Gourmet Piedmont & Lake Maggiore
Enjoy the holidays in the festive center of Lucca, alive with open-air markets and holiday lights
Explore Florence, with a private art history guide, for an insider look at the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance
Get your apron dirty with hands-on cooking class focused on holiday dishes and regional specialties
Climb the leaning tower of Pisa
Tour a countryside vineyard and taste wine in the scenic hills of Tuscany
Journey through the heart of Italy while experiencing the magic of the season. Discover Renaissance treasures in Florence, explore medieval Tuscan towns, savor Italian feasts, sip vino, and experience open-air Christmas markets and streets aglow with the holiday spirit.
Fly into Milan, where your guide will be waiting to escort you to your hotel on Lake Maggiore in the town of Stresa. En route, stop in Arona for lunch, and tour the Borromeao Castle and enjoy panoramic vistas of Lake Maggiore. Afterwards, head to your accommodations, settle in, and explore the town at your leisure. In the evening, enjoy a welcome dinner in Stresa featuring regional specialties.
Enjoy the morning on your own and then experience an afternoon private boat excursion to explore the three islands of Borromee, Isola Madre, and Isola dei Pescatori. While in Isola Madre, visit Palazzo Borromeo, the private museum and residence of the family who owns the lake and its three islands. In the evening, enjoy dinner in a local restaurant in Isola dei Pescatori.
Venture to Lake Orta, a small alpine lake about 30 minutes from Stresa with breathtaking panoramas and landscapes. Visit the convent of Sacro Monte, located in a striking hilltop position overlooking Orta Lake. After the visit, walk down to the village of Orta-San Giulio for free time to shop, eat lunch and explore. In the afternoon, venture on a short boat ride to the small island of San Giulio before dinner nearby.
Bid arrivederci to Lake Maggiore and buongiorno to Piedmont, your next base for the remainder of your trip. En route to Piedmont, stop at a vineyard for your first (of several) tastings of Piemontese wines. After checking into your stunning castle accommodations, spend the afternoon in Alba with free time to explore the town before dinner featuring local dishes such as agnolotti and tarjarin pasta with the group in the historic center.
Bring on the wine! Today, visit the towns of Barolo and La Morra and enjoy two extended winery tours and tastings of Barolo, Barbaresco, and Nebbiolo grapes. In the evening, dine in an authentic restaurant in one of the surrounding villages.
In the morning, head to the Altalanga, a district of the Langhe, and visit an organic farm in the countryside. Enjoy hazelnut-based breakfast pastries and cappuccino while soaking in the vistas overlooking the valley. After your morning bliss, head to a cheese cellar and cheese ager for a visit and tasting paired with local Piemontese wines. Spend the afternoon back at the hotel at your leisure, exploring the magnificent grounds and perhaps finding your inner zen at the castle’s one-of-a-kind underground spa.
In the morning embark on a driving tour exploring southern Piedmont, through the hills of Langhe exploring the vineyard landscape listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the afternoon you will explore the Castle of Grinzane with a tour, followed by a wine tasting and dinner in a local winery.
Spend your last day in Piedmont like as a local, embarking on a white truffle hunt with a local hunter and his dogs. After the hunt, head to a local “cascina” (farmhouse), for a picnic of truffle-based dishes (prepared from the truffles you found that morning) and local wines. Afterwards head to your final destination (Milan or Turin), and spend your last night on your own before flying home the next day.
*7 nights luxury 5-star accommodations with daily breakfast
*8 meals (lunch or dinner) featuring regional specialties and local wines
*Daily excursions with cultural and culinary experiences as listed in the day-by-day itinerary
*Local guide, driver and ground transportation
*Pick-up and drop-off at Milan airport and drop off via private van service
Journey through the heart of Italy while experiencing the magic of the season. Discover Renaissance treasures in Florence, explore medieval Tuscan towns, savor Italian feasts, sip vino, and experience open-air Christmas markets and streets aglow with the holiday spirit.Venture through the heart of the Italian countryside while enjoying private tastings at hidden wineries, rustic-style feasts and exploring local farms, majestic hill towns, artistic treasures and more.Taste your way through the Italian countryside on a one-of-a-kind adventure perfect for beer lovers! Enjoy private, special access brewery tours and tastings, rustic feasts of regional specialties, and off-the-beaten path adventures to uncover hidden gems throughout Umbria.
Enjoy the holidays in the festive center of Lucca, alive with open-air markets and holiday lights
Explore Florence, with a private art history guide, for an insider look at the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance
Get your apron dirty with hands-on cooking class focused on holiday dishes and regional specialties
Climb the leaning tower of Pisa
Tour a countryside vineyard and taste wine in the scenic hills of Tuscany
Fly into Milan, where your guide will be waiting to escort you to your hotel on Lake Maggiore in the town of Stresa. En route, stop in Arona for lunch, and tour the Borromeao Castle and enjoy panoramic vistas of Lake Maggiore. Afterwards, head to your accommodations, settle in, and explore the town at your leisure. In the evening, enjoy a welcome dinner in Stresa featuring regional specialties.
Enjoy the morning on your own and then experience an afternoon private boat excursion to explore the three islands of Borromee, Isola Madre, and Isola dei Pescatori. While in Isola Madre, visit Palazzo Borromeo, the private museum and residence of the family who owns the lake and its three islands. In the evening, enjoy dinner in a local restaurant in Isola dei Pescatori.
Venture to Lake Orta, a small alpine lake about 30 minutes from Stresa with breathtaking panoramas and landscapes. Visit the convent of Sacro Monte, located in a striking hilltop position overlooking Orta Lake. After the visit, walk down to the village of Orta-San Giulio for free time to shop, eat lunch and explore. In the afternoon, venture on a short boat ride to the small island of San Giulio before dinner nearby.
Bid arrivederci to Lake Maggiore and buongiorno to Piedmont, your next base for the remainder of your trip. En route to Piedmont, stop at a vineyard for your first (of several) tastings of Piemontese wines. After checking into your stunning castle accommodations, spend the afternoon in Alba with free time to explore the town before dinner featuring local dishes such as agnolotti and tarjarin pasta with the group in the historic center.
Bring on the wine! Today, visit the towns of Barolo and La Morra and enjoy two extended winery tours and tastings of Barolo, Barbaresco, and Nebbiolo grapes. In the evening, dine in an authentic restaurant in one of the surrounding villages.
In the morning, head to the Altalanga, a district of the Langhe, and visit an organic farm in the countryside. Enjoy hazelnut-based breakfast pastries and cappuccino while soaking in the vistas overlooking the valley. After your morning bliss, head to a cheese cellar and cheese ager for a visit and tasting paired with local Piemontese wines. Spend the afternoon back at the hotel at your leisure, exploring the magnificent grounds and perhaps finding your inner zen at the castle’s one-of-a-kind underground spa.
In the morning embark on a driving tour exploring southern Piedmont, through the hills of Langhe exploring the vineyard landscape listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the afternoon you will explore the Castle of Grinzane with a tour, followed by a wine tasting and dinner in a local winery.
Spend your last day in Piedmont like as a local, embarking on a white truffle hunt with a local hunter and his dogs. After the hunt, head to a local “cascina” (farmhouse), for a picnic of truffle-based dishes (prepared from the truffles you found that morning) and local wines. Afterwards head to your final destination (Milan or Turin), and spend your last night on your own before flying home the next day.
*7 nights luxury 5-star accommodations with daily breakfast
*8 meals (lunch or dinner) featuring regional specialties and local wines
*Daily excursions with cultural and culinary experiences as listed in the day-by-day itinerary
*Local guide, driver and ground transportation
*Pick-up and drop-off at Milan airport and drop off via private van service