Lake Orta,Italy

Summer Sun

From
$2100

+approx. $10.64 in tourist taxes payable locally

7 nights in Italy

View Dates & Prices

No single supplements

Your own room guaranteed

40 years' experience

100% solo travelers

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 neighbors, 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 trip offers the ideal balance of relaxation and exploration for solo travelers.

Activity Level: Activity Level Rating

What's this?

What's Included

Return group airport transfers (Milan Malpensa Airport - these transfers are time specific)
Private Garden View Room
Daily Breakfast & dinner - 3- course pre-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

What's extra:

Lake View Room Upgrade $233 per week
Tourist City Tax - EUR 1.50 per night payable to the hotel locally (amount subject to change)
International flights not included. Let us help you book them! Learn more.
Private Transfers
Travel insurance
Tips & drinks
Meals when not included in the itinerary
Activities when not included in the itinerary

Lake Orta

Our Hotel: Hotel La Bussola

Hotel La Bussola enjoys a peaceful setting on the shores of Lake Orta in the charming village of Pettenasco, approximately 1 mile 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 cozy bar, a seasonal outdoor swimming pool, sun terrace, private lakeside area and complimentary Wi-Fi throughout. Guests stay in comfortable private Standard Garden View rooms, with Lake View rooms available for a supplement.

Our Location: 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 neighboring 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 colorful houses, waterfront cafés and scenic walking paths create the perfect setting for a leisurely vacation. 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

Accommodations

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
May 10 2027	May 17 2027	7	$2100 +approx. $10.64 local fees
Sep 23 2027	Sep 30 2027	7	$2100 +approx. $10.64 local fees

View Dates & Prices

Essential Information

Airport Transfers

Complimentary group airport transfers are included on arrival and departure days within specific time windows. If your flight falls outside these times, or if you prefer a private airport transfer, these are available for an additional fee. Our team can advise you of the departure times for the group shuttle. To learn more about flight options, payments, and transfers, click here.

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.

Flights

Whether you'd like us to arrange your flights or prefer to book your own, we're here to make the process easy. Our team can secure flights from the location that suits you best, or provide all the arrival and departure details you'll need if booking independently.

Travel Insurance

We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance before any trip — it safeguards you against unexpected issues like illness, cancellations, or lost luggage. It also protects your health and travel investment, giving you peace of mind to fully enjoy your journey. Click here. to learn more.

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.

Currency

Euro

Passports and visas

We recommend that you check passport and visa requirements for the country you are visiting at the State Department if you have a U.S. Passport. Most countries require that your passport have at least six months validity when traveling internationally, and many require that you have one to two blank visa pages for either an entry stamp or visa. As a general rule, please check that your passport has six months validity beyond your planned trip, and if not, please renew your passport with plenty of time to provide Solos with your updated passport information by the final payment due date.

Not sure what travel documents you need? Our trusted partner, sherpa°, makes it easy to check visa and entry requirements based on your destination and passport. One quick check now means smooth sailing later. Click here to learn more.

Health requirements

We recommend that you check if vaccinations are required for your destination at the CDC’s recommendations for your visited destination(s). We also recommend you purchase travel protection. A travel protection plan can often assist with medical emergencies and reimburse costs that are covered by the plan. Please verify coverage details with Solos before you travel.

Time Difference

Italy is 6 hours ahead of EST.

Electrical Appliances

Voltage 230v

Travel adaptor type C (EuroPlug)

Booking Information

It is important to consider whether this trip 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 trip is suitable for you, please contact us before booking. We will be happy to discuss the trip 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.