When summer is over, the lake changes

Once the lotus flowers have disappeared, Lake Varese takes on a completely different character. The colours change, the shores become quieter and the water level can open up parts of the lake that are simply inaccessible during summer.

This is where travelling by Canadian canoe makes the difference.

Depending on the season and water level, we can paddle along sections of the lakeside cycle path directly from the water, enter narrow passages between the reeds and reach corners that are usually dry during the summer.

What you know from the shore suddenly becomes part of the lake.

It can feel almost unbelievable — but it is surprisingly easy to experience with us.

Isolino Virginia, almost entirely to ourselves

We reach Isolino Virginia by canoe, crossing the Ticinello, the narrow stretch of water separating the island from the mainland.

Outside the busiest summer months, the island can be remarkably quiet. There may be very few people around, sometimes almost nobody at all.

For a while, it can feel as though the lake is yours and you are the only inhabitants of the island.

And this is where the excursion becomes an exploration. Rather than simply following a fixed route, we discover how the lake itself changes the landscape from season to season.

A different lake in every season

Autumn brings changing colours along the shores and, on cooler days, mist can transform the lake into an almost dreamlike landscape.

Winter brings space, silence and a completely different atmosphere from the busy summer months.

Then spring arrives. Vegetation starts growing again, birds and other wildlife become increasingly active and the whole lake gradually comes back to life.

The water can also be remarkably clear from late summer through spring, making it easier to see what is normally hidden beneath the surface.

Wildlife, reeds and stories from the lake

Travelling slowly and quietly by Canadian canoe lets us get much closer to the natural environment without the noise of an engine. We may spot water birds, explore the reed beds and observe the changing vegetation along the shoreline.

And, if we are lucky, we may meet one of the fishermen who still knows these waters from personal experience.

Sometimes a chance meeting turns into a conversation. You might hear stories about the time when Lake Varese was still drinkable, and about the people whose lives were closely connected to fishing and the lake.

These encounters cannot be scheduled. That is precisely what makes them special.

And what about the cold?

Being outdoors in autumn and winter may sound less inviting than it actually is.

In a Canadian canoe you stay seated, keep moving with the paddle and remain comfortably on the water. You don't get wet — not even a drop.

There is no need for specialist winter equipment. Dress as you would for a normal walk outdoors, choosing clothing appropriate for the weather that day.

The lake may be cold. The experience doesn't have to be.

Never paddled before?

You don't need any previous canoeing experience.

You can choose a fully guided experience with the instructor in your canoe, or, if you already have the necessary autonomy, paddle independently while the instructor follows you on another craft.

The pace is relaxed. This is not a race or a test of endurance. It is about discovering a landscape that most visitors never get to see from this perspective.

From September through spring, Lake Varese reveals a side that summer simply cannot show you