Choose the departure time that best suits your schedule, and then make your own way to the Ospedale vaporetto (water bus) stop in central Venice. Meet your local skipper-guide and board your beautiful Venetian boat, either a sampierotta which is use for 4 or less people (fishing boat) or a bragozzo (two-masted trawler), for groups of more than 5 people. Calmly drift away from the UNESCO-listed city and out onto the shimmering waters of the Venetian Lagoon to begin your panoramic boat ride around Venice and its picturesque islands. Cruise across the lagoon’s still waters, gliding smoothly through St Mark's Basin towards the nearby island of Sant'Andrea. Be rewarded with stunning views of St Mark's Basilica as you pass through the basin, and admire Forte di Sant’Andrea, a statuesque, 16th-century fortress, when you reach Sant'Andrea. Then, take in the rural landscape of Vignole. Continue along Venice Lido, a 6.8 mile-long (11 km) sandbar that is nestled between the Venetian Lagoon and the Adriatic Sea, towards the remote islands of San Lazzaro degli Armeni, San Servolo, San Clemente, Le Grazie, Giudecca, and San Giorgio Maggiore. Sit back and relax as your skipper-guide pauses the boat in an idyllic spot between Giudecca and San Giorgio. Hear the pop of corks as your boat bobs lazily on the water. With half a bottle of Prosecco per person, sip on a glass of sparkling, Italian wine (or a soft drink, if you prefer) and savour the taste as you watch the sun begin to slip behind the horizon. With your camera in hand, marvel at the brilliant reds, oranges and pinks that spill out across the sky, casting a warm glow over the lagoon and the nearby Salute Church and St Mark’s Square. After the sun has set, savour the last of your Prosecco and hear tales about Venice’s rich history from your driver-guide as you return to the city by way of St Elena and the Arsenale. Your tour then concludes back at the original departure point. Please note: from December to February, there is a maximum of 4 passenger per booking