Italy: Lakes District

We meet today at our hotel on Lake Maggiore in Stresa and enjoy a late afternoon stroll around this famous town. This evening, we’ll gather for introductions before walking to our inaugural dinner together.

Today we walk through little towns and a lush forest to the Alpinia Botanical Garden, where we’ll spend the morning enjoying the grounds. After lunch, we ride the gondola to the top of Mount Mottarone for a walk around the summit and some great views of Lake Maggiore and Lake Orta below. After returning to Stresa mid-afternoon you’ll have time to walk along the lake and visit one of the town’s most interesting spots, the Parco di Villa Pallavicino. Dinner is on your own tonight. Today’s walk: 4 hours.

After breakfast we’ll enjoy a boat ride in the Borromean gulf and visit its most famous island, Isola Bella. Then it’s back to Stresa for a walk near Lake Maggiore to the village of Magognino. There, we’ll enjoy lunch together at a family-run agriturismo with a chance to taste of many local specialties. This afternoon you can choose between walking to the village of Belgirate or taking the shuttle back to Stresa. Dinner is on your own this evening. Today’s walk: 3-4 hours.

We leave Lake Maggiore behind this morning. Our first stop is at Lake Orta. There we’ll take a boat to the island of San Giulio, where we’ll visit the medieval basilica dedicated the island’s namesake. We’ll also visit the sacred Monte di Orta, a hilltop sanctuary built in 1500 A.D. After lunch, we shuttle to Bellagio on beautiful Lake Como, where we will arrive late afternoon. Dinner is together tonight. Today’s walk: 1-3 hours.

This morning we take a boat to the small village of Menaggio. From there we enjoy a loop walk along the Sanagra River with breathtaking views of Lake Como. We’ll arrive back in Menaggio early afternoon, so you’ll have plenty of time to explore this charming village before we catch our boat back to Bellagio mid-afternoon. Today’s walk: 4 hours.

Today we walk through the small fishing villages around Bellagio to the hilltop village of Suira. From there we’ll enjoy magnificent views of the three branches of Lake Como with alpine foothills in the distance. Enjoy the afternoon in Bellagio. Dinner together tonight. Today’s walk: 2 hours.

We say goodbye to Lake Como this morning as we head for Lake Garda. We begin with a boat ride across Lake Como to the charming town of Varenna. Once there, we’ll walk to the 11th-century castle of Vezio and then continue on to source of the Fiumelatte River—at 250 meters one of the shortest rivers in the world. After a picnic lunch, we’ll shuttle on to Lake Garda. Enjoy a stroll along the passeggiata before dinner together. Today’s walk: 2 hours.

We head to the lake town of Malcesine this morning, where a gondola takes us up 5,800 feet to the top of Monte Baldo. Our walk leads us through mulattiere e malghe – mule trails and old shepherd dwellings – all the while discovering the beauty of the Venetian Alps. Dinner is on your own tonight. Today’s walk: 3-4 hours.

After a short walk this morning, we leave the Lake District behind and head to Verona, setting of Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet. Only Venice rivals Verona in terms of artistic importance in the Veneto region. We’ll introduce you to this charming city with a walk around town this afternoon, then you are on your own to explore more of the city sights. We’ll celebrate the end of our journey this evening with a farewell dinner together.

After breakfast you are free to spend more time in Verona. Or perhaps you might head to Venice - only one hour away. Arrivederci!