Eight hours. The entire lake. Your private boat, your captain, your pace. No fixed route, no rushing — just the freedom to explore Lake Como the way it deserves to be discovered.
The Grand Tour
Lake Como is 46 kilometres long. Its two branches take you from the glamour of the south shore to the wilder, quieter upper lake — through landscapes that change completely as you move north. One hour is enough for the highlights. Eight hours is enough for everything.
The Grand Tour gives you the entire boat for the entire day, with your English-speaking captain as your guide. There is no fixed route, no schedule to keep and nowhere you have to be. You decide where to go, when to stop and how long to stay. This is Lake Como without compromise.
Before you set off, your captain will talk through the lake with you — the villages, the villas, the hidden corners — and help you shape a day that fits exactly what your group wants to do.
What You Can Do
The Grand Tour has no agenda except yours. Here is what a full day on Lake Como makes possible.
A full day means you can cruise past every major villa on the lake — not just the highlights of the south shore but the grand estates of the central lake and the quieter residences of the upper branches.
Dock in Bellagio, wander Varenna's cliffside streets, explore the fishing village of Peschiera Maraglio or the medieval lanes of Gravedona. With 8 hours, you can visit two or three villages at your leisure.
Arrive at a lakeside restaurant by boat — Villa d'Este, Grand Hotel Tremezzo, a local trattoria in Varenna. Your captain can help with timing and recommendations. The full day gives you time to linger over a proper Italian lunch.
The lake reaches 22°C in summer. Your captain knows the clearest, calmest spots — away from the ferry routes and the crowds. A full day means you can swim more than once, or simply drift in the water for as long as you want.
The Nesso waterfall, the Orrido di Bellano, the cascades above Varenna — these are places almost impossible to reach on foot but extraordinary from the water. A full day means you can visit more than one.
Sometimes the best moments are the small ones. Docking in Bellagio at midmorning, before the crowds arrive, and eating a gelato on the waterfront while the lake sparkles — this is exactly what 8 hours allows.
A full day on the lake means you experience both the sharp morning light on the mountains and the warm gold of late afternoon — two completely different lakes, on the same day.
Most tours never leave the south. With 8 hours, you can push north into the upper lake — wilder, less visited, with a completely different character. The mountains close in, the water deepens and the villages feel truly untouched.
The most extraordinary light on Lake Como is in the first two hours of morning and the last two before sunset. A Grand Tour departure means you can plan your route around it — positioning the boat for the shot that no postcard captures.
A Sample Day
Every Grand Tour is different — this is just one version of many. Your captain will help you shape the day that makes sense for your group.
Where You Can Go
These are just some of the destinations a Grand Tour makes possible. Your captain will help you build the day around the ones that interest you most.
Make It Yours
The Grand Tour is fully customisable. Any of the following can be arranged in advance — just let us know when booking.
Something else in mind? Tell us on our Custom Tour page →
Always Included
FAQ
€1,500 is the total price for the entire private boat, for up to 7 guests. Fuel, captain and water are all included. Extras such as champagne, food or flowers are agreed and priced separately when you book.
Not at all — that's the point of the Grand Tour. Before departure, your captain will talk through the lake with you and help shape a day based on what your group wants to see and do. You can change direction at any point during the day.
Yes — and most Grand Tour guests do. With 8 hours, you can comfortably visit two villages with proper time ashore in each, plus swim stops, villa cruising and the return journey. Your captain will help you pace the day so nothing feels rushed.
Absolutely — and we'd encourage it. Arriving at a lakeside restaurant by private boat is one of the finest things Lake Como offers. Your captain can recommend restaurants and help coordinate timing. Restaurant costs are separate from the boat hire.
Departure time is flexible — you choose when to set off. Most guests depart between 9am and 10am to make the most of the full day, but we can accommodate earlier departures for those who want the lake at sunrise. The tour runs for 8 hours from departure.
Yes — and the Grand Tour is the only one of our experiences where a full exploration of the upper lake is genuinely possible. The upper branches of Lake Como have a completely different character from the south, and with 8 hours you can go north properly and still have time for everything else.
The Grand Tour is one of our most popular choices for proposals, anniversaries, milestone birthdays and honeymoons. Eight hours gives us time to set up everything properly — champagne, flowers, live music, the perfect moment. Tell us when booking and we'll coordinate every detail.
Book the Grand Tour
We confirm within 24 hours and help you plan the perfect day before you arrive.
Shorter Experiences