Lake Como and Liguria charming tour
Live a memorable experience discovering the history, romance, breathtaking scenery and culinary culture of the Italian Riviera and Lake Como. This is a very special trip where you’ll explore Portofino, Camogli, Genoa’s old town, the picturesque villages of the Cinque Terre, then adventuring on to Bellagio and Varenna. You’ll meet local producers, have lunch in a Michelin restaurant and much, much more!
Highlights
- Lose yourself in the medieval alleyways of Genoa town
- Live the Italian dolce vita in Portofino
- Visit unique San Fruttuoso Bay and its abbey which stands directly on the beach
- Enjoy the amazing Cinque Terre villages
- Be amazed by the hidden corners of Bellagio
- Experience the charm of Lake Como, its villas, food and wine
- Visit the panoramic vineyards of a local producer in Cinque Terre
- Prepare pesto yourself the traditional way with pestle and mortar
- Wander around Genoa’s biggest food market
- Taste traditional cuisine and wine
Why choose this trip
A trip created for those who want to experience the charm of the Italian Riviera and Lake Como in one journey. You’ll find breathtaking scenery, unique history, divine food and wine, romance and much more!
DAY
01
Welcome to Liguria with an enchanting aperitif in Portofino
Benvenuto!
Today you’ll reach charming Portofino, where in the beating heart of the village, its famous ‘piazzetta’, you will enjoy an aperitivo made from locally sourced ingredients. Refreshing cocktails made with artisan liqueurs, distilled by small, family-run producers using the finest Ligurian ingredients: basil, Genoese roses, lemon verbena and chinotto.
DAY
02
live the “dolce vita” in Camogli, San Fruttuoso and Portofino
With your private guide you will set out on an amazing tour of one of the best areas of the Italian Riviera, around the Portofino promontory. You will fall in love with the picture-perfect village of Camogli, with its rows of tall and colourful houses, all lined up along the beach and encircling the small port. Here you will stop to taste its famous Focaccia in one of our preferred places – you’ll never forget that special crispy and yet soft bread!
From Camogli you’ll head off on a panoramic trip by boat around the Portofino promontory with its lush vegetation and unusual rock formations which plunge into the deep blue water. You will moor in San Fruttuoso, a magical hidden bay with just a Medieval abbey built right on the tiny pebble beach – here you can even take a dip in the crystal-clear water or grab a cone of delicious fried fish!
Then back on board, heading for Portofino. As you arrive in Portofino you will have an amazing view of the village. Take a stroll in the famous piazzetta (small square), passing amongst the luxury yachts and glittering boutiques, so as to reach the castle and the beautiful church of St. George, perched on the rocks.
DAY
03
Cinque Terre by Land and Sea
Today you will have an authentic private experience, discovering this area and its people. Following our insiders’ tips, you will discover the most authentic spirit of the five picturesque villages, beyond the reach of mass tourism. Moving around at your own pace and avoiding all the tourist traps, you will visit the iconic village of Manarola with its cluster of pastel-coloured houses and terraced vineyards. From Manarola you will board a private boat and enjoy a 1-hour tour, admiring the coast and the villages from the sea.
You will continue to sail in front of Riomaggiore’s lovely marina, continuing then to picturesque Vernazza where the boat tour comes to a close. You’ll continue to Monterosso – the largest of the Cinque Terre villages – by private driver, so that you can enjoy a stroll around this very lovely riviera village.
DAY
04
Discover Genoa old town, its food market and have a special pesto lesson
Today with your private tour guide you’ll enjoy a great morning at Genoa’s biggest food market. You will be enraptured by the smell of the fresh focaccia, by the variety on the cheese and meat stalls, the bakeries, by the shops that make handmade pasta, by the many stalls with freshly caught fish and seasonal fruit and vegetables. This bustling, colourful market is a food lover’s paradise!
You’ll then take a walk along the medieval alleyways or carrugi, pausing in the squares and renaissance streets of the historical town. You’ll hear all about the stories of the city, including how the richest medieval Genoese merchant families have been transformed into families of important bankers over the past few centuries.
Then a local culinary expert will welcome you to take part in a pesto sauce lesson using a pestle and mortar, just as the tradition requests. After the pesto lesson, you will enjoy a Ligurian lunch with typical specialties!
DAY
05
Welcome to Lake Como
Benvenuto to Lake Como! A lovingly selected romantic boutique hotel awaits your arrival.
DAY
06
Explore Lake Como by boat
Today you will stroll around the town and then hit the water for a full day exploring around Lake Como, one of the most beautiful lakes in Italy.
Starting the day with a walking tour of the lakeside town of Como, you will then board a boat and explore the coast from a different point of view. Cruise up towards the spot where the lake’s three branches intersect and disembark there to visit the town of Tremezzo, where you’ll be amazed by Villa Carlotta and its spectacular lakefront gardens. After some free time for lunch, jump back on board heading for Bellagio, a stunning town known for its breathtaking position at the Y-intersection of the lake and for its hilltop castle.
DAY
07
Villas of Lake Como
Today will be a day of relaxation, art and culture, discovering the lake’s most beautiful villas: during this boat tour you will explore world-famous places of rare beauty. With the luxury of your private tour guide and private captain, you will visit the elegant and romantic Villa Balbianello and then Villa Melzi, famous for its vast English-style garden, which is full of rare and exotic plants.
DAY
08
Arrivederci day
Arrivederci
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