From mountain peaks to lovely lakes, see stunning northern Italy on a 10-day SMALL GROUP guided tour with Insight Vacations!
For a limited time, past guests can receive up to an incredible 10% discount on selected tours and river cruises.*
Journey through Northern Italy in a Small Group, immersing yourself in the region’s culture, scenery and craft. See Milan through the eyes of a historian. Then drift toward the peaceful lakes and mountain roads that lead to Cortina d’Ampezzo. It’s an exclusive Alpine retreat cradled by the limestone peaks of the Dolomites. You’ll taste crisp Prosecco among Veneto’s rolling vineyards, explore the romance of Verona, and even watch molten glass take shape in a Venetian artisan’s hands. As your journey settles on the shores of Lake Maggiore, a dine-around evening in Baveno will bring together local flavours and lakeside tranquillity in a memorable finale.
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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 travellers.
Experience: Milan walking tour with a local historian.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Duo Milan Porta Nuova
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.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: NH Trento
Follow the Adige River north into the magnificent mountains and distinctive limestone peaks of the Dolomites. Arrive in Bolzano, where Italian and Austrian cultures meet, and visit the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology to see Ötzi the Iceman, the remarkably preserved mummy discovered in the Ötztal Alps. Continue along the scenic route to Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy’s exclusive ski resort and a beautiful alpine haven in summer.
Experience: Visit the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel de la Poste
Spend the day at leisure in Cortina d’Ampezzo, long regarded as a fashionable alpine playground for the rich and famous. You can stroll along the pedestrianised Corso Italia, lined with shops and cafes, and spot the distinctive green-and-white bell tower of the parish church. Why not ascend to the summit of one of the nearby peaks for magnificent panoramic views of the Dolomites?
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel de la Poste
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.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Eurostar Residenza Cannaregio
Wake ready to explore Venice. You’ll start with a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER experience at a traditional glassblowing workshop, watching artisans shape molten glass into delicate forms. 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.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Eurostars Residenza Cannaregio
Depart Venice and travel toward Lake Garda, where a short stop in Sirmione reveals shimmering water, pastel-coloured 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 flavours — a relaxed way to linger and connect with your small group.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Grand Hotel Dino, Baveno
Settle into the foothills of the Alps and experience the effortless allure of the Italian Lakes, a timeless retreat once favoured 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.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Grand Hotel Dino, Baveno
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.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Grand Hotel Dino, Baveno
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
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