Italian Lakes, Alps & Dolomites - 9 Days

Welcome to Milan! On arrival, you will be collected at the airport and transferred to the hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore Italy's fashion capital.

Milan - St Moritz (Switzerland) - Tirano (Italy) - Milan. After breakfast, we meet our driver and travel to the Swiss resort town of St. Moritz, where you have some free time to explore at your own pace.

Later, we board the Bernina Express for one of the world’s most scenic train journeys through the Swiss Alps. Along the way, we pass charming alpine villages, dramatic tunnels, and stunning mountain views as we cross the Bernina Pass towards Tirano. On arrival, our driver will be waiting to take us back to Milan.

Enjoy some free time this morning to explore Milan at your own pace. In the afternoon, we meet our local guide for a three-hour walking tour through the heart of the city. We begin at Porta Venezia, a historic gate with medieval and Roman origins, before continuing along Corso Venezia. Our walk takes us through the Giardini Indro Montanelli, past the Galleria d’Arte Moderna, and along Viale Manzoni. From the outside, we see the world-renowned Teatro alla Scala before admiring the striking façade of Milan’s Cathedral (Duomo).

The tour concludes at Castello Sforzesco, a medieval fortress, where we finish with a relaxing aperitivo. You then have free time before returning to the hotel.

Milan - Peschiera del Garda - Trento - Bolzano. Say goodbye to Milan as we depart for Peschiera del Garda, a charming town on the southern shore of Lake Garda. From here, we continue to Trento to admire the striking Castello del Buonconsiglio and the Cathedral of Santa Maria Maggiore. After free time for a leisurely lunch, we follow Italy’s oldest wine route to Caldaro (Kaltern), a village renowned for its lake and wine production. Our day concludes with arrival in Bolzano.

Bolzano - Merano - Vipiteno - Bolzano. After breakfast, we travel to Merano, a town celebrated for its Christmas market. We explore the old town before you have free time to enjoy lunch. In the afternoon, we continue to Vipiteno, a picturesque town known for its medieval architecture. There's free time here for you to explore.

Later, we return to Bolzano to see the Gothic-style Duomo and walk along Via dei Portici, the city’s historic heart. The evening is free for you to explore further or relax at leisure.

Bolzano - Bressanone - Brunico - Lake Braies / Anterselva - Cortina d'Ampezzo. Today, we begin with a visit to Bressanone, a charming town in the Eisack Valley, noted for its 10th-century cathedral and its distinctive Austrian-Italian character. We enjoy the local wines and the serene Alpine atmosphere before continuing to Brunico, where colourful medieval streets and panoramic views from Kronplatz mountain await.

In the afternoon, we visit the beautiful Lake Braies, framed by the dramatic Dolomite peaks. If Braies is inaccessible, we instead visit Lake Anterselva, equally famous for its scenic views. We end the day in Cortina d'Ampezzo, where dinner is included at the hotel.

Cortina d'Ampezzo - Lake Misurina - Lake Dobbiaco - San Vito di Cadore - Cortina d'Ampezzo. Today, we set out to explore the stunning surroundings of Cortina d’Ampezzo. We enjoy panoramic views of the Dolomite Mountains, including the iconic Tre Cime di Lavaredo.

Our journey continues to Lake Misurina, the largest natural lake in the area, renowned for its breathtaking mountain backdrop. We then visit Lake Dobbiaco, known for its striking emerald-coloured waters. From here, we drive to San Vito di Cadore, a charming village framed by the UNESCO-listed peaks of Mount Antelao and Mount Pelmo.

Later, we return to Cortina, where you have free time to relax before dinner at the hotel and an overnight stay.

Cortina d'Ampezzo - Bassano del Grappa - Milan. Leaving Cortina, we travel to Bassano del Grappa, a charming town at the foot of the Venetian Prealps. As we walk through its cobbled streets, we see medieval towers, elegant Venetian palaces, and traditions shaped by centuries of mountain culture. A highlight is the iconic Ponte degli Alpini, designed by Andrea Palladio, which spans the Brenta River and offers postcard-perfect views.

We then visit the Museo della Grappa to learn about the origins of Italy’s famous distillate, with a tasting session included to showcase local craftsmanship. After our visit, we continue on to Milan. The final night of your northern Italy tour is at leisure.

Your tour comes to an end today. Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before check-out and an included transfer to the airport.