The lakes of Northern Italy, nestled near the foothills of the Alps, are magical, especially, I think, on one’s first visit. It was mine — a birthday celebration that I chose to spend with a dozen strangers from the United States, Canada and Brazil. What brought us together was the promise of a walking tour filled with adventure, surrounded by beauty, steeped in history, coddled by grand hotels and seduced by local cuisine and wines.

We were at the marvelous mercy of two expert guides, Daniela Andrews and Luca Innocenti, whose personalities, intelligence and exhaustive attention to detail created a seamless five-day experience. What else would one expect from Butterfield & Robinson, the more than 50-year-old Canadian company with its international embrace of some of the best walking and biking tours on the planet. Oh yes, specific elements of surprise were not listed on the agenda, but they provided that too.