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9-Nights Country Roads of Northern Italy - Small Group from $5,195
Insight Vacations
OFFER ID 1714846
Country Roads Of Northern Italy - Small Group
Journey through Northern Italy in a Small group, immersing yourself in the region’s culture, scenery and craftsmanship. See Milan through the eyes of a historian, then travel towards the peaceful lakes and mountain landscapes of South Tyrol. In Bolzano, where Italian and Austrian influences meet beneath the Dolomites, you’ll encounter the remarkably preserved mummy discovered in the Ötztal Alps. Taste crisp Prosecco among Veneto’s rolling vineyards, explore the romance of Verona and watch molten glass take shape in the hands of a Venetian artisan. As your journey settles on the shores of Lake Maggiore, a Dine-Around evening in Baveno brings together local flavors and lakeside tranquility in a memorable finale.
Dining Summary
- 4 Dinner (D)
- 9 Breakfast (B)
- Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.
- Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.
- Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.
- Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
- We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
- From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.
- Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
- If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.
- Milan: Get to know your fellow travelers over a special dinner with wine.
- Conegliano: Visit a local winery to taste regional prosecco and meet the vignerons who guide its production. Learn how this distinctive style has developed its own identity alongside France’s well-known counterpart and enjoy the shared experience of discovering a craft rooted in the Veneto.
- Baveno: Choose your dining experience from a selection of hand-picked local restaurants, each with its own setting and regional flavors. It’s a relaxed evening to enjoy good food and easy conversation within your small group.
- Lake Maggiore: Gather on the shores of Lake Maggiore to toast your journey, sharing a farm-to-table dinner and local wines in a relaxed final evening.
- Milan: Join your small group and a local historian to explore Milan’s history, including the influence of Leonardo da Vinci. Walk to the facade of Milan Cathedral and the world-famous La Scala Theater as the city’s story takes shape around you.
- Bolzano: Step inside the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology to see Ötzi the Iceman, one of the world’s most remarkable archaeological discoveries. Preserved in ice for more than 5,000 years, this Copper Age mummy offers a rare glimpse into prehistoric life in the Alps, from the tools he carried to the clothing he wore.
- Trento: See pristine streets decorated with stone castles and modern edifices.
- Bolzano: Wander Bolzano’s streets and squares, noticing its Tyrolean-style buildings and the mountain backdrop that frames daily life.
- Venice: Travel by boat along the Giudecca Canal as your Travel Director gives an orientation to Venice. Pass 13th to 18th-century palazzi, the Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Square, an iconic introduction to the city from the water.
- Venice: Glide through Venice’s canals on an iconic gondola ride, passing beneath historic bridges and past elegant palaces. Soak up the city’s romantic atmosphere as your gondolier navigates the tranquil waterways, offering a unique perspective of this timeless floating city.
- Venice: Witness the ancient skill of glassblowing, now practised by precious few masters. Watch artisans create delicate works of art using rare traditional practices. The workshop's artisans teach visitors about the traditional craft of glassblowing and its history which dates back to the 15th century.
- Baveno: Stroll along Baveno’s cobbled lanes and see its 16th-century square, framed by lakeside calm.
- Como: Take in the exquisite views of the lake and its alpine backdrop as you explore this magnificent town.
9 nights from $5,195 per person
Insight Vacations: Country Roads of Northern Italy - Small Group
Day 1 - Welcome to Italy
Arrive in Milan and head to the hotel, where you’ll meet your Travel Director and the small group joining you on this journey. Then step into the city’s story with a local historian, standing before the marble sweep of the Duomo, the iconic halls of La Scala and the glass-covered elegance of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. As evening settles, come together over dinner at a local restaurant, the perfect setting to connect with your fellow travelers.
Accommodations: Duo Milan Porta Nuova
Meals: Dinner
Day 2 - Fair Verona and Trento
Cross the plains of Lombardy to Verona, known for its Roman heritage and literary ties. Explore a network of elegant squares and see the well-preserved Roman Arena, still used for opera. Next, your Travel Director will lead you on a guided walk to Dante’s statue and the Scala family tombs or follow a Shakespeare-focused route linked to the story of Romeo and Juliet. Travel onwards to Trento, a northern city appreciated for its strong local character.
Accommodations: NH Trento
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 - Road to Bolzano
After breakfast, depart Trento and follow the Adige River north to Bolzano, where Italian and Austrian cultures meet. Set against a dramatic backdrop of the Dolomite mountain range, Bolzano reveals centuries of cross-border influence through its architecture, language and distinctive regional identity. Visit the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology to see Ötzi the Iceman, the remarkably preserved mummy discovered in the Ötztal Alps. This evening, enjoy dinner at a restaurant.
Accommodations: Stadt Hotel Citt
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4 - Gateway to the Dolo
After breakfast, enjoy a day at leisure in Bolzano with time to explore its arcaded streets, lively piazzas and blend of Italian and Austrian influences at your own pace. Alternatively, join the Grand Tour of the Dolomites Optional Experience, where you’ll discover the region’s soaring peaks and dramatic mountain scenery. This evening, you can also choose the Dinner in the Mountains Optional Experience, savoring delicious regional dishes in an atmospheric alpine setting.
Accommodations: Stadt Hotel Citt
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5 - Through Prosecco Country to Venice
Today, you’ll travel through more Dolomite scenery with your small group to one of Italy’s notable wine regions. The vineyards around Conegliano Veneto sit between Alpine shelter and warmer Adriatic air, creating conditions well suited to prosecco production. Stop in Conegliano to gain close access to the winemaking process and note how it differs from Champagne. Taste the crisp, aromatic style before continuing to Venice, the island city known as the Queen of the Adriatic.
Accommodations: Eurostars Residenza Cannaregio, Venice
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6 - The Magic of La Serenissima
Wake ready to explore Venice. You'll start with a visit to a Venetian glassblowing workshop where you can see how beautiful, handcrafted glass is made by expert artisans, preserving centuries-old traditions. Then continue by private boat past palazzos and churches to St. Mark's Square to see the Basilica, the Doge's Palace and the Bridge of Sighs. Afterwards, settle into a gondola for a gentle glide along the canals. Enjoy a free afternoon to explore, before the cafes around the square draw you in for an easy end to the day.
Accommodations: Eurostars Residenza Cannaregio, Venice
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7 - Italy's Lake District
Depart Venice and travel toward Lake Garda, where a short stop in Sirmione reveals shimmering water, pastel-colored houses and the stone walls of its lakeside castle. Continue across Lombardy’s rich farmland as the landscape softens toward Lake Maggiore. Arrive in Baveno, a peaceful town edged by distant mountains. This evening, choose from a selection of local restaurants, each offering its own character, aromas and regional flavors — a relaxed way to linger and connect with your small group.
Accommodations: Grand Hotel Dino, Baveno
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8 - Lake Como
Settle into the foothills of the Alps and experience the effortless allure of the Italian Lakes, a timeless retreat once favored by Europe’s elite. In Como, take in the town’s graceful waterfront, narrow lanes and long-standing connection to fine silk. Your orientation walk will reveal its defining landmarks and the rhythm of local life. The remainder of the day is yours to spend as you choose, or you may join an Optional Experience to explore Lake Como in greater depth with a Local Expert.
Accommodations: Grand Hotel Dino, Baveno
Meals: Breakfast
Day 9 - Italian Lakes at Leisure
Relish a full day at leisure among the Italian Lakes, a region long associated with distinguished visitors. Stresa once welcomed Napoleon during his Italian Campaign and later hosted Mussolini and Chamberlain as they signed the Treaty of Stresa. You’ll have the chance to join an optional cruise to the Borromean Islands, including Isola Bella with its elegant palace and terraced gardens. In the evening, enjoy farm-to-table dishes paired with Italian wines.
Accommodations: Grand Hotel Dino, Baveno
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 10 - Depart Italy
Your journey draws to a close in the morning. Transfer to Milan’s Malpensa Airport for your onward arrangements or depart at your leisure.
Meals: Breakfast
Vacation Details
* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.
Fine dining, on-site bars or lounges and room service with extended hours are characteristic of deluxe establishments. Guest services usually include valet parking, concierge services, baggage assistance and laundry services. Other on-site facilities often include shops and boutiques, full service spas, full fitness facilities with pools and tennis courts. Business amenities may include available up-to-date technology and support staffs available for services. Attention to detail is apparent in the guestrooms which typically have stylish furnishings, quality bedding and bath products and often provide an evening turn down service.
All fares are quoted in US Dollars.
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Francesca's Destinations
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