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Walking the Italian Lakes: Tranquil Waters at the Foot of the Alps |
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Program Number: |
17290RJ |
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| Start
and End Dates: |
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| Duration: |
11 nights |
| Location: |
Italy
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| Price starting at: |
$3,285.00 - Price may vary based on date, departure city |
| Program Type:
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Walking/Hiking
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Activity Level: |
t (see description) |
| Meals: |
27;
10 Breakfasts, 8 Lunches, 9 Dinners |
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| Meal
Options: |
Low Fat; Vegetarian |
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Northern Italy is ringed by a series of lakes whose blue waters and Mediterranean vegetation frame a vista of snowcapped peaks trimmed with olive and dark cypress trees and dotted with traditional villas clinging to the hillsides. Discover the history, culture and architecture of these areas while learning about the geology, flora and fauna behind their unmatched natural beauty.
Highlights
• Expert-led walks take you along the shores of beautiful lakes and through charming villages.
• Partake in aspects of local culture, such as learning to play the Italian game of bocce.
• Learn to prepare authentic local cuisine during a hands-on cooking class.
Activity Particulars
Walking 4-8 miles (3-5 hours) per day; relaxed pace, frequent stops; well-marked trails, roads, some valleys and meadows, areas around lakes and rivers. Ankle-high walking boots required.
Itinerary Summary
Arrival Milan; coach to Stresa, 4 nights; coach to Menaggio, 5 nights; coach to Milan, 1 night; departure.
Overnight flight from U.S. | 1 night | Arrival Milan | Coach to Stresa | 4 nights |
Its views of the Borromean Islands and location under majestic Monte Mottarone make the small lakeside resort of Stresa Maggiore’s most beautiful town. Venture onto trails around Stresa, Monte Mottarone, Lake d’Orta, Magognino and Monte Croce. On a boat excursion to the Isola Bella, step back in time at the Borromean Palace and enjoy nature at the sacred hilltop sanctuary of Monte d’Oreta. Lectures address local history, highlights along the trail and area culture, including how to play the game of bocce.
Coach to Menaggio | 5 nights | Coach to Milan | 1 night | Departure |
Menaggio’s mild lake climate favors the growth of exotic flora in the parks and villa gardens. Walking field trips and lectures take you along the shores of Lakes Lugano and Como, through the mountain villages of Breglia, Stampa, Soglio and Castasegna, and into the towns of Lugano, Gandria, and Como. While in Bellagio learn to cook in the true Italian way in a hands-on cooking lesson.
Italy
“Dolce far niente,” the “sweetness of doing nothing.” This ode to leisure is a distinctly Italian phrase, and yet the expression does not do justice to the hard-work ethos of the nation’s inhabitants. The monuments, art and civilization bequeathed to the people of modern Italy are a testament to the industry of their forebears, and the legacy lives on in today’s Italians, who work hard to better enjoy the sweetness of repose.
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Accommodations
Stresa: Family-owned three-star hotel in heart of quaint lake village. Menaggio: Three-star hotel in center of town on Lake Como with fantastic views of lake. Milan: Airport hotel.
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| Road Scholar Instructors | | These instructors are participating on at least one date of this program. Please note that changes may occur. | Katrin Derbsch
| | Katrin has been leading walking adventures through the beautiful countryside of Italy for more than eight years. A resident of Gauldo Cattaneo, Katrin speaks fluent Italian, German and English. She holds majors in English and Italian literature, art history, and the Italian language, and completed an internship doing mural painting and restoration in Perugia, Italy. Katrin is a certified “enological” excursion leader for Umbria and enjoys educating visitors on local viticulture. | | | |
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