Lake Orta,Italy

Summer Sun

Half Board

From
£1829

+approx. £8.85 in tourist taxes payable locally

7 nights in Italy

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No single supplements

Your own room guaranteed

Fly from local airports

100% solo travellers

What to expect

Serene Setting

Family-run hotel in a peaceful location on the shores of beautiful Lake Orta.

Sightseeing

Discover Orta San Giulio and nearby lakeside villages with excellent local transport links

Italian Charm

Experience authentic Italian hospitality, stunning scenery and picturesque waterfront towns

Great Facilities

Relax with a seasonal outdoor pool, private lakeside area and restaurant serving regional cuisine.

About this trip...

Escape to the tranquil beauty of Lake Orta, one of Italy's hidden gems, where peaceful lakeside scenery, charming villages and authentic Italian hospitality await. Far quieter than its famous neighbours, Lake Orta offers the perfect setting to relax while discovering a region rich in history, culture and breathtaking landscapes.

Based in the welcoming lakeside village of Pettenasco, you'll have plenty of time to soak up the relaxed atmosphere, stroll along the waterfront, enjoy leisurely lunches in traditional cafés and explore the enchanting streets of nearby Orta San Giulio. Whether you choose to unwind by the lake or join one of the optional excursions to discover more of Northern Italy's spectacular lakes and historic towns, this holiday offers the ideal balance of relaxation and exploration for solo travellers.

What's Included

Return flights & transfers (Milan Malpensa)
One piece of checked luggage
Airport taxes & charges
Double/twin room for sole use Garden View
Half Board: Breakfast & dinner - 3- course set group menu
Welcome drink with aperitif & Information Meeting
Free Solos App with all your travel documents
Dedicated Whatsapp group for your trip
Accompanying Solos Tour Leader
Full financially protected

What's extra:

Lake View Room Upgrade £194 per week
Tourist City Tax - EUR 1.50 per night payable to the hotel locally (amount subject to change)
Insurance see here

Lake Orta

Hotel La Bussola

Hotel La Bussola enjoys a peaceful setting on the shores of Lake Orta in the charming village of Pettenasco, approximately 2km from the picturesque town of Orta San Giulio. Surrounded by landscaped gardens with beautiful lake views, this welcoming, family-run hotel provides the perfect setting to relax and unwind. Facilities include a restaurant serving regional cuisine, a cosy bar, a seasonal outdoor swimming pool, sun terrace, private lakeside area and complimentary Wi-Fi throughout. Guests stay in comfortable Standard Garden View rooms for sole use, with Lake View rooms available for a supplement.

Lake Orta, Pettenasco & Orta San Giulio

Nestled in the foothills of the Italian Alps in the Piedmont region, Lake Orta is often described as Italy's best-kept secret. Smaller and more intimate than neighbouring Lake Maggiore and Lake Como, it offers spectacular scenery, crystal-clear waters and an atmosphere of timeless tranquillity.

Your resort, Pettenasco, is a charming lakeside village with a relaxed pace of life, where colourful houses, waterfront cafés and scenic walking paths create the perfect setting for a leisurely holiday. Just a short distance away lies the enchanting medieval town of Orta San Giulio, regarded as one of Italy's most beautiful villages. Wander its narrow cobbled streets, browse artisan boutiques, enjoy a gelato in the elegant piazza or take a boat across to the peaceful Island of San Giulio, home to its ancient basilica and Benedictine monastery.

Surrounded by wooded hills and mountain views, Lake Orta is ideal for gentle sightseeing, lakeside walks and simply soaking up the authentic charm of Northern Italy away from the crowds.

Boat Trips on Lake Orta

One of the best ways to experience the beauty of Lake Orta is from the water. Hop aboard the public boat service and cruise across the lake, taking in spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and charming waterfront villages. Visit the enchanting island of San Giulio with its historic basilica and peaceful atmosphere, or explore picturesque lakeside towns such as Pella and Omegna at your own pace, making every journey as memorable as the destination.

The closest public ferry stop to our Hotel La Bussola is the Orta Piazza landing stage in Orta San Giulio, approximately a 6-minute walk from the hotel. From there, you can board the public boats operated by Navigazione Lago d'Orta.

There are several lovely cruising options:

Isola San Giulio – The most popular crossing, taking around 5 minutes from Orta Piazza. Visit the Romanesque Basilica of San Giulio and enjoy the island's peaceful atmosphere.
Pella – A scenic crossing to the western shore of the lake, ideal for walking and visiting the Basilica of San Filiberto.
Pettenasco – Boats also connect Orta with Pettenasco in around 15 minutes, making it easy to explore another charming lakeside village.
Omegna – Continue north to the lively market town at the head of the lake, known for its cafés, waterfront promenade and connections to the Gianni Rodari literary heritage.

More to Explore

Lake Orta is an ideal base from which you can visit Lake Maggiore, Stresa with its charming islands, or even Locarno in Switzerland just across the border. Milan's sights and worldclass shopping options are 50 minutes away and the factory outlets of some of the great design labels such as Alessi and Lagostina are even closer. The vineyards of Novara and Vercelli Hill wineries are also all within easy reach, as is the mountain resort of Mottarone, from where you can see up to seven lakes on a clear day. The verdant Val d’Ossola is also worth a visit, where you'll find the stunning Toce waterfalls and a range of delicious local cheeses which can be tasted. If this wasn't enough, there are some optional excursions you can take advantage of during the course of your stay such as a trip to Zermatt and the Matterhorn in nearby Switzerland, or a visit to the Swiss and Italian Lake District. More detailed information is provided in our 'More to Explore' section of FAQs

Accommodation

Hotel La Bussola

Beautifully positioned on the shores of Lake Orta in the peaceful village of Pettenasco, Hotel Ristorante La Bussola offers a relaxing base surrounded by gardens with wonderful views across the lake and surrounding mountains. The hotel is approximately 2km from the historic centre of Orta San Giulio, easily reached by local bus, taxi or a pleasant lakeside walk, while Pettenasco's cafés, shops and lakeside promenade are just a short stroll away.

Facilities include

The hotel features a welcoming restaurant serving regional Italian cuisine, a bar, outdoor swimming pool (seasonal), spacious gardens, sun terrace, private lakeside area and complimentary Wi-Fi throughout. Guests can also enjoy direct access to the lake, creating the perfect setting for a relaxing afternoon.

Room includes

You'll stay in a comfortable Standard Garden View room for sole use, thoughtfully furnished with air conditioning, en-suite bathroom, hairdryer, satellite TV, telephone, minibar, safe and complimentary Wi-Fi. Lake View rooms are available for a supplement, subject to availability.

Dates & Prices

Departure	Return	Nights	Price from	Other Info	Regional flights
10 May 2027	17 May 2027	7	£1829 +approx. £8.85 local fees		Please call for regional flights
23 Sep 2027	30 Sep 2027	7	£1849 +approx. £8.85 local fees		Please call for regional flights

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Essential Information

More to explore

Optional excursions are not guaranteed and are based on minimum 20 passengers. The prices quoted are guideline only and may involve other non-Solos holidaymakers. Full details of the optional trips on offer can be provided at the Information Meeting at the start of the trip. These excursions will be payable in cash to local guide in Euros. Your Tour Leader will help arrange these for you but may not necessarily accompany you. You can also indicate to us prior to your holiday which trips you would be interested in so we can pass your request over to resort.

Zermatt and the Matterhorn

Heading away from Lake Maggiore, we make our way through the Ossola Valley and start our climb into the Alps via the Simplon Pass. The Belvedere panoramic viewpoint is at the highest point of the pass and from there you can see 360° views of the Swiss and Italian Alps. Descending the Simplon Pass towards Brig we carry on and start the final part of our scenic journey along the Matter Valley towards Zermatt.

In the village of Taesch we will take you up to Zermatt on the rack and pinion railway. Zermatt is at 5,315ft above sea level and is surrounded by some of the most famous peaks in the Alps: the Matterhorn, Monte Rosa, the Gornergrat and no less than twelve “4,000’s” – peaks over 4,000m.

Zermatt is a typical, picturesque Swiss Alpine village. Whilst you are in Zermatt you can spend your free time simply exploring the village, or enjoying a journey up to the Sunnegga plateau on the Mountain Metro. You could visit the Zermatlantis Matterhorn Museum and don't forget to taste some of the local food! All whilst enjoying views of one of the most well-known mountains in the Alps: the Matterhorn.

EUR 230.00

Three Lakes

A day seeing the very best of the Swiss and Italian Lake District.

Our Three Lakes tour will take you up the western shore of Lake Maggiore and into Switerland. You will pass the seemingly floating castles at Cannero before arriving at the northern tip of Lake Maggiore and heading towards Lake Lugano.

During your free time in the cosmopolitan city of Lugano don't miss out on the Santa Maria degli Angeli church where there is a beautiful fresco of the Passion. Window shop along the exclusive Via Nassa and have a coffee in Piazza Riforma. Take a stroll along the promenade into the park for views across to Mount San Salvatore.

We travel on towards Lake Como whose sparkling waters surrounded by dramatic mountains. Take the chance to visit the terraced, lakeside gardens of Villa Carlotta with over 500 species from giant sequoia to camellias. In Como city visit the cathedral and enjoy an ice cream in the piazza nearby. Como is also famous for its silk so a great place for some souvenir shopping!

EUR 200.00

What to wear

Casual daytime light-weight “layers” are recommended. Comfortable shoes are a “must” for sightseeing. Smart, casual wear for the evenings. Dressing in layers to allow for changes in temperature is recommended. You will need to have shoulders covered for churches.

Gratuities

We suggest a Group Collection to cover guides, transfer drivers, and hotel staff of minimum €25.00 per person. Your Tour Leader will collect this on your behalf and distribute it accordingly, thus relieving you of the burden of who, when and how much to tip. The tipping of housekeeping will be left to your individual discretion (a small amount left in your room on departure should cover this and would be much appreciated). As is customary, ‘the hat’ will be passed around for the driver and guide on all optional excursions. For any meals that are not included in your itinerary, or taxi fares, your Tour Leader can advise of an appropriate % to add on.

Passports and visas

Passport validity requirements If you are travelling to an EU country (except Ireland), or Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino or Vatican City, you must follow the Schengen area passport requirements.Your passport must be:

issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the country (check the ‘date of issue’)
valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)

You must check if your passport meets these requirements before you travel. If your passport was issued before 1 October 2018, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. Contact the embassy of the country you are visiting if you think that your passport does not meet both these requirements. Renew your passport if you need to. Check with your transport provider or travel company that your passport and other travel documents meet their requirements. Passport stamping At Italian border control, you may need to:

show proof of your accommodation, for example, a hotel booking confirmation or proof of address if visiting your own property (for example, a second home)
show proof of insurance for your trip – check FCDO’s travel insurance guidance
show a return or onward ticket
prove that you have enough money for your stay. The minimum amount required depends on your accommodation
follow procedures if you are hosting a guest at your property in Italy

Check your passport is stamped if you enter or exit the Schengen area through Italy as a visitor. Border guards will use passport stamps to check you’re complying with the 90-day visa-free limit for short stays in the Schengen area. If relevant entry or exit stamps are not in your passport, border guards will presume that you have overstayed your visa-free limit. You can show evidence of when and where you entered or exited the Schengen area and ask the border guards to add this date and location in your passport. Examples of acceptable evidence include boarding passes and tickets. Visa requirements You can travel to countries in the Schengen areafor up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. This applies if you travel:

as a tourist
to visit family or friends
to attend business meetings, cultural or sports events
for short-term studies or training

If you are travelling to Italy and other Schengen countries without a visa, make sure your whole visit is within the 90-day limit. Visits to Schengen countries within the previous 180 days before you travel count towards your 90 days.

From the 12^th October 2025 the EU is introducing a new European Entry System (EES) that will be phased in and fully operational by the 10^th April 2026. Non-EU nationals including British passport holders will now be required to complete biometric checks on arrival and exit to Schengen countries, which will include facial recognition and fingerprints. There is no cost for this, and no action needs to be taken prior to departure.

Health requirements

Compulsory vaccinations: None. At least 8 weeks before your trip: All clients are responsible for acquainting themselves with up to date health information of the countries being visited and where necessary take the required precautions.

We recommend that you check with your doctor prior to departure as this information can change. You can also visit the travel health website for more information; Italy

Altitude sickness is a risk in parts of Italy, including the Alps and the Dolomites. More information about altitude sickness is available from TravelHealthPro (from the UK’s National Travel Health Network and Centre).

Currency

Euro

Time Difference

Italy is one hour ahead of the UK.

Electrical Appliances

Voltage 230v

Travel adaptor type C (EuroPlug)

WhatsApp Group

WhatsApp Group: Shortly before your holiday, you will be invited to join an optional WhatsApp group to connect with your fellow travellers and your Tour Leader.

Booking Information

It is important to consider whether this holiday is suitable for your level of fitness, mobility, and any medical conditions. We are committed to making reasonable adjustments wherever possible. Please tell us about any disability, medical condition, or additional requirements before booking so we can assess whether we can safely and appropriately accommodate your needs. If you are unsure whether this holiday is suitable for you, please contact us before booking. We will be happy to discuss the holiday requirements and your individual circumstances.

Transfer Time

From Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) to Hotel Ristorante La Bussola in Pettenasco, the transfer time is approximately 1 hour 15 minutes by private coach or car in normal traffic.