Share this tour
Offered languages
- English
- Italian
A whole 1987 Italian vintage cruiser to yourselves: ten metres of classic lines, teak decks and white leather in the cockpit, refitted to run quiet. No shared departures, no crowds — just your group (up to 8) and a local skipper who knows where the light falls at six, which bay is out of the wind, and which island stories are true. Leave from whichever pier suits you — Stresa, Baveno, Pallanza, Feriolo or Laveno — at the hour you choose: no fixed timetable. From the baroque terraces of Isola Bella to the clifftop hermitage of Santa Caterina, the medieval Cannero castles and the quiet villa shores of the Verbano, this is Lake Maggiore the way it’s meant to be seen — from the water, glass in hand. Wine (18+), chilled water and soft drinks on board, towels ready for a swim.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
Driving or walking from Stresa to the public dock, keep the Eni Live gas station on your right. Just after it, turn right onto Via Sant’Arialdo and go straight about 100 m to the pier. Closest parking: Piazzale Lido, Stresa, next to Bar L’Idrovolante.
Itinerary
-
1Stresa
We’ll board the boat and set off across the Borromean Gulf, enjoying views of the mountains and the elegant villas along the shore.
5 minutes • Admission ticket free -
2Isola Bella
We’ll sail slowly around the jewel of the Borromeo family, admiring from the water the Baroque Borromeo Palace and its famous Italian gardens, with ten terraces rising like a pyramid towards the Borromeo Unicorn. With a bit of luck you’ll spot the white peacocks among the statues.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
3Island of the Fishermen (Isola dei Pescatori)
We’ll continue past the Fishermen’s Island, the only one still inhabited all year round, with its narrow lanes, lakeside houses, the bell tower of the 11th-century Church of San Vittore and the fishing boats moored along the shore.
10 minutes • Admission ticket not included -
4Isola Madre
We’ll then cruise around the largest and most peaceful of the islands, famous for its English-style botanical garden, where azaleas, camellias, rhododendrons and the monumental Kashmir cypress rise above the water, framing the Borromeo Palace.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
5
On our way we’ll pass this tiny island, once the residence of the conductor Arturo Toscanini, still privately owned and not open to visitors.
5 minutes • Admission ticket free -
6Giardini Botanici Di Villa Taranto
Along the way we’ll enjoy views of the Pallanza lakefront and the famous Villa Taranto gardens, as well as the Rocca di Angera on the opposite shore.
5 minutes • Admission ticket not included -
7Stresa
We’ll head back across the gulf, with one last look at the three islands and the mountains surrounding Lake Maggiore.
5 minutes • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Your guide to the flawless travel experience
Popular Countries
Get our app
