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This is the different Italy—a region bursting with the pleasantly unexpected.
Go north and step into a land where rock spires rise above lush landscapes, Austrian influences characterize the village streets, and tranquil lakes and perfumed vineyards are always on the horizon. An epic coastline runs alongside towering cliffs and terraced vineyards. From Lake Maggiore and the staggering Dolomites to the “Five Worlds” tucked within the Riviera’s Cinque Terre, tread through Italian landscapes at their most surreal and surprising on this small group Adventure Tour.
Your tour package includes
9 nights in handpicked hotels
9 breakfasts
1 lunch
4 dinners with beer or wine
1 wine tasting
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Included highlights
Sacro Monte
San Giulio Island
Valpolicella wine tasting
The Dolomites
Bolzano
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Start planning today
An expert specializing in tours of this region is here to help.
Welcome to Italy! Arrive in Milan Malpensa and transfer to the Lake Maggiore region. Then, meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers at tonight’s welcome dinner.
Day 3: Lake Orta & Sacro Monte walk
Included meal: Breakfast
Travel into a region famed for its classic Italian landscapes as you make your way to picturesque Lake Orta.
Explore the UNESCO-recognized Sacro Monte, a series of small, fresco-lined chapels and ornate statues dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi
Walk along the lakeside trail to the village of Orta San Giulio where you'll enjoy free time
Hop aboard a water taxi and cruise to San Giulio Island, which is home to a massive, ancient monastery now serving as a convent for cloistered nuns
Day 4: Free day in the Lake Maggiore Region
Included meal: Breakfast
Enjoy a free day in the Lake Maggiore region or add an excursion.
Lake Maggiore Cruise & the Borromean Islands
From $135 per person
Dolomite Region3 nights
Day 5: Valpolicella vineyard walk & wine tasting
Included meals: Breakfast, Light lunch, Dinner, Wine tasting
Leave the waters of Lake Maggiore behind for the rolling vineyards of Valpolicella, a countryside region acclaimed for its olive groves and superior wine vintages.
Embark on a Tour Director-led walk along a path surrounded by beautiful vineyards and olive trees
Head to a local wine estate to have lunch and taste some of the region’s most famous labels: Ripasso, Amarone and Recioto
Continue to Bolzano, the region’s capital, set against the UNESCO-listed Dolomite mountain range
Day 6: Dolomites walk
Included meal: Breakfast
Experience the Dolomites from Seiser Alm, a sprawling meadow set amidst the surreal limestone peaks. (Please note: Depending on local weather conditions, the activities and sequence of your included walk may change)
Board a cable car and ride to the village of Compatsch to begin your walk on the scenic Bullaccia Ring Trail (Please note: Depending on the season, Compatsch may be reached by bus.)
Take in panoramic views of the surrounding stone spires and mountain valleys
Day 7: Sightseeing tour of Bolzano
Included meal: Breakfast
Discover Bolzano, or Bozen in German, a city comprised of two distinct cultures.
Starting in the main city square, Piazza Walther, make your way through the famous open markets to the Gothic-style cathedral
Step into Piazza del Grano, the heart of Bolzano’s medieval village
Tour the main streets, including Via dei Portici-Laubengasse
Enter the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology to see Ötzi the Iceman
Enjoy a free afternoon in the Dolomite region or add an excursion.
Bolzano Castles & Santa Maddalena Wine Tasting
From $145 per person
Italian Riviera2 nights
Day 8: Transfer to the Italian Riviera
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Wave goodbye to the Dolomites as you travel south to the Italian Riviera.
Day 9: Sightseeing tour of Cinque Terre
Included meals: Breakfast, Tasting
Get a taste for the unique villages of Cinque Terre on a Tour Director-led walk along the upper trails and a coastal boat ride.
Travel to Levanto and board a train to Riomaggiore
Set off on a scenic uphill trail walk from Riomaggiore to the pathways above the town of Manarola
Learn about the eroding seaside paths and why walking on the upper trails is a more sustainable way to see the beauty of the area
Enjoy sweeping views of the villages and coastline from above
Meander through vineyards and farmland built on steep terrain, known as heroic agriculture
Stop at a vineyard or olive oil press to sample local products grown on the hillside
Walk down into Manarola and board a boat to the town of Vernazza, enjoying stunning views of the coastline and villages from the water
Enjoy free time to eat lunch and shop in the seaside town before taking the train back to Levanto
Admire the Liguria region’s varied landscape as you transfer back to your hotel by bus
Please note: Depending on the season and weather, today’s activities may vary.
Florence1 night
Day 10: Florence via Lucca
Included meals: Breakfast, Farewell dinner
On your way to Florence, join a local guide in the town of Lucca for a bike tour.
Bike along a section of the almost three-mile Renaissance-era walls
Take in impressive views of Guinigi Tower, as well as the classic red-tiled rooftops and cypress trees below
Descend into the center of town for a walking tour to view Lucca Cathedral, the Church of San Michele in Foro, Piazza dell' Anfiteatro, and Via Fillungo
Enjoy free time to peruse the local shops
Please note: You’ll bike along flat, paved paths without cars during the tour of the Lucca city walls. Travelers can opt to take a self-guided tour of the walls by foot instead of biking.
Continue to Florence and celebrate your trip with your fellow travelers at a farewell dinner.
Flight Home
Day 11: Departure
Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)
Transfer to the airport to board your flight home or extend your stay in Florence.
Extension to Florence
Not ready to say arrivederci? Continue your trip in the Tuscan capital of Florence, where Renaissance beauty and really (really) good food are practically everywhere. See the highlights alongside a local guide, then lean on your Tour Director’s expert recommendations to seek out even more.
Florence2 nights
Day 11: Sightseeing tour of Florence
Included meal: Breakfast
Set off on a walking tour of Florence, the city at the center of the Renaissance, with a local guide.
Admire sweeping views of the city’s skyline from Piazzale Michelangelo, a local-favorite hilltop outlook located on the south bank of the Arno River
Walk downhill to the medieval Ponte Vecchio
Stroll along the Arno River and through the courtyard of the Uffizi Gallery to Piazza della Signoria, center of Florentine life
Step inside the Basilica of Santa Croce, the burial site of Michelangelo, Machiavelli, and Galileo
Pass Giotto’s Campanile, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture
View the legendary Florence Cathedral, known as the Duomo
Enjoy a free evening in Florence or add an excursion.
Fiesole Villa Dinner
From $129 per person
Day 12: Free day in Florence
Included meal: Breakfast
Enjoy a free day in Florence or add an excursion.
This evening, sip a farewell drink as you celebrate your trip with your fellow group members.
Tuscan Vineyards Walk & Chianti Wine Tasting
From $129 per person
Flight Home
Day 13: Departure
Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)
Transfer to the airport to board your flight home.
This tour was spectacular! I have been to Italy several times and have seen the major sights but this tour offered a deeper dive into less traveled areas of this beautiful country. The itinerary was spot-on for active travelers who enjoyed lots of walking and hiking. The beauty of the Dolomites defy...
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5.0 star rating
Northern Italy
6/7/23 by 3rd-time traveler Mark
Fantastic trip to some places off the typical tourist areas. Highlights were the hikes (Dolomites and Cinque Terre) and the wine tastings. The city of Lucca was a pleasant surprise. Elena was a great tour director! Our small group of 15 were good to travel with and our smaller but comfortable bus wa...
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EF Go Ahead Tours replied on 8/7/23
Hi Mark! Thank you so much for your kind review an...
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5.0 star rating
Loved northern Italy!
6/7/23 by 2nd-time traveler Debbie
My husband and I enjoyed this tour very much. The smaller group size was nice and we were comfortable throughout the trip. I can't give our tour director, Elena, enough praise. She was absolutely wonderful and was crucial to the success of the tour. As a local, her insight and knowledge was perfect....
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Traveler photos
Hotels, flights & FAQ
Here's the nitty-gritty—where you’ll stay, how you’ll get there, and what to know about your destination before you go.
Hotels
We handpick every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm. Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date, but these are frequently used hotels for this tour and we're confident you'll be satisfied.
Hotel Simplon
This upscale hotel is located in the town of Baveno on Lake Maggiore’s western shore. Guests enjoy a large outdoor pool, access to a lakeside beach, a...
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Mondschein Hotel Luna
This traditionally styled, family-run hotel is located in the historic center of Bolzano. Guests enjoy the private park and gardens, free wellness are...
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Hotel Canali Rapallo
This charming hotel is located in the Rapallo neighborhood. Guests enjoy sea views, a terrace, and bike rentals. Nearby you’ll find Rapallo Castle, Mu...
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Hotel Diplomat
This charming hotel is located near the Santa Maria Novella train station in Florence. Guests enjoy free Wi-Fi and a restaurant. Nearby, you’ll find t...
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Flights
Round-trip flights are one more thing we handle to make your journey as smooth as possible. Our team of travel experts will find the best flight itinerary for you at a competitive rate, thanks to our partnerships with top airlines.
Add our airfare package and you'll get:
Round-trip flight for your tour
Airport transfers at your destination
A great price locked in today
24/7 support from our dedicated service team
Options for arriving early, staying longer, or requesting an upgrade
Flexible rebooking options if your tour itinerary changes
In order to enter Italy, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
We recommend having at least one blank passport page for entry stamps.
Beginning in 2024, U.S. and Canadian passport holders must register for an ETIAS travel authorization in order to enter many European countries.
Passport holders from over 60 visa-exempt countries (including the U.S. and Canada) will need to apply for an ETIAS travel authorization in order to visit 30 European countries. That means that even if you’ve previously traveled to any of these European countries without a visa, starting in 2024, you’ll need to get ETIAS authorization to visit them again. If you’re traveling to multiple countries with this requirement, you only need to complete the form once. All Go Ahead travelers are responsible for obtaining their own ETIAS travel authorization before departure. For more details, please visit our Help Center.
If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact your destination country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.
You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code WNI.
You will walk for at least 3.5 hours daily across uneven terrain, including unpaved trails, cobblestone streets and slippery walkways, with some steep hills.
Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance. Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on your tour.
You should feel comfortable managing your own baggage at times, as well as getting in and out of boats.
Go Ahead Tours and the Tour Director who accompanies your group are unable to provide special, individual mobility assistance to travelers on tour. The responsibility of the Tour Director is to ensure the group as a whole enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing, individualized assistance to any one traveler.
If you have any mobility concerns or physical restrictions, please contact our Customer Experience Team.
Depending on local weather conditions, seasons and trail closures, the activities and sequence of your included walks may change.
Orta Peninsula – 2 miles / 2 hours. A flat path along the shore of Lake Orta with mountain views. A brief uphill climb to the UNESCO-listed Sacro Monte Nature Reserve.
Valpolicella Vineyard – 1.5–2 miles / 45 minutes. A moderate path from San Giorgio to a local wine estate with a few declines.
Bullaccia Ring Trail – 4.5 miles / 3–4 hours. A challenging walk up paved and unpaved paths for panoramic views of the surrounding valley and Dolomite Mountains.
Via dell’Amore – .5 miles / 40 minutes. An easy stroll along a flat path with stunning views of Cinque Terre. (Please note: this path is often closed due to construction.)
Vernazza and Monterosso – 1.8 miles / 2.5 hours. A difficult trek between the two beautiful villages, featuring intermittent stairs, inclines, and sweeping views of the coast.
Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in Milan Malpensa and depart from Florence. When you first arrive, a representative from Go Ahead Tours will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Please remain in the arrival lounge, as the representative might be escorting one of your fellow travelers to the bus at the time of your arrival.
Transfers to and from the airport at your destination are included for travelers who have purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who purchase their own flights may request airport transfers with Go Ahead Tours for an additional cost. Please note that the transfer between Milan Malpensa airport and your hotel in the Lake Maggiore Region is typically more than an hour drive. Please contact us with any questions regarding this transfer.
A water taxi ride in Lake Orta is included in the price of your tour.
All other included transportation on this tour is by private motor coach.
Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag and one carry-on bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and other transfers, which may include train connections or flights.
Contact your airline(s) for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flights, which may include on-tour flights in addition to your round-trip flights to and from tour. Please note that your included on-tour flights may have more restrictive baggage limits.
Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage or exceed baggage size and weight restrictions. Be advised that you are responsible for any baggage fees incurred on all flights.
Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.
We recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered to accommodate varying temperatures, as well as a light jacket or rainwear.
Light hiking boots or sturdy sneakers are recommended for the cobbled stones and uneven terrain.
You may want to consider packing a collapsible walking stick for more challenging walks.
You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance.
It is preferable not to visit churches or other religious sites with bare legs and shoulders (and entrance may be denied on this basis).
At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov.
If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour as well as any possible delays encountered.
If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to your departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please call our Customer Experience Team.
You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code WNI.
Venice and Northern Italy are known for flavorful meats and pastries.
On the Italian Riviera, a taste of the region’s famous basil pesto is a must. Delicious seafood dishes are popular along the shore, but true Ligurians favor simple, traditional recipes like minestrone soup and farinata, an unleavened chickpea pancake.
Tuscany is world-famous for its wine, oil, sauces, and pasta. Menus favor subtle, lighter pastas and desserts made with nuts, fruit, and honey. Try a dish featuring the region’s Chianina beef, perhaps the most prized breed of cattle in all of Italy. For wine, popular Tuscan reds include Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, which are primarily made from the Sangiovese grape. Well-known white wines are also made around the San Gimignano region.
For more authentic meals, try local trattorias, small restaurants set away from the main piazzas. A typical Italian meal includes wines and the occasional beer, followed by a few sips of after-dinner drinks like grappa or limoncello.
Italy operates on the European standard 220-240 volts and uses Types C, F or L plugs with two or three small, round pins.
We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other device without a built-in converter.
The strength of the air conditioning in European hotels is often not as strong or as cool as what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada. When air conditioning is available, it is usually regulated seasonally and controlled centrally by the hotel.
Your hotel may provide hairdryers, irons and other small appliances. However, these amenities cannot be guaranteed.
Better rates of exchange are usually available overseas, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive.
We strongly advise that you take debit/bank cards and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks as needed.
You can use most debit/credit cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
Inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans so that they won’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges.
International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.
At the conclusion of your tour, it’s customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
We recommend tipping the equivalent of $8USD to $10USD per person per day for your Tour Director and the equivalent of $3USD per person per day for your driver.
If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD per local guide.
If you are interested in visiting any of Florence's many museums during your free time, we recommend that you make reservations in advance. See uffizi.org for the Uffizi Gallery or accademia.org for the Accademia Gallery. Please note that the museums are closed on Mondays.
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