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Italian Lake District

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For 2023 all small group tours will be available as private custom-made trips.
For more information do not hesitate to get in touch with us: info@localwonderstravel.com

9 days

Small groups
10 maximum

Local Leader

Tour departs with 2 participants*

Language: English

From €2,295

Description

Breath-taking sceneries on water and mountains, elegant villas and a relaxing atmosphere: these are only some of the ingredients making the Italian Lake District a place you will fall in love with. Starting from Milan, the Italian fashion capital, you will explore Lake Como and its magnificent villas, enjoy a stunning scenery and top-quality food tasting on Lake Garda, wander in the elegant Verona centre and finish in the romantic Venice.
A small group of travellers and a professional local leader (who’ll become your local friend) are the perfect way to discover the Italian Lake District.

Start: Milan
End: Venice
Age: Min 12

*In the rare event the minimum number is not reached, and only if the tour is cancelled by LocalWonders Travel, you can opt for one of the following options:
– chose a new departure at no additional cost
– have the tour turned into a private tailor-made tour  (itinerary or price modifications might occur)
– the amount paid can be fully refund.
LocalWonders Travel can decide to run the tour even if the minimum number is not reached. In this case the traveller cannot ask for a refund or to turn the tour into a tailor-made tour.

Itinerary

What makes this tour a unique experience?

  • Explore Lake Maggiore, Lake Como, Lake Garda, Verona and Venice like a local. Your local leader will take you on “Like a Local” walks where you’ll see the unmatched beauty and mystery of these cities from an authentic (local) point of view.
  • You’ll see Lake Maggiore, Lake Como and Lake Garda from the privileged point of view of a ferry, that will allow you to admire the beauty if these lakes as well as to hop-on and off to explore their picturesque hamlets. Your local leader will assist you in this exploration.
  • You’ll taste the best products produced on Lake Garda in during a scenic electric-bike ride.
  • Our accommodations are centrally located, high-quality and comfortable.

All of our LocalWonders Travel tours include a passionate expert local leader who will become your “local friend”, opening up for you the most authentic side of Italy. Our local leaders are professional and knowledgeable and take pride in providing hassle-free experiences for our guests.

Is this the tour I want?

Though no specific training or fitness level is required for this tour, there are a few things we suggest considering when choosing your LocalWonders Travel experience.

Train is one of the best and fastest means of transport in Italy (up to 300 km per hour!). Travelling by train gets you to where you’re going quickly, but allows you to relax, have fun, and socialize while you take in the beauty of the Italian landscape. On this tour we’ll do lots of our travelling by train. Anyway upon arrival in a new destination on this tour, a taxi will take you to the next hotel.

At LocalWonders Travel we pride ourselves on providing tours that allow our guests to explore cities by foot. Why? Because we believe that exploring by foot is the best way to get an authentic Italian experience. Sometimes we explore for up to three or four hours at a time. We do this at a relaxed and comfortable pace, stopping to rest once-in-a-while to enjoy an espresso or gelato, and promise that you’ll have a wonderful time, but guests should note that walking is a big part of our trips!

On our tours we stay in carefully-selected high-quality and comfortable accommodations. Accommodation arrangements for single travellers during our trips include an en-suite twin room, shared with a fellow single traveller of the same sex. However, if you’d prefer a single room to enjoy during your trip, you can purchase a “single supplement” (your own room).

If you are in pursuit of an authentic trip, planned and managed by local professionals with an informal and friendly style without foregoing professionalism and supreme quality, then you are in the right place.

Book your authentic experiences and discover the real Italy!

What is included:

  • The assistance of a professional local leader for the entire trip
  • Accommodation: comfortable and high-quality “3-Star Superior” boutique hotels
  • “Like a Local” walk in Lake Maggiore, Como, Bellagio, Lake Garda, Verona and Venice
  • Ferry boat ride on Lake Maggiore, Lake Como and Lake Garda
  • Villa Carlotta entrance on Lake Como
  • Ride and taste exclusive experience on Lake Garda (e-bike provided)
  • Several meals, including:
    – 8 breakfasts
    – 2 dinners
    – 1 tasting of local product on Lake Garda
  • All trains and busses between cities
  • Taxi to/from hotel in Florence as described in the daily itinerary
  • All hotel daily city taxes

What’s extra?

The following items are not included in the tour cost:

  • Flights
  • Single Supplement” (but you can add this!)
  • Anything that is not specified to be included

Gallery

Book your authentic experiences and discover the real Italy!

Itinerary

DAY 1: MILAN

Benvenuto in Italia! Welcome to Italy. Your Italian Lake District trip begins in the sophisticated Milan, the fashion capital of Itay. Your tour starts at 6:00pm with a Welcome Meeting where you’ll meet your local leader and fellow travellers. (Upon arrival at the hotel you’ll find a note telling you where this welcome meeting will take place.) Following the meeting, you’ll discover one of Italy’s most famous wonders – the food! The group will enjoy a special welcome dinner at a local restaurant in Milan city centre.

What’s included?

  • Accommodation: Gran Duca di York or similar
  • Daily city tax
  • Meal: Welcome Dinner

DAY 2: LAKE MAGGIORE

After a rich breakfast you’ll travel by train to reach the first lake of your adventure: Lake Maggiore. Famous for its islands and elegant gardens Lake Maggiore is the second biggest lake in Italy and the top part belongs to Switzerland. You’ll arrive in Stresa, one of the most exclusive village on Lake Maggiore and after the check-in you can start exploring the lake. Your tour director will be there to assist you and give you plenty of option on what to do. Have a relaxing stroll along the river banks, hop on the funicular taking you to the top of Mottarone Mountain or go to Isola Bella and visit Palazzo Borromeo – here the ingenuity and the work of men transformed an arid and rocky island in a garden considered one of the most beautiful in the world.

What’s included?

  • Accommodation: Hotel Palma or similar
  • Daily city tax
  • Meal: Breakfast
  • Taxi from hotel to train station in Milan and Stresa
  • Train from Milan to Stresa
  • Ferry ticket on Lake Maggiore

How long is the trip today?
Approx. 1 hour train ride from Milano to Stresa.

DAY 3: LAKE COMO

Smile at the morning sun reflecting on the blue water of Lake Maggiore and get ready for the next lake. In the morning you will travel by train to Lake Como (there will be one connection in Milan), where you will arrive approximately at noon. After the check-in and some time at your leisure for lunch, your tour director will take you for a like a local walk of Como, one of the most elegant towns built on the lake banks.

What’s included?

  • Accommodation: Albergo Firenze or similar (Como)
  • Daily city tax
  • Meals: Breakfast
  • Taxi from Hotel to train station in Stresa and Como
  • Train from Stresa to Como

How long is the trip today?
Approx. 1 hour train ride from Stresa to Milan.

Approx. 40 minutes train ride from Milan to Como.

DAY 4: LAKE COMO, FERRY RIDE AND VILLA CARLOTTA

Lake Como is synonym of beauty, picturesque hamlets and villas. Today your tour director will take you on a panoramic ferry ride on the lake. You will get off in Tremezzo, where you will visit the magnificent Villa Carlotta – an opulent villa overlooking the lake, built in the 17th century and now open to the public. After the visit your tour director will take you to the beautiful and exclusive village of Bellagio where you will have time at your leisure. You can visit the picturesque village of Varenna or the elegant Villa Melzi gardens where you can spot several rare and exotic plants and flowers. In the afternoon meet your tour director back in Bellagio to take the fast ferry back to Como.

What’s included?

  • Accommodation: Albergo Firenze or similar (Como)
  • Daily city tax
  • Meal: Breakfast
  • Villa Carlotta entrance
  • Daily ticket for the ferry on Lake Como
  • Bellagio stroll

DAY 5: LAKE GARDA, FERRY RIDE AND BARDOLINO/GARDA

The third lake of your adventure is Lake Garda, the biggest Italian lake and probably formed by the action of a Paleolithic glacier. You’ll reach Desenzano del Garda by train and after the check-in and some time at your leisure for lunch, your tour director will take you exploring the southern part of the lake. You will enjoy a scenic ferry ride and get off in one of the stunning and unique villages of the Lake Garda. Wandering the little alleyways of the villages, sipping an aperitif by the lake or strolling along the elegant lake banks you will fall in love with this magical place.

What’s included?

  • Accommodation: Hotel Nazionale or similar
  • Daily city tax
  • Meal: breakfast
  • Taxi from Hotel to train station in Como and Desenzano
  • Train from Como to Milan
  • Train from Milan to Desenzano
  • Lake Garda ferry ticket
  • Lake Garda like a local walk

How long is the trip today?
Approx. 40 minutes train ride from Como to Milan.

Approx. 50 minutes train ride from Milan to Desenzano.

DAY 6: LAKE GARDA (RIDE AND TASTE)

Lake Garda is a rich treasure chest to open and enjoy. Today you will hop on an electric bike and follow an expert guide for an exciting ride and taste tour with several stops for pictures and local products tasting). You will discover some secrets spot from where enjoying beautiful scenery and you will taste excellent food produced by the local famers. You don’t need to have special riding skills: the itinerary will be easy to follow, mainly flat and enjoyable to ride. And the few times where the street goes gently up, the electric bike will make you go without any effort.

What’s included?

  • Accommodation: Hotel Nazionale or similar
  • Daily city tax
  • Meal: breakfast
  • Lake Garda electric bike tour and tasting of local products

DAY 7: VERONA (NIGHT IN DESENZANO DEL GARDA)

In the morning you will travel by train to the sensational Verona. This town inspired Shakespeare who set three of his plays here: Romeo and Juliet, The two gentlemen of Verona and The Taming of the Shew. Join your tour director in an exciting like a local walk to discover the elegant and fascinating hidden corners of Verona, named UNESCO World Heritage because of its structure and architecture. You will then have some time at your leisure to wander among the rich artistic heritage of Verona, including the wonderful Arena, an amphitheater built by the Romans, that now used as the Opera House for the Verona lyrical season. You’ll be back to Desenzano del Garda in the late afternoon.

What’s included?

    • Accommodation: Hotel Nazionale or similar
    • Daily city tax
    • Meal: breakfast
    • Train from Desenzano to Verona and back
    • Verona like a local walk

DAY 8: VENICE

We will start the morning travelling at 300 km/h aboard the high-speed train connecting Lake Garda to Venice. Venice is like jumping into a dream where little alleys and canals form a fascinating maze in the lagoon and the elegance of centuries-old palaces is mirrored in the water. After the check-in and some free time for lunch your tour director will take you for a “Like a Local” walk where you’ll mingle with locals, hear curious stories and see the authentic side of this fascinating city built on the water. We’ll cross the Canal Grande like the Venetians do, walk along calli (alleys) and campielli (small squares) and after taking a few hidden twists and turns we’ll arrive in San Mark Square. In the evening we’ll gather at a special local restaurant to enjoy an exquisite Venetian meal as our farewell dinner.

What’s included? What’s not included

  • Accommodation: Hotel Ca’ Pozzo Inn or similar
  • Daily city tax
  • Meal: Breakfast, farewell dinner
  • Taxi hotel to train station in Desenzano
  • Train from Desenzano to Venice
  • “Like a Local” walk of Venice

What’s not included

  • Museum entrance

How long is the trip today?
Approx. 1.5 hour train ride from Desenzano to Venice.

DAY 9: VENICE (DEPARTURE DAY)

Our tour has come to the end. We hope you’ll have had the time of your life! Enjoy one more Italian coffee with its unforgettable aroma, and then head towards your flight home (or your next destination). Arrivederci!

What’s included? 

  • Meal: Breakfast

Important note for Day 9

Our tour ends with breakfast. There are no activities planned for today. If you need help in organizing your airport transfer or purchasing train tickets, just ask. Your tour director will be happy to help you in making these arrangements. Note: If possible, plan for and purchase transportation to the airport a few days in advance – organizing same-day travel can be difficult.

Book your authentic experiences and discover the real Italy!

Italian Lake District Tour Notes

Click below for the “Tour Notes” – everything you’ll need to know about this tour before you book.

Tour notes