The same islands, the same landscape – just from the middle of the lake, at your own pace. Routes, occasions, prices and FAQ for 2027.
Lake Maggiore 2027
Lake Maggiore – called Lacus Verbanus by the Romans – is Italy's second-largest lake and stretches across Piedmont, Lombardy and the Swiss canton of Ticino. Anyone planning a Lake Maggiore holiday in 2027 faces a choice: visit the well-known places on Lake Maggiore along with the crowds, or discover the lake in a quieter, more personal way. The answer lies on the water itself – with a private boat tour on a traditional gaff cutter, departing from the home port of Laveno-Mombello from the season start on 1 March 2027.
Striga Constanze offers exactly that: guided private tours of 3, 4 or 7 hours, exclusively for one group, with the skipper as your personal guide. This overview shows what that means in practice – for the trip, the route and the experience.
The figures speak for themselves: in 2024 alone, more than 1.38 million arrivals and around 4.66 million overnight stays were counted in the lake area on the Italian side. Between Sesto Calende and the Swiss border there were more than 14.9 million visits on top, around 39% of them foreign guests in the summer months. In Stresa, holidaymakers crowd the promenades, the scheduled boats to the Borromean Islands are often completely full in high season, and events like the Locarno Film Festival or the famous weekly market in Luino draw additional visitors to the region.
No turnaround is in sight for 2027 – quite the opposite: weekends and public holidays are likely to be booked up quickly. Travelling to the lake at Easter, Whitsun or in the summer holidays means full ferries, rigid timetables and motorboat noise in the most popular bays. This affects precisely the places that invite you to linger – Isola Bella, Santa Caterina del Sasso, the shores of Pallanza and Cannero.
Many travellers long for exactly the opposite: peace, space for family or friends, flexible plans – especially for special occasions like a marriage proposal, a family holiday or a deliberate time-out. Striga Constanze makes the same highlights accessible, but privately, slowly and without the crush. The same islands, the same landscape – just from the middle of the lake, at your own pace.
Matching tours
Bestseller€490
Private tour
Proposal€490
Private tour
Beginners€490
+ €20 p. p.Private tourExperiencing Lake Maggiore from the water fundamentally changes your perspective. Places like Isola Bella, Isola Madre, the Castelli di Cannero, Stresa, Pallanza and Cerro only reveal their beauty when you let them slowly come towards you from the lake.
Every tour belongs exclusively to your own group, away from full scheduled boats and crowded promenades. The departure time is set individually by arrangement – no rigid timetable, no crush at the pier.
The route follows the guests' wishes: a compact 3-hour tour to Santa Caterina del Sasso in the morning, a 4-hour island loop with a swim stop in the afternoon, or a 7-hour day tour with a restaurant visit on land near Stresa or in a grotto in the hinterland.
The Striga Constanze is a traditional gaff cutter, built in 1979 at the Baumgartner yard as a faithful replica of a Northern European working boat. 55.7 m² of red gaff sails instead of a standard motorboat – a sight that is an experience in itself.
Up to 8 guests at a fixed price, up to 12 on request. Ideal for families, groups of friends, small teams or a wedding with your closest circle.
The skipper is not only at the helm but also your personal guide. He tells stories about Laveno, the cliffside monastery of Santa Caterina del Sasso, the Borromean Islands, the Castelli di Cannero and the Val Grande National Park – in a personal, natural tone.
Fixed prices from €490 per tour for the whole group. No surprises with the number of people, transparent surcharges for special experiences like meditation, exit game or a wedding celebration on board.
When the wind drops, a quiet inboard diesel provides reliable propulsion. Free rebooking in bad weather. The 2027 season starts on 1 March, the main season runs from May to September.
In 3 steps
The whole process – from enquiry to returning to the harbour – is deliberately kept simple. No booking form, no shopping cart, but direct contact and clear steps.
The 2026 season has ended. Reservations for the 2027 season are possible now – the season starts on 1 March 2027. Contact us via the contact form, by WhatsApp or phone (+39 333 3802 383) or by email at info@striga-constanze.com.
Every enquiry is without obligation and is usually answered within 24 hours. Helpful details: preferred date or period, preferred starting point (e.g. Laveno-Mombello, Brebbia, Feriolo, Cannero, Cannobio), desired duration (3, 4 or 7 hours) and a rough theme – family, romance, company outing, meditation or exit game.
Based on your wishes, the skipper suggests a suitable route. The options range from the Borromean Islands and Santa Caterina del Sasso to the Castelli di Cannero and the quiet shores of Stresa, Pallanza or Cerro.
Concrete examples:
There are also special formats: a sunset marriage proposal, a meditative time-out with tea ceremony, a family pirate tour or the exit game "The Treasure of the Mazzarditi" – with puzzles on board, Beppe the cheeky pirate parrot and a treasure chest at the end of the tour.
Boarding takes place in the home port of Laveno-Mombello or at one of the alternative piers. After a short safety briefing and welcome on deck, off you go – quiet motoring or sailing, depending on wind and weather.
On the water, the typical rhythm unfolds: first photo stops with panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys, stories about the places along the shore, a swim stop in a quiet bay, perhaps an aperitivo on deck. Guests have time for their own moments – taking photos, reading, meditating, celebrating or simply watching the water.
At the end: return to the agreed harbour, a relaxed disembarkation and the chance to reserve the next tour for other family members or friends right away.
Traditional gaff cutter, red sails, just your group. 3, 4 or 7 hours.
from €490
for up to 8 guests at a fixed price, up to 12 on request
Striga Constanze is not a typical motorboat charter and not a mass excursion boat. The offer deliberately focuses on slowness, exclusivity and a boat with history – setting it clearly apart from the ferry services that otherwise shape the lake.
Lake Maggiore suits very different travel occasions – from a romantic trip for two to a family holiday or a creative team offsite. The combination of nature, culture and the water itself creates experiences that would not be possible on land.
A sunset marriage proposal against the backdrop of Stresa, an intimate wedding celebration on board (from €690) with a view of Isola Madre, a morning honeymoon tour with a swim stop in a secluded bay. The Borromean Islands consist of five islands, and the group lies between Pallanza and Stresa – a setting that is hard to beat.
A pirate tour with a treasure hunt around the Castelli di Cannero, a family trip to Santa Caterina del Sasso with swim stop, child-friendly stories about the "Long Lake" and its islands. Hiking in the Val Grande National Park adds untouched nature and silence on land.
A half-day island loop with aperitivo between Isola Bella and Isola dei Pescatori, your own playlist on board, a jump into the water in a sheltered bay near Cerro or on the east shore. Isola dei Pescatori is a charming fishing village where you can then enjoy fish dishes such as "pesce in carpione".
Team-building trips with facilitated exercises and creative sessions on deck (max. 8–12 people). The view of Verbania, Pallanza or Cannobio provides an inspiring backdrop for an offsite – far from the office, in the middle of the lake.
Special meditation tours with tea ceremony (4 hrs, €690 + €20/person), digital detox days (7 hrs, €990 + €20/person) without constant phone reception. Focus on wind, water and the mountains around the lake.
The exit game "The Treasure of the Mazzarditi" (from 3 hrs) with puzzles on board, Beppe the pirate parrot as a character and a treasure chest at the end of the tour. The route runs along the Castelli di Cannero and small islands – sightseeing and puzzle fun in one.
Most viewed
Bestseller€490
Private tourBestseller€490
Private tour
Bestseller€490
Private tour
Other providers
Striga Constanze
Mass experience
just your group
Engine noise
sound of wind and water
To-do-list holiday
holiday at your own pace
Not all holidaymakers have the same expectations of their trip. The following scenarios help you judge whether a private boat tour is the right experience for 2027.
Who spend a few days in Stresa, Verbania or Ascona and want to dedicate one evening entirely to the lake. Locarno and Ascona are known for their beautiful lakeside promenades and charming flair – the perfect setting before heading out on the water.
Looking for a shared activity for grandparents, parents and children without having to choose between kids' programme and relaxation. There are many family-friendly hotels on Lake Maggiore, and a boat tour becomes the unifying highlight of the holiday. More ideas: Lake Maggiore with kids.
Who have rented a house in the region at Easter, Whitsun or in the 2027 summer holidays and want to plan a "water only" day.
Who want to hold a creative meeting, an annual kick-off or celebrate a small anniversary on the water, away from the office.
For example after intense project phases, life transitions or before big decisions. The lake as a paradise for anyone who needs calm and space.
Here is an overview of the tours, prices and included services – so planning stays as simple as booking.
No-obligation enquiry, reply within 24 hours. Weekends in the 2027 season go fast.
This FAQ brings together the most important practical questions about the region and the boat – so no uncertainties remain before booking.
The Striga Constanze season starts on 1 March 2027. The best time to visit Lake Maggiore is spring and autumn – both seasons offer a milder climate, quieter shores and special light.
In spring (March–May) the gardens along the lake are in bloom. Verbania is called the "garden city" of Lake Maggiore, and the botanical garden of Villa Taranto is located there with over 20,000 plant species. The places on Lake Maggiore are still pleasantly quiet at this time.
In summer (June–September) the water temperature is 20–24 °C at the surface – ideal for swimming. The evenings are long, the sun shines until late. Water sports like windsurfing and sailing are very popular. However, peak summer and holiday dates should be requested early.
In autumn, warm days, golden hills on the Piedmont and Lombardy shores and clear air define the scene. Fewer visitors, more silence – and often the most beautiful photo light on the lake.
Next step
Lake Maggiore combines a Mediterranean climate, an Alpine backdrop and quiet bays over an area of 212.5 km² – a natural landscape between Italy and Switzerland that you experience most intensely from the water. Striga Constanze makes exactly that possible: privately, on a traditional gaff cutter, at your own pace and with a skipper who knows the lake and its history.
Experience shows the 2027 main season books up quickly – especially at weekends, on public holidays and during school holidays. Planning now gives you the best choice of dates and routes.
Secure your preferred date with a no-obligation enquiry via the contact form, WhatsApp (+39 333 3802 383) or email to info@striga-constanze.com. Replies usually within 24 hours. Free rebooking in bad weather.
Private boat tours on Lake Maggiore on a traditional gaff cutter. Authentic. Unforgettable.
Skipper of the Striga Constanze
Ciao! Questions about the route, departure harbour or date? Just message me – I reply personally.
