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, lanes and alleyways leading to churches and piazzas in the backdrop of the 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 to 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: Lugano, Intragna, Saas Fee and Stresa
Hotels:
– Stresa, Italy: Regina Palace Hotel
– Intragna, Switzerland: Hotel Stazione
– Lugano, Switzerland: Grand Hotel Ville Castagnola
– Saas Fee, Switzerland: Hotel Allalin
Itinerary:
Wrap up the 2020 Alps hiking season with a luxury fall trip to the Italian side of Switzerland. Join us the first week of October and hike the Lake District of Switzerland above (Lago Maggiore and Lago Lugano). 4-star & 5-star accommodations with fine cuisine are waiting for you as are fabulous moderate hikes topped off with a wonderful Mediterranean climate.
We meet in Milan on October 1st and take the train to Lugano where we stay at the Villa Castagnola for three nights. During our stay in Lugano we hike to the top of Monte Bre a wonderful hike in the mountains above this magnificent lake. The view is one of the reasons Lugano is so famous.
Our next destination is Intragna in the Centovalli only 20 minutes by cog train from Locarno on Lago Maggiore. In Intragna we will stay at the Hotel Stazione where the food is the best of all the places we go. It is a fabulous place to stay and dine!
The next part of your trip we take the train up the Centovalli (valley of a 100 valleys) route to Stresa. It is a beautiful cog train route through the mountains.
We are in Stresa, Italy for 2 nights where we stay at the Grand Hotel Borromees. From here we tour the Borromean Islands and dine outdoors in small piazzas.
When touring the Islands we first go to Isola Bella then to Pescatori for lunch then we go walk off lunch on Isola Madre. Isola Madre has magnificent paths through plants collected from all over the world. The whole Island is a lush garden. http://www.stresa.com/borromeanislands
Guides: Shannon Harris and Navita Shyam
