There aren’t many places that remain as unspoiled and full of surprises as Val Camonica in eastern Lombardy, Italy. With so much information online, it's rare to stumble upon lesser-known roads and hidden mountain passes, as you'll find in this valley.

The valley traces the course of the Oglio River from Brescia to Ponte di Legno, meandering between the two provinces whose capitals – Brescia and Bergamo – jointly hold the title of Italian Capital of Culture this year. This area is a natural treasure trove waiting to be explored.

While many have traversed the Crocedomini Pass, very few have approached it from the Maniva Pass along an old military route, which is mostly unpaved. Even if you're familiar with the Orobian Pre-Alps, you might be unfamiliar with the term ‘Scalve Dolomites’, the region at the base of Presolana and Vivione. Gavia, Tonale and Mortirolo passes lie on the magnificent Oglio cycle route – a cyclist’s paradise with ancient wooden bridges. Follow its natural path until it meets the king of rivers – the Po.

Thanks to this Collection, you can explore this uncharted territory in search of these obscure and unconventional routes – beyond the typical maps and usual trails. In Val Camonica, you can truly lose yourself.

(Adapted for Komoot from part of the text of ‘Alvento Destinations 02’, a book featuring a dozen unconventional travel ideas across Italy. You can order your copy here: alvento.cc/prodotto/destinations-italy-unknown-2/).