Taste of Northern Italy: Milan, Tuscany, Cinque Terre & Lake Como
October 14, 2027 thru October 26, 2027
Experience the flavors, traditions, and breathtaking landscapes of Northern Italy on this unforgettable journey through some of the country’s most celebrated regions. Explore the vibrant city of Milan, indulge in the culinary treasures of Emilia-Romagna with tastings of Parmigiano Reggiano, Parma ham, traditional balsamic vinegar, and Barolo wine, then immerse yourself in authentic Italian culture with a hands-on Tuscan cooking class and pesto-making experience. Discover medieval hill towns, stroll charming piazzas, and enjoy the warm hospitality that makes Italy one of the world’s most beloved destinations.
Continue your adventure through Tuscany’s rolling countryside to the colorful villages of Cinque Terre, where dramatic cliffs meet the sparkling Mediterranean. Cruise the enchanting waters of Lake Como to elegant Bellagio, visit family-owned wineries and artisan producers, and savor regional cuisine throughout your journey. Combining spectacular scenery, world-renowned food and wine, rich history, and authentic local experiences, this tour offers the perfect taste of Northern Italy.
Air
Roundtrip Economy Air Transportation included from ABQ
Transportation
Deluxe Motorcoach
Duration
13 days, 11 nights
Activity Level 4
Active
Meals
21 meals (11 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 5 dinners) included
Availability
Available
Documents Required
Passport
Tour Highlights
- Discover Milan with a guided tour of Italy’s stylish fashion capital
- Taste the flavors of Emilia-Romagna, including Parmigiano Reggiano, Parma ham, and traditional balsamic vinegar
- Enjoy a hands-on Tuscan cooking class at a charming countryside farmhouse
- Explore the medieval hill towns of San Gimignano and Volterra
- Experience the breathtaking villages of Cinque Terre by train and boat
- Visit Barolo wine country for a guided tasting at a family-owned winery
- Cruise beautiful Lake Como and enjoy lunch in elegant Bellagio
- Learn authentic Ligurian traditions with a hands-on pesto-making class and dinner
Inclusions
- Roundtrip economy air transportation from ABQ (not including airline baggage fees or in-flight charges)
- Transportation by deluxe motorcoach
- 11 nights’ lodging at excellent hotels
- Baggage handling at hotels (for one piece)
- 21 meals (11 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 5 dinners)
- Admission to all listed attractions
- Headsets throughout the trip
- Sightseeing as listed
- Your Professional European Tour Guide
- Your SUN TOURS Escort (with 15 or more travelers)
- All taxes and tips for included items (except hotel housekeeping)
Day 1 – Depart the USA for Italy
Your journey begins as you depart the USA on an overnight flight to Milan. Settle in and look forward to the unforgettable experiences ahead, from world-class cuisine and celebrated wines to medieval hill towns, colorful seaside villages, and the elegant beauty of Lake Como. You’ll arrive tomorrow ready to begin your journey through one of Europe’s most captivating destinations.
Day 2 – Welcome to Milan
Arrive at Milan Malpensa Airport, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Italy’s stylish northern capital is known for its blend of history, fashion, art, and modern sophistication. After checking in, enjoy time to rest after your travels or take a short stroll near the hotel.
This evening, gather with your fellow travelers for a three-course welcome dinner at a local restaurant. It is the perfect opportunity to meet the group, enjoy your first taste of Italian hospitality, and toast the beginning of your Northern Italy adventure.
Overnight: Milan
Meals: Dinner
Day 3 – Milan City Tour & Italian Spritz
After breakfast, set out with a local guide to discover Milan, one of Italy’s most dynamic cities. Your tour includes an exterior view of the magnificent Duomo, one of the largest cathedrals in the world and a masterpiece that took nearly six centuries to complete. As you explore the city center, learn how Milan grew into a major center of commerce, design, opera, and fashion.
Before leaving the city, enjoy one of Italy’s most beloved traditions: a refreshing Spritz aperitif at a local café. Following lunch, continue by private coach to the Emilia-Romagna region, famous throughout Italy for its rich culinary heritage.
Overnight: Hotel Posta, Reggio Emilia
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 4 – Culinary Treasures of Emilia-Romagna
Today is devoted to the flavors that have made Emilia-Romagna one of Italy’s most celebrated food regions. Visit local producers and learn about the craftsmanship behind traditional cured meats, artisan cheeses, and authentic balsamic vinegar.
Throughout the day, enjoy tastings that showcase the region’s deep connection to food, farming, and family tradition. From savory salumi to rich cheeses and carefully aged vinegar, this experience offers a delicious immersion into Italy’s legendary Food Valley.
Overnight: Hotel Posta, Reggio Emilia
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 5 – Tuscany Cooking Class & Montecatini Terme
Depart Emilia-Romagna and travel into the rolling countryside of Tuscany, where vineyards, olive groves, and cypress-lined roads create one of Italy’s most iconic landscapes. Along the way, stop at a Tuscan farmhouse for a hands-on cooking class.
Using fresh, local ingredients, learn to prepare classic Tuscan dishes under the guidance of welcoming hosts. Afterward, sit down together for a convivial lunch featuring the dishes you helped prepare. Continue to Montecatini Terme, a graceful spa town known for its elegant architecture, thermal waters, and relaxed atmosphere.
Overnight: Grand Hotel Croce di Malta, Montecatini Terme
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 6 – San Gimignano & Volterra
This morning, visit San Gimignano, one of Tuscany’s most beloved hill towns. Known for its medieval towers, historic façades, and atmospheric stone streets, San Gimignano offers a remarkable glimpse into the Middle Ages. During your guided tour, explore its beautiful piazzas and learn about the families who once built towers as symbols of wealth and power.
Pause in Piazza della Cisterna for a gelato tasting, with a special recommendation to try the award-winning saffron flavor. In the afternoon, continue to Volterra, a former Etruscan settlement set high above the Tuscan landscape. Visit an alabaster workshop and see how artisans continue this ancient craft before returning to Montecatini.
Overnight: Grand Hotel Croce di Malta, Montecatini Terme
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7 – Day at Leisure in Tuscany
Enjoy a relaxing day at leisure in Montecatini Terme. You may choose to browse the town’s shops, enjoy a leisurely lunch, visit one of the historic thermal spas, or simply soak in the atmosphere of this elegant Tuscan resort town.
For those who enjoy scenic views, consider riding the historic funicular up to Montecatini Alto, a charming hilltop village with cobblestone lanes, cafés, and sweeping views across the Tuscan countryside. Today is yours to enjoy Tuscany at your own pace.
Overnight: Hotel Grande Albergo, Sestri Levante
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8 – Pisa & Europe’s Smallest Pasta Factory
Depart Montecatini and travel toward the Ligurian coast, stopping first in Pisa. With a local guide, explore the famous Piazza dei Miracoli, home to the Leaning Tower, Cathedral, and Baptistery. This remarkable square is one of Italy’s most recognizable landmarks and a masterpiece of medieval architecture.
Later, visit a small family-run pasta factory, considered one of Europe’s smallest. Learn how traditional pasta is produced using time-honored techniques and see how craftsmanship remains at the heart of Italian food culture. Continue to the Sestri di Levante for your overnight stay near the sea.
Overnight: Hotel Grande Albergo, Sestri Levante
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9 – Cinque Terre
Today, discover the unforgettable beauty of Cinque Terre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site made up of five colorful coastal villages: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. Tucked between steep hillsides and cobalt-blue coves, these villages are among the most iconic sights in Italy.
Travel by a combination of trains and boats, depending on weather and sea conditions, to experience several of the villages in one day. Enjoy time to stroll narrow lanes, admire terraced vineyards, photograph colorful homes, and take in sweeping views of the Mediterranean.
Overnight: Hotel Grande Albergo, Sestri Levante
Meals: Breakfast
Day 10 – Gulf of Poets & Pesto-Making Class
Today’s experience reveals a more refined and authentic side of Liguria. Travel to the Gulf of Poets, a graceful coastal area known for its elegant seaside towns, relaxed atmosphere, and literary connections. Its beauty has inspired poets, writers, and artists for generations.
Later, take part in a hands-on pesto-making class, celebrating one of Liguria’s most famous culinary traditions. Learn how fresh basil, olive oil, pine nuts, garlic, and cheese come together to create authentic pesto alla Genovese. After the class, enjoy your creation served with traditional pasta during a memorable dinner.
Overnight: Hotel Grande Albergo, Sestri Levante
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 11 – Barolo Wine Country & Return to Milan
Depart the Riviera di Levante and journey north toward Milan, with a special stop in Piedmont’s Langhe region. This beautiful countryside is known for rolling vineyards, historic villages, and some of Italy’s most prestigious wines.
Visit a local farmhouse for a guided wine tasting featuring regional wines, including the famous Barolo. Often called one of Italy’s greatest red wines, Barolo reflects the deep winemaking traditions of Piedmont. Enjoy a two-course lunch before continuing to Milan for your final two-night stay.
Overnight: Milan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 12 – Lake Como & Bellagio
Enjoy a full-day excursion to magnificent Lake Como, one of Italy’s most elegant and scenic destinations. Travel by private coach and meet your English-speaking guide in the Tremezzo or Cadenabbia area. Surrounded by mountains, villas, gardens, and charming lakeside villages, Lake Como has long been a favorite retreat for travelers seeking beauty and refinement.
Board a ferry across the sparkling waters to Bellagio, often called the “Pearl of the Lake.” Stroll its picturesque streets, admire lakefront views, browse boutiques, and enjoy a relaxed two-course lunch at a local restaurant. Afterward, return by ferry to Tremezzo and continue back to Milan for your final evening in Italy.
Overnight: Milan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 13 – Return to the USA
After breakfast, transfer to Milan Malpensa Airport for your return flight to the USA. As your journey comes to a close, take with you wonderful memories of Northern Italy’s cuisine, wine, landscapes, history, and warm hospitality.
From Milan’s elegance and Tuscany’s hill towns to Cinque Terre’s dramatic coastline, Barolo wine country, and Lake Como’s timeless beauty, this tour offers a rich and memorable taste of Italy.
Meals: Breakfast
Itinerary subject to change
**PASSPORT REQUIRED**
Fun Facts
Parmigiano Reggiano
Is aged for a minimum of 12 months, and every wheel is inspected by experts before earning its official name.
Cinque Terre
Means "Five Lands," referring to the five colorful fishing villages connected by scenic trails, trains, and boats along Italy's dramatic Ligurian coast.
Lake Como
Has been a retreat for Roman nobles, European aristocrats, and modern celebrities for more than 2,000 years thanks to its spectacular scenery and elegant lakeside villas.
Hotel Information
4**** Hotel TBD Milan
Milan, IT
Hotel Posta
Reggio Emilia, IT
Grand Hotel Croce di Malta
Montecatini Terme, IT
Hotel Grande Albergo
Sestri Levante, IT
Package Pricing
$7,235 per person
Double Occupancy
Deposit: $250
$8,095 per person
Single Occupancy
Deposit: $250
Final Payment Due:
June 9, 2027
Deposit: N/A
Price Includes
• Roundtrip air transportation from ABQ (not including airline baggage fees or in-flight charges)
• Transportation by deluxe motorcoach
• 11 nights’ lodging at excellent hotels
• Baggage handling at hotels (for one piece)
• 21 meals (11 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 5 dinners)
• Admission to all listed attractions
• Sightseeing as listed
• Headsets throughout the trip
• Your Professional European Tour Guide
• Your SUN TOURS Escort (with 15 or more travelers)
• All taxes and tips for included items (except hotel housekeeping)
Booking Policy
**PASSPORT REQUIRED**
CANCELLATION FEES:
- None – Through June 9, 2027
- $250 – June 10 – July 7, 2027
- 60%* – July 8 – August 4, 2027
- 100%* – after August 4, 2027
*Fee as percentage of total package price.
We pride ourselves on great service and an enjoyable experience for all and will go over our booking policies after you make your request for booking. If you’d like to learn more about our booking policies before your trip, give us a call at (505) 889-8888.
Travel Insurance
In today’s changing travel environment, it’s important to help protect your travel investment so you can relax and enjoy your trip. Unforeseen events such as flight delays, baggage loss or even a sudden sickness or injury could impact your travel plans. For your convenience, we offer a Travelex Insurance Services protection plan to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. TRAVEL PROTECTION IS ENCOURAGED. Travel protection starts at $1013. Please click here for more information.
ACTIVITY LEVEL RATING
Level 4: Active
Expectations: The tour includes well-paced walking tours with regular breaks. Up to 3-5 hours of walking each day. To fully take advantage of all this tour has to offer, guests need to be able to walk longer distances, climb several flights of stairs and navigate steps and uneven terrain walking for extended periods of time over more difficult terrain (e.g. cobblestones, city hills, stairs without handrails, limited or no access to elevators). Your itinerary can include significant changes in temperature and altitude and may require a higher number of longer travel days with morning and/or evening activities. Most trips will feature long touring days, many full-day excursions and a full and active itinerary with a faster pace and longer distances. Excursions require standing and walking to city centers where coaches are prohibited.
Appropriate for: Travelers who are physically fit, expect a vigorous pace and enjoy participating in two to three hours of physical activity per day without the use of a cane or walker mobility aid.
ITINERARY
For your reference, we send to you a detailed itinerary about 45 days prior to the scheduled tour departure. This has day-by-day times and events, hotel information where you can be reached in case of an emergency, and airline information.
The times listed on the itinerary are all approximate. We cannot be held responsible for schedule changes due to unforeseen circumstances with the weather, transportation agents, highway conditions, hotels or contracting agents.
AIRLINE TICKETS
You will be issued your boarding pass the morning of our departure, after your arrival at the Albuquerque International Sunport. If you have a frequent flyer number, Global Entry, or a TSA number, please call our office at least 3 days prior to the tour to ensure we can note these in your reservation.
If you are joining the tour from locations other than Albuquerque, we make other arrangements for you to join the tour. Please call our office for more details.
AIRPORT SECURITY
Do not forget to bring your government issued picture ID to show at the airport. A Passport is required. If you do not have the proper ID, the airline will turn you away.
BAGGAGE
We have arranged for handling for one piece of luggage per person regarding the skycaps (where available) and hotels. If you check through luggage note that the maximum weight for the checked piece of luggage is 50 pounds and maximum size is 62 inches (length + width + height). If your bag weighs over 50 pounds the airlines will levy an extra fee that you will be responsible to pay. If you feel the need to lock your checked through luggage and your bag is searched, your lock could be damaged in the process. You can purchase a TSA (Transportation Security Administration) accepted and recognized lock at any luggage store. Make sure you ask for a TSA approved lock. These locks are the kind that TSA screeners can open by using a special tool without breaking. Passengers can carry-on 1 bag (dimensions are limited to 10x16x24 inches), plus a personal type bag, like a purse. We advise that you pack your carry-on lightly. There are restrictions regarding your carryon baggage and contents due to enhanced security measures. If you have further concerns, please visit the TSA's Web-site at www.tsa.gov. There is room inside the motorcoach for your hand carried bag.
CHECKED BAGGAGE FEES
On our airline for this tour, passengers are assessed a fee per checked in bag, by the Airlines, upon checking in for the flight.
EMERGENCY CONTACT
It is always a good idea to carry on your person a list of medications that you are taking and an emergency contact phone number while you are traveling. And we suggest making a copy of the itinerary and provide it to a friend or family member.
GRATUITIES/ITEMS INCLUDED IN PRICE
All hotel baggage handling fees are included. We also include basic gratuities for the Tour Director, Coach Driver, and local Tour Guides. If someone has truly gone above and beyond additional tipping is permitted, but never required.
LODGING REQUESTS
If you would like to request special accommodations at the hotel(s) where we are lodging, please call us as soon as possible and we will forward these requests for you. The phone numbers of the hotel(s) where we are staying are listed on the itinerary.
Many hotels around the country have instituted a "reconditioning fee" of $300 or more that is levied upon a guest that smokes in a non-smoking room. If this occurs during our tour you will be responsible for paying this fee to the hotel prior to check-out.
TRAVEL REQUESTS
We pay close attention to your requests but please realize that these are merely requests and cannot be guaranteed.
RESPONSIBILITY
SUN TOURS acts solely as an agent in arranging hotels, transportation, sightseeing, baggage-handling, and other services and does not assume any liability for injury, damage, loss or delay due to any act or default of any company or person. We, along with our subcontractors, reserve the right to make changes to an itinerary if it is necessary for the proper handling of a tour.
WEATHER AND CLOTHING/MISC. SUGGESTIONS
Mid to Late October is one of the most enjoyable times to visit Northern Italy. The summer crowds have diminished, vineyards are alive with the grape harvest, and autumn colors blanket the countryside. Expect comfortable sightseeing weather during the day and cool evenings, especially around the lakes and in the mountains.
Wear lightweight, breathable clothing such as cotton or linen. Opt for comfortable walking shoes, shorts, t-shirts, or sundresses. Bring a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen for sun protection. A light jacket or sweater might be useful for cooler evenings or air-conditioned places.
Call 505.889.8888 to Book Today!
If you aren't ready to inquire by email or would rather call and speak to a team member, we look forward to hearing from you.
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