Overview
The Sentiero del Viandante is an Italian idyll of a walking trail along the eastern shores of Lake Como. Wandering off the beaten path from mass tourism, discover Como and Lombardy’s ancient routes, following mule tracks between Lecco and Colico. You won’t want this six day holiday to finish, each day bringing cultural and natural wonders. These include the lakeside town of Varenna, an array of waterfront chapels such as Chiesa di San Giorgio, and Orrido di Bellano Gorge, a narrow canyon with a system of footbridges. Staying in a mix of small, locally-owned hotels, with luggage transfers. This tour is easily reachable by rail.
- Lake Como
- Lecco
- Varenna
- Mule paths
- Orrido di Bellano Gorge
Click to view map
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Lecco
Welcome to Lecco, on the shores of Lake Como. After arriving at the hotel, the rest of the day is free to explore the area and enjoy views of the mountains that surround this famous lake, that lives up to all expectations.
- Accommodation: Hotel Alberi or similar in Lecco
Day 2: Abbadia Lariana to Lierna | 10.7km
This morning, there is a short train journey to the start of the walk in Abbadia Lariana. Alternatively, it is possible to begin the walk from Lecco, following a trail in the woods just above the lake, adding approximately 8km to the walk. From Abbadia Lariana, the route follows well-maintained mule tracks and footpaths along the shore. Visit Chiesa di San Giorgio in Mandello del Lario and admire its Romanesque art and frescoes from the late 15th century, before taking the train back to Lecco.
- Walking for the day: 10.7km, 4h, ↑408m, ↓400m
- Accommodation: Hotel Alberi or similar in Lecco
Day 3: Lierna to Varenna | 10km
Today’s route is up along another mule track, before following a woodland path to a viewpoint overlooking Bellagio and Lake Como, a great spot for lunch. Before descending to Varenna, make a short detour to Castello di Vezio, for a 180-degree view of the lake and surrounding mountains. Castello di Vezio has stood for more than a thousand years – an ancient military outpost built by the Lombard Queen Theodelinda to defend and control the lake and surrounding villages.
- Walking for the day: 10km, 5h, ↑847m, ↓866m
- Accommodation: Albergo Del Sole or similar in Varenna
Day 4: Varenna to Dervio | 10.5km
Heading along the east side of the lake, continue to follow the Sentiero del Viandante, through traditional villages with ancient architecture, all the way to Orrido di Bellano Gorge. The route follows a well-beaten mule track to today’s final destination, Dervio, from where a short train ride (not incl.) takes you to Colico, where you overnight.
- Walking for the day: 10.5km, 4-5h, ↑575m, ↓561m
- Accommodation: Hotel Risi or similar in Colico
Day 5: Dervio to Colico | 13km
A short train ride (not incl.) takes you back to Dervio. The last section of the walk is a fantastic finale, with some of the trail’s most stunning views. From Dervio, the path ascends on steep, cobblestone stairs before descending gradually towards Colico, where the snowy peaks of the Alps begin to appear in the distance. In Colico, enjoy a refreshing swim in the lake or visit the Abbazia Cistercense di Piona, which can be reached from Colico by boat.
- Walking for the day: 13km, 4-5h, ↑658m, ↓674m
- Accommodation: Hotel Risi or similar in Colico
Day 6: Departure
The trip ends after breakfast. Extra nights are available upon request.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of small, locally-owned hotels, B&Bs and traditional guesthouses. 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 default hotels
- Hotel Alberi (Lecco)
- Albergo Del Sole (Varenna)
- Hotel Risi (Colico)
Hotels are subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel 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 each day. Packed lunches can be pre-ordered at the accommodations, or you can buy food from local shops. Dinner is available either from the restaurant in your accommodation or in the town where you stay overnight.
Difficulty and terrain
The route is fairly straightforward with the changes in elevation being no more than 850m each day, but a good level of fitness is recommended to enjoy the walks to their fullest. The route is well-marked and mostly on paths and gravel roads. Some walks can be shortened by taking local buses (read more about difficulty grades).
We strongly advise you to only follow marked trails and never try to shorten the path through unknown and unmarked terrain. You can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime.
When to go
This tour runs from the beginning of April until the end of October. The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates, and you can start your trip on any date in the season – so please indicate desired beginning date when booking.
Lombardy has a Mediterranean climate with hot and dry summers and milder winters. May and September are the best months for walking in this region, with average daily temperatures of 20C-25C.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended airports for this tour are Bergamo, Milan Malpensa and Milan Linate.
By train or bus
- Arrival in Lecco: From the airport, head to Milano Centrale railway station where you can take a train to Lecco (40mins-1h).
- Departure from Colico: From Colico take a bus or a train to Lecco and from here, take a train to the airport. Or just do the whole journey by train, if you are able to travel to Italy without flying. To book Italian trains, see Trenitalia.
Inclusions
Included
- 5 nights in private en-suite rooms
- 5 breakfasts
- Luggage transfers on all walking days (one piece per person up to 15kg)
- 24/7 phone support by our local office/representative
- Detailed digital holiday information pack including GPS-checked and regularly updated route descriptions, road notes and maps. Please note that the info pack is emailed to you prior to departure, and no printed documents are mailed or provided on-site (from 2024)
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Bus/train tickets and other local transport
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Local tourist tax, transport and entry fees (payable on the spot)
- Personal expenses
- Any items not specifically mentioned as included in the programme
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; a supplement will be charged as accommodation and luggage transfer costs are not shared (we never mix and match – solo travellers will be accommodated in single rooms)
- Extra nights
- Printed documents at the first accommodation
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