Lake Garda, Italy
Footloose- 7 Nights/8 Days
Lake Garda is Italy’s largest lake and the pretty lakeside town of Riva del Garda, in the north, is the gateway to almost 800kms of walking and biking trails.
Enjoy 4 days of walking on this trip – 2 guided and 2 unguided days. We explore mountain refuges, walk along the lakeside promenade and pathways, through olive groves to villages and crag top castles. A highlight is the intact Medieval village of Canale, one of Italy’s finest, perched high in the mountains with spell-binding vistas. End the walking holiday with a scenic drive along the stunning lake shore to the Roman city of Verona. Attend opera in the ancient open air Teatro Romano or just explore the attractions of the Old Town.
Itinerary and Highlights
- Day 1 Arrive Riva del Garda
- Day 2 Shrine of Santa Barbara.
Explore this charming lakeside town of Riva del Garda. Visit the 12thC fort on the lake shore and the towering Apponale bell tower. Walk up a zig zag path stopping at a balcony for a picnic with spectacular views over the lake. A little farther on is the little altar of Santa Barbara. Descend to Riva.
Walking: Approximately 4 hours. - Day 3 Riva to Torbole.
Walk along a flat shoreline promenade to the neighbouring village of Torbole to ascend to the Parco delle Busatte on the slopes of Monte Baldo. Hike along a nature route overlooking the lake then return the same route to Riva.
Walking: 4.5 hours. - Day 4 Riva.
Day free to relax in the beautiful atmosphere of Riva del Garda or take an optional walk to Lake Ledro along the Old Ponale Road and to the little village of Pregasina on a rocky perch above Lake Ledro (4 hours). - Day 5 Riva del Garda - Arco - Castel Drena – Arco (guided walk).
Walk inland to Arco and the Castle of Drena perched on a craggy peak above the town. Continue to the villages of Drena and Drena Bassa in an area rich in historical and cultural elements.
Walking: 4 - 5 hours. - Day 6 Arco to Canale di Tenno (guided walk).
Follow the Stations of the Cross through an olive grove to the chapel of Santa Maria di Laghel. Continue along mountain trails to reach the San Pietro mountain refuge (1069m) then down to the Medieval village of Canale di Tenno. This rustic village is authentic and unchanged. Its stone houses huddle together with their timbered shutters and small balconies, connected by narrow cobbled lanes and small squares. It’s perched high on a mountain side with wonderful vistas. Transfer back to Arco.
Waking: 5 hours. - Day 7 Arco to Verona.
Spectacular ride by coach to Verona, along the shoreline. Explore Verona’s old Roman town and ‘Teatro Romano’, the venue for open air opera during the summer months. - Day 8 Arrangements end after breakfast.
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The lakeside town of Torbole, Lake Garda
Picnic at a Mountain Refuge