The Italian flair of Switzerland. The Mediterranean region begins on the southern side of the Alps. There is a feel of Italy, with palm trees at clean beaches and lanes and alleyways leading to piazzas and churches and of course the amazing Alps.
Located in the Centovalli (valley of a 100 valleys) only 20 minutes by train from Locarno and Lake Maggiore is the village of Intragna. It is first mentioned in 1272 as Intranea. It is a beautiful stone village in the mountains with fabulous hiking.
The Centovalli is a hiking paradise. It offers untouched nature, breathtaking vistas and a dense, well-groomed network of hiking trails and the opportunity visit Locarno on Lake Maggiore. The food and atmosphere of the fresco dinners at the Hotel Stazione are outstanding. This impressive village on a rocky spur at the confluence of the Isorno and Melezza rivers has Ticino’s highest church tower and an 80-m high railway viaduct.
Base Villages: Stresa, Intragna and Lugano
o September 25: meet in Milan and take train to Stresa
o September 26: tour Borromean Islands with Private boat
o September 27: travel by train to Intranga (Stazione Hotel)
o September 28, 29 & 30: Hike above the valley of a 100 valleys (Centovalli)
o October 1: train to Lugano (1/2 day to sightsee) (Grand Hotel Villa Castagonla)
o October 2: loop hike above Lugano
o October 3: return to Milan by train or on to your next destination
Maximum group size is 8
Easy and moderate hikes each hiking day – 4 and 5 star accommodations – perfect season to hike Ticino!
Hotels:
Stresa, Italy: Grand Hotel Borromees
https://www.borromees.com/en/
Intragna, Switzerland: Hotel Stazione
https://daagnese.ch
Lugano, Switzerland: Grand Hotel Ville Castagona
https://www.villacastagnola.com/en
Itinerary:
We meet in Milan on September 25th and take the train to Stresa for 2 nights. Staying at the Then we take the train via the Centovalli (valley of a 100 valleys) route a beautiful cog train route through the mountains to Intragna. Intragna is 20 minutes by cog train from Locarno. In Intragna we will stay at the Hotel Stazione where the food is the best off all the places we go. It is a fabulous place to stay. From Intragna we will do three hikes. https://swisshiking.com/base-villages/intragna/
After Intragna we take the train to Lugano where we have almost a full day. The next day we do a fabulous hike above the town looking out over Lake Lugano. Here we will most likely stay at Dantes but I may change that.
September 24 is the best day for me to start the trip, however that is flexible it could be 25th or 26th if needed. I want to do a small group 6 or 8 plus 2 guides. I think you would love this trip. Stresa and Intragna and Lugano are all amazing and the scenery fabulous.
In Stresa we have a private water taxi to visit the Borromean Islands. We first go to Isola Bella then go to Pescatori for lunch then we go walk of lunch on Isola Madre. Isola Madre has magnificent paths through plants collected from all over the world. The whole Island is a garden with paths. http://www.stresa.com/borromeanislands
From Lugano you head to your next destination. If that is Switzerland or Austria I can help set it up for you. I have not yet added up the cost but it will be less than the Switzerland trips. I’m doing the trip because I love being down there and I’m teaching one of my guides the area.
Guides: Shannon Harris and Navita Shyam
