8-Day Self Drive Tour of the Italian Lakes with Tastings

🍷 Great Lakes Tour, strong flavors: 8 days self drive tour, "Itineraries of Taste Collection"

🌍 Overview

The Great Lakes Tour, strong flavors: 8 days self drive tour, "Itineraries of Taste Collection" invites you to explore Northern Italy’s iconic lakes, art cities and gourmet traditions at your own pace. Over 8 days you will combine a relaxed self drive itinerary with 4* hotel stays, guided city tours, lake boat trips and unforgettable food and wine experiences. From Milan to the Langhe hills, from Lake Orta to Lake Como and Lake Garda, this tour blends breathtaking landscapes with strong, authentic flavors.

🧭 What to Expect

This easy-level self drive journey is designed for travelers who want the freedom of their own car, combined with curated tastings and guided visits in the most beautiful resorts around the Great Lakes area. You will start in Milan with a classic city tour, then dive into Piemonte’s wine and truffle culture around Barolo and Alba. The route continues along Lake Orta, Lake Como, Franciacorta and Lake Garda, with boat tours, funicular rides, historic villages and local specialties such as polenta uncia, Franciacorta wines, Bardolino, EVO oil and grappa.

Each day combines scenic drives with authentic culinary encounters, from wineries and truffle producers to farmhouses and distilleries. You will stay in comfortable 4* hotels in Milan, Como and Sirmione, enjoy guided walking tours in key destinations, and have free time to explore, shop or simply relax by the lake. The Great Lakes Tour, strong flavors: 8 days self drive tour, "Itineraries of Taste Collection" offers a balanced mix of culture, nature and gastronomy, ideal for food and wine lovers who appreciate unspoilt landscapes and Italian lifestyle.

✨ Highlights

• 🍇 Wine and truffle in Piemonte: Visit a Barolo winery in the Langhe with vineyard visit and tasting, then discover Alba and its famous white truffle.
• 🏙️ Milan city tour and Navigli apericena: Guided visit of Piazza Duomo, the Cathedral, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, Teatro alla Scala (ext) and Sforzesco Castle (ext), plus an evening apericena in the Navigli district.
• ⛵ Boat trips on Lake Orta and Lake Garda: Enjoy a boat tour from Orta to Isola San Giulio and a sunset cruise from Sirmione on Garda Lake.
• 🏞️ Lake Como gems: Como, Bellagio and Varenna: Stay in Como, explore Bellagio and Varenna, and taste traditional polenta uncia from the Como and Lecco area.
• 🍾 Franciacorta and Bardolino tastings: Visit renowned cellars, meet a sommelier, and sample Franciacorta and Bardolino wines paired with typical products and EVO oil.
• 🏰 Historic towns: Bergamo Alta and Sirmione: Take a funicular up to Bergamo Alta and walk through Sirmione’s old town, from the Scaligero Castle to the Grotte di Catullo.
• 🥂 Comfortable 4* hotels and easy self drive: Relax in selected 4* hotels, enjoy included dinners and tastings, with an easy self drive pace across Northern Italy’s lakes and countryside.

🗺️ Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrival in Milan
Arrival in Milan and check in at your 4* hotel. Free time to start discovering the city on your own. Dinner at the hotel and overnight.

Day 2 – Milan guided tour and Navigli apericena
Breakfast at the hotel. Guided tour of Milan starting from Piazza Duomo, including the Cathedral (entrance), the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, Teatro alla Scala (exterior) and Sforzesco Castle (exterior). Free time for lunch and shopping. In the evening, meet in the Navigli district for an apericena in a typical Milanese restaurant. Return to the hotel and overnight.

Day 3 – Piemonte “Wine and Truffle” experience
Breakfast at the hotel and departure by self drive to Piemonte to discover culinary excellences. First stop in Barolo, in the Langhe, with a visit to a winery, vineyards and tasting. Free time for lunch. Transfer to Alba, famous for its white truffle, and visit to a transformation company with tasting of this gastronomic excellence. Return to Milan, free time for dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 4 – Lake Orta and arrival in Como
Breakfast at the hotel and departure to Lake Orta. From the port of Orta, boat tour to admire the village from the lake and reach Isola San Giulio for a panoramic tour around the island and the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery (ext). Return to Orta and continue by car to Como. Upon arrival, check in at the hotel, free time for lunch and a walk in the city center. In the evening, dinner based on polenta uncia (unta), a typical specialty of the area between Como and Lecco. Return to the hotel and overnight.

Day 5 – Bellagio and Varenna on Lake Como
Breakfast at the hotel and departure to Bellagio. Free time to discover this elegant lakeside village. Lunch with lake view based on local products. Transfer to Varenna, a fishing village and jewel of Lake Como, and visit of the historic center with alleys, steps, colorful houses, restaurants and craft shops. Return to the hotel in Como, free time for dinner (not included) and overnight.

Day 6 – Bergamo Alta, Franciacorta and Sirmione
Breakfast at the hotel and departure to Bergamo. Guided tour of the historic center of Bergamo Alta, starting from Bergamo Bassa with the funicular up to Porta Sant’Agostino, then Piazza Duomo with the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore and the Cathedral of Sant’Alessandro, Palazzo della Ragione and Piazza Vecchia with the Civic Tower and the Campanone. Continue towards Franciacorta for a stop at the Berlucchi winery, visit of the cellars, sommelier experience and tasting of Franciacorta wine. Lunch in a farmhouse near the property. In the afternoon arrival in Sirmione on Garda Lake, check in at the hotel and meeting with the guide for a visit of the old town, including Scaligero Castle (ext), the churches of Santa Maria della Neve and San Pietro in Mavino, Villa Callas and the Grotte di Catullo. Free time in the village. Return to the hotel and overnight.

Day 7 – Bardolino wines, Riva del Garda and sunset boat
Breakfast at the hotel and departure to Veneto. Visit of a cellar in a Bardolino winery with guided tasting of the company’s wines and EVO oil, accompanied by a buffet of typical products. Transfer to Riva del Garda, with free time for lunch (not included) and a visit of the historic center. Afterwards, visit a distillery for a grappa tasting. Return to Sirmione and, from the marina, enjoy a sunset boat tour on Garda Lake. Farewell dinner at the hotel and overnight.

Day 8 – Departure from Sirmione
Breakfast at the hotel and free time, depending on your onward travel plans. End of services.

✅ What’s Included

• 4* hotel accommodation in Milan, Como and Sirmione (as per program)
• Daily breakfast at the hotels
• Dinners as specified in the itinerary (including polenta uncia dinner and farewell dinner)
• Guided tour of Milan with Cathedral entrance
• Evening apericena in a typical restaurant in the Navigli district
• Visit to a Barolo winery in the Langhe with tasting
• Visit to a truffle transformation company in Alba with tasting
• Boat tour on Lake Orta and panoramic visit of Isola San Giulio
• Dinner based on polenta uncia in the Como / Lecco area
• Lunch with lake view in Bellagio based on local products
• Guided tour of Bergamo Alta, including funicular from Bergamo Bassa
• Visit of Berlucchi winery with sommelier experience and Franciacorta tasting
• Lunch in a farmhouse near the Franciacorta winery
• Guided visit of Sirmione old town (Scaligero Castle ext, churches, Villa Callas, Grotte di Catullo ext)
• Visit to a Bardolino winery with wine, EVO oil and buffet of typical products
• Visit to a distillery with grappa tasting
• Sunset boat tour from Sirmione on Garda Lake

🚫 Exclusions

• Transport and rental car for the self drive (not specified as included)
• Meals and drinks not mentioned as included in the itinerary
• Personal expenses, shopping and extras
• Entrance fees to sites or monuments not expressly listed as included
• Travel insurance and any city tax, if applicable

ℹ️ Important Information

• This is an EASY level Great Lakes Tour, strong flavors: 8 days self drive tour, "Itineraries of Taste Collection", suitable for travelers comfortable with self driving between destinations.
• The tour includes guided visits and tastings on specific days, while driving times and exact schedules may vary according to traffic and personal pace.
• Boat tours on Lake Orta and Garda Lake, as well as the funicular in Bergamo, may be subject to weather or local operational conditions.
• Wine, truffle, EVO oil and grappa tastings involve alcoholic products, so they are recommended only for adults of legal drinking age.
• Comfortable walking shoes are recommended, as several historic centers feature cobblestones, alleys, steps and pedestrian areas.
• Meeting points for guided tours and tastings will be communicated locally by the operator or hotel staff.
• Any special dietary needs should be communicated in advance, although specific arrangements are not detailed in the description.

🚗 Taste, Drive, Discover: Your Italian Lakes Journey Awaits

Follow the flavors from Milan to the lakes.

Embark on the Great Lakes Tour, strong flavors: 8 days self drive tour, "Itineraries of Taste Collection" and combine the pleasure of an easy self drive with curated wine, truffle and lake experiences in Northern Italy. Secure your dates now to enjoy 4* comfort, unforgettable tastings and the most evocative landscapes of Milan, Piemonte, Lake Orta, Lake Como and Lake Garda in a single, flavorful itinerary.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions, FAQ

1. Is this tour suitable for travelers who prefer an easy pace?
   Yes, the tour is described as EASY, with a relaxed self drive structure and a mix of guided visits, tastings and free time. It is suitable for travelers who enjoy driving between destinations and walking through historic centers at a moderate pace.

2. What kind of food and wine experiences are included?
   The Great Lakes Tour, strong flavors: 8 days self drive tour, "Itineraries of Taste Collection" includes a Barolo winery visit with tasting, a truffle transformation company visit in Alba, Franciacorta tastings with a sommelier, Bardolino wine and EVO oil tastings with typical products, a grappa tasting and several meals featuring local cuisine. You will also enjoy specialties such as polenta uncia and a lake view lunch in Bellagio.

3. Are boat trips on the lakes part of the program?
   Yes, a boat tour on Lake Orta from Orta to Isola San Giulio is included, as well as a sunset boat tour from Sirmione on Garda Lake. These experiences allow you to admire the villages and landscapes from the water.

4. Which cities and towns will I visit during the tour?
   The itinerary covers Milan, Barolo and Alba in Piemonte, Orta and Isola San Giulio on Lake Orta, Como, Bellagio and Varenna on Lake Como, Bergamo Alta and Bassa, Franciacorta, Sirmione, Bardolino area and Riva del Garda. This combination showcases major cities, wine regions and lake resorts in Northern Italy.

5. What type of accommodation is provided?
   The tour provides stays in 4* hotels in the main locations, such as Milan, Como and Sirmione, as indicated in the description. Exact hotel names are not specified, but the standard is 4* with breakfast included.