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Our tame and very friendly llamas never fail to provide a memorable outing for the family. From the woods and sunny meadows of Monte Comino to the panoramic trails of Gambarogno, trekking with them is more than just a hike, it’s an experience you won't forget.
At an altitude of 1,200 metres and six minutes from Verdasio by cable car, Monte Comino is bathed in sunlight from the morning. The dawn tranquillity suffuses the woods surrounding the meadows, but the silence is different to the absolute quiet of an urban Sunday as it comes with the “white noise” of the sounds from the forest emanating from the shadows of its ancient trees.
Many types of animals and plants live in the grassland and pastures. That is the little piece of paradise where Marisa and Jean-Pierre Bäschlin chose to launch their agricultural business. The llamas fit perfectly with their surroundings: they don't damage the soil, they don't drink much or make a lot of noise. Furthermore, plants, flowers and aromatic herbs are their ideal diet.
A few kilometres further south, in Gambarogno, the experience takes on a different yet equally fascinating character. At Azienda L'Eremita, nestled in an ancient chestnut forest, llamas live alongside alpacas and bees on a family-run farm that celebrates honey production, centuries-old chestnut trees and traditional wool craftsmanship. The trails wind through woodland and offer stunning views over Lake Maggiore. Here, the pace of the walk is set by the llamas themselves, encouraging visitors to slow down, observe their surroundings and rediscover a more authentic way of experiencing nature.
Llamas have a strong sense of hierarchy. Some naturally take on leadership roles, while others prefer to be lower down the hierarchy so they don't have to take responsibility. They always follow the leader so they must always be led when trekking, even by children. They know the route and their agility is heartening for their fellow hikers. There are about twenty llamas living on the farm, including three that were born recently and two slightly bolshy alpacas.
Monte Comino has three routes of varying levels of difficulty: the initiation for small children and people who aren’t used to hiking, the half-day mountain tour and a trek to the summit of the mountain (one-day hike). Gambarogno offers four routes of varying difficulty: a short walk, ideal for families, children and anyone wishing to discover llama trekking, two half-day hikes suitable for people with some experience of walking in the mountains, and a full-day trek.
The llamas love a snack and they can't resist a nibble of their favourite flowers or bush. It is their uniqueness that makes a llama-assisted hike so appealing on an emotional level. It’s hard to say goodbye to the llamas, especially for young children, but the memory of their fortitude walking beside us lasts a lifetime. And if you would like a more tangible souvenir, you can buy a woollen quilt to remind you throughout the winter of your wonderful hike and the scent of wild flowers.
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