My daughter and I came to Milan for spring break in March 2024, and we originally booked a different tour with Luca which involved both a short tour of Lake Como along with a scenic train ride on the Bernina Express to the Swiss Alps. However, when we arrived at the train station, our tour guide asked us if we had brought the passport with us or not. Unfortunately, we did not bring our passports since we have previously crossed countries within Europe with no issue. We decided to not take the risk and just stick with exploring Lake Como for 12 hours, which still turned out to be a lovely decision!
After an hour train ride, we met our tour guide Luca at the train station in Lake Como. In the following hours, he drove us to various little towns within Como, and Luca was incredibly knowledgeable with engaging historical commentary. Along with my daughter and I, there was a couple and their son, totaling the tour to five people. This allowed for an intimate and engaging day because Luca repeatedly made sure each of us was happy and okay. After lunch, Luca surprised each of us with a cup of gelato, which, of course, exemplified Italian hospitality. In the afternoon, he took us to a cheese-making place in the Como countryside, which was a very unique experience, and we even got to sample the freshest cheese! Towards the end of our tour, Luca also did a quick stop at a very small, un-touristy village, and it was absolutely beautiful.
All in all, despite not being able to visit the Swiss Alps, this detour was still a memorable experience! My only suggestion is to emphasize bringing a passport at the top of the Swiss Alps Viator page, so future tourists do not make the same mistake as us.