Northern Italian Lakes & Countryside

Welcome to Turin, the starting point for a journey through Italy's northern countryside and lakes. Meet your Travel Director and fellow travellers and get to know one another over dinner, sharing your first taste of regional flavours. (D) Stay: AC Hotel by Marriott Torino

Get your bearings on a city tour of Turin with a Local Specialist, taking in piazzas, wide boulevards and baroque architecture. The afternoon is yours to enjoy at your own pace. Stroll the arcaded streets, sip a rich bicerin at a cafe or join an Optional Experience to the UNESCO-listed La Venaria Reale, once a royal hunting lodge and today one of Italy's most impressive palace complexes. (B)

Start your day lakeside at Lago d'Orta. There's time to enjoy a coffee by the water and take in views of the island and the Alps beyond.

Later, follow the shoreline of Lake Maggiore by road, enjoying scenes of pastel villas and wooded hills. In the town of Stresa, you can enjoy more time at leisure or join an Optional Experience to explore the Borromean Islands, a group of private isles once home to aristocratic families. You'll end the day in Erba, a gateway to the Lombardy countryside. (B) Stay: Hotel Leonardo da Vinci

Spend the day in Como, with plenty of time to explore at your own pace. You might take the funicular up to Brunate for panoramic views, browse local boutiques or relax by the lake with a gelato. For a different perspective, you can join an Optional Experience cruise with a Local Specialist to learn about the history, culture and villas of Lake Como from the water. (B)

Explore the upper town of Bergamo, where medieval streets lead to Piazza Vecchia, once the heart of civic life. See the Contarini Fountain and Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, built in the 12th century as a tribute to the Virgin Mary. Walk past Renaissance facades before travelling into the Lake Garda area. Enjoy a Be My Guest experience with the Serenelli family at their farm where you'll dine on Lombardy favourites. Settle in for a three-night stay surrounded by the Italian countryside and tree-covered hills. (B/D) Stay: Poiano Resort

Your day starts with an introduction to the gastronomic hub of Modena, home of sparkling Lambrusco, salty prosciutto and the aromas of parmigiano, for an exploration with a Local Specialist. Wander past pastel-hued facades in the heart of the city that was the birthplace of Ferrari, Pavarotti and tortellini. Modena's Old Town and the Piazza Grande with its 12th-century cathedral and Torre Civica, has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

As the day continues, visit the Enzo Ferrari Museum where you'll Dive into Culture and explore the history of this Italian icon. Enjoy a gourmet interlude at a historic, traditional Acetaia on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience to taste the delicious flavours of some of the world's best organic and biodynamic balsamic vinegar. Settle in for a leisurely dinner with your travelling companions and Travel Director. (B/D)

Romance is in the air today as you journey to Verona, the home of Shakespeare's tragic star-crossed lovers. A walking tour with a Local Specialist will take you to Juliet's Balcony, as well as the Roman arena, still in use today. There is also plenty of time to explore the city at leisure - see the seven medieval towers of Castelvecchio, relax under the shady trees in Verona's Piazza Bra or clamber up Lamberti's Tower for city views. (B)

In search of spires that reach the sky, leave the tranquil lakes behind for the chic northern capital of Milan. Admire the Gothic Duomo, La Scala Opera House and 19th-century Galleria with its glass and iron-domed roof. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure to jostle with the Milanese for your spot in the shopping district of Via Montenapoleone, Via della Spiga and Via Sant'Andrea. This evening, join your fellow travellers for dinner to celebrate the end of your holiday together. (B/D) Stay: Starhotels Business Palace

Your jaunt through the lakes and countryside of northern Italy has come to an end. Say arrivederci to Italy and your newfound friends. (B)