Lake District Walking Tour - Discovering the Lovely Lakes of Northern Italy

Join Italiaoutdoors Food and Wine as we explore the Italian Lake district. Stunning scenery, with deep lakes set against a backdrop of the Alps, provides many wonderful, diverse activities for visitors. We visit Lago Maggiore, staying in picturesque lakeside resort towns popular with rich and famous of the 19th-century, traveling to explore the lovely little Borromean Islands, dotted with grand summer palaces, and the "fishermen’s isle" of Isola dei Pescatori. With the help of boat travel and cable cars, we can enjoy a day of alpine trekking followed by a mountain top lunch with views of Switzerland, then the nest day spend hopping from Bellagio to Varenna to Menaggio on Lake Como. The lakes touch on several regions, and with climates that range from Mediterranean to sub-Alpine you can experience delicacies from freshwater fish, lemons and olive oil to alpine cheeses and hazelnuts. Wine lovers can enjoy the sparkling wines from Franciacorta, or the Nebbiolo based reds from the historic steep vineyards of Valtellina.

Join Kathy and Vernon of Italiaoutdoors Food and Wine on an intimate walking tour of the Lake District, as we experience the history, natural beauty, local culture and traditional cuisine. This area, with deep, glacier-formed lakes dropped in between the mountains offers so much to explore, from mountain hikes to island hopping, lakeside resorts to quiet woodland walks.

Why explore the region with us? Our owners, Kathy and Vernon, personally research and design your tour. Vernon is trained mountain guide with degrees in literature and Italian history - he leads the daily excursions that reveal both the best scenic vistas of this area along with its fascinating historical footprint. Kathy is a trained chef and Italian Wine Professional, and she crafts a culinary footprint to complement.

Our tours are never outsourced to hired guides; Vernon and Kathy will personally lead your tour. Our goal is to give you the best of both worlds - the knowledge base, planning and safety of a guided tour with the freedom to explore, be spontaneous, and ability to relax the pace that comes with independent travel.

Lake District Walking Tour

To begin your adventure, email Kathy, so we can provide more detail, answer any question, learn about your personal travel style, your interests, and assist with pre- and post-tour travel.

Our seven day/six night Lake District adventure in Italy:  

2022 Dates: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to add your preferred dates.

$4295 USD per person, double occupancy. Other price points are available.

We customize the week for the activity level and interests of your group, from fitness walks to more casual strolls, cooking classes and winery visits. Pick your dates and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.!

A few highlights of our Lake District walking tours:

Spending a full week exploring the Lakes of Northern Italy - Maggiore, Lugano, Como, Iseo and Garda - enjoying coastline, small islands, woodlands and mountains.
Lago d'Orta, less famous than its larger sisters, this secluded jewel of a lake just a mile wide is overlooked by most tourists. We will visit Isola San Giulio, home to a 12th-century basilica and a 19th-century seminary-turned-monastery.
Two nights in Stresa, with its lakeside promenade and terracotta-roofed villas with spectacular garden. No wonder Hemingway spent so much time in this lovely spot!
A day or more visiting the small islands of Lake Maggiore, the Isola Borromean. From the spectacular villa and gardens of Isola Bella and Isola Madre, to the traditional fishermen of Isola Superiore dei Pescatori, each island has its own unique, unforgettable personality.
Two nights in Bellagio, with its enviable location on a promontory jutting out into the middle of Lake Como, is often called the Pearl of Como. A picturesque place to end our busy days, its strategic location is perfect for exploring by boat or by foot.
Daily tastings of the very local foods and wines.
The cuisine of Lombardia and Piedmont - freshwater fish, excellent Garda olive oil, asparagus from Rogaro and Drezzo, hazelnuts, mountain cheeses, lemons.
A private winery tour and tasting, to learn firsthand about the indigenous wines of this area, from sparking Franciacorta to the full-bodied Sforzato di Valtellina,
A hands-on cooking class (or two) with a local chef who will teach us the secrets behind traditional Lombardy dishes.

Our tour includes:

Limited to 8 participants maximum
6 nights accommodations at 3+ star hotels
All ground transfers
Daily guided walks or other guided activities
All breakfasts, snacks on the road as we walk, 3 dinners; welcome and farewell dinners, plus a dinner cooking class, all dinners include local wines
Daily food and wine tastings
Hands on cooking class
All tips, gratuities, and local taxes
Any entry fees to museums, villas, other venues we may visit
Services of Kathy and Vernon throughout the trip

To receive a detailed itinerary, ask any question, or to sign up, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We personally work with each and every guest to make sure our trip is customized to your abilities and preferences. We're also happy just to chat, and hear how you would like to travel.