Italian Lakes District Adventure

10 days

•

Start and end in Milan

5.0

16 traveler reviews

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The Dolce Vita is an excellent way to be hosted and genuinely taken care of. All this, whilst enjoying sumptuous Italian cuisine and their excellent wines.
V
Varina, traveled in September
5.0
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Operator: Active Adventures
Explorer: Curated to ignite your sense of adventure
Group Tour: Join a group and forge lifelong friendships
Partially Guided: Independent travel, featuring selected guided excursions
Low Intensity: Travelers can expect some light physical activities
Guided in English
Group Size 5 - 14
Ages 13+

Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Itinerary

Day 1
Milan to Alagna Valsesia
Start point
Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP), Jakarta, 11440, Indonesia (If you arrive on the first day of your trip, we can either pick you up from the Hotel Holiday Inn Express at 10:30am or the Milan Malpensa airport (MXP) at 11am.)
Meals
Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided visit to Sacro Monte di Varallo UNESCO World Heritage site
- Hike from hotel through Alagna village to mountain areas
Landmarks
Sacro Monte di Varallo
Monte Rosa
Day 2
Alagna Valsesia
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided hike through Alagna and Otro Valley (14 kilometres with 730m elevation gain)
- Lunch at mountain rifugio
Landmarks
Corno Bianco
Glacier of Otro
Day 3
Alagna Valsesia
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided hike in Alta Valsesia Natural Park
- Lunch at mountain rifugio
Landmarks
Alta Valsesia Natural Park
Monte Rosa
Day 4
Alagna Valsesia to Orta San Giulio
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Madonna del Sasso Sanctuary
- Hike from sanctuary to Pella (4.8 kilometres with 300m elevation gain)
- Boat ride from Pella to San Giulio Island
- Guided exploration of San Giulio Island and basilica
- Boat ride from San Giulio Island to Orta San Giulio
Landmarks
Madonna del Sasso Sanctuary
San Giulio Island
Lake Orta
Day 5
Orta San Giulio
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Sea kayaking on Lake Orta (10 kilometres)
- Guided walk to Sacro Monte chapels
Optional Activities
- Additional paddling with guides after returning to Orta San Giulio
Landmarks
Lake Orta
Sacro Monte d'Orta
Day 6
Orta San Giulio to Stresa
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike from Armeno to Mottarone summit (10.5 kilometres with 968m elevation gain)
- Visit Church of Madonna de Luciago
Landmarks
Mottarone
Church of Madonna de Luciago
Monte Rosa
Day 7
Stresa
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided hike in Val Grande National Park (8 kilometres with 430m elevation gain)
Landmarks
Val Grande National Park
Lake Maggiore
Day 8
Stresa to San Giovanni
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Boat ride to Varenna (optional)
- Hike to Vezio Castle (4.1 kilometres with 150m elevation gain, if taken)
Optional Activities
- Hike from Varenna to Vezio Castle
Landmarks
Lake Como
Bellagio
Varenna
Vezio Castle
Day 9
San Giovanni
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Sea kayaking on Lake Como (12.9 kilometres)
Landmarks
Lake Como
Day 10
San Giovanni to Milan
End point
Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP), Jakarta, 11440, Indonesia (On the last day of your trip we’ll drop you off at Milan Malpensa airport in time for afternoon flights. You can book a flight home departing anytime after 1pm on this day.)
Meals
Breakfast

Landmarks
Sacro Monte di Varallo
Monte Rosa

Landmarks
Corno Bianco
Glacier of Otro

Landmarks
Alta Valsesia Natural Park
Monte Rosa

Landmarks
Madonna del Sasso Sanctuary
San Giulio Island
Lake Orta

Landmarks
Lake Orta
Sacro Monte d'Orta

Landmarks
Mottarone
Church of Madonna de Luciago
Monte Rosa

Landmarks
Val Grande National Park
Lake Maggiore

Landmarks
Lake Como
Bellagio
Varenna
Vezio Castle

Landmarks
Lake Como

What's Included

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Accommodation
Guide
Meals
Additional Services

What's Not Included

Flights
Insurance
Transport

Operated by

Active Adventures

4.9

(2,679 reviews)

Number of tours

Age Range

6 to 99 years old

Response time

2 hours

Response rate

25%

Our aim is to share with you the grandeur of the outdoors, the joy of...

Cancellation Policy

A transparent overview of applicable fees.

Travel Insurance

Be covered for any unforseen circumstances.

Traveler Reviews

5.0

Overall rating based on 16 Reviews

Transport
4.9
Guide
4.9
Accommodation
4.5
Food
4.7
Tour Operator
4.9

A
Jacqueline
August 25th, 2016
5
Spectacular! There is just no other way to describe this trip. Gorgeous scenery, wonderful company and amazing...
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Traveled in July 2016
A
Lan
July 29th, 2018
5
This trip gave me a lot of fresh air and good feelings! I haven't had an experience like this before! Very good!
Traveled in June 2018
A
Christine
July 8th, 2018
5
No regrets. Not one bad thing to say. Jo and Andrea, our guides, were the best. They worked so well together. They...
No regrets. Not one bad thing to say. Jo and Andrea, our guides, were the best. They worked so well together. They were funny, encouraging, flexible. We were fortunate in only having five hikers. What a treat. If there were occasions you doubted your capabilities, Jo and or Andrea were there to help you through. The meals, (remember it’s pronounced Eataly) were outstanding. Accommodation was very good. Small local hotels were utilized. My experience was so good, I am now seriously considering Mt. Blanc or the Dolomites next year. Thank you Active Adventures.Show more
Traveled in July 2018
A
Melissa
July 8th, 2018
5
This was my second trip with Active and it won't be my last! The hiking in the mountains was unlike any hiking I have...
This was my second trip with Active and it won't be my last! The hiking in the mountains was unlike any hiking I have done before. It was stunning! The days spent kayaking were equally amazing. What's not to love when you get to kayak, get out to swim and drink espresso, kayak some more, take a break for a picnic lunch, kayak again, take a gelato break?! Nothing, I tell you! The scenery, food, guides, and travel companions all made for an amazing trip!Show more
Traveled in June 2018
A
Kelly
August 8th, 2018
5
The Dolce Vita trip was beyond amazing. Had an incredible journey as mother and daughter exploring the little known...
The Dolce Vita trip was beyond amazing. Had an incredible journey as mother and daughter exploring the little known gems in Northern Italy. Our guides were full of knowledge (was there anyone Andreas didn’t know?) and humour, especially our DBB, even helped me with my very shaky Italian. We were never short of adventure be it hiking up mountains or through valleys to stunning views, to paddling around and swimming in stunning lakes to finding a random cafe to stop for espresso or if the time was right a spritz. Now that I’m home it’s got me dreaming of Italy again. Thanks a million guys (especially our guides Jo, Andreas and Giuliano)!!Show more
Traveled in June 2018
A
Sandra
August 19th, 2018
5
This has been the most fantastic trip I have ever been on. I can pinpoint it to the fact that it turned out to be...
This has been the most fantastic trip I have ever been on. I can pinpoint it to the fact that it turned out to be genuinely personal in all respects. Not only were our 2 guides, Andrea and Jo Jo extremely personable, but their constant cooperation, collaboration, caring, fun loving ways and eagerness to exhibit and display the essence of Dolce Vita through customs, culture and food was always top of mind. Andrea shared knowledge of his homeland, mountain valleys and home turf proudly. We learned about mountain life, mountaineering and rescue and saw many spiritual sights. The choice of hotels was exquisite, each with their own charm. Thanks also to Julianno for bringing kayaks and his expertise all the way from Genoa. The shore lunch of fresh focaccia bread was especially delicious. Our kayaking days were unforgettable, with spectacular views and opportunities for refreshing swims in all 3 lakes. This trip had all 5 senses at work. We SAW spectacular views. We HEARD the sounds of cow bells in the meadows and rushing water in waterfalls and rivers. We SMELLED the fresh air of mountains and glaciers. We TASTED the amazing Italian food and drink especially the desserts at the urging of Jo Jo. Her adventurous spirit wanted us to enjoy every aspect. We FELT the amazing warmth and hospitality of all we met. We especially felt the coolness and silkiness of the refreshing waters of the 3 lakes. I will never forget this trip. Thanks to all.Show more
Traveled in July 2018
A
Andrea
August 22nd, 2018
5
The Dolce Vita trip was everything I hoped it would be. The guides were professional, knowledgable and responsive to...
The Dolce Vita trip was everything I hoped it would be. The guides were professional, knowledgable and responsive to the needs of each individual in our group. Jo, Andrea and Juliano took great care of us and shared all the beauty, culture and food the Lakes District had to offer. The hikes through the mountains and valleys, punctuated by the sounds of running water and cowbells, were breathtaking. I was surprised that our time in the quieter lesser known destinations, Alagna and Lake Orta, were my favorite parts of the trip. We had a very special moment when a large group from a family reunion cheered us on at the top of the mountain after our final long hike. On an especially hot day our guides gave us a choice of activities and we opted to visit beautiful gardens instead of a strenuous hike. Every day we ate and drank our way through delicious Italian cuisine. We had a wide variety of fresh fish and pasta, as well as daily treats of espresso, gelato and awesome desserts. This was my 5th Active trip and I'm hoping to try one more adventure next year.Show more
Traveled in July 2018
A
Julie
March 9th, 2018
5
Eataly, as our group called the trip, after a well-known food emporium in Italy and the United States, also describes...
Eataly, as our group called the trip, after a well-known food emporium in Italy and the United States, also describes one of the highlights of it. In addition to spectacular scenery especially near Alagna, the village closest to Switzerland, the hiking and kayaking were what I expected. Alas, I’m probably the first person to arrive on an Active Adventure hiking trip with a torn meniscus, the result of an immediately previous trip en route. As I was limited to kayaking, the guides, Jo, who I hiked with in New Zealand and known for being the very supportive ten-minutes-more guide, and the two Italian guides, Andrea for hiking and Guiliano for kayaking were excellent and extremely well-qualified. The accommodations, especially in Alagna and Bellagio were terrific, with a few glitches at a couple of others, the result of electric storms. La Dolce Vita was a sweet trip, easily accessible, and fun.Show more
Traveled in July 2018
A
Janet
September 19th, 2018
5
If hiking in some of the most breathtaking scenery and dipping your feet in the cool waters of Lake Orta or Lake Como...
If hiking in some of the most breathtaking scenery and dipping your feet in the cool waters of Lake Orta or Lake Como is your idea of ""living the good life"" then this is the trip for you. The guides were knowledgeable and took us to places that were interesting and beautiful. Our group had fun together and I loved how accommodating the guides were to give each person the experience they wanted based on their physical level. This was my third Active Adventure trip and I keep coming back because they are so well organized and make sure that you have a trip that will stay with you for years to come.Show more
Traveled in August 2018
A
Ivette
September 27th, 2018
5
The hike of Rifugio Crespi was my favorite! I loved the sound of the bells as we passed the herd of cows, the...
Show more
Traveled in August 2018

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Good to Know

Tour ID: 171896

Currency
€
Euro
Italy
Plugs & Adapters
As a traveler from USA, Canada, England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa you will need an adaptor for type L.
Type L
Italy
Visa
- Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
- Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
Payment information
- For any tour departing before June 14th, 2026 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after June 14th, 2026, a minimum payment of $500 is required to confirm your booking with Active Adventures. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 90 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
- Some departure dates and prices may vary and Active Adventures will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
- The following cards are accepted for "Active Adventures" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
Cancellation Policy
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- TourRadar is an authorized Agent of Active Adventures. Please familiarize yourself with the Active Adventures payment, cancellation and refund conditions.
Accessibility
Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveler, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team, who are ready and waiting to help you.
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Video

Italian Lakes District Adventure

No departure dates available

Itinerary

Milan to Alagna Valsesia

Included Activities

Alagna Valsesia

Included Activities

Alagna Valsesia

Included Activities

Alagna Valsesia to Orta San Giulio

Included Activities

Orta San Giulio

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Orta San Giulio to Stresa

Included Activities

Stresa

Included Activities

Stresa to San Giovanni

Included Activities

Optional Activities

San Giovanni

Included Activities

San Giovanni to Milan

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What's Included

What's Not Included

Your Peace of Mind Options

Cancellation Policy

Travel Insurance

Traveler Reviews

No departure dates available

Good to Know

Video

Keep Exploring Italy

Italian Lakes District Adventure

No departure dates available

Itinerary

Included Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Want to read it later?

What's Included

What's Not Included

Your Peace of Mind Options

Cancellation Policy

Travel Insurance

Traveler Reviews

No departure dates available

Good to Know

Video

Keep Exploring Italy

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