Lake Garda Via Ferrata Adventure

Tucked into Northern Italy, Lake Garda is blessed with beautiful beaches, intense transparent blue water, vertical rocky cliffs, rolling hills, and towering mountains, all waiting to be discovered. Just a few hours drive from Milan, Venice, and the Dolomites, Lake Garda (Lago di Garda or Lago Benaco) is the largest, yet least well-known of Italy's lakes. Carved by glaciers, the diversity of the landscape here is truly remarkable. The temperate climate and flourishing vegetation – primarily olive and lemon groves, orange trees, palms, cypresses, and oleanders – combine with the landscape. Together they provide a lush background to the remarkable historical and cultural remains dotting the shoreline. Plus, the Dolomite Mountains are never far away, and can be seen towering above the lake to the north and east.

Set above the narrow northern part of Lake Garda is Arco di Trento. Enclosed by mountains, the jagged rock surrounding Arco creates not only beautiful fjords on the lake, but also fantastic opportunities for climbing via ferrata! Via ferrata literally means “iron path,” originating from the metal ladders used by the military in WWI to navigate these mountains. While the Dolomites are well known for being on the front lines of the First World War, Lake Garda and its surrounding mountains to the north played a significant role in the war as well. Not only did soldiers carve tunnels and galleries in the rock and set up elaborate via ferrata or “iron paths” to move through the mountains, the waters of Lake Garda were set with mines. While most of the via ferrate have been replaced with newer hardware, almost half of the ferrata above Lake Garda follow the original soldiers’ routes, allowing you to climb over the fortifications and through the trenches and tunnels of the original battlefields of World War One, high into the mountains. And, with the proximity to the lake, you’ll have stupendous panoramas throughout your climbs!

Our via ferrata holidays provide an opportunity to learn the rope work skills required for the safe use of this type of route. All of our via ferrata trips are led by UIAGM/IFMGA Professional Mountain Guides, ensuring your safety and enjoyment. Completely protected, attached to a system of anchored cables while you climb, you’ll enjoy vistas typically reserved only for mountaineers!