Italian Lakes: Hike, Bike & Kayak

Intrepid Travel Premier
Has very high quality customer experiences and demonstrated commitment to responsible travel practices. read more
4.6 . Excellent
94%
Travel Style: Array Full on
Physical Level: All or most of day hiking or biking, hills included. Moderate
Lodging Level: Mid-range budget with accommodations ranging from comfortable lodges, guesthouses, and homestays to three star hotels. Value (3*)
8 days
From: $ 1,914 $ 239 / day
Checking price

Overview

Highlights (Bullets)

  • Spend your time immersing yourself into the tranquil lifestyle of Lake Como and Garda – admiring the views, getting active by the lake, and indulging in regional food and wine.
  • Explore the beautiful villages, estates and gardens dotted around Lake Como, meandering the lake by ferry. Feel the fanciful vibe on the grounds of Bellagio's grand Villa Melzi, then see the shore from a kayak.
  • Explore Milan's wonders and urban history of this magical city including the Gothic Duomo, the city's most famous building.
  • Consider the option of taking a cable car up Monte Baldo – with varying degrees of mountain hikes available, or just to sit at the mountaintop restaurant for lunch, this experience gets you sky high above Garda.
  • Have plenty of free time lakeside in Riva del Garda, perhaps taking up one of the water sports on offer or visiting nearby wineries in the Bardolino region.

Short Description

Indulge your appetite and treat the senses on this exquisite active journey through Italy’s Lakes district. Hike the forested paths around Lakes Como and Garda, cycle through the Dolomite highlands and simply admire the stunning views at every turn. Ferry to and fro between lake villages and charming villas, clamber about the crumbling ruins of medieval castles. Idyllic in setting, laid-back in lifestyle, and a gastronomist’s delight, this jaunt through one of Europe’s most charming regions shouldn’t disappoint. And if it somehow does, take the issue up with one of the local residents – like Sting or George Clooney.

Style Small group tour
Spend most of the time outdoors. Common trip themes and activities include cycling, hiking, kayaking, whitewater rafting.
Itinerary Focus Active
Mid-range budget with accommodations ranging from comfortable lodges, guesthouses, and homestays to three star hotels.
Lodging Level Value (3*)
Flight & Transport Inclusions All internal ground transport
Start City Milan
End City Milan

Destinations

Italy Switzerland

Attractions & Cities Visited

Lake Como Lake Garda

Activities & Interests

Adventure & Adrenaline Hiking Trekking

Age Requirement

15-99

No Single Supplement
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Itinerary

Day 1 Milan

Buongiorno! Welcome to Italy. Please make your own way to the hotel. No activities are planned for today until tonight's important welcome meeting at 6 pm, so you can arrive at any time. If you arrive early why not take a wander around the historic city of Milan. After tonight's group meeting the evening is free, so perhaps go for dinner at one of the nearby traditional restaurants with your new travel companions.

Day 2 Milan / Lake Como

Enjoy a walking tour of Milan this morning. See the Gothic Duomo, the city's most famous building. Walk through the beautiful Galleria, to the Teatro alla Scala, arguably Italy’s most famous opera house. Explore some shops in the fashion district, and visit the medieval castle and its beautiful park. In the early afternoon you will travel north to Lake Como (Lago di Como), an area of stunning beauty. Your accommodation will be in the heart of Como, the capital city, which boasts a beautiful medieval town centre. Opt to travel up to Brunate, with one of the worlds’s oldest funicular railways, for a short walk through the hills surrounding Como, and then back down into town. There will be time for a drink, either on Como's beautiful town square or along the lake shore, before settling in your hotel. 

Day 3 Kayaking & Hiking in Bellagio / Lake Como

Lake Como (Lago di Como) is an area of stunning beauty full of unique and evocative landscapes. Discover the central part of Lake Como by boat. You’ll head ashore in Bellagio, the 'pearl of the lake', situated on the Punta Spartivento, where the two arms of Lake Como meet. Embark on a scenic hike through the delightful countryside, past the charming fishing village of Pescallo and other scenic hamlets. Back down at the lake discover the grand estate of the Villa Melzi, which is set into gardens filled with rare and exotic plant life. Next is a kayaking adventure which brings you all around the headland of Bellagio. Back in Como take a stroll through the medieval town centre, before enjoying a drink in the main square or along the lake shore, if you’d like.

Day 4 Lake Como to Lake Garda

In the morning, transfer to Lake Garda, Italy’s biggest Lake. We drive along Bergamo and Brescia and hit the shore of Lake Garda at Salò. The next village is Gardone, famous for its amazing ‘Vittoriale’, the palace of the Poet Gabriele d’Annunzio. Opt to stop here (and continue by boat to Riva del Garda).We continue following the lake shore, through several charming villages, we reach Riva del Garda, the most alpine, and perhaps most beautiful village on the Lake. Time allowing explore the village, take a stroll along the lakeshore and perhaps visit the castle. Tonight, choose to dine under the medieval arches of Riva del Garda.

Day 5 Hiking at Lake Garda

Good morning from idyllic Lake Garda. Our journey begins with a boat tour across the northern side of Lake Garda, with destination Limone, a village named after the many lemon groves around. From here we walk up through the old cobbled streets to the edge of town, where the scenery changes from Mediterranean into alpine mountain scenery. Walk uphill into the Singol Valley, along a comfortable path, alternating between woods and panoramic views of Garda Lake. Stop at a spot along the mountain stream, before descending back to Limone. Walk amongst olive-groves and citrus trees down to the lake shore. In the late afternoon perhaps book into one of the watersports on offer – this is a common holiday destination for locals, with Kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding on offer.

Day 6 Biking in Riva del Garda / Malcesine / Lake Garda

Embark on a bike ride along the shores of Lake Garda, taking in the glorious scenery of the glistening lake in front of you and the towering Alps behind you. Depending on weather, fitness and interest of the group several rides are possible. The ride out of Riva del Garda is mostly flat. Explore the remains of WWI in a place which until 100 years ago was the border between Austria and Italy. In the afternoon hop on a boat to the beautiful town of Malcesine with time for you to explore or just take in the lake views.

Day 7 Hiking at Lake Garda

Transfer by boat from the northern, ‘alpine’ side of the Lake to the southern, Mediterranean shore, passing many photogenic villages. We’ll go ashore in Garda itself, nicknamed the ‘Pearl of Lake Garda’, dominated by its ‘Rocca’ (rock), complete with an abbey and the remains of a medieval castle. In Garda take a walking tour through the village, then we climb up towards the abbey, a steep but short climb, rewarded by beautiful views over the lake. Perhaps have a picnic or wander around the medieval alleys, have lunch in Garda, or relax on the beautiful lake front. We descend back to Garda again and perhaps drink a coffee and grab an ice cream, before travelling to the scenic village of Malcesine, After an easy afternoon walk here, in the late afternoon we transfer back to Riva del Garda, a scenic ride, all along the Eastern Lake shore. 

Day 8 Lake Garda

After breakfast this morning you are free to leave the Italian Lakes district at any time. From Riva del Garda you can travel by bus to Verona, from where it is easy to reach other destinations in Italy by train. If you'd like to stay in the Italian Lakes region, we can organise additional accommodation (subject to availability).

Availability

Checking price
Price From $ 1,914
Price Per Day: $ 239 per day
Checking price
Start DateFinish DateBase PriceAvailability 
Jun-11-2023Jun-18-2023$ 1,914Sold Out Reserve
Sep-10-2023Sep-17-2023$ 2,50310 spots left Reserve

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Intrepid Travel.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

4,327 Intrepid Travel Travel Reviews & Ratings

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4.6 out of 5 (100+ reviews)
Excellent 3,267
Great 678
Average 136
Disappointing 71
Terrible 175
Value
4.6
Guide
4.6
Activities
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Lodging
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Italian Lakes: Hike, Bike & Kayak

Enjoyable trip!

4.0
Details
Value4.0
Guide4.0
Activities4.0
Lodging4.0
Transportation4.0
Meals4.0
An enjoyable trip, but I was not that enamored of the area...too many tourists!

An enjoyable trip, but I was not

4.0
Details
Value4.0
Guide4.0
Activities4.0
Lodging4.0
Transportation4.0
Meals4.0
An enjoyable trip, but I was not that enamoured of the area...too many tourists!

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Details

Flight & Transport Inclusions

All internal ground transport Train,Boat,Bus,On foot,Kayak,Bicycle

Group Size

Small Group - 24 max

Maximum Number of People in Group: 12

Accommodations

Hotel (7 nights)

Guides

All Intrepid group trips in Europe are accompanied by one of our local European group leaders. ’Local’ in this context means a leader who is European or lives in Europe. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced leader however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your leader is new to a particular region or training other group leaders. Your leader takes care of logistics, will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. At Intrepid we also aim to support local guides in the individual cities or locations we travel to. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your leader can recommend an optional local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.

Age Notes :

Min. Age: 15

Max Age: 99

Additional Information

Finish point

  • Riva del Garda
  • Array
  • Riva del Garda
  • ITALY

Alternate Finish point

  • For trips departing on the following dates, use this finish point.
  • 11 Jun 2023 (ZGXI230611)
  • Hotel Giardino Verdi
  • 4 - 38066 Riva del Garda
  • Milan
  • ITALY

Trip ID#:

intrepid-ZGXI

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