Meals included: breakfast

Today’s tour of Lake Como sets off after enjoying breakfast on the edge of the water, on the dining room terrace of our hotel.

Meet at the hotel’s dock the boat captain and our local expert. A private boat ride  is an affordable luxury treat to take in views from the water of Lake  Como, majestic villas, and hamlets surrounded by lush vegetation.

As the local expert shares stories of artists and celebrities who  have been calling home Lake Como for centuries, you get to experience  what La Dolce Vita is all about.

Our Lake Como, Piedmont & Portofino Tour includes the tour of the perfectly manicured gardens of one of these villas before arriving in the town center of Bellagio.

A slow-paced Tour of Lake Como

Our tour of Lake Como is relaxed, letting guests enjoy the vibe of  the place at their own pace. Our guide suggests the best options for an al-fresco lunch in Bellagio and things to do, from hiking to shopping in artisan stores specializing in leather, silk, and jewelry.

In the afternoon we cross the lake with our boat up to the town of Varenna for a picture of its steep flights of steps descending from the upper piazza where we may grab a gelato.

Back at the hotel, enjoy a free evening. For dinner, our guide can  recommend different dining options and book a table on your behalf.

 Meals included: breakfast, dinner

Today you can experience Lake Como at your own pace. Maybe you simply  prefer to have a late breakfast and stroll around your hotel, enjoying  people-watching.

Maybe you want to follow our guide on a hiking trail overlooking the lake or hire a private driver for a day trip to the city of Como where elegant shopping and cozy lunch options await.

A more packed option is the full-day trip to Switzerland, all the way  to St. Moritz. We encourage guests to inquire at the time of booking so  that it can be considered by all group members who can benefit from  splitting the cost of driving about two hours to get there. You can  stretch your legs along pristine alpine lakes and get lunch in St.  Moritz before riding the Bernina Express, one of the most scenic train rides in the world flanking glaciers!

Our guide is there to assist you.

In any case, tonight we can admire the lake from a higher perspective as we partake in a dinner in a traditional restaurant located on the slopes of the mountain overlooking Lake Como.

 Meals included: breakfast, light lunch, dinner

This morning say goodbye to Lake Como as we drive through the plains  of the Po River valley and arrive in the wine region of Piedmont. Our  first stop is on the Monferrato Hills, in the countryside near Asti.

Our tour of Northwest Italy takes you to visit the aging cellar of a cheese refiner, an offbeat experience in the heart of Piedmont. 

Follow this passionate artisan for a narration of this rare craft  focused on elevating the flavor and texture of cheese. This is not an  ordinary dairy farm tour but a fascinating art brought from  France. Learn more about the cheese refiner and his craft on our blog.

Partake in a guided tasting of 12 types of cheese paired with jams, honey, wine, and a hot plate.

Lake Como, Piedmont, Portofino Tour gets to the Wine Region

This afternoon check in at the next luxury boutique hotel set on the hills  of Piedmont’s wine region, where idyllic vineyards are dotted with  farmhouses and hilltop villages. Take a break by the hotel’s pool or  hike in the countryside before heading out again for a special treat.

Tonight a short drive gets us to a memorable fine dining experience  for a dive into one of the most appreciated regional cuisines of Italy. A  full-tasting menu is included in a renowned Michelin-star restaurant  in the Langhe Hills, with a sequence of traditional courses wisely  prepared and unexpected food pairings that will stimulate your senses.

Meals included: breakfast

We explore in a comfortable van the most scenic wine routes of the  Langhe Hills. This is where Nebbiolo grapes are grown to be aged in oak  and become Barolo wine.

Our Lake Como, Piedmont & Portofino Tour  today takes  you to see this unique landscape of hilltop villages and castles nestled  amongst vineyards, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

We visit a boutique wine cellar for a premium tasting of Nebbiolo and  Barolo wines coming from different vineyards with contrasting soil  facts.

From Lake Como to Portofino: a day in Piedmont’s Wine Region

On our 9-day tour from Lake Como to Portofino, guests spend three  days on the hills of Piedmont’s wine region. Today is all about wine  tastings and our guide is on hand for lunch suggestions in one of the  villages of the Langhe Hills.

Get a closer look at one of the most scenic landscapes of Italy and decide to join an optional stroll through the vineyards.

In the afternoon we meet another winemaker set in the Barbaresco  territory for a deeper understanding of the different shades that  Nebbiolo grapes can get depending on the hillside where they are grown.

Back at the hotel, dinner is on your own.

 Meals included: breakfast and dinner

After a delicious breakfast with local specialties and the best Italian cappuccino, Lake Como, Piedmont & Portofino Tour continues to the woods of the Langhe Hills, in southern Piedmont.

We meet a personable truffle hunter and a friendly dog for a lecture on how to unearth truffles from  the rich soil of Piedmont. As we walk in the woods the secrets of this  wise and ancient activity are unraveled and depending on the season,  summer black or white truffles may be found, however the activity is not  staged.

Cooking Class in Alba, a Foodies’ Heaven

Next stop is the charming town of Alba which boasts medieval towers,  an imposing Cathedral, and food stores selling truffle products, fancy  bakeries, and historic coffee and chocolate cafés.

Enjoy lunch on your own and some free time before regrouping and meeting a friendly local host in her private kitchen.

The full hands-on cooking class is a complete course  centered on several traditional recipes and it provides plenty of facts  and information about local ingredients. The cuisine of Piedmont  features a rich array of starters, as known as “antipasti”, paper-thin egg pasta used for small ravioli called plin or for “tajarin”, succulent beef slowly cooked in wine, and desserts made with hazelnuts and chocolate.

The day ends with dinner where guests can taste the results of their afternoon in the kitchen.

Meals included: breakfast and light lunch

Our small group tour to Lake Como, Piedmont & Portofino today arrives on the Italian Riviera.

After a scenic drive from the hills of Piedmont to the Liguria region, crossing the Apennine mountains, the bright colors of the Mediterranean will unfold.

The gentle flights of stairs connecting the upper main road of Camogli to the sea level take us to the picturesque harbor framed by the colorful fishermen’s former houses. 

Here, follow your tour manager on a tasteful food crawl, hopping in some of the best local bakeries for a tasting of the most famous focaccia of Italy. As locals do, enjoy a slice of thin focaccia stuffed with creamy cheese and the softer Genovese style topped with caramelized onions.

San Fruttuoso, Portofino’s Bay and Santa Margherita Ligure, gems of the Italian Riviera

 Around 1 pm, board a private boat ***  and sail from Camogli to the preserved Natural Park of Portofino, spotting colorful villas built on the rocky coastline, private inlets, and with some luck, dolphins swimming in the dark blue water of the Ligurian Sea.

Take pictures of the arched windows of the Abbey of San Fruttuoso, a former Benedictine monastery built in the 10th century, standing in a small bay reachable only on foot or by boat.

Weather permitting, guests can decide to swim off the boat.

We continue to Portofino and its world-famous bay dotted with luxury yachts. Take a stroll among high-end fashion shops, sip a cocktail in one of the exclusive cafés or follow the tour manager on a 20-minute hike to the lighthouse, through peaceful olive orchards, blooms, and private gardens.

The last leg of our private boat trip on the Italian Riviera leads us to Santa Margherita Ligure, a popular beach resort with a long waterfront promenade and luxury hotels.

Check-in and relax in a sea-view room that you can call home for the next two nights. Our guide can recommend the best seafood restaurants in town for tonight’s dinner on your own.

*** In case of rough sea conditions,  for everyone’s safety and well-being, the boat ride will be replaced by  another land-based activity, without the abbey of San Fruttuoso. No  refunds will be given.

Meals included: breakfast and dinner

The last day of our small-group tour in Northwest Italy is all about Cinque Terre.

Our guide will take care of all the logistic details to visit these  villages which can only be reached by train or boat, subject to sea  conditions.  

We visit Monterosso and Vernazza and, time permitting, Manarola.

Let’s get an insider look at the National Park of Cinque Terre with its citrus orchards and terraced vineyards overlooking the Mediterranean.

Back at our hotel, we celebrate the end of this Lake Como, Piedmont & Portofino Tour with a farewell dinner in a traditional restaurant and we toast until we meet again!

Meals included: breakfast

The Lake Como, Piedmont & Portofino Tour is almost over  as your driver takes you back to Milan airport. Enjoy some extra  glimpses of northwest Italy as we say goodbye until next time.