Small-Group Lake Como: Bellagio, Varenna, Hidden Gorge & Boat
Description
Discover the must-sees of Lake Como — the dreamy villages of Bellagio and Varenna — and a hidden gem no other tour reaches: the dramatic Bellano Gorge. Wander the narrow cobblestone streets of Bellagio and Varenna, with ample free time to explore Villa Melzi, enjoy lunch at a waterfront restaurant, and take in the views. Skip the lines and crowds with priority boat access. Explore Bellagio, Varenna, and Bellano on a walking tour with your guide in a small group of no more than 15 — while guiding larger groups of 25+ is banned by law in Bellagio. In summer, you can stay longer in Bellano and enjoy a refreshing swim in Lake Como, weather permitting. The beach is small and rocky, with deep water close to shore.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Visit Varenna, one of the most photographed villages on Lake Como. Stroll along the scenic lakeside promenade, explore the old town streets, and enjoy free time to discover viewpoints, cafés, and small local shops. Your guide helps orient the visit so you can make the most of your time.
Explore Bellagio at your own pace, one of the most scenic villages on Lake Como. Stroll along the lakeside promenade, climb the stone stairways of the old town, relax in quiet piazzas, or enjoy a coffee with lake views. You may also choose to visit Villa Melzi Gardens or browse small local shops. Free time is unhurried, allowing you to enjoy Bellagio calmly without rushing.
Cruise past the lakeside town of Menaggio, enjoying beautiful views from the water as you continue toward the next stop.
Walk through the Bellano Gorge (Orrido di Bellano), a natural canyon carved by rushing water over thousands of years. Follow elevated walkways fixed to the rock walls, passing waterfalls, narrow passages, and dramatic views directly above the river below. The visit is fully walkable and well maintained, making it easy to explore while enjoying a unique natural setting. After the gorge, take time to visit Bellano, a calm lakeside village with a local atmosphere, far from mass tourism. This stop adds a quieter, natural experience that most Lake Como day trips do not include.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Note: This 10-hour tour includes travel time—round-trip train ride and boat cruise
- Minimum age: 6 years. No strollers allowed
Reviews(690)
Had a great day exploring Lake Como and the surrounding towns. The small group was great and I liked that it was convenient to go straight on trains and ferries without the hassle of organising it ourselves. The waterfall visit was something definitely unexpected and amazing.
We had a fantastic day exploring the towns around Lake Como with our unreal guide Gulia! Her local knowledge was great, showing us all the best spots to look at the stunning views and the best places to eat. The smaller group also made transportation really easy and we got to know the group throughout the day. Would highly recommend a tour with this crew it ticked all the boxes and more!
Excellent chilled tour amzing places and the guide amato was full of information perfect guide for a small group
Julia was the best guide ever. Very knowledgeable and the visits just flow easily. She had time to answer all the questions we had.
Amato is great. Rhymes with Tomato. He’s great.
It’s a great trip. Weather is vey hot, Amato kept us in the shade!
Barbera the guide was excellent throughout and dealt with delays in the train service very calmly and sensibly. Although she couldn't make the trains run like clockwork, she made everything else do so.
Thank you! Barbera handled the situation perfectly — calm, organized, and kept the whole experience seamless despite something completely outside our control. That's exactly the kind of experienced guide we pride ourselves on. Small groups make all the difference here too; quick decisions, no confusion, and everyone stays together. Glad you had a great day!
We had a wonderful day with Amato as our guide. Our small group was friendly and he did a great job, keeping us on track visiting all the sites. I especially enjoyed his recommendation for lunch in Bellagio.
The tour exceeded my expectations- Guilia was so charming, caring, knowledgeable and perfect.
Our family had such a wonderful time on this tour and we are so glad we decided to do this, over spending the day in Milan. Our guide, Amato was kind, engaging, knowledgeable and funny… we learned so much about Lake Como and the surrounding area got to spend just the right amount of time in each of the three cities that we stopped. A remarkable surprise were the glacier waterfalls in Bellano… so impressive and beautiful, just tucked away behind it went and lovely little town. I highly recommend this tour.
