Lago della Manzina, Ortler-Cevedale Group by Kieran Cunningham

Lago della Manzina, Ortler-Cevedale Group

A short drive from the ski and spa resort town of Bormio, the Santa Caterina Valfurva road arrives at a car park in the heart of the Ortler-Cevedale group. A trail heading north climbs steeply for two or three hours before arriving at what is surely one of the most beautiful alpine lakes in the world – Lago della Manzina.

The lake’s relative remoteness means nobody is going to catch you camping here, so you can sleep easy and take in the views without worrying about any overly diligent rangers spoiling your fun. And the views are really quite something. Pitched on the north side of the lake, you will look back across to the mighty, snow and ice-covered Punta di San Matteo (3,678m), the Forni glacier and the imposing Pizzo Tresero (3,594m).