Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Lake Como - the Dolomites
100% customisable for you
Your family adventure to Italy begins today, so head to the airport bright and early and enjoy some coffee and juice in the airport lounge. Your morning flight to Milan takes around two hours, so you'll land in Italy mid-morning. Once you’ve touched down, we’ve arranged for your car to be waiting for you (decked out with all the relevant booster seats), so once everyone has piled in, you can set off on the hour-and-a-half drive to Lake Como.
When you arrive, tummies will be rumbling, so drop off your bags and head straight for your first eagerly anticipated bites of Italian food – pizza, anyone? Once you’re suitably stuffed, the rest of the day is yours for the taking, so spend some time getting to know your new surroundings before your first full day tomorrow.
We’ve kept your first full day at the lakes fairly free to allow for some swimming in the sunshine, so spend the morning splashing around at your hotel while enjoying the dramatic lakeside views. Older children can enroll in a waterskiing lesson on the lake, and you can either join them or snap photos from the boat. If your youngsters prefer to stay on land, don’t worry – a parent vs. child tennis match is always a winner.
Fancy a bit of exploration this afternoon? Ask the hotel concierge for directions along one of the area’s many walking trails. While you’re strolling, you can burn off some of the children's seemingly unlimited energy while enjoying the views and working up an appetite for dinner.
This evening, you can either eat at your hotel or take the ferry over to Bellagio, where there are plenty of family-friendly restaurants to choose from – our clued-up Concierge is on hand to recommend their favourite.
We’ve scheduled another chilled morning today, so spend some time relaxing while the children have fun in the pool.
This afternoon, after the usual delicious Italian lunch, the hotel staff will take you down to the jetty for a ride in the hotel’s water limousine. This classic Venetian-style boat is a cool and comfortable way to experience the lake, and – bonus parent points – is perfect for your teenager’s Instagram feed.
Your boat cruise will last for about four hours, and during the trip, you’ll visit Villa Balbianello, the small wooden island of Isola Comacina, the village of Bellagio, the gardens at Villa Melzi, the fishing village of Pescallo and Menaggio. If the youngsters fancy some more exploring, why not take the ferry to Varenna for picturesque abbeys and castles, before heading back to shore for a tasty dinner.
Time flies when you're having fun, and, somehow, today is your last day at Lake Como. To switch things up a little, why not spend the morning exploring on mountain bikes – the hotel can recommend the best trail for your family's abilities. The little ones might get peckish mid-outing, so either enjoy a tasty lunch en route or wait until you’re back at the hotel for a slice of pizza and a cooling dip in the pool.
We’ve left the afternoon free to pack in as much swimming and sunbathing as possible. If your children are older and have had their fill of the pool, we can arrange for you to take a seaplane flight over the lake (complete with gourmet picnic) or embark on a guided horse ride around the lake’s perimeters. Your Concierge would be happy to recommend a lovely spot with views over the lake for dinner – it is your last lakeside evening, after all.
This morning, say goodbye to Lake Como and embark on the five-hour drive to the Dolomites. To break up the journey and avoid the dreaded boredom, stop at Lake Garda for a spot of lunch or detour to Verona for a quick look around before continuing your journey into the mountains.
Once you arrive, unpack your bags and don your walking boots before heading up in the nearby gondola lift. The staff at your hotel will provide a map and highlight the best trails, and we recommend following a short trail to stretch your post-drive legs and work up an appetite in time for dinner at your hotel.
Rise and shine: your mountain guide will be at your hotel bright and early this morning for a day of family-friendly mountain adventure, including five hours of hiking.
The day begins with a short private transfer to Passo Falzarego, and from here, the tour can be tailored to your family's fitness levels. For those who like a challenge, we suggest hiking up to the Galleria del Lagazuoi. This fascinating open-air WWI museum is carved into the mountains, and children will love exploring the tunnels that soldiers used during the war. At the end of the tunnels, you’ll arrive at Rifugio Lagazuoi, where you can stop for a delicious lunch.
After refuelling, head downhill to Rifugio Scotoni. On the way, you’ll pass by a beautiful little turquoise lake, so stop here for an ice-cold Coca-Cola (or Aperol Spritz, for the adults) to celebrate your achievement. You'll then be transferred back to your hotel for a well-deserved dinner.
After a hearty breakfast, your guide will meet you at your hotel for another day in the Dolomites. Today, you'll be getting to grips with mountain climbing on the region's historic via ferrata (iron roads), the perfect activity for any mini-adventurers. These historic paths were initially constructed when the Italian and Austro-Hungarian armies fought in the mountains during World War I, but today they have been converted into safe recreational trails. Depending on your family's abilities (and the children's ages), your qualified guide will pick the best route, allowing you to see the Dolomites from a perspective usually reserved for expert mountaineers.
Hungry after all that climbing? If your stay in the Dolomites is over a Wednesday, visit the market in San Cassiano to sample traditional delicacies, shop for handmade Ladin products and listen to some live music. If not, don’t worry – a hearty and delicious Italian dinner will be waiting for you at your hotel.
All good things must come to an end, so to make the most of the last day of your family holiday, we have arranged for your guide to meet you for a morning of mountain biking fun. The ride can be tailored for all ages and abilities (and you can hire electric bikes to make things easier), but the route will likely begin with biking to the Santa Croce Sanctuary at the base of the Sasso della Croce. From San Cassiano, you'll cycle through San Leonardo, Fornacia and Armentara, before coming to a stop at the church and sanctuary of Ospizio Santa Croce. Here, enjoy a delicious lunch with views of the beautiful Puez-Odle Nature Park.
Back at your hotel, the rest of the day is yours for the taking. It’s their final day, so let the little ones take the reins, whether they want to enjoy a walk from the top of the gondola or try their hand at archery or geocaching in the Moviment Park.
If your youngsters would prefer it, we can arrange for you to forgo mountain biking in favour of a morning horse-riding expedition.
Today, indulge in one last delicious breakfast before packing up your hire car and saying ciao to the mountains. Drive two-and-a-half hours to Venice Marco Polo Airport, before dropping your car off and heading up to the lounge for one last holiday tipple. Your afternoon flight will take about two hours, so you will land early this evening, ready to regale your friends and family with tales of your mountain adventures.
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges
