Great Italian Lakes Tour, Italy departing from Quebec

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The “Les grands lacs italiens” tour at a glance

Les grands lacs italiens (The Great Italian Lakes) is a 7-day, 6-night Club Med Discovery tour of northern Italy, listed under the Nature Escape theme. It begins in Meina, on the shore of Lake Maggiore, and ends with a transfer to the Milan airport. The highlights: the hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso clinging to its cliff, the Borromean Islands visited by private boat, the gardens of Villa Taranto and San Giulio island on Lake Orta, then Bellagio and a cruise on Lake Como, before a day in Milan between the Duomo, La Scala and Sforza Castle. You spend all six nights in the same place, Villa Paradiso, a 4-star hotel in Meina. Full board with a drink at meals, travel in an air-conditioned vehicle, guided visits and a French-speaking local tour guide are included.

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How does the tour unfold, day by day?

On day 1, you settle in at Villa Paradiso in Meina, on the shore of Lake Maggiore. On day 2, a 75 km loop leads to the hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso, built into the cliff above the water, then to the Rocca d'Angera and Arona. Day 3 is spent on the lake: a private boat takes the group to the three Borromean Islands, Isola Bella, Isola Madre and Isola dei Pescatori, the fishermen's island. On day 4, over 95 km, you visit the gardens of Villa Taranto, then reach Lake Orta and San Giulio island.

What are the Como and Milan days like?

Day 5 is the longest outing, 215 km round trip to Lake Como: a guided visit of Como, a stop in Bellagio, on the point that divides the lake's two arms, and a cruise on its mountain-ringed waters. Day 6 is devoted to Milan, 150 km round trip: Sforza Castle, La Scala opera house and the Duomo, the great white marble cathedral. On day 7, a transfer takes the group to the Milan airport. To plan this city day, read our page visit Milan.

Why do you stay in the same hotel the whole time?

It is one of this tour's great strengths: six nights at Villa Paradiso, a 4-star hotel in Meina, or a similar hotel. You unpack only once, and each morning you head out on an excursion, returning in the evening to the shore of Lake Maggiore. The pace is relaxed, designed for those who want to see a lot without rushing. Evenings are spent at the table with the group, facing the lake, rather than in a vehicle between two hotels.

What is included and what costs extra?

Full board runs from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 7, with a local drink or a soft drink at every meal. Travel in an air-conditioned vehicle, the private boat to the Borromean Islands, the Lake Como cruise and the guided visits on the program are included, as are taxes and service charges. Paid separately: international flights, transfers between the airport and the hotel, extra drinks, tips and insurance. Your advisor books flights and transfers together with the tour.

Who travels with the group during the tour?

A French-speaking local tour guide stays with the group from the first day to the last, and French-speaking site guides take over at the major stops, in Como as in Milan. Discovery tours run in small groups, with departures guaranteed from the first booking: once your seat is confirmed, the trip goes ahead. Assistance is available 24 hours a day throughout the trip.

Who is this tour made for?

It will appeal to travellers who love gardens, lakeside villas and stone villages. Distances stay short, about 535 km of road in a week, and walking is limited to visits of gardens, islands and historic centres. It makes a good first tour experience, for a couple as well as for friends travelling together. Photography lovers are rewarded at every bend in the road, especially from the boat.

What is the best season for the Italian lakes?

Your advisor tells you which departures are available and helps you pick the right one. In spring, the gardens of the Borromean Islands and Villa Taranto are in full bloom, with azaleas and camellias. Summer is warm and bright, the season of long evenings by the water. In early fall, the mountains around Lake Como take on their colours and the boats are still running. To learn more about the country, read our guide travel to Italy from Quebec.

How do you get to Lake Maggiore from Quebec?

You fly from Montreal to Milan, with or without a connection depending on the season. Meina is a short distance from the Milan airport, and the tour ends with a transfer to that same airport, which keeps the round trip simple. Arrival transfers are booked separately: your advisor adds them to your file so someone is waiting for you. A valid Canadian passport is required, and your advisor checks the entry requirements at the time of booking.

Which Club Med resort pairs well with this tour?

To stay in Italy and add the sea, Club Med Cefalù, in Sicily, is the most logical choice. Perched on a rocky headland facing the Rocca, with an infinity pool over the Tyrrhenian Sea, it is the first Exclusive Collection resort in the Mediterranean. The transfer from Palermo takes about 1 hour 30 minutes. See our page Club Med Cefalù and all of our Club Med resorts in Europe. And if Sicily calls you for another tour, look at Vestiges et saveurs de Sicile.

Why book this tour with AquaTerra?

Our advisors organize everything around the tour: flights to Milan, the transfer to Meina, an extra night if you arrive early, then a seaside stay to finish. One file, one person to call, from departure to return. To compare, see all our Club Med tours and the Europe, Africa and Middle East selection, where you will also find the Escapade sud de la Sicile.

Call 1-866-628-6241. You will reach someone who knows this tour and has time for you. We look together at what is available on your dates, we choose the right departure, and we stay on the line throughout your trip. That is the difference between booking alone in front of a screen and travelling with someone behind you.