A Tibetan thrill on Lake Garda
A rope suspended over the void, two more to act as handrails: the Tibetan bridge – the traditional one – is certainly not an experience for the faint of heart. Step after step over the void, the wind in your ears and the bridge swinging. . . what a fright!
You don’t have to go all the way to Tibet to experience a similar feeling, but in total safety (we hope you do, we love to travel!). Tibetan bridges have become a popular outdoor attraction in Italian parks, and Lake Garda is no exception.
Unlike the traditional Tibetan rope bridge, modern Tibetan bridges are made of secure steel cables stretched over a walkway, also made of steel. So don’t be afraid! The Tibetan bridges we find in the parks are absolutely safe. But we assure you an emotion to remember for a long time.
Did you know that?
Before reaching the Tibetan Bridge of Crero, in Torri del Benaco, here are some curiosities about the Tibetan bridges. Did you know I’m the first form of suspended crossing? The first written reference to these types of bridges is in Han Dynasty documents, in 200 BC, but the origin is much, much older, so much so that – excluding the possibility of pre-Columbian transoceanic contact – the simple suspension bridge must have been invented independently in the Himalayan region and South America in very remote times.
Tibetan Bridge of Crero, Torri del Benaco
Near Torri del Benaco, between Pai di Sopra and Crero, in Val Vanzana, there is a Tibetan bridge 34 metres long and just over one metre wide, suspended in the void at a height of 45 metres. That’s an impression, isn’t it?
Yet it is ideal for an adventurous trip with children, it is safe: the deck is made of non-slip steel grilles and protected on the sides by a very narrow metal mesh.
The swing however is present, and we assure you it is a truly exciting experience!
How to get to the Tibetan Bridge of Crero?
The Tibetan Bridge of Crero was built to connect two important hiking trails, perhaps the most beautiful in the area, namely Cai n. 38 and n. 39. To get to the bridge, it is necessary to take one of these two trails, enjoy the walk among the olive trees of the lake between Malcesine and Garda and reach the “middle path” where There’s the bridge.
We recommend that you start from Pai below, take the path n. 38 and walk along the path for about 50 minutes, until you reach the Tibetan Bridge. The first stretch is paved, but the road soon becomes unpaved and plunges into a beautiful oak grove. Once you get to the bridge, you can cross it and then go back on the same road.
Alternatively, you can reach the village of Crero by car and continue on foot for trail n. 39.
In this case, we recommend you stop to visit the village of Crero, from where you can enjoy a fabulous panoramic view of Lake Garda and maybe stop for lunch in the small restaurant of the village.
For those who love long walks, we recommend a third itinerary: departures from Torri del Benaco towards Pai. At the crossroads for Crero go up on the right, visit the church of San Siro and continue along the dirt road among the olive trees until you reach the bridge. Cross it and then continue on trail 38 towards San Zeno di Montagna. A quick lunch packed (or at the restaurant of San Zeno, why not?) and back down towards Albisano, until you cross the Pilgrim’s Path, where you can also admire the prehistoric rock art engravings, until you return to Crero and then to Torri.
The entire route takes about four hours, with a total difference in altitude of about 600 metres.
We assure you it is worth it!
