Has anyone done a self guided hike in the Lake Como - Lake Maggiore region and would like to impart some information. Is it easy to set up hotels? Are the trails well marked like in Switzerland? Would most hikes be point to point or would it be best to base at a single spot for three to four nights. As you can see, I have many questions and few answers. I'm looking for a lower cost, less organised trip than Backroads et al, and thought that it may be relatively easy to set one up myself.

My neighbors used Girasole. We plan to use them in the future.
http://girosole.com/italy-tours.html

Thanks for the link. They look good. Certainly gives the choices of accomodations without the pricing of some of the other tours. I am still hoping to do it more "hands on". Book the hotels, identify the trails, figure out baggage transfer and maybe hire a local guide specifically for each day.
Am I craaaaazzzyyy? Should I take the tried and proven method or have out group of four head out on our own.

ttt

I don't think things in Italy are as well-organized, trails as well-marked, etc., as you'd find in Switzerland which looks on trekking/hiking as a near religion.

I'd call one of the tour companies and just ask them about conditions and how easy/difficult it would be to do this on your own. I realize they'll want to sign you up for one of their tours, but they might give you some info to start from. You could also try contacting/emailing the office of tourism for Lombardy or calling an Italian consulate in the U.S.

Lastly, there is a Sunflower book on the Italian lakes. They have published several excellent books on hiking in other parts of Italy and elsewhere in Europe, but I don't know whether the Italian lakes book would give you the detailed info you're looking for.

Yikes!
So I'm assuming no one has doen this on their own. We have done the Swiss Alps and it was fairly easy. I guess I'll start with the various Tourism offices or maybe a local hotel.

If you can find an email address for the Tourist Info office in Varenna, I'd add them to my recommended list. It's very helpful office, and there is hiking out of Varenna. There is also a TI office in Bellagio, but I haven't found the staff there to be quite as helpful.

See if this helps...

http://tinyurl.com/3dr2os