The Tamaro to Lema traverse: six hours of ridge between Lake Lugano and Lake Maggiore

This is the Ticino traverse: you ride the cable car up from Rivera, walk all day on a ridge with Lake Lugano on one side and Lake Maggiore on the other, and come down by cable car at the far end, at Monte Lema. In between: thirteen kilometres, seven summits and Monte Gradiccioli at 1,936 m.

The route

From Alpe Foppa, above Mario Botta's church, we take the ridge path: Monte Tamaro, then up and down over Poncione di Breno, Gradiccioli and Monte Pola, always with the crest of the mountain under your boots.

The last stretch leads to Monte Lema and the Miglieglia cable car station. It is not technical, but it is long and relentlessly up and down: take it for what it is, a full day.

Who it's for

• anyone with fit legs who wants a day they will remember
• anyone who has done our intermediate walks and wants the next step
• anyone who wants to walk between two lakes without losing sight of either

Good to know

The two cable cars (Tamaro up, Lema down, about CHF 50 in total) are not included. Getting back from Miglieglia to the cars at Rivera is by bus or with cars left at both ends: the guide arranges the shuttle the day before. The last Lema cable car runs in the early afternoon in low season: we start early.

You are crossing into Switzerland

A valid ID in your pocket, not in your rucksack: Switzerland is not in the European Union and border checks do happen.

Mountain rescue is charged for: in Switzerland the helicopter is billed to the person who calls it. Guiddy accident insurance is included, but a Rega card (about €40 a year) or a policy covering rescue costs in Switzerland is what we suggest to everyone.

Swiss francs: huts and cable cars almost always take cards, but a few valley huts are still cash only. The European health card is valid in Switzerland for emergency care.

Getting there

A9 to Lugano and on to Rivera, at the foot of Monte Ceneri: one hour twenty from the ring road. By train to Rivera-Bironico, the cable car is next to the station.

By car you need the Swiss motorway vignette (CHF 40, valid for the calendar year) if you use the motorway: you buy it at the border, at petrol stations near the crossing, or online.