Discover the splendor of the Italian Lakes during this 7-day, 6-night stay, where each day is an invitation to wonder. From Verbania, located on the shores of Lake Maggiore, embark on hikes through idyllic landscapes and picturesque villages, explore natural parks, and visit exceptional historical and cultural sites. Admire the beauty of Lake Orta and Lake Maggiore, with their breathtaking panoramas and enchanting islands. This comprehensive program combines moments of relaxation and sports activities, enhanced by guided tours and boat excursions for total immersion in this fascinating region. Whether you are a beginner or experienced hiker, the varied routes will satisfy all your desires for adventure. Enjoy Italian hospitality with comfortable accommodations, delicious local cuisine, and a stunning natural setting.
SUD EVASION ADVANTAGES
- ● Assistance from 3 French-speaking guides with 3 possible levels
● Boat excursion to the Borromean Islands
● 4-star hotel located on the shores of Lake Maggiore in the heart of Verbania
Day 1 - DEPARTURE TO VERBANIA
Departure in the morning by coach towards Italy. Free lunch stop en route. Border crossing and continuation towards Lake Maggiore. Check-in at your hotel in Verbania or the surrounding area. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2 - HIKE IN THE ORTA HINTERLAND
Breakfast, then departure for a full-day hike to the hinterland of Lake Orta, through its rural villages with strong mountain influence at the foot of Mottarone. The hike begins in Armeno with its beautiful Romanesque church featuring 14th and 15th-century frescoes, and continues, alternating between country villages and deciduous woods, small rivers, and Roman bridges. Experienced hikers will extend the route by taking a different path. Packed lunch during the day. The path allows you to discover beautiful villages and reach Orta San Giulio, rich in history with its old stone houses, hidden passages, and cafes on the beautiful lakeside square. Visit. For the more adventurous, the hike can be extended to the Sacred Mount of Orta, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This is a devotional path dedicated to the life of St. Francis of Assisi, an artwork comprising 20 chapels and 376 life-size terracotta statues. Return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.
Possibility of extension to the Sacred Mount +75m / -85m – 4km (1-hour duration including the visit)
Day 3 - HIKE IN THE ALTO ANTRONA VALLEY NATURAL PARK
After breakfast, departure for the Alto Antrona Valley Natural Park. Hike along an ancient mule track that connected the lower Ossola Valley to Switzerland. The route passes through charming stone hamlets, chapels and oratories, cultivated meadows, and opens up to the high mountains at the beginning of the valley. Overview of the remains of a large landslide that destroyed the old village of Antronapiana in 1642, and arrival at Lake Antrona, with its walking path, waterfall, and steep rocks. Visit the beautiful village of Antronapiana, its church, and its stone houses. Packed lunch during the day. For experienced hikers, there is the possibility to extend the hike from the village of Madonna. Return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 4 - SIGHTSEEING DAY AT LAKE MAGGIORE AND THE BORROMEAN ISLANDS
Breakfast, then departure with your tourist guide. Embarkation towards the Borromean Islands for a short cruise around Isola Madre. Continuation to Isola Bella and its Borromeo Palace with its grand halls, paintings, tapestries, museum, and magnificent gardens. Visit Isola dei Pescatori and have lunch at a restaurant. Then, continuation to Stresa at the end of the day, with some free time. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 5 - HIKE TO LAKE MAGGIORE AND ITS ALPINE PASTURES
Breakfast and departure towards Miazzina, with a short walk on an asphalt road to reach the starting point of the path that climbs steeply through a deciduous forest and across small alpine pastures with beautifully restored houses. The hike allows you to discover the wild nature that heralds the entrance to the Val Grande National Park, visible from the summit of Monte Todun. The route continues in the Verbania hinterland, offering magnificent views of Lake Maggiore. For well-trained hikers, there is the possibility to continue to the summit of Monte Todun. The itinerary then proceeds through the Verbania hinterland, revealing superb panoramas of Lake Maggiore. The intermediate group, progressing at a more leisurely pace, will take a break in an alpine pasture. Meanwhile, the experienced hikers in the group can quickly ascend Monte Todun (1,300 m altitude) via a steep trail, requiring good preparation. This route offers an exceptional viewpoint over the immense National Park, which spans 15,000 hectares. The descent will then follow different routes, with a final arrival in Miazzina. Packed lunch during the hike. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 6 - HIKE TO THE URIEZzo GORGES
Departure after breakfast towards Baceno to visit its 11th-century Romanesque church. Descent along an old medieval mule track carved into the stone towards the 'giants' kettles'. Then, ascent into the village of Crego and its oratory surrounded by 48 columns, followed by a descent towards the Balmafredda gorge and an ascent towards the Santa Lucia chasm with its small 17th-century oratory. Continuation towards the spectacular Uriezzo Gorge, a natural phenomenon testifying to the erosive force of the glacier that once covered the entire Ossola Valley and the Toce and Devero rivers. This hike passes through the riverbed, along a winding ravine. Packed lunch during the day. Possibility of extension at the beginning of the hike for experienced hikers. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 7 - RETURN
After breakfast, return to France and your local area. Free lunch en route. Continuation and arrival at the end of the day.
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