Piani di Artavaggio: from Culmine di San Pietro to the Nicola

High meadows and mountain huts above Valsassina

The Piani di Artavaggio are among Lombardy's best-loved destinations, and in summer they are at their finest: green meadows, open views and that light mountain feeling everyone agrees on. It is a plateau at 1,650 metres ringed by peaks, with several huts that make it a small high-altitude village.

We start from Culmine di San Pietro, on the border between the provinces of Lecco and Bergamo, following a pleasant, panoramic trail. The first part has no demanding gradients and lets you enjoy the landscape step by step, through woods, pastures and ever wider views of the mountains around Lake Como.

Once at the Piani the surroundings open completely and we stop at Rifugio Nicola for lunch. It is 17 kilometres and 840 metres of ascent: a full day but never a hard one, returning along the same route.

Why come

• the Piani di Artavaggio, a plateau of meadows and huts
• lunch at Rifugio Nicola, in the heart of the plateau
• views over the mountains around Lake Como on the way up
• a long route with gradients that always stay manageable

Who it suits

This is an intermediate hike for its length rather than its difficulty: 17 kilometres and 840 metres of ascent in six hours, on trails with no technical sections. You need to be used to walking for a few hours. Bring boots and water.

Come with the Guidders: book your place and let's walk up to the Piani.