Northern Italy vacation

Planet

Our custom-designed journeys prioritize train travel, offering a seamless, scenic, and sustainable way to explore each destination. High-speed rail efficiently connects major cities, while shorter routes make for perfect day excursions from urban hubs. We intentionally avoid car rentals where excellent rail service is available, reserving flights only for islands or routes that exceed six hours by train. Within cities, we discourage driving altogether and instead provide travelers with resources for local transit and walkable routes that foster deeper cultural immersion. Train travel is not just transportation—it’s an integral part of the experience.

Each itinerary includes carefully curated dining recommendations featuring vegetarian, vegan, and vegetarian-friendly options, as well as authentic local cuisine. When meals are included with an activity, plant-based options are always available. For food enthusiasts, we design enriching culinary experiences, including guided tastings, farm-to-table dining, and private visits with regional producers.

The Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park and the Dolomiti d’Ampezzo Natural Park together form two of the most ecologically rich and scenic areas of the Dolomites, offering a remarkable range of landscapes from deep forested valleys and alpine meadows to soaring limestone peaks and rugged rocky plateaus. The Bellunesi park contains more than 1,300 plant species along with a full representation of Alpine wildlife, including deer, chamois, marmots, foxes, and occasional sightings of wolves, lynx, and brown bears, as well as over 115 nesting bird species such as the golden eagle, griffon vulture, and bearded vulture. To the north, the Dolomiti d’Ampezzo park supports a similarly rich fauna, with abundant chamois, red deer, marmots, and a reintroduced Alpine ibex population, as well as more than 100 bird species including the golden eagle, eagle owl, and rare boreal owls, along with reptiles such as the asp and horned vipers. Both parks are part of the UNESCO-listed Dolomites and play a crucial role in protecting endangered or sensitive species.

We are proud to support Rewilding Italy, part of Rewilding Europe, an organization dedicated to restoring nature and wildlife and conserving wild landscapes through natural processes for the benefit of society. The Central Apennines is a landscape that has undergone rewilding initiatives. We are also committed partners of TAP (Travelers Against Plastic), reinforcing our mission to promote sustainable and responsible travel.

People

All of our activity partners are locally owned, independent businesses. We work exclusively with guides and providers who specialize in creating intimate, authentic experiences deeply rooted in their communities.

In some regions, we also partner with small, family-run transportation companies—often just a handful of trusted drivers we know personally—ensuring that you’re supported by local experts at every stage of your journey.

Traveling through Northern Italy—from Lake Como to the Dolomites, including Val Gardena, Alpe di Siusi, Seceda, Cortina d’Ampezzo, and Lago di Braies—gives you the chance to connect with the communities that live and work in these areas. As you stay in family-run hotels, dine in traditional mountain rifugi, and explore towns such as Castelrotto, Ortisei, and Santa Cristina, you support the small businesses, farmers, and craftspeople who maintain local traditions. Drivers, guides, and artisans share their knowledge and experiences, offering insight into the rhythm of daily life in these regions.

Throughout your trip, each activity contributes to the local economy—whether you enjoy regional dishes prepared with ingredients from nearby farms in South Tyrol, take cable cars in Seceda or Alpe di Siisi operated by community-based organizations, or visit shops in Cortina d’Ampezzo that highlight handmade goods. These interactions help sustain the work of farmers, winemakers, outdoor workers, and hospitality providers who rely on responsible travel for steady income.