I’m just putting the finishing touches to an ‘Italian Lakes Tour’ that starts on 8th September, 2026.

It’s just seven weeks away and it’s not too late!

New for us, this is a modular tour, you can join us for all or just some of the trip. The journey breaks down like this:

• 08-11 Sept: Cinque Terre – arrive at Pisa Airport on either 7th or 8th Sept. We’ll be there waiting for you.
• Sestri Levante – Cinque Terre – Coastal scenery – walks – boats rides
• 11-14 Sept: Lake Garda – drive north to Lake Iseo, home to Riva speedboats, a spin on the lake (yes please), a sparkling local fizz in hand, continue to Lake Garda and picture-postcard pretty Sirmione. Stay on the lake shore.
• 14-18 Sept: Venice – travel through the Venetian countryside, visit hillside towns and a Palladian villa or two!
• In Venice for four nights, lots of time to really discover Venice, Secret Gardens tour, Islands of the Lagoon by boat.

It’s going to be a fun-filled journey, train rides, boat rides, great food and wine, discovery and learning. We’ll start at Pisa Airport and drive north to the famous Cinque Terre coastline.

_{Sestri Levante, happy guests, route of journey}

WE WILL VISIT:

CINQUE TERRE – literally means five (cinque) lands (terre). This is an area of rugged coastline and small, picturesque villages. These villages dot the rocky coastline from La Spezia, an important port town in the south to Castello di Vernazza in the north. Think holiday jigsaws from years gone by. We’ll stay in lovely Sestre Levante, just to the north of Cinque Terre and travel by train to visit the villages. There’s a coastal walk opportunity for the more energetic.

LAKE ISEO – Next we’ll visit beautiful Lake Iseo. This stunning lake is home to Riva boats. Riva boats are the beautiful mahogany speedboats that often feature in James Bond films. We’ll have a cruise on Lake Iseo and if the wind is blowing in the right direction we’ll be on a Riva boat.

LAKE GARDA – Then we are off to Lake Garda. A lake so huge that it’s in the mountains at the northern end and the plains of Veneto in the south. This lake has the purest of water 💦 and is perfect for a swim, a paddle or even a little canoe 🛶. September is the perfect time to visit, the days are still warm and the official summer holidays are over, so everywhere is less busy. After Lake Garda we head to Venice for four nights in my second home.

VENICE – Time to really appreciate the city – no crowds for us. We are here on the waterfront at La Calcina for four nights. We’ll enjoy a ‘Secret Gardens’ of Venice tour where we discover the hidden courtyards and green places of the city. We’ll visit artisan shops and enjoy a fabulous day on the Venetian Lagoon visiting the islands of Torcello, Burano and Murano.

_{The old port in Peschiera del Garda, Lake Iseo and the fabulous Riva speedboats}

If you’d like to join us on this wonderful journey we’ve got two places available.

The Italian Lakes and Cinque Terre with Grand Tourist

Here’s the pdf of the full programme:

This is the ultimate ‘end of summer’ treat. Time to extend the long summer days, to enjoy swimming in the sea and the lakes and to sip an aperitivo as the sun sets in Venice. Now’s the time.

THE EDUCATED TRAVELLER – I’ve been writing the Educated Traveller blog for the last ten years – over that time I’ve written hundreds of articles about Italy, The Alps, people, places, history. I try to write from the heart, in a positive and curious manner. I’d be delighted if you checked out a couple of my articles, I’d probably start with: The secret gardens of Venice

GRAND TOURIST – I also run a ‘specialist travel company’ called Grand Tourist. At Grand Tourist we offer unique journeys to a very small number of clients and friends. Many, many of our guests are ‘repeat customers’. Our trips are deliberately flexible, so that we have time to stay longer in a place we really love. If you appreciate Italy, and enjoy the best food and wine, authentic hospitality, private boat trips and the opportunity to learn about Italy then these trips are for you. If you are a clock-watcher and a stickler for keeping to the programme, our trips are probably not your cup of tea.

A few photos from previous trips: Grand Tourist – photo gallery

KEY POINTS

• Guests arrive into Pisa Airport.
• Guests leave from Venice (Marco Polo) Airport at the end of the trip.
• We stay in coastal / lakeshore properties at Sestri Levante, Lake Garda and Venice.
• Private boat trips, fascinating visits, family-style dining.
• Strongly recommended – fun, refreshing, invigorating.

• Check out www.educated-traveller.com for numerous (hundreds even) of articles about Italy
• To request more information – then contact me: janet@grand-tourist.com
• or my delightful smiling sidekick: bilge@grand-tourist.com

We’ll be happy to have a friendly chat and work out what you need and if we can help you.

• www.grand-tourist.com
• www.educated-traveller.com

July 2025