Embrace the sparkling Lake District, the glorious Italian Alps, and charming Venice on this wonderful 11-day vacation. Arrive in the fashion mecca of Milan and continue to Como where you will stay for three nights. Enjoy excursions to famous Lake Maggiore, where you sail to Isola Bella and visit Boromeo Palace, and to Lake Lugano across the border in Switzerland, and enjoy a full day at leisure at Lake Como. Continue into the Dolomites and stay two nights in Bolzano. Stop in Cortina d’Ampezzo, the Olympic ski resort, then enter Venice in style by private boat. In Venice, sightseeing includes visits to St. Mark’s Square and Basilica, and the Doges’ Palace with the Bridge of Sighs. A full day at leisure in Venice offers the opportunity to join an optional excursion to the island of Burano. End in Milan, where you visit the Duomo, the glass-domed Galleria, and the imposing Sforzesco Castle, and enjoy a farewell dinner to celebrate the success of your vacation.

COMO - Welcome dinner; excursion to Lake Maggiore and Lake Lugano, Switzerland
LAKE MAGGIORE - Boat cruise to Isola Bella; visit Borromeo Palace and Gardens
LAKE LUGANO - Afternoon stop in Lugano, Switzerland
DOLOMITES - Orientation of Bolzano
CORTINA D’ AMPEZZO - Orientation
VENICE - Private boat ride; guided sightseeing including headsets, visit St. Mark’s Square and Basilica, Doges’ Palace and the Bridge of Sighs; glassblowers’ demonstration
MILAN - Guided sightseeing, visit the Duomo, the Galleria, and Sforzesco Castle

-MEALS: 9 buffet breakfasts (BB); 2 three-course dinners (D), including a welcome dinner in Como
-AIRPORT TRANSFERS Airport transfers may be included when you make your flight arrangements with Globus
-INSIDE VISITS are shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description, including admission charges when applicable
-Hotel Accommodations Twin-bedded rooms with private bath or shower, hotel taxes, service charges, and tips for baggage handling
COMO Barchetta Excelsior (F), DOLOMITES Parkhotel Laurin (SF) at Bolzano, VENICE Sant’Elena (F), MILAN Jolly Touring (F)
-Professional Tour Director while touring
-Private deluxe motorcoach with air-conditioning, extra leg room, and emergency washroom while touring
-Globus travel bag and travel documents

Day 1
(Thu.) Board your overnight transatlantic flight.

Day 2 Arrival in Milan, Italy
(Fri.) For air-inclusive travelers: included transfers to Como from Milan Malpensa Airport. For land-only travelers: transfers available to Como, ask your travel agent for details. Time to rest or start exploring Como, beautifully situated at the lake. At 6 p.m. meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel. (D)

Day 3 Como. Lake District Excursion
(Sat.) A day dedicated to the most famous of the Italian lakes, Maggiore, with its mild climate and luxuriant, exotic vegetation. Enjoy a boat ride to ISOLA BELLA, one of the last privately owned islands open to visitors, to admire BORROMEO PALACE. Wander around the beautiful GARDENS and terraces, and visit the local market. Next, travel to the subtropical resort town of Lugano, in Swiss territory. Time for shopping under the arcades of Via Nassa, an espresso on flower-festooned Piazza Riforma, or a walk in the shade of Parco Ciani’s magnificent old trees. Mid-afternoon transfer back to Como. (BB)

Day 4 At Leisure in Como
(Sun.) All day at leisure to relax or explore this beautiful resort on your own. Take a stroll along the lake, visit the 14th-century cathedral, browse through the little shops, or just sit on one of the lakeside terraces and enjoy the beautiful views. (BB)

Day 5 Como–Dolomites
(Mon.) Leave the Lake District and drive into the Alpine region of South Tyrol, part of Austria until the end of World War I and where German is still spoken. Stay two nights in charming Bolzano. (BB,D)

Day 6 Dolomites
(Tue.) Today’s orientation features Piazza del Duomo, the food market, and the beautiful main street with its arcades. You may wish to join an exciting optional excursion to the pretty town of Merano and one of Tyrol’s most famous castles. (BB)

Day 7 Dolomites–Cortina–Venice
(Wed.) Enjoy a spectacularly scenic drive in the Italian Alps. Visit the jewel of the Dolomites: Cortina d’Ampezzo, the Olympic ski resort. Enjoy an orientation of this picturesque town before continuing to Venice, a powerful magnet for romantics. Enter in style by PRIVATE BOAT. (BB)

Day 8 Venice
(Thu.) Meet your Local Guide for morning sightseeing, featuring ST. MARK’S SQUARE and the byzantine BASILICA, lavish DOGES’ PALACE and the BRIDGE OF SIGHS. Also watch skilled GLASSBLOWERS fashion their delicate objects in an age-old traditional manner. Remainder of the morning and the afternoon to spend as you wish. Perhaps a gondola ride? (BB)

Day 9 At Leisure in Venice
(Fri.) A full day to enjoy Venice at your own pace. Simply relax at your hotel, stroll around the narrow streets, visit the bell tower, or you may want to join an optional lagoon cruise with lunch on the charming island of Burano. (BB)

Day 10 Venice–Milan
(Sat.) An easy drive takes you to the commercial capital of Italy—Milan. Afternoon sightseeing with your Local Guide starts in the pedestrian area with a visit to the magnificent gothic DUOMO. Continue through the glass-domed GALLERIA to the famous Scala Opera House, then a short walk to the imposing SFORZESCO CASTLE. An optional farewell dinner may be the perfect way to celebrate the success of your Italian vacation. (BB)

Day 11
(Sun.) Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (BB)