SLOW TREKKING ON LAKE MAGGIORE
Stresa and Lake Maggiore are ideal destinations for those who enjoy outdoor activities in tune with nature. Slow trekking, for example, is an approach to walking that follows each person’s natural rhythm, enhancing a progression in harmony with the beauty of the scenery around. It is a philosophy that fits perfectly with Lake Maggiore and the wide horizons that open from its inlets to the mountains. Here to become a champion of slow trekking all you have to do is forget your watch, turn off your cell phone, and let yourself go caressed by the breeze. On your return to the hotel we suggest you end the day by rewarding yourself with a relaxing swim in the Beach Club’s infinity pool and then, why not, enjoy the sunset while sipping an aperitif at the Sky Bar.
For more information you can browse the Slow Trek guide of the Lakes Tourist District
THE PATH OF THE CHESTNUT TREES
One of the slow treks most beloved by guests of Hotel La Palma is the Chestnut Tree Trail.
t owes its success to the fact that if you wish, at the end of the trail, you can return to Stresa with a short but valuable trip aboard a boat that makes a stop at the stunning Santa Caterina del Sasso. The Chestnut Tree Trail is easy and straightforward and runs along the Lake following the route of the ancient mule tracks that connected Stresa with Belgirate. It is well marked, starting in Stresa at the corner of Via Alessandro Manzoni and Via San Michele.
The route takes about two and a half hours, and once you arrive in Belgirate, right in front of the Tourist Office, you can embark to return to the Hotel.
THE MOTTARONE SCENIC WALK
For lovers of slow, wide-ranging trips, walking from Hotel La Palma to the summit of Mottarone is certainly a choice for slow trekking connoisseurs. Eventually, for those not used to long walks, the trail can also be done downhill. Much of the trail follows the tracks of an old cog railway that was later decommissioned in 1970, offering walkers the opportunity to make very interesting intermediate stops, such as at the Alpinia Botanical Garden. The hike takes four to six hours, depending on pace, and its elevation gain of 1,300 meters makes it challenging for the less trained and unsuitable for young children. To avoid doing the same route back to back, it is a good idea to organize the outward or return trip by car.
