Milan & the Italian Lakes

Gardens & Villas

September 13 - 20, 2026

Join us on this special journey to the Italian Lakes. Enjoy Lake Maggiore and Lake Como by private boat, visiting magnificent villas and gardens at a leisurely pace. We have arranged exclusive out of hours access to public sites in addition to lunch in a private villa. Our hotels are located in charming walkable towns with plenty of shops and restaurants.

DETAILS

WAITLIST ONLY

Double Occupancy with Lake View Room: $8,800 per person

Single Occupancy with Park View Room: $10,900 per person

Single Occupancy with Lake View Room: $12,400 per person

Dates: Tour begins the morning of September 13th. Arrive in Milan at least the day before. Depart anytime on May 20th.

Length: 7 nights

Group Size: Maximum 15

Tour Themes: Gardens. Villas. Food.

To Join the Waitlist, please fill out the following form or contact laura@wingbacktravel.com. We will confirm your place on the list and you will notified if a spot becomes available. Those on the waitlist will receive early access when this tour is offered again.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • EXCLUSIVE ACCESS

    The Italian Lakes are one of the most visited regions of Italy. We have arranged special experiences to make the most of our trip: lunch at a privately-owned villa, early hours access to the Palazzo Borromeo, cruising Lake Maggiore and Lake Como by private boat.

  • FRESCOED VILLAS

    We will visit plenty of Italian gardens on this trip (Villa Balbianello, Villa Carlotta, and Villa Taranto to name just a few!), but we also visit several stunning Renaissance and Baroque palaces including the Villa della Porta Bozzolo (pictured above).

  • LUNCH AT VILLA D'ESTE

    The Villa d’Este is another of the region’s iconic estates. Built during the Renaissance, it is now a hotel with a fabulous restaurant, Verandah. After our multi-course lakeside lunch, we’ll also explore the property’s Baroque gardens.

ITINERARY

Subject to change.

Sunday, September 13

  • Our driver will meet us at 10:30am this morning at the Excelsior Hotel Gallia in Milan. We then head straight to Lake Maggiore, with a visit to the Gardens of Villa Taranto. Then it is a short drive to Stresa, our home for the first three nights.

Monday, September 14

  • This morning we visit the privately owned Villa Cicogna Mozzoni. Owner Jacopo will guide us through the frescoed interior and then we will enjoy lunch together at the villa. This Renaissance hunting lodge was built by Jacopo’s ancestors in the 15th century. The gardens date to the 16th century. We will return to Stresa in the afternoon and you will have the evening free to explore the town.

Tuesday, September 15

  • Today we tour Lake Maggiore and the Borromean Islands by private boat! We begin with a private before-hours visit to the Baroque Palazzo Borromeo at Isola Bella. After time to explore the opulent Renaissance gardens and the charming town, our boat takes us to Isola Madre. We’ll have lunch together, then a guided tour of the 16th-century palace andbotanical gardens. Return to Stresa in the late afternoon.

Wednesday, September 16

  • This morning we check out of our hotel in Stresa. On our way to Lake Como, we stop at the Villa della Porta Bozzolo, a Renaissance country villa with fabulous frescoes and a classic Italian garden. We then enjoy lunch lakeside at a charming restaurant on right on Lake Como. Afterwards, it is a short drive to Bellagio, our home for the next two nights.

Thursday, September 17

  • Today we tour Lake Como by private boat! We begin with a private tour at the Villa Balbianello. Jutting out into the lake, this 18th-century mansion is surrounded by gardens that seem to tumble into the water below.

  • Next we head up the lake to the Villa Carlotta, where we will have a casual lunch together before a private tour of the Neoclassical palace. After free time to explore the botanical gardens, our private boat will return us to Bellgio. You will have the late afternoon free to stroll the streets (and shops!) of Bellagio.

Friday, September 18

  • Today we make the most of our last day on Lake Como. In the morning, you will have free time to explore the town of Como. Then we have lunch at the elegant restaurant Verandah at the Villa d’Este. After lunch, you will have free time to explore the Baroque gardens, or perhaps visit the hotel’s well-stocked shop? It is one-hour drive to our centrally located hotel in Milan. After we get settled, Laura will lead a short walking tour of the historical city center.

Saturday, September 19

  • On our last day we visit one last villa, the Villa Necchi Campilgio. Constructed in the 1930s, this suburban home incapsulates Milanese modernism. You will then have the afternoon free to explore Milan. This city is full of fabulous museums and perhaps Italy’s best shopping - we have plenty of recommendations for you! Dinner together tonight at a local restaurant near our hotel.

Sunday, September 20

  • Tour officially ends after breakfast this morning. You can depart anytime today (check out is 11am). We can have the hotel arrange a private transfer to take you to the airport.

FAQs

    • This trip is for those who love gardens and historical interiors, as well as luxury hotels, fine dining, and a slower pace with time to stroll small towns.

    • This is a slower paced trip, with leisurely sightseeing and long lunches. Our hotels are centrally located in charming towns and you will have several free afternoons to wander and shop.

    • 7 Nights Accommodation in 4 and 5 star hotels

    • All breakfasts, 5 lunches, 2 dinners

    • Transportation by private minibus and private boat

    • Admission and guided visit fees to all included sights

    • Lunches at a private villa and the Villa d’Este

    • Early hours admission to Isola Bella palace

    • Privately guided visits at other gardens and villas

    • Two full-time guides (Laura and Ross) with you the entire way

    • Travel Insurance

    • Anything not listed on the itinerary

    • Airfare

    • Transfer to the Milan airport on departure day can be arranged at an additional cost

    • Tip to our driver

    • Fly in and out of Milan-Malpensa airport (MXP).

    • The tour begins at 10am on September 13th. You should arrive in Milan the night before. Many travelers prefer to spend several nights in Milan before the tour begins.

    • You can depart anytime on September 20th.

    • One suitcase! Each traveler is permitted one suitcase measuring no more than 26 × 18 × 12 inches.

  • This is not our most active tour, but it still requires a moderate fitness level. You should still be comfortable being on your feet for 1-2 hours at a time, walking over uneven terrain, and up and down a flight of stairs at the gardens and villas we visit (many historical buildings in Italy do not have elevators). At many gardens, you will have free time to explore at your own pace.

    The Lakes region in generally is hilly (it’s located at the foot of the Alps) and you should be prepared for some up and down hill walking. In Bellagio, our hotel is located at the doorstep of the town center. While plenty of shops and restaurants are accessible from the hotel without having to walk uphill, to explore the town further you will need to walk uphill. Stresa and Milan are both pretty flat.