The Italian Lakes and Lombardy Tour

Join this fabulous small group tour and spend 14 delightful days travelling through Milan, Bergamo, Lake Maggiore and Lake Como.    

6 – 19 June 2024 

9,390 AUD per person (double/twin-share)
10,490 AUD per person (solo traveller)

This small-group tour (max 12 guests) begins in the vibrant city of Milan, the capital of the Lombardy region and the style capital of the Italian fashion world. In Milan, we see some of the major sites; the Duomo, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, and some of the less famous sites like Sant’Ambrogio church and the Poldo Pezzoli museum. 

We explore some magical lakes, staying on the famous Lakes Como and Maggiore and visiting the lesser-known but equally beautiful Lakes Orta and Iseo. We also stay in the charming medieval town of Bergamo. With private boat trips, guided tours in many locations,    exclusive visits to wineries and producers, meals in carefully selected, authentic restaurants, and long stays in each location, this is the best way to see this wonderful area of Italy. 

We stay in just four bases on this tour with three nights in Milan, three nights in Bergamo, three nights in Verbania on Lake Maggiore, and four nights in Bellagio, on Lake Como.

The minimum group size is 6 and the maximum is 12.

• Guided walking tour to see the mains attractions in Milan 
• Medieval Bergamo with its beautiful piazza and interesting boutiques and restaurants 
• A visit to the award-winning, family-run Al Rocol vineyard in the Franciacorta region to learn about (and try!) this important champagne-style wine
• Private visits to the Villa Carlotta and Villa Balbianello on the shores of Lake Como 
• Private tour of Lake Como on luxury boat 
• Our time spent on the Italian Lakes and, in particular, heavenly Bellagio!
• The slightly OTT opulence of Isola Bella on Lake Maggiore 
• Delicious meals, many of them in Slow Food restaurants

Itinerary 

Day 1 – Arrive in Milan
The tour begins in Milan, where you can check into the hotel during the day to rest up for the excitement ahead or get a head start on the sightseeing and shopping. A private transfer from Milan’s Malpensa or Linate airports is included. We meet in the early evening for aperitivi and the chance to watch the Milanese fashionistas doing la passeggiata (the Italian promenade) before we enjoy a welcome dinner at a local trattoria.
Overnight: Milan

Day 2 – Central Milan
We begin our tour in the fashion capital of Italy, but before we start considering Italian designer ‘investment’ pieces, we’ll spend some time acquainting ourselves with the centre of Milan and visiting some of the major attractions.
Our morning walking tour will take us to visit the Duomo, the second-largest gothic church in the world, with its famous facade covered in sculptures. We will walk through one of the most beautiful shopping arcades in the world, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuelle II, and see La Scala, the opera house that is home to some of the most famous operas that have shaped musical history.
In the afternoon, we visit the Museo Poldo Pezzoli, a fascinating house- museum showcasing one man’s extensive collection of art and artefacts
Overnight: Milan

Day 3 – More Milan
This morning, we will explore some of Milan’s lesser-known attractions, including the stunning Renaissance frescoes in San Maurizio, the Castello Sforzesco and the Brera district.
The afternoon is free time for you to stock up your wardrobe or visit one or two of Milan’s art galleries or museums, whose collections rival those of Florence and Rome.
Overnight: Milan

Day 4 – Towards Bergamo
Today we leave Milan for Bergamo, but there is something important to see before head to our new base – The Certosa di Pavia. It is one of the most impressive monasteries in the whole of Italy and was built as a mausoleum for the Visconti family.
In the afternoon we head to our new base in Bergamo –  where we will check in to our hotel in the medieval part of the town.
Overnight: Bergamo

Day 5 – Bergamo
We’ll spend our first morning discovering the marvels of this hilltop city. Its gargantuan walls have preserved some stunning medieval and renaissance buildings and art and at the same time spared it from being overwhelmed by tourism. After a guided walking tour in the morning, the afternoon is free for you to relax. The città alta (or high city) where we are staying is the old medieval part of the city. Some people might like to walk or get the funicular down to the città bassa to see the more modern city that flourished in the early 1900s.
Overnight: Bergamo

Day 6 – Lake Iseo and Wine tasting in the Franciacorta
This morning we head out to the Franciacorta region, a little know wine-growing region that produces an excellent wine n the champenoise style. We will visit a family-run cantina, to learn how the wine is made, and of course to taste it!
After lunch we meander along the shores of two of Italy’s lesser known yet equally beautiful lakes, Iseo and Endine.  We’ll follow the stunning lakeside back to Bergamo, stopping for coffee and photo breaks as required. 
Overnight: Bergamo

Day 7 – Monza and on to Lake Maggiore
Today, we say farewell to Bergamo and take the road towards Lake Maggiore.
It’s not much of a detour to Monza, where a local guide will show us around the centre, visiting the Duomo and the Chapel of Theodelinda, home to the “Iron Crown of Lombardy,” created in the early Middle Ages. The Iron Crown is purportedly the oldest Royal insignia in Christendom and was used to crown the Holy Roman Emperor for centuries.
After lunch, we will drive on to our new base in Verbania in time to enjoy “la passegiata” – an evening stroll – along the lakeshore.
Overnight: Verbania

Day 8 – The Borromean Islands
In the 1600s Cardinal Carlo Borromeo, Archbishop of Milan set out to make two islands on Lake Maggiore a floating cornucopia of style and beauty. They are still owned by the Borromeo family and successive members have all contributed to their development over the centuries right up to the 1950s. Our visit will start with Isola Bella, where we visit the Palace, where even Napoleon was tempted to stay, and the ostentatiously baroque gardens. We visit the Isola dei Pescatori for lunch.
Free-time in the later afternoon.
Overnight: Verbania

Day 9 – Lago d’Orta
Just a short drive from Lake Maggiore, Lake Orta is one of the smallest and possibly the most charming of Italian lakes. We will visit the main town on the lake, Orta San Giulio, with its narrow lanes, proud buildings and enchanting promenade that looks out onto the island of San Giulio.  We’ll also see its Basilica, one of the most important Romanesque (9th century) style buildings in Piemonte. After lunch we’ll take a lovely walk with views over the lake to visit the Sacro Monte, the shrine devoted to Saint Francis, before heading back to Lake Maggiore.
Overnight: Verbania

Day 10 – Northern Lake Maggiore and Lake Como
After a late start, it’s goodbye, Lago Maggiore, as we head for our new base on Lake Como, the lovely lakeside jewel of Bellagio. Our route takes us across the border into Switzerland so you’ll have the chance to judge whether the “Swiss” side of the lake is any better!
We’ll stop for coffee in Lugano in Switzerland before returning to Italy for a lakeside lunch. We’ll drive towards Lake Como, taking the ferry to arrive at our new base in Bellagio.
Overnight: Bellagio

Day 11 – Villa Carlotta and free time
After a reasonably long day travelling yesterday, we have a more leisurely itinerary planned for today. In the morning, we catch the ferry to Villa Carlotta, the magnificent villa that looks back across the lake to Bellagio. The villa is now a museum, housing works by Canova, Tadolini and Hayez, amongst others. The enormous botanical gardens of Villa Carlotta are very varied, with formal Italian gardens, a rhododendron forest, azaleas and various exotic plants.
The afternoon is free time for you to explore Bellagio further, take a walk to the pretty hamlet of Pescallo or visit the gardens of Villa Melzi. There are lots of options we can help you plan.
Overnight: Bellagio

Day 12 – The Valtellina
You’ll leave the shores of Lake Como behind this morning to visit the Valtellina, famous for its pretty mountain scenery, cheese and wine production. You’ll have the chance to learn more about, and try, the latter when you visit a historic winery for a guided tour and degustation.
You’ll stop for lunch at a local trattoria before returning to Bellagio in the afternoon.
Overnight: Bellagio

Day 13  – Lake Cruise and Villa Balbianello
You begin the day in style with a private boat tour of the central lake, seeing many of the towns and villas from the best vantage point: the water.
We’ll stop to visit Villa Balbianello. The magnificent gardens and the property’s position on the promontory make this the most spectacular spot on the entire lake. Our boat will drop us to the town of Varenna, where you can spend the afternoon exploring the windy streets and quaint shops.
Our final group dinner in Bellagio.
Overnight: Bellagio

Day 14 – Farewells 
Our tour ends after breakfast today. Stay for another relaxing morning in Bellagio, or take the group transfer back to the Milan’s Malpensa airport. We are more than happy to help those who wish to stay on in Italy organise the rest of their trip or book a transfer to other destinations.
Overnight: NA

“I just wanted to let you know that I really enjoyed my recent tour of the Italian Lakes. 

Anna-Maria certainly took us to some wonderful local restaurants. I have been to Italy four times over the years, and this was definitely the best food I have ever had in Italy. 

 I loved all the other churches we visited, especially the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in Bergamo. Speaking of which, the local guide Laura, was great. Anna Maria also went to a lot of trouble to get us a private tour of the Cathedral in Monza when the local guide couldn’t make it due to a car accident that morning. A-M stepped up and ensured this unexpected occurrence did not throw us off schedule. 

Also, I would recommend the Hotel Gran Duca Di York to any fellow travellers coming to Milan … it’s very comfortable and had all the amenities I needed. 

In summary, it was a fantastic tour, and I would not hesitate to recommend Italian Tours to anyone contemplating a tour in Italy”

Kerry Hayes, Milan and the Italian Lakes Tour, 2023