Itinerary
- Day 1
Milan to Locarno
Your trip kicks off departing Milan for Lake Como where you'll take a boat across to Lenno. After that, you'll cross into Switzerland and check out Lugano before heading to Locarno for the night. The drive gives you good views of the Alpine landscape, and you'll get a real feel for how the terrain shifts as you move between countries.
Included Activities
- Boat trip across Lake Como to Lenno
Optional Activities
- Explore Lenno during free time
- Visit Lugano and discover Swiss, Italian, and Mediterranean culture
Landmarks/POIs Lake Como Lenno Lugano - Day 2
Stresa - Locarno
After breakfast, you'll head back into Italy and make your way to Stresa on the lake. There's an option to visit Isola Bella if you want to see the palace and gardens there. Later you can stop by the Sacro Monte of Ghiffa, which has a bunch of chapels with views down over Lake Maggiore. You'll return to Locarno for another night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Sacro Monte of Ghiffa
Optional Activities
- Optional tour to Isola Bella including gardens and Palazzo Borromeo
- Stroll through gardens at Sacro Monte of Ghiffa
Landmarks/POIs Stresa Isola Bella Palazzo Borromeo Sacro Monte of Ghiffa Lake Maggiore - Day 3
Locarno to Lausanne
This morning you'll leave Locarno and stop briefly in Santa Maria Maggiore for photos. Then you're heading up to the Simplon Pass, which is historically significant and offers great views. The main event is a round-trip train journey to Zermatt where you'll see the Matterhorn. From there you'll drive to Lausanne for your overnight stay.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Return train tickets from Tasch to Zermatt
Optional Activities
- Photo stop in Santa Maria Maggiore
- Admire panoramic mountain views and Matterhorn from Zermatt
Landmarks/POIs Santa Maria Maggiore Simplon Pass Zermatt Matterhorn - Day 4
Gruyeres - Gstaad - Lausanne
You'll start in Gruyeres to walk through the medieval town and learn how they make Gruyere cheese. After that, you're off to Gstaad, an Alpine village with its own character. If you're interested, there's a chance to visit Chillon Castle near Montreux on the way. You'll be back in Lausanne by evening with time to yourself.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Explore charming medieval town of Gruyeres
- Enjoy panoramic views of the Saane Valley
- Visit Gstaad Alpine village
- Optional excursion to Chillon Castle near Montreux
Landmarks/POIs Gruyeres Saane Valley Gstaad Chillon Castle - Day 5
Lausanne to Interlaken
The entire day is yours to spend in the Lauterbrunnen valley. You can take mountain peak train rides, go for walks, or do other outdoor activities depending on what appeals to you. Later you'll travel to Interlaken, a resort town surrounded by mountains, where you'll stay for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Scenic walks in Lauterbrunnen
- Mountain peak train rides
- Explore Lauterbrunnen Valley of 72 Waterfalls
Landmarks/POIs Lauterbrunnen Interlaken - Day 6
Interlaken to Milan
You'll travel through the UNESCO Biosphere Entlebuch with Alpine views and grazing cows throughout. Your guide will help find a good lunch spot, possibly in Altdorf, which is connected to the William Tell legend. By evening you'll reach Bellinzona where you can explore the UNESCO castles or just relax before heading to Milan.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Lunch at a recommended spot (possibly Altdorf)
- Explore ancient UNESCO heritage castles in Bellinzona
- Relax in Bellinzona town
Landmarks/POIs UNESCO Biosphere Entlebuch Altdorf Bellinzona - Day 7
Milan
This is a free day to explore Milan however you like. You could see Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper at Santa Maria delle Grazie, check out the Gothic Duomo cathedral, or shop at Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and the Quadrilatero della Moda. Don't miss the Milanese tradition of having an aperitivo before dinner in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- View Da Vinci's Last Supper at Santa Maria delle Grazie
- Explore the Duomo cathedral
- Window shopping at Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
- Shop in Quadrilatero della Moda
- Enjoy aperitivo ritual with locals
Landmarks/POIs Santa Maria delle Grazie Duomo Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II Quadrilatero della Moda - Day 8
Cinque Terre
Your new guide and group meet you at 8:15am at the hotel. You'll head to La Spezia, which is the gateway to Cinque Terre, then take a train to explore the seaside towns. Pick between Monterosso if you want beaches, Manarola for wine, or Riomaggiore, Vernazza, or Corniglia for the views. Train back to La Spezia for your overnight stay.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Train to Cinque Terre as part of the Cinque Terre Card
- Return train from Cinque Terre to La Spezia
Optional Activities
- Explore Monterosso for beaches and scenic seafront
- Visit Manarola and taste local wines
- Discover Riomaggiore, Vernazza, or Corniglia for breathtaking views
Landmarks/POIs La Spezia Cinque Terre Monterosso Manarola Riomaggiore Vernazzo Corniglia - Day 9
La Spezia to Florence
Departing La Spezia in the morning, you'll stop in Pietrasanta where Michelangelo got his marble. Next you'll spend a couple hours in Pisa seeing the famous Leaning Tower and the Romanesque architecture at Campo dei Miracoli. Then it's on to Lucca where you can walk the preserved city walls and explore the squares before reaching Florence for two nights.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Stop in Pietrasanta (Michelangelo's marble source)
- Explore Pisa independently
- View the Leaning Tower of Pisa
- Lunch at Campo dei Miracoli
- Admire architectural marvels at Campo dei Miracoli
- Stroll Lucca's city walls
- Explore Lucca's charming squares
Landmarks/POIs Pietrasanta Leaning Tower of Pisa Campo dei Miracoli Lucca - Day 10
Florence
You have the full day free in Florence. There's the Duomo cathedral if you want to see it, and the Uffizi Gallery and Galleria dell'Accademia both have Renaissance works. Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens are another option, or you could just spend time trying local pasta, pizza, gelato, and wine. The squares are lively and there are good restaurants for dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- View the Duomo cathedral
- Explore the Uffizi Gallery
- Visit Galleria dell'Accademia
- Discover Palazzo Pitti
- Explore Boboli Gardens
- Sample local delicacies and gelato
- Enjoy restaurants and bars in the city
Landmarks/POIs Duomo Uffizi Gallery Galleria dell'Accademia Palazzo Pitti Boboli Gardens - Day 11
Florence to Montepulciano
Leaving Florence, you'll head into Tuscany through the Chianti wine region passing medieval hill-towns. You'll stop in San Gimignano, which has 14 towers rising above it, and have a relaxed lunch with local food. After that comes Siena with its distinctive shell-shaped Piazza del Campo. You'll then drive through scenic country roads to Montepulciano for a two-night stay.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Explore San Gimignano and its towers
- Learn about noble families' tower-building competition
- Enjoy leisure lunch in San Gimignano
- Savor local delicacies
- Explore Siena and Piazza del Campo
Landmarks/POIs Chianti San Gimignano Siena Piazza del Campo Montepulciano - Day 12
Val d'Orcia - Montepulciano
Morning time is free to explore Montepulciano on your own. Then you'll go to the UNESCO-listed Val d'Orcia to visit Pienza, which is an Ideal City and UNESCO World Heritage Site. An included wine tasting happens at a winery there. You'll also check out the ancient thermal spa at Bagno Vignoni with its hot springs before heading back to Montepulciano in the early evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Wine tasting and tour of the Solaria Winery
Optional Activities
- Explore Montepulciano in the morning
- Visit UNESCO-listed Pienza (Ideal City)
- Explore Bagno Vignoni ancient spa
- See therapeutic hot springs
- Trace spring waters through archaeological park
Landmarks/POIs Val d'Orcia Pienza Bagno Vignoni - Day 13
Montepulciano to Rome
You're leaving Tuscany and heading south to the Maremma region. There's an option to explore Etruscan sites like the Sovana Necropolis and the ancient Vie Cave, which are Bronze Age roads carved from tuff. Medieval Sovana works well for lunch and free time. Then you'll head to Capodimonte on scenic Bolsena Lake before finishing your journey with an evening arrival in Rome.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Explore Sovana Necropolis and Etruscan history
- Walk the Vie Cave (Bronze Age roads)
- Explore medieval Sovana
- Lunch in Sovana
- Visit Capodimonte on Bolsena Lake
Landmarks/POIs Maremma Sovana Necropolis Vie Cave Sovana Capodimonte Bolsena Lake
