The Northern Delights Tour
The joy of travel just hit a new high. Literally.
11 Days/10 Nights (1 night in Milan + 4 nights on Lake Como + 3 nights in Piedmont + 2 night in Turin)*
Starting at USD $8,950 price
per person based on double occupancy (12 travelers max). Call us to
reserve your spot today.
Let Nada's Italy take you to a magical place, where majestic Villas luxurious gardens line the peaceful shores of one of the world's most beautiful lakes: this is Lake Como. We'll explore quaint villages such as Bellagio, Varenna, and Menaggio, which combined with a stunning backdrop of snow-topped Alps create postcard-perfect sceneries.
An exclusive journey like no other to northern Italy, with intriguing and spell-binding destinations.
Start your memorable journey in cosmopolitan Milan, then be taken away towards the world-renown shores of Lake Como, where you'll settle into a charming boutique waterfront hotel, from where you will explore the picture-perfect villages by boat. Enjoy gazing at views of snow-topped Alps, bougainvillea, and sumptuous mansions reflected into its calm mirror-like waters. We'll take a leisure train ride through the Swiss Alps and see some of Switzerland's most breath-taking peaks, glaciers, and waterfalls.Continue your journey with a relaxing stay in a luxury villa in the heart of the Piemonte region, Le Langhe, where you'll be able to explore romantic hilltop villages and the world-class wineries of northern Italy. Take part in fun cooking classes, go truffle hunting with a local "Trifulau" and his dog, explore medieval Castles, savor local cuisine, and end this fascinating adventure in elegant Turin.
*Nada's Italy works with centrally-located
luxury boutique hotels of the highest quality standards and amenities,
which we regularly inspect and evaluate. For specific information about
accommodations selected for this tour, please contact us with your
travel dates.
Overview
- EXPLORE: Milan, Bellagio, Como, Menaggio, Varenna, St. Moritz (Switzerland), Turin, Le Langhe (Barolo, Barbaresco, Alba)
- Experience the laid-back Tuscan lifestyle with a small group of 6-12 travelers.
- Savor delicious home-made meals in family-owned trattorias with regional specialties.
- Stay in luxury boutique hotels overlooking Lake Como and the romantic vineyards of Piemonte.
- Learn to make traditional regional dishes during a fun cooking class.
- Visit an historic rice farm in Vercelli and learn about making the world's best risotto.
- Explore Milan's famous streets and sites, including the Duomo, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, upscale shops, and cafe's.
- Hop on the scenic Bernina Express train that will take us to St. Moritz, in the heart of the Swiss Alps.
- Visit off-the-beaten-path villages in the Langhe wine region.
- Tour a boutique winery in Piemonte, savoring the region's world-renown wines.
- Discover fairytale-like villages around Lake Como by boat and explore their lively piazzas, wine bars, and gelaterias.
- Meet a local truffle hunter who will show you how to find the highly sought-after fungus.
- Take a walking tour of Torino's most important sites including the Mole Antonelliana.
(Itinerary is subject to change with or without notice. The
sequence of day trips may vary. The final itinerary will be given on the
first day of the tour. Included meals are indicated at the bottom of
each day's description.)
Friday | Benvenuto : Welcome!
Welcome to Italia! Tonight you will rest in a luxury boutique hotel in the heart of Milan and relax after a long trip overseas. Regain your energies tonight to start the trip of a lifetime in one of Italy's most scenic regions. Located just a few steps away from amazing restaurants and Milan's major sites, this hotel will offer a warm welcome as you enjoy your first night in the capital of Italian fashion. Meet in the lobby for a group welcome dinner in a nearby restaurant.
Meals included: dinner
Saturday | Day 1 | Milan's Glamorous Lifestyle
After check-out, our expert local City Guide will take the group through Milan's famous streets and sites, including the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, full of upscale shops and liberty-style cafe's, then into one of Europe's most stunning gothic cathedrals: the Duomo of Milan. After the panoramic walk through Milan's historical center, you'll have some free time for lunch on your own. We'll then make our way north towards Lake Como, located in a distinctive area nestled between the Alps, Switzerland, and the Po Valley to the south. Enjoy breath-taking views from a lakeside boutique hotel, near the village of Menaggio. Before dinner, why not take a passeggiata, a leisurely walk along the shore of this amazing northern Italian lake? Enjoy a Welcome dinner and get to know your fellow travelers.
Meals included: breakfast, dinner
Sunday | Day 2 | Charming Lakeside Villages
Today we'll explore some surrounding villages around Lake Como by boat. Meet our local tour guide to explore the gardens of Villa del Balbianello near Tremezzo, and then on for a nice walk in the old town of Bellagio, before enjoying some free time, maybe some shopping and lunch on your own in this world-famous village. In the afternoon, explore Varenna, where its lively cafe's and art galleries offer plenty of chances to savor the local flare. Group dinner in a local restaurant near our hotel with regional specialties.
Meals included: breakfast, dinner
Monday | Day 3 | Panoramic Journey to the Swiss Alps
Make sure to bring your passport as we'll be crossing the Swiss border! We will depart the hotel and our drivers will take us to Tirano, on the Swiss border, to stretch our legs and taste some local specialties, before our train ride through the Alps.Now, are you ready to experience one of the most spectacular ways to cross the Alps? Here we’ll board a small train, the Bernina Express which crosses Europe’s highest railway, taking us to St. Moritz.You can enjoy one panoramic view after another, as the train passes by waterfalls, mighty glaciers such as the Morteratsch, climbing all the way up to view the 7,300+ ft high Bernina peak. This extraordinary itinerary is sure to take your breath away! We will spend a few hours in St. Moritz for some shopping and a stroll along the fairytale-like lake. A coffee break will be served in a spectacular restaurant, before reaching the train station From St Moritz, back on the Italian soil, we board again our vans and, on our way, back towards lake Como. Tonight dinner is paired with local food in a winery set on the slopes of the mountain overlooking the northern tip of the lake.
Meals included: breakfast, Aperitivo, dinner
Tuesday | Day 4 | Como and its Sumptuous Villas
Arrive in the city of Como where our local City Guide will introduce us to some hidden gems of this wealthy city with a suggestive medieval district. Enjoy a free afternoon to site-see, shop, and explore. We'll board a boat and cruise back to the hotel by some of the most magnificent Villas that were built around the lake by prominent families, who enjoyed luxurious and secluded retreats among peaceful gardens and hidden coves. For centuries, this territory has been an area of intense activity from people transporting merchandise between Central Europe and the Mediterranean. The characteristics of different cultures have highly influenced the local history, creating fascinating artistic traditions that are still carried on today. Spend the rest of the evening at leisure. Dinner on your own.
Meals included: breakfast,
Wednesday | Day 5 | The Rice & The Rolling Hills
Today we're leaving Lake Como and taking a scenic drive South, towards the Piemonte region. We’ll stop at a traditional rice farm near Vercelli, for lunch and a visit of its ancient risaia, where some of the most high-quality rice varietals in the world (arborio, carnaroli, vialone nano) are grown to be turned into the tastiest risotto from northern Italy! We continue to Le Langhe, a magical valley where time seems to have stopped and traditions still are carried out in the most authentic way. Arrival at our luxury boutique hotel, perched on a scenic point with views over the region's rolling hills, covered with rows of vineyards and dotted with small hilltop villages. Tonight we drive to the town of Barbaresco where the famous red wine is aged. After a picture by the medieval watching tower, your Journey Director will introduce you to some of the finest recipes of the region, in a well-known restaurant of the area.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Thursday | Day 6 | Le Langhe Villages & Wines
This morning we'll be joined by a local gentleman "trifulau", a truffle hunter, for a group walk through the woods. He will show us the techniques he uses with his dog to find the sought-after, highly esteemed white truffle of Alba. Later, we'll take a drive through the heart of the Langhe hills, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where the Barolo wine, is produced and patiently aged. Stop by fairytale-like medieval villages and enjoy some free time for lunch. Finally, we'll enjoy a private tour of a boutique winery and a tasting of four premium Italian wines like Dolcetto, Barbera, Nebiolo and the king of all wines, the Barolo! Tonight's traditional dinner will feature some dishes from the culinary tradition of Piemonte, one of the finest in the world.
Meals included: breakfast, tasting, dinner
Friday | Day 7 | Farm to Table Cooking Class
Today is dedicated to discovering local cuisine and getting to know local people. To start this lovely day in nature and culinary delights, we'll visit a family owned farm where we'll take a fun group cooking class, followed by a tasty group lunch. Then take the afternoon to enjoy some free time to relax, read a book, meditate, walk in nature, and lay out on a chair by the hotel’s private patio. Group gathers again in the hotel lobby for a group dinner.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Saturday | Day 8 | Alba Truffles and Chocolate
Our first stop today is Alba, a lovely town made famous for its culinary delights, including just about anything truffle-related, chocolate, wine and.. birthplace of an "Italian institution", Nutella! We'll take a stroll through town to discover its sites, including the Cathedral boasting a precious wooden choir of the XVI century and the colorful Saturday morning market. Then it's free time to explore and have lunch on your own. Early evening we will head to Torino, the capital of Piedmont and former Capital of Italy. After checking-in in the city center, follow our expert Journey Director on a late-afternoon walking tour of the city's most prominent sites, palazzos, piazzas, and attractions and end in an exclusive location for an early fine-dining experience.
Meals included: breakfast, dinner
Sunday | Day 9 | Torino, the Capital of Food
This morning join our expert local City Guide on a private tour of this astonishing city. Then we'll enjoy a tasty group lunch in one of Torino's cozy restaurants before saying goodbye to your Journey Director and enjoy a free afternoon. This is the final night of the itinerary...make it a special one!
Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Monday | Day 10 | Arrivederci! Until we meet and eat again!
Check-out from Hotel and... Arrivederci! Thank you for choosing Nada's Italy for your Italian adventure, we look forward to discovering more of this incredible country with you again soon!
Meals included: breakfast
What's included in the Northern Delights Tour:
- 1
Night in Milan + 4 Nights on Lake Como + 3 Nights in Le Langhe
(Piemonte) + 2 Night in Torino. A trip totaling
11 Days/10 Nights (depart the U.S. on Thursday and return on Monday.)
- This tour begins in Milan and ends in Turin.
- Small group travel! Maximum of 12 travelers per group.
- Fully escorted day trips with professional private drivers and full-time service of English-speaking Italian Nada's Italy Tour Director.
-
Meals included: all breakfasts, 5 lunches, 7 dinners (included meals are shown at bottom of the description for each day.)
- Beverages included:
bottled water, soft drinks (in limited amounts), coffee, and choice of red or white wine while at group lunches and dinners..
- Destinations included:
Milan, Lake Como (Varenna, Bellagio, Como), the
Swiss Alps (St Moritz and Chiavenna), the villages of Le Langhe (Alba, Barolo, Barbaresco), Turin (itinerary and
destinations may vary depending on time of year and are subject to
weather conditions).
- Unique Experiences: wine tours in
Piemonte wineries, cooking class in family farm, boat rides around Lake Como, guided tour of historical Villas on Lake Como (with entrance tickets), truffle hunting excursion with
local "trifulau", visit of a traditional rice
farm in Vercelli, train ride through the Italian & Swiss Alps, and much more.
- Private Transportation
for day trips and transfers in comfortable air-conditioned Mercedes
Executive vans (does not include: transfer from and to the airport,
airfare, or any other personal travel expenses).
- A+ Rated Customer Service With Nada's Italy you can rest assured that your travel experience will be completely stress-free. Your personal Journey Coordinator will
assist you with any additional services you may need, provide expert
packing and travel advice, and answer any questions you may have before
your trip.
- Return Traveler Program: receive up to $800 credit per person towards any future trips you take with Nada's Italy!
- No bag limit (many tour companies have a 1-bag limit per person).
- Taxes & Fees: Local VAT taxes and government fees, City Tax, gas, highway tolls, city access licenses and permits, parking fees.
- Staff & restaurant tips (additional gratuities can be given at the sole discretion of each individual traveler).
What's Not Included in Tour Package
Trip
price does not include airfare and anything that is not specified to be
included. Price does not include any personal related expenses or
travel-related expenses outside of the scheduled itineraries. The food
& wine that is included is what is presented during meals.
Before you sign up, please note the following:
>
The
first day of this tour is Friday (you will need to book your flight from
the USA on Thursday to get to Milan on Friday). The last day of this
tour is Monday (arrival in the U.S. is the same day of departure on your
way back). Some tours start and end in different cities, make sure to
book your flights accordingly.
> Airfare is not included.
Nada's Italy can assist with Business and First Class airfare. Please
let us know if you need information about arrival and departure airport
for this tour.
> Reminders, hotel information, and arrival
instructions will be sent only by email, please make sure we have your current email address.
> Transfers
to and from the airport are not included in the tour rate. Please
contact us if you'd like to add transfers to your tour package.
> You
must be in good physical condition to sign-up for this trip! There will be a lot of
walking uphill, downhill, walking over uneven pavement, and standing for
extended periods of time. An average walking tour is about 2-3 hours without sitting.
> Even though tips to staff and
restaurants are included, it is suggested that you put aside
approximately $100 (US) in combined gratuities for your driver &
Tour Director for your trip (and any voluntary additional restaurant
gratuities are at your discretion).
> Nada's Italy strongly
recommends that you purchase Travel Insurance for your trip. For
suggestions on policies and a quote, please contact us.
> You should know that
air conditioning in Italy, as well as WIFI connection, are not always as
reliable as they are in the United States.
> The hotel
staff
assigns rooms to guests, some rooms may include stairs. A view is not
guaranteed. As Nada's Italy works mainly with luxury historic inns and
small upscale boutique hotels, rooms differ in size and layout. In
general, Italian bedrooms and bathrooms are smaller compared to US
standards. Each room has its own en-suite
bathroom with shower and/or tub, hair-dryer, and basic toiletry set. Please
contact us if you have specific requests/needs.
> It is your
responsibility to obtain the required documents to travel to Italy,
please verify with your own country's travel laws and government
agencies. Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months after your return date.
> In
the unlikely event your tour does not reach the minimum participation
requirement of 6 travelers, we will work with you to choose another
available tour or tour date. We will do our best to make the transition
as smooth as possible.
> Add extra nights and extend your stay in this amazing country. Contact us for a quote (subject to availability).
> Please note: while we do our best to adhere to our published
itineraries, they may be changed at the discretion of the Tour Leader
due to weather conditions and any other unforeseeable circumstances.
>
Unless stated otherwise, all rates are per person, based on double
occupancy, land only, in USD, and subject to availability. Rates may
vary by departure date and are subject to change without notice. Nada’s
Italy reserves the right to correct any errors, inaccuracies or
omissions and to change or update rates, fees and surcharges at any time
without prior notice.