Private Tours The Italian Riviera

Day 1: Arrival Milan 

Your Italian Riviera trip will begin in Milan. As with all our Italy tours, you’ll be warmly welcomed with a smile and a wave by both your private driver and Alma Italia tour host. Trips to Italy can be complicated but with Alma Italia private guided tours of Italy, you can relax knowing your Alma Italia host will take care of every little detail for you during your Liguria tour, ensuring you experience the very best of the soul of Italy and her beautiful Riviera coast.

The Alma Italia philosophy is that our guided tours of Italy should be for rest, fun and adventure, to inspire and restore you. The day of your arrival then is meant to be for you to recharge after your long flight. Your private driver will take you straight to your stylish boutique hotel in the heart of Milan where you can relax and get refreshed before a stroll through the centre of Milan to soak up the vibrant atmosphere and dinner at one of our favourite local restaurants in all of Italy. That’s quite a statement considering we are food fanatics here at Alma Italia but the chef Alessandro never lets us or his regular Milanese clientele down!

Day 2: Lake Como day trip

This is of course an Italian Riviera tour  but it would be remiss to come all the way to Milan and not take a side trip to experience the splendour and beauty of Lake Como, only 45 mins drive from Milan. It will immediately become obvious why Lake Como has become a hideout for Hollywood stars. After a slow start and delicious breakfast of fresh coffee and Italian pastries, your private driver and tour guide will bring you to the lakeside village of Como. We’ll stroll around the ancient pretty streets of Como village while your guide recounts some of the amazing stories of Como’s past. Today the village is a hub for artisans and fashionable boutiques so for those of your group who love window shopping, this will be an ideal morning, while those not so keen can relax with a lakeside walk or at our favorite rooftop cafe bar for a delicious mid morning cappuccino.

After a lunch of fish caught in the fresh waters of the lake at a lakeside restaurant, we will take a private boat tour to marvel at the historic villas on the shores of Como. Perhaps we`ll even get a wave from George and Amal who are often at home.

Day 3 Sestri Levante 

It’s finally time to make the journey to the Italian Riviera coastline to begin our Liguria tour, a dream region that can offer the best Italy vacations. We will make our first base in Sestri Levante, at a charming authentic Italian style boutique hotel where we will stay for 6 nights so there is time to make yourself at home and relax. Sestri Levante is situated on an impossibly pretty bay so peaceful and tranquil it is known locally as the ‘Bay of Silence’. Behind the bay however, Sestri Levante is a small but lively village whose backstreets are crammed full with delicious restaurants and fashionable boutiques. This will be a week of eating and drinking extremely well and your Alma Italia guide will ensure you have tables at the very best restaurants in town.

Sestri Levante is an ideal base because it is situated at the heart of this section of the Italian Riviera. From here you can experience private Cinque Terre tours that will enable you to see that enormously popular area at its best, but also lesser known yet equally fabulous villages such as Lerici, Levanto and Camogli.

Day 4: Cinque Terre

For many of our guests our famous Cinque Terre tours are the biggest pull to the Italian Riviera. There is no doubt that the area is now so popular that a private guided tour of the Cinque Terre makes all the difference ensuring you experience the best of the Cinque Terre without overwhelming crowds. The Cinque Terre is a protected area of coastline consisting of a network of five coastal fishermen’s villages connected by trails through vineyards, olive orchards, and citrus groves growing high on the dramatic cliffs and mountains that spill into the Mediterranean Sea below. It makes this region perhaps the most spectacular of all Italy coastal tours.

To see the cinque Terre at its best we will take a private boat trip stopping in at a couple of the prettiest villages for lunch and a walk through the backstreets and vineyards above. In the afternoon we will explore the coastline docking in secluded coves to enjoy the views and, soaking up the sun and cooling off in the crystal waters in total privacy. 

At sunset, you’ll be welcomed by a local winegrower at his amazing vineyards overlooking the sea. This experience means understanding the real soul of the Cinque Terre. He will tell you the story behind his mouth watering  wine. After admiring a breathtaking panorama you will visit the ancient cellar and taste the most typical Cinque Terre wines with a traditional Ligurian dinner. This will have been a day to remember for years to come as one of your best Italy vacations in what is certainly one of the best Italy destinations.

Day 5: Lerici 

Lerici and her pretty sister village of San Terenzo , are the charming fishing villages at the heart of a bay which has become known as the ‘Gulf of Poets’. Lesser known internationally than the Cinque Terre, Lerici is much loved by Italian locals and It will be immediately obvious why the poets such as Byron and Shelley who made their home here for a number of years were so inspired by this place. We’ll enjoy the day strolling along the long seafront between the villages stopping at our favourite sandy coves for a swim and perhaps even a pizza for lunch at one of the beach clubs.  Later on we can explore the back street alleys of Lerici leading up to the old castle that overlooks the bay. Here we will see one of the most spectacular sunsets in all of Italy together with of course with a glass of local wine and Italian gourmet snacks before dinner back in our home village of Sestri Levante.

Day 6: Levanto and Bonassola

Surfs up today at Levanto, Italy’s best surfing village, just a few kms up the coast from the Cinque Terre. Another charming beachside village, Levanto has a very different vibe as it attracts the surf crowd. After a morning wander around the town enjoying the classic Italian architecture, boutiques and cafes,  we will enjoy a relaxing afternoon at a private beach club with some of the best Aperol spritz on the entire Italian Riviera. The private beach club will serve you up some of the freshest seafood you’ve ever tasted and  you will be able to spend the day at your privately reserved spot with all the comforts Italian style, while admiring the blue crystalline water of the Mediterranean sea in front of you. For those feeling energetic we can organize a stand up paddle board or surfing lesson. Otherwise you can just lay back on your sunlounger and enjoy a good book to the gentle sounds of lapping waves and Italians chatting and laughing in the background. This is what Italy beach holidays are all about! As the heat of the day cools we can take a short bike ride along the coastal path that was once a railway line to the neighbouring village of Bonassola for a sunset drink before your private driver arries to take you safely home.

Day 7: Portofino, Camogli, and San Fruttuoso

After breakfast, your private guide will pick you up at the hotel to start one of the most classic days on Italian Riviera tours around the Portofino peninsula. You will fall in love with the picturesque village of Camogli with its row of tall and colorful houses lined up along the beach and the small port. Here you will stop to taste the local famous cheese filled Focaccia from one of our favourite bakeries. You’ll never forget that crispy and soft bread! For us it’s worth the trip to Italy alone!

From Camogli, you’ll start a panoramic trip by private boat around the Portofino promontory with its lush vegetation and dramatic cliffs plunging into the deep blue water. You will stop at San Fruttuoso, a magical bay reachable only by boat with just a Medieval abbey built right on the pebble beach. Here you can spend the afternoon relaxing on the private beach, and take a dip in the crystal clear water or grab a cone of fried fish, a culinary highlight of Liguria tours!.

Later on the the boat will take you on to Portofino. Arriving in Portofino by boat will let you admire the best view of the village. Take a stroll in the famous piazzetta (small square), among luxury yachts and glittering boutiques and then you can reach the castle and the beautiful church of St. George, perched on the rocks. This is still the most glamorous spot on the Riviera and you can browse the designer stores and enjoy an evening pre`dinner drink at a bar in the Portofino harbour before dinner in the neighbouring the elegant coastal resort of Santa Margherita with its painted palaces and lovely harbor where your private driver will meet you to take you home.

Day 8: Genova to Alassio 

Today we will say goodbye to Sestri Levante as your private driver and Alma Italia guide take you further up the coast to our next home at Alassio. 

We will stop on the way for a guided walking tour of Genova, a fascinating port city, and birthplace of Cristopher columbus. 

You’ll enjoy a private walking tour of the historical center of Genoa discovering the most famous monuments of the town. Wandering through the “Carrugi” alleys is a unique experience and we believe that by just walking through this maze of historical streets, you’ll meet the “real” Genova soul. You’ll discover the largest medieval old town in Europe, walk along its narrow alleyways, stop in the squares and in the Renaissance streets of the historical town. You’ll walk in Via Garibaldi, a Unesco World Heritage Site which will leave you speechless with its painted palaces built by noble families in the XV century.

Your Alma Italia host will take you to our favorite classic Gevovese restaurants in town, taken from ‘little black book’ of secret spots. ,

Arriving in Alassio in the afternoon you’ll have time to settle in to your stylish boutique hotel whci you will call home fo the next fews days and take a dip in the sea to fresahen up before dinner.

Day 9: Alassio and Laigueglia

The town of Alassio has the longest sandy beach in this area of our Italian Riviera tour and reaches nearly two miles. Iconic beach umbrellas and deck chairs speckle the sand as the acquamarine water gently laps at the beach underneath the toes of beachgoers. Elegant shops and boutiques line the historical city center inland and the architecture takes you back to a bygone era of art deco and the Belle Epoque.

Alassio is a historic holiday resort town, visited since the early days of British and American travelers, and a picture perfect one at that. You can enjoy a stroll (or even a jog if you are feeling like you need to burn off some of those extra calories picked up so far!) along the beach front promenade all the way to the neighbouring village of Laigueglia.

We will of course arrange a spot for you at the best private beach club in town where you can enjoy a well earned rest after your active day in Genova the day before. This is Italian beach holiday pure and simple at one of the best Italy destinations in which to do so and a great place to enjoy time relaxing with family and friends creating memories of a lifetime.

Day 10: Noli and the beach resorts of the Italian Rivieria

The beachside village of Noli, a little further up the coast from Alassio is one of our ‘hidden gems’ from our Alma Italia ‘little black book’ of Italy and you won’t find too many non`Italian visitors here. Most Italian Riviera tours may never make it here but it is one of our favourite spots for a beachside sunset dinner and evening ‘passegiata’ (stroll) and gelato. In fact our favourite gelato on our Liguria tour is made here! Noli itself a charming Italian Riviera fishing town that’s one of the officially recognised ‘Borghi piu Belli d’Italia’ meaning most beautiful villages of Italy. Its sandy beaches have been designated as blue flag beaches so they’re clean and safe for swimming. A castle sits on a hill above town and the picturesque historic center once held 73 towers (one more than San Gimignano) but only a few remain. We will also explore the surrounding towns and beaches, soaking up the best of this magical coastline.

Day 11: Sanremo

Today we will visit Sanremo, the traditional capital of the Italian Riviera. Sanremo welcomes visitors with glitz, glamour, and gorgeous scenery. Villas ascend the mountain sides that overlook the Mediterranean Sea. Locals refer to the Sanremo as the City of Flowers due to the beautiful blossoming petals that enrich the already gorgeous scenery. The opulent Belle Epoque architecture that embodies the atmosphere of the city and it’s labyrinthine of streets in the historical center makes for a fun day of exploring, eating and shopping.  You will be welcomed at our favorite bar with a traditional regional cocktail known as ‘Tintoretto’,  a drink made up of sparkling white wine, white peach pulp, and pomegranate juice for a bright, zesty summer vibe. We can arrange bike tours along newly created cycle path that stretches along the coast or simply enjoy wandering the streets after lunch in the historical center. 

All our Italy tours are completely customizable and we have many more hidden gems and special places on the Italian Riviera to share with you from our Alma Italia ‘little black book’. However for the sake of a fun twist to this classic Italian beach holiday we suggest popping over the border to sample the delights of the French Riviera for the last two nights of this two week itinerary.

Day 12: Menton and the French Riveria

Arrividerci Italia, Bonjour France!

Your private driver and tour host will take you over the close by border today into France. We’ll stop first in Menton, the first French resort town where you will stay for the last two nights in a charming french boutique hotel. The contrast with Italy is striking even though it is only a short drive over the border. Even if the Riviera scenery is familiar, the sounds and smells of the local cuisine take on a distinct French note! This is a favorite thing for us at Alma Italia to do, to spice up life with a bite size slice of French glamour before we head home.

The coastal city of Menton boasts beautiful pastel colored buildings, quaint cobblestone streets and fabulous sea views ideally located between the Principality of Monaco and Italy, where the Alps plunge into the shores of the Mediterranean.

Menton,is famous in France as a city of beaches and gardens. Thanks to a microclimate that tends towards the sub-tropics, Menton is a gardener’s paradise – some of its gardens have even been classified as “Historical Monuments” or “Jardin Remarquables”. We will explore a stunning garden and visit a traditional French farmers market to sample local famous French produce.  In the evening a French feast will be prepared for us at our favourite seafront restaurant and the French wine will soothe any sadness that our Italy coastal tour is nearing its completion.

Day 13: Nice and St Jean Cap Ferrat

On our last day we will enjoy touring this corner of the French Cote D’azur. We will have a foodie tour of Nice’s fabulous fresh food market in the morning and in the afternoon stroll along her beach front promenade that stretches for miles along the coast towards Cannes. It’s such a fun way to end this Italian Riviera tour .You will then dine together for the last time, in an extra special open French bistro in Menton, raising a glass to the fantastic time we all had on this unforgettable journey. If you feel, inspired, refreshed and reconnected with your family and friends we will be happy too!

Day 14: Depart Nice airport

Departure from Nice airport. After your last breakfast of this trip to Italy, it’s time to head back to the airport. It’s time to say Arrivederci Italia, or perhaps, only `Ciao for now`. You`ll be plotting your next Alma Italia Italy tour all the way on the flight home.

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