Starting from Turin’s sophisticated atmosphere and café culture, the itinerary moves into the Langhe UNESCO-listed hills, where food traditions and heritage wineries shape an immersive countryside experience. The journey concludes on Lake Como, offering a more scenic and contemplative finale between historic villas, lake views and timeless landscapes.
Designed as a flexible journey, allowing you to tailor the pace, experiences and accommodation to suit your travel style, while still enjoying the ease and freedom of a self-drive journey.This itinerary combines Italy’s top food and wine region with exclusive private experiences and winter-only charm—without the crowds of peak season.
Arrival in Turin and check-in at your hotel.
The day is left free to settle in and begin discovering the city at your own pace, perhaps enjoying a first walk under its elegant arcades or a relaxed evening in one of its historic cafés.
Overnight stay in Turin at Turin Palace Hotel.
Begin your exploration of Turin with a private walking tour through its refined historic centre, where Roman order, baroque elegance and royal ambition come together in a harmonious urban landscape. Moving through iconic piazzas such as Piazza San Carlo and Piazza Castello, you will encounter the façades of Palazzo Madama and the Royal Palace, before reaching the more intimate Piazza Carignano, deeply connected to the early history of unified Italy.
The journey continues with a gourmet exploration of Turin’s historic cafés, where the city’s cultural life once unfolded through conversation and ritual. Here, you will taste bicerin, the iconic layered blend of coffee, chocolate, and cream and discover the story of vermouth, the aromatic wine born in Turin and now a symbol of Italian aperitivo culture. Duration: 3 hours.
✨ Seasonal highlight (Nov–Jan) During the winter season, the experience is enriched by the evocative Luci d’Artista, a collection of contemporary light installations that transform Turin into an open-air museum, illuminating streets and squares with a unique artistic atmosphere.
Overnight stay in Turin at Turin Palace Hotel.
Today is dedicated to one of Turin’s most celebrated traditions: chocolate.
Step into a historic workshop where the scent of cocoa and the rhythm of artisanal craftsmanship define the experience. Guided by expert chocolatiers, you will discover techniques refined over generations, gaining insight into the delicate balance between precision and creativity. The experience becomes hands-on as you craft your own chocolate bar, selecting from a variety of toppings, from delicate confections to dried fruits, creating a personalised expression of taste and creativity. Duration: 2 hours.
The rest of the day is free to continue exploring the city at your leisure.
Suggestion: for those wishing to extend the experience beyond the city centre, a visit to the Reggia di Venaria, one of the most important Savoy residences and a UNESCO World Heritage site, offers an elegant immersion into royal architecture, grand gardens and Baroque splendour just outside Turin
Overnight stay in Turin at Turin Palace Hotel.
Pick up your rental car and depart Turin.
Drive into the rolling hills of the Langhe, a UNESCO-listed landscape where vineyards, castles and hilltop villages define one of Italy’s most iconic regions.
The historic center of Alba, once the Roman settlement of Alba Pompeia, rests atop a palimpsest of ancient cities layered one over the other from antiquity to today. Beneath its streets, each era has left its imprint: fragments of walls, paved roads, and hidden structures that quietly recount a history stretching back millennia. This remarkable underground heritage can be experienced at the F. Eusebio Museum and along the Monumental Archaeological Route, a network of subterranean passages that brings to light the ancient structures still underpinning the Alba of today. Duration: 2 hours.
The rest of the afternoon is left free to slow down and embrace the rhythm of the countryside.
✨ Seasonal highlight In December, Alba and the Langhe villages take on a festive charm, with Christmas markets, lights, and seasonal events often held throughout the Advent period, especially during weekends.
Ovenight stay in Pollenzo at Albergo dell'Agenzia.
Follow the quiet choreography between an expert trifulau and their sharp‑nosed tabui, as you venture into the woods for a private truffle hunt unlike any other. Among moss, roots, and shifting light, you’ll witness the instinctive dialogue between hunter and dog.
As the forest yields its hidden treasures, your experience continues in the kitchen, where an accomplished cook guides you through the flavours and techniques of Piedmontese cuisine. Here, truffles become stories, aromas become gestures, and recipes unfold through touch and taste. When everything is ready, you’ll sit down to enjoy the dishes you’ve crafted—a lunch that carries the scent of the woods, the warmth of the kitchen, and the unmistakable character of this land. Duration: 4 hours.
The rest of the day is at leisure: you may choose to explore the charming villages scattered across the Langhe hills or simply relax and unwind at one of the many spa and wellness centres in the area, enjoying the slower rhythm of the countryside.
Ovenight stay in Pollenzo at Albergo dell'Agenzia.
After breakfast, drive through the Barolo region.
This experience invites you to explore Barolo through time, tasting its evolution across multiple vintages inside an exclusive winery in the Langhe. Guided by a local expert, you’ll compare how each year leaves its mark, how patience, climate, and careful aging gradually shift the wine’s structure, depth, and perfume. The tasting becomes a quiet study of Barolo’s character across different harvests, revealing how this wine expresses itself as it matures and why it holds such a central place in Italian winemaking.
Return to your accommodation and the rest of the day at leisure.
Ovenight stay in Pollenzo at Albergo dell'Agenzia.
Leave the Langhe behind and take a scenic drive towards Lake Como.
Upon arrival, check in at your hotel and take time to relax before discovering Como. Accompanied by a local expert guide, explore the soul of Como’s historic center on a private tour, moving through sun‑lit piazzas and intimate cobbled lanes where the city’s rhythm flows in small, captivating details. Let your gaze rise to the magnificent Como Cathedral, a luminous blend of Gothic and Renaissance artistry, its façades and spires catching the light in ways that reveal the city’s quiet elegance and its enduring sense of place. Duration: 3 hours.
✨ Seasonal highlight (late Nov–early Jan) During the festive season, Como transforms into an enchanting lakeside Christmas destination, with markets, lights and events animating the historic centre, typically from late November through early January.
Overnight stay in Como at Duomo Boutique Hotel.
The morning stretches out along the shores of Lake Como, beginning with a private “Venetian‑style” wooden motorboat that carries you across the water in the company of your local guide.
As the boat glides over the lake, a panorama of colorful waterside villages and graceful estates appears, framed by palms and pines and set against the dramatic rise of the surrounding mountains. The journey continues to Villa del Balbianello, an elegant and romantic 18th‑century residence perched on its own wooded peninsula, before reaching the delightful town of Bellagio for some leisurely time to explore its charming lanes. The experience draws to a close with a private boat ride back to your hotel, the serene beauty of the lake lingering with you. Duration: 4 hours.
The remainder of the day is at leisure, allowing you to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the lake.
Overnight stay in Como at Duomo Boutique Hotel.
After breakfast, departure and end of the journey by delivering the rental car at the airport.
Turin
Turin Palace Hotel is a 4-star property set in a recently remodelled historic 1870 building in Turin city centre. Historic yet modern, this hotel exudes the perfect balance of mystique, elegance, and pleasant relaxation in the Italian countryside.
Blending classic architecture with a modern, comfortable feel, the hotel features spacious, light-filled rooms designed for a relaxing stay. Key facilities include a panoramic rooftop terrace with city views, a wellness area with sauna and gym, and on-site parking. The standout dining venue, Les Petites Madeleines, serves creative takes on traditional Piedmont cuisine in a stylish setting.
Pollenzo (Cuneo)
Albergo dell’Agenzia is a charming hotel located in Pollenzo, near the town of Bra in the heart of the Langhe region of Piedmont, Northern Italy. Set within a restored 19th-century estate, it is part of a UNESCO-listed area known for its vineyards, truffles and outstanding food culture.
The property mixes historic character with modern comfort, featuring spacious rooms, a peaceful courtyard and elegant common areas. Facilities include a large outdoor swimming pool, a wellness area with sauna and gym, and on-site parking, ideal for self-drive travellers. Guests also have access to a renowned wine bank (Banca del Vino) and an excellent restaurant nearby, showcasing local flavours.
