Orta San Giulio day tour or on my own?

I visited Orta San Giulio as part of a Rick Steves tour. We were there one night on the tour which ended there and we added another night which was too much. I had not done enough research ahead but we did a boat ride on the lake and saw the island on the arrival afternoon (as a group) and probably could have done the Sacra Monte if we'd gotten right on it. We did it the next morning and then we were pretty much done.

I hate to be a Debbie Downer but I didn't think it was that terrific that I would go thru all those gyrations to visit. YMMV.

It did have the best pear sorbetto I have ever eaten at the gelateria on the plaza by the boat docks.

I've also been to Orta San Guilio at the end of a RS trip and also spent an extra day there after our tour ended. Was decidedly unimpressed. Wouldn't spend the time nor the money to visit there again.

I have a different opinion. I thought it was beautiful, day and night, the nicest of the villages I visited during my visit to the lake region. The island is tiny but gorgeous, I think I did short 5 laps followed by some reading by the waterfront. In Orta itself, a hike up and around the Sacro Monte on a beautiful day, a nice walk along the riverside path going north, a few atmospheric backstreets. I can't remember the name of it but during the day we ate in a tiny backstreet wine tavern with a large wine selection but serving only two dishes heated by microwave. They were both very tasty.

Thanks Pam, Patricia, and Gundersen for your honest replies!

I guess I will just have to go there and decide for myself ;-)

Gelato is always on my radar when traveling in Italy so will definitely try the pear gelato! Thanks Pam!

Gundersen, I look forward to visiting Sacro Monte and the tiny Island of San Giulio!

I'm on my laptop now so I could look up the full name of the gelateria.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g187854-d4883009-Reviews-Gelateria_artigianale_Eliot-Orta_San_Giulio_Province_of_Novara_Piedmont.html

On the first day he had a fig sorbet which I didn't get. I should have because the next day it was all gone. He said he had used the last of the figs from the tree in his yard for the batch the day before!!

Gosh - I love Lake Orta. I walked a long way around the edge of the lake, wandered thru the town a couple time. I also extended the RS tour 1 day. Enjoyed Sacre Monte...... very relaxing day at the end of my RS Village Italy tour.
I guess it depends on each person's choices.
Hope you have a great trip.

Pam, Thanks for looking up the name of the gelateria, I will definitely search for it when I'm there! Fig sorbet sound yummy!

Frances, I'm so glad to hear that you loved Lake Orta. Thanks for the good wishes!