Hiking the Seiser Alm in South Tyrol, Italy

Visions of Northern Italy: Hiking and Touring Lake Maggiore, Dolomites, Italian Riviera

Ratings of Zicasso's Service
Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist

Countries Visited

Italy

Places Visited

Lake Maggiore, Bolzano, Portovenere, Lucca...

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Suggested Duration

10 Days

The Italian landscape offers endless surprises, from soaring mountaintops to tranquil lakes, sapphire seas to vast vineyards. Your customizable Northern Italy itinerary incorporates the charms of village life with the enchantment of the natural scenery. Austro-Hungarian architecture adorns the cobbled lanes of Bolzano. The homes of Cinque Terre nestle into the cliffs of the Maritime Alps. Stunning renaissance walls tower above the valley floors of Tuscany and wildflowers blossom along the alpine...

Customizable Itinerary

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Trip Highlights

  • Explore the unique Sacro Monte Trail, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to view the stunning historic chapels and captivating views of Lake Orta
  • Wander along the wildflowers and framing peaks of the Italian and Swiss Alps while traversing the Bullaccia Ring Trail and Seiser Alm meadow
  • Discover the distinctive blend of Austrian and Italian culture in the town of Bolzano, embodied in the Austro-Hungarian architecture and delicious cafes
  • Traverse the trails connecting the beautiful villages of Cinque Terre for insight into the culture and fabulous panoramas of the Ligurian coastline
  • Sample delicious wines of the Valpolicella DOC while on a tour learning the history of winemaking and the pride taken in cultivation
  • Listen to the monks of the San Miniato Abbey, located above Florence, chant in the early evening while enjoying the spectacular views of the city
  • Indulge in the luxury and elegance of the villages along the shores of Lake Maggiore in the Alpine Lakes District
  • Wander the galleries of the South Tyrol Museum of Archeology to find Ötzi the Iceman, the oldest preserved mummy in the world discovered to date
  • Follow the historic walls of Lucca and scale the elaborate towers for views of the treasured Tuscan landscape

Detailed Description

Explore the splendors of mountains, lakes, and sea along exciting trails and historical streets during your active 10-day itinerary in Northern Italy. The journey begins with your arrival at Milan-Malpensa Airport. Your private transfer greets you and escorts you into the Alps at Lake Maggiore in the town of Baveno. Indulge in the luxuries of your hotel with views of the water, taking the remainder of the day to settle into the charms of the lakeside city. The following morning, your guide leads you to Lake Orta to visit the streets of the town and take to the Sacro Monte Trail. Explore the 20 chapels and enjoy the panoramas of the lake before taking a boat to visit the abbey on San Giulio Island.

Travel to the Dolomites Mountains, stopping to tour the vineyards around the Valpolicella DOC wine-growing region. Traverse the trails lined by vines and sample the delectable creations before arriving in Bolzano for the evening. Next, you venture into the peaks of the Dolomites, taking a cable car to reach the town of Compatsch. Follow the Bullaccia Ring Trail around the high-altitude plain of Seiser Alm for spectacular panoramas. You experience the Austro-Hungarian and Italian culture of Bolzano, known for straddling the border between the countries. You can also visit the South Tyrol Museum of Archeology to view an ancient Bronze Age mummy.

Your guide greets you at the hotel and escorts you to the seaside town of Portovenere, located on the Gulf of Poets. The remainder of the day is at your leisure to enjoy the serene ambiance of the cobbled lanes and views of the water. You take to the fabled Cinque Terre trail, discovering the charisma of the five villages connected by a former herder’s path. Then, you travel to the walled city of Lucca in Tuscany.

Traverse the historical protective ramparts and climb the various towers of the city for views of the countryside before arriving in Florence. Your guide leads you on a spectacular tour of the renaissance city. Visit the Duomo and Santa Croce. Witness the endless displays of artwork. Listen to Gregorian chants at San Miniato and enjoy panoramas of the cityscape. On the final day, your private transfer greets you at the hotel and escorts you to Florence International Airport for your flight home.

Starting Price

$4,500 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service

4.9 stars based on 5894 reviews.

Italy, Greece Travel Review: Como, Bellagio, Wine Tour,...

The overall trip was great. The weather was terrific and the countries we visited had so much to see. Zicasso's tour company did a good job of balancing relaxation with fun. Each of the guides we had was so pleasant and shared so much information with us. They were very attentive to our needs.

Reviewed By Nisha V.

Italy Vacation Review: Florence, Rome, Truffle Hunt, Cooking...

Wow, where to begin. This trip was an absolute dream.

When I first spoke to Zicasso’s travel consultant, I told her my main travel concern: traveling with nine- and 15-year-old boys as a single mom in Italy. I was excited to take the trip with them, but I really needed something that was meticulously planned to take away the nerves of having to navigate alone with two kids. She listened and executed the most beautiful trip.

She planned activities that captured the attention and imagination of a fourth grader and a teenager. And the experiences were unique. Probably the highlight of the trip was a truffle hunt with the hunter and his dog in the countryside outside of Florence. My oldest wants to move to Florence and start hunting! We had a personalized cooking class, a private Vespa tour of Rome, and a delicious and informative art and food tour, among other amazing experiences. As we were sending photos back home, I got so many requests for our itinerary because it was so special and unique. Both boys were hard-pressed to choose which part they liked best.

The hotels she selected were beautiful, comfortable, and right in the heart of the cities and attractions we wanted to see. When we encountered a small hiccup (by our hotel, not our travel agent), I contacted her and she responded right away, getting us a free room upgrade and free dinner! We felt very taken care of.

Aside from the amazing activities and locations we saw, the trip was fantastic because everything was so seamless. We always had a private driver arranged, pre-booked train tickets, and even someone to make sure we made it on time for our flight home. I never had to worry about a thing. It was also telling that every tour guide we interacted with had only glowing things to say about our travel agent and her keen attention to detail and organization.

If you're planning on visiting Italy, this travel company is the travel agency you need to select. It takes any of the stress and guesswork out of the travel process, and all you have to do is show up and enjoy.

Thank you so much! You helped us make some amazing memories!

Stephanie

Reviewed By Stephanie S.

Italy 25th Anniversary Travel Review: Positano, Sorrento,...

This was possibly the best vacation we have ever taken. A fitting trip to mark our 25th anniversary, we will remember our days in Positano and Sorrento forever. Everything was perfect and the service and support were extraordinary.

Zicasso's travel specialist and the other people were always super-helpful and friendly. The hotels they chose for us in particular were exactly what we wanted. I can’t think of a single issue. Transport, transfers, etc., were perfect. The only bad part was that we had to return to normal life afterwards! We highly recommend our travel company to anyone! Grazie mille!

Reviewed By Mauro A.

Italy Trip Review: Amalfi Coast, Herculaneum, Vatican, Capri,...

We had a fantastic time and Zicasso's tour operator did an excellent job organizing every detail of our trip. Drivers and guides were always punctual, and the itinerary was perfectly balanced—full days, without ever feeling rushed.

Some real highlights for us were Herculaneum, the Pantheon, the Vatican, and our unforgettable Capri boat tour. Our guide brought Pompeii's history to life in a way that made it feel like stepping back in time and the Naples street food tour was delicious and nostalgic—her pizza fritta instantly took me back to the calzones I grew up with in Niles, Ohio. Our driver was with us for several days and made every transfer feel effortless.

There was a small hiccup at the very end with a trip planner, but it was minor compared to the overall quality of the trip. The organization, communication, and attention to detail throughout made this a truly memorable experience and we wouldn’t hesitate to book with this tour agency again. We had a fantastic time and the tour company did an excellent job organizing every detail of our trip.

Reviewed By James T.

Italy Vacation Review: Positano, Boat Tour, History, 16-Day...

I want to give a huge shoutout to Zicasso's trip coordinator. She was our coordinator through WhatsApp. She was always available, provided quick solutions and documents whenever we needed them. Given a few airline delays, we needed to adapt our itinerary rapidly and she always came in clutch.The itinerary was put together very fast, as we approached this travel company six weeks before our desired travel dates. We had an amazing time and all the activities were tailored to our interests. We would highly recommend them for any Italy travel.

Reviewed By Brad B.

Italy Tour Review: 9 Nights

It was very good and lived up to our expectations.

Reviewed By Sarpreet B.

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