Italian Lakes and Bernina Express Tour with a Mediterranean Cruise
Italian Lakes and Bernina Express Tour with a Mediterranean Cruise
Italian Lakes and Bernina Express Tour with a Mediterranean Cruise
16 Days Starting in Milan, Italy and ending in Istanbul, Turkey
Visiting: Milan, Lake Maggiore, Lugano, Swiss Alps, Lake Garda, Venice, Trieste, Rijeka, Korčula, Santorini, Rhodes, Ephesus, Mykonos, Istanbul
Tour operator:
Tour code:
TTHIT
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Cultural, Gardens & Nature Tours, Rail Tours, Wildlife Tours
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on an unforgettable journey with the Italian Lakes and Bernina Express Tour combined with a Mediterranean Cruise. This extraordinary adventure takes you through the picturesque landscapes of Italy, Switzerland, Croatia, Greece, and Turkey. Begin with serene boat tours on Lake Garda and the Borromean Islands, and a scenic Bernina Express train ride from St Moritz to Tirano. Explore the historic streets of Venice, the ancient city of Ephesus, and the charming towns of Santorini and Mykonos. Enjoy luxurious accommodations with 5 nights in hotels and 12 nights aboard the Westerdam or Oosterdam cruise ships. Indulge in 41 meals, including breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, and experience VIP door-to-door travel service. This tour promises a perfect blend of cultural exploration, breathtaking nature, and luxurious relaxation.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1
Location: Milan
Accommodation Name: Hotel
Meals Included: Dinner
Titan’s VIP door-to-door travel service collects you from home for your flight to Milan. On arrival we transfer to Lake Maggiore - the most tranquil and undiscovered of Italy’s lakes.
Day 2
Location: Lake Maggiore
Accommodation Name: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Lake Maggiore is edged by charming towns with twisting cobbled streets and family-run trattoria. It’s backed by prominent snow-capped peaks in every direction. Its wind-ruffled waters are dotted with three tiny islands, the Borromean Islands, and today we’ll explore each of them.
Isola Bella (beautiful island) lives up to its name with the dominating 17th-century Palazzo Borromeo and sprawling gardens. Isola Madre is noted for its beautiful botanical gardens, rich in rare plants. Then we’ll enjoy some free time on picturesque Isola dei Pescatori.
Day 3
Location: Lugano
Accommodation Name: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
We leave Italy behind and head for the soaring alpine peaks and timber villages of Switzerland. We’ll learn about the sweetest of Swiss traditions at a chocolate factory - there’ll be plenty of opportunity for a tasting, too.
We arrive at lakeside Lugano, where the maze of cobblestoned streets untangle by the tranquil lakeshore to reveal a long, flowery promenade fringed with waterside eateries and cafés. The Mediterranean-style squares and vast parkland are a delight to explore. We then continue to St Moritz this afternoon - the picture of Swiss alpine perfection.
Day 4
Location: Swiss Alps
Accommodation Name: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
An ‘express’ train ride doesn’t usually conjure images of gentle journeys through snow-covered peaks, admired through panoramic windows. But the Bernina Express is not your usual express train journey. Today you’ll wind through the magnificent Swiss Alps, crossing borders and cultures as you travel from St Moritz to Tirano in Italy. You’ll pass over 196 bridges and climb the incredible Brusio Spiral Viaduct, which was built to limit the railway’s incline to 7%. On arrival in Tirano, we transfer to our hotel in Lake Garda for the evening.
Day 5
Location: Lake Garda
Accommodation Name: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Visitors have been captivated by the beauty of Lake Garda for centuries - and it’s easy to see why. The largest of Italy’s lakes, the north offers mesmerising views of the Alps tumbling into the lake’s waters and its shoreline is a mix of waterside towns and cliff-hanging villages. The south is splendid with sprawling vineyards and olive groves - and some of the lake’s prettiest towns, not least of which is Sirmione.
We’ll take to the crystal-clear waters this morning for a cruise on the lake and spend some time exploring Sirmione. Here, the medieval Rocca Scaligera looms over the charming twists of the old town. It was originally a Roman fortification, but it was rebuilt in the 13th century and affords beautiful views of Sirmione from the tower.
Day 6
Location: Venice
Accommodation Name: Cruise Ship
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
We journey to Venice this morning, where we make a stop to discover this world-famous city on a guided tour. We’ll then continue to the port city of Trieste to embark our ship and we’ll stay docked overnight.
Day 7
Location: Trieste
Accommodation Name: Cruise Ship
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This historic seaside city near Italy’s border with Slovenia has lovely historic buildings and scenic beaches to explore. We’ll sail this afternoon, so you’ll have time to wander at your own pace.
Day 8
Location: Rijeka
Accommodation Name: Cruise Ship
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
From Rijeka you can reach a number of Croatian gems, including the town of Pula, where you’ll find over 3,000 years of history including its impressive 1st-century Roman amphitheatre. Or maybe head to the island of Krk often called the Golden Island for its sparkling sandy beaches. If you’d prefer to enjoy Rijeka itself, this bustling port city has many streets and avenues to explore, lined with 18th-century homes and several beautiful churches.
Day 9
Location: Korčula
Accommodation Name: Cruise Ship
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Korcula is a true gem of Dalmatia. Steeped in history, dense pine forests and glorious little towns, this island has it all. In Korcula Town, the Adriatic Sea laps at the shore on three sides and sprawling groves of palms and evergreens border the other. You may feel as though you’ve awoken in a Croatian paradise this morning.
Korcula Old Town is the island’s treasured highlight. Its stone architecture and historic ambience is reminiscent of the one-time Venetian rule with towered gates, lion statues, magnificent palazzos and elaborate stonework decorating the streets. You’ll feel completely transported as you wander the walkways here.
Day 10
Location: Korčula
Accommodation Name: Cruise Ship
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
A day at leisure to explore all the facilities on board.
Day 11
Location: Santorini
Accommodation Name: Cruise Ship
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The jewel in the crown of the Cyclades islands, Santorini is world famous for its whitewashed towns and breathtaking sunsets. You can choose to explore its archaeological treasures at ancient Akrotiri, spend time swimming in the crystal-clear waters of Perissa Beach, or for stunning views do a bit of volcano hiking.
Day 12
Location: Rhodes
Accommodation Name: Cruise Ship
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The island of Rhodes is the largest of the Dodecanese islands and its capital, Rhodes Town, offers a wonderful mix of architecture from centuries of civilisations, not least the Palace of the Grand Masters and Hospital of the Knights. There are other discoveries to make too, including the acropolis of Lindos. Overlooking the town of the same name and the striking blue waters of St Paul’s Bay, it’s also the site of a Byzantine church and fortifications built by the Knights.
Day 13
Location: Ephesus
Accommodation Name: Cruise Ship
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ephesus is one of the most legendary cities of the ancient world. It is the grandest and best-preserved of Turkey’s ancient cities. St Paul preached in its Great Theatre and even today the façade of the Celsus Library still stands, as a testament to the city’s one-time role as a centre of learning and culture.
Day 14
Location: Mykonos
Accommodation Name: Cruise Ship
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Once a favourite holiday destination of Jackie Kennedy Onassis and her entourage, Mykonos has been associated with wealthy jetsetters for decades. But glitz and glamour aside, this island is teeming with Greek charm. A walk around Mykonos Town will capture your heart. It’s a maze of whitewashed buildings with blue doorways and draping pink bougainvillea. The iconic windmills stand tall, the swathes of beach are golden and inviting and the dolmades are fresh and delicious.
You might like to get a flavour of the whole island on a panoramic tour taking in Ioannis, Ornos, Kalafatis and ending in Ano Mera, perhaps the most traditional of the island’s villages.
Day 15
Location: Istanbul
Accommodation Name: Cruise Ship
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After lunch we sail into Turkey’s capital to discover the sights and sounds of this magnificent city. Travel back thousands of years at the Sultanahmet Meydani, once the sporting and social heart of Constantinople; admire the incredible tiles adorning the Blue Mosque; and gaze up at the domes and minarets of UNESCO-listed Hagia Sophia.
The colourful Grand Bazaar is also a must-see. With almost 4,000 shops of antiques, carpets, jewellery and more, it’s the biggest souk in the world. After all the browsing, perhaps call in at one of the bazaar’s historic coffee roasters for a cup of authentic Turkish coffee, prepared and poured the traditional way. We’ll dock overnight, so there’s plenty of time to explore.
Day 16
Location: Istanbul
Accommodation Name: Cruise Ship
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
On the far northwest coast of Turkey, the 60km-long Dardanelles divides the continents of Europe and Asia. This historic waterway once acted as a strategic gateway for both shipping trade and military to Istanbul and the Black Sea region. We’ll depart Istanbul to enjoy a day of scenic cruising.
What's Included
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Accommodation
5 nights in hotels and 12 nights cruise on Westerdam (accommodation as specified or similar).
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International Flights
Prices are based on return flights with British Airways from London Heathrow. Supplements may apply from other airports.
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Meals
41 meals: 17 breakfasts (days 2-18), 11 lunches (days 7-17), 13 dinners (days 1 and 6-17).
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Excursions
4 excursions and visits.
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Chocolate Factory Visit
Visit to the chocolate factory in Tessin.
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Borromean Islands Tour
Boat tour to visit the Borromean Islands.
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Bernina Express Journey
Bernina Express journey from St Moritz to Tirano.
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Lake Garda Tour
Boat tour on Lake Garda.
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VIP Travel Service
Titan’s VIP door-to-door travel service.
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Local Tour Manager
Local Titan tour manager in Italy and Switzerland.
What's Not Included
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Personal Expenses
Personal expenses such as souvenirs, laundry, and drinks are not included.
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Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not included and must be purchased separately.
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Optional Excursions
Optional excursions and activities not listed in the itinerary are not included.
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Gratuities
Gratuities for guides, drivers, and hotel staff are not included.
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Visa Fees
Visa fees and any related travel documentation are not included.
Mode of Transport
Travel in style with international flights, VIP door-to-door travel service, and local transportation by coach. Experience the scenic Bernina Express train journey and boat tours on Lake Garda and the Borromean Islands.
Accommodation
Enjoy 5 nights in hotels and 12 nights on the luxurious Westerdam or Oosterdam cruise ships, offering comfortable and stylish accommodations throughout your journey.
Check out our Q&As
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What kind of transportation is included in the tour?
The tour includes international flights, VIP door-to-door travel service, local transportation by coach, the scenic Bernina Express train journey, and boat tours on Lake Garda and the Borromean Islands.
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What type of accommodation is provided during the tour?
The tour provides 5 nights in hotels and 12 nights on the luxurious Westerdam or Oosterdam cruise ships, offering comfortable and stylish accommodations throughout the journey.
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Are meals included in the tour package?
Yes, the tour includes 41 meals: 17 breakfasts, 11 lunches, and 13 dinners.
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What excursions are included in the tour?
The tour includes 4 excursions and visits, such as a visit to a chocolate factory in Tessin, a boat tour to the Borromean Islands, a journey on the Bernina Express from St Moritz to Tirano, and a boat tour on Lake Garda.
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Is there a guided tour of Venice included in the itinerary?
Yes, a guided tour of Venice is included in the itinerary.
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What are some of the highlights of the tour?
Highlights of the tour include exploring the ancient city of Ephesus in Turkey, discovering the whitewashed towns and breathtaking sunsets of Santorini, and wandering the historic streets of Mykonos Town.
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What personal expenses are not included in the tour?
Personal expenses such as souvenirs, laundry, and drinks are not included in the tour package.
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Is travel insurance included in the tour package?
No, travel insurance is not included and must be purchased separately.
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Are gratuities included in the tour package?
No, gratuities for guides, drivers, and hotel staff are not included.
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What is the starting and ending location of the tour?
The tour starts in Milan, Italy, and ends in Istanbul, Turkey.
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Do I have to pay a Single Supplement?
In most cases a single supplement will apply. If the price for a Single room for sole occupancy is not shown, please ask our team for details and we will be able to check the details for you.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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How long has the tour company been trading?
We've been taking our customers across the world on escorted tours for more than 40 years
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Our commitment to sustainable travel is part of our ethos. We love exploring the world and hope that, alongside our customers, we can be part of a bigger change in respecting the people and wildlife on our planet and minimising the impact we have on our environment.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
With some COVID-19 rules and restrictions still in place there are a few details that you need to know. This information is subject to change. It’s your responsibility to monitor changes and ensure you fulfil all relevant criteria for travel. Rest assured that we’re on hand to help and answer any questions you might have.
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
You’ll receive your Final holiday documents via email approximately 14 days prior to your departure.
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Free Date Changes
Titan Travel allows you to make 2 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 75 days before the start of the tour.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Titan Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform titan travel, 75 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Titan Travel requires a minimum deposit of 395 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 75 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of titan travel charges.
Up to 75 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 74 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 42 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.
At 28 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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