Kayaking the Italian Lake District

Your guides will meet you in the lobby of our hotel near Malpensa airport (MXP) northwest of Milan city center. After introductions and brief orientation we will head to a local restaurant for some fine Milanese food and a further discussion of the trip details.

Avoiding Milan’s notoriously bad traffic we will head directly to the first of the three lakes on this trip, Lago Como. Skirting the city of Como that is world famous for it’s silks we will continue up the western shore of the lake to our launch place at the village of Laglio, home to the lake’s most currently famous resident, George Clooney. A crossing of less than a mile takes us to the steeply wooded eastern shore and the village of Nesso know for its cascading waterfall and the elegant Roman bridge that straddles the outflowing creek mouth. After a stop at the village we’ll paddle north and across the lake to the town of Brienno and then paddle the “villa-rich” west side of the lake back to Laglio. After taking out the kayaks we’ll go by van to Cadenabbia and the ferry crossing to Bellagio the, “pearl of Lago Como”. After a good first days paddle and introduction to the Lake District there will be time to relax before heading out to a private dinner at a local villa.

Today we will cross one of “legs” of Lago Como to the romantic medieval village of Varenna and its Vezio Castle, that was originally a Roman fortress. We’ll walk the narrow lanes of the village, cross the Flumelatte (River of Milk), Italy’s shortest river, and hike up to the castle for a sweeping view of the three branches of Lago Como. After lunch we’ll paddle along the cliff s north of town before setting course back along the eastern shore past the village of Lierna. We once again cross the and approach Bellagio from the east. Before dinner in Bellagio there will be time to explore the town and browse its many posh shops.

By special arrangement with Fondo Ambiente Italiano (FIA), the Italian Cultural Trust, we are able to land by kayak at Villa del Balbianello. Set on a headland on the western shore of the Lake, the villa is iconically beautiful and has appeared in at least two major films. A private tour will take us into the villa that was donated to the FIA by explorer Guido Monzino, and still houses a collection of artifacts from his expeditions. Rejoining the kayaks we’ll visit the towns of Lenno and Tremezzina before the paddle back to Bellagio. In the evening we’ll have a special dinner in town.

After loading luggage into the support van we will set off to Lago Lugano in the Italian region of Switzerland. Paddling out of Lugano we’ll navigate a shoreline of fine villas and lavish gardens before reaching a set of shear cliffs and finally the ancient village of Gandria. Reminiscent of the Cinque Terre on the Italian Riviera Gandria is perched on the steep slope of a fjord-like arm of Lago with dramatic views of snowcapped peaks. We’ll explore the village before crossing to lake the wooded south shore. After lunch in the hamlet of Caprino there will be time to relax on the lakeshore and have a swim before we paddle back to town. Tonight we’ll dine al fresco at one of the best Grottos in Lugano and discover the rustic charm of this regional institution.

After breakfast we’ll board the van for a short drive overland to anther arm of Lago Lugano and our launch point at the village of Casoro. Our destination is the picture-perfect village of Morcote. We’ll explore the shaded arcades and flower lined alleyways of this village that dates back to the 10th century. After lunch at a lakefront restaurant we’ll walk up to the gardens of the 13th century church of Santa Maria dal Sasso that was rebuilt in the style of the Renaissance in the 15th century and then re-built in the in baroque style in the 18th. Boarding the kayaks we’ll continue along the glacially carved shores of the lake to or take out at the town of Melide. We’ll have time to relax and enjoy some of charms of Swiss – Mediterranean Lugano before our final dinner out in Switzerland.

Packing the van we drive back into Italy and the shores of majestic Lago Maggiore, the second biggest lake in the country and the setting for Ernest Hemmingway’s, ”Farewell to Arms”. After checking into our hotel in the charming town of Laveno we’ll set off by kayak along a shore lined with impressive villas that gives way to steeply wooded cliffs and finally the Hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso which seems to cling to the cliff face. Founded be a wealthy merchant whose life was spared after he prayed to Saint Catherine when his boat capsized in a storm, the hermitage was first built in the 13th century. Kayaks offer us a unique view of the structure but the landing is precarious so we’ll paddle on to the village of Arolo where we’ll meet the van and drive back to descend the hermitage from above and enjoy a picnic in it’s gardens overlooking the lake. No visit to the lakes is complete without a ride to high country so from Laveno we’ll ride the Funviva del Sasso del Ferro and enjoy the stunning vistas and late afternoon sun.

We set out across Lago Maggiore passing as we do from the province of Lombardy into Piedmont. Our first destination is Isola Madre, the largest island in the Borromeo Gulf and the site of a spectacular Palazzo and extensive gardens. We ‘ll land, have an espresso and take some time too tour the palace and grounds before continuing to Isola dei Pescatori. Arriving on the island of the fishermen we’ll thread our way the narrow cobbled walkways of the village to a waterfront restaurant for lunch. The will be time to enjoy idyllic atmosphere of the island before we paddle towards the remarkable Isola Bella. Circling the island we’ll have wonderful view of yet another Borromean palace and terraced gardens after which we’ll head to the town of Stressa where we’ll have some refreshment before boarding the waiting van for drive and ferry ride back to Laveno. Tonight we’ll have a special dinner at a local restaurant to celebrate our journey of discover through the Lake District.

After breakfast we’ll board the van for the drive to Milan Malpensa with an expect arrival late morning. The airport offers easy connections to Milan Centrale and flights home. Arrivaderci