Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1: Zurich- Airolo, Switzerland
Transfer on your own to our first hotel in Airolo (1143 m/3743 ft), a hiking paradise at the northern end of Ticino. From Zurich Airport you can take a train through the Alps and the historical Gotthard Tunnel, which separates the German- from the Italian-speaking canton of Switzerland. The Swiss Confederation consists of 26 cantons, which function like individual states, with their own government and representatives. Once the train exits the tunnel, you will be in Airolo, situated at the northern end of the Ticino and at the top of the Levantine Valley, a long, scenic gash in the Swiss Alps that starts in the rugged Gotthard Massif and ends near rich farmland by Lake Maggiore. This small town is the gateway to hiking in one of the most beautiful areas in the Alps. Your guide will meet you in the early afternoon for an optional walk through the village and the surroundings. Trip overview before dinner at the hotel in Airolo.
Accommodations: 3-star hotel in Airolo.
Meals Included: dinner

Day 2: Valle Bedretto
The Valle Bedretto, located at the northwestern edge of Ticino is one of the most remote and pristine alpine valleys of the region. Here the Ticino River starts its forty-mile journey to Lake Maggiore. The name comes from the local dialect “bedra”, the birch tree, which indeed proliferates in that area. We take the postal bus to the trailhead and start hiking uphill on a farm road. We then follow the contour of the mountain as we head into Valle Bedretto, a valley particularly beautiful due to its wild landscape and richness of colors. The trail meanders through fir and larch forests and summer pastures filled with blueberry bushes and rhododendrons, while offering a commanding view of the surrounding granite peaks. The landscape is grandiose and the silence is broken only by the sound of the many creeks tumbling into the Ticino River on the opposite side of the valley. In the distance we can admire the Gries Glacier, sitting at the crossroads with Ticino, the Valais (French/German speaking canton of Switzerland), and Italy. Along the way, we stop at a summer grazing pasture, where we will learn how cheese is still made in an artisanal way. Depending on the time of summer, we may be able to buy a piece to taste with our picnic lunch. After lunch in a spectacular panoramic setting, we start our descent into All’acqua, where we have the option to stop for a refreshing drink or a coffee (not included) before we board the public bus back to Airolo.
Total hiking: about 4.5-5 hrs, 14-15 km/8-9.5 miles, elevation ↑ 538 m/1765 ft, ↓205 m/673 ft.
Accommodations: 3-star hotel in Airolo.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Day 3: Piora Region
We start with a short ride on the bus from Airolo to the steep funicular that will take us to Piora (1794 m/5886 ft), a national nature conservation area of considerable beauty and scientific interest. In fact, the region is home to a couple of dozen alpine lakes and over three hundred species of wildflowers, blooming in perfect harmony from the mid June to the end of August. The Biology Department of Zurich University has converted and old farmhouse into a research station on the shore of one of the alpine lakes. The area is also famous for the production of the Piora, an excellent cheese exported exclusively to a small community of "Ticinesi" living in Kentucky. We begin hiking on a service road and then around the largest of the lakes. The dirt path narrows and leads us uphill to a second, small alpine lake through beautiful patches of wildflowers. Along the way, silence is broken by the occasional alarm call of the marmots and the sound of cowbells. Our circular hike takes us to yet a third idyllic mountain lake where a huge diversity of flora and fauna thrive. Perfect vantage points will yield great views of the surrounding peaks, including the Gotthard Massif. After a light lunch at a mountain rifugio, we start our 1½-hour descent back to the funicular. We meet a private van and transfer to Intragna, a jewel set between two rivers on a promontory overlooking the valley leading towards Lake Maggiore. A village of 885 inhabitants, Intragna is a tight network of narrow cobblestone streets. Traffic-free, the village echoes with the footsteps and voices of its residents, and the sound of its famous church bell, housed in the highest church tower in Ticino.
Total hiking: about 4.5 hrs, 15-16 km/9-10 miles, and elevation ↑↓283 m/928 ft.
Accommodations: 3-star hotel in Intragna.
Meals included: breakfast, dinner.

Day 4: Centovalli
Today we hike above the Centovalli (the hundred valleys), a dramatic setting of more than a hundred small side valleys with sheer gorges and spectacular waterfalls. The valley stretches to Santa Maria Maggiore and ends in Domodossola, Italy, and it is negotiated by a very winding road and the famous Centovallina, a train line built between 1912 and 1923. Our hike takes us past small stone hamlets and a serene landscape. We start right from the hotel on a mule path that leads us uphill through the forest. As we climb, the panorama opens up. We reach the small hamlet of Pila and continue following the contour of the mountain to the Sella di Calascio. Here the view opens up into Valle Onsernone, another dramatic gash into the mountains. Valle Onsernone saw many of his native people emigrate due to dire straits. While living in other parts of Europe, they learned the art of working with straw. An art they eventually brought back to their valley, helping immeasurably with its economy. After a short uphill from Sella di Calascio, we stop for a picnic lunch in a panoramic spot overlooking Lake Maggiore. We then continue with a few short stretches uphill through the forest and skirting the side of the mountain, and reach Monti di Comino, a summer grazing pasture located in a serene environment and enjoying an open view of the Centovalli and the surrounding mountains. In Comino, there is the option to stop at a mountain hut to have a refreshing drink or a coffee (not included) and take in the splendid panorama, before we ride the gondola to the Centovallina train and return to Intragna.
Total hiking: about 4-4.5 hrs, 7.5-8 km/4.5-5 miles, and elevation ↑ 941-m/3087 ft ↓182 m/597 ft.
Accommodations: 3-star Hotel Antico, Intragna.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Day 5: Valle Bavona
Valle Bavona is an integral part of the history and culture of the difficult pastoral life of Ticino. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, many young and able men were forced to emigrate from this severe valley to the rolling hills of Northern and Central California and to Australia in search of work and a better, more pleasant life. Today the valley is open only seven months out of the year, during which time the old-timers still bring their few animals to graze on the miniscule plots of land. There is no electricity and the stone houses, clustered so close to each other for heat and protection, throw us back into a different time and place. Our local trip leader, enamored by the place, calls this valley a "living museum." We drive about an hour to Sonlerto, one of the many beautiful "stone villages" found in the Valle Bavona. We take a few minutes to walk quietly through the hamlet and admire the workmanship of the stone buildings enlivened by the colorful geraniums on the windowsills. Following the clear waters of the Bavona River, on a level trail that meanders through the woods, we head towards Foroglio, with its elegant waterfall, visiting more charming and picturesque stone hamlets along the way. In Foroglio we have the option to hike to the top of the waterfall and have a picnic in a fairytale setting next to the cauldrons where the water picks up momentum before plunging to the valley floor. Here, caves and stone structures stand in testimony of the hardship of times past. We will admire one of these stone structures, built under a giant rock by a shepherd. It was his home during summer grazing. Return to Foroglio where we can stop at a “grotto” (a typical locale) for a refreshing drink or perhaps a glass of Ticino Merlot (not included). Transfer back to Intragna.
Total hiking: about 3-3.5 hrs, 6-6.5 km/3.5-4 miles, elevation ↑ 170m/558 ft ↓ 286-m/938 ft.
Accommodations: 3-star Hotel Antico, Intragna.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Day 6: Monte Tamaro- Monte Lema Traverse
With some co-operation from the weather, today’s hike will immerse us in, to say the least, breathtaking and mesmerizing panoramas. Hiking at altitudes between 1600-1750 m/5250-5750 ft, we will follow the ridge that from Monte Tamaro leads to Monte Lema, a traverse framed by breathtaking and mesmerizing panoramas stretching across the Alps, from the peaks above Lake Como to Monte Rosa (at 4634 m/15203 ft, the second highest mountain in Western Europe) and the Appennini Liguri, by the Italian Riviera; at our feet the glittering waters of Lake Maggiore, the remote valleys and the small hamlets, whose clusters of homes cling to the side of the mountains; to the east, the city of Lugano, our destination for the day, and its lake. From Intragna, we drive about 30 minutes to the gondola that will take us to our trailhead at 1530 m/5020 ft. Here we can admire the church of Santa Maria degli Angeli, designed in 1990 by Mario Botta, the architect from Ticino who designed, among other things, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. We then start with an uphill walk on a wide dirt road and, after about one hour, we reach Capanna Monte Tamaro, where the actual ridge trail starts. We will skirt several peaks, taking in 360° views, have a picnic lunch along the way, and, hiking right along the border with Italy, we reach Monte Lema. If time allows it, we have the option to stop for a refreshing drink (not included) on the panoramic terrace of the restaurant before we descend by gondola and transfer about 30 minutes to our hotel on the waterfront of Lake Lugano. Dinner tonight is on your own.
Total hiking: about 6 hrs, 15-16 km/10-11 miles, elevation ↑ 412-m/1352 ft ↓ 392-m/1286 ft.
Accommodations: 3-star Hotel Walter-au-Lac, Lugano.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch.

Hotel Walter-Au-Lac is a family-run hotel located right by the lake. All rooms enjoy an open view of the lake and have a private bathroom with bath or shower, safe, television, telephone, and air conditioning. There is a Jacuzzi on the top floor of the hotel, where the view spanning over the whole lake is stunning. A small sitting room area has Internet stations and books to read. The hotel does not have a restaurant, but the city has plenty of fine dining to choose from.

Day 7: Monte Boglia
Today we hike in the mountains above the town of Lugano. In close proximity to the Italian border and Lake Como, we breathe the Mediterranean atmosphere, the light has a distinct quality and the fragrance of flowers and trees permeates the air. And yet, we are still enclosed in a spectacular mountainous setting, the reflection of which is mirrored in the water of the lake. In days past, the trails of contraband crossed this region, and chapels and small churches sit in solitude on the high open ridges, almost a direct link between heaven and earth. We ride a public bus to our trailhead in Brè, an exquisite hamlet that has maintained its rural characteristic and is rich in artwork. In fact, besides an art museum, Brè offers an open-air exhibit of the work of several artists. We walk through this enchanting village, sitting like an open balcony over the lake, and head towards the thick beech forests that cover like a mantle the steep side of the mountain. Along a very comfortable path we reach the final approach which, on a well-maintained, mountain trail leads us uphill for about one hour. Once we emerge on the top of Monte Boglia (1516 m/4974 ft), we cannot help but gasp at the stunning views of Lake Lugano, Lake Como, the Alps and, on a very clear day, the Appennini Liguri, on the Italian Riviera. Descending into our lunch spot, we take in yet more panoramic views of a more pastoral environment, crowned by the calcareous spires of the Denti della Vecchia, a very popular climbing destination. We stop for a simple lunch at a mountain hut, before returning to Brè and boarding the public bus for Lugano. We will meet again for our farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
Total hiking: about 6 hrs, 10-11 km/6-7 miles, elevation ↑↓ 731-m/2398 ft.
Accommodations: 3-star Hotel Walter-au-Lac, Lugano.
Meals included: breakfast, dinner

Day 8: Departure
After breakfast, transfer on your own to the Lugano train station, easily accessible by funicular, located in the center of town and near the hotel, where you can connect to the train of your choice or to the bus to Milano Malpensa International Airport.
Meals included: breakfast.

TRIP DIFFICULTY
This is an active trip designed for people who like to hike an average of 4 to 6 hrs per day for six consecutive days. The hikes are quite varied but they are not very strenuous and they go through magnificent scenery. The trails can be rocky (typical topography of the Alps) and there are some ascents and descents with a few steep stretches, but they are very well maintained. You need to be in good health and physical condition to enjoy this trip, with adequate muscular strength, cardiovascular endurance, and good balance. The difficulty of any trip can also be affected by the weather. Weather in the Alps is unpredictable, and you can expect a mix of hot sunny days and rainy, cool weather. You will also be hiking in two different regions of Ticino: the alpine area to the north, at elevations between 5,800 to 6,000 ft, and the more “Mediterranean” region to the south, at elevations anywhere between 2,000 and 4’500 ft. Sudden changes in weather and rainstorms, while you are out on the trail, are possible and they could drop the temperature up to 5-8° Celsius.

Please note that the hours of hiking mentioned at the end of each day are intended as the actual time on the trail. They do not include breaks and they are based on a good level of fitness.

TRIP ITINERARY
We always try to adhere to the trip itinerary, but please keep in mind that weather and natural conditions in general, or causes of force majeure, play a big role when it comes to safety on a trip. The guide has the right and responsibility to make changes to any of the days on the itinerary, if necessary. Also, last minute changes in logistical details, such as hotels or restaurants, at times are out of our control. Should any such changes occur, we will inform you as promptly as possible.

Departure Dates

Depart any day! Contact an iExplore Adventure Consultant for details.

Prices

2010 Prices:
$4,695 per person, double occupancy.
$3,695 per person, double occupancy, based on four persons traveling together.
$795 Single room supplement.

Prices for your dates of travel may vary- please contact iExplore for an exact quote. Quoted prices are based on current rates of exchange, tariffs and taxes as of November, 2009. iExplore reserves the right to increase tour prices to cover increased costs, tariffs and taxes received after prices are published, and to reflect fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. iExplore is under no obligation to give breakdown costs involved in any package.

Inclusions:
· English-speaking, local, expert guide throughout the trip.
· Transfer from Zurich airport to the first hotel on day 1.
· Accommodations in 3-star hotels.
· 4 lunches, 6 dinners (3-course), water, coffee/tea with included meals.
· All public (trams, trains, buses) and private transportation as per the itinerary.
· Luggage transfers during the trip.
· Entrance fees to points of interest as specified in the itinerary.

Exclusions:
· Airfare and related costs.
· Any transfers on day 8.
· Travel insurance.
· Gratuities.
· Meals not specified in the program.
· Items of a personal nature- laundry, beverages, phone calls, Internet etc.

These trips are priced assuming two travelers. Surcharges for solo travelers and discounts for groups, if any, will be applied. Prices assume itinerary is purchased "as is". Minor changes to hotels or hotel add-ons to the beginning or the end of the existing itinerary can be made at no extra charge. Any customization requiring us to start with a new base itinerary will require a non-refundable upfront planning fee of $250 that is creditable towards the final trip price.

Group Discounts

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