"La Dolce Vita Lake Como"

Belaggio Rowing Wellness Retreat

A Health & Wellness Retreat for Masters Rowers
in Belaggio on Lake Como, Italy
October 2-7, 2023

Spectacular Venue

Lake Como is renown for spectacular villas, gardens, and vistas - and you'll experience it all from the unique vantage point of a coastal quad!

Delicious Food

The Italians have elevated the enjoyment of food and wine to an art form and we'll enjoy all our meals Italian style!

Transformational Results

In one week, you'll come to appreciate the Italian approach to food - and life! To slow down and enjoy the moment. To savor a variety of seasonal dishes, beautifully presented, and shared over a glass of wine with your fellow rowers. Heaven!

Overview

Join us for an amazing Health and Wellness Retreat on Lake Como, Italy. We'll start our days with a brief health and wellness session, then head off to explore this spectacular region from coxed quads, with stops along the way to explore enchanting villages, elegant lake-side villas, delightful gardens, and charming islands.

We'll have plenty of time to "take a coffee", as they say in Italy, enjoy a leisurely Italian lunch - of course - stroll the waterfront and sample the myriad flavors of gelato.

This retreat will be managed by our partners from Rowing The World. Ruth Marr, the founder, has an extensive background in the travel industry and leads exclusive International rowing trips in Europe, Canada, and the UK. Her mission is "Providing Exceptional Experiences for Rowers Who Love to Travel".

I interviewed Ruth for my Masterclass Series, which is how we met. I was completely taken by her trips so it was natural that I reached out to her to lead my second wellness retreat for rowers. I was absolutely thrilled she said yes.

This is the first trip to Lake Como dedicated exclusively to our wellness retreat and just 19 spots are available.

And you're invited to join us!

This luxury retreat, held from the 2nd to the 7th of October, 2023, will be just what you need to relax, refresh, and discover "La Dolce Vita", the sweet life!

This is not a diet camp or a weight-loss program. Rather, it's a week-long luxury retreat with targeted health coaching, wellness sessions, great food and wine, and LOTS of rowing in a bucket-list venue to help you build a new paradigm around food and your health. I want you to come away with a renewed sense of serenity and peace around food.

I want you to come away with an Italian-inspired appreciation of the exquisite joy of a variety of delicious, seasonal foods, appreciated in small portions, beautifully presented, and enjoyed leisurely with friends and family. I want you to come away with a new, daily practice of La Dolce Vita to add to your love of rowing!

This experience is limited to 19 rowers (plus non-rowing partners), with a choice of shared double rooms or private rooms (there is a single supplement) and all rooms have their own bathrooms. All dietary preferences and restrictions can be accommodated.

This retreat is for experienced rowers (and non-rowing partners) only. A minimum of 2 years of experience is required. Non-rowers welcome. The priority is on the rowers and rowing. Fully independent non-rowers can easily be accommodated – ask us for pricing.

Note that this is the first time this trip will be run, so it is somewhat experimental in nature. The itinerary could change. While we will be rowing coxed coastal boats, wind and water conditions may alter our plans. Guests must be flexible and adaptable.

Price: $4,360.
The initial deposit to hold your spot is $750. The remaining payment is due 60 days prior to the start of the trip (balance due by August 2, 2023).

Please see the drop-down sections at the bottom of this page for more details.

The Setting

Bellagio, Lake Como

The magnificent village of Belaggio will be our home base for the entirety of our adventure.

Unpack once and settle into your new home away from home.

Located on the tip of the peninsula in the center of Lake Como, it is perfectly situated for day trips.

The Hotel

Lodging: We will be staying at the Hotel Belaggio which is located right in the center of town with beautiful views over the lake.

The hotel is the white building up on the hill on the far right in the photo above.

The views from the rooms are lovely!

The Schedule
Day 1

Monday, October 2: Arrival in Bellagio.

Arrive in Bellagio and get yourself settled, enjoy a refreshing beverage, and relax in a sidewalk cafe or stretch your legs with a stroll around town.

Enjoy a delicious welcome dinner, meet your guides and support team, and get an orientation to the trip.

Day 2

Tuesday, October 3

Today we see Bellagio from the best possible vantage point: on the water. We start each day with a short health and wellness session where we will set our intentions and receive our action plan for the day.

After breakfast, a quick ferry ride takes us to Menaggio where our boats will be waiting. The rowing will take us south along the western shore of Lago di Como, passing charming Villa Carlotta. Our destination is Lenno.

The highlight of the day will be a guided visit to Villa del Balbianello. Adjectives such as “striking, grand, spectacular” are applied, and you will understand why as you see it from both land and water.

We will row the boats across the lake to arrive at the rowing club in Bellagio. Back to the hotel and another wonderful dinner.

Day 3

Wednesday, October 4:
North of Bellagio the scenery is just as fabulous. Today is all about Varenna!

In the morning, after our wellness session, we will transfer to the boat club. The row is past Varenna which is a picturesque and traditional village, located on the eastern shore of Lake Como, Italy. Some consider it to be even more beautiful and charming than Bellagio.

We will return to Bellagio for lunch.

In the afternoon we will visit Varenna, traveling by ferry.

There will be time for shopping and wandering the narrow streets and waterside walk. Up we will walk to visit the Villa Monestero, one of the main historical and environmental sites in the area. The villa has been transformed into a museum with a splendid botanical garden that surrounds it and extends for almost 2 km along the lake shore.

Dinner tonight is on your own – perhaps stay in Varenna, catching a late ferry back to the hotel. Or head back earlier and detour from the ferry down to the gardens of Villa Melzi and then grab dinner in town.

Day 4

Thursday, October 5:

The third arm of Lago di Como is called the Lecco arm, for the town at its far south-eastern tip. We consider the scenery quietly spectacular. There are not the big villas of the other arms, but there are lovely towns and green hills with mountains forming a beautiful backdrop. We will look for a most charming boathouse in Limonta!

We will row the boats back to Mennagio, loading the trailer before taking the ferry back to Bellagio. Lunch is on your own today.

Later in the afternoon, we will enjoy a guided visit to the gardens of Parco di Villa Serbelloni.

Dinner tonight is at Trattoria Baita Belvedere, perched high on the hill above the town – an amazing view and a chance to see where you rowed over the past few days. Much of the menu is grown on their farm or from local suppliers.

Day 5

Friday, October 6:
Today is a very full day. In the morning we will take the fast ferry all the way down the lake to the city of Como. Our friends in the storied Lario rowing club will welcome us and give us a tour of their club before taking us for a row to enjoy views of Villa d'Este and other sites.

Lunch is on the rooftop of the club, then the ferry back to Bellagio.

There is an option to potentially row from Bellagio to Como, seeing the best of the lake from the rowing seat – decisions will be made a few days in advance, based on several factors, particularly weather.

Our farewell dinner means a final opportunity to taste, savour and celebrate the flavours of Italy!

Day 6

Saturday, October 7:

Breakfast and Departures.

Sadly, all good things come to an end but you will be taking beautiful memories, good friends, and the secrets of la dolce vita with you.

What the Retreat Includes:

What is NOT Included:

COVID Requirements:

How it Works:

Deposits, Payments & Refunds:

Registration requires a deposit of $750 or 750 € per person.
The deposit is refundable less a $250 or 250 € administration fee if written cancellation is received more than 60 days before the trip starts. [The 60-day mark is August 3]
If a reservation is canceled within 60 days, the deposit is non-refundable. Note that given the Covid-19 pandemic, refunds cannot necessarily be issued immediately. Until this is possible, a credit note will be issued instead, which can be used on any trip and has no expiry date.
Deposits may be applied against a future trip – this option is only possible for written cancellations received more than 60 days before the trip starts. A credit note will be issued, less an administration fee of $50 or 50 €. The credit note will be valid for the year that the original tour was booked, plus the following calendar year.
The final payment is due 60 days before the trip starts. [The 60-day mark is April 3] An invoice will be issued after the reservation is confirmed. For registrations made within 60 days of the trip, payment in full is required at the time of registration.
Payment of the deposit and final payment can be made in either Canadian dollars, US dollars, or in Euros. Credit card payments are accepted in Canadian and US dollars. For non-residents of either Canada or the USA, you are welcome to use your credit card, paying in Canadian funds. Cheques can be accepted in Canadian or US dollars. Wire transfers can be accepted in all currencies. Please contact us for specific instructions on making payment by wire transfer.
Space is very limited on Rowing The World™ trips and cancellations can significantly impact the experience of other rowers. Final payments are non-refundable.
We strongly recommend that you purchase tour package cancellation insurance. Policies and conditions can vary – please investigate options as soon as you register for the trip.
If final payment, signed Assumption of Risk, Release & Indemnity, and/ or health insurance information (please see below) are not received when due, Rowing The World™ reserves the right to regard the reservation as canceled, with no refunds due.
In the event that we must cancel a tour, full refunds will be provided for the tour package. Rowing The World™ will not be responsible for any additional charges such as non-refundable airline tickets. We recommend that you purchase airfare cancellation insurance.

Space is Limited - Save Your Spot!

This retreat is limited to just 14 rowers so don't delay.

Reserve My Spot

Have questions? Email me at [email protected]