Southern Lakes

What sort of weather can I expect?

Meteorological records for the area, taken over a period of more than 10 years, are represented in the Weather Chart provided with each itinerary.  Early in the spring it can still be quite cool and fresh with bright days and dewy mornings, and it can rain. From late spring through to September are very warm, with the possibility of swimming in the lake. In October it is cooler and fresh, with bright days. Again, there is a possibility of rain.

what sort of walking can I expect?

This is an 8-day walking holiday with walks offered on 5 days plus 1 city walk. The length of each day varies from 5.5 hours to a maximum of 7.5 hours walking. ‘Hours of walking’ does not include stops for lunch, sightseeing or rests. Two days involve transfers by the Route Manager if you wish to visit the gardens at Villa Caprarola and Villa Lante.

The fitness level of this walking holiday is Grade 2-3. The terrain is a mixture of low, volcanic hills, established paths through woods and vineyards, farm tracks, strade bianche (white gravel roads), and some asphalt on approach to towns. The route lies through unspoilt agricultural land, wooded narrow valleys ,and through an ancient volcanic area with Italy’s largest volcanic lakes: Vico, Bracciano and Bolsena. There are no vertiginous walks. 

What if I don't want to walk?

You don’t have to! You can get a lift with the Route Manager to the next hotel when your bags are moved on, or we can arrange taxis and advise you of local transport options to facilitate shortening the walks.

How do I get to the start of the route?

Travel to Italy

The recommended airports for this route are Rome Fiumicino and Ciampino. From both airports there are frequent connections to central Rome (see below).

Travel to the first hotel by public transport

From Rome it is very easy to reach Trevignano Romano. From central stations there are regular trains to Anguillara (1 hour, €3), from where you can either take a bus (40 mins/€2) or a taxi (~€35) to Trevignano. There are very regular train services from various train stations in central Rome – Termini, Trastevere and Ostiense (all are the same line). Which station you start from may depend on whether you are pre-extending in Rome (and where your hotel is located) or whether you are coming direct from the airport.  We recommend you carefully check train times at  www.trenitalia.com (use Italian spellings of cities) to determine the best option for your circumstances.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Please remember to validate any train
ticket you purchase in Italy before you board the train by stamping it in the yellow machine at the entrance to the
platform; your ticket is not valid for travel unless you do this and you can be fined if you fail to do so.

From Fiumicino airport

Take the Leonardo Express shuttle train that runs from the airport to Roma Termini station in Rome’s city centre. You can buy your ticket at the airport (runs every 30 minutes between 06.00-23.30). The other stations are served by regular metro trains - follow the signs to Stazione FS/Railway Station. Please check timetables on the website above.

From Ciampino airport

The closest train station to Ciampino airport is “Ciampino”. COTRAL and SCHIAFFINI buses operate between the airport and Ciampino station every half an hour, journey time approx 5mins, cost is €1. From Ciampino station there are very frequent train services to Roma Termini station, journey time is approximately 15mins and costs €1.30. Services to the other central stations take between 45 minutes-1 hour as they are not direct. Check timetables on the website above.  Alternatively, there are shuttle buses to Roma Termini operated by Terravision  www.terravision.eu and SIT www.sitbusshuttle.com .
If you buy your ticket on line it will cost €13 return, slightly more if you buy on the bus or at the airport/ station. Buses leave regularly from outside the departures terminal, journey time 40 minutes.

Note: There is not a ticket counter selling bus tickets at Ciampino airport. You should simply go outside the terminal and look for the buses/their agents selling tickets.

A taxi journey from Ciampino to Rome Termini (or anywhere within Rome walls) is a very reasonable (approx) €30 for up to 4 passengers. The taxi rank is outside the terminal.

Taxis

We can book you a taxi to the first hotel. A taxi from either airport holds 3-4 passengers (depending on luggage),
takes 1 hour and costs approx €165 (€220 for a larger vehicle holding 4 - 7 passengers). 
Prices may alter at weekends, Bank Holidays or late at night.

Taxi bookings

Please place your booking with the ATG office at least two weeks before departure. The cost of the taxi will be confirmed to you once the booking is secured. Payment of the taxi fare should be made locally, not to ATG. The driver will have your flight details and will be waiting in Arrivals with a sign showing your name or ATG.

• If you change your flight please notify us  so we can contact the taxi company to reschedule the taxi for you.

• If, on the day of departure, your flight is cancelled or you miss or change it, please immediately contact the ATG emergency number (number is provided in trip documentation) so we can contact the taxi company to reschedule or cancel the taxi for you.

• If your flight is delayed and you have arranged for the taxi to meet you at the destination airport, your taxi driver will wait for you.

• If you are delayed and you have arranged for a taxi to meet you at a non airport location (e.g. train station) it is essential that you contact your Route Manager or call the ATG emergency
line to notify us at the earliest possible moment, so we can contact the taxi company to re-schedule or cancel the taxi for you.

Where can I leave my car if I drive to the route?

You can park in the Villa Clodia's secure car park for €5 per day. Please book this with the ATG office.

What should I bring?

Bring whatever clothes and footwear you find most comfortable for everyday wear, and a change or two for the evenings – smart/casual.
Some trips include quite distinguished hotels and restaurants, for which you may wish to ‘dress up’ in the evening, however on Independent trips you have more flexibility in determining how casual you wish to be. For walking we recommend lightweight walking boots with firm ankle support (make sure you wear them in before the trip!), a small daypack for your lightweight waterproof clothing, camera, fleece etc. An increasing number of people bring telescopic walking poles. For a comprehensive packing list click here: what to bring

What sort of food can I expect?

Lazio’s cuisine is strong, vigorous and hearty. Lots of oil and garlic-flavoured meat and game combinations. Grilled meat – lots of it, and large cuts – features heavily on menus. Vegetarians take heart: there are plenty of interesting vegetable dishes, many of them enhanced by herbs and spices. Pasta dishes can be quite spicy – if you want something ‘calm’ go for a creamy dish or some gnocchi. We also enjoy delicious and varied fish from the lakes.

And wines?

Some excellent wines - including Orvieto Classico, a golden-coloured wine which dates back to the Etruscans; and the anecdotally renowned white Est! Est!! Est!!! from Montefiascone.

Several of our independent routes (including this one)  pass through well-known wine producing regions. If you are particularly interested in wine you may also like to consider...

• Classic Alsace

• Provence: Vaucluse & the Lubéron

• Siena to Florence

• Southern Tuscany

• Ancient Volcanic Landscapes

• Tuscan Hills

• Tuscany & Siena

• Etruscan Lanes to Orvieto

• Roman Roads to Orvieto

• Umbria & Assisi

• Sintra & the Portuguese Coast

Most of the hotels we use offer a buffet-style breakfast with a wide range of both hot and cold choices. 4- and 5-star hotels almost always offer ‘cooked’ breakfast. Occasionally, in more remote areas, or in some 2 or 3-star hotels, breakfast can be a decidedly more ‘Continental’ affair – i.e. bread, croissant, juice, coffee.

Lunch

The ATG Route Booklets and our ‘Sustainable Shopping Guides’ are filled with information about markets and shops in which to buy your lunch. From seasonal fruits, local cheeses, cured hams and freshly baked breads, you are limited only by what you can carry in your pack!

Dinner

On some routes, usually where there is no other restaurant within walking distance, half-board accommodation is included (see ‘what is included’ for this trip). In other areas where there is a selection of restaurants, ATG includes a list of recommendations in your ATG Route Booklet. Some restaurants are recommended because they have provided meals that have been regularly enjoyed by ATG clients; other restaurants are renowned internationally (e.g., within the Guide Michelin).

Restaurant bookings

Your Route Manager will be delighted to book restaurants for you if required, ensuring the places you eat at are...

•Your first choice

•The highest standard

• The best value

...and you are not disappointed by finding the restaurant full.

What if I have a dietary restriction or food allergy?

When you book, let us know about any restrictions. Most dietary restrictions do not present a problem on our routes due to the wide variety of shops and restaurants available. Your Route Manager will provide you with advice and recommendations at your briefing.

What should I bring to wear in the evenings?

There is no need to dress up for dinner – ‘smart casual’ dress is acceptable in all but the smartest restaurants in Italy.

Do the hotels have WIFI, hair dryers, laundry service?

All have WIFI and hair dryers; none offer laundry service.

How much should I budget for items not included?

You can get an idea of transport costs in the ‘getting there’ section of
the trip page. For lunches, costs will depend on whether you choose to buy picnic items or eat in bars/restaurants. Dinners: some are included (see ‘what’s included’). For evening meals not included, the route book provides restaurant recommendations to suit a wide range of budgets. Entrance fees to museums, churches, galleries and other sightseeing costs will vary considerably depending on how much you want to see and how old you are (!). Over 60s enjoy significantly reduced prices at many attractions, so it is worth carrying (safely) some form of identification showing your age. Other costs are items of a personal nature, shopping expenditure and transport if you choose to limit your walking with public transport or taxis.

City Tax (Italy only)

In March 2011, the Italian legislature passed a decree that created a new tourism tax to be paid by visitors to Italy and collected by the accommodation where they are staying. The purpose is to raise revenue that municipalities can use to maintain local facilities and infrastructure and to help in the preservation of cultural and historical treasures, all of which benefits tourists. The roll-out of the tax has been gradual, with each council determining the way in which it should be implemented. First introduced in the big cities, since 2012
the tax has been introduced by many other town councils. The tax is charged by guest per night, with an upper limit to the number of nights that can be charged. The rate (usually €1-2 Euros per person per night) is determined by the rating of the accommodation. This tax is not included in the price of independent holidays but where applicable will be payable direct to your hotel in cash.

What if I want to extend my trip?

We are delighted to book extensions for you at either end of your trip. We only book hotels with which we have an established relationship and where we can ensure a high level of service and enjoyment. If you would like an extension booking please indicate this during the booking process and we will contact you with pricing information.

Where can I find general FAQs?

For FAQs relating to the Company and general trip questions, click here