Private Custom Italy Tours in the Italian Lake District
Just north of Milan is the Italian Lake district, five lovely lakes - Maggiore, Lugano, Como, Iseo and Garda - that together offer anything a tourist might desire. Stunning scenery, with deep lakes set against a backdrop of the Alps; picturesque towns and villages perched on the water's edge; rolling green hills covered with woodlands and olive trees; elegant palazzi surrounded by formal gardens. With the help of boat travel and cable cars, we can cover a lot of ground without a lot of time in the car, visiting island palazzi or enjoying lunch on a mountain top. Spend a day on a remote mountain trek, then relax that evening with an aperitivo on a sunset cruise. Wine lovers can plan visits to some of Italy’s best wine zones - from the sparkling wines of Franciacorta to the reds of Bardolino, or experience firsthand the “heroic” viticulture of Valtellina, home to some of the steepest vineyards in the world. The lakes touch on several regions, so you can experience dishes from Piedmont, Lombardy, Trentino, and the Veneto, featuring many area delicacies, including freshwater fish, excellent Garda olive oil, asparagus from Rogaro and Drezzo, hazelnuts, mountain cheeses, lemons. We’ll have many options to select from as we design an amazing adventure just for you!
Best activities: Walking, hiking and water activities. There are a few places good for cycling, but most of the roads that travel along the lakes are narrow and busy with vehicle traffic, so local expertise is important. A bike path is being constructed around Lake Garda, but it is not complete and is crowded with foot traffic.
Best time of year: April through early June, September and October. July and August are typically busy with tourists, but we know where to go to avoid the crowds. April through early June is the best time to visit the many gardens in this area.
Visiting off-season: Walking tours combined with village visits are possible year round.
Sample itineraries:
We customize each itinerary for each and every group, but these examples will hopefully inspire your own adventure!
Lake District Walking Tour
Longer options: There is plenty to do in the lake district to keep you entertained for 10 days, or even more! We can include a few days in Piedmont, with a day or two in the Barolo area; or a few days to visit the Amarone region and Verona. Or head north with some time in the Alps and Dolomites.
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