Ultimate Driving Holiday - Italian Lakes & Tuscany

Day 1 - Arrival

Private transfers directly from Zurich airport to the Hotel. After check in, take a walk through the narrow cobbled streets of old town Zurich where the hotel is set, with it's wonderful collection of boutique stores and cafes. Continue along Bahnhofstrasse to Lake Zurich, where you can then stroll along the lakeside promenade.

Drive Walkthrough – late afternoon we will be meet at the Widder Hotel for a complete a full walkthrough of your drives and itinerary for the next 6 days. This walkthrough will be given by your drive concierge in Switzerland.

Hotel: 5 Star Widder Hotel / Double Superior Room

Day 2 - Through the Alps to Lake Como / Tremezzo

Your initial drive will be along the shores of Lake Zurich, you then head into the heart of the Swiss Alps and onto St Moritz where you will stop for lunch. Continue south "through" the Alps via the sweeping Maloja pass, cross the border into Italy and you are quickly onto the northern tip of Lake Como.  Follow the eastern shores down to the beautiful and unspoiled lakeside town of Bellano, where we recommend you stop for a late afternoon coffee.  Now catch the short ferry trip across the lake, and make your way down the westeren shores of the lake to Tremezzo, where you will be based for the evening at the Grand Hotel Tremezzo. 

Drive: 6 hours, plus stops for sights and lunch
Hotel: 5 Star Grand Hotel Tremezzo / Standard Double Room, Bed, Breakfast, Parking

OPTIONAL EXTRA DAY:  It's possible to spend one extra evening on the lake, if you decide to do so, we recommend either taking a boat trip on the lake, which is possibly the best way to see the true beauty, or take the short ferry trip across to Bellagio and spend an afternoon in this beautiful lakeside town.  Alternatively, head down the south western shores of the lake, where the jet set have set up their multi million dollar villas, and visit Villa Villa del Balbianello, of James Bond / Casino Royal / Daniel Craig fame, it's less than 5 minutes drive or a 45 minutes walk along the shores of the lake.

Day 3 - From Como to Siena, Tuscany

Today you will take a direct drive from Como to the heart of Chianti Country via the main autobahns. This drive takes approximately 3 1/2 hours, so ensures you arrive in the heart of Tuscany in time for lunch.  In the afternoon, you can take an optional ½ day tour of the rolling hills south of Florence, or alternatively take a private hotel transfer into the city and spend the afternoon exploring. For the next 3 nights you will then be based in the 4 Star Superior Hotel Locanda Dell'Amorosa, a 14th century hamlet converted into a small and unique hotel that is set in the rolling tuscan hills just south of Siena.  The perfect place to be based to explore this beautiful region from.

Drive: 3 ½ hours plus stops, plus 2 hours afternoon
Hotel: 4 Star Hotel Locanda Dell'Amorosa for the next 4 nights / Double Superio Room, Bed, Breakfast, Parking

Day 4 - Tour the borderlands of Florence

Today you will complete a days drive through the rolling Tuscan hills west of Florence, visiting some of the most beautiful and well preserved towns in the region, including the beautiful towns of Castelfiorentino, Cetaldo and San Gimigiano. We recommend you spend the afternoon in San Gimigiano, as it is simply stunning and has a wonderful collections of restaurants, cafes and bars to hang out in and take in the local atmosphere. It’s also the only city in the region that has managed to conserve fourteen towers of varying height which have become its international symbol

Drive: 4 ½ hours plus stops

Day 5 - Tour of the Chianti Hills & Siena

This beautiful half day drive that passes through the rolling hills and vineyards of the Chianti region, includes a visit to the historic Castello di Brolio, with it’s stunning wine cellar, gardens and shop, plus runs through two of the most beautiful market towns in the region, with plenty of chance to pick up some of the local produce. There is also an optional loop further south for a visit of Siena, where you can spend the afternoon before returning to Sinalunga

Drive: 3 ½ hours tour of the Chianti region, plus an afternoon in Siena

Day 6 - Journey through the Apuan Alps and onto the Italian Riviera

Today is a really varied day of driving, first make a visit to the beautiful walled medieval town of Lucca, west of Florence, then head into the Apuan Alps, stopping at the spa town of Bagni di Lucca for lunch.  After lunch you will head over the trading routes that cross Apuan Alps, then drop down directly to the ports on the west coast of Italy. Now, take a run along along the coast and a visit to Marina di Pisa, taking lunch on the coast, before returning to Florence. Time permitting you can also make a visit to Pisa itself for a bit of sight seeing. The return drive takes you back south of the mountains and through the heart of the rolling Tuscan hills.

Drive: 5 hours plus stops

Day 7 - Return Drive to Zurich OR Milan

Dependent on your flight or car hire arrangements it is possible to return either to Zurich (normally an extra evening will be required in the city) or Milan. 

Mid April - Mid October