dossier
Lakes and Mountains Walk
Day 1: Arrival at Monte Bondone
We meet you at
Day 2: Valle dei Laghi (Valley of the Lakes) 18km/11mi/6hr
Through meadows vivid with lilies-of-the-valley, alpine poppies and wild cumin, we follow a woodland trail to Monte Bondone’s botanical gardens, a wealth of alpine flora. From here we climb through mountain pastures dotted with edelweiss for a picnic on the summit of the Cima Rosta. The view is spectacular: Lake Toblino with its Gothic castle, Lakes Cavèdine and S. Massenza with Lake Garda as a backdrop.
Day 3: Cima Croce (Croce Peak) 20km/13mi/6.5hr
Today’s walk takes us first through rich mountain forest before dropping down to the mountain hut at Mezavia for a magnificent view over the spectacular Brenta ranges. Short pause to view the protected birds at the Natural Research Centre before climbing up to Vason - look out for chamois as you picnic! After lunch we climb through forest tracks alive with the scuffling of wild grouse and capercaillie to the summit of Cima Croce. We catch our breath looking out over Trento and the Adige valley, framed by steep terraces of vines from which the local spumanteis made.
Day 4: Mt Palon 18km/11mi/6.5hrs
A good climb across grassy plains resplendent with mountain buttercups, rosebay and pasque-flowers, takes us to the top of Mount Palon (2090m). We picnic here with historic Trento below us and the awesome peaks of the Paneveggio National Park to the East, while buzzards and black kites float gracefully below. As we descend the evening light begins to play its magic tricks on the deeply reddening peaks of the Western Dolomites.
Day 5: Mòcheni Valley Walk 20km/13mi/7hr
A short drive to Valle dei Mòcheni to the east of Trento. This extraordinarily lush valley still has its Mòchenit, and is home to the elegant red deer. Quite a steep climb on forest tracks up to own dialect, Lake Erdemolo (2030m), then along the ridge for astonishing views over the spiky ‘pyramids’ of the Val di Cembra and the jagged summits of the Val di Fiemme.
Day 6: Tre Cime (3 Peaks’ Walk) 16km/10mi/6.5hr
The three summits of Monte Bondone make a spectacular finale. Around the first two peaks, Dosso D’Abramo and Cima Verde, and then along to the romantic pink stone summit at Monte Cornet to enjoy a 360° panorama over the Madonna di Campiglio, the imposing Forcella Ciadin and as far as the Austrian and Swiss Alps. Golden eagles nest in the rocky outcrops and you really feel as if you are back from another world as you enjoy a well-earned beer later at the hotel.
Day 7: In Trento
A short drive to the pretty village of Sardagna, where we hop on a cable-car to Renaissance Trento. Here we visit the splendid Baroque Palazzo Malfatti Ferrari with its elegant balconies, the barrel-vaulted Renaissance church of Santa Maria Maggiore (1520) or the grand Buonconsiglio castle with its Venetian Gothic loggia. Lunch in a local pizzeria, then in the afternoon option to catch the local train to Caldonazzo to enjoy a refreshing swim.
Day 8: Leave Verona
We take you back to the airport after breakfast, stopping off in Lake Garda for a coffee (time permitting).