THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Drive above Varenna for a short forest walk and an elevated picnic overlooking Lake Como. Sample cheeses, cured meats and local wines while hosts introduce you to producers from Valtellina and Valsassina.
Drive above Varenna for a short forest walk and an elevated picnic overlooking Lake Como. Sample cheeses, cured meats and local wines while hosts introduce you to producers from Valtellina and Valsassina.
The car climbs out of Varenna and the lake shrinks into a strip of glass below; oaks and chestnuts lean toward the view as if nudging you forward. After about 40 minutes of hairpin roads and orchard-scattered slopes, you step from the parked car and follow a 20–30 minute forest track that opens onto a sheltered terrace with sweeping views of Lake Como.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Picnickle · Varenna, Lombardy
The car climbs out of Varenna and the lake shrinks into a strip of glass below; oaks and chestnuts lean toward the view as if nudging you forward. After about 40 minutes of hairpin roads and orchard-scattered slopes, you step from the parked car and follow a 20–30 minute forest track that opens onto a sheltered terrace with sweeping views of Lake Como.
This stretch of the southern Alpine foothills blends glacial geology—steep ridges carved by ice—with centuries-old smallholdings in Valtellina and Valsassina. The picnic pairs that landscape with local foodways: alpine cheeses and cured meats shaped by mountain pastures, wines from nearby valleys and farmed fruit that has fed lakeside communities for generations.
Expect an intimate, staged setting: a prepared blanketed area, light music, and a guided tasting where hosts describe producers and place names before leaving you to eat, photograph and relax. The walk is short and untechnical, the views the main ascent.
Practical guidance: the full experience lasts about 3–3.5 hours; private transport from Hotel Olivedo in Varenna is included. Wear sturdy walking shoes for uneven forest ground, bring a wind layer as elevation adds a chill, and carry ID if you plan to drink (legal age 18). Phones take excellent panoramas at golden hour; arrive with any dietary restrictions noted in advance. Weather can shift quickly in the foothills—confirm the tour if heavy rain or snow is forecast. Leave no trace, support the small producers you taste, and expect a relaxed, sensory introduction to Lake Como from above.
easy.
3–3.5 hours.
Suitable for most fitness levels; requires a short, non-technical 20–30 minute uphill walk
Meet at the Hotel Olivedo pier in Varenna; the private transfer to the picnic site takes about 40 minutes along scenic mountain roads.
Yes—it's a short 20–30 minute walk on forest paths; pace is adjusted to the group, but those with limited mobility should check in advance since terrain is uneven.
Hosts source local products and can often adjust selections—notify special requirements at booking so they can prepare alternatives.
Full refund if canceled at least 24 hours before the scheduled time; the operator may cancel in heavy rain or snow and will offer a refund per policy.
The terraces and small farms reflect centuries of alpine pastoral and orchard farming; local cheeses and cured meats are rooted in Valtellina and Valsassina mountain traditions.
Tours emphasize local producers to support small-scale agriculture; visitors are asked to carry out waste and stick to established paths to protect fragile slopes.
Picnickle operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
The car climbs out of Varenna and the lake shrinks into a strip of glass below; oaks and chestnuts lean toward the view as if nudging you forward. After about 40 minutes of hairpin roads and orchard-scattered slopes, you step from the parked car and follow a 20–30 minute forest track that opens onto a sheltered terrace with sweeping views of Lake Como.
The car climbs out of Varenna and the lake shrinks into a strip of glass below; oaks and chestnuts lean toward the view as if nudging you forward. After about 40 minutes of hairpin roads and orchard-scattered slopes, you step from the parked car and follow a 20–30 minute forest track that opens onto a sheltered terrace with sweeping views of Lake Como.
This stretch of the southern Alpine foothills blends glacial geology—steep ridges carved by ice—with centuries-old smallholdings in Valtellina and Valsassina. The picnic pairs that landscape with local foodways: alpine cheeses and cured meats shaped by mountain pastures, wines from nearby valleys and farmed fruit that has fed lakeside communities for generations.
Expect an intimate, staged setting: a prepared blanketed area, light music, and a guided tasting where hosts describe producers and place names before leaving you to eat, photograph and relax. The walk is short and untechnical, the views the main ascent.
Practical guidance: the full experience lasts about 3–3.5 hours; private transport from Hotel Olivedo in Varenna is included. Wear sturdy walking shoes for uneven forest ground, bring a wind layer as elevation adds a chill, and carry ID if you plan to drink (legal age 18). Phones take excellent panoramas at golden hour; arrive with any dietary restrictions noted in advance. Weather can shift quickly in the foothills—confirm the tour if heavy rain or snow is forecast. Leave no trace, support the small producers you taste, and expect a relaxed, sensory introduction to Lake Como from above.