Italian Lake District—Walking Tour

Itinerary at a glance

We meet in Bellagio (3 nights), the lovely historic center of the Italian Lake District region's silk trade, and settle into our lakeside hotel. In a region known for its incredible villas, our first walk leads to one of the finest—Villa Serbelloni—where we've arranged a private visit to its rose gardens. Later, a countryside walk with lake and mountain views culminates at a villa for a wine tasting.

After boating to Como, we enter Switzerland briefly where a wildflower walk ends with the reward of a lakeside gelato. Back to Italy, we end the day in Orta (3 nights), the most beautiful of the Italian Lakes. We'll hop a motor launch to reach San Giulio, a perfect little island with a thousand-year-old monastery. The Borromean Islands in Lake Maggiore are studded with palaces and gardens. We reach them by boat and spend a whole day exploring, mooring for lunch at rustic Isola Dei Pescatori.

Among several lovely walks on country roads and bridle paths we enjoy, one of our favorites leads past silvery olive groves to a shepherdess who invites us in for a tasting of the local cheese. On our final day, you'll have time to amble in Orta and do some shopping if you like before we transfer to Milan.