Discounted
Centre-based

Lake Como Walking

Italy - Trip code LC Walking and Trekking
Carbon Footprint Leaf Icon
159Kg of CO²e
Average carbon footprint per person
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Carbon Footprint
You deserve to know everything about your holiday, from what is included, what to expect and every kilogram of CO2 emitted on average per person along the way.

We've partnered with ecollective to measure the carbon footprint of this tour based on an average group size. Find out more about how we calculate this and why we think it's important here.

 

Explore the villages, mountain paths and beauty spots surrounding Lake Como on foot on this week-long walking holiday. Hike the network of footpaths that link quaint mountain villages and walk picturesque routes around the lake and along the shore. After each walk, recoup right by the water's edge, in a family-run hotel with a lakeside swimming pool.

Why we love this trip
  • Bellagio - Take a ferry across the lake to this beautiful town known as the 'Pearl of Lake Como'.
  • Historic villas - Discover the magnificent Villa Carlotta or take a boat tour of lakeside villas.
  • Food and drink - Enjoy Italian cuisine by the lake in Gravedona's authentic restaurants and bars.

  • Included meals

    Breakfast: 7

    Lunch: 4

    Dinner: 4

  • Trip staff

    Explore Tour Leader

    Driver(s)

  • Transport

    Bus

    Ferry

    Public Bus

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    Accommodation

    7 nights comfortable hotel

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    Walking grade:

    Moderate

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    Group Size:

    Trip maximum 16
    Explore Average 11

Itinerary

Day 1 - Join trip at Milan Malpensa airport; transfer to Gravedona

Our trip begins today at Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP), where we'll meet to transfer to Gravedona as a group.

We'll meet at 1pm in the Terminal 1 Arrivals Hall (Arrivals B), of Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP). If your flight arrives into Terminal 2, you can catch the complimentary shuttle bus to Terminal 1. The shuttle runs approximately every ten minutes.

If you'd like to be a part of the airport transfer today, the latest your flight can arrive is 12.30pm. After we've gathered our group, we'll travel to our lakeside hotel in Gravedona, our base for the week - a journey of around 90 minutes/two hours. Gravedona is a pretty little town, situated on the deep blue waters of Lake Como. It's a jumble of pastel-coloured houses with a few shops, cafes and restaurants.

This week, we'll stay at Hotel Regina, a small, family-run hotel with a lakeside swimming pool and views across the water and surrounding mountains. The hotel is just a ten-minute walk from the town centre. Our time in Gravedona promises to be a quintessentially Italian experience, with friendly people and restaurants serving classic Italian dishes and fish from the lake, including the local speciality of fish risotto.

Please note, that all rooms occupied by two people enjoy a view of the lake. Solo travellers opting to pay for a guaranteed single-occupancy room will be accommodated in a non-lakeview room, designed for double occupancy. It's possible to upgrade to a lake view room (all are designed for double occupancy) for a fee. Please contact our sales team for availability and price.

Accommodation:

Hotel Regina (or similar)

Grade: Comfortable Hotel

Single room available

Swimming pool available

Meals Provided: Dinner

Day 2 - Hike to the hill-top village of Livo

Long associated with poets, artists, world leaders and, lately, film stars, Lake Como is undoubtedly the most beautiful of all the well-known Italian lakes. The Southern Alps - which are still snow-covered until May - surround the lake which is dotted with small harbours, stately villas and traditional towns. Our first walk takes us high above Lake Como offering fabulous views and a good orientation of the region. We'll hike from the hotel, through villages and then into a thick forest. Near the village of Livo is a deep cleft in the ground that is the boundary between the African and European tectonic plates. After two and a half hours, we'll reach Livo, located 430 metres above the lake: it feels remote and very different to the lake-side villages. A little on from Livo there is the 15th-century church of San Giacomo, standing way above the impressive Valle de Livo. After a picnic lunch, we'll descend back through the forest to the hotel via a different route.

Today's 12-kilometre/7.5-mile walk is expected to take approximately six hours with a total ascent and descent of 550 metres/1,804 feet.

Accommodation:

Hotel Regina (or similar)

Grade: Comfortable Hotel

Single room available

Swimming pool available

Meals Provided: Breakfast & Lunch

Day 3 - Walk to Sorico via villages, vineyards and meadows

Our walk today is once again direct from our hotel and is a 7-kilometre traverse from Gravedona to the village of Sorico, located on the northwest shore of Lake Como with an impressive church. We'll pass through the pretty town of Domaso and then slowly climb up through meadows, vineyards and chestnut groves to the ancient village of Aurogna. We'll get views of the high Alpine peaks that straddle the border between Italy and Switzerland. At Sorico, we'll have a picnic by the lake and then either take a short bus ride back to the hotel or walk along the newly constructed path that contours along the lake shore.

Today's 7-kilometre/4.4-mile walk is expected to take approximately three to four hours with a total ascent and descent of 350 metres/1,148 feet. From Sorico, there's the option to extend this walk by a further 7 kilometres/4.4 miles on the flat along the lake shore back to the hotel which will take a further 90 minutes to two hours.

Accommodation:

Hotel Regina (or similar)

Grade: Comfortable Hotel

Single room available

Swimming pool available

Meals Provided: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 4 - Ferry to Bellagio; walk from Civenna to Bellagio

We'll take the bus south along the lake to Menaggio today - a small town with a pretty piazza - from where it's a short ferry ride across to Bellagio on the eastern shore. From the ferry, you can see the fabulous lake-side villas that have played host to royalty and world leaders. Bellagio, often described as the 'Pearl of Lake Como', is charming with cobbled lanes, boutiques, cafés and two gardens you can visit. You can either choose to spend today exploring the town or head up by bus to Civenna from where we walk on a ridge overlooking the lake back to Bellagio. The route takes us through pretty forests, passing isolated farms and villas with wonderful views of the lake.

Today's 9.5 kilometres/5.9 mile walk is expected to take approximately four hours with a total ascent of 300 metres/984 feet and descent of 700 metres/2,296 feet.

Accommodation:

Hotel Regina (or similar)

Grade: Comfortable Hotel

Single room available

Swimming pool available

Meals Provided: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 5 - Free day to visit Villa Carlotta, Como town or relax at the hotel

Today has been left free so you can explore solo. Close to Menaggio is the impressive Villa Carlotta with stately rooms and manicured gardens that are well worth seeing. Como town can be reached by ferry or public bus in 90 minutes: the old town has many churches, piazzas and museums together with lots of shops, cafés and restaurants.

Accommodation:

Hotel Regina (or similar)

Grade: Comfortable Hotel

Single room available

Swimming pool available

Meals Provided: Breakfast

Day 6 - Hike to Monti di Nava with views across the lake to Bellagio

Today is a wonderful walk with outstanding views across the lake to Bellagio. We'll take the bus to Croce and head up a zig-zag path to the chapel of Madonna della Grazie di Paullo. Further up, we'll reach a mountain pass with panoramic views of the lake. We'll then descend to the town of Griante and on to Cadenabbia, located on the western shores of Lake Como. Our return to Gravedona skirts along the side of the lake by local bus.

Today's 12-kilometre/7.5-mile walk is expected to take approximately six hours with a total ascent and descent of 550 metres/1,805 feet.

Accommodation:

Hotel Regina (or similar)

Grade: Comfortable Hotel

Single room available

Swimming pool available

Meals Provided: Breakfast & Lunch

Day 7 - Walk from Rezzonico with its 13th century castle to Dongo

For our final walk, we'll take the 20-minute bus ride to Rezzonico which has flights of cobblestone steps, a beautiful harbour and a 13th-century castle. It's one of the few lakeside villages to have maintained its original structure. From here, we'll climb above the lake through vineyards and orchards leading to a succession of pretty hamlets along today's 10-kilometre/6.2-mile walk. The trail gently undulates through more villages and farmland with fabulous lake views. Towards the end of the walk, we'll arrive at the magnificently situated church of St Eufemia. Our destination is Dongo where Mussolini was caught in 1945 whilst trying to escape to Spain. The war museum is well worth a visit. We'll take the five-minute bus back to Gravedona, or you can walk in around one hour.

Today's undulating 10-kilometre/6.2-mile walk is expected to take approximately five hours.

Accommodation:

Hotel Regina (or similar)

Grade: Comfortable Hotel

Single room available

Swimming pool available

Meals Provided: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 8 - Transfer to Milan Malpensa Airport where trip ends

Departing Gravedona this morning, we'll drive to Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP), Terminal 1, where our trip ends. We aim to arrive at around 10.15am, so the earliest your flight can depart today is 12.15pm.

Meals Provided: Breakfast

Trip information

Climate and country information

Italy

Climate

April/May and October/November are pleasantly warm. June to September are the hottest months. Showers are common in Autumn.

Time difference to GMT

+1

Plugs

2 Pin Round

Religion

Roman Catholic

Language

Italian

Budgeting and packing

Optional activities

The following excursions and/or activities are usually available and may be arranged locally. Estimated costs are provided below for guidance only, are on a per person basis unless shown otherwise, and may depend on the number of participants. Prices quoted are correct as of the date these tour notes were originally issued but may change at any time due to currency fluctuations. Please note: These activities are booked and paid for locally and do not form part of your Explore holiday contract.


Visit Villa Carlotta near Menaggio (30 minutes away from Gravedona by public bus) - Entrance ticket is €9 or €7 for over 65s. Return bus fare is €6.

Return bus fare Gravedona/Menaggio is €5 and takes 30 minutes.

Como town - The direct boat from Gravedona to Como Town is €12.60. Return is €25.20. Add another €4.90 each way for the express service (slow takes 2 hours / express 1.30 hours).There is also another boat ticket that costs €28 and allows you to get on and off ferries when you feel like it (so you could do Gravedona, Menaggio, Bellagio and Como by boat in one day!). The public bus takes 1.45 hours from Gravedona to Como town and costs €7 each way. You have to change bus at Menaggio - there is a 5-7 minute window to change bus.

Clothing

Take light and comfortable clothing that can be layered according to the temperature. Rainwear (e.g. Gore-Tex jacket and waterproof trousers) may be needed at any time of year, and a warm fleece/jacket is needed for cooler days and evenings, particularly in April and October when it can sometimes get quite chilly in the evening.

Footwear

We recommend you bring lightweight walking boots, make sure that your boots are worn-in and comfortable before the start of the trip. Also trainers or sandals for relaxing and general wear. We suggest that on international flights you either carry your walking boots in your hand luggage or wear them - should your luggage be lost or delayed, your own boots are the one thing that will be irreplaceable.

Luggage

20kg

Luggage: On tour

One main piece and a daypack.

Equipment

A refusable water bottle, sunhat and high factor sunscreen are all essential. A torch is useful in case of power cuts or emergencies and a lunch box/Tupperwear for picnic lunches.

Tipping

Explore leader
Tipping isn't compulsory, and we work hard to ensure that our leaders all receive a fair wage. You may however, want to recognise a leader that has done a great job or really added to your trip by giving them a tip. We're often asked about the recommended amount. It is a tricky one, and down to personal preference, but we would recommend £35 to £50 per person per week as a guideline.

Italy

Food and drink

The costs for meals may vary depending upon location, type of restaurant and number of courses eaten and so the prices given are an average guide. Local restaurants located off the beaten track may be less expensive, whereas an upmarket restaurant located in the centre of a major city may charge more.


Lunch price
£15.00 - 20.00
Dinner price
£25.00 - 40.00
Beer price
£4.00 - 7.00
Foreign Exchange
Local currency
Euro.
Recommended Currency For Exchange
GBP.
Where To Exchange
We recommend that you change any currency into Euros prior to arrival. Bureau de Change are generally only found in major cities and large airports.
ATM Availability
Major towns.
Credit Card Acceptance
Most hotels and restaurants.
Transport, Accommodation, Food & Drink

Transport Information

Bus, Ferry, Public Bus

Accommodation notes

During this trip, we stay at the Hotel Regina, right on the shore of Lake Como and just a 10-minute walk from the shops and restaurants of laid-back Gravedona. This family-run hotel offers the perfect place to relax after a day of walking - unwind and soak in the inspiring lake and mountain views from the bedrooms, breakfast room and bar. There's also a heated swimming pool with views over the lake, a sun terrace and beach access, giving you plenty of opportunities to unwind after a day of hiking. Other amenities include a small gym, as well as mountain bike hire.
Our itinerary includes four evening meals in the hotel's restaurant. Get a taste of the local flavours, choosing from the seasonal a la carte menu, which uses produce from around Lake Como. A buffet breakfast is also included on each day of the holiday.
Please note, that all rooms occupied by two people enjoy a view of the lake. Solo travellers opting to pay for a guaranteed single-occupancy room will be accommodated in a non-lakeview room, designed for double occupancy. It's possible to upgrade to a lake view room (all are designed for double occupancy) for a fee. Please contact our sales team for availability and price.

Italy

Food and drink

Can you drink the water? 
It is generally possible to drink the local tap water, therefore to reduce the need for single-use plastic bottles we recommend you bring a refillable water bottle with you. Your leader will advise you on refill points each day. 

Essential Information

Government Travel Safety Advice

We strongly recommend that you check your government's travel advisory for up-to-date information and advice about your destination's safety and security, entry requirements, health, local laws and customs. Relevant government website links for UK, US, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand citizens are available on our Travel Safety page.

If you'd like some inital information on country-specific entry requirements, such as visas or any health declaration forms, please refer to our Entry Requirements page.  The services and information on this page are provided by a third party, and so we will still recommend that you cross check this against your government website for the latest advice.
 

Under 18 immigration guidance

Please note that some countries require proof of parental consent when travelling overseas with under 18s. Please check requirements with the relevant embassy or consular office well in advance of travel if this applies to your party.

Price Guarantee

Once your booking has been confirmed we guarantee the price will not increase, whatever the circumstances. However, please note that if you voluntarily make any changes to your booking including changing your trip or departure date, any additional costs or charges incurred will not be covered. Before booking please ensure you have read our important tour pricing information.Booking Conditions
 

Visa and Passport Information

Italy: Visas are not required by UK, E.U Nationals, Australian, New Zealand, US and Canadian citizens. Other nationalities should consult their local embassy or consular office.


If you do require assistance in obtaining a visa then you may be able to apply through Explore's recommended visa service in the UK, Travcour. See www.travcour.com to download the relevant visa application for your trip, if applicable (UK citizens only), along with details of how to apply for your visa through Travcour. The Team at Travcour will be happy to answer specific questions relating to visa applications, please call them directly on 0208 5431846.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you are in possession of a full passport, with the correct validity for your chosen destination.
 

Booking conditions

Before booking your Explore trip, please ensure that you read both our Essential Information and Booking Conditions.
 

Minimum age restrictions

For our group tours, the minimum age is 16. The minimum age on Family trips varies between 7 and 11 - please check the 'Family information' section of the trip page for more information. 


Your safety and enjoyment on tour

We want everyone to have a safe and enjoyable holiday, so we ask you to confirm when booking this trip that you are fit and able to fully participate in all elements of the itinerary. If you have any concerns about your fitness or ability to complete any of the activities, please get in touch with our Customer Relations team at cr@explore.co.uk as soon as possible. Our tour leaders are trained and experienced in managing differing abilities within a group, but if they have concerns about a group member’s ability to safely participate in any element of the itinerary or believe someone’s presence could affect the safety or enjoyment of the holiday for others, in accordance with our Booking Conditions our tour leaders have the authority to ask an individual to miss an activity or activities. This decision would never be taken lightly, but on the rare occasions our tour leaders ask someone to sit out part of the tour, refunds will not be offered and individuals may be liable for additional costs incurred. 
 

Your Tour Leader

All tours aside from extensions, Galapagos cruises and polar expeditions will be led by one of our experienced Tour Leaders. We believe that our Tour Leaders are the key to the success of our tours; they are local experts who are bursting with first-hand knowledge which they love to share, and their unique insights will bring the destination to life. Your Tour Leader will be on hand throughout your tour to make sure arrangements run smoothly, to organise all the local logistics and to keep you safe. Your Tour Leader should be your first point of contact if you encounter any difficulties or disappointments in country – please raise any concerns, however small, with your Tour Leader as they are best placed to assist you.

Transfers

Find out more about Trip Transfer Terms and Conditions before you book.

Booking a land only package with Explore

Customers who have chosen to book on the ‘Land Only’ arrangements of our tour, please ensure that you have checked your tour specific ‘Joining Instructions’ prior to booking your own travel arrangements. Your joining instructions can be found below in the dates and prices information. 

You may also be eligible for the Free Explore Transfer.


Joining Tour Abroad

Customers booked on the ‘Land Only’ arrangements will receive a Free Transfer, provided you arrive and depart on the tour only itinerary start and end dates. The complimentary transfers will be arranged from the Explore designated airport or train station to your trips joining point, and then back from the ending point to the designated airport or train station. Generally the airport or station that Explore have selected will be the one that is closest to the town or city where the trip starts, or the one nearest to the joining point. It will be either an airport or train station but not both.

The exception to this rule is customers who are booked on a tour where the joining and ending point is at the designated airport or train station.  

Free transfers are not available for Polar customers.

If you are not eligible for the Free Transfer then you will need to make your own way through to the joining and ending point. On a majority of our tours Explore will be able to provide a private transfer at an additional cost. Please ask for a quote at the time of booking.  

For more information regarding the Explore Free Transfer click here

Insurance

It is a condition of booking with Explore that you have adequate valid travel insurance. It is your responsibility to arrange appropriate travel insurance and ensure you have read and understood the full terms and conditions of your travel insurance policy to ensure that you are covered for all activities you intend to undertake whilst on the tour, including all optional activities. Your Insurance Policy must fully cover you for medical expenses and emergency repatriation to your home country. Please ensure your policy includes medical emergency helicopter evacuation in the event of illness or injury and covers the entire duration of your holiday. If you are trekking at altitude please ensure that there is no upper altitude limit which may limit or exclude cover for your trip. The cost of many of our Polar Voyages will exceed the capped amount covered by standard insurance premiums and you will be required to pay an additional premium to cover the full value of your trip. Please ensure that you are covered for the full amount of your holiday cost, as insufficient cover could invalidate a claim under the policy. Medical and repatriation insurance cover is not mandatory for UK residents who are travelling on trips within the United Kingdom.
Read more information about what travel insurance is required.

Flight information

Explore can arrange your flights for you, to make joining and leaving our trips easy. Read more about them here.


Flight Information

You are able to book this tour on a 'land only' basis or as a ‘flight inclusive’ package. Your flight inclusive package will be fully protected by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) ATOL protection scheme.

 

Booking a flight inclusive package with Explore

We have a good selection of flights not only from London but from many regional airports around the UK allowing us to compare fares between scheduled carriers as well as low cost and charter airlines. Our dedicated flights team will match the best flight options to your arrival and departure airport.

On our website we display the price of the tour only. Please call us or select the flight option during the online checkout to receive a quote for a flight inclusive package. To avoid paying supplements or to secure your preferred flight option, we recommend booking as early as possible, especially for peak travel dates.

Maximum altitude (m)

630

Italy

Vaccinations

Nothing required. Tetanus recommended. Please check the latest requirements with your travel clinic or doctor prior to departure. The above is not an exhaustive list. Information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found by on the NaTHNaC website and from your local healthcare provider. Visa and vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed by you before travelling.

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Airport Transfers
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