sellCOMO - FOOD & HIKING

Welcome to Milan! Your Perillo representative will be at the airport to greet you where you will be privately transferred to Como to check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to unwind after your journey and enjoy your first evening and overnight stay in Como.

Wake up and enjoy a full day of a small group tour. Meet your tour guide in Como and take a minivan transfer to Tremezzo. Here you will take a guided tour to Villa Carlotta and see its amazing art collection including the beautiful sculptures by Canova, followed by a walk in the colorful and astounding botanical gardens of the villa. You will then take a 1-hour cruise on a private open-top Venetian water-taxi, touring the coast from Tremezzo down to Lenno, to admire Villa del Balbianello from the water and the circumnavigate Island Comacina. You will slowly cruise along the opposite coast to reach the botanical gardens of Villa Melzi and finally, Bellagio. Once there your guide will lead a discovery tour of the old town and will give you some free time to enjoy lunch, after suggesting the best restaurants and cafes in the area.

After lunch you will board the open-top water-taxi to take an amazing cruise down the western branch of the lake to reach Como. The cruise will give you the chance to relax, admiring the spectacular mountains and the stunning villas, once the homes of aristocrats, now the playgrounds for the jet set. Your guide shall be there to enhance the experience with the description of the villas and of the villages you shall encounter.

Enjoy a 4 hour guided trekking experience that will allow you to discover part of the “Strada Regia,” a panoramic mountainside path winding through chestnut woods and characteristic villages through the ancient way of connection between Como and Bellagio (32 km).

A professional guide will meet you in Como to start an unforgettable 30-minute cruise on the lake via public boat in order to reach the beautiful village of Torno, where you will start your trekking journey through the charming village to reach the beginning of the trail that will lead you to the nice hamlet of Piazzaga with crotto and chapel. You will cross valleys and villages, admiring the fascinating Massi Avelli along the way, which are erratic rocks that have represented an interesting archeological mystery in the past, which has not been solved yet.
​The experience continues until reaching another enchanting hamlet, Monte Piatto. Here you will stop to re-fuel whilst enjoying the view over the lake from the church Santa Elisabetta and taking photos of the curious “Pietra Pendula”, a huge boulder suspended on the apex of a limestone rock. An ideal location to savor some delicious local tastings of salame, cheeses, vegetables, and accompanied with bread. Then finish with something sweet. After your re-fuel it's time to start your descent to Torno along a well-defined mule track. This will end the tour leaving you free to relax and enjoy lunch in one of the characteristic restaurants facing the lake. Boats leave regularly from the beautiful harbor-square, piazza Casartelli. This pleasant cruise will take you back to Como where you can enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.

Enjoy the morning on your own, then in the afternoon get ready for a new experience, a food tour! This 2 and a half hour Como Food Tour provides a unique food tasting experience as it is more than a simple “walk and eat” tour. Our professional English-speaking guides will give you the local insider view of the history, culture and architecture, which makes up this fascinating city. Enjoy a cultural and gastronomic journey strolling along the alleyways of the historical city center in the pleasant sub-tropical climate. Admire the principal monuments such as the great Gothic-Renaissance Duomo, the “Broletto," the town hall Palace and the church of San Fedele, a fine example of Romanesque style. Also, pause at the most popular food shops to enjoy the dishes and flavors most appreciated by locals. Meet your friendly guide and begin wandering through historic neighborhoods to take in the vibrant cultural atmosphere while sampling tasty focaccia, followed by a choice of local cheeses. If you are a cheese lover you are in the right place. With the mountains in proximity, dairy delights can be easily found here. Sample high quality extra virgin olive oils harvested from the most current crops around Lake Como and Southern Italy. Taste delicious fruit-based barrel aged balsamic from Modena and visit one of the most famous “enoteca” to sample a delicious local wine with an exquisite tasting of the finest local sliced meats such as bresaola, prosciutto, salame and mortadella. Our expert guide will explain the various wines produced in the area and you will be able to learn all about the cooking process as you savor a tasting of fresh lake fish in one of the most popular restaurants in Como. This is the best time to sit, relax and enjoy a delicious pasta dish accompanied with a glass of local wine finishing with a famous Italian espresso.

First, visit a small historic Valtellina winery located in the ancient home of the noble Quadrio, in Chiuro for an unforgettable 3 wine tastings experience. The winemaker Paolo carries on the family tradition with his sons Luca and Matteo respecting as much as possible the long aging time of Nebbiolo. This is the only winery at the moment that uses the precious antioxidant active ingredients of grapes to produce anti-aging creams, based on red wine.

Later on, lunch will be served in a Michelin listed restaurant renowned for highlighting the ancient land flavors in its dishes. This is the best time to relax and enjoy the world-famous typical dish of “pizzoccheri” (pasta made with buckwheat flour, topped with Casera cheese and melted butter, potatoes and cabbage) and the “sciatt”, delicious cheese-filled buckwheat fritters. After lunch your driver will leave you at the Tirano train station to hop on the Bernina Express train for an amazing 2 hours worth trip up the mountains to admire the glacier and reach Saint Moritz. The driver will pick you up upon arrival to take you to the old town for some free time and then will drive you back to Lake Como.

Important info: You will cross the Swiss border and will need your passport.

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Go out and explore Lake Maggiore. Set between Piedmont, Lombardy, and Switzerland, Lake Maggiore is a paradise of crystal waters, backed by towering mountains, and surrounded by lush countryside. Take a boat trip to the Borromean Islands of Pescatori and Isola Bella, and take time to visit the extravagant Borromeo Palace, built like a ship anchored just off the shoreline.

Prepare to be transferred to the airport in Milan for your flight home to the USA.

Grazie! (Thank you) for traveling with Perillo Tours!