THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Spend six hours living the Lake Como dream: a private Venetian taxi cruise, reserved lunch at Villa d'Este or Harry's Bar, and a charming Ape Calessino shoreline tour. This curated VIP day pairs elegant service with the best waterfront views.
Spend six hours living the Lake Como dream: a private Venetian taxi cruise, reserved lunch at Villa d'Este or Harry's Bar, and a charming Ape Calessino shoreline tour. This curated VIP day pairs elegant service with the best waterfront views.
Book with Gimbus
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Gimbus · Como, Lombardia
Lake Como, in Como, Lombardia, Italy, offers a singular combination of alpine reflections, ornate villas and quiet fishing villages. The Full Day VIP Experience on Lake Como delivers that combination in a single, seamless itinerary: a private two-hour cruise aboard a Venetian taxi boat, a reserved two-hour lunch at Villa d'Este, Villa Passalacqua, or Harry's Bar, and a guided shoreline tour in a vintage Ape Calessino. Designed for travelers who want effortless luxury without crowds, this experience stitches water, shore and road into a six-hour ribbon of views. The cruise portion glides past celebrated villas, marble facades, and the dramatic stone arch of the ancient bridge at Nesso with its small waterfall cutting into the gorge. Lake Como's basin is a glacial lake framed by pre-Alpine ridges; steep slopes and cypress-lined terraces give the shoreline a vertical, intimate scale that reads beautifully from the water. Your private captain will point out notable landmarks as you sip Prosecco and nibble local snacks, turning cruising into a moving vantage point for photography and relaxed discovery. Lunch is reserved at one of Como's most prestigious addresses: choose the formal gardens and baroque echoes of Villa d'Este, the private atmosphere of Villa Passalacqua, or the historic elegance of Harry's Bar. A two-hour table allows time to linger over seasonal Lombard cuisine, local wines, and views that extend across the lake. After lunch the mood shifts to something playful and singular: a two-hour guided ride in an Ape Calessino, the tiny three-wheeled vehicle fashionable on Italian shores. Your driver navigates narrow lakeside roads, delivering stops at viewpoints, village piazzas, and quiet harbors where you can stretch your legs and absorb the craftsman details of stucco facades and ironwork balconies. Practical notes: the tour lasts about six hours, accepts guests six and up, and is designed for private groups (group size two). Optional private NCC transfers from Milan simplify logistics. The pace is unhurried but curated—this is a day to experience Lake Como's best angles without worry. Bring sunscreen, a light wind layer, and a camera with a medium telephoto for villa portraits. The combination of a private boat, exclusive dining reservation, and iconic Calessino run makes this more than a sightseeing trip—it's a focused, elegant way to understand why Lake Como remains one of Italy's most magnetic coastal landscapes. Booking advice: reserve several weeks ahead during summer, specify dietary needs for the restaurant selection, and confirm pickup times if you choose Milan transfer. Accessibility is limited; reach out to operators for assistance if mobility is a concern. Expect smooth service but variable traffic on narrow lakeside roads. For cameras, bring batteries and a polarizer to manage reflections and deepen colors when shooting villa facades regularly.
easy.
6 Hours.
Light activity; guests should be able to board small boats and walk short distances on uneven village streets.
An optional private NCC transfer from Milan or surrounding areas is available for an additional fee; confirm when booking.
Yes; the tour accepts guests aged six and up. Confirm seat and lifejacket needs for younger children.
A reserved two-hour table at your chosen restaurant is included, but confirm whether food and drinks are covered in your specific booking.
The captain will route past notable villas and the Nesso bridge waterfall; requests can be accommodated when feasible.
Refund is available up to 5 days before the tour per the operator's policy.
This experience is not accessible to wheelchairs due to boat boarding and the Calessino vehicle; contact the operator to discuss alternatives.
Lake Como is a glacial lake edged by settlements with long histories; many villas reflect centuries of regional wealth and patronage.
Stick to designated walkways and minimize single-use plastics; small group, private formats help reduce crowding and shoreline impact.
Gimbus is a tour operator based in Como, Lombardia, that offers guided experiences around Lake Como and the city of Como. The company operates eco-friendly electric golf cars for private and shared city tours, and handcrafted Venetian-style taxi boats for lake excursions. Tours include short sunset routes and longer combined land-and-water experiences, with options lasting one, two, three, or five hours. Gimbus provides local drivers and captains who guide visitors to iconic monuments, lakeside villas, and historic streets. Many experiences include multilingual audio guides to support international guests. Select itineraries stop for a leisurely lunch in Cernobbio, and some boat routes highlight villas such as Villa Oleandra and Villa del Balbianello. Available experiences range from private golf car city tours and sunset drives to combined golf car and boat packages and a shared boat trip to Bellagio with a three-hour stop. The fleet emphasizes comfort, sustainability, and visibility for photography and sightseeing. Boats are open 360 degrees for unobstructed views. Gimbus focuses on delivering reliable, well-paced itineraries that showcase both city highlights and lake scenery. Booking options include private tours with a personal guide and shared boat experiences. The business operates in Como and the surrounding lake towns in Lombardia, presenting visitors with curated routes designed for sightseeing and local discovery. Reservations can be made online or through local partners, and private options accommodate varied group sizes and preferences daily.
Book with Gimbus