Explore the wild side of Italy with a wilderness excursion in the countryside. Visit Como, Maggiore and Orta lake, hidden gems surrounded by authentic villas and lush greenery. Take a tour of the Valgrande National Park that features Italy's largest nature reserve. Old world traditions, crafters and artisans provide you with a perspective of Italy that is off the beaten path. Stay in lakeside villages including Bellagio, Orta San Giulio and Vareena nestled in the Mediterranean. Continue your tour with a trip to the Alps' foothills, extravagant Italian palaces and prestigious gardens. iExplore offers seven-day holiday tours of Italy that feature the lakes of the country.
iExplore offers a nine-day holiday tour of Italy that concentrates on culinary and cultural exploration. On the tour you will walk through the streets and immerse yourself in the lifestyle of the locals. You'll buy fresh produce from the market, a loaf of bread baked daily and a hunk of homemade cheese for a truly Italian meal in style. By the afternoon, you'll join the neighbors in a passegiata, or leisure stroll, as you dine on a homemade local delight called gelato.
Highlights of your tour include Venice, Rome and Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance which features churches and palaces with world-famous frescoes and sculptures, an inspiration to any visitor. Rome is home to ancient monuments, the pope and an atmosphere of grandeur unlike any other city.
For the energetic, iExplore features an eight-day tour of Garfagnana focused on day walks and mountain hikes. The rural region of northwest Tuscany is called Garfagnana, which means "enchanted forests." A secret of Italian locals, the area is isolated from the majority of tourists and visitors to Italy, providing you with an authentic representation of Italian culture and way of life.
The natural beauty of Garfagnana includes the Alpi Apuane, mountains that resemble marble, and the Apennine mountain range. You'll visit lakeside villages near Florence, Lucca and Pisa, learn about traditional farming and harvest processes and spend a night in a refuge nestled among the mountains of Italy and spend your days hiking through the countryside.
