Overview
A seven day, self-guided walking holiday around the northern shores of Lake Garda, to explore the natural and cultural heritage of Valle dei Laghi. Although Garda takes centre stage, there are many more lakes to discover, such as Lakes Toblino and Molveno on this route through alpine terrain, ancient forests and traditional farmland. With highlights including a walk to the summit of Mount Ranzo (1,835m), and nights in traditional towns that are either overlooked by the Alps, or on the shores of lakes. Starting in either Riva del Garda or Arco, both gorgeous Garda spots, and ending in the elegant town of Trento, this off the beaten path walking tour takes you into Italia at its most bellissima.
- Riva del Garda
- Castello di Drena
- Pietramurata
- Lake Toblino
- Lake Molveno
- Mount Ranzo
- Terlago
- Trento
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Riva del Garda or Arco
Arrive in Riva del Garda, a small town at the northern end of Lake Garda, known for its lake views and mountain backdrop. Take time to walk through the narrow alleys of the Old Town, visit the medieval Rocca di Riva or chill at waterfront cafés. We also have an alternative starting point, in the town of Arco, located at the base of limestone cliffs and surrounded by olive groves and mountains.
- Accommodation: Albergo alle Porte in Riva del Garda or similar or Villa Italia luxury suites in Arco or similar
- Optional hotel upgrade: Du Lac et du Parc Grand Resort in Riva del Garda or similar
Day 2: Arco – Pietramurata | 19km
If staying in Riva del Garda, begin the day by taking the bus to Arco (payable locally), before following a well-marked trail that gently climbs out of town and soon offers views over vineyards, orchards and the Sarca River. The path alternates between paved and gravel sections as it heads through Mediterranean pines and maquis terrain along the river. The route continues towards two major highlights: the hilltop Drena Castle and Marocche di Dro Natural Reserve, a wild open landscape that has a lunar feeling to it, thanks to its sweeping glacial formations. The day comes to a close in the quiet town of Pietramurata, a village built around a massive limestone rock, with an iconic tower, Torre Guaita on top.
- Walking for the day: 19km, 6h ↑723m ↓538m
- Accommodation: Pietra Rara or similar in Pietramurata
Day 3: Pietramurata – San Lorenzo Dorsino | 18km
The route follows a cycle path along the Sarca River until it reaches Lake Toblino and Castel Toblino. From the lake, the route continues with a slight climb towards Ranzo, a small village surrounded by pastures. Passing through woods, vineyards and the historic centre of the village, the route eventually descends to the valley where San Lorenzo Dorsino is located. Its traditional stone and wood houses made this town one of the official Borghi più Belli d’Italia (Most beautiful villages in Italy).
- Walking for the day: 18km, 6h ↑776m ↓303m
- Accommodation: Hotel Castel Mani in San Lorenzo Dorsino or similar
Day 4: San Lorenzo Dorsino – Molveno | 14km
The route begins with an ascent up Col Beo, offering panoramic views over San Lorenzo, before heading along a path with open views of the valleys below. The trail then continues through a forest towards Lake Nembia, just a few kilometres from the day’s highlight, Lake Molveno, the region’s largest natural lake, formed by a prehistoric landslide. The final stretch follows a lakeside road, ending on the beach in the alpine town of Molveno.
- Walking for the day: 14km, 4h ↑486m ↓349m
- Accommodation: Alpotel Dolomiten or similar in Molveno
- Optional hotel upgrade: Hotel Londra in Molveno or similar
Day 5: Molveno – Terlago | 18km
Leaving the lake behind, walk along forested mountain trails to the summit of Mount Ranzo, the highest point of the tour (1,835m), offering panoramic views over Valle dei Laghi, Dolomiti del Brenta and Lake Garda. After soaking in the views, begin the long descent to the shores of Lake Terlago and the surrounding orchards. The day comes to a close in Terlago, home to palazzi and ancient history, and its namesake lake on the doorstep. As well as Lago Santo and Lago di Lamar, just a few kilometres away.
- Walking for the day: 18km, 7h ↑866m ↓1,306m
- Accommodation: Hotel Lillà in Terlago or similar
Day 6: Terlago – Trento | 14km/21km
Today’s route offers two options: either walking towards Trento following Lake Terlago and the Soprasasso Plateau or adding a hike to Mount Terlago and its hidden lakes before reaching the plateau and descending towards Trento.
Option one: follow the route along the shore of Lake Terlago before ascending into a forest and climbing to Soprasasso Plateau. From here, the path gradually merges into the old military road, passing remains of fortifications and trenches. From the ridge, the route descends gradually through beech and pine woods toward the outskirts of Trento.
Option two: walk towards Monte Terlago to arrive at Lago Santo and Lago di Lamar before continuing along a ridgeline to Soprasasso Plateau. From here, the path gradually merges into the old military road mentioned above. From the ridge, the route descends along the same route mentioned above.
- Walking for the day: option one : 14km, 4h ↑421m ↓661m, option two: 21km, 7h ↑720m ↓958m
- Accommodation: B&B Piedicastello or similar in Trento
- Optional hotel upgrade: Grand Hotel Trento or similar in Trento
Day 7: Departure
Departure after breakfast.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of small, locally-owned hotels, B&Bs and agriturismos. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms.
Click to view sample hotels
- Albergo alle Porte (Riva del Garda)
- Pietra Rara (Pietramurata)
- Hotel Castel Mani (San Lorenzo Dorsino)
- Hotel Lillà (Terlago)
- B&B Piedicastello (Trento)
Accommodation is subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel or guesthouse being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Click to view upgrade hotels
- Du Lac et du Parc Grand Resort (Riva del Garda)
- Hotel Londra (Molveno)
- Grand Hotel Trento (Trento)
Accommodation is subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel or guesthouse being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included on all days. When no restaurant location is available en route, lunches and snacks can either be bought from local shops or packed lunches can be pre-ordered from your hotel the night before. Dinner is available either at the accommodation or from restaurants in the local area.
Difficulty and terrain
This tour is rated moderate and is suitable for walkers with a good level of fitness, with most days offering 5-7h of walking. The routes cover a variety of terrain, including dirt roads, mountain trails and asphalt, with some days involving a couple of steep ascents and descents (read more about difficulty grades).
We strongly advise you to follow marked trails only and never try to shorten the path through unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed route notes and maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. Your holiday information pack will include more detailed information on route navigation.
When to go
This trip is available from April to October. The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates and you can start your trip on any date within the season.
The Trento region generally experiences mild to warm weather. Spring and autumn temperatures range between 05–20C; sudden rains may happen, especially in the mountains. Summer temperatures typically range between 25–30C, with plenty of sunshine, so it’s advisable to start walks early to avoid the midday heat. For more information, please read our blog Best time to go to Italy.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended airports for this tour are Bolzano Airport (BZO), Aeroporto di Verona (VRN) and Milan Bergamo Airport (BGY)
By train or bus
- From Bolzano railway station, take the Regionale train to Trento (1h 15mins) or Rovereto (1h 30mins), before taking the local bus for the final stretch to Riva del Garda . For more details, see the national rail operator Trenitalia and the local bus operator Trentino Trasporti, or use the Omio planner above.
- Transfers: private transfers to and from the airport can be arranged on request.
Inclusions
Included
- 6 nights accommodation
- 6 breakfasts
- Daily luggage transfers (one piece per person, max 20kg)
- Digital Tour materials: detailed roadbook including maps a navigation app for smartphones and GPS tracks. Please note that no printed documents will be provided on-site.
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- International flights and land transfers
- Lunches and dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Additional travel-related changes in the programme due to bad weather
- Entrance fees for attractions and museums
- Personal expenses
- Any items not specifically mentioned as included in the programme
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- This holiday is available for solo travellers. However, a supplement will be charged as the cost of rooms and also luggage or private transfers (when applicable) is not shared. Please note that solo travellers are always accommodated in their own room. For logistical reasons, we don’t offer an option for solo travellers to share rooms with other solo travellers.
- Extra nights
- Hotel upgrades in Riva del Garda, Molveno and Trento
- Airport transfers from any major airport in the area on request
- Local private transfers
