Luxury Gold

Lake Como holds celebrity status when it comes to Italy’s lakes. Famous folk have opulent villas along the lakeside, though Lake Como is far from an exclusive hangout. As one of the most popular destinations in Northern Italy, a visit to Lake Como’s towns top the list of countless tour itineraries. 

Varenna, Bellagio, and Como itself are among the well-trodden towns, though some of the best towns in Lake Como are the ones that have the smallest populations, narrowest streets, and dreamy vistas that you won’t see on a bus tour.  

From Lake Como hidden gems that are spoken with hushed breaths to the best towns around Lake Como that are hiding in plain sight, these charming towns deserve a closer look.

Experience the charms of Italy in luxury style on Ultimate Italy

Laglio

If Laglio’s name slightly rings a bell, you can thank George Clooney. The famous actor’s Villa Oleandra is in this postcard-like town. While the 18th century villa isn’t exactly Lake Como off the beaten path, the supporting cast of Laglio is. Hiking trails lead away from the paparazzi and into the hillside, granting you panoramic scenes of Lake Como that deserve their own feature on the silver screen. Add a little local flavor to your trek by picking up casoretto cheese to snack on while you watch hawks, falcons, and other local avians soar across Lake Como’s sky.

Lenno

Lenno gets plenty of attention for hosting the villas owned by Sir Richard Branson and George Lucas; Villa Balbianello is particularly notable, used as a filming location for Star Wars Episode II in 2002, and again for James Bond Casino Royale in 2006. However, don’t let that stop you from digging back further into the town’s traditions. Lenno’s origins date back to the first Roman Empire; the territory was colonized by Greek colonies, sent here by Julius Caesar at the time of the founding of Nuova Como, colonies which introduced the cultivation of vineyards and olive groves – there is a centuries-old mill, which can still be seen today, which was used for the production of a high-quality olive oil.

Read more: Luxury Gold’s guide to private wine tasting in Italy

Argegno

While other travelers have their sights set for the stars, Argegno, just ten minutes south of Lenno, is one of Lake Como’s hidden gems that deserves its own top-billing. Thin alleyways lead you through this quiet commune that’s slowly gaining popularity. You can gaze at Bellagio, one of the most beautiful towns in Lake Como, on a clear day, though even when the clouds roll in, Argegno delivers picturesque views of rolling hills and deep blue waters. Explore the 17th century mosaics in the Santissima Trinità church, admire the colorful houses, and take a steep cable car up to the calm, near-tourist-free village of Pigra.

Pre-trip research: The essential guide to Italy for foodies

Brienno

Brienno is balanced on the water’s edge of Lake Como, offering a laid-back spot for wanderers since pre-Roman times. Those keen to collect random factoids from history will enjoy learning about Brienno’s long life from the Middle Age churches to the preserved fortification and bunkers from World War I. The thin streets make tightropes look wide, but if you have the footing, a walk around this labyrinth of a village is an ideal place to escape the hustle and bustle of the larger Lake Como towns for a spell.

Nesso

Directly across the lake from Brienno, Nesso is easily one of the most beautiful towns in Lake Como. Like many of these Lake Como towns, Nesso dates back to ancient Roman times. And though it features colorful homes throughout its old town, the Orrido di Nesso is its alluring attraction. This gorge brings two creeks together, joining them in harmony as a cascading waterfall that flows beneath the Ponte della Civera arched bridge. 

Hungry for more? Visit the best gelato gelateria in San Gimignano

Colico

Colico is one of the larger towns, though its northern location makes it a bit of an off the beaten path destination in Lake Como. However you like to vacation, Colico encourages you to do it all outdoors. The Forte Montecchio Nord open-air museum offers guided tours about Lake Como’s presence in the Great War while events like the Water Music Festival and the World Cup of Kitesurfing draw audiences looking for alternative experiences. There’s a sunny spot on the beach for you to relax, unless you’d like to join the fun topside and rent try your hand at paddle boarding, kitesurfing, or one of the other aquatic activities available from various Lake Como tour groups.

Lecco

Sharing the name of the province, Lecco is an affordable alternative to the more expensive Como on the opposite prong. Lake Como and Lake Garlate are joined by the Adda River, giving Lecco’s coastline three unique viewpoints. Stroll the Garlate for dramatic views of the surrounding mountains. Let a chef row you out to Isola Viscontea for a risotto dinner on the Adda. Or simply grab a gelato and take in the medieval ruins from the Lungolago di Lecco promenade. 

Making it personal: How travel concierge Anna elevates your Italy experience

Gittana

Gittana is such a small hamlet on the eastern shore of Lake Como that it often goes unnoticed, despite being a 10-minute drive from Varenna train station. Its few dozen sand-colored roofs act like cobblestones leading up the hill from the man-made pebble beach to the clock tower of the sole church. Gittana’s village is brushed modestly upon Lake Como’s canvas, which is why it’s worth the visit. Climb to the top of the village for undisturbed views of the lake, take your time munching and mingling with the owners of the Semi di Grano ristorante, then rent a bicycle for a smooth shoreline ride to Bellano or Varenna.

Varenna

Found on Lake Como’s eastern shore and previously a small fishing village, Varenna is still full of rich history and well worth a visit. Amble through the botanical gardens such as Villa Monastero and Villa Cipressi, or take a romantic stroll through Passeggiata degli Innamorati (Walk of Lovers), which begins at the pier of Varenna for a beautiful view of the lake. For an unparalleled view of the lake, visit the nearby Castello di Vezio. As with many Lake Como towns, you won’t want to skip visiting the church here in the central square, Piazza San Giorgio. The 14th century Church of San Giorgio is home to numerous paintings from the late 15th and 16th centuries. As you wander through this picturesque town, don’t forget to look down; the pavements are made from local black marble.

Gravedona ed Uniti

Located on the western shore of Lake Como, Gravedona ed Uniti is a calming, charming Lake Como town. History and art lovers will want to visit the Palazzo Gallio which sits high above the town, facing directly onto the lake; try and catch one of the concerts, exhibitions and workshops that take place here over the summer. On the water, soak up the town’s history in the marbled Romanesque Church of Santa Maria del Tiglio while taking in the view of the lake. Meanwhile, the narrow streets to the harbour are the perfect spot for a walk with a gelato, or take your pick of one of the many exceptional restaurants serving fresh seafood and some of the finest Italian produce.

Are you ready to discover the most beautiful towns in Lake Como? Join Luxury Gold’s Ultimate Italy trip. This 12-day journey ends in Venice, a short train ride away from Lario, making it effortless to schedule Lake Como tours or travel to the many towns and villages at your own pace. Join us for an adventure that delivers countless memories between Cinque Terre and Capri then complete your Italian itinerary with a relaxing weekend at one of Lake Como’s towns.

The lift of a tiny trunk. The scurry of a panicked warthog as a predator approaches. The ruffle of a lion’s mane in the sunlight. When it comes to safari photography, things move quickly: nature’s quirkiest characters will not wait and pose for us. 

Instead, photography enthusiasts need to be ready and equipped to capture them on camera as they frolic, in a fleeting moment, or even from a moving vehicle. If you’re looking for wildlife photography tips, look no further: from the best gear to pack to nifty ways to prepare yourself for snapping a safari holiday, we’ve got you covered.

Practise before you fly

It may sound funny, but training your camera on less exotic beasts can help you prepare. Safaris are often just three or four days long; you don’t want to spend your first 24 hours figuring out your camera. If you’ve got a cat, experiment with photographing it prowling around at home and see how your shots turn out. It will give you a feel for movement and focus, as well as waiting for moments of stillness (to avoid blurring). 

Otherwise, try garden birds. “The rule of thirds in photography is a guideline that places the subject in the left or right third of an image, leaving the other two thirds more open,” says keen wildlife photographer Callie Smart. IF you want to be super prepared, Udemy runs a four-day online course that digs into wildlife photography tips from specific gear to camera settings (udemy.com).

We also think you’ll like: Glamping in the wild: Uncovering the best luxury safari stays

Stay right where the wildlife is

Photo credit: @lionsandsgamereserve on Instagram

Across Africa’s safari countries, there are remote properties a drive from official game reserves and properties set within them. Staying in a safari lodge within a national park or protected reserve means you’ll see animals wandering through the grounds, or past the infinity pool, rather than limiting sightings to your daily game drives. On Luxury Gold’s Spectacular South Africa tour, ideal for safari photography, guests stay right within the boundaries of Kruger National Parks and Sabi Sands Reserve, at the elegant Lion Sands lodge.

Time it right

Once in the bush, use the times of day to your advantage, says Smart. “Think of photography as painting with light,” she advises. “If you keep the sunlight behind you, the animal will be lit up and the sunlight reflected back in their eyes, bringing your subject to life. The ideal times of day are an hour after sunrise or an hour before sunset, when the sun is low in the sky ‒ these times give a soft, diffused light we know as ‘golden hour’.” If you’re shooting in bright sunshine, she adds, find some shade to stand in to give your shot a less harsh effect.

We also think you’ll like: Private game drives and five-star stays: How Luxury Gold does safari differently

Focus your shot

Knowing where to focus your photo is vital, says Smart. Blur is always a risk when you’re dealing with living, moving creatures. “To make your photographs ‘pop’, set the focus point on to the animal’s eye closest to you,” she shares as one of her top wildlife photography tips. Don’t be afraid to contort yourself in order to get the best angle, either ‒ that’s what makes the most unusual and striking wildlife photographs. “Get yourself at eye level to the animal to make a connection: so if it’s a small animal get down on the ground, and if it’s a large animal stick your head out of the top of the jeep or (if you can) climb a tree.”

Know your kit and settings

Safari photography experts know that knowing your camera inside out is the quickest way to the clearest, sharpest and most striking wildlife photos. Smart favours a Nikon D7200 with an 18-300mm zoom lens. “I like light cameras and a light lens, so I don’t need a tripod ‒ I can quickly grab the shot, as animals, such as scurrying warthogs, don’t tend to stand still. It fits easily into hand luggage and is dust and water-resistant.” The benefit of a zoom lens, she says, is the ability to focus close up on a creature, yet keep your distance to avoid disturbing them. For a good basic set-up for your first shooting session, she says, “switch to Aperture Priority f5.6, focus on the animal’s eye and set the camera to automatic ISO.”

We also think you’ll like: How to safari in style: The ultimate packing guide

Start with the slow ones

Different rules apply for different subjects on safari. “The easiest animals to photograph are the ones that don’t move too quickly!” says Smart. “Elephants, big cats, zebras, crocs, giraffes, rhinos all tend to stand their ground if you’re quiet and give them room. I love to photograph giraffes & monkeys as they have such expressive faces. Monkeys are going to lead you on a merry dance but that’s fun, too.” They may not seem as exciting as big game, but photos of birds in flight can be striking. They might even give you a rather unappealing clue. “Birds tend to poop just before they take off, so look out for that so you can catch them.”

Ignore smartphone snobbery

It’s a myth that only hefty DSLR cameras can capture a lion’s mane or an elephant’s wrinkly ears in full detail. In fact, current smartphones have incredibly refined cameras; the time they tend to fail users is at dimly-lit dusk (or dawn), when the light is lower. In full sunlight, don’t be afraid to use your iPhone or Android to capture some animal magic, says Smart; for one thing, you won’t need to play with the settings as much. “If the harsh, bright sunlight of the middle of the day is beating down, and you get a great encounter, such as standing face to face with a friendly rhino, you’re better off whipping out your smartphone or, if you prefer a ‘proper’ camera, turning your DSLR onto automatic settings.”

We also think you’ll like: Wild at Heart: Why winter is the best time to visit South Africa

Luxury Gold’s Spectacular South Africa tour includes a three-day safari in the enchanting Kruger National Park.

Did you know “truffle hunter” was a career choice? Not only is it a real job, but it involves leading a pack of extremely cute dogs on daily walks, in search of natural treasure. It’s a fascinating world to get a peek into, and you can do just that in Istria, a peninsula in northern Croatia. 

On Luxury Gold’s Croatia and the Dalmatian Coast journey, one of our luxury Croatia holidays, you’ll visit an established truffle farm, Prodan Tartufi; a small family operation, it’s been run by three generations of the Prodan family since the 1960s. Here, expert truffle hunter Visnja Prodan Jekić talks us through her typical day in the forests and farmland of Buzet, Croatia.

A good canine team is everything

It’s a myth that only one species of dog is fit to work in truffle hunting, says Visnja, though some do have it more in their blood than others. “We have a couple of terrier-mix dogs who we have trained from being very young puppies, and they are excellent ‒ the key is training them from very young,” she explains.

“We also have a Portuguese Water Dog ‒ this breed has hunting and retrieving in their DNA, but they are quite stubborn and alpha. They want to be the best on the team. Ours, Capo, is very young and doesn’t work well with others at the moment. When he’s older and calmer he’ll be able to work in a pair.” 

Dog training and relationship building is a huge part of Visnja and brother Mirko’s job ‒ they take one or two dogs out on every hunting mission.

We think you’ll also like: Indulge your inner gourmet with these luxury food experiences

Training takes years

Visnja and the family spent years training their dog pack to be excellent truffle hunters. “We feed them with truffles when they are little, only a couple of months old, and they get to know the smell, to eat some and play with them,” she explains. “Then we eventually bury some so they learn to find their location and dig for them.” 

This means the dogs do get a taste for the truffles, however: “We have to be quick, back they never bark when they find one,” adds Visnja. “They just start digging, so we have to catch up and get to the truffle before them ‒ we take the truffle and give them a treat quickly, so they associate it with good work.” But no employee is perfect: many a dog has chomped through a very valuable truffle. 

You have to know where to look

Truffles tend to grow in certain locations in the forest; the most reliable corners of Prodan’s own land are a closely guarded family secret. “My grandfather was a very, very wise man. Everything we know about truffles, we learned from him,” says Visnja. “He started finding truffles in the 1960s, and taught my mum and her sisters everything there was to know about truffles, agriculture and wine.” As such, she’ll never reveal her truffle hot spots, keeping them a close secret between herself, her brother and the dogs. 

“If anyone found out where we find them, they could trespass and go looking for them,” she explains. However, new locations are found all the time ‒ in fact, animals help in spreading the truffles across woodland by eating them and depositing the spores around new tree roots. 

Try local truffles on Luxury Gold’s 12-day Ultimate Italy journey.

It’s an unpredictable pursuit

People think that this outdoorsy, dog-friendly role is the dream job, says Visnja, but really it can be long, unpredictable and frustrating. Everything from weather conditions to the dogs’ mood can affect their success rate. “If you’re not patient, it’s simply not a job for you,” she says. “Some people think they can just train a dog and go and find truffles, but there are so many hours spent walking in the woods and not finding anything.” 

She goes out for truffles all year round, though tourists most often visit for tours in spring and autumn. Summer can be a hindrance: “If it’s too hot, the dogs don’t tend to find anything; so we go early morning or late evening so they can smell better.” Their canine assistants are also quick to pick up on humans’ moods. “If you’re anxious or stressed, they can sense that and they refuse to do anything ‒ so you have to be incredibly calm.”

We also think you’ll like: Acclaimed Sydney restaurant Bennelong and its love affair with Australian food

Gastronomic knowledge plays a part

Away from the hunt, truffle hunters need to know the types of truffle they’re dealing with, their value and how quickly they should be used. “You have to pretty much sell them as you get them ‒ they get less flavourful and eventually rot. If you freeze them, the flavour gets lost, so it’s best to preserve them in oil,” explains Visnja. Prodan sells to local Croatian restaurants as well as selling wholesale worldwide. On her tours, Visnja takes guests back to the farmhouse to try a range of truffle spreads, pestos and condiments, as well as scrambled egg with grated truffle and truffle-sprinkled ice cream. 

We also think you’ll like: Where to find the most rare and expensive food in the world

You can strike gold ‒ or white

“Depending on the time of the year, truffle hunters search for different types: you have several black truffle sub-varieties: black summer, autumn and winter. In terms of white truffles, you have white winter and white spring types.” The white winter truffle is the most expensive type; they cannot be cultivated, unlike the black variety. 

Prices really vary, says Visnja: “A lower quantity in one season means the prices go higher; last year the wholesale price went up to more than 5,000 Euros per kilo.” The most expensive truffle ever sold was a 4.16-pound white truffle, which went for $61,250 at Sotheby’s.

We also think you’ll like: Seven ways you’ll celebrate Tuscan food when you travel with Luxury Gold

Meet a truffle hunter on Luxury Gold’s Croatia and the Dalmatian Coast tour.