Indulgent Food and Wine Tour of Lake Como
What to expect on this itinerary
This luxurious 7-day getaway has been customized to uncover the delicious fare of the area and to lead you to the best areas around the lake. Luxuriate in Milan for a day before venturing to the gorgeous lakeside destinations of Como, Lenno, Bellagio, and Lecco. Literally, taste your way around the lake with sumptuous dinners and exclusive food tours that await you at every destination. A trip to Lake Como is a discovery of stunning landscapes and mouthwatering cuisine.
Customizable Itinerary
Milan – Walking Food Tour
Your luxurious 7-day getaway to discover the gastronomic secrets of Lake Como will begin when you land at Milan’s Malpensa Airport. When you land, you will be greeted and transferred to your luxurious accommodation in the center of the city. After settling in, an expert guide will lead you on an engaging walking food tour. One of the first stops will be a meat shop, where you will sample some of the finest cured meats, including Milanese salami. Next, you will visit a local restaurant, where you will learn about and taste some typical dishes of Milan. No meal would be complete without dessert, and your tour will culminate with a visit to a local bakery.
What's Included:
Como – Como Cathedral and Tiramisu Class
Como – Indulge in a Private Wine Tasting
Lenno – Tour of Tremezzina Villas
Bellagio – Pasta-Making Class
Lecco – Prosciutto and Cheese Factory Tour
Lecco – Depart for Home
Trip Highlights
- Immerse yourself in the flavors of Milan with an exclusive walking food tour of the city
- Discover the process of crafting tiramisu, which is a traditional Italian dessert, during a private cooking class
- Sip on some of the most delectable Italian wine, including red and white varieties, during a private wine tasting in Como
- Explore some of the stunning villas of the Tremezzina area, including Villa Balbianello and Villa Carlotta
- Uncover your inner chef as you learn how to make traditional pasta dough during an exclusive pasta-making course
- Indulge in visits to the lively neighborhoods of Bellagio, Pescallo, and Loppia
- Sample authentic prosciutto and mouthwatering cheeses, which are specialties of the area
Detailed Description
A culinary tour of Lake Como is an authentic discovery of the Italian culture and lifestyle. Your luxurious 7-day getaway will begin with one night in the captivating city of Milan. During your first afternoon, you will embark on an intriguing food tour through the city with a private guide. From Milanese specialties to sweet desserts, you will visit multiple culinary destinations and taste several mouthwatering dishes. Your excitement will build as you return to your accommodation and prepare to transfer to Lake Como.
On the second morning of the trip, you will depart Milan and begin the picturesque expedition to Como, which is a city situated on the southern coast of Lake Como. The first sights that you catch of the lake will be incredible. Upon your arrival, your expert guide will lead you on a private tour of the ancient Como Cathedral. After your memorable visit, you will venture to a local bakery for a hands-on cooking class that will teach you how to craft the delicious Italian dessert of tiramisu. This sweet treat will be the ultimate way to conclude your day. The following day will be highlighted with an excursion to the town of Brunate and an exclusive wine tasting. The views of Lake Como from Brunate are breathtaking, and every sip of wine will be utterly delightful.
The following morning, you will sail across Lake Como to the next destination of Lenno. Your engaging tour in the afternoon will lead you to some of the area’s incredible villas, including Villa Balbianello in Lenno and Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo. Elegance and sophistication will emanate from the walls as you travel through the gorgeous rooms. The day will conclude with a multi-course dinner at a lakeside restaurant. With amazing views and delicious food, you will indulge in another amazing night under the scenic guidance of Lake Como.
The next day, you will set sail for the idyllic village of Bellagio. A private tour of the village will immerse you in the lifestyle of the area. Later in the day, you will head to an authentic restaurant for a private pasta-making class. Professional chefs will teach you how to make traditional pasta dough, and you will then indulge in your appetizing creations for dinner. The next morning, you will travel to your final destination of Lecco, where you will explore the cuisine of the area with visits to prosciutto and cheese factories. Delectable scents and delicious bites at both destinations will make for another memorable day. Sadly, the next morning, a private transfer will lead you back to Milan’s Malpensa Airport for the return flight as your vacation comes to a wonderful close.
Starting Price
$2,600 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
The starting price is based on travel during the low season for a minimum of two travelers staying in shared 3-star accommodations. Please inquire for a custom trip quote based on your travel preferences and travel dates.
Verified Traveler Reviews
Based on 1507 reviews
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Overall, this trip was fantastic!! Everything was arranged for us to the point that we just had to show up and someone took care of us from there. Before departure, all of our vouchers were sent to us along with a detailed itinerary of each day and activity, down to the name of the person picking us up. If something changed, our travel agent thoughtfully texted us the new information. Yes, texted us, because we were provided with a phone that contained our itinerary and all of our vouchers along with a GPS program in case we got lost. We used the GPS a lot! If there were any issues I could easily call our agent or text him and he answered immediately, always!
All of our pick-ups were on time and in very comfortable cars with water provided. All of the drivers were extremely professional in their demeanor and appearance.
We also loved our guides in every city. I never imagined that this would be so intimate. I have only ever been in group tours where you get a headset and there are 25 or more people. There were 3 of us on this trip and it was the 3 of us with the guide. This allowed for questions and explanations that you could easily hear and understand.
The hotels, with the exception of Como, were superb with our favorite being in Florence at the Hotel Santa Maria Novella. Breakfast was always included and it was beautiful as well as delicious! I was sorry that we had booked Como. We had no activities planned there and I am not sure why so we were on our own. I also think it was the wrong time of year (March) to be going there as nothing was in bloom and there was a lot closed. Our guide in Milan told us that we could have done it as a day trip and she could have accompanied us. Oh well, this was the only piece that was not perfect, yet we still enjoyed it. It is a lovely little city on the lake. We took a water boat to Bellagio and walked around and then decided to take a local bus back. It was actually more scenic than the water boat.
The only other disconnect we had was the first day. We arrived at the hotel at 7am after a very long flight and our room was not ready. It took 3 hours to get something ready and it was not what we had booked but that was okay. In retrospect it might have been good to send us out on a city tour by car or bus to give us the big picture view and to kill time. Instead we sat in the warm lobby waiting and waiting.
As I said before, overall this was a fabulous trip. Being able to customize exactly where you want to go is invaluable. Working with our travel agent on getting our activities just right was so easy too. And being taking care of as we were was priceless!
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Firstly let me say this: Im a very well educated,travelled, sophisticated, and reasonably successful “independent’ thinking man. It had been my dream not to take some blasted ‘package’ but to go to Italy…something i had wanted to do since my college years when i minored in Italian at Columbia University….(but ran out of money like most who give up everything to attend the university of their dreams.
Trying to do this on the internet i lucked into Zacasso who referred me to this Italy travel company and lucked in again when i began working with Laura. You see…it meant so much to me to be working with a knowledgable Italian who knew my tastes were more ‘Italian’ and wanted to experience that which was authentic and of high and human culture.
Laura is quite simply the best travel professional…in my world!! She knows the Piedmont and part of my concentration was the mushrooming of the area, truffles. Yes i wanted something unique and extraordinary and in each case, there were three hunts, all were quite good. Furthermore…without behaving like a instructor she vastly helped me with
my Italian…a dream..speaking Italian after having minored in it at university….within this dream. Laura is sensitive, knowledgable, authentic, and unbelievably conscious of my doings often conveying really crucial info thru my email and messenger. It was NO SMALL PART attributable to Laura that this 30 year dream of mine came to such superb
execution.
Let me say a bit about each stage of the trip…hotels…etc.
Florence
Both times i stayed at some really charming boutique hotels…the former being a fav of poet TS Elliot who came from ST Louis…well we went to the same prep schools….but the hotel was old world aristocratic and superb experience. Although i lived in NYC and SF, Firenze is far more animated and tumultuous….im so glad i opted
for GPS…really shouldn’t allow someone to get in a car over there without it…took me right out to the resort. The Agriturisimo there…beautiful and isolated…was really set up for ‘wedding parties’ and such…so i went to the next town over Paoli for breakfast and see the real deal at the ‘Bar’ that also is the breakfast coffee place for the town.
the hunt and dinner was SO world class: they had a beautiful show with every type of sauce, apron, and gizmo under the sun….they let me go back into the kitchen to see the prep and the chef was most cordial…then they have an elegant dining area…and i had the most mind blowing 5 course truffle meal…well i had to take some home as i simply could eat it all. The guide was superb, a super truffle dog…we found 4 lickety split…when i got back to the lodge…i had to sleep…just not accustomed to these 2-3 hr cents!!
Venice
Is the most romantic and exotic city i ever visited…staying at a 500 year old palace…was genius…its out of the way…all the rooms are monstrous…the people are so cordial…great courtyards….a total riot. my tickets were right up front…the opera house Felice is the most beautiful imagined…one thing…you need a personal GPS in Venice…i have never been lost so many times in my life so yes my new iPhone 6 google map was ESSENTIAL> Trains were great…and got a superb sports car Lexus hybrid to race up to Lago Como in…
Lake Como
it took 4 hrs to find the b n b because the GPS is inaccurate and the host really didn’t go out of his way to put me right. The b n b was beautifully situated…its ideal to stay up on the hill as its quieter and more beautiful…the people…well there wasn’t any privacy…i was put in a room that was ALL PINK! and there were some noisy other people….i couldn’t lay down without the proprietor interrupting me for some item…one day a television man visit of one hour…i don’t watch television…the food and digs were most clean…but there were more ‘donts’ than dos…his only suggestion was to take a bus! to a pizza joint!!! so i cut out and went to Bellagio a great decision…i love that area and look forward to going back…but with more privacy and greater insight as to what is really fun to do there than just shop till i drop.
Alba
What a superbly run hotel here!!! they helped me with my wash ( no one else had!!! save the place in Colleoli…a bit)….everything was run like a 5 star…..the transfer people were EXTRAORDINARY…sorry i can’t remember her name…but she took me to the HEAD TRUFALAU and his super dog Rocky for a smashingly beautiful
day of truffling in the hills of Barberesco…across from Borrollo….a winos paradise. Turns out her family had a restaurant…really great one..and her husband was the chef…he took some fresh porcini i had purchased in Alba and turned the meal into a work of art experience even allowing me to see him prepare the sauce…that i have on video!! as a cook myself…its such an honor to be allowed into a professional kitchen..following my ******GUIDE EXTRAORDINAIRE*** a university of Torino art history grad…took me to a Romanesque church…******this was the highpoint of my Italy ‘ stay….she was professional…charming….extremely knowledgeable and could explain Charlemaignes influence in the area even down to what it means in current life….****this is what i had most wanted*** an insiders authentic full day experience of high and human culture. ***if i knew this persons name i would write her a separate recommendation as she was extraordinary..it was always this focus of art and civilization that i most enjoyed at Columbia and the reason it was chosen. Who could imagine…an isolated old Romanesque church in Piedmonte would answer my prayers?
The hotel had a very charming set up…though not to busy…most isolated but beautiful…again…chef very wonderful and prepared me a full truffle mean…it was a family place..the room itself was probably ordinary but the setting and all in all was still very high mark….****i left my beloved Corneliani linen travel jacket there…and Laura retrieved it and its being sent to me….can you ask for better service? Its new to me!
Milan
The hotel here…if you can find it…is a wonderful experience…the staff was a little stiff/big city…but it was so charming…everyone so first rate…restaurant courtyard room setting…best experience in weekdays as that area is a madhouse on weekends….La Scala…well tickets were not so great..up in a balcony next to stage over the pit…rather hard to
see the stage…but it was pretty wonderful…I really liked Milan and it was more like the city that i can relate too…as to the overwhlemingingness of Venice and Florence. The transfer very professional…id didn’t realize had to really get out of there as airport so far…so i ran quite a bit in that airport not getting my taxes refunded…think i can mail them in anyhow..Milan airport is the nicest one i believe i every saw in my life!!!
***it should be noted that preceding this i had spent a week biking the ‘hills’ of the Val dal Orcia…a real workout but got me properly ‘Tuscanized”….i was amazed how little spicing/seasoning is used in Italian cooking compared to what we do here in the USA…live and learn!
Hope this helps…Want you people to always be part of any trip i every take there…i want Laura’s cards to refer her within my sphere…..I want to thank you for doing such an exceptional job here…it was so better than expected…gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous!
Arriva Derci Y’all!!!
michael m
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If I could give more than five stars, I would.our agent at this Italy travel company put together a perfect trip for my husband and I. Hotels, guides, connections, drivers, restaurants and reservations, absolutely everything in Venice, Florence and Bellagio was seamless and beyond wonderful.
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The trip was great. The local guides were terrific. The Zicasso travel company was attentive.
It was not exactly the trip we were looking for. We had some major miscommunications. We wanted to stay in Bellagio. Our itinerary said we were in Bellagio. Our hotel, however, was not in Bellagio, but in a fairly remote town several miles from there. The hotel was on the lake, which we wanted, but it was not a great hotel, although the people were really nice. When I looked at the material that said we were going to Bellagio, they did indicate the address of the hotel was in Lezzeno. I did not know what that meant until I looked up some reviews of the hotel and found out how inaccessible it was. The agency did offer me a place twice as expensive in Bellagio, but wanted an immediate answer and I did not pick up the email in time.
The next hotel was in Monterosso. We had indicated we wanted a water view, so I assumed our choices had water views. About a week before our trip, I was told the hotel did not have a water view. I went online and found some places with water views, but was told that the agency did not serve those areas. When we got there, we found our hotel with no water view was not that great a hotel. It seemed more like a rooming house. To its credit, it did serve a great breakfast and again, the people were nice.
We had hoped Zicasso would find us better accommodations, which they did the last time we used Zicasso. I should say the hotel in Milan was terrific.
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