TRUFFLES, WINE & CHEESE - 6 days
Day 1: MILAN – LAKE MAGGIORE:
After your arrival at Milan airport, pick up your car at the car rental and drive to Pallanza, a nice locality on Lake Maggiore. Accommodation at the Grand Hotel Majestic and dinner in the hotel. Overnight.
Day 2: Pallanza – Arona – Stresa – Borromean Islands – Pallanza
Begin your day with breakfast before a scenic drive to Arona, where you’ll indulge in an artisan cheese experience. Learn the secrets of pairing exquisite Italian cheeses with salumi, mustards, fresh bread, and local wines, followed by a hands-on cooking class and a delicious lunch showcasing the region’s finest flavours.
Next, continue to Stresa for a private boat excursion to the stunning Borromean Islands. Your first stop is Isola Bella, home to a magnificent 17th-century Baroque palace surrounded by lush, scenic gardens. Then, visit Isola Madre, whose gardens burst with rare plants and exotic flowers, creating the feel of a tropical paradise.
Finally, disembark at Isola dei Pescatori (Fishermen’s Island) for a memorable dinner at a charming waterfront restaurant, soaking in the enchanting atmosphere. Afterward, return to your hotel for an overnight stay at the luxurious Grand Hotel Majestic.
Day 3: PALLANZA – GHEMME WINE CITY – BENEVELLO:
After breakfast, depart for Ghemme, a charming medieval town celebrated for its fine wines, artisanal honey, and traditional breads. Explore local wine cellars and delight in a guided tasting featuring Ghemme’s signature wines, paired with salumi, cheeses, and honeyed sweet breads.
Continue to Benevello, where you will enjoy a warm welcome dinner at your hotel, followed by an overnight stay at the elegant Hotel Villa D’Amelia.
Day 4: PIEDMONT LANGHE, THE LAND OF WINE AND TRUFFLES:
After breakfast, drive to a prestigious restaurant in the Langhe for an exclusive cooking lesson with an expert local chef. Discover the secrets of traditional regional cuisine, following each step as natural, high-quality ingredients are transformed into culinary masterpieces.
Once the dishes are prepared, enjoy a guided tasting at the table, where the chef and experts will offer insights into flavour combinations and pairings with the noble wines of the Langhe.
In the afternoon, accompany a truffle hunter and his loyal dog through the ancient paths of the Langhe woods, learning the timeless art of truffle hunting. Conclude with a truffle tasting in a specialty shop, immersing yourself in the aromas and flavours of this prized delicacy.
The day ends with a gourmet truffle dinner at a charming local tavern. Overnight stay at the elegant Hotel Villa D’Amelia.
Day 5: BENEVELLO – ALBA – BAROLO – MILAN:
Alba & Barolo: Truffles, Wine, and Langhe Heritage
After breakfast, depart for Alba, the celebrated “capital of the Langhe,” for a guided audio-tour of its charming historical centre. Wander through streets lined with medieval towers and Romantic-Gothic monuments, soaking in the rich heritage and enchanting atmosphere. Mid-morning, indulge in a special truffle tasting at a local artisan shop, savouring the delicate flavours of this prized regional treasure. Following a typical Langhe lunch, continue to Barolo Castle,
home to the innovative WiMu Wine Museum, where wine is celebrated through history, art, cinema, music, literature, and local traditions.
No visit to Barolo would be complete without a private wine tasting in the castle cellar, sampling some of the region’s finest vintages. Conclude the day with a drive to Milan for an overnight stay at the Rosa Grand Hotel, ready to rest and prepare for the next unforgettable experience.
Day 6: MILAN:
After breakfast, return your car at the airport and board your flight home. Arrivederci!
HOTELS OR SIMILAR
Pallanza: Grand Hotel Majestic, 4 stars
Benevello: Hotel Villa d’Amelia, 4 stars
Milan: Rosa Grand Hotel, 4 stars