A Northern Italy “grand loop” of lakes and peaks—Orta to Maggiore to Como, Garda to Verona, then deep into the Dolomites for jaw-dropping passes and turquoise lakes, finishing in Bolzano and Trento back to Milan.
Best of Italy’s Lake District and Dolomites Semi Escorted Tour
7 Days/6 Nights
Starting from
$
per person*
Unforgettable Italian Journeys, Designed for You
Curated by passionate Italy experts, this sample itinerary is just the beginning of your Italian adventure. Every journey we design is unique, crafted around your interests, pace, and dreams so you can experience Italy’s beauty and culture like a true insider. Let us transform your vision into a one-of-a-kind travel experience, filled with authentic moments and lasting memories
Day 1
MILAN, LAKE ORTA, LAKE MAGGIORE, STRESA, LAKE COMO, COMO
Orta’s Island Calm to Como Nights
- Early morning meet & greet in Milan historic center
- Motor coach departure
- Stop at Lake Orta (Piedmont)
- Visit Orta San Giulio
- Boat tour to San Giulio Island and its ancient monastery
- Continue to Lake Maggiore, set among mountains and lush vegetation
- Stop in Stresa with free time for lunch (not included)
- Boat tour to Isola dei Pescatori (fishermen’s island)
- Boat tour to Isola Bella and the Borromeo Palace gardens
- Continue by coach to Lake Como
- Overnight in Como
Day 2
LAKE COMO, BELLAGIO, VARENNA, BERGAMO, BRESCIA
Como to Bellagio; Beauty, Bergamo’s Two-Level Charm
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Brief tour of Como (silk tradition, elegant villas and gardens, Alps-meet-lake scenery)
- Boat to Bellagio
- Free time in Bellagio for strolling and lunch (not included)
- Boat to Varenna
- Panoramic tour in/around Varenna
- Continue to Bergamo
- Short walking tour of Bergamo’s historic center
- See Bergamo’s “Lower Town” (Città Bassa) and “Upper Town” (Città Alta) concept
- Continue to Brescia for overnight
Day 3
BRESCIA, LAKE GARDA, SIRMIONE, RIVA DEL GARDA, VERONA
Cruise Views, Riva’s Venetian Vibe, Verona Nights
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Depart for Lake Garda (Italy’s largest lake)
- Scenic landscapes: Dolomites of Brenta to the north, gentle hills to the south
- Mediterranean-like vegetation: lemon trees, oleanders, bougainvilleas, olive groves, vineyards
- Boat tour from Sirmione with views of Sirmione Cape, the Castle, and Catullo’s ruins
- Lunch on your own (not included) with lake panorama
- Continue to Riva del Garda
- Tour Riva del Garda’s Venetian-inspired historic center
- Continue to Verona for overnight
Day 4
VERONA, CANAZEI, CORTINA D’AMPEZZO
Romance Walk, Then Dolomites to Cortina
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Walking tour of Verona, city of Romeo and Juliet
- Highlights: Piazza delle Erbe (old market square)
- Highlights: Piazza Bra and Verona’s Arena (intact Roman amphitheater)
- Lunch on your own (not included)
- Continue to Cortina d’Ampezzo via Val di Fiemme, Val di Fassa, and Passo Pordoi
- Short stop in Canazei, surrounded by the Dolomites
- Overnight in Cortina d’Ampezzo (1956 Winter Olympics host)
Day 5
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, LAKE MISURINA, LAKE BRAIES, VAL PUSTERIA, VAL BADIA
DOLOMITES Lake Misurina to Braies Turquoise
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Full day dedicated to Dolomites scenery
- Visit Lake Misurina
- Admire views of Tre Cime di Lavaredo (Three Peaks)
- Continue to Lake Braies (turquoise waters and forest backdrop)
- Scenic drive through Val Pusteria and Val Badia with small villages
- Return to Cortina d’Ampezzo for overnight
Day 6
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, PASSO FALZAREGO, CANAZEI, LAKE CAREZZA, MERANO, BOLZANO
Passes and Pearls
- Breakfast at the hotel and check out
- Travel through scenic mountain passes toward Canazei
- Drive through Falzarego Pass between Val di Fassa and Val Gardena
- Views of Sassolungo
- Stop at Lake Carezza (postcard-perfect scenery)
- Arrive in Merano (Christmas markets, mild climate, thermal springs, charming center)
- Continue to Bolzano
- Sightseeing tour of Bolzano: Gothic Duomo and medieval city center
- Overnight in Bolzano
Day 7
BOLZANO, TRENTO, MILAN
Castles, Then Back to Milan
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Continue to Trento
- Visit/see Castle del Buon Consiglio (symbol of the House of Habsburg)
- Stop at Santa Maria Maggiore Church
- Stop at Geremia Palace
- Free time for lunch (not included)
- Transfer to Milan
- End of tour and services in Milan
MAKE THIS ITINERARY YOURS
Turn this sample itinerary into your dream Italy vacation – tailored to your pace, passions, and budget.
Day 1
MILAN, LAKE ORTA, LAKE MAGGIORE, STRESA, LAKE COMO, COMO
Orta’s Island Calm to Como Nights
Meet your group early morning in Milan and depart by motor coach for a week of lakes and mountains. Your first stop is Lake Orta, a small, lovely lake in Piedmont. Visit the village of Orta San Giulio and take a boat to San Giulio Island, home to an ancient monastery. Continue to Lake Maggiore, nestled in the mountains and surrounded by lush vegetation. Stop in Stresa for free time and lunch on your own (not included), then enjoy a boat tour to Isola dei Pescatori and to Isola Bella, famed for the Borromeo Palace and its magnificent gardens. Later, continue to Lake Como and overnight in the town of Como.
Day 2
LAKE COMO, BELLAGIO, VARENNA, BERGAMO, BRESCIA
Como to Bellagio; Beauty, Bergamo’s Two-Level Charm
After breakfast, enjoy a brief tour of Como, a lakeside town where snow-capped Alps meet the water, known for silk factories, elegant villas, and beautiful gardens. Then take a boat to Bellagio, the lake’s most iconic village, with free time to wander and have lunch on your own (not included). Continue by boat to Varenna for a panoramic visit, then travel onward to Bergamo, a charming town built on two levels: the modern, dynamic Città Bassa and the historic jewel of Città Alta. After a short walking tour of the historic center, continue to Brescia for overnight.
Day 3
BRESCIA, LAKE GARDA, SIRMIONE, RIVA DEL GARDA, VERONA
Cruise Views, Riva’s Venetian Vibe, Verona Nights
After breakfast, depart for Lake Garda, Italy’s largest lake, framed by the Brenta Dolomites in the north and softer hills in the south. Thanks to its mild Mediterranean climate, the area is rich with lemon trees, oleanders, bougainvilleas, olive groves, and vineyards. Enjoy a boat tour from Sirmione with spectacular views of the peninsula, the castle, and the ruins of Catullo. Enjoy lunch on your own (not included) while soaking up the lake scenery, then continue to Riva del Garda to tour its Venetian-inspired historic center. Travel onward to Verona for overnight.
Day 4
VERONA, CANAZEI, CORTINA D’AMPEZZO
Romance Walk, Then Dolomites to Cortina
After breakfast, enjoy a walking tour of Verona, the romantic city of Romeo and Juliet. Explore the historic center including Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza Bra, dominated by Verona’s Arena—an intact Roman amphitheater still used for major opera and concert events. After lunch on your own (not included), head into the Dolomites toward Cortina d’Ampezzo, traveling through Val di Fiemme, Val di Fassa, and over Passo Pordoi. Stop briefly in Canazei, a beloved mountain destination surrounded by dramatic peaks, then arrive in Cortina for overnight in this world-famous Alpine resort.
Day 5
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, LAKE MISURINA, LAKE BRAIES, VAL PUSTERIA, VAL BADIA
DOLOMITES Lake Misurina to Braies Turquoise
After breakfast, spend the day soaking up the Dolomites’ natural beauty. Begin at Lake Misurina, surrounded by the Dolomites Alps, then enjoy unforgettable views of Tre Cime di Lavaredo, the iconic “Three Peaks.” Continue to Lake Braies, famous for its unique turquoise waters contrasted by deep forest colors. End the day with a scenic drive through Val Pusteria and Val Badia, passing rolling hills and small mountain villages, before returning to Cortina for overnight.
Day 6
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, PASSO FALZAREGO, CANAZEI, LAKE CAREZZA, MERANO, BOLZANO
Passes and Pearls
After breakfast, depart Cortina and travel through spectacular mountain passes toward Canazei. Drive through the Falzarego Pass between Val di Fassa and Val Gardena, with beautiful views toward the Sassolungo massif. Stop at Lake Carezza, famous for its postcard-perfect scenery. Continue to Merano, known for its Christmas markets, mild climate, thermal springs, and charming historic center. In the afternoon, reach Bolzano for a sightseeing tour including the Gothic Duomo and medieval old town. Overnight in Bolzano.
Day 7
BOLZANO, TRENTO, MILAN
Castles, Then Back to Milan
After breakfast, continue to Trento to discover Castle del Buon Consiglio, dominating the town and long tied to the House of Habsburg. You’ll also stop at Santa Maria Maggiore Church and the Geremia Palace. Enjoy free time for lunch (not included), then transfer back to Milan where the tour and services conclude.
