Exclusive Picnic In The Foothills Of The Alps With The Lake Views

Fantastic tour. Impeccable views. Interesting old churches. Delicious picnic overlooking breathtaking vistas of Lake Como. Our guide was outstanding and knowledgeable. She spoke English perfectly and answered all of our questions completely. Definitely a trip to be taken.

Maria was an absolutely amazing host! I was a little concerned when we started driving far out of town but it was an absolutely beautiful adventure that I highly recommend!

My mom and I booked this excursion while we were in Varenna and it was hands down the most memorable experience we have had during our 2 week Italy vacation. Maria picked up my mom and I from the ferry pier and immediately made us feel comfortable and right at home. Once we got to the location we were amazed by the views and all the knowledge she had about the area and also by the picnic she had set up for us. She truly is skilled with what she does and we are so grateful she took us to this spot. It was such a a memorable experience that we will cherish and remember forever!!!

We had an incredible time on our scenic picnic/hike!!! We ended up getting a private tour because the other couples cancelled due to weather- which ended up clearing up by the time we got up there. The guides were easy to find and so knowledgeable about the area! We went on a scenic hike and that was tailored to our fitness level, very peaceful and incredible views. Afterwards we had a private picnic with delicious various foods and wine! The guides were so kind and truly made the experience amazing!! When originally booking I did think it was a private tour due to the price, but we lucked out because the other people in the group ended up cancelling. It was a perfect way to spend the afternoon and get incredible views of Lake Como. Cannot recommend this enough, one of our favorite tours for sure!!!!

We were a group of 8 that ranged in age from 75-79 years of age. It is labeled as a hike but we walked along a gravel road to our picnic sight. The walk was beautiful and invigorating. Maria and her husband set a beautiful table of delicious meats, cheeses and fruit that we all enjoyed.

Awesome hike and picnic. If you love the outdoors, you’ll love the experience. Maria was an amazing guide. Great hike, great conversation, amazing views and an awesome picnic. Would recommend this for anyone looking for something a little different and away from the crowds. We will definitely be back.

The food and wine were amazing. The hospitality and attention to detail were unmatched, and the view was once in a lifetime. I can not recommend this experience enough!

Absolutely breathtaking views. Our hosts were enthusiastic and knowledgeable. The food and wine were divine. The views from where we ate our picnic were amazing.

Of all the experiences we’ve booked through Viator, this was one of our absolute favorites! Maria was kind and gracious and hosted a truly unforgettable picnic! The food was delicious and it’s impossible to fully describe the beauty of the setting. Can’t say enough great things about it!

Absolutely an unforgettable experience!! If you live in the USA , I can guarantee, you will not find a view that rivals the views on this adventure. Everything was perfect .. the view , the lunch and our tour guide!! BOOK THIS YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!!!

Your trip won’t be complete without this beautiful picnic at the top of the mountain overlooking the lake! Maria created such a wonderful experience, complete with delicious locally produced food and wine. The hike was easy and enjoyable for all ability levels, making it the perfect adventure for everyone. Highly recommend this unforgettable experience!

The picnic and hike through the mountains above Varenna was the best experience!!! It was the perfect day and I couldn’t have wanted anything more! Although I’d found this experience early in our planning, I didn’t book until the last moment and I was thrilled I was able to join a group, I had been looking g through a tour company and was unable to book for one person. Thankfully I found Maria’s company and website and messaged her. From there - everything was easy!! This was truly a unique experience - immersed in the local area, history and food yet at the same time totally off the tourist track! Maria’s picnic at the end of our walk was a generously delicious spread of local meats, cheeses, with bread, wine and fruit and a scrumptious apricot tart Looking down over Lake Como and across the Italian Alps with the snow capped peaks of the Swiss Alps in the background was amazing - something I couldn’t have comprehended or imagined from the township or even on the lake I highly recommend this experience for anyone who wants to enjoy Varenna in a different way

This was our #1 activity in the area, beat the crowds and instagram influencers and escape to the top of the mountain to see the beautiful region, see cows grazing, the Swiss alps on a clear day and a peaceful hike. The lunch was incredibly fresh meats cheeses and fruits and Maria was an amazing host 10/10 I’d do this again!

This trip was the highlight of our week in Bellagio. It was an intimate, small group experience, truly unique with a wonderful guide. Maria was the perfect guide, she adapted the pace of the walk to suit our abilities. Maria was friendly, clearly a people person and knew a lot about the region as well as it’s history. The picnic itself was superb, catering also for our vegan companion, the location was sensational with views that took your breath away. What an experience, we can all thoroughly recommend Maria & her unique tour.

Beautiful scenery, learned local information from Maria. Lunch was very relaxing and views were spectacular. Maria was fabulous. Highly recommend.

We are now offering Picnic with the Ponies for a 2 hour adventure meeting, grooming, grazing, and walking with our mini ponies of the rescue. We look forward to meeting you soon!

This was the highlight of our time in Como. Such a wonderful trip and I shall never forget that sumptuous picnic with those spectacular views! Thanks Maria

What an amazing day! Maria and her husband were fantastic hosts! Our family loved spending the day with them and traveling into the mountain above Bellano! We especially enjoyed stopping in a small village for drink/snack on the way up the mountain. Once at the top we had a nice, short walk/hike with amazing views. The picnic was amazing and plenty of food and wine while gazing out at Lake Como and Lake Lugano in the distance. You can also see the start of the Swiss Alps!

This experience was beautiful. The guide Maria knows and shares a lot about the region. It was wonderful to leave the more touristic places around the lake to have a walk in the mountains with a local. Maria had everything prepared to make things easy and enjoyable. The landscapes were amazing and the food perfect and generous, only local products. Just amazing !

What a fabulous experience! I would recommend this booking to anyone that visits this area! Great guide! Fantastic food & service! The views were spectacular!

This was such a wonderful experience. It was the most fabulous picnic I have ever been on. The guide drove us up the mountain and they we did a 30 mile walk. We stopped at one or two places for coffee. There were such amazing views and the picnic was all set up. We relaxed, ate, and had some Prosecco. Then, the guide drove us back down. Absolutely wonderful and well-organized.

One of the best tours ever. Maria was great. Food at the picnic and views of the lake were exceptional and better than what expected,

We had a wonderferful time with Maria and Francesco. The walk was just strenuous enough to make the picnic that much more delicious and the views from the picnic spot were sublime. The cheese and fruit and breads and salami and wine were delicious! The other guests were very nice, and we all had a great time. Grazie Mille a tutti!

No words needed. No pictures can do this experience justice. Thank you Maria!

A must do experience for a lovely visit in the mountains to view Lake Como from above and to escape the crowds. Maria is a wonderful guide and provides a delicious picnic lunch with spectacular views. You will not be disappointed!

We had an amazing time on our excursion!! Beautiful views away from the crowds, and the picnic was absolutely delicious with local farm sourced food. We would recommend this to everyone! Maria is exceptionally nice and knowledgeable about the surrounding area.

We had a wonderful experience in the foothills of the Alps. The weather was perfect and the guide was wonderful.

A fantastic day with Maria! The picnic spot high about the Lake and the food were both wonderful...a highlight of our very active two weeks in Italy!

Wonderful excursion to see a different perspective of lake Cuomo. However, we stopped after 15 minute drive (assuming so people could use bathroom). Then stopped and we all walked up the dirt road a mile to the picnic site. Really much unnecessary “hike”. Great lunch with various wines. Then drive down. The trip was suppose to be over at 2. We got back to hotel at 3:45. Felt we spent too much time stopping along the way.

This is was the highlight of our time in Lake Como! Maria does an excellent job of curating a delightful experience that highlights local scenery and delicious local food. It felt like a little slice of heaven and I appreciated the smaller more local feel and the incredible scenery! Do not miss this special experience!!

My husband and I booked this during our honeymoon. It was the most gorgeous hike and a beautiful and quiet getaway from the busy areas of Lake Como. The picnic was EXCELLENT. We appreciated Maria’s insight and familiarity with the area

If you love panoramic views (along with food), I wholeheartedly recommend this tour with Maria. You get fantastic views of Lake Como from a less-traveled area up in the mountains. I enjoyed the short hike we had. I really love the energy and enthusiasm Maria brought to the tour!

The day was very intimate with the guide. It was 2 couples. Nice drive up the mountain with lots of cultural discussions. Then a short easy walk to the picnic views. The lunch spread was over the top.

This picnic was honestly one of the highlights of our trip. It was the perfect escape from the busy tourist crowds and gave us a chance to slow down and enjoy the beauty of nature. The setting was absolutely breathtaking with incredible views, peaceful surroundings, and such a relaxing atmosphere. The food was also amazing. Everything was fresh, beautifully prepared, and thoughtfully put together from the cheeses and meats to the fruit, bread, and wine. You could really tell a lot of care went into every detail. It felt authentic, intimate, and so much more special than eating at a crowded restaurant. If you’re looking for a unique experience that combines incredible scenery, delicious food, and a peaceful atmosphere, I could not recommend this enough. It was one of those experiences that felt straight out of a movie.

A highlight of our trip to Varenna. The views from the mountains above Lake Como were spectacular. After spending our first couple days among the crowds in Varenna and Bellagio, the peace and quiet in the mountains gave us a totally different perspective of Lake Como. Maria is very welcoming and our picnic lunch provided a wide variety of delicious treats and wine. This is a top-notch tour and highly recommended!

The views, the serenity, the education, the food and our leader created a once-in-a-lifetime experience! We arrived via train in Varenna and easily met Maria for a beautiful drive up the one of the highest peaks in the area. The views of Lake Como and surrounds were stunning and then our private picnic was truly memorable. The local cuisine and the spectacular fresh air was a great departure from crowds and we appreciated Maria’s style and preparation for our day!

This experience was amazing. Maria was the loveliest host. It was so nice to see a different perspective of Lake Como and get a glimpse into local life. The lunch spread was sooo delicious and the view was incredible. Would definitely recommend.

Maria was very accomodating and knowledgeable. She showed us her secret hideaway which revealed views to die for.

First of all the pre-excursion information was informative and helpful to make our plans. Then Maria offered to pick us up at the hotel which saved us many steps which we then enjoyed up in the foothills of the Alps. The experience is vastly different than what most see when in the Lake Como area because it takes you high up through rural villages and peaceful terrain. Add a bountiful feast of fresh local foods overlooking the lake.

They are very personable. They made the experience very unique compared to the surrounding area. You get to learn more of Italy and also see the area from a Birds Eye view. If you’re looking for peace and calm this is also something that you will experience.

This experience was so memorable and unique! We loved learning more about Varenna and the region from our wonderful guide, Maria!

We absolutely loved this experience. It was so great to get away from the crowds and see the view of the lake from the mountains! The food and company were amazing and it made for a perfect last day in Italy.

This picnic was magical! Maria is wonderful and puts so much thought into every aspect of the excursion. This could not have been better -absolutely fantastic. We will remember it always!

We are speechless. Maria blew us away with this private, intimate tour of the Alps’ foothills. She went so far above and beyond to care for our party of four (two couples). The food and location were perfect. But the views…..this is a world class visual experience. We have traveled all seven continents. What we saw today was beyond reckoning. If you want to see Lake Como, there are three ways: boat tour, lakeside, or high above. The latter is this tour and you too will be speechless. Highly recommended.

If you want an experience you will not likely ever forget, book this activity! Maria and her picnickle team create an overwhelmingly beautiful presentation of delicious local cheeses, meats, fruits, breads, dessert, and wine in the most breathtaking spot overlooking Lake Como and Lake Lugano. A dream. Maria is great company as she drove us up the mountain, stopping at a beautiful lookout, and then to a point where we had the opportunity for a gentle walk with the lake view by our side. While we walked the incredible picnic was created. Absolute highlight of our Lake Como visit and we are still talking about it even as we returned home from our trip. Worth more than we paid for a priceless experience!!

Maria and Hayden were great! The tour was amazing in every way. The food, drinks, wine and views were fantastic and such a great experience to get away from the hustle and head to the mountains and experience the small villages.

We have been on countless tours/excursions this is easily the best of them all. Nothing comes close to it. Amazing scenery, delicious food/ wine, and a guide who I rate a 10 out of 5. Maria was an absolute pleasure to be with. Never rushing you. the picnic does require some walking on unpaved roads but the payoff, once you reached the picnic site, was worth the walk. We have picnicked in Maui, and several US National Parks and nothing comes close to the panoramic views you will see here. We were fortunate to have a perfect weather day which added greatly to the experience. Highly recommend this tour.

Our mountainside picnic experience was spectacular! We were going to do a wooden boat tour but I happened upon this gem and I’m soooo glad I did! ! We were greeted with warmth and genuine hospitality by our host, Maria, whose knowledge of the area and passion for sharing it added to the experience. The setting was breathtaking—perched on a quiet slope with sweeping views of the mountains, valleys, and lakes that seemed to stretch forever. The picnic was beautifully arranged with local meats and cheeses and complemented the natural beauty around us. It was so nice to get out into nature and out of the hustle and bustle of Varenna for the day. This was the best day we had in Varenna! What really made this experience stand out, however, was our host, Maria. Friendly, engaging, and incredibly knowledgeable, she shared stories about the history, wildlife, and hidden gems of the region. It felt less like a guided outing and more like spending the day with a good friend who just happens to know everything about the mountains. Absolutely 100% recommend!

Maria’s tour was an absolute dream. It felt intimate and authentic — far from the typical touristy experience. Her passion for sharing local culture sustainably really shines through. Everything was so peaceful, the food and drinks were incredible, and her communication beforehand made us feel completely at ease. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a more personal, meaningful experience in the Alps.