Lombardy Wine & Lakes Journey

A five-day journey from Milan through Oltrepò Pavese, Franciacorta, Lake Iseo, Lugana and Lake Garda, combining selected wine tastings, local food, a horseback experience and scenic boat journeys.

5 days / 4 nights • 3 winery visits & 1 horseback wine experience • 3 lunches • Private & small-group journeys

About This Lombardy Wine & Lakes Journey

Discover Lombardy beyond Milan on a five-day journey combining wine territories, lake landscapes, countryside experiences and local gastronomy.

Begin in Oltrepò Pavese with a selected winery tasting and lunch before continuing to Lake Iseo for a boat experience. Spend two nights by the lake, using the area as a base for exploring Franciacorta.

In Franciacorta, enjoy a horseback riding and wine experience with lunch, followed by a visit to a second selected winery. Then travel towards Desenzano and the Lugana wine area on the southern shores of Lake Garda.

Explore Sirmione by boat, visit the Grotte di Catullo archaeological site and enjoy free time in the historic centre. The final morning is at leisure in Desenzano.

Bellia Experience coordinates accommodation, selected wineries, activities and transport, offering private journeys and small-group programmes adapted to your preferred dates and guest numbers.

Highlights

Oltrepò Pavese: Discover local wine traditions with a selected winery visit and tasting
Lake Iseo by boat: Enjoy a lake experience and two nights in the Lake Iseo area
Franciacorta countryside: Horseback riding with wine tasting and lunch, plus a second selected winery
Lugana wines: Explore a distinctive wine territory near the southern shores of Lake Garda
Desenzano and Sirmione: Travel by boat, explore Sirmione and visit the Grotte di Catullo
Lombardy gastronomy: Enjoy three included lunches and time to discover local cuisine
Five days and four nights: A balanced journey with selected activities and relaxed lakeside time

Vineyards, Lake Landscapes & Local Traditions

Lombardy combines distinctive wine regions with two beautiful lakes. This itinerary moves from the vineyards of Oltrepò Pavese and Franciacorta to the shores of Lake Iseo and Lake Garda.

Oltrepò Pavese introduces regional wine traditions through a selected winery visit and tasting, before a boat experience on Lake Iseo.

Franciacorta brings a more active countryside experience: horseback riding combined with wine tasting and lunch, followed by a second winery visit.

Lugana and Lake Garda connect local wines with lakeside scenery, while a boat trip to Sirmione reveals the Roman heritage of the Grotte di Catullo.

With two nights near Lake Iseo and two in Desenzano, the journey leaves time to enjoy the destinations without changing accommodation every night.

Itinerary

Day 1

Oltrepò Pavese & Lake Iseo

Departure from Milan • Winery visit & tasting • Included lunch • Lake Iseo boat experience • Overnight Lake Iseo

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Depart Milan and travel towards Oltrepò Pavese, one of Lombardy’s historic wine territories.

Visit a selected winery for a guided tasting, followed by an included local lunch.

Continue to Lake Iseo for a boat experience. Enjoy the lakeside atmosphere and overnight in the Lake Iseo area.

Day 2

Franciacorta

Breakfast • Horseback riding & wine tasting • Included lunch • Second winery visit • Overnight Lake Iseo

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Discover the Franciacorta countryside on a horseback riding experience combined with a wine tasting and an included lunch.

In the afternoon, visit a second selected winery for a tasting focused on the territory’s wine heritage.

Return to the Lake Iseo area for a free evening and overnight stay. The riding component is subject to supplier suitability and capacity requirements.

Day 3

Desenzano & Lugana

Breakfast • Transfer to Desenzano • Included lunch • Lugana winery tasting • Overnight Desenzano

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After breakfast, travel towards Desenzano on the southern shores of Lake Garda.

Enjoy free time in Desenzano and an included lunch, followed by a selected winery visit and tasting in the Lugana wine area.

Spend the evening at leisure. Overnight in Desenzano.

Day 4

Sirmione & Lake Garda

Breakfast • Boat to Sirmione • Grotte di Catullo • Free time • Return boat • Overnight Desenzano

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Travel by boat from Desenzano to Sirmione, enjoying the scenery of Lake Garda.

Visit the Grotte di Catullo archaeological site and enjoy free time in Sirmione’s historic centre.

Return to Desenzano by boat. The evening is free and the second overnight stay is in Desenzano.

Day 5

Desenzano & Departure

Breakfast • Free time in Desenzano • End of programme • Optional onward arrangements

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Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and some free time by Lake Garda.

The organised programme ends in Desenzano. Onward transfers, additional nights and extensions are available on request.

Accommodation

The journey includes four nights in selected hotels: two nights in the Lake Iseo area and two nights in Desenzano on Lake Garda.

Breakfast is included each morning on Days 2, 3, 4 and 5.

Final hotels and room arrangements will be selected according to your travel dates, availability, preferences and the complete tailor-made proposal.

Transportation & Travel Style

Private Journey

Private vehicle transportation is included on Days 1–3 for the scheduled movements between Milan, the wine regions and the lakes. The Day 4 Lake Garda boat journey is included separately. No return transfer is included on Day 5 unless confirmed as an enhancement.

Small-Group Journey

Minibus transportation is included on the same planned travel days (Days 1–3). A Professional Italian Tour Leader is included for the small-group formula. All group activities, including the horseback component, remain subject to operational confirmation.

The tour begins in Milan and ends in Desenzano. Airport transfers, Day 5 onward transfers and additional services are available on request.

✔ Included

Four nights in selected hotels: 2 Lake Iseo · 2 Desenzano
Four breakfasts and three local lunches (Days 1, 2 and 3)
Three selected winery visits and tastings: Oltrepò Pavese, Franciacorta and Lugana
One Franciacorta horseback riding and wine experience
Two lake boat experiences: Lake Iseo and Lake Garda / Sirmione
Admission to the Grotte di Catullo archaeological site
Private vehicle or minibus transportation on Days 1–3, according to the chosen travel formula
Professional Italian Tour Leader in the small-group formula only

❌ Excluded

Flights and optional arrival or departure transfers
Dinners and meals or drinks not specified in the programme
City taxes, travel insurance and personal expenses
Onward transport on Day 5 and additional activities not expressly included
Optional private cultural guides, hotel upgrades and premium experiences
Professional Italian Tour Leader for private guests, unless arranged separately

Why Book This Journey with Bellia Experience?

This journey brings together the wine territories, countryside and lakes of Lombardy, balancing selected tastings and local experiences with time to discover the region at your own pace.

As certified Tour Leaders and Sommeliers, we seek out producers and local experiences that reflect the character of Lombardy’s wines, food traditions and landscapes.

From Oltrepò Pavese to Franciacorta and Lugana, the journey combines three selected winery tastings with horse riding, boat journeys on Lake Iseo and Lake Garda, and the cultural heritage of Sirmione.

Bellia Experience coordinates accommodation, selected wineries, lunches, activities and the planned transfers, with arrangements adapted to guest numbers and supplier availability.

From € 970 per person

Private or small-group journey

Request Availability

Elia & Isabella

Certified Tour Leaders & Sommeliers

Elia and Isabella, Bellia Experience Tour Leaders and Sommeliers

We’ll personally help you plan your Lombardy wine and lakes journey.

Request Availability

Tell us your preferred dates, number of guests and any preferences for the horseback or lake activities. We’ll reply with availability and a personalised proposal.

Frequently Asked Questions

The tour lasts five days and includes four overnight stays: two in the Lake Iseo area and two in Desenzano on Lake Garda.

The organised journey departs from Milan and ends in Desenzano. Optional onward transfers and additional nights can be arranged separately.

The itinerary explores Oltrepò Pavese, Franciacorta and Lugana, with three selected winery visits and tastings plus a separate Franciacorta horseback riding and wine experience.

The programme includes a boat experience on Lake Iseo and a round-trip boat journey between Desenzano and Sirmione on Lake Garda, along with admission to the Grotte di Catullo archaeological site.

Four hotel nights, four breakfasts and three lunches are included. Dinners and other meals not specified in the programme are excluded.

The horseback activity is subject to the riding provider’s conditions, guest suitability and availability. Please tell us about riding experience, age and any relevant restrictions when making an enquiry.

The riding experience has a maximum capacity of six participants per session. Arrangements for larger groups, including possible alternatives, require individual supplier confirmation before booking.

The private journey is typically based on two guests. Small-group rates are normally based on a minimum of eight paying guests, with a maximum group size of sixteen. Horseback riding capacity is limited to six per session and needs separate confirmation for larger groups.

A Professional Italian Tour Leader is included in the small-group programme. For private journeys, a Tour Leader is available as an optional enhancement.

Private vehicle or minibus transfers are included on Days 1–3, according to the chosen travel formula. The Lake Garda boat trip is included on Day 4. Day 5 onward transportation is not included.

Yes. Dates, accommodation category, cultural visits, additional wine experiences, boat arrangements and extensions can be discussed when preparing a tailored proposal.

More About This Trip

Languages for the journey and individual winery visits will be confirmed according to your requested dates and the selected producers.

Final wineries, hotels, timings, meeting points and operational details will be confirmed in the tailor-made proposal for your requested dates.

The journey is offered as a private or small-group programme. Transfers are scheduled on Days 1–3; availability, the riding component and final arrangements are reconfirmed with the selected suppliers.

Wine tastings are intended for guests of legal drinking age. Please communicate dietary requirements, allergies and any horseback riding restrictions in advance so they can be checked with suppliers.

Sending an availability request does not constitute a confirmed booking. The journey is confirmed only after acceptance of the final proposal and completion of the required booking procedure.

Payment terms, cancellation conditions and any supplier-specific policies will be provided before confirmation.

The itinerary can be adapted to your travel dates, guest numbers, preferred pace and supplier availability. Hotel upgrades, private lake experiences, premium winery visits and optional guided cultural visits can be requested.