Italy walks

Lake Sorapis is a magnificent turquoise lake of glacial origin at the foot of the peak known as Le Doigt de Dieu (God's Finger). Please note: a user reported on 15 June 2025 that >the cumulative elevation gain according to our two GPS devices is approximately 400/450m (and definitely not 935m) , and it took us 3 hours and 15 minutes walking at a fairly normal pace.

Superb hike starting from the Santa Anna di Vinadio Sanctuary in Italy. This 4-hour Lakes circuit can be done clockwise or anti-clockwise. Be sure to read the warnings about snow and equipment to bring with you in the practical information section.

A walk without real difficulty around a circuit, with beautiful scenery and beautiful coves for swimming in the Zingaro Nature Reserve, situated between Scopello and San Vito Lo Capo in Sicily.

A gentle wander north of Etna (a few kilometres at low altitude), offering a glimpse of the terrain and its vegetation. The eruption that created the seven Sartorius crates dates back to the late nineteenth century, nature has partially returned to this area.

The second stage of our trek around Monte Viso starts with a hike through green foliage at the bottom of the valley. Then a passage through beautiful alpine pastures near a delightful little lake. Stunning view point at Col Sellière.

You will drive around the famous Tre Cime massif, neither too far nor too close, so you can admire it from all angles. Part of the route is very quiet, even in summer. No difficulty, just pure pleasure!

A 4 day trek on a high mountain route. The trek around Monte Viso (one of the highest summits in the Italian alps) is a sight for sore eyes. Crossing through some of the most authentic and wild high valleys of the Alps is delightful. This trek is almost identical to another trek by another hikiideas hiker which is done over 5 days. A big thank you to him and his description which inspired me.

A trek across the Gran Paradiso passing through the 5 surrounding valleys.

Nestled at the foot of Tête du Ruitor and its glaciers, within a beautiful setting, Saint-Grat Lake is the highlight of any hike in its own right. Through the final twists and turns before the lake, the slope is smooth and the route straightforward. The next climb much steeper, leading to Refuge Adami gives you a stunning view point.

Beautiful stage, green at first, covered by neve at the pass then very floral in Guil Valley.

This stage gives you a frontline view over Monte Viso on one side and Pô prairie (plaine du Pô) on the other. Then a climb through Vallanta's small green valley.

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A circuit near Trapani. A first part along the beachfront by the cliffs: a watchtower, a small chapel and a small cave, a “tonnara”. Then follows a small climb to head up a pass between Monte Cofano and marble quarries with beautiful views.

Pizzo Carbonara is the highest point of the Madonie massif, in good conditions it provides beautiful views of the sea and out to Etna.

This stage involves a pass with neves and crossing Refuge du Viso high berm then Guil valley.

It may not be true paradise but it certainly is heavenly. An exceptional group trek carried out in July 2011 which allows you to explore the Val D'aoste valleys ending with a balcony trail to Gran Paradiso summit.

stage 5 of the Tour du Mont Blanc from Refuge Bertone (Italy) to Refuge Elena (Italy): a hike offering superb views of Mont Blanc from the Italian side.

After a bus transfer to the other side of Lake Lugano, you will gradually enter the Val d'Intelvi, which is very popular with Italians. In Lanzo d'Intelvi, you can enjoy a magnificent view of the lake, the city of Lugano and Monte Salvator.

Another change of valley to reach the large village of Macugnaga at the foot of Monte Rosa via the Col Turlo. The wide path used is absolutely remarkable as it was built by the Italian army to hoist cannons for the defence of the area and for firing exercises.

Undertaken over 10 days, this circuit around the Matterhorn is outstanding. Each day it takes you over the 4000 m peaks of this alpine range. As it is located in 2 countries, Italy and Switzerland, it also brings you into contact with three European languages: Italian, German and also French in Valais in Switzerland.

Italian stage through wild upper valleys and rocky wasteland, scattered by beautiful mountain lakes, consistantlyaround Monte Viso.

Quite a long high mountain stage today, set in a mineral landscape passing through "les sources du Pô" and near beautiful mountain lakes. Exploring the north-east side of Monte Viso (3841m) will be the highlight.

This is a short first stage that takes you almost halfway up the slope to the hamlet of Frachey, overlooking the Ayas valley.

Hiking without technical difficulty in the forests of the massif of Nebrodi to Lago Biviere and passing by Lago Maulazzo. We constantly follows a more or less good track on the north and west slopes of Monte Soro, one of the peaks of the Sicilian mountains.

Last stage of this trek around Chambeyron mountain range, taking you back to France through Col de Sautron. You'll find yourself in superb wildlife setting when arriving at the pass.

A major tourist attraction... definitely worth a visit!!! But now you have to remember to book your parking space in advance (30 euros) and, if you don't get a space in the upper car park and you're not a keen walker, it's 10 euros per person for the bus. It's a steep climb! There's a short, fairly strenuous section for about 15 minutes near the end of the climb to the refuge. You can take a 10-minute shortcut along the road to avoid having to go back up if you're tired. The problem is that once you get to the top, you're a bit too tired to go around the "Tre Cime". It is possible to push on to another viewpoint towards the more rugged mountains opposite. Also worth noting: take 50p and £1 coins for the toilets.

Lake Idro is a little gem that flies completely under the radar, wedged between its famous neighbours, Lake Iseo and Lake Garda. Not only are its banks easily accessible, but the rugged terrain surrounding it offers countless opportunities for walks in the hills. Although it is quite short, this route is recommended for experienced hikers who are not afraid of sore thighs and knees: it's a steep climb up and down!

Enjoy both the pleasure of a lake and a beautiful ridge offering a 360° panorama (Écrins, Vanoise, Orsiera Park, Val Troncea, Queyras), all starting from a charming little hamlet that has been beautifully restored.

A magnificent loop of the Great Saint Bernard region between Switzerland and Italy, from the Ferret Window to the Col des Chevaux, via the Col du Bastillon and the lakes of Fenêtre, Petit Lé and Grand Lé.

Passing through the mountain pastures of Piana Ronchelli and del Gabbio, a pleasant trail will take you to the shores of Lago dei Cavalli. After skirting the lake, you will cross the small hamlet of Cheggio. You will discover a few more mountain pastures before returning to civilisation at Antronapiana. This charming village is the lowest point of this tour. You will reach Lago di Antrona and the Albergo Lagopineta. Lago di Antrona is very busy during the day but in the evening, everything returns to calm.

stage 4 of the TMB: from the Elisabetta Refuge (Val Veny) to Plampincieux (Val Ferret) via Col de Checroui and Courmayeur.

A Trek through Valgrisenche with a view over the large village dam.

Punta Falinère is the peak overlooking the Chamois slopes. It offers views of its neighbours, the Petit and Grand Tournalin. To the north, you will discover more than 4000 Swiss peaks, including the Dent Blanche d'Hérens and the Matterhorn. To the south, the Grand Paradis will catch your eye.

A pleasant route that alternates between mountain pastures and forests to reach Mont Joux. This modest peak offers a view of Monte Bianco. The route also offers a wide panorama of peaks ranging from 3,000 to almost 4,000 metres, such as Punta Pousset (3,046) above Cogne, Grivola (3,969), the Grand Paradis massif and Punta del Ran (3,272) in the Ruitor massif.

A magnificent route featuring an open-air museum. The climb to the refuge is dotted with numerous sculptures. You will be surprised by strange creatures, characters and animals hidden behind trees or rocks. The route features around 300 pieces, all created by Siro Vierin. Between the Fallère Refuge and Lago Fallère, you will walk along the Tour du Mont Fallère trail.

Walther von der Wogelweide was a renowned minstrel of the German Middle Ages. His statue stands in one of Bolzano's main squares. He is said to have been born in the village of Ried, in the municipality of Lajen/Laion, and the route traced there commemorates his life and work. The route is marked by signs bearing the words "Wogelweide runweg" and an orange logo decorated with a bust of a medieval woman, and is embellished with metal works, some of which are very beautiful.

A route to discover the typical villages that line the famous Col du Grand Saint-Bernard road. On the way there, you will follow the Via Francigena to climb up to the village of Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses, renowned for its cured ham. You will also pass through the villages of Étroubles, Saint-Oyen, Cerisey and Les Bosses, characterised by stone chalets with slate roofs.

A quick and easy walk to admire the Cascade de la Froda: a huge waterfall!

A short, easy walk (even easier if you drive to waypoint 1!) to see three dinosaur footprints on a large rock (215 million years old!)... and dip your feet in the waterfall just above. Fun and easy! Please note that at certain times of the year, you will need to purchase a parking ticket (€1/hour) at the start of the road (the ticket machine is visible on the road). The road has a few tight bends.

A beautiful hike ending at a magnificent cirque and rocky peak... but you have to earn it! Almost 900 metres of elevation gain (and therefore the same on the way back) straight up to the summit, much of it in the river bed on scree. The route is slightly different on the way back, with a section through the forest to avoid going back down the scree.

Walk from Bettola to Rossoregio through the woods. The climb up to Selva is a bit tough and exposed to the sun. But after that, it climbs gently and quietly through the woods. You arrive at a plateau and then descend to Rossoregio, a picturesque little village.

Valbelluna is a wide valley stretching for around 50 kilometres at the foot of the Belluno Dolomites. It is bordered to the south by a pre-Alpine massif reminiscent of the Vosges, which contrasts with the verticality of the Dolomites. The proposed route takes you up from a dark valley to the mountain pastures on the ridge. And from up there, what a view of the Dolomites, the Venetian plain and the sea in the distance!

To the west of the Dolomites, just above the Isarco Valley, there is a rather surreal place. Imagine a plateau covering several thousand hectares, with undulating terrain between 1,800 and 2,400 metres above sea level, almost completely devoid of trees, and dotted with hundreds of alpine barns. And all this is surrounded by several Dolomite massifs rising to over 3,000 metres. Here you can give free rein to your wanderlust, and the suggested route is the one we took to discover the area.

Lago del Mis is a little gem nestled between two peaks of the Belluno Dolomites. Its steep banks offer few opportunities for hiking and enjoying the crystal-clear waters. However, at the mouth of the Val Falcina, in the middle of the southern shore of the lake, a nature trail has been created. It starts from the beach at Pian Falcina and climbs up to the heights above. In about an hour, you reach the bottom of a valley where the stream has carved out pleasant pools, then return to the starting point via a trail that follows the flooded bed of a branch of the lake. The route is dotted with information panels explaining the geological and ecological context of the Val del Mis.

Start and finish at the village cable cars with some lovely views around Casterotto A beautiful, fairly steep climb alongside the cable cars through pastures leads to the woods for most of the ascent. Very pleasant on a warm, sunny day. No major difficulties until you reach the highest point of this loop. There are a few small inns to choose from in Marinzen or at the Schafstall hütte. There is a slight variation from the route shown on tourist maps when descending towards St Michael. The descent is quite steep. The rest of the route follows a paved road with no traffic, passing through a charming hamlet and offering beautiful views of the mountains and the village. the total distance is 10 km and the variety of the route means you can enjoy it all the way through.

This beautiful hike will allow you to discover the Portofino National Park (Ente Parco Naturale Portofino | Sito Ufficiale) The hike starts at Camogli station and ends in the town of Portofino.

Immerse yourself in the timeless magic of Venice on a tour that combines legendary icons with hidden treasures. From the majesty of St. Mark's Square to the more intimate atmosphere of historic neighbourhoods, the canals and narrow streets are your only guides on this unforgettable exploration of La Serenissima.

Nestled among green hills and rolling landscapes, the Montelabbate region in the province of Pesaro and Urbino (Italy) offers the perfect setting for a hike combining nature and tranquillity.

This route takes you from Santuario di Nostra Signora di Montenero to Monte Della Madonna, over Monte Dei Fraschi, and back towards the road via Toretto. I stopped at Monte Della Madonna for a well deserved lunch break.

A very beautiful forest walk, but a very steep path from the start to the finish. Follow the path marked 302. The route starts from the car park at the cemetery and the Chiesa San Lorenzo and leads through the village to the church in the centre. Turn left, passing the Locanda di Matt bar. From here, go straight up towards the mountains. Always follow the path marked 302 Forte di Orino. At first the path is paved with round stones and then turns into a forest track for 1 km. It then becomes steeper and narrower. There's nothing flat all the way to the finish, but the view at the top is a magnificent 360 degrees. To the north, views of the Alps with the main massif of Mont Rose. In the foreground, the Varese and Maggiore lakes. Two panoramic tables to enjoy the view.This route is ideal in spring and summer when the leaves of the trees provide shade.Return to the starting point by the same route. Shortened descent.