Best of the Italian Lakes

Our tour begins today at our dedicated Departure Office in
London St Pancras, where you meet your group and Tour Manager. From
here, we travel by Eurostar to Paris. On arrival in Paris, we
change trains and continue to Turin by rail, where we overnight. We
enjoy our first dinner together in the hotel this evening.

After breakfast today, we continue to Novara by rail,
transferring to nearby Pettenasco, a delightful town on the shores
of Lake Orta, and our home for 7 nights. With its quiet charm, Lake
Orta is one of Italy's lesser-known treasures, and unspoilt
Pettenasco is a tranquil and historic destination. The Alps provide
a fine backdrop for the town, while the sparkling waters of the
lake add to its attractive appeal. We stay at the 4-Star Hotel
L'Approdo, which has stunning waterfront views.

Please Note: For all departures you will now stay at
the Hotel Il Bocciolo in Orta San
Giulio.

Today we take our first excursion to one of the blissful Italian
lakes, the shimmering waters of Lake Maggiore. Having welcome
visitors since the 19th century, Lake Maggiore and its surrounding
villages have a 'Belle Epoque' feel in their design, with pretty
promenades and sunbaked villas adding to the charm of already
alluring lakeside resorts.

Our time here includes a visit to the stunning Borromean
Islands, which are only accessible by boat. Starting at Stresa, we
first explore Isola Bella, home of the exquisite Borromeo Palace.
Here, we have a guided tour of the sumptuous palace and its
immaculate grounds, soaking up the splendour of its Baroque
architecture and lavish interior design, all set within magnificent
Italian-style gardens. Our next stop is the tiny Isola dei
Pescatori, a permanently-inhabited island - of narrow cobbled
alleyways and pretty buildings. It is thought to have been first
inhabited in the 10th century, and today there are approximately 50
permanent residents on the island. It boasts a fine selection of
restaurants in which to enjoy lunch, with many menus loyal to the
island's rich fishing heritage.

We enjoy an afternoon exploring the charming island at leisure,
before cruising back to Stresa, from where we return to
Pettenasco. 

Our excursion today is to nearby Isola San Giulio. Topped with a
peaceful wood and an enchanting 12th-century chapel that dominates
the island, Isola San Giulio is home to a small enclave of
Benedictine nuns. After free time to discover the wonders of the
island under your own steam, we continue by boat to Orta San
Guillo, for further time to explore.

We venture to the ever fashionable city of Milan this morning,
Italy's second largest city. A guided tour introduces us to the
city's rich artistic, cultural and architectural heritage, as we
discover the outstanding Castel Sforzesco, La Scala Opera House,
Vittorio Emmanuele Galleries and see the stunning exterior of
Milan's cathedral. After, you are free to explore this modern city
at leisure.

Our excursion on Day 6 takes us to another
of Italy's best-loved lakes, the incredible Lake Como. Located in
the foothills of the Italian and Swiss Alps, Como is Italy's
deepest lake. Set within picturesque, almost fjord-like, scenery,
Lake Como has, for centuries, been a popular destination for
Italians escaping the heat of the cities, and as a result there are
many historic and beautiful villas lining the shores, such as the
Villa Carlotta and the Villa D'Este. The area's beauty has made it
hugely popular with celebrities, who have chosen to make Como their
second or third home, while Lake Como has featured as a location
for the James Bond film, Casino Royale.

We first transfer by coach to Cadenabbia, a village on the
shores of the lake, where we join a boat to Bellagio, a charming
peninsula town that juts out into the lake. Bellagio has
magnificent views across the crystal blue waters, and is one of the
oldest tourist towns in Italy. Though the entire of Lake Como area
is renowned for its intrinsic ambiance, Bellagio in particular has
always stood out due to its unique location. You are free to
explore Bellagio at your own pace before continuing to attractive
Menaggio whose main square is the perfect place to enjoy a gelato
and watch the world go by!

Today's full-day excursion takes us on one of Europe's most
scenic railways, the narrow-gauge Centovalli Railway, on an
excursion to Locarno in Switzerland. We start with a coach transfer
from our hotel to Domodossola, where we board this wonderful train
for a delightfully scenic Standard Class journey across the border
to the Italian-speaking region of Switzerland. The line threads its
way across 'a hundred valleys' that give the railway its name, all
the while passing through outstanding scenery of idyllic
landscapes. We pass over deep ravines and gushing waterfalls, and
alongside thick forests and through sleepy villages during the
journey.

On arrival in Locarno, you are free to have lunch and explore at
your leisure. As well as a picturesque Old Town, Locarno has
beautiful subtropical gardens filled with palm trees and exotic
flowers, lakeside promenades and great shopping under the arcades
of the Piazza Grande.

Later we cruise back down Lake Maggiore to Stresa - a splendid
way to take in your surroundings on the homeward journey. We then
return to Pettenasco by coach, in time for dinner at our hotel this
evening.

Your final day by Lake Orta is free to relax. Nicknamed by some
in-the-know Italians 'La Cenerentola' ('Cinderella'), the lake has
the reputation of an overlooked, yet far more beautiful sister to
some of the better-known bodies of water in the Italian lake
district. This evening, we enjoy a farewell dinner together at our
hotel, providing the opportunity to share our favourite experiences
from a delightful lakeside holiday.

We bid a fond farewell to Italy today, as we transfer to Stresa
by coach. From here, we travel by rail to Dijon, where we
overnight. On Day 10, we complete our journey by
rail, travelling to Paris, where we board the Eurostar to London.
On arrival, our tour concludes.