in Stresa
Today, we are off to explore one of Italy’s smallest and most charming lakes: Lake Orta. After a short 30-minute cab ride to Omegna, we’ll take a boat to the village of Pella. We will set off on foot to climb the Madonna del Sasso, overlooking Lake Orta, then descend to the hamlet of San Filiberto. We will then take the boat to the island of San Giulio, home to an early Christian basilica, one of the finest examples of Piedmontese Romanesque architecture, and the Benedictine convent. After taking a break for an hour or so, we’ll continue to the village of Orta San Giulio. Depending on the time remaining, you can explore the 21 chapels of the Sacro Monte—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—before returning to Stresa.
Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
Hiking/walking: 3.5-4 hrs
Elevation: +500 m / -500 m (+1,640 ft / -1,640 ft)
Accommodation: 3-star hotel Primavera/Meeting in Stresa
Today we’ll go on a lovely hike along the shores of Lake Maggiore, from Stresa to Belgirate. Belgirate is a charming village built along Via Gallica, an ancient Roman road, lined with typical houses surrounded by flowers. We’ll have a picnic by the lake, and even a swim, weather permitting. We’ll return to Stresa by train or bus by 3pm, and then take a private minibus to Lake Como (90-minute drive), and settle in our hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
Hiking/walking: 3.5 hrs
Elevation: +200 m / -200 m (+650 ft / -650 ft)
Accommodation: 3-star Hotel Firenze in Como
Today we’ll hike along the famous “Tremezzina”. The path winds above typical hamlets and villages, with spectacular views of the lake and villas in the surrounding countryside. Before reaching Lenno, don’t miss the sanctuary of the Madonna del Soccorso: a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its 14-17th-century chapels show the life of Christ through scenes recreated by astonishingly realistic life-size figures.
Once we arrive at the peaceful lakeside village of Lenno, swimming might be a possibility in summer (small pebble beach). Visit on your own the beautiful gardens of Villa del Balbianello (the entrance ticket is around 13/15€): a magnificent sculpted garden with luxuriant vegetation, combining dazzling architecture and a magnificent panorama of the lake. At the end of day, we’ll take a boat back to Como.
Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
Hiking/walking: 3.5-4.5 hrs,10 km / 6.2 miles
Elevation: +400 m / -370 m (+1,300 ft / -1,200 ft)
Accommodation: 3-star Hotel Firenze in Como
Today we’ll take a boat to Bellagio, a charming village perched on a promontory jutting out into the lake. Often referred to as the “Pearl of Lake Como,” it is full of steep stone staircases, picturesque cobblestone streets, elegant villas, and stunning waterfront, with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and the shimmering waters of Lake Como. Mansions and palaces surrounded by immense gardens bear witness to the past splendor. We’ll walk a trail overlooking the lake and the foothills of Mount San Primo, with views of the lake and the Bellagio peninsula.
If time permits, try to visit Melzi garden (the entrance ticket is around 10€), or spend some time exploring Bellagio. We’ll take a boat back to Como. The guide will say goodbye to the group at the end of the walk (does not stay in Como for the night).
Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch
Hiking/walking: 3.5-4.5 hrs,12 km / 7.5 miles
Accommodation: 3-star Hotel Firenze in Como
After breakfast, it’s check out time: say goodbye to the Lakes. Should you decide to stick around a bit, we can provide some ideas and tips, or you can simply enjoy the Saturday morning market in Como, or take the historical cable car to Brunate (before 9am, to avoid the queue!), take a walk to the Volta lighthouse and climb its 143 steps, and have a nice lunch on a panoramic terrasse with breathtaking views.
Meals: Breakfast
What you get on this adventure:
What’s not included:
To be able to participate in our guided hiking tour around famous Italian lakes, you should have a moderate level of fitness and be comfortable with full-day hikes. You should be able to maintain a stable and safe pace and not have a strong fear of heights. The hiking tour of Maggiore, Como, and Orta lakes involves covering between 5 and 7.5 miles (8-12 km) each day, with hiking durations of approximately 4 to 6 hours. While there may be some challenging sections along the way, you’ll always have a guide by your side to set the appropriate pace, ensure regular breaks, and ensure the safety and enjoyment of everyone in the group.
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Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
Bring comfortable clothes appropriate for the season. We suggest checking the forecast and adjusting your list accordingly. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
Group sizes and pricing
This hiking tour of Maggiore, Como, and Orta lakes can be arranged for private and for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements
If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
To get to Milan, most people fly into Milan Malpensa Airport, which is connected to the city center via a regular railway line (Malpensa Express). From Milan, you can take a direct train to Stresa and your Hotel Primavera/Meeting, where you will meet your guide on Day 1 of the hiking tour of Maggiore, Como, and Orta, at 7pm.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both emergency medical and travel insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, we partnered up with Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner!
Redpoint tailors their insurance packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations. Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.
Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s insurance. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!