The Italian Great Lakes

Welcome to Lake Maggiore! Check-in at Grand Hotel Majestic and take advantage of the elegant heated covered pool and the wellness centre for a relaxing day. Enjoy Aperitivo time with local wine and food.

After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a pleasant cruise to discover the Borromean Islands. Visit “Isola Madre”, known for its most ancient Italian botanical garden, then the enchanting “Isola Bella” with its sumptuous palace – home of the Borromean family, which keeps priceless artworks and finally “Isola Pescatori”, a picturesque fishing village.  Take your time to enjoy lunch at leisure and return to Stresa, it’s time to have a stroll around the streets of this charming town. 

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• Villa Taranto and its Botanical Garden. In 1931 the Scottish Captain Neil McEacharn decided to buy the estate to transform it into an prototype of an English Garden with many thousands of plants, brought from the far corners of the world and rare collections, some of them unique in Europe.  Villa Taranto rewards visitors with endless scenes of changing beauty.

After breakfast, transfer to Como. Arrive at Lake Como, “ a World within a World”, with its spectacular views and gorgeous villas, now belonging to actors and celebrities, and check-in at the hotel. Enjoy lunch at a panoramic restaurant with breathtaking lake views. In the afternoon, explore the historical centre of Como with a guided tour of the old “città murata” through the narrow alleys and medieval city walls and the XIV century Cathedral. Return to the hotel and relax for the evening

After breakfast at the hotel, get ready for a private boat tour to navigate Lake Como from coast to coast, discover beautiful breathtaking sceneries from a unique point of view and take great pictures while admiring all the historical villas with their lush gardens. Get off the boat and take a leisurely stroll in Bellagio, characterised by century-old buildings, stone lanes and picturesque cobbled stairways filled with shops showcasing the finest Italian clothes. Experience a traditional lunch in Bellagio before returning to the hotel for a free afternoon of pure relaxation.

Have breakfast at the hotel and depart towards “Franciacorta”, the greatly applauded wine region extending from the southern end of Lake Iseo with flourishing vineyards on verdant rolling hills. Check-in at the hotel and enjoy free time to experience the new “Espace Chenot Wellness SPA” that overlooks the stunning landscapes of the surrounding area, blending rural charm and tradition with Italian sophistication. In the afternoon, take part in an exclusive wine tasting “ Bollicine Experience”, learn about the wine’s production with “Franciacorta” method from grape to bottle. Visit the winery’s historic cellars and walk around the majestic vineyards. Return to the hotel for a relaxing evening.

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• Did you know that… the traditional Lake Iseo Dried Shad is a very special Slow Food Presidium? Found in many Alpine lakes, around Lake Iseo the fish is preserved using an unusual technique. They are usually eaten lightly grilled and served with polenta.Why don’t try and taste it!

After breakfast at the hotel, take a private boat and reach “Monte Isola”, the largest island of the Italian lakes, which rises over 400m above sea level. Discover the craft of fishing nets that survives in Peschiera Maraglio, a tiny and quaint hamlet,  and that is passed down for generations and generations of families. Have lunch in one of the best restaurant of the area, specialized in lake fish cuisine and dried shad. Enjoy some time at leisure to stroll around the island and return to Iseo by boat in the afternoon (Riva boat on request).

Have breakfast at the hotel and then transfer to Sirmione and Lake Garda. Start your visit to the ancient hamlet of Sirmione with a private dedicated guide that will take you to its picturesque medieval “Scala Castle” and the excavations of the Catullus grottoes, a ruined 1st-century-AD Roman villa with terraced hillsides boasting supreme views. In the afternoon, enjoy a private cruise around the top peninsula of Sirmione, a perfect way to end a special day. 

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Lunch or dinner at a Michelin starred restaurant next to “Scaliger Castle”.

After breakfast at the Hotel, enjoy a visit with a private dedicated guide of the “Vittoriale”, the incredible estate of Gabriele D’Annunzio, located in Gardone Riviera; explore the gardens of the villa, a breathtaking memorial of the First World War, characterized by different historical buildings. Return to the hotel for a relaxing evening.

After breakfast, check-out and get on your private transfer to Milano Malpensa or anywhere you would like to continue your trip.