A new self-guided walking holiday is inviting travellers to leave Lake Garda’s busier tourist trail behind and discover its western shores on foot, weaving between alpine landscapes, vineyards, lemon groves and historic lakeside villages.
European walking specialist On Foot Holidays has launched a seven-night Lake Garda itinerary designed around the pleasures of slow travel. The new route is the operator’s eighth walk in Italy and expands its European collection to 41 self-guided walking holidays across 11 countries.
Walk the quieter side of Lake Garda
Italy’s largest lake may be famous for glamorous resorts and sparkling water, but this itinerary deliberately turns towards its quieter side.
The journey begins beside the emerald waters of Lake Ledro before heading into alpine scenery around Vesio. From there, walkers descend through vineyards and fragrant lemon-growing country towards Lake Garda’s western shoreline.
One of the journey’s standout stops is Pieve di Tremosine, a historic village perched dramatically above the lake. Travellers spend a night here before continuing towards Gargnano, where the final two nights are spent at a family-owned inn beside the water.
Moving through the landscape on foot offers an altogether different perspective on Lake Garda. Rather than ticking off attractions, days unfold according to the trail, with time to notice changing vegetation, village life and the transition from mountain country to the Mediterranean-influenced shores of the lake.
Slow travel without the heavy pack
The itinerary has been created for independent travellers who like the freedom of walking without a guide but still want the logistics handled.
Luggage is transferred between accommodation each day, meaning walkers need carry only a daypack. Accommodation is in hotels and inns along the route, including family-run properties and some with swimming pools.
Daily walking ranges from three to seven hours and the route is graded medium in difficulty. The walking season runs from April to June and again during September and October, avoiding the height of the European summer.
The seven-night package includes accommodation, daily breakfast, local transfers, luggage transfers and detailed route information and maps. Navigation is available in printed form or through On Foot Holidays’ Companion App.
A shorter five-night version is also available for travellers with less time.
Make the walk part of a longer adventure
For those planning a bigger European walking holiday, On Foot Holidays is offering a 10 per cent saving when two of its hikes are booked as part of the same trip, with the discount applied to the cheaper itinerary.
Travellers choosing to navigate entirely through the digital walking guide rather than receiving printed materials can also receive a £40 per room discount.
Like the company’s other self-guided routes, departure dates can be selected by the traveller, while routes are designed by locals and tested by On Foot Holidays staff.
For travellers who prefer their Italian adventures at walking pace, the new Lake Garda route offers an appealing combination of independence and support, with mountain trails, intimate villages and one of Italy’s most celebrated lakes providing the backdrop.
