Tour highlights:
- Venice;
- Cortina D'Ampezzo;
- Menaggio;
- Monterosso;
- Varenna;
- Bellagio (Lake Como);
- Vernazza ;
- Corniglia;
- Manarola;
- Riomaggiore (Cinque Terre).
(Grade of walks/hikes rated from "1" to "10" ( "1" being the equivalent of a city stroll on flat land and "10" the equivalent of rock climbing with pitons, ropes, & such)
Important: Only people who are in fit and good physical condition for walking & hiking should join this tour
Your Itinerary
Day 1- Venice
Arrive at Venice Marco Polo airport and transfer independently by easy & frequent airport shuttle bus to Piazzale Roma in Venice. A short walk to your select 3-star hotel by a quiet canal.
Then a spectacular vaporetto (waterbus) ride on the Grand Canal, a walk around Piazza San Marco, the Basilica, Bridge of Sighs, and much more. Return to our hotel or more exploration through the maze of streets that make Venice (along with the canals of course) the most unique city in the world! Welcome-to-Venice-and-Italy dinner. Includes: (D)
Day 2 - Venice
This morning a short walk to visit the very interesting and huge basilica of the Frari (entrance incl.). We'll enjoy the architecture, the history, and some of the best masterpieces by Tiziano Vecellio (Titian), Tintoretto, Donatello, Bellini & others. Then, a very nice stroll to the famous Ponte di Rialto (the Rialto Bridge) where we'll take a break to admire this beautiful construction and to enjoy the interesting "mixed" market around it. Then a leisure walk to Piazza San Marco to take a good look at the beautiful Gothic/Byzantine basilica, the Campanile (bell tower), the Bridge of Sighs and more. We'll walk up (inside St. Mark's Basilica) to admire the famous Quadriga (entr. incl.), the four Roman bronze horses dating back to the 2nd century AD, and for great views of the city. Here we'll end our guided activities. Rest of the day is free to begin your shopping or perhaps to visit the island of Murano for fantastic blown glass or the island of Burano for hand-made lace, or to the secluded island of Torcello where Ernest Hemingway wrote one of his famous books while staying at the beautiful Locanda Cipriani (still there) and while enjoying several trips to the famous Harry's Bar also owned by the Cipriani family. Includes: (B)
Day 3 - Cortina D'Ampezzo
Right after breakfast, our motorcoach will pick us up and we'll drive over the breathtaking mountain passes of Pordoi and Falzarego to Cortina d'Ampezzo located in a wide valley and enclosed by the high peaks of the Dolomiti (Dolomites). This magnificent range of mountains, called after the French geologist and mineralogist Deodat Dolomieu, is one of the most breathtaking and visited parts of the Italian Alps. Cortina itself is an internationally renowned tourist center and was the seat of the 1956 Winter Olympics. Check-in at our very nice hotel situated just outside town near the woods. After check-in, a first walk (along the woods) to downtown Cortina and a good visit. A walk back to our hotel and, later, a great dinner with specialties of the Dolomite area. Includes: (B) (D)
Day 4 - Cortina D'Ampezzo
Today a wonderful walk/hike: Tre Cime di Lavaredo (Lavaredo Three Peaks). (Grade 3 to 5 (out of 10) - average time 4 hours - max elevation 8100 ft.) Great views of these three magnificent peaks from different viewpoints. Perhaps we'll also be able to admire the "Alpine glow" during the setting sun which gives these limestone and magnesium mountains (once covered by the sea) fantastic hues of yellow, purple, and red. Includes: (B) (D)
Day 5 - Cortina D'Ampezzo
An interesting hike. We’ll start from a trail near our hotel and walk/hike to Mietres, walking & hiking in the woods by the Pomagagnon Mountain. (Grade 3 to 5 (out of 10)- average time 3 hours - max elevation about 5600 ft.) We’ll get back to Cortina around noon. Rest of day is free for shopping or for more exploration. Includes: (B) (D)
Day 6 - Menaggio (Lake Como)
Right after breakfast, our minibus will pick us up and we'll drive to Menaggio on the breathtaking Lago di Como. We'll check in at our select & charming 3-star hotel by the lake and then we'll take a boat to visit the lovely towns of Varenna and Bellagio . Return to our hotel in the afternoon for a walk by the lake or just for relaxation. Free evening. Includes: (B)
Day 7 - Menaggio (Lake Como)
This morning, we'll take a stroll around Villa Melzi, one of the most interesting neoclassic examples in Lombardy. Free evening. Includes: (B)
Day 8 - Monterosso (Cinque Terre)
This morning we'll drive down the spectacular Italian Riviera and the Cinque Terre National Park. We'll check in at our select 3-star family hotel in Monterosso and, shortly after, we'll begin our adventure by taking the local train to Riomaggiore (the easternmost of the Cinque Terre) and then a great walk/hike above the crashing waves (Grade: 1 to 4 (out of 10)- 3 miles - max elevation: 450 ft. - time: about 2 hours). We’ll end up at Corniglia after passing through Manarola. Free evening. Includes: (B)
Day 9 - Monterosso (Cinque Terre)
Today, train to Corniglia. Then another wonderful hike by the crashing waves (Grade: 2 to 5 (out of 10) - 3 miles - max elevation: 850 ft. - time: about 2 hours) to Vernazza. Some time to explore this lovely town (perhaps the best of the Cinque Terre) and then we'll end our hike in Monterosso. Return to Monterosso by train. Farewell dinner with local specialties. Includes: (B) (D)
Day 10 - Your flight home
After breakfast, transfer independently to the airport of Florence or Genoa or to your next destination. Includes: (B)
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Single Supplement $345
Cost of the tour includes:
- 9 nights lodging, double occupancy;
- 5 dinners (all with local specialties, wine and/or mineral water);
- Transfers by comfortable motor-coach from city to city;
- Round-trip boat ride on Lake Maggiore from Stresa to the Isolabella; Lake Como from Bellagio to Varenna and Menaggio;
- Local transportation, as needed, in Cortina to and from trail-head;
- 3 entrance fees: Villa Melzi (Lake Como), Frari Basilica and Quadriga, (Venice);
- "Basic" tips to waiters, guides, porters, drivers, etc.
- The services of an experienced tour guide;
- Detailed trail maps & a Venice map;
- Includes a lifetime membership in "The Italian Lovers Club" (featuring a 3% discount on all future tours).
Cost of the tour does not include:
- Air transportation;
- Baggage handling;
- Personal expenses & Additional meals;
- Gratuities to tour director and hotel staff;
- Anything not expressly mentioned under “Cost of the tour includes”.
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